Food slicer and associated sealing assembly for gauge plate plane adjustment assembly

Abstract

A food slicer is disclosed, the food slicer comprising: a base; a knife mounted to rotate relative to the base; a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocating movement back and forth past the cutting edge of the knife; a gauge plate mounted to move between a closed position preventing slicing and a plurality of open positions allowing slicing at respective thicknesses; and a gauge plate plane adjustment assembly for adjusting the orientation of the plane of the gauge plate relative to the plane of the edge of the knife. A seal assembly covers the gauge plate plane adjustment assembly and has a first seal portion and a second seal portion movable relative to each other between a sealing configuration of the seal assembly and an access configuration of the seal assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application generally relates to a food slicer of this type commonly used for slicing bulk foods, and more specifically to a sealing assembly for a gauge plate plane adjustment assembly located in such a food slicer. Background Technology

[0002] A typical reciprocating food slicer features a rotatable circular or disc-shaped slicing blade, an adjustable gauge plate for defining slice thickness, and a support for the food as it moves back and forth across the blade's cutting edge during slicing. A drive motor can be connected to reciprocate the support during automated slicing operations performed by the slicer's controller. The gauge plate is positioned along the blade's path forward and can move laterally relative to the blade to set the desired slice thickness. A manually rotatable adjustment or indexing knob is provided to set the spacing between the plane of the gauge plate surface and the plane of the blade, allowing the operator to select the desired slice thickness. Aligning the plane of the gauge plate's sliding surface with the plane of the blade presents a challenge in this regard.

[0003] U.S. Patent No. 5,970,840 discloses a gauge plate adjustment assembly in which four retaining screws act as adjusting retaining screws for defining the orientation of the gauge plate. To adjust the plane of the gauge plate, the clamping screws or bolts are first loosened. The gauge plate can then be slightly shifted, and the retaining screws can adjust the relative height at each position. Once the gauge plate is correctly positioned, the clamping screws or bolts can be tightened. Figure 8 An exemplary cover / shroud for such a system is shown. This cover / shroud provides a partial seal and allows access to the adjustment hardware. The cover can be removed, folded down, and moved away to access the adjustment hardware. The system works well, but has some limitations: such as not sealing the entire system, requiring multiple covers / seals, and the cover positions being undesirable.

[0004] An alternative solution used in several machines on the market is to move the gauge plate adjustment mechanism inside the machine. The adjustment hardware is no longer exposed externally, and all seals operate solely as seals. The main drawback of this configuration is that the hardware must be accessed from the bottom of the machine. In practice, this makes performing gauge plate adjustments quite difficult, since gauge plate checks occur at the top of the machine, while adjustments take place from below.

[0005] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a slicer with a gauge plate plane adjustment assembly that is accessible from the top and is also completely sealed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In one aspect, a food slicer includes: a base; a blade mounted to rotate relative to the base; a bracket assembly mounted to the base for reciprocating motion through the cutting edge of the blade; a gauge plate mounted to move between a closed position preventing slicing and a plurality of open positions allowing slicing at corresponding thicknesses; and a gauge plate plane adjustment assembly for adjusting the orientation of the plane of the gauge plate relative to the plane of the blade's cutting edge. A sealing assembly covers the gauge plate plane adjustment assembly and has a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion movable relative to each other between a sealing configuration and an contact configuration of the sealing assembly.

[0007] Details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will become apparent from the specification, drawings, and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A food slicer is shown; Figure 3 A portion of a food slicer is shown; Figure 4 A sealing assembly for the gauge plate plane adjustment assembly is shown; Figure 5 This shows that the seal has been removed; Figure 6 The sealing assembly is shown in an accessible position that allows for gauge plate plane adjustment; Figure 7 A cross-section of the sealing assembly is shown; and Figure 8 Existing technology systems are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0009] refer to Figures 1 to 7 The food slicer 10 includes a body or base 12 (e.g., housing 12a and / or cast base or base frame 12b) and a motor-driven circular slicing blade 14, which is mounted to the body to rotate about axis 16. Figure 2 The right-side view of the slicer is depicted. Figure 2 The left side (where the controls are located) is usually referred to as the front side of the slicer (i.e., the position where the operator stands when slicing). Figure 2The right side is typically referred to as the rear side of the slicer. Food can be supported on a manually operated (or motor-driven) food carrier 20, which moves the food to be sliced ​​past the cutting edge 14a of the rotating slicing blade 14. The food carrier 20 reciprocates along a straight path 17, causing the lower end of the bulk food to slide along the surface of the gauge plate 22, be cut by the blade 14, and then slide along the blade cover plate 24. The food carrier 20 includes a tray 25 mounted on a tray arm 26, which is mounted on the conveyor 23 and orients the food carrier tray at an appropriate angle (typically perpendicular) to the plane of the blade cutting edge. The arms of the food carrier reciprocate in slots 28 at the lower part of the base 12. The carrier 20 can be moved manually (e.g., via a handle) and / or can be automatically driven (e.g., via an internal motor 30 that drives an internal belt connected to the arm 26 or the conveyor 23).

[0010] The gauge plate system includes a rotatable knob 40 (which connects to an opening in the base 12), the rotatable knob 40 including a gripping portion and an internal cam portion. The cam portion includes an axial helical cam groove that receives a follower pin (not shown), the follower being part of an assembly connected to move the gauge plate.

[0011] The gauge plate 22 includes a foot portion 22a, and a sealing assembly 50 extends between the housing 12a and the lower surface of the foot portion 22a. The sealing assembly covers and seals the gauge plate plane adjustment assembly 60. The exact configuration of the gauge plate plane adjustment assembly can vary, but it includes front and rear retaining screws 62 and side bolts 64, which allow for some adjustment of the orientation of the plane of the gauge plate sliding surface relative to the plane of the slicer blade cutting edge 14a.

[0012] Here, sufficient space / area is provided below the gauge plate to allow for adjustment using tools, and the sealing assembly 50 is designed to be separable, so that one sealing part 50a can slide on another sealing part 50b and expose the fixing screws 62 and bolts. This ( Figure 6 This is the contact configuration of the sealing assembly. When adjustment is complete, the sealing portion 50a can be slid upwards to reseal the lower surface of the support portion 22a, thus sealing everything as needed. This ( Figure 4 ) is the sealing configuration of the sealing assembly. Therefore, the sealing portions 50a and 50b move relative to each other between the contact configuration and the sealing configuration.

[0013] The lower sealing portion 50b is captured and held on the housing 12a by an annular groove or slot 50b1 that engages the inner edge 13a of the opening 13 in the housing 12a. This arrangement provides a stable axial position for the lower sealing portion 50b during movement of the upper sealing portion 50a. The lower sealing portion 50b may also be keyed to the housing (i.e., to prevent the sealing portion 50b from rotating in the housing opening).

[0014] The upper sealing portion 50a includes a sealing lip 50a1 to be positioned against the lower or bottom surface of the support leg portion 22a, and the lower sealing portion 50b includes a sealing lip 50b2 to seal the upper surface of the base in the area of ​​the opening 13 in the base / housing.

[0015] In the sealing configuration, a portion 50a2 of the upper sealing portion 50a overlaps with a portion 50b3 of the lower sealing portion. The lower sealing portion 50b may include a distal end having an annular recess 50b4, which forms part 50b3 of the lower sealing portion. In the sealing configuration of the sealing assembly, part 50a2 of the upper sealing portion surrounds and is located therein with the annular recess 50b4.

[0016] In an embodiment, in the sealing configuration of the sealing assembly, the distal edge 50a3 of the upper sealing portion 50a2 is adjacent to the step 50b5 of the lower sealing portion, the step 50b5 being adjacent to the annular recess 50b4 and defining one side of the annular recess 50b4.

[0017] In the access configuration of the sealing assembly, a gap 70 is provided between the sealing assembly 50 and the lower surface of the foot portion, and at least one adjusting component (e.g., a screw, bolt, or other fastener) of the gauge plate plane adjusting assembly 60 can be accessed through the gap.

[0018] In an embodiment, the axial length of the sealing component 50 in the contact configuration is less than 75 percent of the axial length of the sealing component in the sealing configuration.

[0019] This sealing assembly maintains a good seal in the transition between the housing and the gauge plate. The split seals can overlap like tiles to prevent any liquid intrusion. The sealing system allows for gauge plate alignment adjustment “above the slicer.” The gauge plate can be set and then tightened in two operations. This allows the operator to adjust the gauge plate while having a view of its position relative to the blade (most other adjustment methods occur below the slicer and require the slicer to be placed on its side).

[0020] It should be clearly understood that the above description is for illustrative and exemplary purposes only, and not for limiting purposes. Variations are possible.

Claims

1. A food slicer, the food slicer comprising: Base; A knife, which is mounted to rotate relative to the base; A bracket assembly, which is mounted to the base for reciprocating motion of the cutting edge of the knife; A gauge plate, which is mounted to move between a closed position that prevents slicing and a plurality of open positions that allow slicing at a corresponding thickness; A gauge plate plane adjustment assembly, wherein the gauge plate plane adjustment assembly is used to adjust the orientation of the plane of the gauge plate relative to the plane of the blade; as well as A sealing assembly that covers the gauge plate plane adjustment assembly and has a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion, the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion being movable relative to each other between a sealing configuration and an contact configuration of the sealing assembly.

2. The slicer as described in claim 1, wherein, The gauge plate includes a foot portion, and when the sealing assembly is in the sealing configuration, the first sealing portion engages the lower surface of the foot portion, and when the sealing assembly is in the contact configuration, the first sealing portion is moved away from the lower surface.

3. The slicer as described in claim 2, wherein, The first sealing portion is capable of telescopic movement relative to the second sealing portion.

4. The slicer as described in claim 3, wherein, The second sealing portion engages with the opening in the base.

5. The slicer as described in claim 4, wherein, The second sealing portion includes an annular groove or slot, and the edge of the opening in the base engages in the annular groove or slot to stabilize the position of the second sealing portion during movement of the first sealing portion.

6. The slicer as described in claim 3, wherein, In the sealing configuration, a portion of the first sealing portion overlaps with a portion of the second sealing portion.

7. The slicer as described in claim 6, wherein, The second sealing portion includes a distal end having an annular recess, wherein, in the sealing configuration of the sealing assembly, the portion of the first sealing portion surrounds and is located within the annular recess.

8. The slicer as described in claim 7, wherein, In the sealing configuration of the sealing assembly, the distal edge of the portion of the first sealing portion abuts a step of the second sealing portion, the step being adjacent to the annular recess.

9. The slicer as described in claim 2, wherein, In the access configuration of the sealing assembly, a gap is provided between the sealing assembly and the lower surface, and at least one adjustment component of the gauge plate plane adjustment assembly can be accessed through the gap.

10. The slicer as claimed in claim 8, wherein, The adjusting component includes fasteners.

11. The slicer as claimed in claim 8, wherein, The axial length of the sealing component in the contact configuration is less than 75 percent of the axial length of the sealing component in the sealing configuration.

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