A clamp assembly for securing a knife to a slicing device, a slicing device equipped with the clamp assembly, and a tool used with the clamp assembly.

Abstract

To provide clamping assemblies for securing knives to slicing machines, slicing machines equipped therewith, and tools for removing and installing knives on slicing machines.SOLUTION: A clamp 32 has a knife-engaging portion and a base portion. A cam rod applies a clamping load to the clamp to secure a knife 20 to a knife holder. The cam rod has a cam surface that engages the base portion of the clamp when the cam rod is rotated to a clamping position to clamp the knife against the knife holder, and a radial concavity sized to accommodate the base portion of the clamp such that the base portion is loosely received within the radial concavity when the radial concavity faces the clamp in an open position thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - reference to Related Applications) This application claims the benefit of priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 211,381, filed on June 16, 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] (Technical Field) The present invention relates to cutting devices such as slicing devices for slicing food. Specifically, the present invention relates to a clamp assembly for fixing a knife to the slicing device, a slicing device equipped with the clamp assembly, and a tool for attaching and detaching the knife to and from the slicing device.

Background Art

[0003] Various devices for slicing, dicing, and pulverizing foods such as vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and meat products are known. A device widely used for such purposes is commercially available under the brand name "Model CC (Model CC (registered trademark))" from Archelle Laboratories, Inc. The Model CC device includes a centrifugal - type slicer and can slice various foods with high productivity. The devices of the Model CC series are suitable for performing slicing, peeling, dicing, and pulverizing uniformly. Regarding the configuration and mode of the Model CC device, it is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,139,128, U.S. Patent No. 3,139,129, U.S. Patent No. 5,694,824, U.S. Patent No. 6,968,765, U.S. Patent No. 7,658,133, U.S. Patent No. 8,161,856, U.S. Patent No. 9,193,086, U.S. Patent No. 10,456,943, U.S. Patent No. 10,562,203, U.S. Patent No. 10,632,639, and U.S. Patent No. 10,933,552, as well as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0210239, and the content of all of these is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a typical apparatus 10 of the Model CC apparatus. Apparatus 10 has a substantially annular cutting head 12 and an impeller 14 coaxially mounted within the cutting head 12. The impeller 14 has a rotation axis 17 that coincides with the central axis of the cutting head 12. The impeller 14 is housed in a housing 18 and rotated around the rotation axis 17 via a shaft (not shown) connected to a gearbox 16. The cutting head 12 is mounted on a support ring 15 above the gearbox 16 and remains stationary while the impeller 14 rotates. Product is transported to the cutting head 12 and impeller 14 via a hopper 11 located above the impeller 14. When in operation, as the hopper 11 transports product to the impeller 14, centrifugal force moves the product outward and engages with knives (not shown) mounted around the cutting head 12. The impeller 14 comprises substantially radially oriented paddles 13, each paddle 13 having a surface that engages with the product as the impeller 14 rotates, directing the product radially outward and toward the knife of the cutting head 12. Further features relating to the configuration and operation, including various embodiments of the apparatus of Model CC, are expressed in the above publication, which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] Figures 2 and 3 are diagrams and partial bottom views, respectively, showing a non-limiting example of a cutting head 12 used in a slicing apparatus of Model CC, including the apparatus 10 schematically shown in Figure 1. The cutting head 12 shown in Figures 2 and 3 will be described with reference to the slicing apparatus 10, which includes the impeller 14 shown in Figure 1. Based on the coaxial arrangement of the cutting head 12 and the impeller 14, relative terms such as "axial," "circumferential," and "radial," and their associated forms, will be used to describe the cutting head 12 shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0006] In Figure 2, the cutting head 12 is substantially annular, and cutting knives 20 are mounted around its circumference at circumferential intervals. Each knife 20 protrudes radially inward in the opposite direction to the rotational direction of the impeller 14 within the cutting head 12, with the cutting edge located at the innermost part of the knife 20 in the radial direction. The cutting head 12 further comprises lower and upper support members, shown in Figure 22 and ring 24, and between them, a plurality of support segments (shoes 26) are arranged at circumferential intervals and secured by fasteners 34.

[0007] The knives 20 are mounted on each shoe 26 that constitute the cutting station of the cutting head 12. The knives 20 of the cutting head 12 shown in Figures 2 and 3 are secured to each shoe 26 by a clamp assembly 28. Each clamp assembly 28 includes a knife holder 30 mounted on the shoe 26 between support rings 22 and 24, and a clamp 32 positioned on the radially outer surface of the knife holder 30 to secure the knife 20. Each knife 20 is supported by the radially outer surface of one knife holder 30, and since the clamp 32 is on the knife holder 30, the knife 20 is positioned between the outer surface of the knife holder 30 and the radially inner surface of the clamp 32 facing the knife holder 30. By applying force to the clamp 32 in the direction of the knife holder 30, such as by a bolt 36, the clamp 32 applies a clamping force to the portion of the knife 20 adjacent to the cutting edge. As an alternative to using bolts, an eccentric cam rod can be used as a quick-clamping function to impart clamping force to clamp 32, non-limiting examples thereof are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,658,133, 10,562,203, 10,780,602, 10,786,922, 10,807,268, and 10,933,552, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0008] Figures 2 and 3 further show gates 38 fixed to each shoe 26. Food passes through the gates 38 and then comes into contact with a knife 20 attached to a subsequent shoe 26. The cutting edge of the knife 20 and the trailing edge of the leading gate 38 form a gate opening 40 (Figure 3) that determines the thickness of the slice produced by the knife 20.

[0009] In Figures 2 and 3, the knife 20 is described as a “flat knife” because it has a straight cutting edge to produce flat slices of food; however, the cutting head 12 may also be made of a knife of a different shape. As a non-limiting example, the cutting head 12 may be configured to use a shaped knife, but not limited to one, characterized by a periodic pattern of alternating peaks and valleys when viewed from the edge side, which can produce wavy cuts, strip cuts, julienne cuts, or diced products. As another non-limiting example, the cutting head 12 may be configured to use a knife (a julienne-type knife) developed to produce stripped or julienned food. Such cutting typically produces long, thin strips of food. Non-limiting examples of Julian-type knives are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,395,742, 9,469,041, 9,840,015, 9,849,600, and 10,843,363, which can be used in a variety of devices, including the Model CC slicing device described above. As defined herein, a strip-cutting (Julian-type) knife also has a flat or non-flat shape, but further comprises a Julian "tab" blade positioned adjacent to the cutting edge and spaced along the knife, protruding from the face of the knife to form a desired strip-like or julienned cross-section. Figure 4 shows a non-limiting example of a flat strip cutting knife 20 formed as an assembly comprising a flat, planar slicing knife 20A having a cutting edge 42, and a second knife 20B, which is a julienne-type knife or strip-cutting knife, having a flat base 44 and a plurality of julienne tab blades 46 positioned substantially perpendicular to the base 44. When the slicing knife 20A and the strip cutting knife 20B are assembled as shown, each julienne tab blade 46 is positioned substantially perpendicular to the cutting edge 42 of the slicing knife 20A, producing flat food strips (julienne cuts).The tab blades 46 are positioned behind the cutting edge 42 of the slicing knife 20A, and each tab blade 46 has a cutting edge 48. When in use, the cutting edge 42 of the slicing knife 20A slices the food, and then the tab blades 46 cut the slice into strips. The knife 20 shown in Figure 4 does not have a handle extending from one end in the longitudinal direction of the knife 20. A knife without a handle in this manner is called a handleless knife. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] While centrifugal slicers, such as the Model CC series, function optimally for their intended applications, there is a continuous demand for further improvements, including enhancements to the device's maintenance. Non-limiting examples include the cleaning and replacement of knives 20, 20A, 20B, clamps 32, and / or knife holders 30, whose leading edges (blade tips) are susceptible to damage from impacts with stones, sand, and other debris frequently encountered with foods such as potatoes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention provides a clamp assembly for securing a knife to a slicing device, a slicing device equipped with the clamp assembly, and a tool for attaching and detaching the knife to and from the slicing device.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, a clamp assembly comprises a knife holder having a surface and a leading edge, a knife supported on the surface of the knife holder and having a cutting edge protruding from the leading edge of the knife holder, and a clamp positioned relative to the knife holder and the knife for clamping the knife into the knife holder. The clamp has a longitudinal direction, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a knife engagement portion adjacent to the leading edge of the clamp, and a base adjacent to the trailing edge of the clamp. At least a portion of the knife engagement portion has a shape complementary to the knife. The knife engagement portion and the base of the clamp each have a width in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the clamp, the width of the base being smaller than the width of the knife engagement portion. The clamp assembly further includes a cam rod configured to apply a clamping load to the clamp to fix the knife to the knife holder. The cam rod is rotatable about its long axis and has a longitudinal length, a cam surface that engages with the base of the clamp when the cam rod rotates to the clamp position to engage the clamp with the knife and fix the knife to the knife holder, and a radial recess that has a longitudinal length and a concave surface that extends at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the cam rod. The radial recess is sized to accommodate the base of the clamp, and the width of the base is smaller than the longitudinal length of the radial recess so that the base of the clamp is loosely accommodated in the radial recess when the cam rod rotates and the radial recess faces the clamp in the open position.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, a slicing apparatus is provided comprising one or more clamp assemblies having the elements described above.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, a tool is provided for clamping and / or attaching a knife to a clamp assembly, including but not limited to a clamp assembly having the elements described above. Such a tool includes a base having a surface and at least a first hole opening into the surface. A first pin is housed in the first hole and has a distal portion positioned adjacent to the surface of the base. When the first pin is energized, the distal portion of the first pin is energized toward the surface of the base, and at least one first magnet is positioned on at least one of the distal portion of the first pin and the surface of the base. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The technical features of the clamp assembly having the characteristics described above facilitate the complete removal of the clamp and / or knife from the slicing device for the purpose of cleaning or replacing the device's components. The clamp assembly is particularly suitable for removing clamps that secure strip-cutting knives by the action of an eccentric cam rod, but is not limited to such clamp assemblies. Furthermore, tools having the characteristics described above also facilitate the complete removal of clamps and / or knives, including but not limited to handleless strip-cutting knives, from the slicing device, providing a quick replacement function that facilitates cleaning and replacement.

[0016] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be revealed by the following detailed description. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic partial cross-sectional side view of a conventional centrifugal slicing apparatus. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing details of the cutting head used in the slicing device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a partial bottom view showing some details of the cutting head used in the slicing device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a conventional handleless strip cut knife that can be used in a slicing device of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a cutting head of a slicing device including, but not limited to, the slicing device shown in FIG. 1, showing a clamp assembly attached to the cutting head and including a knife holder, a clamp, a handle strip cut knife, and an eccentric cam rod, the clamp assembly being shown in a locked (clamped) position where the eccentric cam rod clamps the knife between the knife holder and the clamp. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the cutting head and clamp assembly shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a view showing the eccentric cam rod and clamp of the clamp assembly shown in FIG. 5 removed. [Figure 8] FIG. 8A is a schematic partial top view of the cutting head shown in FIG. 5, showing the eccentric cam rod in the locked (clamped) position. FIG. 8B is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the cutting head shown in FIG. 5, showing the eccentric cam rod in the locked (clamped) position. [Figure 9] FIG. 9A is a schematic partial top view of the cutting head shown in FIG. 5, showing the eccentric cam rod in a knife release position suitable for removing the knife. FIG. 9B is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the cutting head shown in FIG. 5, showing the eccentric cam rod in the knife release position. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the cutting head shown in FIG. 5 with the knife omitted, showing the state where the clamp is removed from the clamp assembly after the eccentric cam rod has rotated to the knife release position shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the cutting head shown in FIG. 5 with the knife omitted, showing the cutting head after the clamp has been removed. [Figure 12]Figure 12 is a partial perspective view of the cutting head shown in Figure 5, showing that the eccentric cam rod has rotated beyond the knife release position to the fully open position, and before attaching the clamp, a handleless strip cutting knife as shown in Figure 4 is attached to the cutting head. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a partial perspective view of the cutting head shown in Figure 5, showing that the eccentric cam rod has rotated beyond the knife release position to the fully open position, and a handleless strip cutting knife as shown in Figure 4 is attached to the cutting head simultaneously with the clamp. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cutting head shown in Figure 5, showing that the eccentric cam rod has rotated beyond the knife release position to the fully open position shown in Figures 12 and 13. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cutting head shown in Figure 5, showing the stage where the clamp and a handleless strip cutting knife as shown in Figure 4 are attached simultaneously. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram showing the clamp shown in Figures 5 to 15 and a second clamp configured to be used for fixing a flat knife that is not a strip cutting knife. [Figure 17] Figure 17 is a partial perspective view of the cutting head shown in Figure 5, showing that a knife other than the strip cutting knife as shown in Figures 4 and 5 can be attached to the cutting head. [Figure 18] Figure 18 is a partial perspective view of the cutting head shown in Figure 5, showing that a knife other than the strip cutting knife as shown in Figures 4 and 5 can be attached to the cutting head. [Figure 19] Figure 19 is a view showing an alternative eccentric cam rod taken out. [Figure 20]Figure 20 is a partial perspective view of the cutting head of a slicing apparatus, including but not limited to the slicing apparatus shown in Figure 1, and shows a clamp assembly with an eccentric cam rod as shown in Figure 19, where the clamp assembly is in a locked (clamped) position with the eccentric cam rod clamping the knife between the knife holder and the clamp. [Figure 21] Figure 21 is a partial perspective view of the cutting head shown in Figure 20, and shows that the eccentric cam rod is in the knife release position suitable for removing the knife. [Figure 22] Figure 22 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cutting head and clamp assembly shown in Figures 20 and 21, showing the eccentric cam rod in the locked (clamped) position. [Figure 23] Figure 23 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cutting head and clamp assembly shown in Figures 20 and 21, showing the eccentric cam rod in the cam release position. [Figure 24] Figure 24 is a partial top view of the cutting head shown in Figures 20 to 23, and shows the eccentric cam rod in the locked (clamped) position. [Figure 25] Figure 25 is a partial top view of the cutting head shown in Figures 20 to 23, and shows that the eccentric cam rod is in a knife release position suitable for removing the knife from the clamp assembly without removing the clamp. [Figure 26] Figure 26 is a partial top view of the cutting head shown in Figures 20 to 23, and shows the eccentric cam rod in a clamp release position suitable for removing the clamp and / or knife or cleaning the clamp assembly. [Figure 27] Figure 27 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cutting head shown in Figures 20 to 26, illustrating the stepwise process of the eccentric cam rod rotating beyond the clamp release position shown in Figure 26, and the clamp being removed from the clamp assembly. [Figure 28]Figure 28 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cutting head shown in Figures 20 to 26, illustrating the stepwise process of the eccentric cam rod rotating beyond the clamp release position shown in Figure 26, and the clamp being removed from the clamp assembly. [Figure 29] Figure 29 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cutting head shown in Figures 20 to 26, illustrating the step-by-step process of the eccentric cam rod rotating beyond the clamp release position shown in Figure 26, and the clamp being removed from the clamp assembly. [Figure 30] Figure 30 is a perspective view showing a first type of knife exchange tool, which allows for the attachment and detachment of a clamp and knife shown in any of Figures 4 to 29 to the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1, according to a non-limiting aspect of the present invention. [Figure 31] Figure 31 is a perspective view showing a first type of knife exchange tool, which allows for the attachment and detachment of a clamp and knife shown in any of Figures 4 to 29 to the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1, according to a non-limiting aspect of the present invention. [Figure 32] Figure 32 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the knife exchange tool shown in Figures 30 and 31, and is a diagram showing the non-operating position for magnetically engaging the clamp. [Figure 33] Figure 33 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the knife replacement tool shown in Figures 30 and 31, and is a diagram showing the operating position for magnetically removing the clamp. [Figure 34] Figure 34 is a partial perspective view showing the knife exchange tool shown in Figures 30 to 33, and illustrates the state in which the clamp magnetically engages with the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1, when the clamp is attached to or detached from the cutting head. [Figure 35] Figure 35 is a partial perspective view showing the knife exchange tool shown in Figures 30 to 33, and illustrates the magnetic engagement of the clamp with the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 36] Figure 36 is a partial perspective view showing the knife exchange tool shown in Figures 30 to 33, and illustrates the state in which the clamp magnetically engages with the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1, when the clamp is attached to or detached from the cutting head. [Figure 37] Figure 37 is a perspective view showing a second knife exchange tool of a type that allows for the attachment and detachment of a clamp and knife shown in any of Figures 4 to 29 to the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1, according to a non-limiting aspect of the present invention. [Figure 38] Figure 38 is a perspective view showing a second knife exchange tool of a type that allows attachment and detachment of the clamp and knife shown in any of Figures 4 to 29 to the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 39] Figure 39 is a partial cross-sectional view of the knife changing tool shown in Figures 37 and 38. [Figure 40] Figure 40 is a partial side view of the knife changing tool shown in Figures 37 and 38. [Figure 41] Figure 41 is a perspective view showing a third type of knife exchange tool, which allows for the attachment and detachment of the clamp and knife shown in any of Figures 4 to 29 to the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1, according to a non-limiting aspect of the present invention. [Figure 42] Figure 42 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a third type of knife exchange tool, which allows for the attachment and detachment of the clamp and knife shown in any of Figures 4 to 29 to the cutting head of a slicing apparatus, including but not limited to the slicing apparatus shown in Figure 1, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 43] Figure 43 is a perspective view of the knife exchange tool shown in Figures 41 and 42, illustrating the state in which it is magnetically engaged with the clamp. [Figure 44]Figure 44 is a partial perspective view of the knife exchange tool shown in Figures 41 to 43, illustrating the magnetic engagement with the clamp shown in Figure 43. [Figure 45] Figure 45 is a partial perspective cross-sectional view showing the knife exchange tool shown in Figures 41 to 44, illustrating the magnetic engagement of the clamp with the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 46] Figure 46 is a side view showing a fourth type of knife exchange tool that can attach and detach the clamp and knife shown in any of Figures 4 to 29 to the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1, and the knife exchange tool has certain features shown in Figures 30 to 45, according to a non-limiting aspect of the present invention. [Figure 47] Figure 47 is a side view showing a fourth type of knife exchange tool that can attach and detach the clamp and knife shown in any of Figures 4 to 29 to the cutting head of a slicing device, including but not limited to the slicing device shown in Figure 1, and the knife exchange tool has certain features shown in Figures 30 to 45, according to a non-limiting aspect of the present invention. [Figure 48] Figure 48 is a partial cross-sectional view of the knife exchange tool shown in Figures 46 and 47, and shows the non-operating position for magnetically engaging the clamp. [Figure 49] Figure 49 is a partial cross-sectional view of the knife replacement tool shown in Figures 46 and 47, and shows the operating position for magnetically removing the clamp. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] The purpose of the following detailed description of the present invention, and the expressions and terms used herein, is to describe the illustrated embodiments with respect to one or more non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, and to describe certain, but not all, of the illustrated embodiments. The following detailed description also describes certain, but not all, alternative embodiments of the illustrated embodiments. As a non-limiting example, the present invention includes additional or alternative embodiments that replace one or more functions or features of the disclosed embodiments, and are shown as part of certain embodiments that may be omitted, as well as additional or alternative embodiments that combine two or more features or characteristics of different embodiments that have been disclosed, and are shown as part of different embodiments. Accordingly, the appended claims are not merely a detailed description, but are intended to specifically identify the subject matter that is considered to be the present invention, including certain, but not necessarily all, aspects and alternative embodiments described in the detailed description.

[0019] Figures 5 to 29 schematically illustrate non-limiting embodiments of clamp assemblies, and Figures 30 to 49 schematically illustrate non-limiting embodiments of knife exchange tools usable with various cutting devices, including but not limited to the centrifugal type slicing device 10 shown in Figure 1, and the cutting head 12 shown in Figures 2 and 3. In some cases, the clamp assemblies disclosed herein may be replaced or modified to clamp assemblies for the type of devices and cutting heads shown in Figures 1 to 3. For convenience, the following description will be made with reference to the clamp assemblies and tools illustrated and described with reference to the slicing device shown in Figure 1, which has an annular cutting head 12 shown with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Therefore, the following description will be made primarily with reference to specific embodiments of the clamp assemblies and tools described with reference to specific embodiments of the device 10 and cutting head 12 shown in Figures 1 to 3, and other embodiments of the device 10 and cutting head 12 not described in detail below may be as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. However, the teachings of the present invention are generally applicable to other types of cutting devices. Furthermore, while such devices and cutting heads are particularly suitable for slicing food, it is also within the scope of the present invention to apply the clamp assemblies and tools described herein to devices and cutting heads for cutting various other types of materials.

[0020] To facilitate understanding of the following description of the illustrated clamp assemblies and tools, relative terms are used with reference to the orientation of the clamp assemblies and tools relative to the cutting head 12 in Figure 2, as shown by the cutting head 12 and impeller 14 of the apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1. Based on the coaxial arrangement of the cutting head 12 and impeller 14 shown in Figure 1, relative terms include, but are not limited to, “axial,” “circumferential,” and “radial.” Similar terms may also be used to describe illustrated non-limiting embodiments. All such relative terms are useful for describing the clamp assemblies and tools illustrated in Figures 5 to 49, but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, in this specification, “front” (and its related embodiments) means a position or orientation on the cutting head 12 that is forward or preceding in the rotational direction of the impeller 14 attached to the cutting head 12 and rotating within the cutting head 12, and “rear” (and its related embodiments) means a position or orientation on the cutting head 12 that comes after or follows in the rotational direction of the impeller 14.

[0021] For convenience, the same or functionally related / equivalent elements in the various embodiments of the clamp assembly illustrated in Figures 5 to 49 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0022] Figures 5 and 6 are a partial perspective view and a partial side view, respectively, of a first embodiment of a clamp assembly 50 attached to the cutting head 12 of a slicing device 10. The clamp assembly 50 is illustrated to include a knife holder 52, partially concealed, and a clamp 54 that secures a strip-cutting knife 20 to the surface 52A of the knife holder 52. In a non-limiting example, in Figures 5 and 6, the knife 20 is illustrated as a one-piece knife 20 with a handle 21 protruding through an opening 25 in an upper support ring 24, but the knife 20 could also be configured as a handleless knife, such as the handleless two-piece knife 20 shown in Figure 4, in a non-limiting example. As shown in Figure 5, one or more positioning pins 53 protrude from the surface 52A of the knife holder 52 through complementary positioning holes in the knife 20 (e.g., 20C in Figure 4) and are housed in complementary positioning holes 54E of the clamp 54 shown in Figure 7, thereby properly aligning the knife 20 and clamp 54 with the knife holder 52.

[0023] Furthermore, the clamp assembly 50 is illustrated as being mounted between a pair of bases 72 attached to support rings 22 and 24 of the cutting head 12. As is more evident from Figure 7, which shows the clamp 54 removed, the clamp 54 includes a knife engaging portion 54A that forms the leading edge 54C of the clamp 54 and makes physical contact with the knife 20, and thus has a shape complementary to the knife 20, at least to the extent that the knife engaging portion 54A has a slot 56 (Figure 7) for accommodating the tab blade 46 of the knife 20. The clamp 54 further includes a base 54B adjacent to the trailing edge 54D of the clamp 54 and is configured to engage with the knife holder 52 by means of fixing the clamp 54 and applying a clamping load to the clamp 54. As is clear from Figures 5 to 7, the base portion 54B has a width smaller than the width of the knife engagement portion 54A in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the clamp 54, in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the clamp 54 or in the direction parallel to the length (approximately parallel to the front edge 54C of the clamp 54).

[0024] In Figures 5 and 6, the fixing / clamping means for the clamp 54 is illustrated as an eccentric cam rod 60 configured as a quick-clamping function that imparts clamping force to the clamp 54. The cam rod 60 is rotatably mounted between the bases 72 of the cutting head 12 so as to rotate about a central long axis 61 (Figures 6 and 7) of the cam rod 60, through the end of the cam rod 60 which is housed in the base 72 (Figure 6). Figures 5 and 6 further show the upper end 64 of the rod 60 protruding through the upper support ring 24. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, viewed from above in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the cam rod 60 is rotated counterclockwise about its axis 61 using the handle 66 of the rod 60, causing the cam rod 60 to move eccentrically and engage with the base 54B of the clamp 54, thereby engaging the clamp 54 with the knife 20 and clamping the knife 20 in the knife holder 52. This position illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is referred to as the locked position or clamped position. The force applied from the cam rod 60 to the clamp 54 is released by rotating the cam rod 60 counterclockwise around the axis 61. When the cam rod 60 is rotated to the unlocked or open position, the clamping force is sufficiently reduced to allow the knife 20 to be removed. In this open position, referred to as the knife release position, the knife 20 can be removed from the cutting head 12 by grasping the handle 21 of the knife 20 and pulling the knife 20 upward through the opening 25 of the upper support ring 24.

[0025] As is more evident from Figure 7, the cam rod 60 has a cam surface 70, and when the cam rod 60 rotates to the position shown in Figures 5 and 6, it engages with the base 54B of the clamp 54, causing the clamp 54 to engage with the knife 20, and the knife 20 is clamped to the knife holder 52 via the clamp 54. To facilitate the application of a uniform clamping load to the clamp 54, the base 54B of the clamp 54 is shown as being centrally located along the longitudinal length of the clamp 54. In Figure 7, the eccentricity of the cam rod 60 is such that the central long axis 71 of the portion of the cam rod 60 including the cam surface 70 is parallel to the central long axis 61 of the cam rod 60, and the distance d oThis is indicated by the fact that it is offset only in the diametrical direction. As further shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the cam rod 60 has a radial recess 62 (Figure 7) between its bases 72 that forms a concave surface 68 over a portion (most, as shown) of the longitudinal length of the rod 60. The concave surface 68 is also shown to be substantially parallel to the axes 61 and 71, and the radial recess 62 is sized to accommodate the base 54B of the clamp 54. The width of the base 54B of the clamp 54 is also parallel to the cam rod 60 and is smaller than the longitudinal length of the concave surface 62, so when assembled as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the base 54B of the clamp 54 is loosely accommodated in the radial recess 62 when the cam rod 60 is rotated around its axis 61 until the radial recess 62 faces the clamp 54. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, when the cam rod 60 rotates around its axis 61 and the cam surface 70 engages with the clamp 54, the radial recess 62 and concave surface 68 of the cam rod 60 face away from the clamp 54.

[0026] Figures 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, and 10 show the two rotational positions of the cam rod 60 that enable engagement (clamping) and release of the clamp 54. Figures 8A and 8B show the locked position described above, where, as shown in Figure 8B, the cam surface 70 is positioned to engage with the clamp 54, indicated by the dashed line, and the radial recess 62 and concave surface 68 of the cam rod 60 face away from the clamp 54, clamping the knife 20 and securing it to the knife holder 52. In the locked position, the stop pin 65 protruding from the cam rod 60 abuts against the locked stop 74 on the upper support ring 24, and the handle 66 of the cam rod 60 is positioned directly above the opening 25 of the upper support ring 24, preventing access to the handle 21 (not shown) of the knife 20. In Figure 9A, the cam rod 60 has rotated to the aforementioned knife release (open) position, and as shown in Figure 9B, the radial recess 62 and concave surface 68 of the cam rod 60 are positioned to be approximately opposite to the clamp 54, which is indicated by the dashed line, and the cam surface 70 faces approximately opposite to the clamp 54. As is clear from the fact that the cam rod 60 has moved away from the clamp 54 from the position shown in Figure 8B, the combination of the eccentricity of the cam rod 60 and the positions of its recess 62 and concave surface 68 makes it possible to remove the knife 20 from the knife holder 52. In the knife release position, the stop pin 65 protruding from the cam rod 60 contacts the knife release stop 76 on the upper support ring 24 shown in Figures 8A and 9A, so that it is positioned approximately 180 degrees clockwise from the locked stop 74. Furthermore, the handle 66 of the cam rod 60 is not positioned directly above the opening 25 of the upper support ring 24, allowing for easy access to the handle 21 of the knife 20. This allows the knife 20 to be removed from the cutting head 12 by grasping the handle 21 of the knife 20 and pulling it upward through the opening 25 of the upper support ring 24.

[0027] Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views of the cutting head 12 shown in Figures 5, 6, and 8A to 9B, with the cam rod 60 in the knife release position, and showing the clamp 54 partially detached from the clamp assembly 50 and completely removed, respectively. In Figure 11, the knife 20, which was previously fixed by the clamp 54, has also been removed, exposing the knife holder 52 and the knife support surface 52A of the knife holder 52.

[0028] Figures 12 and 13 are perspective views of the cutting head 12 shown in Figures 5, 6, and 8A-11, showing that the cam rod 60 is lifted and the stop pin 65 (not visible in the figures) protruding from the cam rod 60 passes over the knife release stop 76 of the upper support ring 24, allowing the rod 60 to rotate beyond the knife release position shown in Figures 9A, 9B, 10, and 11 to the fully open position. Figure 12 shows that the strip-cutting knife 20 can be mounted with or without the handle 21 before the clamp 54 is mounted to the cutting head 12, and Figure 13 shows that the strip-cutting knife 20 without a handle, for example as shown in Figure 4, and the clamp 54 can be pre-assembled, and then the assembled clamp-knife assembly can be mounted to the cutting head 12. Figures 14 and 15 show step-by-step how the clamp 54 and knife 20 are mounted simultaneously when the cam rod 60 is in the fully open position shown in Figures 12 and 13.

[0029] Figure 16 schematically shows the clamp 54 shown in Figures 5 to 15 alongside a second clamp 54 configured for use in securing a flat knife other than a strip-cutting knife. As is evident from Figure 16, the second clamp 54 differs from the clamps 54 shown in Figures 5 to 15 in that it omits the slot 56 of the knife engagement portion 54A that accommodates the tab blade 46 of the strip-cutting knife 20. Figures 17 and 18 are partial perspective views of the cutting head shown in Figure 5, and show non-limiting examples of flat knives 20 with and without handles, respectively, which can be mounted on the cutting head 12 in combination with, for example, the second clamp 54 shown in Figure 16.

[0030] Figures 19 to 29 show the cutting head 12 shown in Figure 5, which is applicable to an eccentric cam rod 60 different from the rod 60 shown in Figures 5 to 18. The cam rod 60 shown in Figures 19 to 29 also features a quick-clamp function for the clamp assembly 50 to apply clamping force to the clamp 54. In view of the similarities between the cam rod 60 shown in Figures 5 to 18 and the cam rod 60 shown in Figures 19 to 29, the following description will mainly focus on embodiments of the cam rod 60 shown in Figures 19 to 29 that are significantly or substantially different from the cam rod 60 shown in Figures 5 to 18. Other embodiments of further embodiments that are not described in detail are essentially as described with respect to the embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 18 in terms of structure, function, materials, etc.

[0031] The cam rod 60 shown in Figures 19 to 29 is mounted rotatably around its axis 61 between its bases 72, and the upper end 64 of the rod 60 protrudes through an upper support ring 24. Figure 20 shows the locked (or clamped) position of the cam rod 60. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, viewed from above in Figure 20, the cam surface 70 of the cam rod 60 moves eccentrically by rotating the cam rod 60 counterclockwise around its axis 61 using the handle 66 of the rod 60, engaging with the base 54B of the clamp 54, thereby engaging the clamp 54 with a knife 20 (not shown in Figure 20), and the knife 20 is clamped in a knife holder 52. The force applied from the cam rod 60 to the clamp 54 is released by rotating the cam rod 60 counterclockwise around its axis 61. Figure 21 shows the cam rod 60 rotated clockwise from the locked (clamped) position shown in Figure 20 to the knife release (open) position, where the clamping force is sufficiently reduced to allow the knife 20 to be removed from the cutting head 12.

[0032] In Figures 19 to 29, the stop pin 65 shown in Figures 5 to 18 is replaced by a stop flange 65, and in the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the stop flange 65 is a plane projecting radially from the upper end 64 of the rod 60. The stop flange 65 protrudes sufficiently from the cam rod 60 to contact the lock stop 74 (Figure 21) on the upper support ring 24 when the rod 60 is in the locked (clamped) position shown in Figure 20. In this position, the handle 66 of the cam rod 60 is positioned directly above the opening 25 of the upper support ring 24. In Figure 21, the cam rod 60 rotates around its axis 61 to the aforementioned knife release (open) position, in which most of the cam surface 70 is still facing the clamp 54, but the eccentricity of the cam rod 60 causes the cam surface 70 to move sufficiently away from the clamp 54, allowing the knife 20 to be removed from the knife holder 52. In the knife-release position, the stop flange 65 of the cam rod 60 abuts against the knife-release stop 76 on the upper support ring 24, at an angle θ of less than 90 degrees clockwise from the lock stop 74, as shown in Figure 21. In the knife-release position, the handle 66 of the cam rod 60 is no longer positioned directly above the opening 25 of the upper support ring 24.

[0033] The cam rod 60 shown in Figures 19 to 29 further comprises an annular slot 78 and an annular collar 80 located between the upper end 64 of the rod 60 and a concave surface 68. The collar 80 has a concave surface 82 located approximately on the chord of the collar 80. As shown in Figure 19, the concave surface 82 is circumferentially offset from the concave surface 68 of the rod 60 in the clockwise direction of the cam rod 60 when viewed from above in Figure 19. As is clear from Figures 22 and 23, the slot 78, in cooperation with a retaining element 84, holds the cam rod 60 in an axial position relative to the base 72 adjacent to the upper support ring 24. In this axial position, the cam rod 60 is rotatably housed in each of the bases 72, as shown in Figure 20.

[0034] As shown in Figures 21 to 23, the lock stop 74 and the knife release stop 76 are located in recesses on the upper surface of the upper support ring 24. The raised step 86 is located in this recess clockwise from the knife release stop 76. The axial length of the slot 78 is sufficient to lift the cam rod 60 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 23 while keeping the cam rod 60 engaged with the retaining element 84, so that the stop flange 65 can move over the step 86, thereby allowing the cam rod 60 to rotate clockwise around its axis 61 over the knife release stop 76. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in Figure 23, the cam rod 60 has rotated beyond the knife release position shown in Figure 21 to a second open position approximately 90 degrees clockwise from the locked position shown in Figures 20 and 22, so that the stop flange 65 has moved over the step 86 and is resting on the step 86. In the position shown in Figure 23, the concave surface 82 of the collar 80 aligns with the retaining element 84, allowing the collar 80 to move over the retaining element 84 and further lift the cam rod 60 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 23. If desired, this allows the cam rod 60 to be completely removed from the cutting head 12. For this reason, the open position shown in Figure 23 is sometimes referred to as the cam release position of the cam rod 60.

[0035] Figures 24 and 25 schematically show a top view of a portion of the cutting head 12, showing the cam rod 60 in the locked (clamped) position corresponding to Figures 20 and 22, and in the knife-release (open) position corresponding to Figure 21, respectively. As is clear from Figures 24 and 25, which show the contour of the radial recess 62 of the cam rod 60 with dashed lines, the cam surface 70 is mostly facing the clamp 54 in both the locked and knife-release positions. However, in the knife-release position shown in Figure 25, the eccentricity of the cam rod 60 causes the cam surface 70 to disengage sufficiently from the clamp 54, making it possible to remove the knife 20 from the knife holder 52. In Figure 26, the cam rod 60 rotates around its axis 61 to a third open position, which is almost opposite the locked position shown in Figures 20 and 22 (approximately 180 degrees clockwise from the locked position), beyond the knife-release position shown in Figures 21 and 25 and the cam-release position shown in Figure 23. As is clear from Figure 26, the radial recess 62 and concave surface 68 of the cam rod 60 face the clamp 54, providing sufficient clearance between them so that the clamp 54 can be removed from the clamp assembly 50. Therefore, the open position shown in Figure 26 is sometimes referred to as the clamp removal position of the cam rod 60. The presence of a clamp removal position facilitates cleaning of the clamp assembly 50 and its components.

[0036] Figures 27 to 29 are schematic top views showing a part of the cutting head 12, but they show the cam rod 60 rotated around its axis 61 to a position approximately 240 degrees clockwise from the locked position shown in Figures 20 and 22, beyond the clamp removal position shown in Figure 26. As is clear from Figures 27 to 29, the radial recess 62 and concave surface 68 of the cam rod 60 substantially face the clamp 54, forming a larger gap between them so that the clamp 54 can be easily removed from the clamp assembly 50. Figures 27 to 29 show the steps of removing the clamp 54 from the clamp assembly 50.

[0037] The cam rod 60 shown in Figures 19 to 29 is further shown to have a clamp stop bar 88 as an optional element, which has a characteristic shape 90 that allows the trailing edge 54D of the clamp 54 to be positioned opposite it. The clamp stop bar 88 functions to position the leading edge 54C of the clamp 54 close to the leading edge of the knife holder 52.

[0038] Figures 30 to 49 show knife exchange tools 100 that can be used with various cutting devices, including but not limited to the centrifugal type slicing device 10 shown in Figure 1. Non-limiting embodiments of the tool 100 are illustrated and described with reference to the slicing device 10 having either the cutting head 12 and impeller 14 shown with reference to Figure 1, or the cutting head 12 shown with reference to Figures 2 to 29. However, the tool 100 is generally applicable to other types of cutting devices and cutting heads. Furthermore, the tool 100 is particularly applicable to the mounting and removal of various strip-cutting knives, including the strip-cutting knife 20 shown with reference to Figures 4 to 29, but is not limited thereto. In view of similarities among the tools 100, identical or functionally related / equivalent elements of the tool 100 are denoted by the same reference numerals in Figures 30 to 49.

[0039] A first embodiment of the knife changing tool 100 comprises a base 102, an actuator 104, and a handle 106, as shown in Figures 30 to 36. As shown in Figures 30 to 33, the base 102 has a substantially elongated shape with a rectangular cross-section, comprising a bottom surface 108, an upper surface 110 located on the opposite side, a front surface 112, and a back surface 114 located on the opposite side. The handle 106 is fixed to the base 102 by a screw mechanism to maintain a fixed position relative to the base 102, and the actuator 104 is fixed to the base 102 so as to be displaceable relative to the base 102 in a displacement direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 108.

[0040] In the non-limiting embodiments shown in Figures 30 to 36, the base 102 has a plurality of parallel holes 116, each housing a pin 118 extending from the bar 120 of the actuator 104. The holes 116 open to the lower surface 108, and the distal portion of each pin 118 is positioned adjacent to the lower surface 108 of the base 102. By arranging the holes 116 and pins 118 parallel to the displacement direction of the actuator 104, the actuator 104 is able to displace in the displacement direction. In the illustrated embodiments, each hole 116 has a shoulder 122, and the pin 118 housed in the hole 116 has an opposing shoulder 124, so a cavity is formed inside the hole 116 surrounding the pin 118, and a compression spring 126 is included that can bias the pin 118 toward the lower surface 108 of the base 102. Alternatively, the tool 100 may have a configuration in which the number of holes 116 with springs 126 is less than the total number of holes 116. Although a coil spring 126 has been illustrated, other biasing means may be used, and non-limiting examples include one or more springs (including gas or hydraulic) and / or elastic members that apply pressure, tension, or torsional force and are actuated via a lever or other intermediate mechanism.

[0041] The length of the pins 118 extending from the bar 120 of the actuator 104 relative to the length of each hole 116 is preferably such that, when the pins 118 are fully inserted into the hole 116 under the influence of the spring 126, the distal end 128 of each pin 118 is coplanar with, or at least close to, the lower surface 108 of the base 102. A magnet 130 is housed in a cavity located at the distal end 128 of each pin 118, and each magnet 130 has an exposed surface 132 that is coplanar with, or at least close to, the lower surface 108 of the base 102. Various magnetic materials can be used for the magnets 130. A suitable magnetic material can generate a magnetic field strong enough to magnetically capture ferromagnetic materials such as the clamp 54 and / or knife 20 described above, which are positioned relative to or close to the lower surface 108 of the base 102.

[0042] As shown in Figure 31, the actuator 104 includes a trigger or tab 134 protruding from the bar 120 of the actuator 104, the tab 134 being positioned on the rear side of the base 102 and protruding above the rear surface 114 of the base 102. The tab 134 and handle 106 are positioned and oriented so that an operator can grasp the tab 134 at the same time as grasping the handle 106, and can pull the tab 134 away from the base 102. By pulling the tab 134 away from the base 102, the actuator 104 is displaced against the biasing effect of the spring 126, as shown in Figure 33. The magnet 130 retracts into the hole 116 of the base 102. In this position, the magnet 130's ability to grasp ferromagnetic materials, such as the knife 20 and / or clamp 54, is significantly reduced to the extent that, for example, the magnet 130 can no longer hold the knife 20 and / or clamp 54 against the lower surface 108 of the base 102. By releasing the tab 134, the spring 126 displaces the actuator 104 toward the base 102, thereby causing the bar 120 to contact the upper surface 110 of the base 102, where the distal end 128 of the pin 118 and the magnet 130 are close to the lower surface 108 of the base 102. In this position, the magnet 130 can grasp ferromagnetic materials, such as the knife 20 and / or clamp 54, and hold them against the lower surface 108 of the base 102.

[0043] Figures 34 to 36 show the state in which the tool 100 simultaneously grips the clamp 54 and the knife 20, by positioning the pin 118 of the actuator 104 relative to the base 102 such that the lower surface 108 of the base 102 is positioned relative to or close to the clamp 54, and the exposed surface 132 of the magnet 130 is coplanar with or close to the lower surface 108 of the base 102 (see Figure 32). If the clamp assembly 50 is equipped with a positioning pin 53, the slot 136 in the lower surface 108 of the base 102 allows the base 102 to straddle this positioning pin 53, so that the lower surface 108 can directly contact the clamp 54, the knife 20, etc. By grasping the tab 134 and pulling it away from the base 102, the actuator 104 is displaced away from the base 102 against the biasing effect of the spring 126 until the magnet 130 is sufficiently drawn into the hole 116 of the base 102 and the clamp 54 is released (see Figure 33).

[0044] Figures 37 to 49 show additional embodiments of the knife changing tool 100. The following description will primarily focus on embodiments of the tool 100 shown in Figures 37 to 49 that differ significantly or substantially from the tool 100 shown in Figures 30 to 36. Other embodiments of the embodiments shown in Figures 37 to 49 that are not described in detail will be essentially the same as those described for the embodiments shown in Figures 30 to 36 in terms of structure, function, materials, etc.

[0045] The actuator 104 of the tool 100 shown in Figures 37 to 40 is operated via a trigger 134 that the operator can grasp by hand while holding the handle 106. By pulling the trigger 134 toward the handle 106, the actuator 104 is displaced away from the base 102 against the biasing effect of the spring 126, causing the magnet 130 to be retracted into the hole 116 of the base 102, similar to that shown in Figure 33. This operation is based on the fact that the trigger 134 consists of an extension of an arm 134A, which is coupled to the base 102 and the actuator 104 via a pivot pin 138 located on the base 102 and a cam follower 140 located on the actuator 104. The cam follower 140 is located within a cam slot 142 of the arm 134A and converts the arc-shaped trajectory of the trigger 134 and the arm 134A around the pivot pin 138 into a linear displacement of the actuator 104. When the trigger 134 is released, the spring 126 displaces the actuator 104 toward the base 102, allowing the pin 118 to be pulled into the base 102. The tool 100 shown in Figures 37 to 40 optionally has additional features consisting of a removable handle 106 (Figure 40) and a pry bar 144 attached to the handle 106 to assist in the removal of the clamp 54 or knife 20.

[0046] The tool 100 shown in Figures 41 to 45 does not include the actuator 104 and tab / trigger 134 of the previously described embodiment. The tool 100 includes a pair of positioning pins 146 located in holes 148 of the base 102 and biased toward the lower surface 108 of the base 102 by a spring 150. The positioning pins 146 are positioned in the base 102 and are sized to simultaneously accommodate, for example, the positioning holes 54E and 20C of the clamp 54 and knife 20 shown in Figure 7, and in Figures 4 and 12, respectively, so that the clamp 54 and knife 20 are precisely positioned on the tool 100 while being held by the magnet 130 before and during the process of attaching the clamp 54 and knife 20 to the knife holder 52. During installation, the positioning pin 146 is aligned with the positioning pin 53 of the knife holder 52, and as the tool 100 is pressed against the knife holder 52 and the positioning pin 146 is pulled into the base 102 against the biasing force of the spring 150, the clamp 54 and knife 20 are transferred to the knife holder 52 and its positioning pin 53, as shown in Figure 45.

[0047] The tool 100 shown in Figures 46 to 49 is a combination of specific embodiments of the tool 100 shown in Figures 30 to 45. For example, the tool 100 shown in Figures 46 to 49 includes an actuator 104 reciprocally attached to a base 102 by pins 118, similar to the embodiments shown in Figures 30 to 40, and a positioning pin 146 reciprocally attached within the base 102, similar to the embodiments shown in Figures 41 to 45. Furthermore, the tool 100 shown in Figures 46 to 49 includes magnets 130, shown in Figures 48 and 49, attached to the distal ends of one or more pins 118, similar to the embodiments shown in Figures 30 to 40. Similar to the embodiments shown in Figures 41 to 45, the positioning pin 146 is positioned on the base 102, and the positioning pin 146 is sized to accommodate simultaneously in the positioning holes 54E and 20C of the clamp 54 and knife 20 shown in Figure 7, Figure 4, and Figure 12, respectively. This ensures that the clamp 54 and knife 20 are accurately positioned on the tool 100 during the process of attaching the clamp 54 and knife 20 to the knife holder 52.

[0048] In the tool 100 shown in Figures 46 to 49, the positioning pins 146 are configured to be displaced relative to the pins 118. Each positioning pin 146 is configured to retract at least partially into the hole 148 when the magnet 130 of the pin 118 is biased toward the lower surface 108 of the base 102 by the spring 126, and each positioning pin 146 is displaced such that it protrudes from the lower surface 108 of the base 102 when the magnet 130 is retracted into the hole 116 in the base 102.

[0049] The magnet 130 and positioning pin 146 are retracted into the base 102 and pulled toward the handle 106 via the operation of a trigger (not shown), such as the type shown for the tool 100 in Figures 30-36, which can be grasped by an operator while holding the handle 106 with their hand. As a result, the actuator 104 is displaced away from the base 102 against the biasing effect of the spring 126, as shown in Figures 47 and 49. When the actuator 104 is positioned relative to the upper surface 110 of the base 102, as shown in Figures 46 and 48, the magnet 130 is coplanar with or close to the lower surface 108 of the base 102, as shown in Figure 48. When the actuator 104 is displaced away from the base 102, as shown in Figures 47 and 49, the magnet 130 is retracted into the hole 116 of the base 102, as shown in Figure 49. The magnet 130 and the positioning pin 146 are interconnected such that as the actuator 104 is displaced away from the base 102, the magnet 130 is pulled towards the base 102, causing the positioning pin 146 to move in the opposite direction, i.e., to extend, so that the positioning pin 146 protrudes from the lower surface 108 of the base 102, as shown in Figure 49. On the other hand, when the actuator 104 is displaced toward the base 102, the magnet 130 is displaced toward the lower surface 108 of the base 102, and the positioning pin 146 retracts into the base 102, as shown in Figure 48. This operation ensures that when the clamp 54 is held in place by the magnet 130, the positioning pin 146 does not get in the way and does not interfere with the positioning pin 53 of the knife holder 52. However, when the magnet 130 is retracted, the positioning pin 146 can be used to align the clamp 54 with the tool 100.

[0050] Figures 46 and 47 show non-limiting embodiments of means for interconnecting the magnet 130 and the positioning pin 146 to cause them to move in opposite directions within the base 102. In the illustrated embodiments, the cam follower 141 is provided at the upper end of the pin 146 and is positioned in a slot 143 within the base 102. Each cam follower 141 is housed in a cam slot 142 within an arm 134A, which houses a second cam follower 140 connected to the actuator 104. The movement of the actuator 104 is limited to reciprocating motion relative to the base 102 via a pin 118 housed in a hole 116 of the base 102. The actuator 104 is biased away from the base 102, as shown in Figures 47 and 49, by the biasing effect of a spring 126 mounted within the base 102 and the pin 118, as shown in Figures 48 and 49. The positioning pin 146 is biased to retract toward the base 102, as shown in Figures 46 and 48, by the interconnection between the magnet 130 and the positioning pin 146 via the arm 134A, and by the biasing effect of the spring 126 attached to the magnet 130.

[0051] Under the influence of spring 126, actuator 104 contacts the upper surface 110 of base 102, and tool 100 takes on the appearance shown in Figures 46 and 48. While actuator 104 is displaced away from base 102, cam followers 140 and 141 are located within their respective cam slots 142 of arm 134A, and to accommodate the linear displacement of actuator 104 and the position of positioning pin 146, arm 134A pivots around pivot pin 138, and positioning pin 146 extends from base 102 as actuator 104 is displaced away from base 102, as is evident from the comparison of Figures 46 and 47, and Figures 48 and 49.

[0052] As described above, the present invention has been described in terms of specific aspects relating to one or more specific embodiments, but alternative embodiments of the present invention are also applicable to those skilled in the art. For example, the clamp assembly 50, the tool 100, the cutting head, and the apparatus on which they are mounted or used may differ in their external appearance and structure from those shown. The clamp assembly 50 and the tool 100 may also be used with knives different from those shown. For example, they may differ in shape (flat or specific shape), and if they are shaped knives, they may differ in amplitude (distance from valley to peak) and / or pitch (distance between peaks). Furthermore, a variety of materials and processes can be employed to manufacture the clamp assembly 50, the tool 100, and their components. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein or illustrated embodiments.

Claims

1. A knife replacement tool for attaching and detaching knives to the cutting unit of the device, The knife replacement tool is A base having a surface and at least a first hole opening into the surface, A first pin having a distal portion housed in the first hole and positioned adjacent to the surface of the base, A biasing means for biasing the first pin such that the distal portion of the first pin is biased toward the surface of the base, At least one first magnet is positioned on the distal portion of the first pin, and when the distal portion of the first pin is biased toward the surface of the base by the biasing means, it is coplanar with the surface of the base or close to the surface of the base. An actuator connected to the first pin and acting to retract the first pin and the first magnet into the first hole of the base against the biasing effect of the biasing means, Equipped with, Knife replacement tool.

2. The knife changing tool according to claim 1, wherein when the first pin is retracted into the first hole of the base against the biasing effect of the biasing means, the first magnet retracts into the first hole, and the ability of the first magnet to grip a ferromagnetic material is attenuated to such an extent that the first magnet can no longer hold the knife against the surface of the base, and when the first magnet of the first pin is in close proximity to the surface of the base, the first magnet grips the knife and holds the knife against the surface of the base.

3. The knife changing tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool further comprises a slot formed on the surface of the base for accommodating a positioning pin for the knife on the cutting unit of the apparatus.

4. A second pin having a positioning pin that is housed in the second hole of the base and forms the distal end, Means for displacing the second pin relative to the first pin, Furthermore, The positioning pin of the second pin retracts at least partially into the second hole when the first magnet of the first pin is biased toward the surface of the base by the biasing means, and protrudes from the surface of the base when the first magnet of the first pin retracts into the first hole of the base. The knife changing tool according to claim 1.

5. The knife changing tool according to claim 4, wherein when the first pin is retracted into the first hole of the base against the biasing effect of the biasing means, the first magnet retracts into the first hole, and the ability of the first magnet to grip a ferromagnetic material is attenuated to such an extent that the first magnet can no longer hold the knife against the surface of the base, and when the first magnet of the first pin is in close proximity to the surface of the base, the first magnet grips the knife and holds it against the surface of the base.

6. The knife replacement tool according to claim 4, further comprising a slot formed on the surface of the base portion to accommodate a positioning pin for the knife on the cutting unit of the apparatus.

7. Using the knife replacement tool described in claim 1, The knife is magnetically held to the surface of the base using the first magnet, and Retracting the first pin into the first hole of the base, the knife is removed from the knife replacement tool. A method for changing the knife, which includes [a specific feature / feature].

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the cutting unit is an annular cutting head of a slicing device.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising aligning the knife replacement tool with respect to the cutting unit by inserting the positioning pin of the cutting unit into a slot on the surface of the base.

Images