Cutting – With means to convey work relative to tool station – Plural passes of diminishing work piece through tool station
Utility Patent
1997-06-23
2001-01-02
Dexter, Clark F. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
With means to convey work relative to tool station
Plural passes of diminishing work piece through tool station
C083S717000, C083S729000, C083S932000
Utility Patent
active
06167791
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a carriage for a food slicer which holds the food product during slicing, and more particularly, to a carriage having two spaced handles and a carriage in which the means for supporting the food grip can be mounted in the front or back of the food product.
Slicing machines have been commercially available for many years. Typical food slicers have a rotatable, circular or disc-like slicing blade, and use a gravity feed to keep the food product in contact with the slicing blade. In such an arrangement, the rotating slicing blade is supported for rotation about an axis which is oriented in a plane extending at an angle to vertical, such as an angle of about 45 degrees. The slicers also generally include a gauge plate associated with the knife for determining the thickness of the slice and a carriage for supporting the food as it is moved past the cutting edge of the knife during slicing.
The food product-supporting carriage is mounted in a position generally perpendicular to the slicing plane and supports the food product as it reciprocates on a linear path past the cutting edge of the knife. To set the carriage in motion, the user must physically move the carriage by hand. As the carriage is withdrawn on its return stroke from the blade, the food product slides down the inclined carriage surface by the force of gravity and into contact with the gauge plate. As the carriage is then moved on its forward or slicing stroke, the food product will engage the knife and a slice will be removed, with the thickness of the slice being determined by the position of the gauge plate with respect to the knife.
Slicers of this type may be operated either manually or controlled automatically. When using an automatic control, a specific number of slices may be produced in a slicing operation, thereby adding convenience for the user and minimizing food product wastage. To enhance productivity, the slicer may also be able to control the stroke length for the carriage as well as the carriage speed.
However, conventional slicers have been inconvenient or difficult to use. The handles in the prior art slicers are often inconveniently located, uncomfortable to use, and may require the user to exert a high degree of force. Therefore, a need exists for an improved carriage for a food slicer which overcomes the disadvantages of the conventional slicers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a carriage for supporting a food product as it is carried past a slicing blade of a food slicer. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carriage includes two separate handles, an adjustable slide rod and is shaped to receive a slide rod on either of two opposed sides. The invention also optionally includes a handle support and a food grip having floating bushings.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the carriage for a food slicer includes a tray for supporting a food product, the tray having a relatively flat portion and an upstanding side portion, a food gripping portion attached to the tray, a first handle attached to the upstanding side portion of the tray for moving the tray in a reciprocating motion and a second handle attached to the upstanding side portion of the tray, wherein the second handle is at a location apart from the first handle.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, at least one of the handles extends at an angle with respect to the tray and is adjustable. The handles are preferably sufficiently long so as to be grasped by a user in a plurality of locations on each said handle. When one of the handles is not in use, a cap is provided to cover a handle attachment on the carriage. In addition, the carriage may include a hanger for holding the gripping portion when not in use.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the carriage for a food slicer includes a tray for supporting a food product, a food gripping portion attached to the tray, at least one handle attached to the tray for moving the tray, a slide rod removably attached to the tray such that the food gripping portion is slidably received on the slide rod, wherein the slide rod can be attached to either of the opposing sides of the tray.
In a preferred embodiment, the carriage includes two threaded rod attachments on the tray to receive a slide rod, the first attachment being located on one side of the tray and the second attachment being located on the opposing side of the tray. In this manner, the tray may receive the slide rod on either opposed side. The threaded attachments are preferably capped when not in use. The carriage also includes a support handle for connecting the food grip to the slide rod. The support handle is slidably received on the slide rod on a through hole. The carriage may also include a handle support to which the slide rod may be attached, wherein the handle support is attached to the tray and two handles are attached to the support such that they are attached on the upstanding retaining wall of the tray.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a carriage which has two handles to provide for more gripping combinations, and wherein the carriage is adjustable to provide additional flexibility in operation.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
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Heckman Thomas B.
Mitchell Danny J.
Radwin Robert Gerry
Dexter Clark F.
Premark FEG L.L.C.
Thompson Hine & Flory LLP
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