Cutting apparatus for moving foodstuff strand

Details Cutting apparatus for moving foodstuff strand Cutting apparatus for moving foodstuff strand

1999-12-01

2001-05-29

Bray, W. Donald (Department: 3725)

Cutting

Cutting motion of tool has component in direction of moving...

With means to initiate intermittent tool action

C083S286000, C083S328000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06237456

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cutting apparatus. More particularly this invention concerns such an apparatus used to cut a moving strand, for instance of a foodstuff such as processed cheese, into a succession of pieces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to cut a moving strand, for instance formed of it a stack of strips of cheese slices, into a succession of pieces it is often necessary to make the cut on the fly, that is while the workpiece strand is moving. So long as the strand is not too tall, this can be done by a quick chopping action in which the blade cuts through the strand and retracts so quickly that the strand does not move appreciably during the cutting operation. The cut will be essentially perpendicular to the strand, producing a piece which has neatly squared ends. If,
If however, the strand is somewhat taller it is impossible to move the blade down through it and then back out fast enough to form a perpendicular cut and not disturb the movement of the strand through the cutting apparatus. At the very least the cut will extend at an acute angle to a perpendicular to the travel direction, the upper and lower ends of the being cut offset by the distance the strand travels between the time the knife enters the top of the strand and the time it cuts through the lower surface of the strand.
Recourse is therefore to a system where the knife moves perpendicular to the strand travel direction on a carriage that itself can move parallel to this direction. The knife is reciprocated vertically and the carriage horizontally in synchronism so that as the knife is cutting through the strand it is moving synchronously with the strand, performing a perfect perpendicular cut.
While such a system is highly effective, the mechanism is fairly complex, in particular with respect to synchronizing the movement of the carriage with that of the knife. This complexity adds to equipment costs and makes the system particularly difficult to clean, something that is a problem with a machine handling foodstuff.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved cutting apparatus for a moving strand.
Another object is the provision of such an improved cutting apparatus for a moving strand which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which forms a perfectly perpendicular cut and that is relatively simple.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus for cutting a strand moving continuously in a direction through a cutting station into a succession of pieces has according to the invention a blade in the station lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction, a mount carrying the blade, and a wheel rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the plane and perpendicular to the direction and having offset from the axis a pivot attached to the mount. A controller/drive vertically reciprocates the mount and rotates the wheel for cutting through the strand with the blade while moving the blade synchronously in the direction with the strand. The drive rotates the wheel at such a speed and reciprocates the mount at such a speed that the blade cuts through the strand perpendicular to the direction.
The use of a wheel and a blade mounted eccentrically on it is particularly advantageous in that it is a very simple way to move the blade in the direction synchronously with the strand being cut, so as to form the desired perpendicular cut. The mechanism is quite simple and, when the wheels are rotated by a standard stepping motor it is relatively easy to vary the angular speed of the wheel in dependence on a vertical position of the blade.
According to to a further feature of the invention the mount includes a holder carrying the blade and a vertical guide rail secured to the wheel at the pivot and along which the holder is reciprocal. The drive includes a linear actuator braced between the holder and the guide rail.
For maximum stability a second wheel rotatable about a second axis parallel to and below the axis of the first-mentioned wheel has offset from the axis a second pivot attached to the mount below the pivot of the first wheel. The drive rotates the first and second wheels synchronously. It is of course possible to provide a third and even fourth synchronously rotating wheel for maximum stability.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3138074 (1964-06-01), Hartbauer
patent: 3466961 (1969-09-01), Konovalov et al.
patent: 3869948 (1975-03-01), Rau
patent: 3875838 (1975-04-01), Reppert
patent: 4646164 (1987-02-01), Pavlov
patent: 2318970 (1974-10-01), None
patent: 206756 (1984-02-01), None
patent: 3935435 (1991-05-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Cutting apparatus for moving foodstuff strand does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Cutting apparatus for moving foodstuff strand, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cutting apparatus for moving foodstuff strand will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2559116