Cutting – With means to convey work relative to tool station – Plural passes of diminishing work piece through tool station
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2001-04-03
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
With means to convey work relative to tool station
Plural passes of diminishing work piece through tool station
C083S932000, C083S707000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209438
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to a slicer having an interlock mechanism, and more particularly, to a slicer having an interlock mechanism that prevents the tray arm of the slicer from being uncoupled from the slicer when the slicer is not in the desired configuration.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Commercial food product slicers are widely utilized as rapid and effective means for slicing meat, cheese, vegetables and other food products. The slicers commonly include a rotatable, disc-like blade, and a reciprocating tray that brings the food product into contact with the rotating blade to cut a slice from the food product. Most slicers also include a movable gauge plate that adjusts the position of the food product relative the blade, which varies the thickness of the slices cut off of the food product. The gauge plate typically has a “closed” position, wherein the gauge plate is slightly raised relative the blade such that the food product cannot be cut by the blade.
It is often desired to remove the tray from the slicer body to clean food, fat, or other debris off of the tray. Once the tray is removed from the slicer, it is typically carried to a sink for rinsing and cleaning. Many slicers use an interlock mechanism to ensure that the tray can only be removed from the slicer when the gauge plate is in its closed position, or when the tray is in its home position. However, existing interlock mechanisms may require a large number of parts, and many of the parts must be precision machined. Furthermore, in existing interlock mechanisms a relatively high number of components of the interlock mechanism may be located on the tray instead of being located on the body of the slicer, which makes cleaning of the tray more difficult. Accordingly, there is a need for an interlock mechanism for a slicer that has a relatively low part count and which minimizes the number of components located on the tray.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is slicer having an interlock mechanism which has a relatively low part count and minimizes the number of parts of the interlock mechanism located on the tray. Because the number of parts of the interlock mechanism located on the tray is minimized, most of the components of the interlock mechanism remain protected on the body of the slicer, and the tray is easier to clean.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a slicer having an interlock mechanism, the slicer comprising a tray for receiving a food product to be sliced, the tray being movable along a slicing path and having a tray arm. The slicer further includes a blade for slicing the food product as the tray moves along the slicing path and a carriage having a locking arm for receiving the tray arm. The locking arm is movable between a release position wherein the tray arm can be placed into and removed from the locking arm, and a locking position wherein the tray arm cannot be placed into or removed from the locking arm. The slicer has a gauge plate adjuster for controlling the position of a gauge plate in the slicer, and the gauge plate adjuster has a recess formed therein. At least part of the locking arm is received in the recess of the gauge plate adjuster when the locking arm is in the release position.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
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Blackburn Neal H.
Mitchell Dan J.
Premark FEG L.L.C.
Rachuba M.
Thompson Hine & Flory LLP
Tran Kim Ngoc
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