Adjustable slicing apparatus

Claim 2

Slicing apparatus comprising in combination: a support frame and cutting anvil; a rotating slicer blade assembly pivotally mounted on said frame; means coupled to the blade assembly for angularly displacing said blade assembly forwardly of said cutting anvil from a first cutting position to a second cutting position; and means for feeding a slab of material to be sliced across said anvil and into the path of the rotating blade of said assembly in the second cutting position.

Claim 3

A machine for slicing a slab of bacon or the like, comprising the combination of: rotary cutter means displaceably mounted on a support means; feeder means to advance said slab across a cutting anvil toward the cutting plane of said rotary cutter means; and means connected to said cutter means for angularly displacing said cutter means from one position in which the cutting plane is perpendicular to said slab, to another position angularly displaced forwardly from the perpendicular plane and in which said slab is cut on a bias.

Claim 4

A machine for slicing a slab of bacon or the like, comprising the combination of: rotary cutter means displaceably mounted on a support means; feeder means to advance said slab across a cutting anvil toward the cutting plane of said rotary cutter means; and means connected to said cutter means for angularly displacing said cutter means from one position in which the cutting plane is perpendicular to said slab, to another position angularly displaced forwardly from the perpendicular plane and in which said slab is cut on a bias.

Claim 5

The machine combination of claim 2 wherein said other position is determined by the height dimension of said slab, and said angular displacing means includes means for retaining said cutter means in said other position during slicing of said slab.

Claim 6

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a Bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position; means for driving said advancing means; a cutting anvil mounted on said frame; and guide means mounted on said cutting anvil through which said slab is moved forward into the path of said cutting blade.

Claim 7

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a Bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position; means for driving said advancing means; a cutting anvil mounted on said frame; and guide means mounted on said cutting anvil through which said slab is moved forward into the path of said cutting blade.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the distance between the foremost point of said cutting anvil and the cutting edge of said blade is substantially constant for at least 50* of angular displacement from the vertical position of said blade.

Claim 9

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; a slicer drive means mounted on said slicer assembly; means coupling said drive means to said rotary blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position; and means for driving said advancing means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; a slicer drive means mounted on said slicer assembly; means coupling said drive means to said rotary blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position; and means for driving said advancing means.

Claim 11

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position; means for driving said advancing means; and said angular displacing means includes a counter balance assembly coupled to said slicer assembly, a motor drive means, and coupling means connecting said motor drive means to said counter balance, whereby the motor drive means controls the position of said slicer assembly through positioning of said counter balance assembly.

Claim 12

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position; means for driving said advancing means; and said angular displacing means includes a counter balance assembly coupled to said slicer assembly, a motor drive means, and coupling means connecting said motor drive means to said counter balance, whereby the motor drive means controls the position of said slicer assembly through positioning of said counter balance assembly.

Claim 13

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position including a pair of tractor feeds; and means for driving said advancing means including means for driving said tractor feeds so that said slabs are moved forward between said pair in a uniform manner into the cutting path of said blade.

Claim 14

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position including a pair of tractor feeds; and means for driving said advancing means including means for driving said tractor feeds so that said slabs are moved forward between said pair in a uniform manner into the cutting path of said blade.

Claim 15

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position including a lower tractor feed; a hold-down tractor feed means; and means for driving said advancing means including means for driving said feed and feed means so that the slabs are conveyed between said feed and feed means into the cutting path of said blade.

Claim 16

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position including a lower tractor feed; a hold-down tractor feed means; and means for driving said advancing means including means for driving said feed and feed means so that the slabs are conveyed between said feed and feed means into the cutting path of said blade.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said hold-dowN tractor feed means includes a pair of tractor means rotatably mounted about a forward and rearward shaft, one of which is driven; and means for rigidly connecting said forward and rearward shafts.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said forward shaft is slidably mounted in said slicer assembly.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said forward shaft includes pressure finger means for applying pressure on said slab to facilitate the cutting by said rotating blade.

Claim 20

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position; means for driving said advancing means; and said means for driving include a driven pivotal gear assembly, and means coupling said gear assembly to said advancing means.

Claim 21

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon or the like comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a selected position which permits slicing of the slabs on a bias in the selected position; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced and selected position; means for driving said advancing means; and said means for driving include a driven pivotal gear assembly, and means coupling said gear assembly to said advancing means.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 13 including hydraulic motor means coupled by gear and coupling means to said pivotal assembly.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 13 including in said pivotal gear assembly a driven gear and a pivotal gear movable on the circumference of said driven gear in accordance with the displacement of said slicer assembly.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 15 including means for maintaining a predetermined tension on said pivotal gear.

Claim 25

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a position which permits slicing of slabs on a predetermined bias; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced position; means for driving said advancing means in the angular displaced position; said slicer assembly including a slicer drive means mounted on said slicer assembly, and means coupling said drive means to said rotary blade, said angular displacing means includes a counter balance assembly coupled to said slicer assembly, a motor drive means, and coupling means connecting said motor drive means to said counter balance, whereby the motor drive means positions said slicer assembly, said means for advancing including a lower tractor feed, and a hold-down tractor feed means, said hold-down tractor feed means includes a pair of tractor means rotatably mounted about a forward and rearward shaft, one of which is driven, and said means for driving include a driven pivotal gear assembly, and means coupling said gear assembly to said advancing means.

Claim 26

Apparatus for slicing slabs of bacon comprising in combination: a support frame; a slicer assembly pivotally mounted on said frame, and a rotary slicing blade positioned in said assembly for cutting slabs conveyed through the cutting path of said blade; means for angularly displacing said assembly and retaining the assembly in a position which permits slicing of slabs on a predetermined bias; means for advancing said slabs through the path of said blade in the angular displaced position; means for driving said advancing means in the angular displaced position; said slicer assembly including a slicer drive means mounted on said slicer assembly, and means coupling said drive means to said rotary blade, said angular displacing means includes a counter balance assembly coupled to said slicer assembly, a motor drive means, and coupling means connecting said motor drive means to said counter balance, whereby the motor drive means positions said slicer assembly, said means for advancing including a lower tractor feed, and a hold-down tractor feed means, said hold-down tractor feed means includes a pair of tractor means rotatably mounted about a forward and rearward shaft, one of which is driven, and said means for driving include a driven pivotal gear assembly, and means coupling said gear assembly to said advancing means.