Knife fixture with broken blade detector
US6041682A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T83/85
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved knife fixture is provided of the type having a plurality of knife blades for cutting food products, such as cutting potatoes into elongated French fry strips, wherein the knife fixture includes a detector system and method for promptly indicating breakage of a knife blade. The knife fixture generally comprises a fixture frame adapted to support the plurality of knife blades under tension during normal cutting operation, in accordance with the knife fixture disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,623. The detector system and method comprises, in one preferred form, mounting the knife blades for passage of an electrical current and monitoring the current level for abrupt changes indicative of a broken blade. In another preferred form, a strain gauge is provided on the fixture frame to measure the tension force applied to the knife blades, and to permit monitoring of abrupt changes in tension indicative of a broken blade.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.