Knife blade retraction mechanism for a food article slicing machine
US8616103B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 21, 2008 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T409/30392
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A food article slicing machine includes a slicing station, a food article feed apparatus, and an automated blade retraction mechanism. The food article feed apparatus supports one or more food articles for movement along food article paths intersecting the cutting path. The automated blade retraction mechanism periodically retracts the blade from the cutting plane to make empty cuts during a continuous cutting operation. The retracting mechanism includes a sliding member arranged outside the blade shaft, the sliding member guided for sliding movement and non-rotation and arranged to exert a sliding force on the blade shaft. A linear actuator causes the sliding member to slide and exert a sliding force on the blade shaft to retract the knife blade away from the cutting plane in a direction along the axis of the blade shaft.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.