Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6209438
-
Patent Number
6,209,438
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, December 22, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 3, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Rachuba; M.
- Tran; Kim Ngoc
Agents
- Thompson Hine & Flory LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 083 932
- 083 77
- 083 729
- 083 730
- 083 719
- 083 714
- 083 717
- 083 703
- 083 707
- 083 4107
- 083 4108
- 083 412
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
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.
Description
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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a slicer incorporating a preferred embodiment of the interlock of the present invention, with the slicer arm being located in the home position;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the slicer of
FIG. 1
, with the slicer arm in a non-home position;
FIG. 3A
is a side, cross section view of the slicer of
FIG. 1
, locking arm in its release position;
FIG. 3B
is a side, cross section view of the slicer of
FIG. 3A
, with the locking arm in its locking position and the tray arm retained in the locking arm;
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of the carriage, gauge plate cam and hold-down bar of the slicer of
FIG. 1
, with the locking arm in its locking position;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of the carriage, gauge plate cam and hold-down bar of
FIG. 4
, along with part of the slicer arm, with the locking arm in its release position;
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of the carriage, gauge plate cam and hold-down bar of
FIG. 4
, with the gauge plate cam rotated from its position shown in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of the carriage, gauge plate cam and hold-down bar of
FIG. 6
, with the carriage in a non-home position;
FIG. 8
is a perspective view of the locking arm;
FIG. 9
is a perspective view of the carriage, gauge plate cam and hold-down bar of
FIG. 6
, with the carriage in a non-home position;
FIG. 10
is a perspective view showing various internal mechanisms of the slicer of
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 11
is a detail perspective view showing the traverse bar and the gauge plate cam.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the present invention is an interlock mechanism for use in a slicer
10
. The slicer
10
includes a tray
12
having a “V”-shaped plate
14
to receive the food product to be sliced. The tray
12
includes a tray arm
16
, and the tray
12
is typically powered along the slicing path A by a motor (not shown). Alternately, a user may grip the handle
18
and manually move the tray
16
along the slicing path A. The slicer
10
also includes a rotating, circular blade
20
having a central axis B. As the tray
12
reciprocates along the slicing path A, the tray
12
brings the food product into contact with the blade
20
to cut a slice off of the food product.
The tray arm
16
is coupled to a carriage
22
that extends below the body of the slicer
10
and includes an upwardly-extending end plate
24
(See FIGS.
3
-
4
). The carriage
22
can be driven along the slicing path A and thereby drives the tray arm
16
along the slicing path A. During operation of the slicer, the tray
12
and carriage
22
preferably begin a slicing stroke at the home position, shown in FIG.
1
. When in the home position, the tray
12
and carriage
22
are located closest to the operator and controls
21
, and furthest from the blade
20
. The tray
12
is shown in a non-home position in
FIG. 2
, where the tray
12
has completed a partial slicing stroke.
The slicer
10
includes a gauge plate
32
that is movable to adjust the thickness of the slice cut by the blade
20
. The gauge plate
32
supports the food product as the tray
12
is passed across the blade
20
, and the gauge plate
32
is movable along a line that is parallel to the central axis B of the blade
20
. The closer the gauge plate
32
is located to the plane of the blade
20
, the thinner the slice cut by the slicer
10
. Thus, adjusting the position of the gauge plate
32
also adjusts the thickness of the slice. The gauge plate
32
may also be moved to a fully closed position wherein the gauge plate is flush with, or extends beyond, the blade
20
to substantially cover and protect the blade
20
.
As shown in
FIG. 10
, the gauge plate
32
is mounted onto a yoke
33
. The yoke
33
is, in turn, coupled to a connecting rod
34
that extends generally parallel to the central axis B of the blade
20
and blade support
23
. The connecting rod
34
is coupled to a transverse bar
38
that has an open end
36
and coupling pin
40
(
FIG. 11
) that is received in a spiral groove
46
of a gage plate cam
48
. The open end
36
of the connecting rod slidingly receives a guide rail
37
therethrough. The guide rail
37
extends generally parallel to the central axis of the connecting rod
34
.
The slicer
10
includes a generally “wheel” shaped gauge plate cam
48
having a spiral groove
46
formed on a first side
49
of the cam, and a notch
47
(
FIG. 4
) on the second side
51
of the cam
48
. The coupling pin
40
of the transverse bar
38
is received in the spiral groove
46
of the cam
48
, as shown in FIG.
11
. The gauge plate cam
48
is coupled to a gauge plate knob
50
(
FIG. 1
) such that manual rotation of the gauge plate knob
50
causes rotation of the gauge plate cam
48
.
When a user desires to adjust the position of the gauge plate
32
to vary the thickness of a slice cut by the slicer
10
, the user manually rotates the gauge plate knob
50
which rotates the gauge plate cam
48
. As the gauge plate cam
48
rotates, the coupling pin
40
slides within the spiral groove
46
, which urges the coupling pin
40
and the transverse bar
38
either closer to, or further away from, the slide rod
30
along the direction of the axis B. This in turn moves the connecting rod
34
along its central axis, and adjusts the position of the yoke
33
and gauge plate
32
along the axis B (FIG.
10
). Thus, rotation of the gauge plate knob
50
and gauge plate cam
48
causes the gauge plate
32
to move closer to, or further away from, the blade
20
. It should be understood that this mechanism for varying the position of the gauge plate
32
is merely one of many mechanisms that may be used to adjust the gauge plate, and nearly any mechanism for adjusting the gauge plate
32
may be used with the interlock of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention.
The mechanism for attaching the carriage
22
to the tray arm
16
is shown in greater detail in
FIGS. 3-5
. The lower end of the tray arm
16
is generally “U”-shaped in cross section (FIG.
5
), and includes an outer body
80
and a cross bar
59
. The carriage
22
includes a bushing
28
that receives a guide rod
30
to guide the reciprocation of the carriage
22
. The carriage
22
includes a locking arm
60
for coupling the tray arm
16
to the carriage
22
, and the locking arm is pivotably coupled to the carriage
22
by pin
45
(FIG.
3
A).
The locking arm
60
is generally “U”-shaped in side view as shown in FIG.
8
. The locking arm
60
includes a lower portion
61
that tenninates in an open end
62
. The open end
62
includes an upper flange
64
, a lower flange
66
, and a notch
68
located between the upper
64
and lower
66
flanges. The locking arm
60
also includes an upper portion
70
that includes a transverse pin
72
. The locking arm
60
has a lower hole
73
, and the arm
60
is pivotably attached to the carriage
22
by a pin
45
received through the lower hole
73
(see FIG.
3
B). The locking arm
60
is received in a groove
74
formed in the carriage (FIG.
4
), and the locking arm
60
is pivotable about the pin
45
between a locking position (
FIG. 4
) and a release position (FIG.
5
). A spring
76
extends between the locking arm
60
and the carriage
22
to bias the locking arm
60
in the release position. When the locking arm
60
is in its release position, the tray arm
16
may be placed into, and removed from, the locking arm
60
. Also, when the locking arm is in its release position, the transverse pin
72
of the locking arm
60
is received into the groove
54
of the gauge plate cam
48
, which prevents any rotation of the gauge plate cam
48
. In this manner, when the locking arm
60
is in its release position, a user is blocked from rotating the gauge plate cam
48
, which blocks the user from adjusting the position of the gauge plate
32
.
In order to attach the tray aim
16
to the carriage
22
, the tray arm
16
is positioned over the upstanding end wall
24
of the carriage
22
, as shown in FIG.
5
. The locking arm
60
is automatically located in its release position as biased by the spring
76
. The tray arm
16
is lowered over the carriage
22
such that the outer body
80
of the tray arm
16
slides around the upstanding end wall
24
of the carriage
22
. The cross bar
59
of the tray arm is shaped and located to be received in the notch
68
of the open end
62
of the locking arm
60
(FIG.
8
). As the tray arm
16
is lowered, the cross bar
59
is received in the notch
68
of the locking arm
60
and the cross bar
59
engages the lower flange
66
of the locking arm
60
. The cross bar
59
then urges the locking arm
60
to pivot about the pin
45
to its locking position.
FIG. 3B
illustrates the locking arm
60
in its locking position with the cross bar
59
of the tray arm
16
received in the notch
68
of the locking arm.
As the locking arm
60
is moved into the locking position, the transverse pin
72
of the locking arm
60
is pulled out of the notch
54
in the gauge plate cam
48
, as can be seen in FIG.
3
B. Thus, once the locking arm
60
is in the locking position, the gauge plate cam
48
is free to rotate, and the user can adjust the position of the gauge plate
32
.
The tray arm
16
also includes a vertically-extending slot
84
on its outer body
80
(See FIGS.
1
-
2
). The slot
84
must be aligned with a threaded post or bolt
86
(
FIG. 4
) that extends forwardly from the upstanding end
24
wall of the carriage
22
when the tray arm
16
is lowered over the upstanding end wall
24
. A nut
88
is threaded onto the threaded post
86
, and spaced away from the upstanding end wall
29
to enable the tray arm
16
to be received between the nut
88
and the upstanding end wall
24
. Once the tray arm
16
is mounted onto the carriage
22
and the locking arm
60
is moved to its locking position, the nut
88
may be tightened down to engage the outer body
80
and lock the tray
12
to the carriage
22
.
Once the tray arm
16
is received in the locking arm
60
and the locking arm
60
is moved to its locking position, the slicer
10
may be moved out of its home position, and operated such that the tray
12
and carriage
22
reciprocate along the slicing path A. The slicer includes a retaining bar or track
78
that extends along the majority of the slicing path A, and the retaining bar
78
includes an upper portion
79
and a lower portion
81
. The carriage
22
includes a roller
83
(
FIG. 9
) that rolls on top of the lower portion
81
to help guide the reciprocation of the carriage
22
along the slicing path A, and the roller
83
is coupled to the carriage
22
by a bracket
85
.
As shown in
FIGS. 4-5
, when the tray
12
is in the home position, the retaining bar
78
is not located above lower portion
61
of the locking arm
60
. However, as shown in
FIGS. 7 and 9
, when the tray
16
is in a non-home position, the retaining bar
78
is located immediately above the lower portion
61
of the locking arm
60
.
FIG. 7
illustrates the position of the carriage
22
when the carriage has just moved from the home position, and
FIG. 9
illustrates the position of the carriage
22
when the carriage has completed about half of a slicing stroke. In these non-home positions, the retaining bar
78
is received in a central gap
69
of the locking arm
60
.
Thus, when the tray
16
is in a non-home position, the retaining bar
78
blocks the locking arm
60
from moving to its release position. If the tray
12
were to be attempted to be lifted off of the carriage
22
when the tray
12
is not in the home position, the cross bar
59
of the tray arm
16
would engage the top flange
64
of the locking arm and attempt to pivot the locking arm
60
to its release position. However, the lower portion
81
of the retaining bar
78
would block the locking arm
60
from pivoting, and thereby block the locking arm
60
from moving to its release position. Thus when the locking arm
60
is in its locking position and the tray
12
is in a non-home position, the tray arm
16
is locked into place in the locking arm
60
and cannot be removed from or placed into the locking arm
60
.
During normal operating conditions, the carriage
22
and tray
12
reciprocate along the slicing path A to cut slices off of the food product. The gauge plate knob
50
may be adjusted to vary the thickness of the slices. The locking arm
60
retains the cross bar
59
of the tray arm
16
in the notch
68
of the locking arm, and the locking ann is maintained in its locking position by the retaining bar
78
. However, the tray
12
and tray arm
16
must be periodically removed from the slicer in order to clean or service the tray arm
16
. The interlock mechanism of the present invention prevents the tray
12
from being removed from the slicer
10
except when certain conditions are met.
In order to uncouple the tray
12
from the slicer
10
, the tray
12
must first be moved to the home position. The tray
12
and carriage
22
are shown in the home position in FIG.
6
. When the tray
12
is in its home position, the retaining bar
78
is not located above the locking arm
60
, and therefore retaining bar
78
does not block the locking arm from moving to its release position. However, if locking arm
60
were attempted to be moved to its release position, the gauge plate cam
48
would block the locking arm from moving to its release position. More specifically, when the gauge plate cam
48
is in the configuration shown in
FIG. 6
, if locking arm
60
were attempted to be moved to its release position, the traverse pin
72
would engage the outer surface of the cam
48
, which would block the locking arm
60
from pivoting to its release position.
In order for the locking arm
60
to pivot to its release position, the transverse pin
72
must be aligned with the notch
54
in the gauge plate cam
48
. In order to align the notch
54
with the transverse pin
72
, the gauge plate cam
48
is rotated by the knob
50
until the gauge plate cam
48
is in the position shown in FIG.
4
. When the slicer is in this configuration, the traverse pin
72
can be received in the notch
54
, which enables the locking arm
60
to move to its release position, as shown in FIG.
5
. Once the locking arm
60
is in its release position, the tray arm
16
may be uncoupled from the carriage
22
. The gauge plate cam
48
is preferably calibrated such that the gauge plate
32
is located in its fully closed position when the notch
54
of the gauge plate cam
48
is aligned with the traverse pin
72
of the locking arm
60
. This ensures that the blade
20
is somewhat protected by the gauge plate
32
before the tray arm
16
can be removed.
Accordingly, the interlock mechanism of the present invention ensures that two conditions must be met before the tray
12
can be uncoupled from the carriage
22
: (1) the tray
12
and carriage
22
must be located in their home position; and (2) the gauge plate
32
must be located in its fully closed position. Once both these requirements are met the nut
88
can be loosened and moved away from the tray arm
16
, and the tray arm may then be lifted vertically off of the carriage
22
(FIG.
5
). When the tray
12
is lifted off the carriage
22
, the locking arm
60
is moved to its release position as biased by the spring
76
, and remains in that position until the tray
12
is replaced in the locking arm
60
.
The tray
12
may then be carried to a sink for cleaning or maintenance. The only component of the interlock mechanism of the present invention located on the tray
12
is the cross bar
59
. In this manner, the number of parts of the interlock mechanism on the tray
12
is minimized, which minimizes the exposure of the parts of the interlock mechanism to water and detergents when the tray
12
is washed. Furthermore, the cross bar
59
is protected on three sides by the outer body
80
, which protects the retaining bar from external forces.
When the tray
12
is uncoupled from the carriage
22
, the locking arm
60
is in its position shown in FIG.
5
. When in this position, the transverse pin
72
of the locking arm
60
is received in the notch
54
of the gauge plate cam
48
. Thus, when the tray arm
16
is uncoupled from the carriage
22
the gauge plate cannot be adjusted. Furthermore, the locking arm
60
prevent the carriage
22
from moving away from the home position when the tray
12
is uncoupled from the carriage
22
. If the carriage
22
were attempted to be moved along the slicing path A, the locking arm
60
would engage the end surface
65
of the retaining bar
78
, which would block the attempted movement of the carriage along the slicing path. A cover
87
is located over the locking arm to prevent inadvertent movement of the locking arm to the release position when the tray
12
is removed.
After the tray
12
is cleaned or serviced, it may be coupled to the carriage
22
. In order to attach the tray
12
to the carriage
22
, the tray arm
16
is positioned over the upstanding end wall
24
of the carriage
22
, as shown in FIG.
5
. The tray arm
16
is lowered over the carriage
22
such that the outer body
80
of the tray arm
16
slides around the upstanding end wall
24
of the carriage
22
. The cross bar
59
of the tray arm is received in the notch
68
of the open end
62
of the locking arm
60
. As the tray arm
16
is lowered, the cross bar
59
urges the locking arm
60
to pivot to its locking position (FIG.
3
B).
When the tray
12
is coupled to the carriage
22
, the locking arm
60
is pivoted into its locking position (as urged by the cross bar
59
). Thus, the transverse pin
72
of the locking arm
60
is pulled out of the notch
54
in the gauge plate cam
48
, which enables the gauge plate cam
48
to be rotated and the position of the gauge plate
32
to be adjusted. Furthermore, when the locking arm
60
is in its locking position, lower portion
61
of the lower arm is located below the lower portion
81
of the retaining bar, which enables the carriage
22
and tray to move along the slicing path A without engaging the end surface
65
of the cross bar
78
. Thus, after the tray
12
is mounted onto the carriage
22
, the gauge plate
32
may be adjusted to achieve the desired thickness of slices, the slicer
10
may be activated and slicing operations commenced. The carriage
22
and tray
12
then reciprocate along the slicing path A to slice the food product received in the tray
12
.
If an interlock mechanism is not desired in the slicer, the assembly of the slicer described herein can be easily modified to produce a slicer lacking an interlock. For example, the locking arm
60
, spring
76
and cover
87
may not be mounted onto the slicer if an interlock is not desired. The carriage
20
, gauge plate cam
48
and other components need not be changed. Thus, most of the parts in a slicer lacking an interlock are the same as the parts of a slicer having an interlock, which reduces assembly costs.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A slicer having an interlock mechanism comprising:a tray for receiving a food product to be sliced, said tray being movable along a slicing path and having a tray arm; a blade for slicing said food product as said tray moves along said slicing path; an adjustable gauge plate for controlling the thickness of the slices of the food product cut by said blade; a gauge plate adjuster for controlling the position of said gauge plate relative said blade, said gauge plate adjuster having a recess at the periphery thereof; and a carriage having a locking arm for receiving said tray arm, said locking arm being movable between a release position wherein said tray arm can be placed into and removed from said locking arm, and a locking position wherein said tray arm cannot be placed into or removed from said locking arm; wherein at least part of said locking arm is received in said recess of said gauge plate adjuster when said locking arm is in said release position.
- 2. The slicer of claim 1 wherein said recess must be aligned with said locking arm in order to allow said part of said locking arm to be received in said recess, and wherein said gauge plate adjuster prevents said locking arm from moving to said release position when said recess is not aligned with said locking arm.
- 3. The slicer of claim 2 wherein gauge plate adjuster includes a cam that is rotatable about its central axis to control the position of said gauge plate, and wherein said rotation of said cam moves said recess into and out of a position wherein said recess is aligned with said locking arm to receive said part of said locking arm therein.
- 4. The slicer of claim 3 wherein said gauge plate is in a fully closed position when said recess in said gauge plate adjuster is aligned with said locking arm.
- 5. The slicer of claim 2 wherein said gauge plate is located in a fully closed position by said gauge plate adjuster when said gauge plate adjuster is aligned to receive said part of said locking arm in said recess.
- 6. The slicer of claim 5 wherein said carriage is mounted for lateral reciprocation along said slicing path, and wherein said carriage includes a retaining bar that prevents said locking arm from moving to said release position when said carriage is not located in a predetermined position.
- 7. The slicer of claim 6 wherein said retaining bar extends parallel to said slicing path, and wherein said retaining bar does not block said locking arm from moving to said release position when said carriage is in said predetermined position.
- 8. The slicer of claim 6 wherein said carriage include a roller that rolls along said retaining bar as said carriage moves along said slicing path.
- 9. The slicer of claim 6 wherein said predetermined position is a home position.
- 10. The slicer of claim 6 wherein said locking bar is generally “U” shaped in side view and includes a lower portion that engages said retaining bar when said carriage is not in said predetermined location and said locking bar is attempted to be moved to said release position, and wherein said locking bar includes an upper portion that engages said gauge plate adjuster when said recess is not aligned with said upper portion of said locking bar and said locking bar is attempted to be moved to said release position.
- 11. The slicer of claim 6 wherein said locking arm and said retaining bar cooperate to prevent the movement of said carriage along said slicing path when said locking arm is in said release position.
- 12. The slicer of claim 6 wherein said slicer includes a slide rod, and wherein said carriage includes a bushing that fits around said slide rod such that said slide rod guides the reciprocation of said carriage.
- 13. The slicer of claim 1 wherein said locking arm includes an open end for receiving said tray arm therein, and wherein said tray arm includes a cross bar that can be retained in said open end of said locking arm when said locking arm is in said locking position.
- 14. The slicer of claim 1 wherein said locking arm is pivotably coupled to said carriage, and wherein said locking arm pivots between said locking position and said release position.
- 15. The slicer of claim 1 wherein said locking arm is biased in the release position.
- 16. The slicer of claim 1 wherein said carriage further includes a bolt that extends through said tray arn such that a nut may be threaded onto said bolt to lock said tray arm to said carriage.
- 17. The slicer of claim 16 wherein said tray includes a slot to receive said bolt such that said tray is located between said nut threaded on said bolt and an upstanding end wall of said carriage, and wherein said locking arm includes a pin that is received in said recess in said gauge plate adjuster when said locking arm is in said release position.
- 18. The slicer of claim 17 wherein said pin extends generally parallel to said slicing path.
- 19. The slicer of claim 1 wherein said carriage extends generally below said gauge plate adjuster.
- 20. The slicer of claim 1 wherein said locking arm prevents said gauge plate adjuster from adjusting the position of said gauge plate when said locking arm is in said release position.
- 21. The slicer of claim 20 wherein said at least part of said locking arm received in said recess prevents gauge plate adjuster from adjusting the position of said gauge plate when said locking arm is in said release position.
- 22. A slicer having an interlock mechanism comprising:a tray for receiving a food product to be sliced, said tray being movable along a slicing path and having a tray arm; a blade for slicing said food product as said tray moves along said slicing path; an adjustable gauge plate for controlling the thickness of the slices of the food product cut by said blade; a gauge plate adjuster for adjusting the position of said gauge plate relative said blade; and a carriage having a locking arm for receiving said tray arm, said locking arm being movable between a release position wherein said tray arm can be placed into and removed from said locking arm, and a locking position wherein said tray arm cannot be placed into or removed from said locking arm, wherein said locking arm prevents said gauge plate adjuster from adjusting the position of said gauge plate when said locking arm is in said release position.
- 23. A slicer having an interlock mechanism comprising:a tray for receiving a food product to be sliced, said tray being movable along a slicing path and having a tray arm; a blade for slicing said food product as said tray moves along said slicing path; an adjustable gauge plate for controlling the thickness of the slices of the food product cut by said blade, said gauge plate being movable to a fully closed position; a gauge plate adjuster for adjusting the position of said gauge plate relative said blade; and a carriage having a locking arm for receiving said tray arm, said locking arm being movable between a release position wherein said tray arm can be placed into and removed from said locking arm, and a locking position wherein said tray arm cannot be placed into or removed from said locking arm, wherein said gauge plate adjuster prevents said locking arm from moving to said release position when said gauge plate is not is said fully closed position.
- 24. The slicer of claim 23 further comprising a retaining bar that prevents said locking arm from moving to said release position when said tray is not in a predetermined position along said slicing path.
US Referenced Citations (35)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1196985 |
Jul 1965 |
DE |
2749652 |
May 1979 |
DE |
3201520A1 |
Jul 1983 |
DE |
2090122A |
Jul 1982 |
GB |