Patent Grant
10843358
The present disclosure is related to the field of slicing. More specifically, the present application is related to a produce slicer and blade cartridges therefor.
Restaurant and food preparation industries require a large volume of produce to be processed such as by slicing so that the sliced produce can be used in food preparation and assembly. In addition to rapid slicing of produce, food preparation requires consistently sliced produce such that the food prepared with that produce is consistent in appearance, taste, texture, portion size, and cooking qualities between servings prepared.
Produce slicing is typically a manually performed task due to the aforementioned desire for consistency. As slicing necessarily requires some form of blade or cutting surface, this naturally involves a desire to seek solutions to improve safety for food preparation workers. Currently available slicing solutions have exposed blade sets which can present a risk to users during set up and operation. Currently available slicing solutions are limited to slicing a single piece of produce at a time.
Areas that are designated for food preparation often have limited space. With currently available slicing solutions, separate devices are used with each device configured to slice different produce. The need to store and maintain multiple devices adds further expense and use of already limited food preparation space.
An exemplary produce slicer includes a frame which includes a blade assembly receiving area and a head receiver. A blade assembly is removeably received within the blade assembly receiving area. The produce slicer further includes a cover. The cover includes a first target ring. The first target ring defines a first target area configured to receive a piece of produce to be sliced. A first blade set includes a first frame bar and a second frame bar. A plurality of blades extend between the first frame bar and the second frame bar. A pusher head is removably received within the head receiver. The pusher head includes a pusher head body and a first produce pusher. The first produce pusher includes a plurality of fins extending in a direction away from the pusher head body. The first produce pusher is aligned with the first target ring.
An exemplary produce slicing system is configured for slicing multiple types of produce. The produce slicing system includes a frame which includes a blade assembly receiving area. A pusher assembly includes at least one rail and a head receiver moveably mounted to the at least one rail. A handle is moveably connected to the pusher assembly. The handle is operably configured to move the pusher assembly along the at least one rail. A first blade cartridge is configured for interchangeable engagement with the frame and includes the first blade assembly. The first blade assembly is configured to removably engage the blade assembly receiving area of the frame. The first blade cartridge includes a first cover with a top portion and a plurality of sides extending away from the top portion to define an open interior. At least one target ring extends away from the top portion in a direction opposite the open interior. The at least one target ring defines at least one target area configured to receive produce to be sliced. First and second blade sets each include a first frame bar and a second frame bar. A plurality of blades extend between the first and second frame bars. The first and second blades sets are retained within the open interior of the first cover. A first pusher head is configured to removeably engage the head receiver of the frame. The first pusher head further includes a pusher head body and at least one produce pusher with a plurality of fins extending in a direction away from the pusher head body. The at least one produce pusher is aligned with the at least one target ring. A second blade cartridge, including a second blade assembly and a second pusher head, is configured for interchangeable engagement with the frame. The second blade assembly is configured to removably engage the blade assembly receiving area of the frame. The second blade assembly includes a second cover with a top portion and a plurality of sides extending away from the top portion to define an open interior. At least one target ring extends away from the top portion in a direction opposite the open interior. The at least one target ring defines at least one target area configured to receive produce to be sliced. Third and fourth blade sets each include a first frame bar and a second frame bar. A plurality of blades extend between the first and second frame bars. The first and second blade sets are retained within the open interior of the second cover. The second pusher head is configured to removeably engage the head receiver of the frame. The second pusher head further includes a pusher head body and at least one produce pusher with a plurality of fins extending in a direction away from the pusher head body. The at least one produce pusher is aligned with the at least one target ring.
An exemplary blade cartridge for use in slicing produce includes a pusher head comprising a pusher head body and at least one produce pusher with a plurality of fins extending in a direction away from the pusher head body. A first handle extends from the pusher head body. A blade assembly includes a blade cover having a planer top portion and a plurality of sides extending away from the planar top portion. The planer top portion in the plurality of sides define an open interior. At least one target ring defines a target area configured to receive a piece of produce to be sliced. At least one blade set includes a first frame bar and a second frame bar with a plurality of blades extending therebetween. A second handle extends away from a side of the plurality of sides of the blade cover in a direction away from the open interior. The second handle corresponds with the first handle.
The frame 12 includes a frame base 20 which itself may include at least one leg 22. In an exemplary embodiment, the frame base 20 includes four legs, each extending from a corner of the frame base 20. In a still further exemplary embodiment, a width dimension W between adjacent legs 22 and a depth dimension D between adjacent legs 22 are both at least 13 inches apart such that standard size food preparation containers may be inserted below the frame 12 from any of the front, rear, right, and left sides. This facilitates flexibility in placement of the produce slicer 10 within the food preparation area of a kitchen as well as to promote flexibility in work flows within the produce preparation area by food preparation workers. In a still further embodiment, one or more lower support bars (not depicted) extend between adjacent legs 22. In use, these lower support bars help to stabilize the device in the event that one of the legs inadvertently slides off of the work surface.
The frame base 20 further includes a support surface 24. The support surface 24 as described in further detail herein supports the blade assembly 16. The base 20 therefore defines a product receiving area 26 between the legs 22 and below the support surface 24 wherein the aforementioned, but not depicted, produce receiving container may be positioned below the support surface 24 to receive the sliced produce after operation of the produce slicer 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the support surface 24 includes a front support 28, opposed lateral supports 30, and a rear support 32. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
The front support 28 further includes support cut-outs 34 which are configured to receive arms 36 of the blade assembly 16, as will be described in further detail herein. The base assembly 16 includes one or more target areas 25, as will be described in further detail herein. Additionally, embodiments of the front support 28 may include a finger cut-out 38 which facilitates insertion and removal of the blade assembly 16 with the frame 12. The finger cut-out 38 may exemplarily extend in a depth dimension as exemplarily depicted in
In further exemplary embodiments, the rear support 32 includes one or more support structures 40, which define at least one elevated support surface 42.
As will be described in further detail herein, the frame base 20 is configured to receive, hold, and support the blade assembly 16. The frame base 20 further includes lateral walls 44 and a rear wall 46 that may extend vertically from the support surface 24. The lateral walls 44 and the rear walls 46, together with the support surface 24 and cut-outs 34, define a blade assembly receiving area 48. In an exemplary embodiment, front alignment structures 50 are located in the cut-outs 34 of the lateral walls 44. Rear alignment structures 52 are exemplarily located on outward faces 49 of the rear wall 46. In embodiments as will be described in further detail herein, the front alignment structures 50 and rear alignment structures 52 matingly engage alignment structures located on the blade assembly 16 as will be described in further detail herein in order to align and secure the blade assembly 16 in the blade assembly receiving area 48. In an exemplary embodiment, the front alignment structures 50 are bodies (e.g. pins) that project from the outward faces 49 of respective lateral walls 44, and the rear alignment structures 52 are bodies (e.g. pins) that project from the rear wall 46. The front alignment structures 50 and the rear alignment structures 52 are matingly received by corresponding alignment holes located in the blade assembly 16 and described in further detail herein. It will be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of other alignment structures may be used, including, the reverse of the embodiment depicted (e.g. alignment holes in the outer faces 49 of lateral walls 44 and rear wall 46) or other geometric shapes of mating structures.
The frame 12 further includes a pusher assembly 54 at least partially movably secured to the frame base 20. The pusher assembly 54 includes rails 56 which extend from the frame base 20. The pusher assembly 54 further includes a head receiver 58. The head receiver 58 is exemplarily slidingly secured to the rails 56 and is configured as described in further detail herein to receive a pusher head 18 of a blade cartridge 14. The head receiver 58 includes laterally opposed guide arms 60 and a rear guide 62. The guide arms 60 and rear guide 62 include lower plates 64 and upper plates 66. The lower plates 64 and upper plates 66 of the guide arms 60 and rear guide 62 define a pusher head receiving area 68 configured to receive a pusher head 18, and is exemplarily configured to slidingly receive a pusher head 18. The pusher head 18 is configured with one or more pushers 27 that correspond to a target area 25 of the blade assembly 16. The head receiver 58 may further include one or more holes 53 which are configured to receive a respective one or more pin (not depicted) to secure through corresponding holes (e.g. 135 in
The guide arms 60 further include cut-outs 70 that are configured to receive respective arms 72 of the pusher head 18. The head receiver 58 further includes front alignment structures 74 located on the guide arms 60, and particularly exemplarily in the cut-outs 70 of the guide arms 60, as well as rear alignment structures 52 located in the rear guide 62 exemplarily between the lower plates 64 and the upper plates 66 of the rear guide 62. The front alignment structures 74 and rear alignment structures 76 are configured to matingly engage corresponding alignment structures as disclosed in further detail herein located on the pusher head 18 in order to facilitate alignment and engagement between the pusher head 18 and the head receiver 58. It will be recognized that the alignment structures 74 and 76 of the head receiver 58 are corresponding alignment structures of the pusher head 18 may exemplarily be the same as or in accordance with the disclosure above regarding the alignment structures 50 and 52 of the frame base 20 and alignment structures of the blade assembly 16.
The head receiver 58 further includes a force bar 78 that extends between the laterally opposed guide arms 60. The force bar 78 operates to translate force from an arm 80 connected to a handle 82 which movably engages the force bar 78. In an exemplary embodiment, the arm 80 has an inverted “L” shape to generally orient the handle 82 in a horizontal orientation, while it will be recognized that other orientations may be used including a more vertical arm 80, resulting in a vertically-oriented handle 82. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
Embodiments of the frame 12 further include a rail crossbar 92 which extends between the laterally opposed rails 56. At least a portion of a latch 94 extends from the rail crossbar 92. The latch 94 may include a detent portion 96 which extends from the rail crossbar 92 and an engagement portion 98, which extends from the arm 80. However, it will be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the latch 94 as disclosed herein may be carried out through alternative implementations. These alternatives may include a reversal of the detent and engagement portions, or other releaseably engageable configurations of corresponding structures. In the embodiment depicted, the detent portion 96 comprises a metal plate which includes a receiving portion or at least one cut-out that receives the engagement portion 98. The plate of the detent portion 96 is configured to be deformable away from the arm 80 and engagement portion 98, such that the engagement portion 98 moves past a front end of the detent portion 96 before engaging in the cut-out portion. In operation, this creates a passively automated latch that is biased to secure the head receiver 58 in the open or “up” position. In a still further embodiment, this operates as a safety mechanism as it creates a two-handed operation of the produce slicer, such that the food preparation worker must place one hand on the rail crossbar 92 in order to release the latching mechanism 94, exemplarily with the worker's thumb, while the worker operates the handle 82 with the worker's other hand to slice the produce. This creates a mechanical safety feature whereby the worker removes both hands from the cutting area before operating the produce slicer, promoting worker safety.
The produce slicer 10 exemplarily includes at least one lock 63 configured to secure the blade assembly 16 to the frame 12. The produce slicer 10 further includes at least one lock 63 configured to secure the pusher head 18 to the frame 12.
In embodiments, the at least one lock 63 may be a plurality of rotational locks pivotably secured to the frame 12. Such locks 63 may include a pivot pin 65 and a rotating arm 67 secured by the pivot pin 65 to the frame 12. Exemplary embodiments of the at least one lock 63 may be manually actionable, such that a worker using a produce slicer 10 manually operates the at least one lock 63 between a first position extending across at least a portion of the blade assembly 16 and/or pusher head 18 and a second position where the blade assembly 16 and/or pusher head 18 is moveable with respect to the frame 12. The second position of the at least one lock 63 opens the frame 12 to receive or remove the respective blade assembly 16 and/or pusher head 18. The first position of the at least one lock 63 secures the blade assembly 16 and/or pusher head 18 to the frame 12 after installation of the respective blade assembly 16 and/or pusher head 18 into the frame 12. In still further embodiments, the at least one lock 63 may be used in addition to or in connection with the alignment structures, as previously described, which may be located on both the frame 12 and a respective blade assembly 16 or pusher head 18. In one exemplary embodiment, one or more of the locks 63 are positioned on the frame such as to be in alignment with the respective arms 36 of the blade assembly 16 and/or the arms 72 of the pusher head 18. In another embodiment, the at least one lock 63 is aligned with another portion of the respective blade assembly 16 and/or pusher head 18. Exemplarily, the at least one lock 63 is aligned interior of the arms 36 of arms 72. It will be recognized that other implementations of locks may be used in additional embodiments including, but not limited to latches, clasps, and mated configurations.
The produce slicer 10 depicted in
As best seen in
In another embodiment, the blade assembly 16 and the pusher head 18 nestingly engage each other, exemplarily by receiving the pushers(s) of the pusher head within the target ring(s) of the blade assembly. The handles 35, 75 of each of the blade assembly 16 and the pusher head 18 generally correspond to facilitate grasping and handling of both parts of the entire blade cartridge 14 as a single unit. The frame 12 may be configured, exemplarily as described above, such that when the frame and handle are moved into the lower position, the blade cartridge 14 including the blade assembly 16 and the pusher head may be inserted into the frame 12 as a single unit. Exemplarily, the blade assembly 16 and the pusher head 18 will engage the respective alignment structures and locks 63 moved into position to secure the blade assembly 16 and the pusher head 18 to the frame 12 before raising the handle to the raised position.
The target rings 108 serve multiple functions. First, the target rings 108 generally define the shape of the produce to be sliced by the blade assembly 100. This limits the exposed portions of the blade set 104 to only the area of the blades needed to slice the produce. Additionally, the target ring 108 may extend vertically upward from the top portion 106 such as to further define a retaining lip 110 that holds the produce in place in the blade assembly 100. This retaining lip 110 helps to maintain alignment of the produce with the underlying at least one blade set 104. In addition to speed of slicing the produce, accuracy in slicing produce is also desirable as food preparation and restaurant standards often require that the produce be sliced in a particular orientation relative to the physical structure of the produce itself. Therefore, it is desirable for the produce to be sliced to be held in a position relative to the blade set between placement and slicing of the produce with the produce slicer 10. In still further embodiments, the target ring 108 may further facilitate this orientation of the produce relative to the at least one blade set by corresponding the shape of the target ring to any generalized features of the shape of the produce to be sliced when placed in the desired orientation.
In an embodiment, the retaining lip 110 defines a distance above the top portion 106 which a corresponding portion of the pusher head, as will be disclosed in further detail herein, cannot engage thereby defining a gap generally between components of the blade assembly 100 and the pusher head when the pusher head is in the closed position. In an embodiment, if an operator's fingers are positioned on the top portion 106 when the pusher assembly 54 is lowered to the closed or lowered position, the worker's fingers will not be pinched between the components of the blade assembly 100 and the pusher head. In another embodiment, the pusher head is configured such that the blade assembly 100 and pusher head nestingly engage to minimize storage space required for the whole blade cartridge.
In a still further function, the target rings 108, and the retaining lip 110 further protect fingers of workers when inserting food into the target ring 108 by creating a still further barrier between fingers and the blades within the blade cover. In use, the worker must release the food before the retaining lip 110.
The blade cover 102 further includes alignment structures 112 which are configured to matingly engage the exemplary front and/or rear alignment structures found on the frame base and the pusher assembly. Embodiments of the blade cover 102 further include a resilient finger 114 which can facilitate connection and removal of the at least one blade set 104 to the blade cover 102.
The blades 118 are may be serrated in order to reduce the surface area of the blades that engage the produce at any one time, exemplarily such as to be able to cut through the tough skin of a tomato as compared to a head of lettuce, or the meat of the tomato. It will be recognized that other types of blades may be used as well. One or more tensioning rods 120 extend between the opposed frame bars 116. Embodiments of the tensioning rods 120 may include a tensioning screw (not depicted), which is operated in order to achieve a desired tension on the plurality of blades 118. It will be noted from the embodiments depicted in
As previously disclosed, in an embodiment, two blade sets 104 are secured within the blade cover 102. In an embodiment, the blade sets 104 are secured within the open interior of the blade cover 102 defined by the top portion 106 and the sides 130. The two blade sets 104 are exemplarily a top blade set 105 and a bottom blade set 107. In an embodiment, one or more support ledges 122 extend from the interior of the front side 124 of the blade cover 102. The front side 124 terminates in a front lip 126. The support ledges 122 engage a bottom blade set 107 of the at least one blade set at the front end of the blade cover 102 and the aforementioned finger 114 extending from the rear end of the blade cover 102 engages the bottom blade set 107 at the rear end of the blade assembly 100. Therefore, the combination of the support ledges 122 and the finger 114 hold the at least one blade set 104 within the blade cover 102 to form the blade assembly 100. In an embodiment as depicted that uses two or more blade sets, the support ledges 122 and finger 114 are located such that engagement between the support ledges 122, finger 114, and bottom blade set 107, also retains the top blade set 105 within the blade cover 102.
In other embodiments, the blade sets may be secured within the blade cover in a variety of other ways. One or more cross-pins may extend along the bottom of the blade cover below the blade sets to retain the blade sets within the cover. Fasteners, including screws, pins, or rivets may extend through the sides of the blade cover into one or more of the blade sets, exemplarily into the frame bars. Fasteners may extend into one or more of the blade sets through the top surface of the blade cover. In one exemplary embodiment, the blade cover may include limited or no side walls and the planar top portion of the blade cover is secured to the blade sets. The blade cover may extend at least partially around the blade sets by including a bottom side opposite the top surface. In a modified embodiment, the blade cover may at least partially surround the blade sets on top, bottom, and sides, and the blade cover comprises at least two pieces that may be secured to one another to locate and retain the blade sets therein. In a still further embodiment, the blade cover may be independently fixable to the frame from one or more blade set.
In use, when the blade assembly 100 is inserted into the blade assembly receiving area 48 of the frame 12, the support ledges 122 engage the front support 28 such that the slicing force against the at least one blade set 104 is transferred through the support ledges 122 to the front support 28 of the support surface 24. The blade cover 102 further includes cut-outs 128 that are configured such that support structure 40 can pass through the wall of the blade cover 102 at the rear of the blade cover 102 and the elevated support surfaces 42 of the support structures 40 directly engage the bottom blade set 107. Thus, the blade set, which must resist the slicing force placed on the blade set through the produce and the pusher head are supported by the support surface of the frame 12.
Embodiments of the blade assembly 100 further facilitate worker safety as the blade cover defines spaces for the worker to grab and hold the blade assembly 100 when placing and removing the blade assembly from the produce slicer. For example, the worker can grip over the front lip 126 and the worker's fingers will touch either the frame bar 116 or the non-cutting side of the blades 118. The worker may also grip the blade assembly 100 from the blade cover sides 130 where the worker's fingers will engage a space between the sides 130 and the tension rods 120 therefore away from the blades 118. Still further, the worker may grip the arm 132 of the blade assembly, where the worker may either grip the arms 132 of the blade cover 102 or within a region interior to the arms 132 between the sides 130 and the frame bar 116. In each of these cases, the worker's fingers are naturally located at positions removed from the blade and the cutting surfaces of the blades 118 are interior to the blade assembly 100 and away from general access by the worker.
The produce pusher 210 can include a generally U-shaped frame 212 and the U-shaped frame 212 is constructed of a base plate 214 which is configured to be secured to the pusher head and a pair of opposed side fins 216 extending from the base plate 214. The U-shaped frame 212 is exemplarily unitary in construction. The side fins 216 exemplarily provide the outer most fins (218, 220) of the produce pusher 210, as previously described above. As best depicted in the front view of
In the exemplary embodiment of the produce pusher 210, the intermediate center fins 220 exemplarily extend wider and longer than the intermediate end fins 218. In some embodiments, this may be a practical distinction as described in further detail herein. In still other embodiments the additional length and width of the intermediate center fins 220 promote centering and alignment of the produce pusher 210 on a piece of produce placed in the produce slicer for cutting.
As best depicted in
In an embodiment, the base plate 214 includes through holes 222 configured to receive at least one fastener (not depicted), which may exemplarily be a bolt, rivet, screw, or other type of fastener to secure the produce pusher 210 to the pusher head 134. In an exemplary embodiment, a difference in dimensions between the intermediate end fin 218 and the intermediate center fins 220 provide a space or region about the through holes 222 to promote access thereto for assembly and/or disassembly of the pusher head 134.
As best seen depicted in
As previously described, embodiments of produce pushers 210 may include fins constructed of stainless steel; however, it will recognized that, while strong and durable, stainless steel is also heavy and expensive. Therefore, in embodiments promoted by the configuration of the produce pusher 210, the U-shaped frame 212 may exemplarily be constructed of stainless steel while the intermediate end fins 218 and intermediate center fins 220 are exemplarily constructed of another material including, but not limited to aluminum. Such an embodiment may exemplarily reduce a weight and a cost of the produce pusher 210, while retaining the strength and durability benefits of stainless steel embodiments by providing support and a strong exterior of the produce pusher 210 with the stainless steel U-shaped frame 212.
While not depicted in
As will be described in further detail herein, embodiments of the produce slicer 10 are configured to be operable with multiple configurations of blade cartridges, each blade cartridge specifically configured for optimal slicing of different types of produce, and, depending upon the produce, slicing multiple produce items simultaneously, such as with the blade cartridge just described with respect to
It will be noted that the blade assembly 148 includes a top portion 106 as previously described and two target rings 150 that extend upward from the top portion 106 which are configured to receive produce (e.g. onions) positioned therein. In another aspect of embodiments as disclosed herein, it will be noted that the target rings 150 have a generally oblong configuration. This further facilitates the aforementioned desire to properly orient the produce relative to the underlying blade set 152. It will be exemplarily noted that in one dimension (e.g. looking top down) of an onion, and the onion is generally circular, while from another dimension (e.g. from the side), the onion is exemplarily oblong, particularly if the onion has received some form of pre-processing exemplarily as to remove the skin and/or topmost and bottommost ends of the onion. It is further noted that exemplarily in the food service industry, it is desirable to slice an onion in order to form onion rings and therefore to achieve this orientation of produce slice, the onion must be sliced through the oblong dimension. Therefore, the shape of the target rings 150 facilitate proper orientation of the onion produce relative to the blades of the underlying blade set. The retaining lip 154 of the target rings 150 also serve to hold the onions in this orientation as the produce is sliced. The target rings may also have flat surfaces or walls to further define and facilitate produce product alignment within the blade assembly. Additionally, since the blade assembly is exemplarily configured to slice a specific type of produce, spacing between adjacent blades of the blade set(s) may be specific to the produce to be sliced with that blade assembly. For example, onion spacing may be 3/16 inch, while tomato spacing may be ¼ inch. It will be recognized that if more than one blade set is used in a staggered configuration, then the distance is greater between adjacent blades within the same blade set. This may exemplarily be double the desired slice thickness, if two blade sets are used.
Due to the challenges of achieving a slicing force suitable to slice multiple pieces of hard produce (e.g. onions or beets) with a single actuation of the produce slicer while also slicing more delicate produce such as tomatoes and lettuce with the same produce slicer, still further embodiments of the blade set used in the blade assembly to cut onions may employ more than two blade sets such that the onions are held within the target ring at different heights relative to one another against the uppermost blade set associated with each onion by staggering the relative heights of the onion as positioned within the blade assembly. The pusher head as will be described in further detail herein applies the slicing force against the individual produce objects at different times thereby lowering the overall slicing force required through a single operation of the produce slicer to slice multiple pieces of produce.
In still another embodiment, the blade sets may hold the blades 158 at angles relative to each other as the angled blades reduce the blade surface engaging the produce at the start of the slicing operation thereby facilitating the initiation of the slicing of the produce. In one embodiment, the blades may be angled within a single blade set. In another embodiment, if two or more blade sets are used, blades may extend at angles between blade sets to create additional angulation of the blades in the blade assembly. In a still further embodiment, the blades are held straight by the blade sets, but held at one or more angles within the blade cover. This may exemplarily be achieved by adjusting a relative position between the finger and the support ledges. In another embodiment, if the blades within the blade assembly are angled sufficiently, then the produce may also be held at different heights relative to each other. As described above, this would result in application of the slicing force by the pusher head to each of the individual produce objects at different times in a single operation of the produce slicer.
Viewing the blade assembly 176 from the bottom, in
The blade assembly 176 further exemplarily discloses that the bottom blade set 180 and top blade set 186 may be oriented and held within the blade cover 182 at different orientations to one another rather than the offset orientation as described above with respect to the blade assembly configured to slice tomatoes and/or onions. Depending upon food processing requirements, lettuce is designed to be cut with a cross cut processing and therefore, the blade sets 180 are arranged within the blade cover 182 perpendicular to each other to achieve this desired slicing. As depicted in
In still further embodiments, each of the pusher head and blade assembly may include a handle that extends from the front side thereof. The handles can further facilitate the safe assembly and removal of the components of the blade cartridge into and from the frame of the produce slicer. In a still further embodiment, a handle link may be securable between the pusher head handle and the blade assembly handle. The handle link may rigidly define a distance between the blade assembly and the pusher head such that the blade assembly and pusher head are spaced apart at a predetermined distance for installation and removal of the blade cartridge from the frame of the produce slicer. In a still further embodiment, the predetermined distance established between the pusher head and the blade assembly can dispose the fins of the pusher head at least partially within the at least one blade set of the blade assembly to further block worker access to the blades during storage and/or cleaning of the blade cartridge. Additionally, by holding the pusher head and the blade assembly apart at a predetermined distance, cleaning of the component may further be facilitated.
An exemplary embodiment of a handle 200 is depicted on a blade assembly 202. In an embodiment, the handle 200 is D-shaped with a flat side 204 coplanar with the top portion 206 of the blade assembly 202. The handle 200 further includes a curved side 208 opposite the flat side 204. It will be recognized that a corresponding pusher head of a blade cartridge may similarly include a handle as described herein (e.g. as depicted in
It will further be recognized that one or more projections 252 of the blade cover 246 extend from an interior of the blade cover 246 to engage the interior frame bar 236 or exterior frame bar 238. These projections 252 further distinctly define and locate the position of the top blade set 232 and the bottom blade set 234 within the blade cover 246 such as to achieve a proper positioning between the blade sets 232, 234, and the blade cover 246.
As described above, in exemplary embodiments, a blade assembly and a pusher head may be configured to nestingly engage one another for common transport, cleaning, and/or storage. In an exemplary embodiment wherein the produce pusher of the pusher head is configured to be entirely received within the target ring 256, a top portion 206, or a cover surface of the blade cover 246 may engage a similar cover surface of a pusher head (not depicted). Exemplary embodiments of the blade cover 246 may include a plurality of spacers 260 extending upwards from the cover surface 206. This can limit the actual engaged surface area between the blade assembly and the pusher head when the two components are held together exemplarily for transport, cleaning, or storage. A reduction in engaged surface area promotes cleaning and drying of the cover surfaces as well as reduces adhesion between cover surfaces in the event of a moisture build up there between.
As discussed previously above, one or more blade sets may be used in an exemplary embodiment of a blade assembly. In embodiments of the blade set, the blades of the blade set are held in tension which enable the operation of the produce slicer by pushing the pieces of produce through the blade sets by a force applied by the produce pushers of the pusher head. However, forces on the blades during the cutting process may cause deflections or bending in the blades that over time reduce the tension in the blade set that worsens over time, reducing a useful life of the blade set. Therefore, in exemplary embodiments, the target rings 256 extend below a level of the cover surface 206 into the open interior of the blade cover 246 to produce one or more blade supports 262 which will be described in further detail herein, with respect to
In
The horizontal frame bars 306 are exemplarily constructed of top horizontal frame bars 310 and bottom horizontal frame bars 312. The vertical frame bars 308 are exemplarily constructed of top vertical frame bars 314 and bottom vertical frame bars 316.
A plurality of slots 318 in the frame bars are configured to respectively receive ends of the vertical blade 302 or horizontal blade 304. The vertical blades 302 and horizontal blades 304 further include slots 320 partially therethrough and configured to engage one another. Exemplarily in the embodiment depicted in
The vertical blades 302 and horizontal blades 304 include holes 322 at respective ends. When the vertical blades are inserted within the slots 318 of the horizontal frame bars, the holes 322 of the vertical blades align with a groove 324 located through portions of both the top horizontal frame bar 310 and bottom horizontal frame bar 312. Similarly, when the horizontal blades 304 are located in the slots 318 of the vertical frame bars 308, the holes 322 of the horizontal blades 304 are aligned with grooves 324 located in the top vertical frame bar 314 and bottom vertical frame bar 316. Retaining rods 326 positioned through the holes 322 and arranged within the grooves 324 operate to retain the respective blades between the top and bottom portions of the frame bars when the blade set 300 is assembled.
When the blade set 300 is assembled, the retaining rods 326 are fully enclosed within the mating groove 324 of the respective top and bottom portions of the respective frame bars. This prevents removal of the blade from the respective slots 318 of the frame bars. Depending upon a dimensioning of the blades, grooves, and/or retaining rods, such tensioning may be applied to the blades during assembly of the blade set 300, although in other embodiments, the blades are generally untensioned.
In the embodiment depicted in
In an exemplary embodiment, at least one frame bar portion may include projections 330 which are configured to engage a blade cover as previously described. It will be recognized that, as described above, a variety of manners of connection between the blade set and the blade cover may be used and this embodiment may not be limited to the projections as shown in
In an additional embodiment, the blade support is a separate structure (not depicted) apart from the blade cover. In an embodiment, the blade support comprises a plurality of fingers connected together to define a series of blade slots. This blade support embodiment may be placed in engagement with the blade set to receive a blade of the blade set into each of the blade slots. In an embodiment, the blade support or blade supports are configured with at least one mating feature or locking feature that engages a corresponding feature in the blade cover to secure the blade support thereto. In an embodiment, one or more blade supports may be secured to a blade set with the blades in engagement in the blade slots before the blades of the blade set are tensioned. In such an embodiment, the tension placed on the blades in the completed blade set secures the blade support in engagement with the blades of the blade set while the blade support strengthens the blades against twisting and/or bending during use.
Still further exemplary embodiments, it will be recognized that a blade assembly and a corresponding pusher head forming a blade cartridge may be configured for the simultaneously slicing of two different pieces of produce. As a non-limiting example, a blade cover of such a blade cartridge may be configured exemplarily with half of the blade cover as exemplarily depicted in
As previously described above, while not depicted herein, it is recognized that blade cartridges may be configured to perform other types of produce slicing, including, but not limited to dicing, cubing, slicing, or wedging. In an exemplary embodiment, a blade cartridge configured to perform a wedge cut, may include exemplarily six or eight angled blades radially extending from a central alignment rod with corresponding wedge-shaped fins on the pusher head. In such an embodiment, the central alignment rod and an exemplary support ring may form the frame for the blade set received in the blade assembly receiving area of the frame. In exemplary embodiments, the blades of the wedging blade set may exemplarily be located at different heights relative to the cover of the blade assembly as described above which may be achieved by two separate blade sets, or a single blade set with blades on different height levels. A non-limiting example of an exemplary construction of a wedging blade and a wedging produce pusher is exemplarily found in the 908-A series of heavy-duty wedges available from Prince Castle LLC.
In still further exemplary embodiments, the cover may comprise the top portion and be independently positioned relative to one or more blade sets positioned in the blade assembly receiving area of the frame. In one exemplary embodiment the cover may be directly secured to the one or more blade sets. In another example the cover may engage the frame, for example by sliding or pivotable attachment, such that one or more blade sets can be positioned within the blade assembly receiving area and the cover, with the target rings pivoted or otherwise moved into a position relative to the blade sets.
It will be recognized that the present disclosure has made reference to a plurality of exemplary embodiments. It will be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure that various features and components as described in connection with one embodiment may be similarly applied or incorporated with the features of another embodiment disclosed herein, while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.
Therefore, an embodiment of the produce slicer as disclosed herein, a single frame enables space-efficient storage and use within a confined food processor or preparation area. The frame of the produce slicer is configured to accept multiple different blade cartridges which include a blade assembly and a pusher head configured to slice different specific types of produce. While a single purpose slicer can be maximized to the specific slicing force and desired processed produce shape, the specific requirements of slicing each different type of produce present challenges when incorporating these features into a single produce slicer. Therefore, by making the adjustments relative to the specific produce within the blade cartridges and configuring the blade cartridges to be accepted within the single common slicer frame, the food processing worker can quickly and efficiently reconfigure the produce slicer for the type of produce to be processed. Additionally, the incorporation of the blade cover safely and securely retains the blade set for slicing each of the different types of produce in a manner that reduces accident risk to the worker thereby promoting a safer work environment while providing a blade assembly that is easily disassembled and cleaned to promote sanitation.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/833,744, filed Aug. 24, 2015, which application was published on Aug. 11, 2016 as U.S. 2016/0229075 in the English language, which application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/043,918, filed on Aug. 29, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/117,222, filed on Feb. 17, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
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| 20180154534 A1 | Jun 2018 | US |
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| 62117222 | Feb 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14833744 | Aug 2015 | US |
| Child | 15886507 | US |
