The present invention relates generally to food processing machinery and more specifically to a slicer blade guide with insert, which reduces the amount of maintenance required for a food slicing machine and increases longevity of the machine.
Slicer blade guides provide support for a continuous cutting blade used in a food slicing machine. However, the slicer blade guide must be replaced about every 4-6 weeks, because of wear. The slicer blade guide needs to be replaced and the machine needs to be recalibrated. The above maintenance requires two workers, which both work at least eight hours. Applicant's invention need only be replaced once a every year instead of every month. Reduced maintenance results in less down time for the food slicing machine and thus greater machine productivity.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a slicer blade guide with insert, which reduces the amount of maintenance required for replacing the slicer blade guide on a food slicing machine and increases longevity of the machine.
The present invention provides a slicer blade guide with insert, which reduces the amount of maintenance required for a food slicing machine. The slicer blade guide with insert (slicer blade guide) preferably includes a base guide plate, an upper guide plate, at least one blade insert and a pair end caps. The base guide plate preferably includes a base angled blade surface, a base insert slot and a bottom chamfered surface. The base angled blade surface, the base insert slot and the bottom chamfered surface extend across a length of the base guide plate. The base angled blade surface extends upward from a top surface of the base guide plate at a front thereof and forms an acute angle with a top surface of the base guide plate. A bottom of the base insert slot is preferably parallel to the base angled blade surface. The base angled blade surface has a width that is less than a width of a cutting blade. The base angled blade surface is coated to resist wear from the cutting blade. The coating is preferably chrome, but other coatings may also be used. A bottom of the at least one blade insert is retained in the base insert slot and preferably axially retained on each end with the pair end caps. The at least one blade insert is preferably fabricated from carbide, but other materials may also be used. The at least one blade insert may be purchased from numerous vendors.
The upper guide plate preferably includes an upper angled blade surface and an upper insert slot. The upper angled blade surface and the upper insert slot extend across a length of the upper guide plate. The upper angled blade surface extends upward from a bottom surface of the upper guide plate and forms an acute angle therewith. A top of the upper insert slot is parallel to the upper angled blade surface. The upper angled blade surface is parallel to the base angled blade surface. The upper angled blade surface has a width that is less than a width of a cutting blade. A cutting edge of the cutting blade must extend beyond the slicer blade guide to cut. The upper angled blade surface is coated to resist wear. The coating is preferably chrome, but other coatings may also be used. A top of the at least one blade insert is retained in the upper insert slot. The upper guide plate is secured to the base guide plate with a plurality of fasteners. When the upper guide plate is secured to the base guide plate a distance between the upper angled blade surface and the lower angled blade surface is slightly greater than a thickness of the slicing blade.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a slicer blade guide, which reduces the amount of maintenance required for replacing the slicer blade guide on a food slicing machine and increases longevity of the machine.
These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.
With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to
The upper guide plate 12 preferably includes an upper angled blade surface 26 and an upper insert slot 28. The upper angled blade surface 26 and the upper insert slot 28 extend across a length of the upper guide plate 12. The upper angled blade surface 26 extends upward from a bottom surface 30 of the upper guide plate 12 and forms an acute angle “A” therewith. A top of the upper insert slot 28 is parallel to the upper angled blade surface 26. The upper angled blade surface 26 is parallel to the base angled blade surface 18. The base and upper angled blade surfaces 18, 26 have a width, which are less than a width of the cutting blade 106. A cutting edge of the cutting blade 106 must extend beyond the slicer blade guide 1 to cut. The upper angled blade surface 26 is coated to resist wear from the cutting blade 106. The coating is preferably chrome, but other coatings may also be used. A top of the at least one blade insert 14 is retained in the insert slot 28.
The upper guide plate 12 is preferably secured to the base guide plate 10 with a plurality of insert fasteners 32 and a plurality of retention fasteners 34. A plurality of insert countersink holes 36 are formed in the upper guide plate 12 and a plurality insert threaded holes 38 are formed through the base guide plate 10. A plurality of retention countersink holes 40 are formed in the upper guide plate 12 and a plurality insert threaded holes 42 are formed through the base guide plate 10. When the upper guide plate 12 is secured to the base guide plate 10, a distance “B” between the upper angled blade surface 26 and the lower angled blade surface 18 is slightly greater than a thickness of the slicing blade 106. The following dimensions are given by way of example and not by way of limitation. The slicing blade 106 has a typical thickness of about 0.021 inches. The distance “B” is preferably 0.024 inches, but other thicknesses could also be used. A plurality of attachment holes 44 are formed through the base and upper guide plate 10, 12 to secure the slicer blade guide 1 to the guide support 108 with a plurality of fasteners (not shown). The cutting blade 106 asserts most of its force against the at least one blade insert 14. The cutting blade 106 will also exert force on the upper angled blade surface 26 and the lower angled blade surface 18.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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