Knife arrangement

Abstract

Knife arrangement for use in for example a slicer apparatus for slicing meat, and in particular fish meat, wherein the knife arrangement comprises two reciprocating knives 40, 40′, each knife 40, 40′ has a blade 54 with a sharp edge 55 and an opposite edge 56, and blade material between said edges, where adjacent a first end 57 of each knife 40, 40′ an engagement member 58 is arranged, which engagement member 58 protrudes perpendicular to the plane of the blade 40, 40′.

Claims

1. Knife arrangement for use in a slicer apparatus for slicing meat, wherein the knife arrangement comprises two reciprocating knives (40, 40′), each knife (40, 40′) has a blade (54) with a sharp edge (55) and an opposite edge (56), and blade material between said edges, where adjacent a first end (57) of each knife (40, 40′) an engagement member (58) is arranged, the engagement member (58) being an integral part of the blade and extending from a side of the blade perpendicular to a plane extending between the sharp edge and the opposite edge of the blade (40, 40′), and wherein the engagement members are arranged in the ends of the knives, wherein the blades (54) of the two knives (40, 40′) are arranged adjacent each other, with their sharp edges (55) oriented in the same direction, and where the engagement member (58) on either blade (54) protrudes in opposite directions relative to the blade's plane, but substantially parallel to a common axis (59); wherein the knife arrangement further comprises first and second knife holders (41, 42), wherein: the first knife holder (41) comprises connection means (65, 66, 67), and where on mutually facing surfaces between a first member (69) and a second member (70) a cavity is provided, said cavity having a minimum cross section less than the cross section of the engagement member, and fastening means (72), for forcing the first and second members together to clamp the engagement members of the first and second knives; and the second knife holder (42) comprises a slit (75) arranged in a body (79) of said knife holder (42), and knife retaining means (76), arranged on said body (79).

2. Knife apparatus comprising: a first knife and a second knife, the first knife and the second knife reciprocating with respect to each other for slicing material, the first knife having first and second opposite ends, first and second opposite edges between the first and second opposite ends, and first and second opposite sides, one of the first and second opposite edges having a first sharp blade edge and another of the first and second opposite edges having a first dull edge, a first integral engagement device on one of the first and second opposite ends on the first side of the first knife, a first knife guide on another of the first and second opposite ends, the second knife having third and fourth opposite ends, third and fourth opposite edges between the third and fourth opposite ends, and third and fourth sides, one of the third and fourth opposite edges having a second sharp blade edge and another of the third and fourth opposite edges having a second dull edge, a second integral engagement device on one of the third and fourth opposite ends on the fourth side of the second knife, a second knife guide on another of the third and fourth opposite ends, the second side of the first knife and the third side of the second knife being adjacent to each other, the first integral engagement device extending on the first side of the first knife and the second integral engagement device extending on the fourth side of the second knife, the first integral engagement device and the second integral engagement device extending in opposite directions respectively from the first knife and the second knife substantially parallel to a common axis and extending substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane between the first and second edges of the first knife and the third and fourth edges of the second knife, and extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of reciprocating movement of the first knife and the second knife, and the first sharp blade edge of the first knife and the second sharp blade edge of the second knife operatively slicing along a same cutting line.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first blade edge of the first knife and the second blade edge of the second knife are adjacent each other with respective sharp edges oriented in a same direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first knife guide comprises a flat unsharpened profile on both of the first and second opposite edges, and the second knife guide comprises a flat unsharpened profile on both of the third and fourth opposite edges.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a first set of cavities on the first side of the first knife between the first and the second opposite edges.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the first set of cavities has an oblong profile with a longitudinal axis of each cavity being perpendicular to the first and second edges of the first knife.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a second set of cavities on the fourth side of the second knife between the third and fourth opposite edges.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the second set of cavities has an oblong profile with a longitudinal axis of each cavity being perpendicular to the second and third edges of the second knife.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first sharp blade edge and the second sharp blade edge have sharp edge shapes selected from the group consisting of wave or zig-zag shapes.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in a production ready mode,

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the invention from an angle seen slightly from above and with the covers 10, 11 removed,

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up of the cutting means,

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed view of the knives arranged in an apparatus as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates in a perspective view a set of knives;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates details of a cross section through a set of knives;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a knife with cavities,

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates the knife holder for the end of the knife with the engagement member;

(10) FIG. 9 illustrated what the knife holder opposite the end with the engagement member.

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a knife with a wave shape.

(12) In FIG. 1 is illustrated an apparatus in which the knives according to the invention are suitable to be mounted. The apparatus will briefly be explained, in order to illustrate the application of the inventive knives. It is in this connection important to notice that the use of the knives are not limited to apparatuses like the one described, but may be used with a wide variety of slicing apparatus using reciprocating knives.

(13) The illustrated apparatus 1 is in a production ready mode in that the moving parts except for the conveyor belts are enclosed in protective covers 10, 11. The conveying path 2 is here illustrated to be continuous but is in fact, as will be described below, constituted by three separate conveyor belts. A mechanism 3 for detecting the thickness of the fish fillets arranged on the conveyor path 2 is arranged upstream from the cutting mechanisms hidden by the covers 10, 11. The height measuring mechanism 3 in this embodiment operates such that as a fish fillet is put on the conveyor path 2 it will engage the flap 4 which will make the axle 5 rotate which rotation is detected and converted to a height measurement.

(14) The apparatus 1 is furthermore equipped with a control station 6 which in this embodiment comprises a touch screen 7.

(15) After fillets are placed on the conveyor path 2 and have passed the height measuring device 3 and the cutting means hidden by the covers 10, 11 the sliced fillet will eventually be transferred to a packaging conveyor 8 arranged at the very downstream end of the conveying path 2.

(16) In FIG. 2 the apparatus 1 is illustrated from an angle seen slightly from above and with the covers 10, 11 removed. In this manner it is possible to detect the three conveyors where a first conveyor 9 arranged upstream from the cutting mechanism transport the fish fillets towards the thickness measuring device 3 and eventually the cutting means. The second conveyor 12 is in this embodiment illustrated without a conveyor belt, but will bridge the gap between the first and the third conveyor 13. The second conveyor 12 is special in that it comprises means, for example in the shape of spikes protruding from the surface of the conveyor belt which spikes will insert themselves into the fish meat such that a very firm and stable connection is established between the conveyor belt and the fish fillet. This is necessary in that the cutting means 20 will impact some force to the fish fillet whereby it is necessary to ensure a fixed hold on the fish fillet in order to produce the required quality. The mechanism for powering and operating the cutting means 20 is partly visible, but will be explained in detail below, and the part not visible is enclosed in the housing 14.

(17) In this particular embodiment parallel sets of conveyors 9, 9′ are arranged such that two fish fillets at one time may be sliced by the cutting means 20. The packaging station 8 comprises means underneath the third conveyor 13 for placing, for example a piece of cardboard in the transport direction of the third conveyor 13 such that the sliced fish fillet transported on the conveyor 13 will be delivered onto the cardboard 13 for further processing, for example vacuum packaging etc.

(18) In FIG. 3 a close-up of the cutting means is illustrated where certain elements have been hidden.

(19) The cutting means 20 comprises a set of knives 40 which are releasably held in knife holders 41, 42 arranged in either end of the knives. In this example where two conveyor belts 9, 9′ are arranged in parallel, the knives 40 therefore have relatively long cutting edges, a support structure 43 is provided in order to minimize deflection, bending etc. of the knives 40 during operation. As the impact (load) from engagement with the fish along the cutting edge may be estimated as evenly distributed the fact that the knives are fastened in both ends of the knives, reduces the load significantly. The load depends on the length squared, so by reducing the free length the load is reduced by the square root. The knife holders 41 are arranged in guiding means 44, 45 arranged in either end of the knives 40. The guiding means 44 in this embodiment comprises two axles 46, 46′ as well as a sliding element 47 arranged such that it may slide up and down along the axle 46, 46′. A base plate 48 is arranged such that it may rotate about the axle 50. The rotation occurs when the axle 51 is moved in an arch as will be explained below. As the axle 51 is moved along an arch the axle 46, 46′ will change their angle relative to the surface of the conveyors 9, 9′.

(20) The sliding element 47 is coupled by means of the arms 49, 49′ to the axle 50. As the axle 50 is brought to turn back and forth as will be explained below, the arms 49, 49′ will cause the sliding member to move up and down along the guiding axles 46, 46′ and in turn move the knives 40 to and from the cutting land 52.

(21) In the opposite end of the knives the housing cover has been removed in order to illustrate the mechanism. The guiding means 45 are provided in a substantially circular plate member 53 which may be rotated back and forth as indicated by the arrow 54. The axles 50, 51 are fastened to this circular plate 53 such that as the circular plate member 53 is rotated as indicated by the arrow 54, the base plate 48 will also be rotated whereby the angle between the knives relative to the conveyor belt's surfaces will be altered.

(22) In FIG. 4 the vital parts relating to the knife arrangement are illustrated in more detail. The set of knives 40 is arranged in the knife holders 41, 42 and an intermediate support structure 43 is provided substantially halfway between the knife holders 41, 42 in order to stabilize the knives which, in this embodiment have a length corresponding to two conveyors 9, 12 arranged in parallel, see FIG. 1 or 2. The cutting land 52 is arranged on the member 44 such that by moving the knives 40 which are fastened to the sliding element 47 along the two axles 46, 46′ the knives 40 may be brought to the right in FIG. 4 until it meets the cutting land, whereby any meat section placed between the knife and the cutting land will have been sliced.

(23) In FIG. 5 is schematically illustrated a set of knives 40, 40′. Each knife has a blade 54 which has a lower edge 55 which on a major length of said lower edge 55 is provided with a cutting edge, for example a wave (see, FIG. 10) or zigzag pattern. The opposite edge 56 may be dull or may also be provided with a sharpened knife cutting edge along a major section of the upper edge. Although it is only the lower edge 55 which will engage and cut the meat, by providing the upper edge 56 with a cutting edge as well, it is possible to turn the cutting arrangement 20 upside down such that what was formally the upper edge 56 now becomes the lower edge 55 such that the period between replacing the set of knives 40, 40′ is substantially extended. This is in part facilitated by symmetric engagement members.

(24) On the face of the blade 54 each knife 40, 40′ is provided with an engagement member 58 in the shape of a cylindrical stud. The cylindrical stud is arranged in a first end 57 of the blade whereas the opposite second end 60 is provided with a section 61 where the blade's edges are dull. When arranged in an apparatus as described above this section 61 will be arranged in a knife guiding zone as will be further explained below with reference to FIG. 9.

(25) In FIG. 6 is illustrated a vertical cross section through the two knives 40, 40′ in order to illustrate that the engagement members 58 are arranged parallel to a common axis 59.

(26) FIG. 7 illustrates a blade provided with cavities 62 arranged substantially equidistant on the blade 54. The cavities are preferably oblong with their long axis perpendicular to the edges 55, 56. In this configuration the cavities 62 having a relatively shallow depth will have the effect that the meat will not be adhering to the knife's blades such that a clean and fast cutting action may be achieved with the knives 40, 40′ without disturbing the texture of the meat to be cut.

(27) One of the inventive features with the present invention is the easy replacement of the knives in the apparatus. This is partly due to the provision of the engagement member 58 and the knife holders 41, 42. In FIG. 8 is illustrated a knife holder 41. The knife holder 41 is to be fastened to a reciprocating member (not illustrated) of the cutting machine. This is carried out by inserting a distal end of the reciprocating member into the cavity 65 of the holder 41. By tightening the two screws 66, 67 the knife holder 41 is securely fastened to the reciprocating member. The cavity 65 shall be shaped corresponding to the distal end of the reciprocating member.

(28) In the holder 41, is further provided a cavity 68 which has a dimension such that the engagement member 58 may be accommodated inside the cavity 68. The cavity 68 is provided by the two members 69, 70. A member 70 is pivotally connected by a hinge arrangement 71 to the member 69 such that by pivoting the member 70 around the pivot member 71 the cavity 68 may be enlarged whereby the engagement member 58 of the knives 40, 40′ easily may be inserted into the cavity 68.

(29) As the member 70 is pivoted back into the position illustrated in FIG. 8, the two members 69, 70 may be fastened by means of the screw 72 such that an engagement member 58 arranged inside the cavity 68 is securely and firmly held by the knife-holder 41.

(30) When desiring to replace the knife 40 the screw 72 is simply loosened such that the distance between the members 69, 70 is widened whereby it is possible easily to withdraw the engagement member 58 from the aperture 68. A new knife having the same properties as the knives explained with reference to FIGS. 5-7 according to the present invention may easily be inserted into the cavity 68, the screw 72 may be tightened again and the apparatus is ready to proceed cutting meat.

(31) In the opposite end a knife-holder 42 is illustrated in FIG. 9. The knife-holder 42 has a slit 75 into which a second end 60 of the knife's blade is inserted. A further holding cap 76 is provided such that the knife may not be withdrawn in the direction of the arrow 77. The reciprocating action of the knives is carried in the direction indicated by the arrow 78. By first releasing the first end 57, i.e. loosening the screw 72, whereby the distance between the member 69, 70 is increased such that the engagement member 58 may be withdrawn from the cavity, it is possible to pull the second end 60 out of the holder 42 in the direction indicated by the left part of the arrow 78.

(32) The member 76 as well as the engagement part 79 of the holder may advantageously be made in a plastic material such as for example Delarin® or other corresponding materials and is advantageously made such that it is easy to replace should wear occur due to the reciprocating movement of the knifes 40, 40′.

(33) Above the inventive knives have been explained with reference to a particular embodiment where they are mounted in a fish slicing machine of a particular type, but it should be noted that the holders 41, 42 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be provided in a host of other slicing machines whereby the inventive set of knives may be implemented in a large variety of cutting machines. Therefore the scope of protection for the present invention should not be limited to the detailed examples and embodiments explained above, but should solely be limited by the appended claims.