[0001] The present invention relates to a knife on a slicer for food products, the knife
having a rotating circular blade and a deflector plate therefor.
[0002] Typically a circular knife blade has a flat obverse face and a reverse face the edge
of which is ground at an angle to produce a cutting edge. The obverse face faces towards
the bulk of the food product to be cut. A deflector plate, typically formed from sheet
metal, is mounted adjacent the reverse face and shaped to follow the contour of the
cutting edge so as to remove the sliced product from the knife and deliver it to a
receiving position.
[0003] Due to difficulty in consistently positioning the deflector plate sufficiently close
to the knife blade, there is a tendency for a slice being cut from the food product
to enter the gap between the knife blade and the deflector plate and to as a result
become damaged or even to disappear into the gap. Such a problem is especially serious
where the slicing process is automatic rather than a manual.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of knife blade and
deflector plate to obviate this problem.
[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a food product slicing machine
of the type having a rotating circular knife blade, the knife blade having a substantially
flat obverse face and reverse face, the edge of the blade on the reverse face being
ground at an angle to produce a cutting edge; the knife blade bearing a circular recess
formed in the reverse face concentric with the knife blade and a deflector mounted
within the recess, the outer surface of the deflector being arranged to be aligned
with the reverse face or slightly below the reverse face at the circumference of the
recess.
[0006] The present invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a knife blade for use in the present invention;
Figure 2 shows the detail A of Figure 1, the area adjacent to the knife edge, adjacent
to the edge of the knife blade to an enlarged scale;
Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the knife blade of Figures 1 -2 with a deflector
fitted; and
Figure 4 shows the detail B of Figure 3 adjacent to the edge of the knife blade to
an enlarged scale.
[0007] In none of the drawings is the slicer itself shown, this being of any well-known
variant which will accommodate the knife blade and deflector of the present invention.
[0008] The knife blade 1 has an obverse face 2 and a reverse face 3, an angle 4 being ground
to form a cutting edge 5.
[0009] A curved profile 6 deflects cut product (not shown) away from the cutting edge 5.
[0010] A circular recess 7 is formed in the reverse face 3 having a wall 8 concentric with
the knife blade 1.
[0011] As shown in Figures 3 and 4 a deflector 9 is fitted within the recess 7, the outer
surface 10 of the deflector 9 being formed so as to provide a surface generally continuous
with or slightly below the reverse face 3 of the knife blade 1 at the wall 8 of the
recess 7.
[0012] The deflector 9 may be either a complete disk as shown or an arcuate sector in the
area at which the knife blade cuts the food product.
[0013] The deflector 9 should be mounted rigidly within the recess 7, such as by a support
from the slicer or by a bearing on the axis of the knife blade 1.
1. In a food product slicing machine of the type having a rotating circular knife blade,the
knife blade having a substantially flat obverse face and reverse face, the edge of
the blade on the reverse face being ground at an angle to produce a cutting edge;
the knife blade having a circular recess formed in the reverse face concentric with
the knife blade and a deflector mounted within the recess, the outer surface of the
deflector being arranged to be aligned with the reverse face or slightly below the
reverse face at the circumference of the recess.
2. In a food product slicing machine as claimed in Claim 1, the reverse face of the knife
blade adjacent to the cutting edge being curved away from the obverse face.
3. In a food product slicing machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, the wall of the recess
being substantially normal to the reverse face of the knife blade.
4. In a food product slicing machine as claimed in Claim 3, the edge of the deflector
being normal to the outer surface thereof.
5. In a food product slicing machine as claimed in any preceding claim, the deflector
being an arcuate sector located adjacent the position on the knife blade at which
the food product is to be cut.