CORRUGATED KNIFE ASSEMBLY AND SLICING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME

Abstract

 A slicing apparatus (200) has a mount and multiple corrugated knife assemblies (100) assembled to the mount. Each corrugated knife assembly (100) has an assembling base (20), a pressing unit (30), and a corrugated knife (10) clamped therebetween. The pressing unit (30) is connected to the assembling base (20) and has multiple ridges (31) and multiple pressing tips (32). The multiple ridges (31) protrude from a top surface of the pressing unit (30). Each ridge (31) has a notch (311) and an oblique face (312) formed at a rim of the notch (311) and obliquely downward extending from the top surface of the pressing unit (30). Each pressing tip (32) is disposed between adjacent two of the ridges (31). In the present invention, a bottom rim of each ridge (31) can firmly press the corrugated knife (10).

Description

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a slicing apparatus, and more particularly to a slicing apparatus for cutting food.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] Potato chips are popular snacks. When the potato chips are produced, a whole potato is formed into potato slices at first; then the potato slices are fried or baked for removing moisture contained in the potato slices.

[0003] In order to replace a knife conveniently, a traditional cutting tool assembly for cutting potatoes includes a knife, and a pressing piece and a base for clamping the knife. Wherein, the traditional pressing piece is a wavy sheet having a straight pressing edge, and the traditional pressing piece presses the knife via the straight pressing edge. When the potato passes through the knife to form the potato slices, the straight pressing edge of the traditional pressing piece is pushed by the potato slices. However, the traditional pressing piece with the straight pressing edge is rigid, so the potato slices are easily broken accordingly.

[0004] With reference to Fig. 10, a conventional pressing unit 70 for clamping a knife 90 with a base 80 is disclosed in US 9517572. In order to improve the abovementioned problem of the traditional pressing piece, the conventional pressing unit 70 has multiple pressing tips 71 disposed at a pressing edge of the conventional pressing unit 70 to lower down the rigidity of the conventional pressing unit 70 and resistances subjected to the potato slices. However, each pressing tip 71 is slender and thick, and the potato slices are blocked by the pressing tips 71 and have poor quality. In addition, as the pressing tips 71 are pushed by the potato slices, remains of the potato slices are accumulated between the conventional pressing unit 70 and the knife 90 and are hard to be removed. Furthermore, each pressing tip 71 is slender and lacks sufficient rigidity. Each pressing tip 71 pushed by the potato slices can be easily bended and fails to firmly clamp the knife 90.

[0005] With reference to Figs. 11 and 12, another conventional pressing unit 70 is disclosed in EP 3071380. The conventional pressing unit 70 has an obliquely cut face 72 disposed at the pressing edge of the conventional pressing unit 70. In a cross section of the conventional pressing unit 70, the conventional pressing unit 70 contacts the knife 90 via the obliquely cut face 72 having a front edge 721 and a rear edge 722. Therefore, pressing force provided by the conventional pressing unit 70 is dispersed, and each pressing tip 71 tilts up easily and cannot firmly press the knife 90. The quality of the potato slices diminishes accordingly. Meanwhile, when bolts are screwed to tighten the conventional pressing unit 70, an included angle between the conventional pressing unit 70 and the base 80 changes. A rear edge 722 of the obliquely cut face 72 turns into a fulcrum, and a front edge 721 of the obliquely cut face 721 tilts up accordingly. Therefore, the pressing tips 71 are also pushed by the potato slices and deform. The pressing tips 71 of the conventional pressing unit 70 cannot firmly press the knife 90 consequently.

[0006] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a slicing apparatus with a corrugated knife assembly that can firmly clamp a corrugated knife.

[0007] The slicing apparatus has a mount and multiple corrugated knife assemblies assembled to the mount. Each corrugated knife assembly has an assembling base, a pressing unit, and a corrugated knife clamped therebetween. The pressing unit is connected to the assembling base and has multiple ridges and multiple pressing tips. The multiple ridges protrude from a top surface of the pressing unit. Each ridge has a notch and an oblique face formed at a rim of the notch and obliquely downward extending from the top surface of the pressing unit. Each pressing tip is disposed between adjacent two of the ridges. In the present invention, a bottom rim of each ridge can firmly press the corrugated knife.

[0008] In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a corrugated knife assembly, configured to be assembled to a slicing apparatus, in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the corrugated knife assembly in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the corrugated knife assembly in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of the corrugated knife assembly in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of the corrugated knife assembly in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of the corrugated knife assembly in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a schematic drawing showing a manufacturing process of a pressing unit of the corrugated knife assembly in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a slicing apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic drawing of the corrugated knife assembly in Fig. 1 and shows a potato being cut by the corrugated knife assembly;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a cutting tool assembly with a conventional pressing unit;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a cutting tool assembly with another conventional pressing unit; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of the cutting tool assembly in Fig. 11.

[0009] With reference to Figs. 1 and 8, a corrugated knife assembly 100 is installed to a slicing apparatus 200. With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the corrugated knife assembly 100 has a corrugated knife 10, an assembling base 20, a pressing unit 30, and two blocking units 40.

[0010] With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the corrugated knife 10 is a corrugated and wavy sheet. The corrugated knife 10 has multiple crest portions 11 and multiple trough portions 12.

[0011] With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the assembling base 20 is a plate and has a first side 201 and a second side 202 opposite each other in position. The assembling base 20 has an abutting area 21 and multiple grooves 22. The abutting area 21 extends from a top of the assembling base 20, extends toward the first side 201 of the assembling base 20, and obliquely extends to a bottom of the assembling base 20. The multiple grooves 22 are disposed at the abutting area 21 and parallel to one another. The multiple grooves 22 are configured to receive the trough portions 12 of the corrugated knife 10. Each groove 22 is downward concaved to the bottom of the assembling base 20 according to each trough potion 12 of the corrugated knife 10 in shape. Each groove 22 extends to the first side 201 of the assembling base 20 along the abutting area 21.

[0012] With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the pressing unit 30 is a bended plate and is connected to the assembling base 20 via bolts. The pressing unit 30 has multiple ridges 31 and multiple pressing tips 32. The ridges 31 are arranged at intervals, and each ridge 31 protrudes from a top surface of the pressing unit 30 corresponding to each crest portion 11 of the corrugated knife 10 in shape. Each ridge 31 has a notch 311 and an oblique face 312. The notch 311 is concaved toward the second side 202 of the assembling base 20. The oblique face 312 is formed at a rim of the notch 311 of the ridge 31 and has a V-shaped contour. The oblique face 312 obliquely downward extends toward the first side 201 of the assembling base 20 from the top surface of the pressing unit 30. Each pressing tip 32 is disposed between adjacent two of the ridges 31.

[0013] With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the notch 311 of each ridge 31 has a depth D, and each adjacent two of the ridges 31 has a distance S. The depth D of the notch 311 of each ridge 31 is smaller than or equal to the distance S of each adjacent two of the ridges 31. Preferably, in the embodiment of the present invention, the depth D of the notch 311 of each ridge 31 is smaller than the distance S of each adjacent two of the ridges 31 (D<S).

[0014] With reference to Figs. 2 and 6, the two blocking units 40 are connected to the assembling base 20. The two blocking units 40 are respectively disposed within two of the grooves 22 of the assembling base 20 for blocking the corrugated knife 10. Specifically, the two blocking units 40 are riveted to the assembling base 20.

[0015] With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, the corrugated knife 10 is clamped between the assembling base 20 and the pressing unit 30. Each crest portion 11 of the corrugated knife 10 is pressed by a corresponding one of the ridges 31 of the pressing unit 30. Each trough portion 12 of the corrugated knife 10 is received within a corresponding one of the grooves 22 of the assembling base 20 and is pressed by a corresponding one of the pressing tips 32 of the pressing unit 30.

[0016] With reference to Fig. 7, when the pressing unit 30 is manufactured, a sheet 30A is bended at first. Then, a pressing edge 30B with gradually decreasing thickness is formed at a side of the sheet 30A. Multiple protruding regions 30C are defined at the pressing edge 30B. The multiple ridges 31 are formed at the multiple protruding regions 30C. Eventually, the obliquely face 312 of each ridge 31 is formed.

[0017] With reference to Fig. 8, the slicing apparatus 200 has a mount and multiple corrugated knife assemblies 100 assembled to the mount. The mount has two frames 50. Each frame 50 is annular. The multiple corrugated knife assemblies 100 surround a central line C at angular intervals. Specifically, the corrugated knife assemblies 100 are connected to interior surfaces of the two frames 50 via bolts. The two frames 50 and the multiple corrugated knife assemblies 100 make the slicing apparatus 200 tubular. Practically, as long as the corrugated knife assemblies 100 can circulate around the central line C, the type of the mount is not restricted.

[0018] With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, potatoes may roll inside the slicing apparatus. When one of the potatoes contacts one of the corrugated knife assemblies 100, the potato is cut by the corrugated knife 10 and turns into potato slices. When one of the potato slices is cut from the potato, the potato slice continuously moves toward the second side 202 of the assembling base 20. The potato slice can move along the oblique face 312 of each ridge 31 when the potato slice contacts the pressing unit 30. Therefore, the pressing unit 30 is free from being pushed by the potato slice and from being bended. The corrugated knife 10 may be firmly clamped between the assembling base 20 and the pressing unit 30 accordingly.

[0019] With reference to Figs. 4, 6, and 9, in the present invention, the oblique face 312 of each ridge 31 is formed at the top surface of the pressing unit 30 rather than a bottom surface of the pressing unit 30. In the cross section of each ridge 31, a bottom rim of the pressing unit 30 only contacts the corrugated knife 10 via a single point. Therefore, even the bolts for fixing the pressing unit 30 are continuously tightened, the pressing unit 30 is free from tilting up. The bottom rim can remain contacting and pressing the corrugated knife 10 continuously.

[0020] If an oblique face is formed at a bottom surface of each ridge 31 of the pressing unit 30, the bottom rim of each ridge 31 contacts the corrugated knife 10 via the oblique face in the cross section of each ridge 31. Accordingly, the oblique face has a front rim adjacent to the first side 201 of the assembling base 20 and a rear rim being closer to the second side 202 of the assembling base 20 than the front rim. When the bolts for fixing the pressing unit 30 are continuously tightened, the rear rim turns into a fulcrum and the front rim tilts up accordingly. Therefore, when the potato slice cut from the potato contacts the pressing unit 30, the front rim of the oblique face is pushed by the potato slice. The pressing unit 30 is bended and fails to firmly press the corrugated knife 10 like the conventional pressing unit 70.

[0021] With reference to Figs. 4 and 9, in the embodiment of the present invention, the depth D of the notch 311 of each ridge 31 is smaller than the distance S of each adjacent two of the ridges 31 (D<S). Compared to the slender pressing tips 71 of the conventional pressing unit 70, each pressing tip 32 of the pressing unit 30 is shorter. Even when the potato slice contacts each pressing tip 32 of the pressing unit 30, each pressing tip 32 has a small torque. Therefore, the pressing unit 30 is hard to be bended and can firmly press the corrugated knife 10.

Claims

1. A corrugated knife assembly (100), characterized in that the corrugated knife assembly (100) comprises:

a corrugated knife (10) being a corrugated sheet and having multiple crest portions (11) and multiple trough portions (12);

an assembling base (20) being a plate and having

a first side (201) and a second side (202) opposite to each other in position; and

multiple grooves (22) parallel to one another, each groove (22) downward concaved to a bottom of the assembling base (20) according to each trough potion (12) of the corrugated knife (10) in shape and extending to the first side (201) of the assembling base (20); and

a pressing unit (30) being a bended sheet, connected to the assembling base (20), and having

multiple ridges (31) arranged at intervals, each ridge (31) protruding from a top surface of the pressing unit (30) corresponding to each crest portion (11) of the corrugated knife (10) in shape and having

a notch (311) concaved toward the second side (202) of the assembling base (20); and

an oblique face (312) formed at a rim of the notch (311) of the ridge (31) and obliquely downward extending toward the first side (201) of the assembling base (20) from the top surface of the pressing unit (30); and

multiple pressing tips (32), each pressing tip (32) disposed between adjacent two of the ridges (31);

wherein the corrugated knife (10) is clamped between the assembling base (20) and the pressing unit (30); each crest portion (11) of the corrugated knife (10) is pressed by a corresponding one of the ridges (31) of the pressing unit (30); and each trough portion (12) of the corrugated knife (10) is received in a corresponding one of the grooves (22) of the assembling base (20) and is pressed by a corresponding one of the pressing tips (32) of the pressing unit (30).

2. The corrugated knife assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the notch (311) of each ridge (31) of the pressing unit (30) has a depth (D);

each adjacent two of the ridges (31) of the pressing unit (30) has a distance (S); and

the depth (D) of the notch (311) of each ridge (31) is smaller than or equal to the distance (S) of each adjacent two of the ridges (31).

3. The corrugated knife assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the corrugated knife assembly (100) has at least one blocking unit (40) for blocking the corrugated knife (10), each one of the at least one blocking unit (40) is connected to the assembling base (20) and is disposed within one of the grooves (22) of the assembling base (20).

4. The corrugated knife assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the assembling base (20) has

an abutting area (21) extending from a top of the assembling base (20), extending toward the first side (201) of the assembling base (20), and obliquely extending to the bottom of the assembling base (20); and

each groove (22) of the assembling base (20) extending along the abutting area (21).

5. A slicing apparatus (200), characterized in that the slicing apparatus (200) comprises:

a mount;

multiple corrugated knife assemblies (100) assembled to the mount and surrounding a central line (C) at angular intervals;

each corrugated knife assembly (100) having an assembling base (20), a pressing unit (30), and a corrugated knife (10) clamped between the assembling base (20) and the pressing unit (30);

the corrugated knife (10) being a corrugated sheet and having multiple crest portions (11) and multiple trough portions (12);

the assembling base (20) being a plate and having
a first side (201) and a second side (202) opposite to each other in position; and multiple grooves (22) parallel to one another, each groove (22) downward concaved to a bottom of the assembling base (20) according to each trough potion (12) of the corrugated knife (10) in shape and extending to the first side (201) of the assembling base (20); and

the pressing unit (30) being a bended plate, connected to the assembling base (20), and having

multiple ridges (31) arranged at intervals, each ridge (31) protruding from a top surface of the pressing unit (30) corresponding to each crest portion (11) of the corrugated knife (10) in shape and having

a notch (311) concaved toward the second side (202) of the assembling base (20); and

an oblique face (312) formed at a rim of the notch (311) of the ridge (31) and obliquely downward extending toward the first side (201) of the assembling base (20) from the top surface of the pressing unit (30); and

multiple pressing tips (32), each pressing tip (32) disposed between adjacent two of the ridges (31).

6. The slicing apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the notch (311) of each ridge (31) of the pressing unit (30) of each corrugated knife assembly (100) has a depth (D);

each adjacent two of the ridges (31) of the pressing unit (30) of each corrugated knife assembly (100) has a distance (S); and

the depth (D) of the notch (311) of each ridge (31) of the pressing unit (30) of each corrugated knife assembly (100) is smaller than or equal to the distance (S) of each adjacent two of the ridges (31) of the pressing unit (30) of the corrugated knife assembly (100).

7. The slicing apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein each corrugated knife assembly (100) has at least one blocking unit (40) for blocking the corrugated knife (10) of the corrugated knife assembly (100), and each one of the at least one blocking unit (40) is connected to the assembling base (20) of the corrugated knife assembly (100) and is disposed within one of the grooves (22) of the assembling base (20).

8. The slicing apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the assembling base (20) of each corrugated knife assembly (100) has an abutting area (21) extending from a top of the assembling base (20), extending toward the first side (201) of the assembling base (20), and obliquely extending to the bottom of the assembling base (20); and
each groove (22) of the assembling base (20) of each corrugated knife assembly (100) extends along the abutting area (21).

9. The slicing apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the mount has two frames (50);

each frame (50) is annular; and

the assembling base (20) of each corrugated knife assembly (100) is fixed to an interior surface of each frame (50).

Drawing