IP Library Granted Patent US 11,833,706
Granted Patent B2
US 11,833,706 · App. 18/047,726 · Granted Dec 5, 2023

Bread slicer

Inventors: Vance John Matz (Cedar Springs, MI); Yvonne M. Johnson (Rockford, MI); John Curtis Kortman (Muskegon, MI); Lorie Ann Morse (Grand Rapids, MI)
Assignee: Oliver Packaging and Equipment Company
B26D7/32B26D1/11B26D7/0608B26D2007/327B26D2210/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,833,706
App. No.
18/047,726
Granted
Dec 5, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bread slicer includes an infeed side and a hollow infeed assembly positioned in the infeed side, the infeed assembly having an open end and a closed end defining a chamber for receiving bread to be sliced. The bread slicer further includes a pusher for pushing the bread to be sliced along the infeed assembly, and a linkage connected to the pusher, the linkage adapted to move the infeed assembly from a bread receiving position to a predetermined position of a bread path, the linkage adapted to then move the pusher and the bread to be sliced along the bread path from the predetermined position to a delivery area. The bread slicer further includes slicing blades having sharp edges to slice bread moving along the bread path.

Claims (28)

1. A bread slicer, comprising:

an infeed side;

a hollow infeed assembly positioned in the infeed side that is configured to pivot in a downward linear angled bread path, the infeed assembly having an open end and a closed end defining a chamber for receiving bread to be sliced;

a pusher for pushing the bread to be sliced along the downward linear angled bread path of the infeed assembly;

a linkage connected to the pusher, the linkage adapted to move the infeed assembly from a bread receiving position to a predetermined position, the linkage adapted to then move the pusher and the bread to be sliced along the downward linear angled bread path from the predetermined position to a delivery area; and

slicing blades having sharp edges to slice bread moving along the downward linear angled bread path,

wherein the slicing blades are positioned at an acute angle and intersect with the downward linear angled bread path.

2. The bread slicer of claim 1 , further comprising a holder adapted to secure the bread in contact with a support surface of the downward linear angled bread path during bread slicing, wherein the holder and the infeed assembly are adapted to prevent an operator from contacting the sharp edges of the slicing blades from the infeed side.

3. The bread slicer of claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a first linkage member terminating at a first pivot that is pivotable connected to a second linkage member terminating at a second pivot of the pusher for pushing the bread to be sliced along the downward linear angled bread path.

4. The bread slicer of claim 3 , wherein in response to a force applied by a single selectively variable input source, the first linkage member is configured to move, resulting in the second linkage member being urged to rotate about the second pivot.

5. The bread slicer of claim 3 , where the single selectively variable input source is a torsion force.

6. The bread slicer of claim 5 , wherein the torsion force is generated by a motor.

7. The bread slicer of claim 5 , where the torsion force is generated by a perpendicular force applied to a lever.

8. The bread slider of claim 3 , further comprising a third linkage member connected to the second linkage member, wherein in response to the second linkage member being rotated, the third linkage member pivots to urge an infeed platform of the infeed assembly to rotate to the predetermined position of the bread path.

9. A bread slicer, comprising:

an infeed side;

a hollow infeed assembly positioned in the infeed side, the infeed assembly having an open end and a closed end defining a chamber for receiving bread to be sliced, the chamber includes a support surface for supporting the bread that is pivotal about an axis from a first position to a second position which is aligned with a downward angled bread path;

a pusher for pushing the bread to be sliced along the downward angled bread path of the infeed assembly;

a linkage connected to the pusher, the linkage adapted to move the infeed assembly from the first position to the second position, the linkage adapted to then move the pusher and the bread to be sliced along the downward angled bread path from the second position to a delivery area; and

slicing blades having sharp edges to slice bread moving along the downward angled bread path,

wherein the slicing blades are positioned at an acute angle and intersect with the downward linear angled bread path.

10. The bread slicer of claim 9 wherein the chamber further includes opposed sidewalls extending upwardly from the support surface and a top, opposite the support surface, positioned between the interconnecting sidewalls.

11. The bread slicer of claim 9 , wherein the first position is configured when the bread is at a bread receiving position.

12. The bread slicer of claim 9 , wherein the second bread position is configured when the bread is at a predetermined position for the bread path.

13. The bread slicer of claim 9 , wherein the linkage includes a first linkage member terminating at a first pivot that is pivotable connected to a second linkage member terminating at a second pivot of the pusher for pushing the bread to be sliced along the bread path.

14. The bread slicer of claim 13 , wherein the pusher is connected to the second linkage member to push the bread to be sliced along the bread path of the infeed assembly.

15. The bread slicer of claim 13 , wherein the pusher is pivotable connected to the second linkage member to rotate the chamber into the first position or the second position.

16. The bread slicer of claim 9 , further comprises a holder adapted to secure the bread in contact with a support surface of the bread path during bread slicing, wherein a combination of the holder and the infeed assembly are adapted to prevent an operator from contacting the sharp edges of the slicing blades from the infeed side.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: OLIVER PACKAGING AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY, LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BDC, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069101/0938 →
ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Oct 29, 2024
From: OLIVER PACKAGING AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY
To: OLIVER PACKAGING AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 069269/0693 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2022
From: MATZ, VANCE JOHN; JOHNSON, YVONNE M.; KORTMAN, JOHN CURTIS; MORSE, LORIE ANN
To: OLIVER PACKAGING AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 061483/0163 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17345506 · Jun 11, 2021
Related Publication 20230056342A1 · Feb 23, 2023