Material cutting machine for slicing a cylinder

A machine for cutting slices from a cylinder of material, comprising:

• a machine frame;
• a holding means on the frame for holding a cylinder of material for driven rotation about a central longitudinal axis, the holding means including an elongate mandrel supported for rotation about the central longitudinal axis and a holding mechanism for releasably securing a material cylinder concentrically positioned on the mandrel so as to rotate with the mandrel;
• a means for rotating the mandrel about the central longitudinal axis;
• a cutting blade for cutting a material cylinder, secured to the mandrel, into material slices;
• a carriage assembly having the cutting blade carried thereon, and mounted on the machine frame for movement relative thereto in order to shift the cutting blade to selected axial cutting locations along the mandrel at which a material cylinder secured thereto is to be cut into slices;
• and
• a manually operated drive mechanism connected to the carriage assembly for moving the carriage assembly in order to shift the cutting blade to the axial cutting locations, the drive mechanism including
• an elongate toothed rack mounted on the machine frame;
• a toothed pinion rotatably meshing with the toothed rack;
• a drive spindle connected with the carriage assembly and being fixed to the toothed pinion on an axis of rotation;
• a drive handle mounted on the drive spindle;
• and
• a clutch mechanism operable to drivingly connect the handle with the drive spindle upon manual gripping and rotation of the handle in one direction about the axis of rotation and to disconnect the handle for manual rotation free of the drive spindle in an opposite direction about the axis of rotation, whereby repeated alternate rotary movement of the drive handle in the two directions incrementally rotating the drive spindle, and the toothed pinion fixed thereto, about the axis of rotation causing the toothed pinion to rotate along the toothed rack and thereby incrementally moving the carriage assembly in one direction along the mandrel.

A machine for cutting slices from a cylinder of material, comprising:

• a machine frame;
• a holding means on the frame for holding a cylinder of material for driven rotation about a central longitudinal axis, the holding means including an elongate support mandrel rotatably drivable about the central longitudinal axis and a holding mechanism for releasably securing a material cylinder concentrically positioned on the mandrel so as to rotate with the mandrel;
• a cutting blade movable transversely of the longitudianl axis to cut a material cylinder, secured to the mandrel, into material slices;
• a carriage assembly having the cutting blade carried thereon, and mounted on the machine frame for movement relative thereto in order to shift the cutting blade to selected axial cutting locations along the mandrel at which a material cylinder secured thereto is to be cut into slices, and;
• a drive mechanism connected to the carriage assembly and being operable for movement of the carriage assembly in directions along the mandrel in order to shift the cutting blade to the axial cutting locations, the drive mechanism including:
• an elongate track mounted on the machine frame;
• a drive wheel mounted on the carriage assembly and being pivotable relative thereto for selective engagement with and disengagement from the elongate track, the drive wheel being rotatable during engagement with the elongate track to rotate along the track and thereby move the carriage assembly along the mandrel to shift the cutting blade to selected cutting locations;
• a drive handle connected to the drive wheel and grippable for manual pivotal movement which pivots the drive wheel out of engagement with the elongate track followed by manual linear movement in either direction along the mandrel to move the carriage along the mandrel and thereby shift the blade to a selected cutting location;
• and
• a clutch mechanism selectively drivingly connecting the drive wheel and drive handle, the clutch mechanism being operable to drivingly connect the handle with the drive wheel upon manual rotation of the handle in one direction and to disconnect the handle for rotation free of the drive wheel in an opposite direction, whereby during engagement of the drive wheel with the elongate track repeated alternate rotary movement of the drive handle in the two directions incrementally rotates the drive wheel along the elongate track causing incremental movement of the carriage assembly in one direction only along the mandrel.