CUTTING DISC

The present invention relates to a cutting disc for a cutting machine.

A cutting machine is a type of food processor, in which a cutting disc is arranged to rotate, and which is used for cutting foodstuffs either in catering kitchens or at home.

Cutting discs being used in such cutting machines have conventionally been manufactured from die-cast aluminium. However, aluminium discs tend to be discoloured, on the one hand when in contact with acids in the foodstuffs and on the other hand during washing-up in a dishwasher. Therefore, it is necessarey to hand wash such discs immediately after use in order to avoid such staining. This is not desirable, for example during use in large catering kitchens.

In order to solve this problem, it has been proposed to coat the aluminium surface with a corrosion-inhibiting alloy. However, even with such surface coatings, certain corrosion takes place if the discs are not washed immediately after use.

During use in cutting machines, cutting discs are subjected to great forces, among other things forces of reaction from foodstuffs that are pressed strongly through the cutting part of the cutting machine in which the disc is arranged. In order to achieve sufficient stiffness, strong material is required in the construction of such a disc. Aluminium discs can be manufactured using a sufficiently strong material thickness and at the same with limited weight. Heavy weight

of the disc brings with it needs for more powerful motors, brake systems, etc. of the cutting machine.

In general, a cutting disc is a disposable article, which means that it is regularly worn out and need replacing. Replacement discs must have essentially the same angular momentum as the disc being replaced, since existing brake systems in the cutting machines are often dimensioned to suit the disc being replaced, and do not necessarily live up to the requirements posed regarding security, deceleration time, etc. any longer if the weight of the disc increases.

The present invention solves the above described problems.

Thus, the invention relates to a cutting disc for use in a cutting machine, comprising a centrally arranged through hole and a radially extending opening, and is characterised in that the cutting disc is manufactured from sheet metal, in that it comprises a first bent edge extending peripherically around the disc and a second bent edge extending peripherically around the through hole, and in that the disc comprises a ditch-formed section extending radially from the centre of the cutting disc and out to the said first bent edge.

In the following, the invention will be described in detail, with reference to exemplifying embodiments of the invention and to the appended drawings, where:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cutting disc according to the present invention.

- Figure 2 is a top view of a cutting disc according to the present invention.

- Figure 3 is a side view of a cutting disc according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a cutting disc 1 according to the invention, intended for use in a cutting machine. The disc 1 is essentially flat, and is associated with an axial direction A, an angular direction V and a radial direction R. The figures 2 and 3 show the same cutting disc from two other angles. Reference numerals are shared between all figures.

The disc 1 comprises a peripherical edge 2, extending in the angular direction V around the axis of the edge 1, and a centrally arranged through hole 3. The dimensions and the form of the hole 3 are adapted for engaging with the existing fastening means for a cutting disc of a per se known cutting machine (not shown) , in which the cutting disc 1 is intended for use.

Furthermore, the disc 1 comprises an elongate, ditch-formed section 5, 9, extending in the radial direction R out from the hole 3, and which may for example have parallel edges or be essentially radially symmetric. The ditch-formed section comprises an inclined part 5. Next to the inclined part 5, an opening β is arranged, extending essentially in the radial direction R and through which foodstuffs are led during use of the cutting machine.

Along a free edge of the opening 6 there is arranged a cutting edge. The cutting edge may be constituted by the edge of the inclined part 5, which in this case is sharp. However, in the figures a preferred embodiment is shown, in which the cutting edge is arranged along a removable cutting means (not shown) , in the form of a blade arranged to be mounted on the

cutting die 1 using conventional fastening means 4, for ex- amle in the form of holes with internal threads, arranged for engagement with externally threaded screws, in turn arranged for retaining the cutting means on the inclined part 5, along a free edge of the inclined part 5. Such a cutting blade is preferably manufactured from a per se conventional metal alloy with high wear and corrosion resistance.

The inclined part 5 comprises at least one surface section, sloping along the angular direction V of the disc 1 so that a point on the inclined surface section which is further away from the cutting edge in the angular direction V is also further away from the principal plane of the disc 1 in the axial direction A.

During use in a cutting machine, the disc 1 rotates in the angular direction V, preferably with a velocity of between 100 and 3000 revolutions per minute. Foodstuffs that are to be cut into pieces, such as vegetables, meat, etc., are fed in the axial direction A towards the disc 1. The foodstuffs are pressed, because of the rotation of the disc 1, towards the cutting edge and are cut by this. The cut-off foodstuff parts are further pressed, because of the rotation of the disc 1 in combination with the sloping plane of the inclined part 5, away from the disc 1 in the axial direction A and on towards the collecting- or feeding out device of the cutting machine or towards a subsequent processing step.

Thus, the foodstuffs may pass through the opening 6 in con- nection to being cut apart by the cutting edge. The opening 6 may be arranged having various heights and widths, depending on the purpose with the cutting disc 1. For example, various additional cutting devices may be arranged after the cutting

disc 1 in the processing program of the cutting machine, why various thicknesses of the cut apart foodstuff parts may be desirable. Such considerations are thus reflected in the choice of form and dimensions for the opening 6.

The rotation of the disc 1 in combination with the angle of the inclined part 5 in relation to the principal extension plane of the disc 1 result in, as has been described above, that cut-apart foodstuffs are pressed away from the disc 1. At the same time, the pressed-away foodstuffs apply a force of reaction on the disc 1. This force of reaction may be considerable, especially when the inclined part is used to press a cut-off slice through a grating arranged beneath the cutting disc used to disintegrate the vegetable further, such as during production of diced potatoes. Therefore, the disc 1 must have high torsional rigidity in order not to be deformed during use, especially since the opening 6 and the through hole 3 deteriorate the torsional rigidity of the disc 1 as compared with that for a homogenous, disc-shaped metal plate.

Instead of cast light-weight metal, the cutting disc 1 according to the present invention is manufactured from relatively thin sheet metal. Preferably, the sheet metal is stainless sheet steel. The thickness of the sheet metal is, among other things depending on the properties of the cutting machine and the desired properties of the cutting disc 1, preferably between 1 and 2.5 millimeters, most preferably about 1.5 mm.

In order to achieve the necessary torsional rigidity, the disc 1 is arranged with a first bent edge 7, arranged periph- herically around the disc, and a second bent edge 8, arranged

around the through hole 3. The bent edge 7 has an essentially U-formed cross-section.

The first bent edge 7 may have any suitable profile, but a waveformed or rectangular profile is preferred. Moreover, it preferably extends around the whole periphery of the cutting disc 1.

Correspondingly, the second bent edge 8 may have any suitable profile, but a waveformed or rectangular profile is preferred. Moreover, it extends around the whole periphery of the through hole 3, possibly with the exception of an area around the region where the inclined part 5 and/or the opening 6 end towards the through hole 3, in other words the angular region occupied by the inclined part 5 and/or the opening 6.

A third bent edge 9 runs essentially along the radial direction R, essentially parallel to the cutting edge and to the inclined part 5 between the first bent edge 7 and the second bent edge 8, right behind the cutting edge or the inclined part 5 in the rotational direction V of the disc 1.

According to a preferred embodiment, the third bent edge 9 is arranged extending essentially in the radial direction R, sloping in the opposite direction as compared to the inclined part 5 and thereby constituting a bridge between the edge of the inclined part 5 facing away from the cutting edge, which is arranged at a certain distance from the principal plane of extension of the cutting disc 1, and this plane.

According to a preferred embodiment, the third bent edge 9 extends all the way between the first 7 and the second 8 bent

edges. This yields better torsional stability to the disc 1. According to an especially preferred embodiment, and as best illustrated in the figures 1 and 2, the second bent edge 8 is arranged to be transformed into the third bent edge 9 by going from running along a curved path along the angular direction V to a straight path essentially along the radial direction R.

According to a very preferred embodiment, the cutting disc 1 is a replacement disc, intended to replace a worn-out cutting disc in an existing cutting machine. To this extent, the dimensions of the cutting disc 1 are chosen so that the cutting disc 1 geometrically fits in the location of the worn- out cutting disc in the cutting machine and can be fastened by the aid of the fastening means in the cutting machine. Moreover, the thickness of the sheet metal in the cutting disc 1 is chosen so that the cutting disc 1 has esentially the same angular momentum as the worn-out cutting disc. As a result, the existing motor and brake system in the cutting machine may be used with their originally intended properties, especially in terms of security considerations such as deceleration time for the disc during braking.

In this way, the present invention achieves a cutting disc for a cutting machine with essentially the same mechanical properties as those for conventional cutting discs in cast light-weigh metal, but which offers substantially better esthetical properties during use as a consequence of less corrosion attacks when in contact with foods and during cleaning in a dishwasher, and which is cheaper to manufacture. The bent edges improve the torsional rigidigy of the disc, so that comparatively thin sheet metal may be used. At

the same time, they facilitate cleaning, which is necessary from a hygienic and regulatory standpoint.

Above, preferred embodiments have been described. However, it is apparent to the skilled person that many modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the thought of the invention. Thus, the invention shall not be limited to the described embodiments, but is variable within the scope of the enclosed claims.