Food product slicing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A food product slicing apparatus comprising:
- a housing enclosing a slicing device, wherein the slicing device comprises a rotatable slicing blade, and wherein the housing comprises a sidewall; and
a sealing and cleaning structure comprising a sleeve mounted to the sidewall, providing a passageway in the sidewall through which the food product passes and receives a treatment along its outer surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, and method of its use, for slicing food products, particularly elongated food products, in which the apparatus has a housing enclosing a rotatable slicing blade, and a sleeve which is mounted in a housing sidewall. The sleeve provides a passageway through which a food product passes and receives a treatment along its outer surface. Other additional and/or alternative features for enhancing or sustaining the cleanliness within the slicing housing also are provided, which include use of overpressure within the housing interior, introduction of HEPA-filtered gas or air therein, delivery of an antimicrobial agent therein, and/or providing interior housing wall surfaces having a surface finish (RMS) not exceeding 32 microinches. The slicing apparatus, and its method of operation, provides reliable, accurate continuous slicing capability while requiring less cleaning.
49 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A food product slicing apparatus comprising:
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a housing enclosing a slicing device, wherein the slicing device comprises a rotatable slicing blade, and wherein the housing comprises a sidewall; and
a sealing and cleaning structure comprising a sleeve mounted to the sidewall, providing a passageway in the sidewall through which the food product passes and receives a treatment along its outer surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A food product slicing apparatus comprising:
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a housing enclosing a slicing device, wherein the slicing device comprises a rotatable slicing blade, and wherein the housing comprises a sidewall; and
a food product introducing structure associated with the sidewall, providing a means through which the food product is advanced into the slicing housing; and
means for improving or sustaining cleanliness inside the slicer housing selected from the group consisting of;
a) a gas source operable to feed gas inside the housing to provide a positive pressure environment within the housing, b) a gas source operable to feed HEPA-filtered gas inside the housing;
c) the housing comprises interior wall surfaces having a surface finish (RMS) not exceeding 32 microinches, d) an antimicrobial agent delivery assembly operable to deliver an antimicrobial agent to interior wall surfaces of the front sidewall and rear sidewall, e) a sealing structure comprising a sleeve mounted to the sidewall, providing a passageway in the sidewall through which the food product passes and receives a treatment along its outer surface, and f) any combination of a), b), c), d), e), and f).
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17. A method for slicing a food product, comprising:
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a) providing a housing enclosing a slicing blade, and the housing having a sidewall in which a sleeve is mounted for passing a food product wherein the sleeve is operable to treat the outer surface of the food product;
b) placing a food product having an outer surface on an advancement mechanism;
c) advancing the food product in a feed direction into the sleeve using the advancement mechanism;
d) treating the outer surface of the food product as the food product passes through the sleeve;
e) advancing the food product into a slicing path of the slicing blade. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification