Slicing Apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for slicing a food item, comprising:
- a blade to slice the food item;
a collection platform for collecting the food item as it is sliced; and
a tray on which the food item rests, such that there is no relative linear motion between the food item and the collection platform while the food item is being sliced.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved slicer having a reciprocating blade is disclosed. The use of a reciprocating blade allows the configuration and functionality of the slicer to be modified to address many of the deficiencies of current rotary slicers. The slicer operates without manual intervention, and includes the capability to automatically stack the sliced products. In other words, the food product to be sliced is placed on the slicer, and the slicer automatically slices the food product and stacks the sliced product, in a configuration that is presentable to the customer. In some embodiments, the machine is designed to have certain zones that can be cleaned or replaced, while the rest of the machine is never contaminated. In addition, the reciprocating blade is inexpensive and easily replaceable, thereby eliminating the need to sharpen the blade.
20 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for slicing a food item, comprising:
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a blade to slice the food item; a collection platform for collecting the food item as it is sliced; and a tray on which the food item rests, such that there is no relative linear motion between the food item and the collection platform while the food item is being sliced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for slicing a food item, comprising:
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a reciprocating blade to slice the food item; a collection platform for collecting the food item as it is sliced; and a platform on which the food item rests. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for slicing a food item, comprising:
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a blade to slice the food item; a collection platform for collecting the food item as it is sliced; a weight measuring device, integrated with said collection platform to measure the weight of sliced food items; a mechanism to move the blade relative to the food item so as to slice it; and a controller in communication with the mechanism and the weight measuring device, configured to disable the mechanism when the weight of the sliced food item reaches a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for slicing food item, comprising:
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a housing, comprising rails and a rack disposed under the rails; a moveable horizontal tray, resting on the rails of the housing, a blade; and a drive unit, comprising; a first actuator in communication with a driven gear, where the gear engages with the rack to move the drive unit along the direction of the rails a second actuator in communication with a drive shaft to reciprocate the blade; a third actuator in communication with a thickness drive block which rotates the blade to adjust its height; and a coupling to attach the drive unit to the horizontal tray. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for slicing food items, comprising:
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a horizontally oriented blade to slice the food item; a horizontal tray on which the food item rests; and a horizontal collection platform located below the tray such that the food item falls to the collection tray as it is being sliced by the blade. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for slicing food items, comprising:
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a tray to hold the food item; a blade to slice the food item; a collection tray to hold the slice food item; a first weight measuring system to measure a weight of the sliced food item; a second weight measuring system to measure a weight of the food item remaining of the tray; and a controller in communication with the first weight measuring system, the second measuring system and the blade. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification