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Slicing machine for two or more food loaves

  • US 5,628,237 A
  • Filed: 10/11/1994
  • Issued: 05/13/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An improved high speed food loaf slicing machine comprising a slicing station including a knife blade and a knife blade drive driving the knife blade along a predetermined cutting path, and loaf support means for supporting a first food loaf and a second food loaf for movement along parallel first and second loaf paths, respectively, into the slicing station for repetitive slicing of both loaves by the knife blade,the improvement comprising:

  • a first loaf feed drive for advancing the first food loaf along the first loaf path at a first preselected loaf feed rate, the first loaf feed drive including two driven short feed conveyors firmly engaging opposite sides of a first food loaf on the first loaf path immediately ahead of the slicing station;

    a second loaf feed drive for advancing the second food loaf along the second loaf path at a second preselected loaf feed rate, the second loaf feed drive including two driven short feed conveyors firmly engaging opposite sides of a second food loaf on the second loaf path immediately ahead of the slicing station;

    an elongated barrier aligned between and parallel to the first and second loaf paths;

    barrier displacement means for displacing the barrier between a first position between food loaves on the food paths and a second position clear of food loaves on the food paths;

    a first gripper releasably gripping the first food loaf, on the first loaf path, at the end of the first food loaf remote from the slicing station;

    first gripper drive means for driving the first gripper along the first loaf path at the first loaf feed rate;

    a second gripper releasably gripping the second food loaf, on the second food path, at the end of the second food loaf remote from the slicing station;

    second gripper drive means for driving the second gripper along the second loaf path at the second loaf feed rate;

    means for driving each gripper to a home position at the end of its loaf path remote from the slicing station prior to the aforesaid movement of the gripper along its loaf path toward the slicing station; and

    means for varying one loaf feed rate independently of the other so that slices cut from one loaf can differ in thickness from slices cut from the other.

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