Control of food slicing machines
First Claim
1. A food slicing machine having:
- a slicing blade;
advancing apparatus mounted in the machine to undergo alternate advancing and return strokes, the advancing apparatus being operable to engage one end of a food product to be sliced and, on an advancing stroke, push the food product towards the slicing blade for slicing of the other end of the product, the machine having a sensor operative to scan the length of the next food product on a return stroke to produce a sensing signal representative of the position of said one end of the product prior to engagement thereof by the advancing apparatus; and
control circuitry configured so as to control the extent away from the slicing blade of the return stroke of the advancing apparatus in dependence upon the sensing signal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A food slicing machine is provided which is particularly suitable for slicing food products such as bacon, cheese or cooked meats. The machine has a slicing blade (1), and advancing apparatus (5, 6) operable to engage one end (13) of a food product (4) to be sliced and, on an advancing stroke, push the food product towards the slicing blade for slicing of the other end of the product. The machine includes a sensor (1) operative to produce a sensing signal representative of the position of said one end (13) of the product prior to engagement thereof by the advancing apparatus, and control circuitry for controlling the extent of a return stroke by the advancing apparatus in dependence upon the sensing signal.
8 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A food slicing machine having:
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a slicing blade; advancing apparatus mounted in the machine to undergo alternate advancing and return strokes, the advancing apparatus being operable to engage one end of a food product to be sliced and, on an advancing stroke, push the food product towards the slicing blade for slicing of the other end of the product, the machine having a sensor operative to scan the length of the next food product on a return stroke to produce a sensing signal representative of the position of said one end of the product prior to engagement thereof by the advancing apparatus; and control circuitry configured so as to control the extent away from the slicing blade of the return stroke of the advancing apparatus in dependence upon the sensing signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification