In an embodiment, the present invention provides an electrically operated slicer for cutting slices, particularly of strand-like cutting material, preferably foodstuffs, including: a cutter that includes a circular blade driven by a blade motor, rotating about an axis of rotation in a slicing plane and mounted in a motor housing, having a stop plate for adjusting a slicing thickness which can be displaced in a direction of the axis of rotation and which is arranged parallel to the slicing plane; and a carriage carrying a support plate via a carriage foot, wherein the carriage foot can be displaced along one side of the motor housing running parallel to the slicing plane, the support plate including a support surface receiving the cutting material arranged perpendicular to the slicing plane on a horizontal plane, the carriage being guided so as to move via a carriage guide having at least two supporting elements.

A product slicer incorporating an automatic slicer engagement mechanism attached to a carriage assembly and configured for quick, safe, reliable, and releasable engagement with a belt to provide powered automated slicing, and disengagement to allow manual slicing.

A cutting method and apparatus for closures of the tethered type are disclosed, in which a spindle that carries a closure is moved to a cutting device with one or more horizontal blades and at least one vertical or oblique blade. During cutting, the spindle rotates and the closure rolls on the cutting device. The spindle, which is fed several times to the cutting device carrying each time a different closure, comprises a portion made of a softer material than the blades so that during cutting the blades penetrate the material of the closure and then sink into the softer portion of the spindle. Feeding the spindle that carries the closure to the cutting device is coordinated with rotation of the spindle so that the vertical or oblique blade, each time that the spindle is fed to the cutting device, always meets the same zone of the softer portion of the spindle.

A slicing machine may include a carriage that can be swiveled out with a supporting plate for supporting product to be sliced, wherein a locking device locks the supporting plate releasably in the slicing position. In order to make simple operation of the slicing machine possible accompanied by a high level of operating safety, the locking device has an electrically or electromagnetically operable actuator for releasing the carriage pivot bearing.

The invention relates to a slicing machine (1) for preferably elongated food, with a blade (2) driven by a motor and a deposit table (3) arranged in a deposit area with a deposit plate (31), which can be moved, motor-driven, linearly in a horizontal direction via a belt drive (47).

In order to manufacture the slicing machine (1) as compactly as possible with a small overall height, it is proposed that the belt drive (47) has at least two deflection rollers (431, 432) and a driving roller (42), which guide the drive belt (45) in endless rotation in a horizontal plane, and that the driving roller (42) is arranged in a perpendicular projection between the first deflection roller (431) and the second deflection roller (432).

A food slicer for slicing food items includes a slicer body, a slicer knife mounted for rotation relative to the slicer body, the slicer knife having a peripheral cutting edge, and an associated knife drive motor. A food product carriage is mounted to the slicer body for reciprocating movement back and forth past a cutting zone of the slicer knife. A knife edge evaluation system includes at least one imaging device positioned and configured for imaging the peripheral cutting edge.

A food product slicer includes a base, a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base, a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past a cutting edge of the knife, and a gauge plate mounted for movement between a closed position that prevents slicing and multiple open positions that permit slicing at respective thicknesses. A gauge plate adjustment system includes a knob with an associated cam, a follower that is engaged with the cam and moved by rotation of the knob and cam, wherein the follower linked for moving the gauge plate, wherein the follower rides on a slide rail, wherein the slide rail comprises a plate member.

A food product slicer includes a base, a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base, the knife having a cutting edge, a carriage mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past the cutting edge of the knife and a drive assembly for moving the carriage. The drive assembly includes a movable belt and a component fixed to the belt for movement therewith, wherein the component is linked to the carriage such that movement of the component with the belt causes movement of the carriage. The component is configured to operate as a belt tensioner that includes a non-linear path through which a portion of the belt passes to tension the belt.

A food portioning machine (2) includes a portion thickness control assembly (22) comprising a carriage (40) carried by a machine base (4) and able to move relative to the machine base in order to adjust the thickness of each portion to be cut from a food product (90). A carriage drive assembly (46) is coupled to the carriage to move the carriage relative to the machine base, a product stop (50) is carried by the carriage and able to move relative to the carriage between advanced and retracted positions, and a product stop drive assembly (68) is coupled to the product stop to move the product stop between the advanced and retracted positions. The carriage drive assembly is operable to move the carriage to a position relative to the machine base with reference to the thickness (t) of the next portion to be cut, and the product stop drive assembly is operable to move the product stop from its retracted position to its advanced position for engagement by the leading end of the food product.

A food product slicer system includes a food product slicer that includes a base, a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base, a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past a cutting edge of the knife, and a gauge plate mounted for movement between a closed position that prevents slicing and multiple open positions that permit slicing at respective thicknesses. The base includes an external housing and also includes a inset region at a sliced food product drop side of the knife. A tray is removably positionable in the inset region and has a bin portion for catching food product slices and an upper mating portion extending outward from the bin and that overlaps with upper surface regions of the housing. In implementations, the system includes a weighing scale that can be interchanged with the tray.