A food product slicer includes a base, a knife mounted for rotation about an axis relative to the base via a knife drive shaft, and a knife cover plate overlying regions of the knife. A monolithic mount part is provided that defines a first mount portion to which the knife drive shaft for the knife is mounted and a second mount portion to which the knife cover plate mounts, so as to establish a relative axial position between the knife and the knife cover plate.

An electrically operated slicing machine cuts slices from material to be cut. The slicing machine has a slicing device, which includes an electric blade motor; a circular blade rotatably driven by the electric blade motor; and a carriage that is moved parallel to the circular blade to receive and move the material to be cut. A blade monitor monitors a condition of the circular blade. The blade monitor has a current measuring device that measures a blade motor current of the electric blade motor. A grinding monitor monitors a grinding process executed by a blade grinder.

An electrically operated slicing machine cuts slices from material to be cut. The slicing machine has a slicing device, which includes an electric blade motor; a circular blade rotatably driven by the electric blade motor; and a carriage that is moved parallel to the circular blade to receive and move the material to be cut. A blade monitor monitors a condition of the circular blade. The blade monitor has a current measuring device that measures a blade motor current of the electric blade motor. A grinding monitor monitors a grinding process executed by a blade grinder.

A food product slicer includes a base, a knife mounted for rotation about an axis relative to the base, the knife including a peripheral cutting edge, and a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past the peripheral cutting edge of the knife. A knife sharpener includes a first sharpening component movable between a first non-sharpening position spaced from the peripheral cutting edge and a first sharpening position engaged with the peripheral cutting edge. A knife guard extends about portions of the peripheral cutting edge and includes a radially inner edge facing toward and running along the peripheral cutting edge, wherein the radially inner edge includes a radially outwardly extending channel along which the first sharpening component moves to reach the first sharpening position.

A food product slicer includes a base, a knife mounted for rotation about an axis relative to the base, the knife including a peripheral cutting edge, and a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past the peripheral cutting edge of the knife. A knife sharpener includes a first sharpening component movable between a first non-sharpening position spaced from the peripheral cutting edge and a first sharpening position engaged with the peripheral cutting edge. A knife guard extends about portions of the peripheral cutting edge and includes a radially inner edge facing toward and running along the peripheral cutting edge, wherein the radially inner edge includes a radially outwardly extending channel along which the first sharpening component moves to reach the first sharpening position.

A method monitors a slicing machine, which has a circular knife driven by an electric knife motor. The method includes: sensing a knife motor current or a temporal profile of the knife motor current from the electric knife motor; determining measurement data based on the knife motor current or the temporal profile of the knife motor current; and determining a current cutting characteristic value based on the measurement data. The measurement data includes a load-dependent or load-independent current component. The cutting characteristic value includes a soiling, wear, or knife sharpness characteristic value, the soiling and wear characteristic values being derived from the load-independent current component, and the knife sharpness characteristic value being derived from the load-dependent current component.

A method monitors a slicing machine, which has a circular knife driven by an electric knife motor. The method includes: sensing a knife motor current or a temporal profile of the knife motor current from the electric knife motor; determining measurement data based on the knife motor current or the temporal profile of the knife motor current; and determining a current cutting characteristic value based on the measurement data. The measurement data includes a load-dependent or load-independent current component. The cutting characteristic value includes a soiling, wear, or knife sharpness characteristic value, the soiling and wear characteristic values being derived from the load-independent current component, and the knife sharpness characteristic value being derived from the load-dependent current component.

A whetting device is for a slicer. The whetting device has: a whetstone that sharpens a circular blade of the slicer; a hone that deburrs the circular blade; a handle that moves the whetstone or the hone toward the circular blade; and a mount for fastening to a stop plate of the slicer. The mount has an insertion apparatus for being form-fittingly inserted into the stop plate. The mount having a U-shaped plate receptacle, which has a gap for introducing the stop plate into the gap in when the whetting device is pushed onto the stop plate. The insertion apparatus has a lug for engaging in an recess in the stop plate, or the stop plate has the lug for engaging in the recess in the insertion apparatus.

A whetting device is for a slicer. The whetting device has: a whetstone that sharpens a circular blade of the slicer; a hone that deburrs the circular blade; a handle that moves the whetstone or the hone toward the circular blade; and a mount for fastening to a stop plate of the slicer. The mount has an insertion apparatus for being form-fittingly inserted into the stop plate. The mount having a U-shaped plate receptacle, which has a gap for introducing the stop plate into the gap in when the whetting device is pushed onto the stop plate. The insertion apparatus has a lug for engaging in an recess in the stop plate, or the stop plate has the lug for engaging in the recess in the insertion apparatus.

A cutting tool, in particular a knife, includes at least one blade with a blade body and a cutting edge. In order to grind or polish the cutting tool with precision even without a grinding template, provision is made for the cutting tool to have at least one supporting portion which defines a supporting plane by means of which, for the purpose of grinding and/or polishing the cutting edge, the cutting tool can be stably placed on a planar underlying surface, the blade body therefore being oriented at a working angle ranging from 65 to 80 in relation to the underlying surface. A set for grinding and/or polishing a cutting tool and also a corresponding method are likewise disclosed.