In order to avoid having to remove grippers that are not required from the machine when changing the number of lanes by disconnecting the supply lines, in particular pneumatic lines (which requires a great deal of effort due to the hygiene regulations when reconnecting later) the gripper that is not required, at least its base part, ideally together with the gripper head fastened to the base part, is removed from the operating position and repositioned to a parking position without having to disconnect the supply lines. The same is also optionally possible with the contact pressing units of the PFOs, whose contact pressing drives are also connected to supply lines, usually pneumatic lines.

An automatic enclosed food slicing apparatus including a housing defining a slicing compartment and a food compartment and including a cover. The cover has an open position allowing access to the food compartment and a closed position preventing access to the food compartment. A feed bed is located within the food compartment for placing food to be sliced, and a gripper moves the food along the feed bed and into the slicing compartment. A blade slices the food as it moves into the slicing compartment. A motor is drivingly connected to the blade to rotate the blade and drivingly connected to the gripper to move the gripper along the feed bed. A controller controls the speed at which the blade rotates, and the speed at which the gripper moves along the feed bed. A conveyor located within the slicing compartment and extending out from the slicing compartment accepts the sliced food product and through communication with the electronic controls arranges the sliced product into desirable layout configurations.

Produce slicers for slicing produce include a frame. A blade assembly is removably and interchangeably received within the frame. A pusher head is removably and interchangeably received within the frame. The produce slicer includes a cover, at least one target ring in the cover defines a first target area. The blade assembly includes at least one blade set with a first frame bar and a second frame bar and a plurality of blades extend therebetween. The pusher head includes a pusher head body and at least one produce pusher with a plurality of fins extending in a direction away from the pusher head body.

A food slicer for slicing and weighing food items includes a slicer body and a slicer knife mounted for rotation relative to the slicer body. The slicer knife includes a peripheral cutting edge. 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 portion scale is mounted on the slicer body and includes a weigh platter on a slice exit side of the slicer knife. A controller of the food slicer is configured for automated operations and/or monitoring and alerting based upon slicer conditions.

Produce slicers for slicing produce include a frame. A blade assembly is removably and interchangeably received within the frame. A pusher head is removably and interchangeably received within the frame. The produce slicer includes a cover, at least one target ring in the cover defines a first target area. The blade assembly includes at least one blade set with a first frame bar and a second frame bar and a plurality of blades extend therebetween. The pusher head includes a pusher head body and at least one produce pusher with a plurality of fins extending in a direction away from the pusher head body.

An blade assembly for use with a produce slicer includes a first blade set having a first pair of opposing frame bars and a plurality of blades extending between the first pair of opposing frame bars, a blade cover positioned relative to the first blade set, and a blade support extending from the first target ring to support the plurality of blades. The blade cover includes a planar top portion having a first target ring that defines a first target area through which a piece of produce passes during slicing.

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.

A slicer may include a base, a lower assembly, an upper assembly, and a knife. The lower assembly is supported by the base. The upper assembly is moveably coupled to the lower assembly. The knife is coupled to the upper assembly and is rotatable around a rotation axis. The upper assembly is movable along the rotation axis, relative to the lower assembly, between an initial position and an extended position.

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 high speed food article slicing machine with a slicing station, a moveable frame supporting a food article feed mechanism frame, a food article gate, and a safety guard system for detecting an intrusion into the machine. Food articles are loaded onto a lift tray and raised to a staging position where food articles are in contact with a food article gate. The lift tray is located inline with the food article feed paths such that lateral shifting of food articles into the feed paths is not needed. Food article grippers, individually driven along feed paths by an overhead conveyor, move food articles over the food article gate towards the slicing station. The food article gate functions to assist in removal of food article end portions. The slicing machines utilizes a horizontally radiating laser intrusion detector to shut down systems when an unwanted intrusion is sensed.