A bread slicer includes an infeed side and a hollow infeed assembly positioned in the infeed side, the infeed assembly having an open end and a closed end defining a chamber for receiving bread to be sliced. The bread slicer further includes a pusher for pushing the bread to be sliced along the infeed assembly, and a linkage connected to the pusher, the linkage adapted to move the infeed assembly from a bread receiving position to a predetermined position of a bread path, the linkage adapted to then move the pusher and the bread to be sliced along the bread path from the predetermined position to a delivery area. The bread slicer further includes slicing blades having sharp edges to slice bread moving along the bread path.

A bread slicer includes an infeed side and a hollow infeed assembly positioned in the infeed side, the infeed assembly having an open end and a closed end defining a chamber for receiving bread to be sliced. The bread slicer further includes a pusher for pushing the bread to be sliced along the infeed assembly, and a linkage connected to the pusher, the linkage adapted to move the infeed assembly from a bread receiving position to a predetermined position of a bread path, the linkage adapted to then move the pusher and the bread to be sliced along the bread path from the predetermined position to a delivery area. The bread slicer further includes slicing blades having sharp edges to slice bread moving along the bread path.

A cartridge adapted to secure reciprocating bread slicer blades including a rectangular frame having a planar surface, the frame having a plurality of pairs of opposed holders, each pair of the opposed holders adapted to releasably secure opposed ends of a corresponding bread slicer blade. The frame is adapted to secure a plurality of aligned bread slicer blades defining a plane offset from the frame planar surface. The frame is adapted to selectively maintain each of the plurality of aligned bread slicer blades in tension.

A bread slicer includes an infeed side and a hollow infeed assembly positioned in the infeed side, the infeed assembly having an open end and a closed end defining a chamber for receiving bread to be sliced. The bread slicer further includes a pusher for pushing the bread to be sliced along the infeed assembly, and a linkage connected to the pusher, the linkage adapted to move the infeed assembly from a bread receiving position to a predetermined position of a bread path, the linkage adapted to then move the pusher and the bread to be sliced along the bread path from the predetermined position to a delivery area. The bread slicer further includes slicing blades having sharp edges to slice bread moving along the bread path.

A bread slicer includes an infeed side and a hollow infeed assembly positioned in the infeed side, the infeed assembly having an open end and a closed end defining a chamber for receiving bread to be sliced. The bread slicer further includes a pusher for pushing the bread to be sliced along the infeed assembly, and a linkage connected to the pusher, the linkage adapted to move the infeed assembly from a bread receiving position to a predetermined position of a bread path, the linkage adapted to then move the pusher and the bread to be sliced along the bread path from the predetermined position to a delivery area. The bread slicer further includes slicing blades having sharp edges to slice bread moving along the bread path.

A bread slicer is provided with an input compartment for a loaf of bread and a set of blades designed for cutting a loaf of bread and cooperating with a push block, which enables the loaf to be pushed through the set of blades to an output table. The output table has a bag holder for keeping open a packing bag with the opening facing the set of blades, the push block being arranged to push at least a part of the sliced loaf so as to introduce it at least partially in the packing bag.

A bread slicer is provided with an input compartment for a loaf of bread and a set of blades designed for cutting a loaf of bread and cooperating with a push block, which enables the loaf to be pushed through the set of blades to an output table. The output table has a bag holder for keeping open a packing bag with the opening facing the set of blades, the push block being arranged to push at least a part of the sliced loaf so as to introduce it at least partially in the packing bag.

Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed to manufacture a plurality of edible pieces in a continuous process where each piece is generally different in thickness, shape, size and/or texture from another piece, so as to create, in the aggregate product distribution, pieces of randomly varying thickness, size, shape and/or texture. More specifically, the present invention, in its various embodiments, provides a process for manufacturing pet jerky treats comprising: grinding proteinaceous material, mixing said proteinaceous material with preservatives and flavor enhancers to form a blend of foodstuff, extruding said foodstuff through at least one die opening that is at least partially irregular to form at least one strip of extrudate that is at least partly irregular in shape, transporting said strip in a first longitudinal direction to a first cutting operation, cutting said strip at a first cutting angle to form a first set of pieces, transporting said first set of pieces in a second longitudinal direction to a second cutting operation, cutting said first set of pieces in said second cutting operation at a second angle to form a second set of pieces, such that the said second set of pieces cumulatively produced during a process run generally appear to be of random sizes and shapes.

Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed to manufacture a plurality of edible pieces in a continuous process where each piece is generally different in thickness, shape, size and/or texture from another piece, so as to create, in the aggregate product distribution, pieces of randomly varying thickness, size, shape and/or texture. More specifically, the present invention, in its various embodiments, provides a process for manufacturing pet jerky treats comprising: grinding proteinaceous material, mixing said proteinaceous material with preservatives and flavor enhancers to form a blend of foodstuff, extruding said foodstuff through at least one die opening that is at least partially irregular to form at least one strip of extrudate that is at least partly irregular in shape, transporting said strip in a first longitudinal direction to a first cutting operation, cutting said strip at a first cutting angle to form a first set of pieces, transporting said first set of pieces in a second longitudinal direction to a second cutting operation, cutting said first set of pieces in said second cutting operation at a second angle to form a second set of pieces, such that the said second set of pieces cumulatively produced during a process run generally appear to be of random sizes and shapes.

A cartridge adapted to secure reciprocating bread slicer blades including a rectangular frame having a planar surface, the frame having a plurality of pairs of opposed holders, each pair of the opposed holders adapted to releasably secure opposed ends of a corresponding bread slicer blade. The frame is adapted to secure a plurality of aligned bread slicer blades defining a plane offset from the frame planar surface. The frame is adapted to selectively maintain each of the plurality of aligned bread slicer blades in tension.