A system for dispensing articles provided initially in a package is disclosed that comprises a frame configured to support the package of articles and a package-opening tool associated with the frame. The frame includes longitudinally opposed front and rear end sections, and an upper support deck extending at least partially between the front and rear end sections and below which a product display area is provided. The opening tool associated with the frame such that its open the package when the package is moved longitudinally on the upper support deck and relative to the opening tool, thereby allowing the articles to be at least partially dispensed from the package into the product display area.

A thrust-type food cutting apparatus that includes a blade set, food product pusher, and a manually operated pusher arm having a self-stable resting-open position in which the food product pusher is spaced from the blade set to allow a user to load the cutting apparatus with food product to be cut. In an embodiment, the cutting apparatus includes a chassis and a pivoting link linking the pusher arm to the chassis to provide the pivot arm with a movable fulcrum pivot that enables the self-stable resting-open pusher arm position. A thrust-type food product cutting apparatus of the present disclosure may include a blade set, a food product pusher, and a retractable food product stabilizer that stabilizes food product loaded into the cutting apparatus and retracts as the food product pusher moves toward the blade set. Such a retractable food product stabilizer may be integrated with a self-stabilizing pusher arm mechanism.

A food product cutting apparatus having a cutting thrust axis and that includes a chassis designed to allow a user to mount, at the user's choice, the cutting apparatus on a horizontal surface and a vertical surface. The food product cutting apparatus includes a set of horizontal-mounting features designed and configured to secure the chassis of the cutting apparatus to mounting base on a horizontal surface, and a set of vertical-mounting features designed and configured to secure the chassis of the cutting apparatus to a mounting base on a vertical surface. The sets of horizontal and vertical-mounting features are located and configured on the chassis so that the cutting thrust axis has the same orientation relative to its environment regardless of which set of mounting features are employed.

A spiral slicer for producing spiral-cut fruits and vegetables, includes a main body supporting a shaft operated by a crank handle. Rotation of the crank handle selectively moves a pusher, which attaches to a fruit or vegetable toward a set of julienne blades and a main slicing blade. The fruit or vegetable is cut by the julienne blades and then by the main blade, with the sliced portion passing through a gap positioned between the julienne blades and the main blade.

A slicer is provided. The slicer comprises a body (1), a food mounting device (3), a food cutting device (4), and a cover (2). The cover (2) is removably mounted to the body (1). The food mounting device (3) is adapted for mounting food on the food cutting device (4). The food cutting device (4) is adapted for cutting the food mounted by the food mounting device (3). The body (1) comprises a first receiving portion (51) adapted for receiving the food cutting device (4) inside the body (1).

A spiral slicer for producing spiral-cut fruits and vegetables, includes a main body supporting a shaft operated by a crank handle. Rotation of the crank handle selectively moves a pusher, which attaches to a fruit or vegetable toward a set of julienne blades and a main slicing blade. The fruit or vegetable is cut by the julienne blades and then by the main blade, with the sliced portion passing through a gap positioned between the julienne blades and the main blade.

A mandoline slicer includes a slicing blade between a runout ramp and a platen defining an adjustable slicing ramp. A set of cubing blades is selectively movable between extended and retracted positions, extendable through slots formed in the runout ramp. A pusher is configured for 90 degree rotational movement to allow perpendicular cutting by the cubing blades before slicing by a main blade.

A hand-held slicing device having a handle connected to a slicing tray. The slicing tray includes a ramp leading to a fixed blade. The ramp is readily adjustable such that the height of the edge of the ramp most closely adjacent the blade can be raised or lowered. In one version, the ramp can be raised or lowered by sliding a support structure connected to a knob that can be slideably adjusted by the user's thumb. The device may include a series of julienne blades that are selectively extendable above the slicing ramp or retractable below the ramp.

A thrust-type food cutting apparatus that includes a blade set, food product pusher, and a manually operated pusher arm having a self-stable resting-open position in which the food product pusher is spaced from the blade set to allow a user to load the cutting apparatus with food product to be cut. In an embodiment, the cutting apparatus includes a chassis and a pivoting link linking the pusher arm to the chassis to provide the pivot arm with a movable fulcrum pivot that enables the self-stable resting-open pusher arm position. A thrust-type food product cutting apparatus of the present disclosure may include a blade set, a food product pusher, and a retractable food product stabilizer that stabilizes food product loaded into the cutting apparatus and retracts as the food product pusher moves toward the blade set. Such a retractable food product stabilizer may be integrated with a self-stabilizing pusher arm mechanism.

The cutting device can be used to slice, make julienne strips, and/or dice food items. In dicing, preferably the horizontal slicer blade is retracted during a first pass of the slider past the julienne blades, and after the slider has been rotated by 90, during a second pass, the horizontal blade is erected to make the horizontal cut and complete the dicing operation. A slicing width adjustment is provided with a large diameter threaded member being adjustable to support a movable platform, with an adjustable locking mechanism to support the end of the platform nearest the horizontal cutting blade.