Abstract: A drive system for driving the workpiece-retaining carriage of a food slicing machine, including a drive pulley rotatably driven by a servomotor in alternating, opposite directions. Opposite ends of a drive belt extend around the drive pulley through a gap between two idle pulleys. The drive belt seats against the idle pulleys and the opposite ends extend in opposite directions on the opposite side of the gap. The upper drive belt end extends over the curved surface of a support panel to gripping engagement of a tensioning pulley and clamp. The lower drive belt end extends over the curved surface of the support panel to gripping engagement of a second tensioning pulley and clamp. The support panel is mounted on a drive member that is, at its opposite end, rotatably mounted to a pivot, and rigidly mounted to the workpiece-retaining carriage.