Abstract: The invention relates to a feeding apparatus for feeding food products to a slicing unit, having a product support comprising at least one track for the reception of a plurality of products arranged one after another; and at least one product mount which comprises a holder for holding a rear end of a product viewed in a feed direction.

Abstract: The sliding blade microtome is a tissue specimen cutting device including a specimen syringe and an adjustable cutting mechanism for diagonally slicing the specimen. The specimen syringe is a cylindrical shaft having a first end and a second end for holding and supporting a specimen. The first end has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the shaft, forming a compressed lip for applying pressure on the specimen prior to slicing by the blade. The pressure used to compress the gelatin and the specimen holds the gelatin and the specimen in a sturdy position to slice the specimen to precision without chatter marks. The specimen is pushed out of the first end of the specimen syringe by a motor mechanism or a manually adjustable micrometer drive.

Abstract: A computerized positioning and cutting apparatus and method for automatically cutting structures to predetermined lengths with a minimum amount of scrap for a given project. The apparatus includes a frame and a positioning trough supported by the frame. A magazine is mounted to the frame, which is sized to receive uncut lengths of structure to be selectively fed to the positioning trough. A drive system is mounted to the frame and connected to a positioning system for positioning the uncut structures in the trough. A cutter is mounted on the frame to cut the structures as the positioning system feeds the structures through the trough. A controller having an associated computer system is in electrical communication with the drive system and the cutter. The computer system calculates the optimum number of cuts per a predetermined uncut length of structure to produce a minimum amount of waste structure for the project.

Abstract: A slicing machine including a slicing blade for slicing at least first and second product loaves disposed in a side-by-side arrangement using a single rotation of the slicing blade is set forth. A single rotation of the slicing edge about the center of rotation results in a penetration gradient into each of the first and second product loaves that diminishes in magnitude over the single rotation. To this end, the slicing edge may have a profile defined a plurality of constant radius sections. Each constant radius section has a section center defining the center of the constant radius for that constant radius section. Further, each constant radius section has a section center differing from the section center of an adjacent constant radius section. Such a blade and its associated slicing station provide great control of slices from the loaves as they proceed from the loaf to a receiving conveyor of the slicing station.

Abstract: An apparatus for decurling food material, such as slices severed from a food material supply, while the slices are being moved toward a transfer member includes a constriction positioned in close proximity to the slicing station and in general alignment therewith. The constriction is defined by opposing upper and lower surfaces; the upper surface is a stationary surface while the lower surface is a moving surface. The lower moving surface utilizes a plurality of flexible bands rotating around at least one roller, which are disposed proximate to the food material supply. The flexible bands are driven around a guide member having an arcuate profile that matches the curvature movement that the food material supply takes. The bands which form the lower moving surface are driven at a speed equal to or greater than the speed at which the slicer operates.