Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a tubular casing made of a flexible sheet from a food stuffed in the casing are disclosed. The casing is sealed at an opening portion thereof with a sealing means. The method includes stripping one end portion of the casing from a food body, and holding the casing stripped in the preceding step by a pulling means. The method includes pulling the stripped casing outwardly by the pulling means, while the pulling means and the food body are allowed to move relative to each other with respect to a lengthwise direction and a circumferential direction of the food body. The casing is peeled spirally from the food body.

Abstract: A food slicer includes a feeder for feeding a lump of food in one direction, an end detector for detecting an end portion of the lump of food fed by the feeder, a cutter for cutting the lump of food from its leading end into slices, and slice receivers arranged for advancing to and retracting from a dropping path of the slices released from the cutter. A controller is responsive to a detection signal of the end detector for controlling the advancing and retracting movements of the slice receivers.

Abstract: A food slicer includes an end detecting device for detecting end portions of a food fed by a feeder. A retaining member is arranged to be movable with the food in a feeding direction of the feeder and to be retractable at substantially a right angle to the feeding direction to penetrate into and depart from the food. A controller is responsive to a detection signal of the end detecting device for causing the retaining member to penetrate into and hold the other end of the food and to travel with the food until the other end of the food comes close to a rotary knife.