Abstract: An apparatus for gripping food products such as bacon, cheese or cooked meat in a slicing machine, together with methods of operation thereof. The gripper apparatus comprises hooks for gripping one end of the food product. During slicing, the slicing machine cuts slices from the other end of the food product. Two sets of hooks are present and each set of hooks is moveable between a retracted inoperative position and an extended product-gripping position, independently of the other set. The second set of hooks, when in their extended position, projects for a distance greater than the first set of hooks. Both sets of hooks occupy their extended positions during initial stages of slicing and the second set of hooks is withdrawn to their retracted position during a final stage of slicing so that more of the remaining end of the product can be sliced.

Abstract: A food slicing machine is provided which is particularly suitable for slicing food products such as bacon, cheese or cooked meats. The machine has a slicing blade (1), and advancing apparatus (5, 6) operable to engage one end (13) of a food product (4) to be sliced and, on an advancing stroke, push the food product towards the slicing blade for slicing of the other end of the product. The machine includes a sensor (1) operative to produce a sensing signal representative of the position of said one end (13) of the product prior to engagement thereof by the advancing apparatus, and control circuitry for controlling the extent of a return stroke by the advancing apparatus in dependence upon the sensing signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing groups of shingled slices comprises a jump conveyor and a slicing machine. The slicing machine includes a slicing blade. The jump conveyor includes a first slice receiving section and a second slice receiving section, the first slice receiving section having a first slice receiving surface, and the second slice receiving section having a second slice receiving surface. The jump conveyor is located adjacent the slicing blade so that the first slice receiving surface receives slices cut by the slicing blade directly. The first slice receiving section is articulated with respect to the second slice receiving section to be articulatingly movable relative to the second slice receiving section to vary the angular orientation of the first slice receiving surface.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for holding down food products (4) such as bacon, cheese or cooked meat in a slicing machine. The apparatus comprises a device (3) engaging the top of the food product nd a parallel motion linkage (2) having one end pivotally mountable in the machine and the other end connected to the device. When the linkage is rotated about its pivotable mounting, the device moves substantially perpendicular with respect to a plane on which the food product is supported. This enables the device not only to be raised and lowed when slicing of one product has been completed and slicing of the next food product is to commence, but also to accommodate variations in the thickness and a single product between products.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for gripping food products such as bacon, cheese or cooked meat in a slicing machine, together with methods of operation thereof. The gripper apparatus comprises hooks (6,7) for gripping one end of the food product. During slicing, the slicing machine cuts slices from the other end of the food product. Two sets of hooks are present and each set of hooks is moveable between a retracted inoperative position and an extended product-gripping position, independently of the other set. The second set (7) of hooks, when in their extended position, projects for a distance greater than the first set (6) of hooks. Both sets of hooks occupy their extended positions during initial stages of slicing and the second set of hooks is withdrawn to their retracted position during a final stage of slicing so that more of the remaining end of the product can be sliced.

Abstract: A food slicing machine is described which has a slicing blade (15) for slicing a food product. A moveable gate (13) is positioned adjacent to the blade and moveable between an operative position in which the gate forms an abutment against which the food product is pressed prior to slicing, and an inoperative retracted position in which the food product can advance towards the blade for slicing. The gate undergoes a downwardly directed movement generally towards the blade when the gate moves from the operative position to the inoperative position so that the food product is advanced above the retracted gate towards the slicing blade.

Abstract: A food slicing machine is provided which is particularly suitable for slicing food products such as bacon, cheese or cooked meats. The machine has a slicing blade (1), and advancing apparatus (5, 6) operable to engage one end (13) of a food product (4) to be sliced and, on an advancing stroke, push the food product towards the slicing blade for slicing of the other end of the product. The machine includes a sensor (1) operative to produce a sensing signal representative of the position of said one end (13) of the product prior to engagement thereof by the advancing apparatus, and control circuitry for controlling the extent of a return stroke by the advancing apparatus in dependence upon the sensing signal.

Abstract: A food slicing machine is provided which includes restraining apparatus operative to engage the sides of a food product (4) to be sliced to produce lateral location of the food product. The restraining apparatus comprises a moveable member (8) operative to push a food product to be sliced against a guide (10). The machine is arranged to cause gripping apparatus (5) to engage one end of the food product when the food product is pressed by the moveable member against the guide, after which the moveable member moves away from the food product and thereby releases the lateral pressure on the food product prior to slicing thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing groups of shingled slices comprises a jump conveyor and a slicing machine. The slicing machine includes a slicing blade. The jump conveyor includes a first slice receiving section and a second slice receiving section, the first slice receiving section having a first slice receiving surface, and the second slice receiving section having a second slice receiving surface. The jump conveyor is located adjacent the slicing blade so that the first slice receiving surface receives slices cut by the slicing blade directly. The first slice receiving section is articulated with respect to the second slice receiving section to be articulatingly movable relative to the second slice receiving section to vary the angular orientation of the first slice receiving surface.