Abstract: A slicing apparatus including at least one pusher head and at least one blade. The pusher head is movable from a first position, wherein an object to be sliced is capable of being placed between the pusher head and the blade, and a second position, wherein the pusher head contacts and/or pushes the object to be sliced against the at least one blade.

Abstract: Tomatoes (11) or other articles are placed over moving cutter blades (20) in article openings (46) of an article locator (44) of the article slicer (10). Article pushers (24) move downwardly and have downwardly extending pusher fins (26) for pushing the tomatoes through the cutter blades (20). The articles pushers (24) have laterally extending front openings (36) for receiving a high pressure fluid spray for cleaning the fins (26) and cutter blades (20) without disassembling the components of the slicer. The article pushers (24) are carried by a movable support plate (78) between retracted positions behind the cutter blades (20) and extended positions over the cutter blades (20). A pick and placer (76) is carried by the same movable support plate (78) and moves simultaneously in the same lateral directions as the article pushers (24), between positions over the oncoming line of tomatoes (11) on an entrance conveyor (64) and over the cutter blades (20).

Abstract: Tomatoes are placed on parallel cutter blades (20) in article openings (46) of an article positioning plate (44). Alternate blades are oscillated in arcuate paths in opposite direction as article pushers (24) move downwardly, pushing the tomatoes through the parallel cutter blades (20). The end slices of the tomatoes are gathered separately in the collectors (96) and are later discarded, while the intermediate slices are received in a transfer plate (78). Gathering plates (100) urge the intermediate slices of the several tomatoes together in one accumulation of tomato slices, and the transfer plate (78) is lowered to a position immediately above the shipping containers (80) and opened to deposit the tomatoes in the shipping containers. A fluid spray nozzle (75) may be positioned to emit a spray of gas or liquid between the fins of the pushers and/or toward the cutter blades (20) and toward engagement with the tomatoes for sterilizing, cleaning, or other treatment of the tomatoes and the adjacent surfaces.

Abstract: Tomatoes or other articles are placed over moving cutter blades (20) in article openings of an article locator of an article slicer (10). Article pushers (24) move downwardly and have downwardly extending pusher fins for pushing the tomatoes through the cutter blades. The article pushers are carried by a movable support plate (78) between retracted positions behind the cutter blades and extended positions over the cutter blades. A pick and placer (76) is carried by the same movable support plate (78) and moves simultaneously in the same lateral directions as the article pushers, between positions over the oncoming line of tomatoes on an entrance conveyor (64) and over the cutter blades.

Abstract: Tomatoes or other articles are placed over moving cutter blades (20) in article openings of an article locator of an article slicer (10). Article pushers (24) move downwardly and have downwardly extending pusher fins for pushing the tomatoes through the cutter blades. The article pushers are carried by a movable support plate (78) between retracted positions behind the cutter blades and extended positions over the cutter blades. A pick and placer (76) is carried by the same movable support plate (78) and moves simultaneously in the same lateral directions as the article pushers, between positions over the oncoming line of tomatoes on an entrance conveyor (64) and over the cutter blades.

Abstract: Tomatoes (11) or other articles are placed over moving cutter blades (20) in article openings (46) of an article locator (44) of the article slicer (10). Article pushers (24) move downwardly and have downwardly extending pusher fins (26) for pushing the tomatoes though the cutter blades (20). The article pushers (24) have laterally extending front openings (36) for receiving a high pressure fluid spray for cleaning the fins (26) and cutter blades (20) without disassembling the components of the slicer. The article pushers (24) are carried by a movable support plate (78) between retracted positions behind the cutter blades (20) and extended positions over the cutter blades (20). A pick and placer (76) is carried by the same movable support plate (78) and moves simultaneously in the same lateral directions as the article pushers (24), between positions over the on-coming line of tomatoes (11) on an entrance conveyor (64) and over the cutter blades (20).

Abstract: Tomatoes are placed on cutting blades (20) in article openings (46) of an article positioning plate (44). The blades are moved as article pushers (24) move downwardly and engage the upper facing surfaces of the tomatoes, pushing the tomatoes through parallel cutting blades (20). The end slices (30 and 40) are gathered in end collectors (96) and discarded while the intermediate slices (42) are received in transfer tray (72). Gathering plates (100) urge the intermediate slices of the several tomatoes to gather in one accumulation of tomato slices, and the transfer tray (72) is lowered to a position immediately above shipping containers (74) and tilted to deposit the tomatoes in the containers.

Abstract: Tomatoes are placed on cutting blades (20) in article openings (46) of an article positioning plate (44). The blades are moved as article pushers (24) move downwardly and engage the upper facing surfaces of the tomatoes, pushing the tomatoes through parallel cutting blades (20). The end slices (30 and 40) are gathered in end collectors (96) and discarded while the intermediate slices (42) are received in transfer tray (72). Gathering plates (100) urge the intermediate slices of the several tomatoes to gather in one accumulation of tomato slices, and the transfer tray (72) is lowered to a position immediately above shipping containers (74) and tilted to deposit the tomatoes in the containers.

Abstract: Tomatoes (11) or other articles are placed over moving cutter blades (20) in article openings (46) of an article locator (44) of the article slicer (10). Article pushers (24) move downwardly and have downwardly extending pusher fins (26) for pushing the tomatoes though the cutter blades (20). The article pushers (24) have laterally extending front openings (36) for receiving a high pressure fluid spray for cleaning the fins (26) and cutter blades (20) without disassembling the components of the slicer. The article pushers (24) are carried by a movable support plate (78) between retracted positions behind the cutter blades (20) and extended positions over the cutter blades (20). A pick and placer (76) is carried by the same movable support plate (78) and moves simultaneously in the same lateral directions as the article pushers (24), between positions over the on-coming line of tomatoes (11) on an entrance conveyor (64) and over the cutter blades (20).

Abstract: Tomatoes are placed on parallel cutter blades (20) in article openings (46) of an article positioning plate (44). Alternate blades are oscillated in arcuate paths in opposite direction as article pushers (24) move downwardly, pushing the tomatoes through the parallel cutter blades (20). The end slices of the tomatoes are gathered separately in the collectors (96) and are later discarded, while the intermediate slices are received in a transfer plate (78). Gathering plates (100) urge the intermediate slices of the several tomatoes together in one accumulation of tomato slices, and the transfer plate (78) is lowered to a position immediately above the shipping containers (80) and opened to deposit the tomatoes in the shipping containers. A fluid spray nozzle (75) may be positioned to emit a spray of gas or liquid between the fins of the pushers and/or toward the cutter blades (20) and toward engagement with the tomatoes for sterilizing, cleaning, or other treatment of the tomatoes and the adjacent surfaces.

Abstract: Tomatoes are placed on cutting blades (20) in article openings (46) of an article positioning plate (44). The blades are moved as article pushers (24) move downwardly and engage the upper facing surfaces of the tomatoes, pushing the tomatoes through parallel cutting blades (20). The end slices (30 and 40) are gathered in end collectors (96) and discarded while the intermediate slices (42) are received in transfer tray (72). Gathering plates (100) urge the intermediate slices of the several tomatoes to gather in one accumulation of tomato slices, and the transfer tray (72) is lowered to a position immediately above shipping containers (74) and tilted to deposit the tomatoes in the containers.