Abstract: A slicing and conveying system forms a three or more flavor-combined draft. A first slicing machine slices a succession of first slices. A first output conveyor beneath the first slicing machine receives the first slices in a first draft. A second slicing machine slices a succession of second slices. A second output conveyor beneath the second slicing machine receives the second slices in a second draft. A pass-through conveyor transfers the first draft to the second output conveyor, wherein the second draft is added to the first draft to form a first combined draft. The first slicing machine also slices a succession of third slices in a third draft. An overlap conveyor receives the first combined draft and merges the first combined draft with the third draft on the overlap conveyor to form an elongated combined draft. A first optical sensor determines a length of the first draft. A second length sensor determines a length of the second draft. A third length sensor determines a length of the third draft.

Abstract: A method of classifying slices or a portion cut from a food product according to an optical image of the slice. After a slice is removed from a food product loaf the slice is passed into an image field of a digital image receiving device. A control generates a pixel-by-pixel image data of the slice using input from the digital image receiving device. The control calculates a surface area of the slice from the data, and a fat content of the slice on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The fat content data is compared to at least one predetermined limit and the slice is classified accordingly.

Abstract: A high speed food loaf slicing machine slices two food loaves simultaneously, using one cyclically driven knife blade; the slices are stacked or shingled in groups on a receiving conveyor located below the slicing station. Independent loaf feed drives are provided; slices cut from one loaf may be thicker than slices from the other. Each loaf feed drive includes two "short" conveyors each driven at a predetermined speed; the conveyor speeds may be different. In each machine cycle the receiving conveyor is moved down to accommodate an increasing number of slices; when a slicing cycle is completed, the receiving conveyor rapidly discharges the slice groups onto a deceleration conveyor and moves back up to start a new slicing operation. The loaf feed drives are reversed at the end of a slicing cycle, stopped, and then reversed again before the next slicing cycle.