Abstract: A device for moving tubular bodies, includes a conveyor belt for feeding a plurality of tubular pieces, each extending along a respective axis of extension, in such a way as to provide a succession of groups of tubular pieces where each group is defined by a predetermined number of tubular pieces positioned in succession along the respective axis of extension and transversely offset therefrom. The device includes at least one housing for containing at least one tubular piece inside of which an air cushion is produced by which the tubular piece is transferred translationally outside the housing along its respective axis of extension.

Abstract: A modular unit configured for mounting to a cutting head of a slicing machine and for securing a knife to the cutting head, and slicing machines equipped with one or more of such modular units. The modular unit includes mounting blocks adapted to be spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head, and a clamping assembly assembled with the mounting blocks so as to extend between the mounting blocks. The clamping assembly is configured to secure a knife to the cutting head, and at least portions of the clamping assembly may be removable from the cutting head by disassembling the clamping assembly from the mounting blocks without removing the mounting blocks from the cutting head.

Abstract: Modular units with clamping assemblies for securing knives to slicing machines, and a slicing machine having a cutting head equipped with one or more modular units mounted thereto for securing knives to the cutting head. Such a clamping assembly includes a knife holder, a knife supported by the knife holder, a clamp overlying the knife holder so that the knife is between the knife holder and the clamp, and a cam rod that secures the clamp to the knife holder and clamps the knife therebetween. The cam rod has oppositely-disposed ends rotatably coupled with the mounting blocks and a camming portion between the oppositely-disposed ends and arranged for contacting the clamp. The clamping assembly further includes complementary features for inhibiting deflection of the camming portion away from the knife holder when the cam rod is in a clamping position.

Abstract: Slicing machines having a cutting head equipped with one or more cutting units mounted thereto for securing knives to the cutting head. The cutting head has structural members spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head and circumferentially-spaced cutting units between the structural members. Each cutting unit includes a knife holder adapted for supporting a knife, a clamp overlying the knife holder and arranged to apply a clamping force to a knife disposed between the knife holder and clamp, and a cam rod adapted to apply a clamping force to the clamp. The clamp has upstanding flanges, each having a hole therethrough and a slot that engages a pivot, and the clamp, slots, cam rod, and pivots are arranged so that the clamp both pivots and translates relative to the pivots as the cam rod rotates between clamping and release positions.

Abstract: A field joint coating unit for coating a cutback area along a pipeline in which the apparatus includes an extruder having an extrusion outlet positioned adjacent and facing the cutback area so that a protective sheet can be extruded having a width that exceeds an axially extending width of the cutback area, and a mechanism supporting the extruder and its tank, the extrusion outlet, and a roller for compressing the protective sheet onto the cutback area in which the mechanism rotate the extruder, the tank, the extrusion outlet, and the roller about the pipeline as the protective sheet is extruded while maintaining the position of the extrusion outlet relative to the cutback area.

Abstract: A paper converting or rewinding machine provides a cutting or perforation section, equipped with at least one blade arranged to work in combination with a stationary knife to provide the division of the web of paper into a plurality of sheets of measured length. The blade can be integral to a fixed support, or alternatively to a cutting roller that rotates about a longitudinal rotation axis. The blade(s) can be a perforation blade, or a cutting blade, with helical shape, and mounted to a perforation roller. The stationary knife can be mounted to a fixed roller. The blade performs a cutting, or perforation, of the web into sheets working in combination with the stationary knife. The blades and the stationary knifes are long substantially as the width of the paper. In particular, the blade has at least one weakened portion of determined size.

Abstract: A device for cutting paper webs comprises a substantially continuously operated region of a paper supply, a discontinuously operated region of transverse severing for transversely separating the paper web, and a buffer region (15) for coupling the continuously and discontinuously operated regions. At least one box-like receptacle (17) open at the top is provided in the buffer region, into which the paper web(s) (3, 3?) are guided so as to be looped in a freely suspended manner. The buffer region is arranged after a longitudinal cutting device (9) for producing at least two longitudinal webs (3, 3?), whereby at least two webs extending separately and adjacently to one another are guided in the receptacle or at least two receptacles are arranged adjacently to one another or adjacently to one another at an offset, wherein the paper webs are guided into said receptacles.

Abstract: A filter component cutting system comprises a supply hopper of elongate filter rods and a cutting drum with spaced apart flutes on an exterior surface of the drum for receiving the elongate filler rods. A transfer mechanism receives the elongate filter rods from the supply hopper and delivers the rods to the flutes on the cutting drum. At least one cutter adjacent the cutting drum functions to cut the filter rods in to individual filter components as the cutting drum rotates.

Abstract: A turret assembly for receiving and holding lengths of re-cut tubing cut or sheared from a longer-length workpiece by a re-cut device. The turret assembly includes a motor, a plate and a plurality of accumulator members. The accumulator members are supported by the plate in essentially parallel, spaced-apart relationship to receive a predetermined quantity of lengths of re-cut tubing from the re-cut device. The plate is rotated by the motor. A stripping device having a stripping collar and a linear actuator can strip tubing from the accumulator members. A stacking element can collect stripped tubing from the accumulator members and stack tubing in a container.

Abstract: A registration device for a sheet material article handler includes a movable backstop which sequentially engages a leading edge portion of a sheet material article as the article moves in a direction of movement along a path of movement in the sheet material article handler, thereby registering the sheet material article relative to the sheet material article handler. A driver is provided, the driver moving the backstop along an arcuate path in the direction of movement of the sheet material article from a first position out of the path of movement to a second position in the path of movement.

Abstract: The cutting cylinder of a rotary cutting machine has at least one radial needle for retaining waste projecting radially from its surface. A waste ejector has a rectilinear part parallel to the generatrix of the said cylinder and traversed by at least one slot coinciding with the trajectory of said radial needle for the passage thereof. A support has a first part secured to the frame of the rotary cutting machine, a second part secured to said ejector and connected to the first part by a guide defining a transverse trajectory relative to the edge of said ejector and intersecting said cylinder. An adjustment device moves the said second part along the transverse trajectory and an elastic connection exerts a prestressing of the second part on the adjustment device.

Abstract: A label stacker for stacking labels (6) from a rotary punching apparatus is provided with a punching roll (14) with cutting edges (16) and a smooth counter-pressure roll (15) for, during operation, jointly punching labels out of a thin web (3) conveyed between the rolls while these are rotating in different directions. The label stacker includes a belt conveyor with at least one endless belt (27) which, during operation, is driven with a lower speed than the circumferential speed of the rolls about a first rotating roll (29) at the discharge end of the rolls and a second rotating roll (30) at the stacking area. Thereby, the label stacker is given a compact structure, and it will be able to safely control the labels to the stacking area in an orderly formation which successively, during the final stacking, is pushed together to a stack of labels arranged correctly on top of each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting away containers, arranged in rows in a foil web having support platforms, which are rotatable perpendicular to the conveying direction and are surrounded by receptacles of a vertically movable die. To cut the containers away from the foil web, the die cooperates with a likewise vertically movable cutting knife. The support platforms have support faces, which have two different extensions offset from one another. If the support platforms are rotated with the die in the lowered position, then their maximal extensions form a gapless conveyor path for the containers, so that they can be removed from the apparatus without the danger of canting in the interstices between the support platforms.

Abstract: An elongate product is divided into a plurality of longitudinal strips by frictionally engaging the product between a pair of spaced flexible conveyors defining a longitudinal feed path therebetween and feeding the product at a desired orientation into a stationary knife assembly which cuts the product into strips that are discharged through a spiral-shaped chute and collected in a receptable. The spacing between the conveyors may be varied by adjustment assemblies spaced longitudinally along the feed path.

Abstract: A signature handling apparatus includes a first conveyor which sequentially moves signatures to a discharge station. At the discharge station, the signatures are sequentially transferred to a receiving conveyor. A corrugator assembly is located at the discharge station to stiffen the signatures by forming corrugations which extend between leading and trailing end portions of the signatures. Although the corrugations are only temporarily maintained in the signature, the corrugator assembly is close enough to the receiving conveyor so that a corrugation is maintained in a signature as a leading end portion of the signature moves to the receiving conveyor. Thus, the corrugator assembly is spaced from the receiving conveyor by a distance which is less than the distance between the leading and trailing end portions of the signatures.

Abstract: An apparatus for stripping the scrap portion from a die cut blank includes a stripper pin carrier providing a pattern of stripper pins supported in a resilient compressible material layer in which the stripper pins are demountably embedded. The stripper pins may be inserted into the resilient layer to provide a pattern or patterns which will accommodate virtually any size, shape and location of scrap portions to be stripped from a blank. The stripper pins can be removed and reinserted in a different pattern to accommodate a different run of blanks of corrugated paperboard or the like. Programmable robotic control may be used for pin placement and removal. A unique positive stripping apparatus includes a resilient soft-covered roll beneath the blank at the point of stripping and into which the leading edge of the scrap portion is pressed by the stripper pins on the upper rotary pin-carrying roll.

Abstract: An adhesive tape delivering, cutting, and supplying device which includes a tape delivering member, a tape transferring member from a roll tape to a tape to be cut, a cutting member, and a tape supply member for attaching the tape to a rotary ring, whereby the tape can be prevented from sticking the tape to a conveyor belt or from being rolled thereinto.

Abstract: A method for transporting panel sections away from a panel saw, and an apparatus for accomplishing same. Each panel section is lifted clear of the vicinity of the panel saw after being cut off from a workpiece panel and deposited on a conveyor for transport at an angle relative to the direction of advance of the workpiece panel. A sliding carriage, having a plurality of suction cups disposed upon the underside of a vertically reciprocating press beam, is used to transport the panel sections.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cutting mechanism and its method of operation in "cutting side-lock" portions from "green state" roofing tiles. The tiles are manufactured in a conventional concrete roofing tile making plant in which mortar fed to a hopper extruder (18) of conventional design is formed as a continuous ribbon (26) on a series of pallets (P) conveyed beneath the hopper extruder (18). The ribbon (26) is thereafter cut by a knife (3) into discrete tiles (T) on said pallets (P) with a "side-lock" portion of each tile being blanked out by extension portions (32) (34) of the knife (30). The blanked out portions are thereafter removed from the remainder of the tiles by a blade 90 of removal means 14 such that no damage is caused to the tiles (T) and little or not detritus remains on the tile or the conveyors of the tile making plant.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting and dividing a continuous stream of printed products, in which the paper sheet is folded by means of a longitudinal folding system and is then sheared to the format length, and in which the continuous stream of printed products is divided into two transport paths.

Abstract: A continuous process for bending long metal rods comprises separating and feeding a bundle of rods and advancing the rods one by one to a rod cutting station downstream, cutting the rods and feeding them to a rod bending station downstream of the cutting station, and subsequently bending the rods and removing them from the machine.

Abstract: A continuous processing machine for bending long metal rods includes a rod bundle handling machine for separating a bundle of rods and advancing the rods one after the other, a rod cutting station and a rod bending station provided downstream of the handling machine for cutting and subsequently bending the rods. Transfer means are provided for transferring the rods from station to station.

Abstract: Chip remover for machines which perform a machining operation, especially on metallic workpieces, such as strip edging machines, turning machines, etc. The chip remover has a stretched spiral rotating about its longitudinal axis with successive turns spaced apart from one another. The free upper end of the spiral extends into the chip discharge area of the machining tool. This spiral carries the chips away from the area about the tool to assure unhampered machining. The spiral is in the form of a hollow helix and is surrounded, on the outside, with only minimal clearance, by a non-rotating guide tube having an open-topped slot running lengthwise of the tube. The upper end of the helix extends freely out of the tube.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing egg timer-shaped absorbent pads in which an absorbent material continuous strip of uniform thickness and uniform width is feed along a longitudinal path and divided in the longitudinal direction, along a continuous wavy cutting line extending symmetrically relative to the median line of the strip, into two partial strips of periodically variable width having one straight edge on and opposite wavy edge, and are offset relative to each other and superimposed, one on the other, to form a composite strip having opposite hourglass-shaped edges and a central part having a thickness twice that of the opposite edges and cutting such superimposed, composite strip in the transverse direction in the zones of maximum width.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for splitting pieces of material (1) into smaller units for further handling, whereby the piece of material (1) is split-up into preferably sector formed units which are placed on a rotatable solid or ringformed plate (10) built up from several sector shaped carrier discs (11) mounted in a pulling and guiding chain, and whereby the rotatable plate (10) upon actuation from the chain is rotated and the carrier discs (11) successively are rotated to a position substantially parallely to each other and are displaced in such parallel position to a station for further handling.

Abstract: Cutting apparatus for cutting moving sheets or webs. A rotatable cutter carrier and a rotatable backup member are respectively provided with cutter blades and grooves, which cooperate in the plane of the sheet and are moved by planetary gear trains through cutting positions wherein cutter blades and backup bars are moved into face-to-face relationship to effect cuts in sheet material that passes therebetween. The gear trains include a stationary sun gear, and idler gears that are rotatably carried in carrier discs and that mesh with the sun gear and with planet gears that are non-rotatably connected to respective ones of cutter bars that carry the cutter blades and to cooperating backup bars. One of the cutter bars or the backup bars is provided with extensible needles for piercing a portion of the sheet section that is intended to be removed therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of trimming a travelling web of paper along the longitudinal direction of the web comprising transporting the web through a trimming station and continuously trimming said web in said station, wherein said method comprises supporting a portion of said web on a support surface in said station such that a portion of said web to be trimmed off overhangs an edge of said support surface, contacting said overhanging portion of said web with a travelling endless member which crosses the edge of the said support surface to trap the overhanging portion of the web between the endless member and a tearing support member adjacent said edge to shear said overhanging portion continuously from the web.

Abstract: A modification to a reel type staple cutter that includes a housing surrounding the cutter reel. The housing has a cam slot sized to permit passage of a single tow but to prevent passage of a knot tieing together two ends of tow. As the cutter turns the knot slides along the outside of the slot reaching the top of the housing. The knot remains on top of the housing until the ends of the knot are cut. Means are provided to remove the knot.

Abstract: An apparatus including a revolving roll for applying to a sheet of a first material continuously moving in a first direction at least one discrete length of a second material with the length of the discrete length at an angle to the first direction. The discrete length is cut from a continuous ribbon on the revolving roll, rotated by the revolving roll to a desired orientation and transferred from the revolving roll to the sheet. The apparatus includes the revolving roll, at least one rotatable platen on, and revolvable with the revolvable roll, a feeding apparatus for feeding the continuous ribbon to circumferential engagement with the revolving roll, a cutting roll and an applicator roll revolving in synchronizm with the revolving roll. The cutting roll has at least one cutting blade which cuts the ribbon at a cutting surface or anvil on the rotatable platen.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing blanks from a web including a pair of relatively movable upper and lower blades for severing therebetween blanks from a web along a predetermined cut line established by cooperative cutting edges of the blades, an end feed path of travel for the web and a discharge path of travel for the blanks, a mechanism for rotating the blades to selectively vary the cutting angle and thereby vary the sizes, shapes and/or cut line orientation of the blanks severed from the web, a transfer mechanism for transferring each severed blank from a position adjacent the blades and the end feed path of travel to a second position at the blank discharge path of travel, the transfer mechanism including a receiving element pivoted to an arm which in turn is pivoted for movement in a generally horizontal plane, the receiving element be accommodated in a recess adjacent the blades and receiving therein each severed blank for transfer to the discharge path of travel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cutting pieces of fabrics of uniform thickness and for stacking these pieces. The method generally includes arranging and maintaining a length of unrolled fabric on a cutting table which comprises a revolving cylinder which rotates so that the length of fabric is positioned to face a cutting instrument. The fabric is cut out according to one or more predetermined patterns when the cylinder stops rotating. Displacement of the cutting instrument over the circumference of a cylinder follows the generators of the cylinder during its motion. After the fabric is cut, the cylinder rotates to deposit the cutout pieces onto a fixed or mobile receiving/stacking table which is positioned under the cylinder. During such deposition, a new length of fabric is simultaneously arranged on the cylinder preparatory to being cut. Alternately, a conveyor belt can be used in lieu of the cylinder.

Abstract: A filter rod making machine discharges several parallel filter rods which move lengthwise and are severed at regular intervals to yield files of axially aligned filter rod sections. Such sections are transported axially to a first transfer station where they enter discrete flutes in the concave upper side of one of several rotary platforms which orbit about the axis of a rotary carrier and are rotated relative to the carrier by crank drives so that the orientation of their flutes remains unchanged. The flutes of a platform which arrives at the first station receive discrete filter rod sections from each of the files so that each platform accumulates a group of parallel sections which are transported to a second station for transfer into successive peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped removing conveyor.

Abstract: A cutting machine, especially for foodstuffs such as wurst, forms slices of the product which are picked up on a cylindrical drum which has retractable pins and which, upon take-up of the slices, deposits them upon a plate by swinging downwardly toward the latter. The pins are retracted by the downward swinging movement to release the slices.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously cutting wire segments having acutely angled ends from a plurality of wires including guide apparatus and feeding apparatus for the wires, and a cutting device comprising a base, reciprocable shear plate and clamp plate, each of which has parallel grooves therein, with each also having sliding surfaces that are at an acute angle to the axis of the grooves. A collection plate is also provided to contain cut segments and transfer the segments to a common collection point.

Abstract: A workpiece issuing from a rolling mill is directed by a tubular guide to pass above the knives of a flying shear that is driven in a drive train used to rotate a cam used to pivot the guide tube and direct the workpiece into the shear. The workpiece moves beyond the shear into one of a plurality of retardation channels formed in a drum. There may be shock absorbers at their remote ends to prevent escapement of the sheared workpieces in the event they fail to stop by sliding friction. The drum rotates at a relatively slow speed. When a trailing end of a sheared workpiece moves beyond the shear into the drum, the leading end of the remaining length of workpiece enters a laterally-adjacent channel which has moved into the path of travel by the workpiece through rotation of the drum. A conveyor receives workpieces discharged from the drum through rotation thereof and carries them to a remote discharge station where they are loaded into a cradle car.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for removing front and rear segments of rolled wire or wire rod which, in the form of winding packages, is supplied to the apparatus (connected before a collecting device) and is subdivided by separating procedures into good windings and scrap windings.

Abstract: The device for feeding filter plugs to a demand drum comprises, in combination, a gravity-feed hopper containing a supply of multiple length filter rods, the hopper being closed, in correspondence of its bottom end, by a rotating fluted drum wherein each flute of the drum is capable of housing a filter rod. The filter rods, thus removed from the hopper, are cut into three filter plugs, which are delivered, axially aligned, onto a horizontal conveyor belt subdivided into three tracks. As a continuation of the conveyor belt there is provided a horizontal fixed sliding surface onto which the articles slide in three rows, each leading article of the three rows being pushed by the subsequent ones, until the leading article reaches an abutment member, where it is firmly positioned. Also the sliding surface is subdivided into three tracks.

Abstract: A stripping device for removing waste sheet material from the vicinity of a cutter. In one embodiment, a plurality of pins are mounted to a rotatable drum positioned adjacent a rotary steel cutting die. The die includes knives for cutting a sheet of material into a desired configuration with the waste portion of the sheet remaining wedged on the die. The stripper pins pierce and lift the waste portion of the sheet away from the die. In lieu of a drum, a plurality of hubs mounted to a common shaft may be provided having the stripping pins mounted thereon. In another embodiment, the stripping pins are mounted directly to the rotary cutter. A cam-actuated lever mounted to the rotary cutter is operable to eject the waste sheet portion from the stripping pins.

Abstract: This device for causing elongated cylindrical objects such as cigarettes delivered in the form of a continuous line to penetrate successive recesses formed in a rotary drum is of the type wherein a transfer device is interposed for accelerating the velocity of translation of the cigarettes in order to separate them from one another while imparting thereto a transverse velocity equal to the peripheral velocity of the drum recesses; this transfer device comprises a single vertical cam of which the operative portion engages the cigarette moving past underneath, when the leading end of the cigarette penetrates into a corresponding recess of the drum. The combined action of the cam and drum cause the cigarette to move transversely and parallel to itself.

Abstract: Bread loaves 12 are fed by spiked conveyor 13 into a slice cutter 14 and then to a pocket 29 on an indexing turret 16, where the slices are impaled on parallel pins 31. When the turret intermittently rotates a pusher 34 strips the slice group from the pins, and they are transferred to a weighing conveyor 17. The output from the latter controls the feed rate to maintain the weight of each slice group at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A dispenser for use with a can of a jellied product has a holder to support an opened can in such an inclined position that with its open end downwardly its contents slide against a fixed retaining plate. An insert divides the contents into longitudinal sections. Means are provided to rotate the can and the retaining plate has an open ended slot extending from the center thereof and a blade extending forwardly and upwardly from the rear edge of its slot, the blade severing the sections as the can is rotated and forcing the sliced sections through the slot. Means are also provided to force the can holder into a position in which the rim at the closed end of the can is gripped by the can rotating means which may be a can opener, either manually or motor operated.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing adhesive strips having a predetermined length includes a rotatable reel for support of a roll of adhesive tape. A conveyor, which may be a rotatable turn table, is provided for supporting thereon a plurality of adhesive strips which have been cut to a predetermined length from the roll of adhesive tape. A feed member is pivotably supported adjacent one end thereof for movement between a first position adjacent the reel and a second position adjacent the conveyor. The feed member carries a stationary cutter plate and a cutter bar which is reciprocable therealong and is cooperable with the cutter plate to cut adhesive tape withdrawn from the reel into strips of the predetermined length. The feed member carries at its outer end a latch plate for selectively grasping and retaining the free end of adhesive tape withdrawn from the reel. A lever rod is carried by the feed member and is movable longitudinally thereof and is operably connected to the latch plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous matting and milling of cheese curd. The apparatus includes a housing which houses an upper, water-permeable, endless conveyor belt and a lower endless conveyor belt which operates in the opposite direction to that of the first belt. A mixture of cheese curd and whey is deposited as a layer on the upper belt and the whey is drained through the belt and is discharged through the lower end of the housing. The matted curd is transferred from the upper belt to the lower belt and as a result is inverted, and is subsequently discharged to a curd milling unit which acts to cut the mat of curd into cube-like chunks. The curd mill includes a cylindrical drum and a blade extends the length of the drum and is spaced outwardly from the drum periphery. A series of radial knives connect the blade and the drum.

Abstract: A sugar cane planting machine for eliminating the excessive manual labor previously required to plant sugar cane stalks. The uncut stalks are loaded in the rear of a tractor-pulled cart at the bottom of which is positioned a conveyor-like belt for moving the cane towards the front of the cart. Slideably attached on a transversely positioned guide member of a pivotable frame at the front of the cart is a combination cross-cutting and kicker-chain assembly which moves laterally across the width of the cart under hydraulic controls. Said assemblies include a downwardly extending chain saw which is followed by at least one vertically disposed kicker-chain, both preferably under the control of a common motor. Below the kicker-chain assembly is positioned a trough or hopper having an opening formed along the bottom thereof.

Abstract: A feedstock cutting and feeding device for forming machines having a reciprocating cutter which will cut the feedstock in one, short stroke and hold the cut feedstock in a position to be easily introduced to a transfer disc by the advancement of the feedstock.

Abstract: A machine for cutting cardboard and similar articles comprises a stationary platen mounted on the machine frame and an oscillating movable platen pivoted thereon to receive sheets one at a time from a magazine, means for delivering the sheets from the magazine to the moving platen, means for giving an oscillating movement to the moving platen and pivoting it, into contact with its stationary platen, blades for cutting the sheet on the moving platen and suction means on a pivoted chassis for removing the cut sheets and transferring them to a horizontal delivery conveyor and a rotary brush for wiping the surface of the moving platen.

Abstract: A feedstock cutting and feeding device for forming machines of bolt nuts and other products of similar shape wherein the moving distance required by a cutter to cut off the rod material is the distance between the original position thereof and the center of the cut-off die.

Abstract: A device for shaping and transferring the understrip for a packet of the hinge lid type. The device comprises an oscillating and axially moving arm for transferring blanks for understrips, one at a time, from an area of production thereof toward and into an understrip shaping and receiving station and onto a conveyor belonging to the wrapping line and provided with a plurality of compartments which halt in succession in the shaping and receiving station. While the transfer takes place the understrips are U-shaped, and additionally shaped to make them ready for use on the wrapping line.

Abstract: A slicing machine comprising a rotatable circular cutter blade, a reciprocatable feed carriage to carry stock to be sliced by the cutter blade, and a receiving device to receive slices severed by the cutter blade from such stock. The receiving device is coupled to the feed carriage to be angularly displaced in co-ordination with the reciprocation of the feed carriage and is provided with a plurality of spikes to project from a slice receiving surface of the receiving device by an amount sufficient to enable a plurality of severed slices to be stacked on the receiving device, which is further provided with stripper means to strip such stack of slices off the spikes.

Abstract: A method of preparing and stacking sliced food products, such as natural cheese and the like, wherein the surfaces of the slices have non-planar configurations, and the stacked slices are oriented in a manner to effect minimum surface contact between adjacent surfaces to facilitate separation of the stacked slices.