Patent ID: 6543325
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B26D,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A drive system for a food product slicing machine having a frame and an attached workpiece-retaining carriage for reciprocating the food product workpiece retained therein through a path including a cutter, the drive system comprising:(a) a drive member drivingly linked to the workpiece-retaining carriage and pivotably mounted to the machine frame about a pivot axis; (b) a support panel mounted to the drive member, the support panel having a circularly curved surface spaced from the pivot axis a distance substantially equal to a radius of curvature of the curved surface, said curved surface having first and second opposing ends; (c) a first idle pulley rotatably mounted to the machine frame; (d) a second idle pulley rotatably mounted to the machine frame spaced from the first idle pulley, forming a gap; (e) a drive pulley drivingly linked to a rotatably driven shaft of a prime mover; and (f) an elongated, flexible drive means having first and second ends, the first drive means end extending from attachment to the drive member, near the first end of the support panel's curved surface, through the gap between the first and second idle pulleys, around the drive pulley, through the gap, the second drive means end attached to the drive member near the second end of the support panel's curved surface.