Patent ID: 6928915
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: B26D,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. In a rotary slicing machine having a rotary impeller for carrying food products into cutting engagement with at least one slicing knife, said rotary impeller having a rotating throat wall defining an upwardly open inlet throat for inflow passage of a succession of food products to be cut, and an overlying supply chute through which food products are supplied to fall by gravity downwardly through said rotating inlet throat and into said impeller, the improvement comprising: a plug prevention member extending at least partially into said rotating inlet throat at a location disposed substantially off-axis relative to an axis of rotation of said impeller, said rotary impeller being movable relative to said plug prevention member, and said plug prevention member being positioned for impact engagement by food products lodged by centrifugal action against said rotating throat to dislodge such food products from said throat wall and thereby permit such food products to fall downwardly into said impeller for cutting; said plug prevention member being provided as a component separate from and in addition to the overlying supply chute.