Patent Publication Number: US-7721638-B2

Title: Slicing machine, and method of use and components thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/358,561, filed Feb. 21, 2006 now abandoned, which was a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/980,921, filed Oct. 26, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,421, which was a national phase filing of PCT/US00/11766, filed Apr. 29, 2000, which in turned claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/131,788, filed Apr. 30, 1999. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a slicing machine, such as the kind often used to slice deli meats, cheeses and similar items. The invention also relates to various parts and components of such a slicing machine. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Various commercial meat slicing machinery are currently used by delicatessens, supermarkets, and butcher shops to slice bulk meat or cheese product for sale to retail customers. The slicer operator typically stands in front of the machine and adjusts the slicer to provide slices of pre-determined thickness by rotating a knob having numerical indicia of the slice thickness. The rotation of the knob adjusts the distance between a gauge plate and a slicing blade to correlate with the numerical value selected for slice thickness. The slicer operator typically stands in front of the machine with the product to be sliced held on a movable table on the right side of the operator. The operator turns on the blade motor, places the food product onto a sliding table, secures the food product on the table with a pusher, rotates a gauge plate adjustment knob to select a numerical value for the thickness of slice to be cut, and begins to manually operate the slicer by grasping a handle below the table on the right side of the machine and sliding it back and forth to bring the product into contact with the rotating. As the slices are cut, they fall from the slicing area toward a tray area on the left side of the slicer, and the operator typically gathers the product and views the width of the slices being cut for conformity with the desires of a given customer. 
   Many times, the operator or customer will find the resulting slices to be of an unsatisfactory thickness so the operator will again rotate the gauge plate adjustment knob and check the numerical indicia of slice thickness on the knob. During the period of adjustment, the operator frequently needs to refer back to the indicia and visually inspect the thickness of the slices in order to arrive at an acceptable slice thickness. This process causes the operator to shift his or her attention from the blade area to the front of the machine where the slice thickness selector knob is located. This shifting of attention from the cutting area to the selector knob is undesirable since it impairs the efficiency of operation. Accordingly, there is a need for a slicing machine which allows the operator to maintain the focus of his or her attention on the blade area during the slicing operation. 
   During operation of the slicer, it is common for the spinning blade to eject debris and juices from the sliced product. Those juices and debris are deposited on the exterior surfaces of the slicer. For this reason, it has been common to design exterior portions of the slicer to be removable for cleaning in a dishwasher or sink at the end of a work shift. One such removable portion of the slicer is typically a sharpening stone assembly which is used to sharpen and deburr the blade edge. If the sharpening stones become encrusted or coated with juices and/or debris, it cannot properly sharpen the blade. Thus, from time to time, the sharpening stone assembly is removed from the slicer and washed. When conventional sharpening stones are washed, they typically require twenty four hours of drying time before they can be returned to service. One approach to this problem has been to provide “washable” sharpening stones that may be washed and immediately returned to service without extended drying time. However, such “washable” stones suffer from the drawback of being many times more costly to manufacture than conventional stones. 
   Another problem with the prior sharpening stone assembly was that they required periodic maintenance to maintain proper alignment with the blade. Such periodic maintenance required a service call from a trained technician to insure that the sharpening stones engaged the blade at the proper angle to optimize sharpening. Typically, prior stone sharpening assemblies were mounted on a portion of the slicing machine frame and pivoted into contact with the blade for sharpening. As the blade is continually sharpened over its service life, it becomes reduced in diameter due to wearing away of metal from the blade edge. Thus, when the diameter of the blade has been reduced significantly, the angle of engagement with the stone varies from the optimal angle for sharpening the blade. This misalignment of the sharpening stone with the blade edge precludes an optimally sharpened edge. Accordingly, there is a need for a sharpening assembly that requires less frequent washing or maintenance. 
   Another portion of the slicer that has typically been designed to be removable for washing is the slidable support arm and table assembly of the slicer. In prior slicers the removable arm and table assembly are heavy and bulky and thus cumbersome to remove, wash, and reinstall on the slicer. Moreover, the weight and bulk of the arm and table assembly made it difficult to load into a conventional dishwasher or fit into a sink. A further problem with the prior slicing machines was the inconvenience of the process for removal of the table and support arm assembly. Typically, the adjustable gauge plate must be adjusted to its fully closed in the “0” slice thickness position to protect operators from inadvertently cutting themselves on the slicing blade. Unless the gauge plate was in that closed position, an interlock system prevented the support arm and table assembly from being removed from the slicer. Once the gauge plate was in the fully closed position, the prior interlock systems required, as an additional step, that the operator slide the table support arm assembly into its fully retracted position. In this position, the table support arm is locked into a stationary position which further impedes the cleaning process. 
   Another drawback with conventional removable arm and table assembly is that they were difficult to “quick clean” between slicing jobs during periods of extended operation. Such “quick cleaning” should be done between each change of product to be sliced on the slicing machine to prevent any cross-contamination between different food products. Thus, there is a need for a slicing machine with a table and support arm assembly that is configured to facilitate quick cleaning and for easy removal of the table for end of shift cleaning in a dishwasher or sink. 
   Another problem with prior slicing machines is that the prior designs included a pusher mechanism which did not adequately hold the product during slicing. Such prior pushers included a bar that is slidable and pivotally mounted on an adjustment rod which spans the length of the table. The bar is rotated nearly three hundred and sixty degrees from a “park position” to a “pusher position” behind the product. In this “pusher position,” the front surface of the pusher engages the back end of the food product. Since the table is typically angled at forty five degrees relative to the horizon, the force of gravity acts on the food product and pusher to draw them toward the blade during the slicing operation. The force exerted on the product by the sliding motion of the table and contact with the rotating blade can cause the product to jump and/or become cocked which results in the production of inferior slices having differing thickness along the length of a slice. This failure to adequately secure the food product can also result in the product heel having an angled surface. Acceptable slices cannot be made from such an angled heel and thereby a portion of the product may be wasted. 
   The problem of a cocked product is particularly acute where the length of the product is greater than the length of the table of the slicer. In that case, the product extends past the end of the table such that the front surface of the pusher bar cannot engage the back end of the food product. For this reason, prior pushers were designed to be rotated down upon the top of the product so that their bottom surface engaged the top surface of the food product. To adequately secure the food product, hooks or other protrusions were frequently provided to pierce the top surface of the product to secure it to the pusher. This process can result in undesirable damage to the product. Thus, there is a need for a pusher design which can hold a food product securely to avoid cocking or jumping, readily accommodate products longer than the slicer table, and/or avoid damage to the top of a food product. 
   Another problem with typical pusher design is that the pusher must be rotated almost three hundred sixty degrees back behind the table to a “park position” prior to loading the product onto the table. This step requires a large arm rotation movement by the operator which is cumbersome and time consuming. Thus, there is a need in the slicing field for a slicer which eliminate the step of rotating the pusher arm to a park position to increase ease of use and operator efficiency. 
   Another problem with prior meat slicers was that the handles for sliding the table during manual operation were not sufficiently convenient for the operator to use. The handles were typically positioned and angled so that the operator had to grasp the handle with his or her right hand in a single hand position. This arrangement can lead to operator fatigue during long periods of manual slicing. Frequently, the prior handles were placed in position that made it extremely uncomfortable to manually slide the table using the operator&#39;s left hand. Thus, there is a need for an ergonomically designed slicing machine that can assist in relieving operator fatigue during long period of manual slicing. 
   A further problem with prior slicing machines was that the height of the stack of sliced materials was limited by the distance between the top surface of the tray of the machine and the bottom surface of the blade assembly. This is so because, during automatic mode operation, slices fall from the blade area onto the top surface of a tray area formed by the base of the slicer into a stack whose height cannot exceed the bottom surface of the blade assembly. Thus, when the machine was used in automatic mode for slicing a large amount of product, the operator was required to make repeated trips to the slicer to remove a stack of sliced product when a maximum stack height was reached. Accordingly, there is a need for a slicing machine that can accommodate a larger stack height for sliced product. 
   Another difficulty with prior slicing machines was the efficiency of their operation during the automatic slicing mode. Typically, such machines included only three discrete settings for the distance traveled by the table during an automatic slice stroke. Thus, the operator had to choose a stroke length that exceeded the width of the product to be sliced. The difference between the length of the stroke and the width of the product was wasted motion by the slicing machine which increased the time necessary to produce a given number of slices. Furthermore, the efficiency of such automatic slicers was further limited by the small number of speed settings for the movement of the table. Typically the prior machines included only a limited number of stroke speed settings, e.g., from one to three stroke speed settings. Thus, prior machines did not allow the stroke length and stroke speed to be optimized for a given task to maximize efficiency of the production of slices during automatic operation. Accordingly, there is a need for a slicing machine which can increase the efficiency of the automatic slicing mode. 
   Another problem with prior meat slicers was the difficulty of cleaning underneath the slicer at the end of work shifts. One approach to this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,898 issued to Somal, et al. which discloses a lift arrangement for a slicing machine. The patent discloses a lever assembly located on the right side of the slicing machine. Since the slicing machine is typically oriented with its front side facing the operator and the counter supporting the machine limiting access to the right side of the machine, some operators found it uncomfortable to lift the lever arm due to the length of reach required. Accordingly, there is need for a slicing machine lifting apparatus which can be more easily accessed and operated by the operator. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The present invention is generally directed to an ergonomically designed food slicing machine which provides improved quality of sliced product and is more efficient to operate in both manual and automatic mode. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the slicing machine includes a rotatable blade for slicing bulk food product, a motor operably connected to the rotating blade, and a base portion located below the rotatable blade which defines a portion of the periphery of a food slice receiving area for accepting the sliced food product as it falls from the blade after slicing. This design provides a substantially open area below the blade to receive the sliced food product so that slices generated during automatic operation may reach a substantial stack height. Prior food slicing machines typically included a tray area of substantial thickness below the slicing blade which limited the attainable height of the food slice stack. This tray area of the base of prior slicing machines typically housed a portion of the motor for rotating the blade or other internal workings of the machine. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, a visible slice thickness indicia is located adjacent to the blade so that it can be viewed by the operator at the same time as the slicing blade. The visible indicia correlated to the distance between one adjustable gauge plate and the slicing blade which distance determines slice thickness. The visible indicia includes a support surface which is connected to a portion of the slicing machine adjacent to the rotatable blade and adjustable gauge plate and a visible indicia located on the support which correlates with the distance between an adjustable gauge plate and the blade so that the operator may view the visible indicia simultaneously with viewing the blade during food product slicing. This feature of one embodiment of the invention allows the operator to maintain his or her attention on the slicing area and blade during periods of thickness adjustment which can increase operator efficiency and safety. 
   In a further embodiment of the invention, the bulk food product slicing machine includes a blade sharpening assembly having a retractable shield mounted adjacent to sharpening stones. The shield is adapted to retract from the surface of the sharpening stones when the operator places the blade sharpening assembly in position to sharpen the blade edge. Optionally, the blade sharpening assembly may be provided with a guide which directs the movement of the sharpening stone along a linear path toward the blade edge for sharpening and away from the blade edge after sharpening. In that embodiment of the invention, the blade sharpening assembly also includes a spring for biasing the sharpening stone away from the blade edge when the stone is not sharpening the blade edge, and an actuator for the operator to depress and move the sharpening stone downward into the blade sharpening position. Optionally, the slicing machine may be provided with a blade sharpening assembly position sensor for detecting the presence of the assembly on the slicing machine and disabling the motor for rotating the blade should the blade sharpener assembly be absent. 
   A still further embodiment of the invention, a slidably mounted table for supporting the bulk food product as it is moved in a table movement direction toward the blade and away from the blade is provided. The table includes slidably mounted sled having a base portion for supporting the underside of the food product during slicing. The sled also includes a securing surface extending from the base portion for engaging at least one side of the food product. The securing surface is slidably mounted to the base for movement in the table movement direction to adjust to the width of the food product. The securing surface extends from the base portion of the sled and preferably is provided with one or more lock(s) for securing the sled into a stationary position in the table movement direction and transversely to the table movement direction. The sled may also include a second surface extending from the base portion of the sled for engaging the back end of the food product for securing the food product during slicing. The preferred sled arrangement of this invention provides improved security for holding the food product in place during the slicing operation. It further has the advantage of allowing greater flexibility since the food product may be engaged by the securing surface from either the side or from the back end of the food product. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, the food product slicing machine is provided with a carriage slidably mounted to a base for providing movement in a table movement direction toward said rotatable blade and away from said rotatable blade, a support arm pivotally mounted to the carriage and including a pivot actuator for selectively pivoting the arm away from the body of the slicing machine to easy access for cleaning, as well as a table releasably mounted to the support arm having a release mechanism for disengaging the table from the support arm to allow the table to be disengaged from the support arm and cleaned remotely from the machine in either a sink or a dishwasher. 
   In a further embodiment of the invention, a system for providing operator adjustment of optimum stroke length during automatic operation of the bulk food slicing machine is provided. The system includes a selector for activating automatic slicing operation of the bulk food slicing machine, a first position sensor for detecting a table start position during an operator controlled slicing stroke of the food product, a switch for activating the first position sensor prior to operator controlled slicing, a processor electrically connected to the first position sensor and having memory for recording the table start position and table end position signal, the processor being electrically connected to the table drive motor and providing a table start position signal to said motor to drive said motor to a table start position, said processor sending a stroke commencement signal to the drive motor after the table is in the table start position, the motor driving the table to the end of the stroke length. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of a slicing machine and its various components according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the slicing machine shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the slicing machine shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a right elevational view of the slicing machine shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is a left elevational view of the slicing machine shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the slicing machine shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the slicing machine shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIGS. 9-12  show additional perspective views of the slicing machine of  FIGS. 1 and 2   
       FIGS. 13 and 14  show a table arm according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  show a table according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 17-19  show a pusher assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 20 and 20   a  show an alternative embodiment of a portion of a pusher assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 21  shows the pusher assembly of  FIGS. 17-19  secured to the table of  FIGS. 15-16 . 
       FIG. 22  shows another embodiment of a table according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 23  shows a base according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 24-25  show a carriage assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 26  shows an arm according to one embodiment of the present invention secured to a carriage assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 27-28  show a gauge plate according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 29-30  illustrate an indexing assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 31-33  show various methods of loading product to be sliced into a slicing machine according to embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 34-35  illustrate a sharpener assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 36-38  illustrate an interlock system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 39  shows a pusher assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention pivoted away from a table according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 40-43  illustrate a deburring device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 44  is a perspective view of a slicing machine and its various components according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 45  illustrates a perspective view of a sharpening stone assembly according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 46  illustrates a perspective view of a sharpening stone assembly of  FIG. 45 . 
       FIG. 47  illustrates a top view of a sharpening stone assembly of  FIG. 45 . 
       FIG. 48  illustrates a back view of a sharpening stone assembly of  FIG. 45 . 
       FIG. 49A  illustrates a front view of a sharpening stone assembly of  FIG. 45 . 
       FIG. 49B  illustrates a front view of a sharpening stone assembly of  FIG. 45 . 
       FIG. 50  illustrates a perspective view of a table arm assembly according to one embodiment of the invention taken from above, right. 
       FIG. 51  is a cross-sectional view of the front wall, lip and cover according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 52  is a partial cut-away view of the alternate indexing assembly, interlock and table assembly according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 53  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the table lock assembly according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 54  is a perspective view of the table lock assembly of  FIG. 53 . 
       FIG. 55  is a side view of the table lock assembly of  FIG. 54 . 
       FIG. 56  is a partial cut-away view of the internal cover sealing system according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 57  is a exploded side view of the automatic mode interlock according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 58  is a bottom view of the slicing machine with bottom cover removed according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 59  is a perspective view of the base extrusion according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 60  is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the cover according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 61  is a perspective view of the back right corner of the slicing machine according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 62  is a perspective view of the slice thickness indicia according to one embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The slicing machine and various components according to the one embodiment of the invention are shown in  FIGS. 1 through 8 . In this embodiment, the slicing machine generally includes a housing  100 , a pusher assembly  200 , a table  300 , a table arm  400 , a gauge plate  500 , a handle  600 , an indexing assembly  700 , a blade  800  and a sharpener assembly  900 . 
   Base  100  generally includes a first portion  101 , a cover  102  and a plurality of feet  103  for supporting the slicing machine on a surface, such as a counter. 
   Table arm  400  ( FIGS. 13 and 14 ) generally includes, in the embodiment shown, a generally hollow arm having a first portion  401  and a second portion  402  defining an interior cavity  403 . Portions  401  and  402  are disposed at an angle to one another. Arm  400  includes a pair of openings  404  which are used to pivotally attach arm  400  to a carriage assembly located within base  100  of the slicing machine such that arm  400 , table  300 , pusher assembly  200  and handle  600  may travel along the length of the slicing machine. A pair of stop pins  405  are located within cavity  403  to limit movement of arm  400 . A knob  406  having a post or shaft  407  attached thereto is secured to arm  400  such that post  407  extends into cavity  403 . Post  407  engages the carriage assembly to fasten arm  400  thereto. Arm  400  further includes an upper face  408  on which table  300  and pusher assembly  200  are mounted as described below. A slot  409  is provided beneath face  408  for this purpose. Arm  400  further includes a plate  410  to which a pulley  411  is mounted within the interior of cavity  403 . A pin  412  is secured to arm  400  so as to be biased, as by a spring or other device, into the position shown when table  300  is not secured to arm  400 . A plate  413  is mounted to arm  400  beneath plate  410  as shown. Plate  413 , as described in greater detail below, can move with respect to the remainder of arm  400 . Plate  413  is provided with a slot to accommodate pin  412  as plate  413  moves. A spring  413   a  ( FIG. 36 ) is provided to bias plate  413  into the position shown when table  300  is not attached to arm  400 . 
   Table  300  ( FIGS. 15 and 16 ) includes, in the embodiment shown, a body  301  having a first support  302  mounted thereto. First support  302  includes a surface  303 . A second support  304  having a surface  305  is connected to first support  302  such that surfaces  303  and  305  are disposed at a generally 90° angle. A plate  306  is connected to second support  304  at a generally 90° angle thereto. An arm  307  extends from plate  306  and includes a surface  308  generally facing surface  303 . Arm  307  helps contain the item being sliced on table  300  during use. An arm  309  is connected to support  302  and includes a pair of opposed flanges  310  with openings  311  formed therein. Openings  311  receive the shaft along which pusher assembly  200  moves, as described below. Body  301  may include a reinforcement  320  therein. Note that the embodiment of table  300  shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16  differs from that shown in  FIGS. 1-12  in this regard. Body  301  further includes a mounting flange  313  on the base thereof for attaching table  300  to arm  400  as described below. An opening  314  is formed within the base of body  301  to receive pin  412  as described below. A plurality of openings  315  are formed within plate  306  for securing handle  600  thereto as described below. A plate  316  is connected to the underside of support  302  as shown. A pair of mounting studs  317  are likewise secured to the underside of support  302  for securing handle  600  thereto. 
   To secure table  300  to arm  400 , flange  313  is positioned below surface  408  adjacent slot  409 . Ring  414  is pulled downwardly to lower pin  412  and body  301  is pushed inwardly such that it is located above pin  412 . Body  300  is continually pushed inward until pin  412  is aligned with opening  314 . Because pin  412  is biased upwardly, it will automatically extend through opening  314 , thereby preventing body  300  from sliding outwardly. Note that in this position, flange  313  is located within slot  409  beneath face  408 . 
   Pusher assembly  200  ( FIGS. 17-19 ) includes a sled  201  having a first end  202 , a second end  203  and a base  204 . Note that end  203  is turned upward and disposed at a generally 90° angle to base  204  of sled  201 . Sled  201  is secured at the opposite end to a translating block  205 . Block  205  includes a bore  206  therethrough for receiving a shaft, as described below. A piece of nylon  207  is secured to the underside of base  204  to assist in movement of pusher assembly  200 , as described below. A body  208  including a first plate  209  and a second plate  210  disposed at a right angle thereto is positioned on sled  201  and is movable with respect thereto. A base  211  is connected to body  208  as shown. A pair of flanges  212  extend beneath base  204  of sled  201  and form a slot, thereby allowing body  208  to slide back and forth along base  204 . Plates  209  and  210  include, respectively, a first surface  212   a  and a second surface  213 . These surfaces may contact the item to be sliced, as described below. A saddle  214  including a bore  215  extending therethrough is secured to base  211  of body  208 . Note that the weight of saddle  214  may be selected to assist in the gravity feed of the items to be sliced as described below. Also, a plurality of removable weights may be provided to be stacked on saddle  214  to assist the gravity feed as desired. A handle  216  extends through bore  215  in saddle  214  and may rotate therein. A ridge  217  is formed on the underside of handle  216 . Thus, when handle  216  is in the position shown in  FIGS. 17-19 , ridge  217  engages base  204  of sled  201 , thereby preventing movement of body  208 . To move body  208  with respect to base  204 , handle  216  is rotated such that ridge  217  does not engage base  204 . Body  208  may then be slid along base  204  to its desired position before again rotating handle  216  to engage ridge  217  with base  204  thereby locking body  208  in place. A spring  218  is secured to block  205  and is used to lock pusher assembly  200  along its shaft, as described below. Pusher assembly  200  is also provided with an opening  220  through sled  201  and block  205 . Opening  220  accommodates fastener  220   a  to secure sled  201  and body  208  to block  205 . When desired, as for cleaning, fastener  220   a  may be removed and sled  201 , body  208 , saddle  214  and handle  216  may be removed from block  205 . Body  208 , saddle  214  and handle  216  may then be removed from sled  201  by sliding body  208  off end  202 . 
   An alternative embodiment of body  208  is shown in  FIGS. 20 and 20   a . In this embodiment, plate  209  includes an opening  209   a  therein. A surface attachment  250  including a first flange  251  and a second flange  252  is provided to slip over plates  209  and  210  such that fastener  252   a  may engage opening  209   a , thereby holding surface attachment  250  in place. In this manner, different surface attachments may be removably provided so that the surface provided on plates  209  and  210  may be changed as desired to accommodate different items to be sliced. Note also that it is not necessary that surface attachment  250  be a unitary piece as shown. It can be divided into one segment for plate  209  and a separate segment for plate  210 . Alternatively, it could be divided into multiple segments with multiple fasteners in any combination desired. 
   Pusher assembly  200  may be secured to table  300  by positioning base  204  adjacent surface  303  of table  300  and positioning upturned end  203  adjacent surface  305  of table  300 . In this position, bore  206  of translating block  205  is aligned with openings  311  in flanges  310 . A shaft  318  is then inserted through openings  311  and bore  206  and secured to flanges  310 . Note that in this manner, pusher assembly  200  is free to slide along the length of shaft  318 . In another embodiment of the invention ( FIG. 22 ), an optional stop member  319  may be provided to limit the backward rotation of sled  201 . 
   Note that as secured to block  205 , spring  218  is adjacent shaft  318 . When body  208  is adjacent end  202  of sled  201  and arm  216  is rotated such that ridge  217  engages base  204  of sled  201 , thereby locking body  208  in position with respect to sled  201 , ridge  217  also engages spring  218  and presses it against shaft  318 . This prevents pusher assembly  200  from moving with respect to shaft  318 . Thus, pusher assembly  200  can be firmly locked in place in this manner. Also, pusher assembly  200  may be locked in place at any location along shaft  318 . Note that the position of pusher handle  216  allows for a lower elbow position resulting in a more relaxed wrist and shoulder than in devices in which the handle is positioned higher. Note also that pusher assembly  200  is continuously adjustable along the entire surface of table  300 .  FIG. 39  shows pusher assembly  200  attached to shaft  318  but pivoted away from table  300  for access to table  300 . 
   Handle  600  includes a first end  601  secured to table  300  via openings  315  and a second end  602  secured to the underside of table  300  via studs  317 . Handle  600  further includes a first segment  603 , a second segment  604  disposed at an angle thereto, a third segment  605  disposed at an angle to second segment  604 , a fourth segment  606  disposed at an angle to segment  605 , and a fifth segment  607  disposed at an angle to segment  606 . Handle  600  may be used to manually move arm  400 , table  300  and pusher assembly  200  along the length of the unit to manually slice items as described below. 
   Base  101  ( FIG. 23 ) further includes an interior cavity  104  for receiving the motor  1400 . Carriage assembly  1000  ( FIGS. 24 and 25 ) in the embodiment shown, generally includes a shaft  1001  which is received in opening  105  in base  101 . A carriage body  1002  includes a cylindrical portion  1003  through which shaft  1001  extends. An arm  1004  extends from body  1002  as shown. Arm  1004  includes an opening  1005  for receiving shaft  407  when arm  1004  is positioned within cavity  403  as shown in  FIG. 26 . Arm  400  includes openings  404  for securing arm  400  to arm  1004  through openings  1006 . Carriage assembly  1000  further includes an arm  1007  including an opening  1008  to which arm  400  is connected through opening  415  in ear  416 . Thus, in this manner, arm  400 , table  300  and pusher assembly  200  which are attached thereto may move along the length of the unit as carriage assembly  1000  slides along shaft  1001 . 
   Gauge plate  500  ( FIGS. 27 and 28 ) includes an arm  501  with a plate  502  mounted thereto. Plate  502  includes a surface  503  which engages the material to be sliced, as discussed below. A blind bore  504  is formed in arm  501  and is used for adjusting the position of surface  503  as described below. Plate  502  is positioned adjacent blade  800  as shown. During the slicing operation, the item to be sliced will be urged against surface  503  by gravity. Thus, the farther surface  503  is positioned behind blade  800 , the thicker the slices of material. Conversely, the closer to flush with blade  800  surface  503  is positioned, the thinner the slices will be. Thus, by adjusting the position of surface  503 , the thickness of the slices obtained can be selected as desired. 
   The position of surface  503  is adjusted through indexing assembly  700   FIGS. 29 and 30 ). Indexing assembly  700 , in the embodiment shown, includes a knob  701  connected to a cam  702  which is located within the base of the unit. An arm member  703  is likewise located within the base and includes a pin  705  that engages groove or slot  706  within cam  702 . The other end of arm  703  is secured to a shaft  704 . Shaft  704  extends into and is secured within opening  504  in arm  501 . Note that shaft  704  extends through base  101  in such a manner that it is free to slide in and out of cavity  104 . As knob  701  is rotated, cam  702  turns. This movement of cam  702  causes pin  705  to move within slot  706 . As pin  705  moves, it likewise causes movement of arm  703 . This in turn causes movement of shaft  704 . The movement of shaft  704  likewise causes movement of arm  501 , thereby positioning surface  503  with respect to blade  800 . Note that with the index assembly  700  of the embodiment shown, the thickness of the slices may be varied from 0 to 32 mm with one full rotation of knob  701 . 
   In operation, the unit is fully assembled as shown in  FIG. 1 , for example. The desired thickness is set by adjusting gauge plate  500  through use of indexing assembly  700 . That is, knob  701  is rotated so as to position surface  503  of gauge plate  500  as desired. The item to be sliced is then placed in pusher assembly  200 . This may be done in at least two different ways. First, the item may be placed on base  204  of sled  201  and surface  303  of table  300  so as to be positioned between surface  212   a  of body  208  and surface  305  of table  300 . When positioned, arm  216  is rotated to lock body  208  in place. This method is shown in  FIGS. 31 and 32 . Note that body  208  can be positioned to accommodate either large or small objects. Because of the angle at which both table  300 , sled  201  and body  208  are positioned, gravity tends to urge the end of the product to be cut against surface  503 . 
   If the slicer is to be operated in the automatic mode, the motor  1400  is started, thereby causing blade  800  to rotate and arm  400  to moved back and forth along the length of the slicer via carriage assembly  1000 . This forces the edge of the product against rotating blade  800 , thereby slicing the product. Note that because the front of the unit is completely open beneath the output of blade  800 , a larger stack of sliced product can accumulate before removal, as compared to units in which the base extends out underneath the output of blade  800 . As shown in  FIG. 43 , blade  800  is connected to pulley  1401  which is in turn connected by drive belt  1402  to motor  1400  located directly below the slicing blade within housing  100 . This arrangement of the motor below the blade allows the frame  2100  to be substantially free of the food slice receiving area located on the left side of the slicer directly below the blade  800 . Prior slicing machine designs typically placed the motor and other inner working of the machine to the left of the slicing blade in a housing which extended into the food receiving area thereby limited the maximum stack height attainable in such designs. 
   The unit may also be operated in the manual mode. To do so, the blade is started but the carriage assembly  1000 , arm  400 , table  300  and pusher assembly  200  are pushed and pulled along the length of the unit via handle  600 . Note that the design of handle  600  is such that it may be conveniently used with either the left or right hand or both hands. For example, segment  603  is positioned to be easily accessible and primarily used with the left hand. Segment  605  is positioned primarily for use with the right hand. Segment  604  may be used with either hand. Thus, the device may be easily manually operated by (1) using the left hand on segment  603  and/or the right hand on segment  605 , (2) using the left hand on segment  603  and the right on segment  604 , (3) using the left hand on segment  604  and the right hand on segment  605 , or (5) using either hand on segment  604 . 
     FIG. 33  shows an alternative method of loading the product to be cut. In this method, one end of the product is positioned against surface  213  of body  208 . Again, the angle of pusher assembly  200  and table  300  gravity feeds the product against surface  503  for slicing. 
   The sharpener assembly  900  is mounted on a base  901  adjacent blade  800  and is enclosed by a cover  902 . An actuator lever  903  extends behind the unit and through base  901 . As shown in  FIG. 35 , an actuator arm  904  is pivotally mounted to a post  905  connected to base  901 . An end  906  of the actuator arm  904  contacts an arm assembly  907  connected to a sharpening stone  908 . Arm  907  includes an extended portion or arm  909 . A shield  910  is positioned in front of sharpening stone  908 . An arm  911  is secured to shield  910  and is adjacent or in contact with arm  909 . To actuate the sharpener, the blade is set in motion and lever  903  is pulled back, thereby bearing against arm  904  and causing it to rotate about post  905 . This causes end  906  to rotate inwardly and press against arm  907 . As this occurs, arm  909  contacts arm  911  of shield  910  and acts as a cam to push shield  910  down below sharpening stone  908 , thereby pushing shield  910  out of the way. Arm  906  also pushes arm  907  so as to move sharpening stone  908  against blade  800 , thereby sharpening the blade as it rotates. 
   As an additional feature, sharpening assembly  900  may include a deburring pad  912 . Deburring pad  912  is connected to leaf spring  913  which is in turn connected to an arm  914  pivotally mounted on housing  915 . The operation of deburring pad  912  is best shown in  FIGS. 40-43  in which sharpening stone  908 , shield  910 , arm  907 , and arm  909  are removed from housing  915 . When lever  903  is activated, arm  907  pushes arm  914  forward into the position shown in  FIG. 40 . This places deburring pad  912  in its operational position. When lever  903  is released such that arm  906  moves into its original position, arm  914  begins to rotate backward. As this occurs, deburring pad  912  contacts leaf spring  916 . This causes deburring pad  912  to rotate as shown in  FIG. 41 . Note that a wire form  917  is provided to index the deburring pad during operation and to act as a pivot for the pad upon retraction. As arm  914  continues to retract, deburring pad  912  continues to rotate until it snaps into a rest position rotated 90° from its original position. Upon each successive actuation of the sharpening assembly, deburring pad  912  will rotate 90° upon retraction. Note that leaf spring  913  helps keep deburring pad  912  biased in the proper position during operation. The same is true with respect to wire form  917 . 
   In operation, when table  300  is removed from table arm  400 , plate  413  extends outwardly under the biasing force of spring  413   a  and covers slot  415 . This pulls on cable  1100  which causes stop  1200  to pivot upwardly. As stop  1200  pivots upwardly, it pivots platform  1202  and projection  1204  upwardly such that projection  1204  engages notch  702   a . In this position, gauge plate  500  is set for 0 thickness so that the blade is not exposed to inadvertent contact by the user. Also, in this position, cam  702  cannot be rotated to adjust gauge plate  500  because of the interaction of projection  1204  and notch  702   a.    
   When table  300  is again positioned on arm  400 , post  417  slides into slot  415 , thereby pushing plate  413  inwardly. Note that post  417  and its associated knob  417   a  are shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 - 7 , although they are not shown on  FIGS. 15 and 16 . As plate  413  slides inwardly, it pushes cable  1100  forward and pivots stop  1200  downwardly, thereby permitting platform  1202  and locking projection  1204  to pivot downwardly, thereby disengaging locking projection  1204  from notch  702   a.    
   An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 44 through 49 , in which an alternate sharpener assembly  2900  is provided having a cover  2902 . The assembly  2900  includes a base portion  2901  which is mounted to mounting surface  805  of blade guard arm  804 . As can be seen in  FIG. 46 , blade guard  801  splits into a pair of arms  803  and  804  near the area where the assembly  2900  is mounted. 
   The assembly  2900  has an actuator  2903  for depressing the assembly downwardly along guide  2904 . As best seen in  FIGS. 45 and 46 , guide  2904  has L-shaped tongues  2904   a  and  2904   b  for engaging grooves  2927   a  and  2927   b  on base  2901 . The actuator  2903  is preferably provided with an indented upper surface  2903   a  which is configured to comfortably receive the operator&#39;s thumb when depressing the actuator  2903 . Post  2905  extends from base  2901  and mounting surface  805  on blade guard  801  and provides a slidable mount for frame  2906 . A spring  2907  is inserted around post  2905  and engages base  2901  and frame  2906  to bias the assembly  2900  upwardly away from blade  800 . A sharpening stone  2908  is rotatably mounted to the frame  2906  by engagement of spindle  2909  with frame aperture  2906   a , and a deburring stone  2910  is rotatably mounted to frame  2906  by engagement of spindle  2912  with frame aperture  2906   b.    
   A dovetail projection (not shown) is formed on the periphery of blade guard guide  2928  at shoulders  2928   a  and  2928   b  for engaging tongue  806  having complimentary dovetail groove in its peripheral surface (not shown). Tongue  806  extends upwardly from mounting surface  805  of blade guard  801 . As can be seen in  FIG. 45 , the tongue  806  is provided with a indentation  2914  which is engaged by projection  2915  on lip  2916  of blade guard guide  2928  to form a detent for holding the sharpener assembly  2900  in place. 
   Sharpening assembly has a stone assembly  2938  which generally includes spindle  2918 , sharpening stone  2908 , deburring stone  2910 , shield  2917 , pivot mounts  2932 , and jaw member  2929 . Shield  2917  is pivotally mounted to frame  2906  by engagement of spindle  2918  with frame aperture  2906   c . As seen in  FIG. 46 , shield  2917  substantially covers the surface of sharpening stone  2908  and deburring stone  2910  when the assembly is retracted away from the blade  800 . As a result, the stones  2908  and  2910  remain nearly completely free of cutting debris throughout extended periods of use of the slicing machine thereby eliminating the need to frequently wash the interior of the sharpening assembly. The shield  2917  is comprised of two lobes  2920  and  2922  joined by stay  2923 . Arm  803  includes a shield engaging surface  802 . Lobe  2920  of shield  2917  is provided with a flange  2924  which is spaced to engage shield engaging surface  802  of blade guard  801  when actuator  2903  is depressed into a sharpening position. Flange  2924  includes camming surface  2925  which engages shield engaging surface  802  in the depressed position causing shield  2917  to pivot upwardly and expose sharpening stone  2908  and deburring stone  2910  as the assembly  2900  is slid linearly downwardly into blade sharpening position. 
   In addition to the linear travel described above, assembly  2900  has pivoting action in which the sharpening stone pivots from a retracted into its blade sharpening position. As shown in  FIGS. 47 and 49 , a U-shaped jaw member  2929  includes lower projection  2929   a  and upper projection  2929   b . Jaw member  2929  is pivotally mounted to  2930  spindle and are pivot mounts  2932   a  and  2932   b  of stones  2908  and  2910 . Thus, jaw member  2929  acts as a lever arm to pivot stone assembly  2938 . Actuator  2903  is provided with driving plate  2934  which engages jaws  2929   b  when actuator  2903  is depressed as shown in  FIG. 49A . The engagement between actuator driver  2934  and jaw member  2929   b  causes U-shaped member  2929  to pivot downwardly and pivot mounts  2932   a  and  2932   b  to pivot upwardly away from post  2905  into proper alignment for sharpening. As shown in  FIG. 49B  as actuator  2903  is depressed further, drive plate  2934  forces jaw member  2929   b  into contact with plate  2936  which is attached to frame  2906  causing plate  2906  to move linearly downwardly toward blade  800  for sharpening. When actuator  2903  is released, spring  2907  engages frame  2906  causing it to move linearly upwardly and bringing jaw  2929   b  into contact with actuator driver  2934 . Spring bias further causing jaw  2929   b  to move along guide  2928  to its fully retracted position. In this position, the bottom of stones  2908  and  2910  are tilted farther away from the blade  800  so that they are almost completely shielded from slicing debris. 
   To sharpen the blade, the sharpening stone  2908  and deburring stone  2910  are brought into engagement with the edge of the blade  800 . After the initial pivot of the stone assembly  2938 , the movement of the sharpening assembly  2900  is substantially linear along guide  2904  due to engagement of shoulders  2904   a  and  2904   b  with tongue  806  and post  2905  with an annular portion  2906   a  of frame  2906 . The assembly  2900  may be removed from the slicing machine by lifting on the frame  2906  which causes projection  2915  on lip  2916  to disengage from depression  807  on tongue  806 . To facilitate removal of the assembly  2900 , frame  2906  is provided with a pair of arcuate surfaces  2919  on its lower surface to provide a comfortable grip for the operator to remove the sharpening assembly  2900  for washing. The sharpener assembly may be removed for cleaning portions of the blade guard  801  as well as for sporadic cleaning of the assembly  2900  in a dishwasher or sink. 
   Removal of the assembly  2900  from the guide mount  805  activities safety switch  2926  which is wired to a microprocessor board  3802 . Microprocessor  3802  is wired to table drive motor  3800 . When safety switch  2926  is activated by the absence of the assembly  2900 , it sends an assembly absent signal to the microprocessor  3802 . Microprocessor  3802  is programmed to switch off the blade drive motor  3400  in response to said assembly absent signal. As a result, the blade  2800  will not rotate when the assembly  2900  has been removed from the slicer to enhance operator safety. 
   In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 44 ,  50  and  52 - 55 , an alternate table arm  2400  is provided, which generally includes a hollow arm having a first portion  2401  and a second portion  2402  defining an interior cavity  2403 . Portions  2401  and  2402  are disposed at an angle to one another. Arm  2400  includes a pair of bores  2404  which are used to pivotally attach arm  2400  to carriage assembly  3000  located within base  2100  of the slicing machine such that arm  2400 , table  2300 , pusher assembly  2200  and handle  2600  may travel along the length of the slicing machine. Similar to the embodiment of the table arm  400  shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a pair of stop pins  2405  (not shown) are located within cavity  2403  to limit movement of arm  2400 . A knob  2406  having a post or shaft  2407  (not shown) attached thereto is secured to arm  2400  such that post  2407  extends into cavity  2403 . Post  2407  engages an aperture in the carriage assembly  3000  to fasten arm  2400  thereto. 
   As can be best seen in  FIGS. 44 and 50 , arm  2400  further includes an upper face  2408  on which table  2300  and pusher assembly  2200  are mounted as described below. A slot  2409  is provided beneath face  2408  for this purpose. Arm  2400  further includes a plate  2410  to which a pair of pulleys  2411  are mounted within the interior of cavity  2403 . A tab  2412  is secured to arm  2400  so as to be biased, as by a spring or other device, into the position shown in  FIG. 50  when table  2300  is not secured to arm  2400 . As can be seen in  FIG. 55 , plate  2413  is mounted to arm  2400  beneath plate  2410  as shown. Plate  2413 , as described in greater detail below, can move with respect to the remainder of arm  2400 . Plate  2410  is provided with a slot to accommodate tab  2412  as plate  2413  moves. Spring  2413   a  and  b  ( FIG. 36 ) are provided to bias plate  2413  and  2426  into the position shown when table  2300  is not attached to arm  2400 . A pair of cables  3100  are threaded through the arm  2400  through cable guides  2418 . The cables  3100  have enlarged ends  3101  which engages an aperture in plates  2413  and  2426   a  adjacent to springs  2413   a  and  2426   a . A pair of cables  3100   a  and  3100   b  are operably connected to interlock system which prevents removal of the table unless the gauge plate is set to its zero thickness setting. 
   Arm  2400  further includes stop  2422  which consists of a hinge  2423  mounted to plate  2410  for pivoting a magnetic flapper  2424 . As shown in  FIG. 53 , the flapper  2424  in the absence of the table drops into an open position in which it engages the back surface of plate  2413  preventing the plate from being depressed against its bias. This arrangement prevents the plate  2413  from being depressed by the operator when the table is removed. Table  2300  includes a mounting flange  2313  and a post  2417 , with post  2417  having associated knob  2417   a  for disengaging the post. When table  2300  is slid into place in slot  2409  in arm  2400 , post  2417  engages plate  2413  thereby pressing it downwardly against the bias of the spring  2413   a . Magnet  2309  mounted to plate  2313  simultaneously attracts magnetic flapper  2424  and causes it to pivot into a position flush with the plate  2313 . This allows plate  2413  to slide past flapper  2424  and become completely depressed against its bias which causes cable  3100   b  to disengage the interlock platform  3202 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 52 , cable  3100   b  is connected to lever arm  3205  which is attached to threaded spindle  3206  which is screwed into a threaded aperture in the carriage assembly  3000 . Second lever arm  3207  is provided with aperture  3208  to which spring  3209  is attached. Spring  3209  biases second lever arm  3207  away from platform  3202  toward the right side of the machine. The force of spring  2413   a  is substantially greater than the force generated by spring  3209  such that when table  2400  is not engaging plate  2413 , the tension on cable  3100   b  is sufficient to overcome the biasing force of spring  3209 . This causes lever arm  3207  to pivot forward toward the platform  3202  and become lodged underneath it such that platform  3202  cannot fall back to disengaged position. This prevents rolling member  3204  from becoming disengaged with cam  2702  unless table is present to push against plate  2413  and reduce the tension on cable  3100   b.    
   Cam  2702  is provided with a spiral channel  3212  which wraps two revolutions around cam edge  2707  as shown in  FIG. 52 . At the terminus of channel  3212 , the width and depth of the channel is substantially increased which allows roller member  3204  to lodge in channel. Roller member  3204  is mounted on frame  3209  which has apertures  3210   a  and  3210   b  for mounting axle  3211  of roller member  3204 . Due to the lodging of the roller member in the deepened terminal channel roller member  3204  is engaged with the terminal end of cam groove  3212  preventing the indexing knob from being rotated until table  2300  is replaced on arm  2400 . 
   An alternate embodiment of the gauge plate/table interlock system is illustrated in FIGS.  50  and  52 - 55 .  FIG. 53  illustrates that a pair of cables  3100  are connected to a down turned end of plate  2413 . One of the cables  3100   a  is positioned about pulley  2411 , runs through table arm  2400  and is connected to a stop member  3200 . Stop member  3200  is pivotable about point  3201 . When table  300  is not positioned on arm  2400 , plate  2413  is biased outwardly, as shown in  FIG. 50 . As shown in  FIG. 52 , stop  3200  is positioned below platform  3202 . 
   Similar to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 38 , platform  3202  is pivotally connected to at least one arm which is in turn connected to shaft (not shown). As can be seen in  FIG. 52 , a locking projection  3204  is located on platform  3202 . Stop  3200  is connected to carriage assembly  3000  such that it moves with carriage assembly  3000  as carriage assembly  3000  moves along shaft  3001 . Thus, regardless of the position of table arm  2400 , stop  3200  is located beneath platform  3202  at some point along its length. Locking projection  3204  remains stationary on platform  3202 . Cam  2702  includes a notch therein (not shown). Similar to the notch  702  shown in  FIG. 36 , notch is sized to accommodate the end of locking projection  3204  when cam  2702  is positioned such that gauge plate  2500  is set for 0 thickness. Platform  3202  is biased such that locking projection  3204  maintains contact with the perimeter of cam  202  at all times. 
   Arm  2400  also includes a spring biased pin  2419  having a post portion  2420  slidably mounted and aperture  2421  in arm first portion  2401 . The post  2420  engages an aperture  3007  in the carriage  3000  such that the arm  2400  may not be pivoted from its open position to a closed position unless the operator pulls the pin  2404  against its bias outwardly from the arm  2400 . This feature requires the operator to pull the pin with one hand while pivoting the arm with the other hand so that the operator&#39;s free hand does not become pinched between the arm and the carriage while pivoting the arm to the closed position. 
   In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 51 ,  56  and  61 , an internal cover sealing system  3600  is provided. The system  3600  generally includes cover  3601 , adhesive sealing foam  3602 , hinge  3603 , slot  2106  in housing  2100  for receipt of cover hinge  3603 , and cam lock assembly  3604 . Cover  3601  includes a front end  3617  having a flange  3618 , a bottom surface  3619 , top surface  3620 , a back end  3621  where hinge  3603  is located and short sidewalls  3620  extending down from the bottom surface  3619  of the cover. Cover  3601  is removable from the base  2100  of the slicing machine to provide access to the interior of the machine to trained service personnel. Accordingly, it is designed to require the use of special tools to remove the front cover. To access the cam lock assembly  3604  and remove the cover  3601 , plug  3605  must be removed from aperture  3606  from base  2100 . Removal of plug  3605  exposes key  3607  recessed from the surface of the base  2100 . Lock actuator  3607  preferably has an L-shaped cross section at its end adjacent to the aperture  3606  which is designed to be engaged by use of a key having a complementary L-shaped channel and a handle portion. The remainder of the actuator  3607  forms an L-shaped bar having apertures  3607   a  and  3607   b  at its other end. 
   As can be best seen in  FIG. 56 , cam lock assembly  3604  includes lock actuator  3607  which is pivotally mounted to linkage bar  3608  by bolts  3609   a  and  3609   b  engaging apertures  3607   a  and  3607   b  in the actuator  3607  and apertures  3610   a  and  3610  in the linkage bar  3608 . Linkage bar  3608  is slidably mounted by stud  3611  to shelf  2107  extending from front wall  2108  of base  2100 . A pair of cam locks  3612  include arms  3613  extend outwardly from axial shafts  3614 . The arms  3613  are rotatably mounted to linkage bar  3608  by spindles  3616  engaging a pair of matching bores  3608   a ,  3613   a  and  3608   b ,  3613   b  in linkage bar  3608  and arms  3613 , respectively. Shafts  3614  extend upwardly from arms  3613  and have a pair of bayonet end surfaces  3615  at their other ends which engage slots  3623  formed in camming members  3624 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 51 and 60 , camming members  3623  are mounted in recesses  3625  in flange  3618  which runs from side to side along the bottom surface  3619  of the front portion  3617  of the cover  3601 . Recess  3625  includes shoulder  3629  descending from bottom surface  2110  of shelf  2107 . Camming member  3624  is provided with cam surface  3627  which when rotated against base surface  3628  causes shoulders  3629  to bear against shelf  2107  thereby drawing cover  3601  downward into sealing engagement with foam  3602 . 
   To install the cover  3601  to the base  2100 , back end  3621  of the cover  3601  is oriented over the back end  2109  of the base with hinge  3603  inserted into slot  3622 . Cover  3601  is then pivoted downwardly toward the front of the machine such that front end  3617  rests against frame  2100  at foam sealing tape  3602  which is affixed along the periphery of the frame  2100 . Lock actuator  3607  is then pushed inwardly toward the left wall  2112  of housing  2100 . This motion causes linkage bar  3608  to move toward the left side of the machine and causes arms  3613  to move in an arcuate path which rotates shafts  3614 . The rotating of the shafts  3614  causes bayonet surfaces  3615  to engage slots  3623  and rotate cam surface  3627  of camming member  3624  against base surface  3628  which causes shoulder  3629  to bear against shelf  2107  thereby causing cover  3601  to be pulled downwardly into firm sealing engagement with the foam seal tape  3602 . The plug  3605  is then replaced in aperture  3606  so that and untrained operator cannot access the interior of the machine. To remove the cover  3601 , the trained technician removes plug  3605  from aperture  3606  and using specially designed lock (not shown) pulls the lock actuator  3607  forward toward the right wall of the frame  2100 . This causes linkage  3608  to move to the right and arcuate movement of arms  3613  with resulting rotation of shafts  3614 , bayonets  3615 , and cam surfaces  3627  such that shoulders  3629  disengage from bottom surface  2110  of shelf  2107  thereby allowing the front of the cover  3617  to be lifted from the frame  2100 . The cover  3601  may then be pivoted upwardly until hinge  3603  can be removed from slot  2106 . 
   In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 62 , a slice thickness indicia system  3500  which is mounted to the blade guard  801  adjacent to the blade sharpening assembly  2900 . The system  3500  includes a support surface  3501  which is oriented to face the front of the machine for easy viewing by the operator during slicing a food product. A gauge plate  2500  is located toward the front of the machine between the slice thickness indicia  3500  and operator&#39;s position. The support surface  3501  is provided with visible indicia  3502  which correlates to the distance between the gauge plate  2500  and the blade  800  and thereby to the thickness of slices produced by the slicer. It is preferred that the visible indicia  3502  correspond to a numerical indicia of slice thickness provided on the gauge plate adjustment knob. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 62 , the visible indicia are preferably placed on the support surface by adhering a sticker having graduated lines and numbers into proper alignment on the support surface. Alternately, the visible indicia may be etched into the surface of the support  3501 . Visible indicia  3502  are shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 62  as including graduated lines as well as numerical indicia. While this arrangement is preferred, it is contemplated that either graduated lines alone, numerical indicia alone, or some other form of markings indicating slice thickness may be provided on the support surface. In operation, the knob  2701  of the indexing assembly  2700  is rotated to vary the distance between the gauge plate  2500  and the blade  2800  for a desired width of food product, the operator sights down the length of the gauge plate  2500  and views a portion of the visible indicia  3502 . The viewers sight line along the gauge plate  2500  reveals numerical indicia and graduated lines which may be read to indicate slice thickness of sliced product. 
   In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 44 and 52 , an alternate indexing assembly  2700  to that shown in  FIGS. 29 and 30  is provided. As shown in  FIG. 52  the alternate indexing assembly  2700  is similar to the one shown in  FIG. 29  with the following differences. The thickness of the slice can be selected between 0 and 35 mm with two rotations of the knob  2701  in the assembly of  2700 . For this reason, cam  2702  is provided with an additional spiral in slot  2706  which provides for two rotations of cam  2702  in engagement with arm  2703 . 
   In one preferred embodiment of the invention, table drive motor  3800  is provided which moves the table for automatic slicing. The table drive motor  3800  is a DC motor which is coupled to a position encoder  3801  which reads a position value of the table along the slicing table path and a microprocessor  3802 . The microprocessor  3802  is electrically connected to receive signals from an automatic mode activation switch  3803  and an end position switch  3804 , and generates and sends control signals to the motor  3800  to move the table. The microprocessor  3802  includes a central processing unit  3806  and either a processor memory cache  3802   a  or a separate memory chip  3802   b . Processor  3806  reads and stores the position value signals generated by the encoder  3801 . 
   The process of automatic slicing is as follows. A food product is engaged upon the slicing table. The operator activates switch on knob  3812  to place the slicer in automatic mode, whereupon an actuating arm operably engages a belt  3816  linking the slicing table to the motor  3800 . The motor  3800  automatically moves the slicing table to the “0” position, the table position furthest from the blade, which trips the zero position switch  3807 . The zero position switch  3807  sets the encoder  3801  counter value at zero. Next, the operator pushes the table towards the blade until the food product is adjacent the blade. Then, the operator activates the start/stop switch  3808  which signals the microprocessor  3802  to read a position value signal from the encoder as the start position for the table. The microprocessor  3802  stores this value in the memory as the start position, and generates a signal to the motor  3800  to move toward the blade to start slicing. Slicing commences, and the motor  3800  moves the table with the food product into engagement with the blade, thereby slicing the food product. When the table reaches the end position, the end position switch  3804  is tripped, which sends a signal to the microprocessor  3802 . The microprocessor then generates and sends a signal to the motor  3800  to return the table to the start position. In response to the signal, the motor  3800  returns the table to the start position and then generates a stroke count signal which the microprocessor  3802  uses to calculate a count value for the number of strokes completed. When the table is returned to the start position, the microprocessor  3802  once again signals the motor  3800  to move the table to the end position, and the motor  3800  moves the table to the end position, slicing the food product again. 
   The operator can set this process to continue until a fixed number of slices are sliced from the food product, or until a fixed weight of food product is sliced. The operator sets these values, which are stored in the microprocessor&#39;s memory. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the value of slices may be set using counter  3809  which has LED display  3810 . They counter value is set by manipulating up/down arrows  3813  which activates switches  3812  and displays numerical indicia of slices to be proper on display  3810 . The count value is stored in memory on microprocessor  3802 . If a fixed number of slices are set, when the microprocessor&#39;s stroke count for the number of slices reaches this value, the microprocessor  3802  signals the motor  3800  to return the table to the zero position. If a fixed weight of food product is desired, a scale reads the weight of the sliced food product and the microprocessor  3802  reads the value from the scale and stores this value. When the value of the weight sliced reaches the value set by the operator, the microprocessor  3802  signals the motor  3800  to return the table to the zero position. In one embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 59 , an integral scale  3900  is provided for weighing sliced food product. Scale  3900  is attached to receptacle by arm  3902 . 
   The embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 44 and 58 , lever lift mechanism  3700  is provided to accomplish the lifting of slicing machine frame  2100 . The mechanism  3700  consists generally of retention leg  3701  and lever arm  3702 , both pivotally attached to base  2100  intermediate adjacent feet  2103  situated on the front side of the housing adjacent to the operator station. Lift mechanism  3700  generally includes lever arm  3702 , elbow  3703 , and spring loaded pin  3708 . Elbow  3703  is mounted adjacent to front wall  2108  of base  2100  which is situated next to operator station. As a result, the operator can more easily activate the lift mechanism without the long reach required to use the side mounted lift mechanism. 
   Lever arm  3702  is preferably a generally cylindrical rod which extends substantially radially from elbow  3703 . Preferably, elbow  3703  extends away from front surface  2108  of base  2100  to provide spacing for ease of operation between the lever arm  3702  and base  2100 . Lever arm  3702  also preferably includes grip  3704  at its distal end, opposite elbow  3703 . Grip  3704  allows a user to firmly grasp lever arm  3702  to actuate the mechanism  3700 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 58 , retention leg  3701  is preferably a bar of generally constant proportions. Retention leg  3701  is connected to mechanism  3700  and front wall  2108  on the side opposite from lever arm  3702  as is shown in  FIG. 53 . In the preferred embodiments, retention leg  3701  is connected to lever arm assembly  3700  by ordinary bolts  3705   a  and  3705   b  and a pair of retaining plates  3706 . Retaining plates  3706  have semi-cylindrical channels in their inner surfaces which, when mounted together, form a cylindrical aperture for pivotally retaining retention leg  3701 . Retention leg  3701  also extends generally radially from the longitudinal axis of elbow  3703 . At its distal end, retention leg  3701  may optionally include roller  3707 . Roller  3707  is preferably a generally circular wheel assembly which is rotatably mounted to retention leg  3701 . Roller  3707  is preferably positioned such that its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of elbow  3703 , and transverse to the longitudinal axis of retention leg  3701 . Roller  3707  is preferably dimensioned such that its diameter is greater than the width of retention leg  3701 , such that roller  3707  extends beyond retention leg  3701 . Roller  3707  is mounted to retention leg  3701  such that it may turn freely. 
   Lever lift mechanism  3700  is provided with spring mounted pin  3708  which is biased toward base front wall  2108  by a spring mounted in elbow  3703 . Elbow  3703  has an aperture at the end adjacent to front wall  2108  which allows spring mounted pin  3708  to protrude into apertures  2109   a  and  2109   b  in front wall  2108 . The pin  3708  must be pulled away from the front wall  2108  against its bias in order to move the lift lever arm  3702 . This prevents the operator from placing a hand near the base of the slicing machine when attempting to lift the machine. When the lift lever arm  3702  is fully raised and retention leg  3701  is in its fully deployed position, spring mounted pin  3708  is aligned with aperture  3709   b  and protrudes into aperture  3709   b . This locks retention leg  3701  in place so that the operator can avoid inadvertently knocking lift lever arm  3702  into an involuntary withdrawal so that the machine might fall on the operator. To lower the machine, spring mounted pin  3708  is pulled back against its bias away from the front wall  2108  such that it clears aperture  3709   b  and the lift lever arm  3702  may be swung back down to the horizontal position. The operation of the spring mounted pin  3708  by the operator requires him to use both hands to lower the machine thereby avoiding the possibility that the operator place a hand underneath the machine while lower it. 
   Although the present invention has been shown and described in detail, the same is by way of example only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. Numerous modifications can be made to the unit as a whole as well as the individual parts and components without departing from the scope of the invention. Numerous methods of operation that vary from those disclosed are also possible without departing from the scope of the invention.