Patent Publication Number: US-9840018-B2

Title: Food-product slicers having cammed slicing-cleaving actions

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/756,668, filed on Jan. 25, 2013, and titled “Food-Product Slicers and Enhancements Therefor,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     This application is related to the following nonprovisional applications filed herewith: 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/163,858 filed on Jan. 24, 2014, and titled “Food-Product Slicers Having a Double-Beveled Blade Arrangement, and Features Usable Therewith”; 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/163,897 filed on Jan. 24, 2014, and titled “Multilevel Blade Cartridges For Food-Product Slicers and Food-Product Slicers Incorporating Multilevel Blade Cartridges”; 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/163,918 filed on Jan. 24, 2014, and titled “Food-Product Slicers Having Food-Product Cradles”; and 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/163,947 filed on Jan. 24, 2014, and titled “Product Pushers For Food-Product Slicers and Food-Product Slicers Including Such Product Pushers”. 
     Each of the foregoing related applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of food-product slicers. More particularly, the present invention is directed to food-product slicers having cammed slicing-cleaving actions. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various food-product slicers are available in the marketplace for slicing an assortment of food-products. One general type of food-product slicer is the type in which the food-product is thrust into a set of blades that slice the product into multiple slices, and this type of food-product slicer generally falls into one or the other of two categories, soft-food-product slicers and hard-food-product slicers. Examples of soft food-products (at room temperature) include ripe tomatoes and cheeses that can be characterized as rubbery, such as mozzarella cheese. Examples of hard food-products (again, at room temperature) include onions, apples, and carrots. Conventional soft- and hard-product slicers typically cannot adequately handle the opposite type of product, i.e., typical conventional soft-product slicers cannot handle hard products, and typical conventional hard-product slicers cannot handle soft products. 
     Conventional soft-product mechanical slicers are often horizontally actuated slicers in which the product being sliced is thrust into a set of vertically spaced blades that are aligned vertically with one another using a pusher assembly that includes a pusher head having a plurality of horizontal vertically-spaced plates spaced apart to move between the horizontal blades. The horizontal blades are usually skewed relative to the thrust axis of the pusher assembly and, therefore, are relatively long. 
     Typical conventional hard-product mechanical slicers (which more precisely work by cleaving action) are often generally vertically actuated devices in which the product being cut is thrust into a set of spaced blades along a thrust axis that is perpendicular to a plane containing the blade edges on any blade level. This results in a cleaving action. Mechanical hard-product slicers use a pusher assembly that includes a pusher head having a plurality of horizontally-spaced plates spaced apart to move between the vertical blades. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an implementation, the present disclosure is directed to a food-product slicer for slicing a food product, which includes a blade set designed and configured for cutting a food-product into multiple slices during a cutting operation; a food-product pusher designed, configured, and located to resistingly engage the food-product when the food-product is engaged with the blade set during the cutting operation; and a camming arrangement designed and configured to impart a combined slicing and cleaving action between the food-product and the blade set when the food-product is engaged between the food-product pusher and the blade set. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric side view of a universal hard- and soft-food-product slicer, showing a prep pan located to received slices of a food-product and showing the actuator arm in a partially closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric front view of the slicer of  FIG. 1 , again showing the prep pan in a slice-receiving position and showing the actuator arm in a fully closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric side view of the slicer of  FIG. 1 , yet again showing the prep pan in the slice-receiving position and showing the actuator arm in a fully closed position so as to effectively lock the prep pan into place; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric side view of a universal slicer similar to the slicer of  FIG. 1  but without the cradle end walls that turn the product cradle into a hopper; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric side view that is the same as the view of  FIG. 3  but without the prep pan; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view/motion diagram of a universal slicer of the present disclosure, illustrating the movement of the product during pushing of the product through the blades; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged side view/movement diagram illustrating the movement of the product during pushing of the product through the blades; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a combined product cradle and pusher of a universal slicer of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged isometric side view of a combined product hopper and pusher of a universal slicer of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric front view of the combined product hopper and pusher of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric top view of a dual-level blade cartridge usable with a universal slicer of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged isometric sectional top view of the blade cartridge of  FIG. 11 , showing the blade-holding tensioning members; 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric top view of the upper and lower blade assemblies of the blade cartridge of  FIGS. 11 and 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is an isometric side view of the blade cartridge of  FIGS. 11 and 12  engaged by an integrated wash guard; 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged isometric side view of a universal slicer of the present disclosure, illustrating the insertion of a wash-guard-protected blade cartridge into the slicer; 
         FIG. 16  is an isometric top/side view of a soft-product slicer made in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 17  is an isometric top/side view of the slicer of  FIG. 16 , showing the safety shield removed to reveal the double-bevel blade cartridge; 
         FIG. 18  is an isometric top/end view of the slicer of  FIG. 16  from another vantage point, showing the cantilevering of the blade cartridge over a beveled end of the slicer; 
         FIG. 19  is an isometric top/side view similar to the view of  FIG. 17 , but showing a safety guard attached to the blade cartridge; 
         FIG. 20  is an isometric side/top view of the slicer of  FIG. 16 , showing the cantilever of the double-bevel blade cartridge from a different perspective relative to other figures; 
         FIG. 21  is an isometric end/side view of the slicer of  FIG. 16 , showing the position of a prep pan for catching slices of the food-product after slicing; 
         FIG. 22  is an isometric top/end partial view of the slicer of  FIG. 16 , showing features of the safety shield; 
         FIG. 23  is an enlarged end/side partial view of the slicer of  FIG. 16  showing the safety shield and features from a different perspective relative to  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the blade cartridge of the slicer of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 25  is an enlarged perspective partial view of the blade cartridge of  FIG. 24  showing the cartridge with portions removed; 
         FIG. 26  is a further enlarged perspective partial view of the blade cartridge of  FIG. 24  showing one set of interdigitating blade tensioning members in more detail; 
         FIG. 27  is an exploded perspective view of a pair of interdigitating blade tensioning members not in their interdigitated state; 
         FIG. 28  is front view of an alternative blade tensioning assembly composed of a pair of interdigitating blade tensioning members; 
         FIG. 29  is an enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of the blade tensioning assembly of  FIG. 28 ; 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a modular pusher assembly that can be used with a slicer such as the slicer of  FIG. 16 , showing the pusher head disengaged from the sliding base; 
         FIG. 31  is a perspective view of the modular pusher assembly of  FIG. 30 , showing the pusher head engaged with the sliding base; 
         FIG. 32  is a perspective view of a universal food-product slicer having a cam-follower arrangement for moving a pusher in a manner that imparts a combined slicing and cleaving action into a food-product during cutting, showing the actuator arm in an open position; 
         FIG. 33  is a perspective view of the universal food-product slicer of  FIG. 32 , showing the actuator arm in a closed position; 
         FIG. 34  is a perspective partial view of a multilevel blade cartridge having two blade levels; 
         FIG. 35  is a perspective partial view of the multilevel blade cartridge of  FIG. 34 , showing the separation between the blades on the differing levels; 
         FIG. 36  is a side elevational view of a universal food-product slicer having a fixed product pusher and a movable blade set, showing the actuator arm in an open position; 
         FIG. 37  is side elevational view of the universal food-product slicer of  FIG. 36 , showing the actuator arm in a closed position; 
         FIG. 38  is a diagrammatic view of a simple camming arrangement designed and configured to create a combined slicing-cleaving action between a food-product and a blade set; and 
         FIG. 39  is an enlarged view of a combined food-product cradle and pusher of a universal slicer of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As will be understood from reading this entire disclosure, aspects of the present invention are directed to, among other things, food-product slicers having cammed slicing-cleaving actions. As used herein and in the appended claims, a “cammed slicing-cleaving action” is a cutting action that has both a slicing component and a cleaving component and in which the slicing component is imparted by a camming arrangement that causes relative movement between a blade set and food-product being cut that results in a slicing action being added to an otherwise pure cleaving action or to a non-cammed slicing action already present in the cutting operation. Benefits of cammed slicing-cleaving action include the creation of universal food-product slicers that generally have the appearance of hard food-product slicers (e.g., slicers that have relatively short, highly tensioned blades and a thrust/cutting axis that is substantially perpendicular to blade set for cutting by cleaving) but have the ability to handle soft food-product as well. As described elsewhere in this disclosure, conventional soft food-product slicers typically have long blades and pusher arrangements that create significant amount of slicing action, as opposed to conventional hard food-product slicers that operate by cleaving action. Slicing action is generally needed for soft food-product to avoid crushing and/or otherwise damaging the food-product during the cutting operation. 
     For the sake of clarity, it is noted that the apparatuses at issue in the present disclosure are broadly referred to as “slicers,” not because they necessarily cut food-product by a slicing action, but rather because the result of a cutting operation is that the food-product is transformed into a plurality of “slices,” which is an appropriate term regardless of whether the slices were formed by slicing, cleaving, or a combination of both. For clarity and consistency, as used herein and in the appended claims relative to slicers having cammed slicing-cleaving actions, the term “cut,” “cutting,” and like terms is used to encompass both slicing and cleaving, as well as their combination. “Slicing,” however, is reserved to require relative movement of food-product along the cutting edge(s) of one or more blades, and “cleaving” is reserved to require relative movement of food-product in a direction perpendicular to the cutting edge(s) of the blade(s). 
     Several examples of camming arrangements that provide the defined cammed slicing-cleaving action are described and illustrated herein. For example, slicer  100  of  FIGS. 1-15  is a universal slicer that works largely by cleaving action due to the relationship between the thrust axis and the blade set. However, slicer  100  includes a combined pusher-cradle  124  that includes a carefully shaped cammed pusher portion  124 A that induces movement into food-product  600  during cutting operations so as to include a slicing-action component into an otherwise pure cleaving action.  FIGS. 32 and 33  illustrate a slicer  3200  that also has a camming arrangement  3224  that induces a slicing motion into the food-product being cut (not shown), but in this example the camming arrangement includes camming slots  3228 ( 1 ) and  3228 ( 2 ) and corresponding respective cam followers  3216 ( 1 ) and  3216 ( 2 ) that cooperate to induce the necessary slicing motion. 
     As another example,  FIGS. 36 and 37  illustrate yet another slicer  3600  having a camming arrangement that induces motion into food product  3616  that causes a slicing action. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 36 and 36 , a food-product pusher  3604  that is similar to pusher-portion  124 A of slicer  100  of  FIGS. 1-15  has a camming portion  3604 A that induces slicing motion into food product  3616 . A primary difference between slicer  3600  of  FIGS. 36 and 37  and slicer  100  of  FIGS. 1-15  is that food-product pusher  3604  of slicer  3600  is fixed relative to a movable blade set  3608 , whereas pusher portion  124 A of slicer  100  is movable relative to blade set  108 A. While not shown, those skilled in the art will understand that the camming arrangement may be applied to the blade set, rather than the food-product pusher. For example, a skilled artisan can envision blade set  3208  and food-product pusher  3204  of slicer  3200  of  FIGS. 32 and 33  being reversed and pusher  3204  not having a camming portion, such that the blade set is moved in a cammed manner by camming arrangement  3224  to induce the necessary relative slicing movement into the blade set. Using the present disclosure as a guide, those skilled in the art will undoubtedly be able to device alternative camming arrangements having the functionality described herein without undue experimentation. 
     In addition,  FIG. 38  illustrates a relatively simple camming arrangement  3800  designed and configured to induce a combined slicing-cleaving action as between a food-product  3804  and a blade set  3808 . Camming arrangement  3800  includes a cam  3812  that is pivotable about a pivot axis  3816  and has a camming surface  3812 A that engages food-product  3804  during a slicing-cleaving operation. Camming surface  3812 A is designed and configured in conjunction with 1) the location of pivot axis  3816 , 2) the location and orientation of blade set  3808 , and 3) knowledge of a design size or design size range of food-product  3804  intended for use with camming arrangement  3800  so as to engage the food-product throughout pivoting of cam  3812  in a counterclockwise direction  3820  about the pivot axis in a manner that pushes the food-product, which effectively becomes a cam follower, along a trajectory  3824  that moves the food-product so that the motion of the food product at the cutting edge  3828 A of blade  3828  (only one shown in side view, but other blades present “behind” the blade shown) has a cleaving component  3832  perpendicular to the blade set and a slicing component  3836  parallel to the longitudinal axis  3840  of the blade. With this motion at cutting edge  3824 A of blade  3828 , those skilled in the art will readily understand that slicing component  3836  equates to dragging food-product  3804  along the cutting edge, thereby effecting a slicing action on the food-product. In this example, cutting edge  3824 A is a serrated edge, which can help with inhibiting food-product  3804  from rolling along the cutting edge during actuation of cam  3812 . 
     In addition to the foregoing aspects, features, and functionalities, other aspects of the present disclosure are directed to various additional features and functionalities for food-product slicers. Other aspects of the present disclosure are directed to food-product slicers that include one or more of these features and functionalities. Examples of the features and functionalities disclosed herein include:
         a unique pusher design and actuator arm geometry that allows a slicer to slice both soft and hard food-products by imparting a slicing action without changing its configuration, wherein the pusher is configured to push the food-product(s) first in a direction largely parallel to the longitudinal axes of the blades and then in a direction largely perpendicular to a plane containing tips of the blades, and the actuator arm provides increased leverage relative to conventional mechanical slicers;   a pusher that is configured to conformally constrain the food-product(s) by applying largely radial forces along an arc subtended by an angle of at least about 60°;   a food-product cradle integrated with a pusher for receiving the food product(s) in proper orientation for slicing just prior to slicing operations;   modular/interchangeable pusher assembly;   a food-product hopper (e.g., the above cradle in combination with end walls) that further constrains the placement of a food-product for proper slicing and/or allows for loading multiple relatively small food-products;   a cantilevered blade design for an arc slicer (“arc” for arcuate path of actuator arm) that allows a prep pan to be inserted under slicing region from front and side regions underneath the slicing region;   a prep pan lock-in-place feature that constrains a prep pan from being disengaged from the slicer when the actuator arm is in its closed position;   a removable blade cartridge that includes a frame having two levels of blades tensioned therein;   a blade-cartridge lock for securing the blade cartridge in the slicer and that inhibits use of the slicer without the blade cartridge being in place;   an integrated blade cartridge wash guard that a user installs on a blade cartridge prior to removing the blade cartridge from the slicer;   interdigitating blade tensioning members for tensioning slicing blades on each blade level;   a double-beveled-blade arrangement;   a beveled-blade cartridge; and   a cantilevered-blade non-vertical slicer that allows prep pan placement under at least a portion of the cantilevered blades.       

     For convenience, each of the foregoing features and functionalities is described below in conjunction with a particular slicer, which depending on the case is either a universal slicer  100  ( FIGS. 1-15 ) or a soft-product slicer  1600  ( FIGS. 16-31 ). It is noted that by “universal,” it is meant that the slicer is uniquely configured to provide the novel functionality for slicing both soft and hard food-products with superior slicing results. This unique configuration is described below in detail. Conventional soft-product mechanical slicers are typically ineffective for slicing hard food-products because the excessive blade length due to the skewed blades results in the blades flexing too much with hard products. Consequently, the blades would typically become distorted through continual use. Note that in slicers, material is not removed. Rather, the sharp blades either slice (soft products) or cleave (hard products) the product without any loss of material. This can be contrasted to, for example, cutting by sawing where material is lost (e.g., as sawdust) in the process. With hard and largely incompressible products, the lateral forces on the blades become relatively very high because the blades have a non-zero thickness and the actual thickness of the slices is greater than the actual clear distances between adjacent blades. These high forces can cause the long blades to become distorted/damaged relatively quickly. In addition, impacting a hard product on the long and relatively flexible soft-product-slicer blades causes further distortion. 
     On the other hand, conventional hard-product mechanical slicers are typically ineffective for slicing soft products. When soft food-products are attempted to be cut in a conventional hard-product slicer, the soft product is often at least partially crushed because of the pure cleaving action before the blades start to cut into the product. This is so because the product is thrust into the blades in a direction entirely perpendicular to the blades. This can readily be envisioned with a ripe tomato, which typically squashes significantly between the pusher and the blades before the blades begin to cut into the skin of the tomato. 
     Before describing each of the foregoing features and functionalities in detail, each of the universal slicer  100  ( FIGS. 1-15 ) and soft-product slicer  1600  ( FIGS. 16-27 ) is described generally to assist with the understanding of the specific features and functionalities. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , universal slicer  100  includes a base  104 , a blade set  108 A, here contained in a conveniently removable cartridge  108 , a blade-cartridge holder  112 , a blade-cartridge lock  116 , an actuator arm  120 , and a combined pusher-cradle  124 . As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, when combined pusher-cradle is moved (here, by a human user (not shown) via actuator arm  120 , but could be by an automated actuator (not shown)) from an open position  400  ( FIG. 4 ) to a closed position  200  ( FIG. 2 ) with a product (such as product  600  of  FIG. 6 , which can be hard or soft as noted above) in combined pusher-cradle  124 , the pusher portion  124 A of the combined pusher-cradle moves the product through blades  900  ( FIG. 9 ) within blade set  108 A, thereby slicing the product. It is important to note that in the example shown, combined pusher-cradle  124  is the component that is moved relative to blade set  108 A during slicing operations. However, those skilled in the art will readily understand that in other embodiments, this need not be so. For example, in some embodiments combined pusher-cradle  124  can be fixed, with blade set  108 A being movable relative to the pusher-cradle to effect slicing. Such a movability of blade set  108 A can be achieved using a lever-arm arrangement or other type(s) of actuator(s) (not shown). In yet other embodiments, both of combined pusher-cradle  124  and blade set  108 A can be movable relative to base  104  in directions toward and away from one another to effect slicing. Such movements can be imparted, for example, using any of a variety of mechanical linkages alone and/or one or more automated actuators. 
     In this connection, it is noted that the terms “pusher,” “pusher head,” pusher assembly,” and like terms as used herein and the appended claims cover not only structures that move food-product toward a blade set at issue, such as blade set  108 A of  FIG. 1 , but also like structures against which food-product is pushed by moving a set of blades into the food-product, such as in an arrangement similar to the arrangement of  FIG. 1 , but wherein combined pusher-cradle  124  is fixed and blade set  108 A is movable as mentioned above. In such embodiments, the “pushing” is a resistive pushing, or pushing back, against the forces created by moving the blade set into the food-product. As seen in  FIG. 1 , by virtue of the cantilevered design in which blade set  108 A is cantilevered from base  104 , a prep pan  128  placed below blade cartridge  108  catches the product slices (not shown). 
     It is further noted that while a combined pusher-cradle  124  is shown in the drawings with an integrated pusher portion  124 A, this need not be so. Using pusher-cradle  124  as an example, pusher portion  124 A can be replaced by a separate pusher (not shown) that is not monolithic with the cradle. Such a separate pusher can be independently supported relative to the cradle, such as each being mounted independently to actuator arm  120 , while retaining the geometry appropriate to each. In this connection, it is noted that the break point between a separate pusher and a separate cradle can be anywhere desired, including the beginning, end, or intermediate location of any camming region provided as described elsewhere herein. 
     Turning to  FIG. 16 , soft-product slicer  1600  includes a base  1604 , a pusher assembly  1608 , a blade set  1612 A, here contained in a conveniently removable blade cartridge  1612 , that includes a plurality of blades  1616 , a blade-cartridge lock  1620 , and first and second handles  1624  and  1628 . As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, when pusher assembly  1608  is moved (here by a human user (not shown) using first and second handles  1624 ,  1628 , but could be by an automated actuator (not shown)) from a product loading position  1700  ( FIG. 17 ) to a sliced position  1800  ( FIG. 18 ) with a soft product (not shown, such as a ripe tomato) in the pusher, the pusher moves the product through blades  1616 , thereby slicing the product. As seen in  FIG. 21 , a prep pan  2100  placed below/adjacent to blade cartridge  1612  is positioned to catch the product slices (not shown). As with universal-product slicer  100  of  FIGS. 1-15 , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that pusher-assembly  1608  ( FIG. 16 ) need not be the movable component or the only moving component that effects slicing. For example, relative to the embodiment illustrated, pusher-assembly  1608  can be fixed relative to base  1604 , with a movable version (not shown) of blade set  1612 A effecting the slicing. As another example, relative to the embodiment illustrated both pusher-assembly  1608  and blade set  1612 A can be movable toward one another during slicing. Those skilled in the art will readily understand how to implement these alternatives in the embodiment shown, as well as other embodiments. 
     Pusher Design/Pusher-Arm Geometry for Universal Soft- and Hard-Food-Product Slicing 
     In contrast to conventional mechanical slicers, the pusher design and pusher-arm geometry of the present disclosure, or camming arrangement, have unique properties that allow a slicer to cut both soft and hard food-products. These features include: 1) a specially shaped pusher (see, e.g., pusher portion  124 A of combined pusher-cradle  124  of  FIG. 1 ); 2) an actuator arm (see, e.g., actuator arm  120  of  FIG. 1 ) having a pivot axis offset above a plane containing the cutting edges of the blades of the (upper) blade assembly; and 3) an actuator arm (again, see actuator arm  120  of  FIG. 1 ) having increased leverage relative to conventional mechanical slicer. An example of the pivot axis offset is illustrated in  FIG. 9 , wherein pivot axis  904  is offset by a distance  908  from a plane  912  containing the tips  900 A of the cutting edges  900 B of blades  900 . An example of how the increased leverage is achieved is shown in  FIG. 6 , wherein the lever arm of actuator arm  120  is about 20 inches and the radial distance from the pivot point to the center of pusher portion  124 A is about 7 inches for about a 3:1 mechanical advantage. As described below, these features work together to provide an arc slicer with the ability to handle soft food-products by inducing a slicing motion that inhibits the crushing behavior typically seen in conventional hard-product slicers (which have pure cleaving action), while at the same time providing the slicer with relatively short, robust blades that can stand up to the rigors of hard-product cutting. 
       FIG. 6  is a motion diagram of exemplary universal arc slicer  100  showing how the angle of the thrust axis of product  600  relative to a plane  604  parallel to the blades (the “blade plane”) changes as pusher portion  124 A of combined pusher-cradle  124  moves the product into blades  900 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , when product  600  initially contacts blades  900  ( FIG. 9 ) in this particular example, the thrust axis is at about 107° relative to the blade plane  604 . Then, as product  600  is pushed further, the thrust axis gradually changes until it is at about 75° relative to blade plane  604 , where the product is nearly or fully cut. It is emphasized that the angles shown are merely exemplary and that in other embodiments that angles and trajectory of the product being cut (here, product  600 ) can be different from this illustration. In this connection, an important feature of pusher portion  124 A is how its specially shaped contour in camming region  124 C causes the angle of the thrust axis of product  600  to be other than 90° and to change during the cutting process. It is this unique contour that causes combined pusher-cradle  124  to induce a cammed slicing-cleaving action into food-product  600 . In the example shown, the contour of camming region  124 C is generally elliptical. As show in  FIG. 39 , in some embodiments, camming region  124 C may be defined in terms of normal vectors, such as normal vectors  125 N( 1 ) to  125 N( 4 ), extending from, and being perpendicular to, surfaces located along the contour of camming region  124 C of pusher portion  124 A. A first normal vector  125 N( 1 ) extends from a surface along camming region  124 C and is directed into a recess defined by the contour of the camming region. Similarly, a second normal vector  125 N( 2 ) extends from a surface along camming region  124 C and is directed into the recess defined by the contour of the camming region. Normal vectors  125 N( 1 ) and  125 N( 2 ) are parallel to one another and directed in opposing directions. Likewise, a third normal vector  125 N( 3 ) extends from a surface along camming region  124 C and is directed into a recess defined by the contour of the camming region. Similarly, a fourth normal vector  125 N( 4 ) extends from a surface along camming region  124 C and is directed into the recess defined by the contour of the camming region. Like first and second normal vectors  125 N( 1 ) and  125 N( 2 ), third and fourth normal vectors  125 N( 3 ) and  125 N( 4 ) are parallel to one another and directed in opposing directions. As shown in  FIG. 39 , each of normal vectors  125 N( 1 ) to  125 N( 4 ) is directed in a direction differing from the direction of each other of normal vectors  125 N( 1 ) to  125 N( 4 ). 
     Another important aspect of pusher portion  124 A is the manner in which it extends behind (from the vantage point of a user facing slicer  100  and looking down actuator arm  120  from the handle end) product  600  being sliced, even at the point that the product is just resting on blades  900  ( FIG. 9 ), e.g., when cradle  404  ( FIG. 4 ) moves just below the tips of the blades. From this point wherein product  600  first contacts blades  900  ( FIG. 9 ), any further closing of actuator arm  120  causes pusher portion  124 A to move product  600  in a direction largely parallel to plane  604  ( FIG. 6 ). As an analogy, the interaction between pusher portion  124 A and product  600  as a user closes actuator arm  120  from the time that the product is engaged with the blades can be likened to the interaction between a cam and follower. For this reason, a pusher portion or pusher of this type, and as disclosed herein, can be referred to as a “cammed pusher portion” or a “cammed pusher,” respectively, and the action created by such interaction can be referred to as a “camming action.” As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, even further continued closing of actuator arm  120  causes cammed pusher portion  124 A to continue to push product  600 , not only with a force component parallel to plane  604 , but eventually with an increasing component perpendicular to plane  604  as the continued motion brings contact between the haunches of the pusher portion as the arcuate (here elliptical) pushing face of the pusher portion is moved by continued closing of the actuator arm. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate a number of facts about a pusher or pusher portion made in accordance with the present disclosure. First, the shape of the pushing face of the pusher/pushing portion need not be precisely as shown. For example, if an elliptical curvature is used, the arc may be deeper or shallower than shown. In addition, curved shapes other than elliptical can be used, as can linear segments. Furthermore, it is noted that cammed pusher portion  124 A shown is sized for 3.5-inch diameter product, which in this case corresponds to the diameter of a typical tomato. In other embodiments, the cammed pusher/pusher portion can be of another size suited for a particular product or set of products. In still other embodiments, curvature can be imparted into the cam face of cammed pusher/pusher portion in a direction perpendicular to the elliptical shape shown. In such a case, the cammed pusher portion or pusher could be designed to conformally receive a generally spherical product, such as a tomato or apple. Moreover, it should be understood that the unique cammed pusher configuration described in this section and the next section can be implemented independently of one another, as well as independently of cradle  404  ( FIG. 4 , and described below), including independently of hopper  504  ( FIG. 5 ). 
       FIG. 7  highlights the trajectory  700  of the center point of product  600  as the product is pushed through blades  900 . This trajectory  700  and changing thrust-axis angle ( FIG. 6 ), along with the unique shape of camming region  124 C of pusher portion  124 A and pivot axis  904  of actuator arm  120  being above blade plane  604 , effectively induces a slicing action (as opposed to pure cleaving action) between blades  900  and product  600 . This slicing action inhibits crushing of soft products, such as ripe tomatoes, which are notoriously challenging to slice. At the same time, blades  900  are short (relative to conventional soft-product slicers), and therefore sturdy, allowing slicer  100  to handle hard products as well. 
     To envision the benefit of this slicing effect, one can readily contemplate attempting to cut a ripe tomato by placing it on a cutting board, orienting the cutting edge of a knife blade parallel to the cutting board, and moving the blade directly downward toward the cutting board in a cleaving-technique style. Because the skin (exocarp) of the tomato is relatively tough compared to the soft meso- and endocarp inside the skin, attempting to cut the tomato in this manner results in significant crushing of the tomato before the skin is penetrated. However, when using a slicing technique in which the cutting edge is drawn across the skin while applying slight downward pressure, as long as the blade is sharp the blade slices the skin with virtually no crushing distortion. 
     Conformally Constraining Pusher 
     As described above, cammed pusher portion  124 A is specially shaped to impart motion, referred to herein as “camming motion,” having changing vector components in directions both parallel and perpendicular to plane  604  ( FIG. 6 ). This motion tends to aid the slicing process by inducing a traditional slicing action (akin to a knife being drawn along a surface to be cut) and/or by causing tips  904  ( FIG. 9 ) of blades  900  to causing initial piercings of product  600 , depending on the exact configuration of cammed pusher portion  124 A. In the cammed-pusher-portion embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the camming motion is imparted into product  600  by virtue of the shape of pusher portion  124 A. However, in other embodiments, some of which are illustrated elsewhere in this application, a mechanical cam-follower arrangement can be used, for example, on the pusher/pusher portion and/or on the blade set to achieve the same slicing and cleaving action as specially shaped cammed pusher portion  124 A. 
     Referring again to pusher portion  124 A illustrated, as an additional feature the “upper” (relative to the generally vertical configuration of the exemplary slicer  100  shown) part of cammed pusher portion  124 A, i.e., the part of the pusher portion that engages the upper (relative to the generally vertical exemplary slicer  100 ) part of a product (such as product  600  of  FIG. 6 ) during later stages of slicing, can be configured to fairly well conform to the shape of the upper part of the product so as to maximize the contact area between the pusher portion and a largely un-deformed product. As can be envisioned from  FIG. 7 , when product  600  is engaged in the upper part  704  of pusher portion and the product is slightly deformed (although not shown in  FIG. 7 , by being compressed between upper part  704  and blades  900  when actuator arm  120  is closed more), the upper part contacts the product along an arc subtended by an angle β of about 150°. This spreads the compressing force out over a relatively large area of product  600 , thereby increasing the likelihood of successful slicing. In this connection, it can be envisioned that if arched upper part  704  were replaced by a much more non-conformal pushing face, a ripe tomato would be far more prone to crushing and rupturing than the same tomato that is conformally engaged by upper part  704  shown. 
     As with other parts of cammed pusher portion  124 A, conformal upper part  704  can be configured to suit a particular product, size of product, set of products, etc. In general, it can be desirable for upper part  704  to be configured so that it conformally engages product  600  along an arc subtended by an angle of at least about 60°, more desirably 100° or more. It is noted that upper part  704  of cammed pusher portion  124 A can be configured to be contoured three dimensionally, for example, by adding curvature in a direction perpendicular to the arc illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . For example, if cammed pusher portion  124 A is designed for tomatoes, onions, and apples, the contour on conformally engaging upper part  704  can be spherical. Of course, contours of other shapes may be desirable for other products. It is noted that, at least in part, the conformal shape of upper part  704  allows slicer  100  to have a relatively large mechanical advantage, such as the 3:1 mechanical advantage noted above. This is so because the conformal nature of upper part  704  distributes the force imparted by cammed pusher portion  124 A over such a large area of product  600  that crushing and/or rupturing (e.g., of a ripe tomato) of the product is not likely to occur. 
     Modular/Interchangeable Pusher Assembly 
     A slicer of the present disclosure, such as slicer  100  of  FIG. 1  and slicer  1600  of  FIG. 16 , can be provided with a modular pusher assembly that readily allows a user to remove and install the combined pusher-cradle or pusher, respectively, without having to remove other parts of the slicer, such as actuator arm  120  ( FIG. 1 ) or the sliding base  1608 A of pusher assembly  1608  ( FIG. 16 ). Taking slicer  100  of  FIG. 1  as an example for such modularity, combined pusher-cradle  124  can be made readily removable, for example, by replacing fasteners  160  with one or more quick-connect devices. Taking slicer  1600  of  FIG. 16  as an example, for modularity, a modular pusher assembly  3000  that can take the place of pusher assembly  1608  of  FIG. 16  is shown in  FIGS. 30 and 31 . As seen in  FIGS. 30 and 31 , modular pusher assembly  3000  includes a sliding base  3004 , a handle  3008 , a readily removable pusher head  3012 , and a quick-connect mechanism  3016 , which, in this example, works in conjunction with ends  3020 A and  3020 B of bolts  3024 A and  3024 B that act as anti-pivot pins that are received in corresponding respective apertures  3028 A and  3028 B in the sliding base when the pusher head is properly engaged with the sliding base. In this example, quick-connect device  3016  is a screw-type device. However, in other embodiments, the pusher head can be engaged with the sliding base using one or more of any other suitable quick-connect device, such as latches, clamps, locking pins, spring clips, etc., and any combination thereof. 
     Generally, a quick-connect connection between the pusher head and the sliding base is a connection that allows a user to fasten and unfasten the pusher head relative to the sliding base without the need for an externally provided tools. It is noted that while pusher head  3012  of  FIG. 30  is shown as being made out of metal, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that it can be made of one or more other materials, such as plastic. Indeed, a quick-connect-type pusher head can be injection molded solely of plastic and include integrally formed spring-type latches that engage corresponding respective slots in the sliding base, among many other alternatives that will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure. 
     As alluded to in the two immediately previous sections, pushers/pusher portions of slicers made in accordance with the present disclosure are typically configured to handle one or more particular products and even a certain range of size of a particular product. In this connection, some embodiments can be outfitted with a modular pusher that allows part of the pusher assembly to be readily replaceable. For example, multiple pusher heads (see, e.g., pusher head  3012  of  FIG. 30 ) or multiple combined pusher-cradles (see, e.g., combined pusher-cradle  124  of  FIG. 1 ) configured for differing food-products can be made. In this manner, a user can select the particular pusher head or combined pusher-cradle from a set of such devices that is most suited to the food-product that the user is going to slice. If that pusher head or combined pusher-cradle is not already on the slicer, using a quick-connect connection, the user can easily remove the currently installed pusher head or combined pusher-cradle and install the selected one in its place. 
     Food-Product Cradle 
     As readily seen in  FIG. 4 , slicer  100  used to illustrate various features and functionalities of the present disclosure includes a product cradle  404 , which in this example is an integral part of combined pusher-cradle  124 , along with pusher portion  124 A. An aspect of cradle  404  is that it allows a user to insert product(s) into slicer  100  while keeping the user&#39;s hands away from blades  900 . In the typical conventional vertical slicer, the user places the product directly onto the blades. Consequently, under the best conditions the user&#39;s hands get very close to the blades. In addition, if the product(s) shift(s) around to an undesirable orientation after initial placement onto the blades, the user may reach in to reorient the product(s) and in doing so may contact the cutting edge of one or more of the blades. In contrast, with cradle  404 , the user&#39;s hands are always positioned at a safe distance from blades  900 , even when orienting the product(s) to the desired orientation, if that is even necessary. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, cradle  404  is composed of a plurality of members, or fingers,  408  spaced from one another to accommodate passage of the cradle through blades  900 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , and also to  FIG. 8 , in the embodiment shown cradle  404  includes several product retainers, here three spikes  800 A to  800 C ( FIG. 8 ) that pierce the product (not shown) and tend to hold the product in place. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the number, spacing, and orientation of spikes provided can be different from that illustrated and that spikes  800 A to  800 C can be replaced or complemented by one or more other retainers, such as a plurality of nubs on each of a plurality of the spaced fingers  408 , among others, to suit a particular product or set of products to be sliced. Those skilled in the art will also readily appreciate that the region of cradle  404  where the cradle supports a food-product (not shown), such as at and adjacent to the locations of spikes  800 A to  800 C ( FIG. 8 ), may be conveniently called a “pre-cutting-operation food-product resting area,” since a food product rests on the cradle in this area prior to a cutting operation (see,  FIGS. 6 and 7  and accompanying descriptions above) being performed. 
     Food-Product Hopper 
     In some embodiments, the cradle can be augmented with side housing members to laterally constrain the product(s) in the cradle. For example, as seen in  FIG. 5 , cradle  404  is flanked by side housing members  500 A and  500 B, effectively forming a food-product hopper  504 . As those skilled in the art can readily envision, when actuator arm  120  is in an open position, for example, open position  400  of  FIG. 4  (though  FIG. 4  does not show side housing members  500 A and  500 B), the side housing members laterally constrain any product(s) within hopper  504  so that the product(s) are always in the cutting zone. In other words, side housing members  500 A and  500 B prevent the product(s) in hopper  504  from laterally overhanging cradle  404 , where they may contact the lateral sides of blade cartridge  108  outside of the cutting zone, where they will interfere with proper cutting and perhaps cause other undesirable consequences. Another benefit of side housing members  500 A and  500 B is that a user can readily load hopper  504  with multiple relatively small products without having to worry about some of the products from falling from the lateral ends of cradle  404 , where they may land either on blades  900 , causing danger to the user for removal, or in prep pan  128  ( FIG. 1 ) in an unsliced form. 
     Cantilevered Blade Design for Arc Slicer 
     Various embodiments of arc slicers, such as slicer  100  of  FIG. 1 , can be configured to have a cantilevered blade design in which the cutting blades are cantilevered from one side or another (including “front” and “back”) to allow for virtually unobstructed placement of a prep pan underneath the blades for catching product slices as they fall from the blades. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the cantilevered blade design is executed by providing base  104  of slicer  100  with a platform  136  that extends toward the front (portion closest to a user) of the slicer and cantilevering blade cartridge  108  from the base. As can be readily seen in  FIG. 1 , this cantilevered design allows a user to easily place prep pan  128  beneath blade cartridge  108  from the front, either side, or something in between the front and either of the sides. In addition, during slicing operations, the user can easily shift and/or rotate prep pan  128 , especially for relatively large prep pans, as needed to maximize the amount of slices collected in that pan. In this example, prep pan  128  rests on platform  136 , but in other embodiments, this need not be so. For example, if slicer  100  were modified to not include platform  136  and be rigidly fastened, for example, to a countertop (not shown), prep pan  128  could rest directly on the countertop. In other freestanding embodiments, platform  136  could be replaced, for example, with two elongate members (not shown) that extend toward the user and provide the same structural function of keeping slicer  100  from pivoting toward the user as the user moves actuator arm  120  from open position  400  ( FIG. 4 ) to closed position  200  ( FIG. 2 ). It is noted that while slicer  100  includes a cantilevered blade cartridge  108 , in other embodiments the blades (e.g., blades that may be similar to blades  900  of  FIG. 9 ) need not be in a cartridge. 
     Lock-In-Place Functionality for Prep Pan 
     A cantilevered blade design can lead to a prep pan being bumped and accidentally displaced from its desired position because of the way it can protrude away from the slicer, especially for relatively large prep pans. To counter this, a slicer can be provided with a lock-in-place functionality. For example and referring to  FIG. 3 , the lock-in-place functionality is provided by the configuration of a riser portion  300  of base  104  at the back of prep pan  128 , and the relationship between the riser portion and combined pusher-cradle  124  when actuator arm  120  is in closed position  200 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , when actuator arm  120  in is closed position  200 , the back wall  128 A of prep pan  128  is sandwiched between riser portion  300  of base  104  and the backside  124 B of combined pusher-cradle  124 , effectively locking the pan into place. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, when a user is not slicing and is keeping prep pan  128  at the ready beneath blade cartridge  108 , the user can move actuator arm  120  to its closed position  200  to essentially lock the prep pan in place during period of nonuse, thereby minimizing the likelihood of someone knocking the prep pan out of place, perhaps causing it to fall to the floor. 
     Blade-Cartridge Lock 
     A cartridge-based slicer can be provided with a pivoting cartridge lock for locking and holding the blade cartridge into place. For example, in the context of slicer  100  of  FIGS. 1-15  and referring to  FIG. 15 , as mentioned above the slicer includes a cartridge holder  112  that cantilevers from base  104 . In this example, cartridge holder  112  includes lateral side members  1500 A and  1500 B having channels  1504 A and  1504 B, respectively, that slidably receive corresponding respective sides of blade cartridge  108 . A cartridge lock  1508  is pivotably attached to lateral side members  1500 A and  1500 B so as to be pivotable between an unlocked position  1512  and a locked position  1000  ( FIG. 10 ). In the example shown, cartridge lock  1508  pivots upward for unlocking. However, in other embodiments the cartridge lock can pivot in other directions, such as downward or laterally, among others. In yet other embodiments, the cartridge lock can be removable. In the example shown, cartridge lock  1508  includes a pair of detent features  1516 A and  1516 B that engage a corresponding respective pair of detent features  1520 A and  1520 B on cartridge holder  112  (only feature  1520 A is visible in  FIG. 15 ) to inhibit the cartridge lock from being unintentionally moved out of locked position  1000 . Those skilled in the art will readily understand that other movement inhibiting means, such as latches, pins, spring clips, etc., can be used in place of or in addition to detent features  1516 A,  1516 B,  1520 A, and  1520 B. When closed, for example as shown in  FIG. 10 , cartridge lock  1508  prevents blade cartridge  108  from sliding along lateral side members  1500 A and  1500 B ( FIG. 15 ) during use of slicer  100 . As can be readily appreciated, during sliding operations, as a user closes actuator arm  108  with a product in combined pusher-cradle  124 , that action causes the product to push blade cartridge  108  against cartridge lock  1508 , but the cartridge lock prevents the blade cartridge from becoming disengaged from cartridge holder  112 . Another benefit of cartridge lock  1508  is that when it is in its open position as shown in  FIG. 15 , slicer  100  cannot be used. This is so because actuator arm  120  will strike cartridge lock  1508 , thereby being blocked from fully closing. 
     In the context of slicer  1600  of  FIG. 16 , blade-cartridge lock  1620  has already been introduced. However, its various functions are described here. As seen in  FIG. 17 , blade cartridge  1612  is engaged in a blade-cartridge holder  1704  that is seated in a double-beveled receptacle  1710  within base  1604 . Holder  1704  includes a frame  1712  that allows blade cartridge  1612  to be inserted and removed from the holder from the backside (relative to the vantage point of  FIG. 17 ) of slicer  1600 . A handle mount  1716  is fixedly secured to frame  1712  for threadedly receiving second handle  1628  when blade-cartridge lock  1620  is in place. In this example, blade-cartridge lock  1620  (see  FIG. 22 ) is pivotably attached to frame  1712  via pivot pins  1724 A and  1724 B. As also seen in  FIG. 22 , blade-cartridge lock  1620  includes a stop  2200  that, when the blade-cartridge lock is in its closed position as shown in  FIG. 22  prevents blade cartridge  1612  from being removed. In addition, and as also shown in  FIG. 22 , frame  1712  includes insertion guides  2204 ,  2208 , and  2212  that assist a user in inserting blade cartridge  1612  into holder  1704  when blade-cartridge lock  1620  is open. It is noted that none of the figures show blade-cartridge lock  1620  in an open position. Rather some of the figures, such as  FIGS. 18-21 , show it completely removed. However, it can remain attached and simply be pivoted out of the way about pivot pins  1724 A and  1724 B. When blade-cartridge lock  1620  is removed or pivoted out of the way, second handle  1628  is not present, essentially disabling slicer  1600  for use. Blade-cartridge lock  1620  is secured in its locked position ( FIGS. 16, 22, and 23 ) by second handle  1628  being tightly screwed to handle mount  1716  ( FIG. 17 ) through an aperture (not shown) in the blade-cartridge lock. 
     Integrated Blade Cartridge Wash Guard 
     The blade cartridge of a cartridge-based slicer can be provided with an integrated safety guard/wash guard that a user can readily secure to the blade cartridge before the user removes the cartridge from the slicer. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, such a guard inhibits someone handling the blade cartridge from getting cut by the blades and also inhibits the cutting edges from being damaged from handling and washing when the cartridge is removed from the slicer. In the context of exemplary slicer  100  of  FIG. 1 , as seen in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the user can install a wash guard  1400  ( FIG. 14 ) onto blade cartridge  108  after opening cartridge lock  1508  ( FIG. 15 ). In the example shown, wash guard  1400  is a generally J-shaped body, the longer side of which fits over the cutting-edge side of blades  900  (not seen in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , but see, for example,  FIG. 9 ), that is secured to blade cartridge  108  with a locking screw  1404  ( FIGS. 14 and 15 ) having a knurled head  1408 . Wash guard  1400  includes openings  1412  that allows water to pass through during washing of blade cartridge  108 . 
     As another example and in the context of slicer  1600  of  FIG. 16 , a user can install a wash guard  1900  ( FIG. 19 ) onto blade cartridge  1612  after removing blade cartridge lock  1620  ( FIG. 16 ) but prior to removing the blade cartridge from the slicer. Similar to wash guard  1400  of  FIGS. 14 and 15 , wash guard  1900  of  FIG. 19  is generally J-shaped, and is secured to blade cartridge  1612  using a locking screw  1904 . Wash guard  1900  also similarly has openings  1908  that allows water to pass through during washing of blade cartridge  1612 . 
     Removable Blade Cartridge Having Multiple Blade Levels 
     Conventionally, slicers having multiple blade levels typically have multiple removable cartridges, one for each blade level. However, the present disclosure includes a single removable blade cartridge having multiple blade levels integrated into the single cartridge and in which the blades on all of the multiple levels are tensioned by the same cartridge frame. An example of this is shown in  FIGS. 11-13  in the context of slicer  100  of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 12 , which best illustrates a dual-blade-level, unified cartridge concept, blade cartridge  108  is shown as including two blade-level assemblies  1200 A and  1200 B, each comprising multiple blades  900  tensioned between two tensioning assemblies  1204 A to  1204 D. In this example, tensioning assemblies  1204 A to  1204 D are made of sheet metal that is first cut to size and punched with appropriately sized openings to receive the blades therethrough and the bent to the desired cross-sectional shape, here, an elongated D-shape. Making tensioning assemblies  1204 A to  1204 D out of sheet metal in this manner can result in robust, yet cost effective assemblies. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that cross-sectional shapes other than the D-shape can be used, such as square, rectangular, and triangular, among others. An interdigitating-type alternative to the particular tensioning assemblies  1204 A to  1204 D shown in  FIG. 12  is described in the next section in detail. It is noted, however, that while these specific tensioning assemblies  1204 A to  1204 D are shown in the figures, other tensioning means can be used. As seen in  FIG. 13 , each blade-level assembly  1200 A and  1200 B has three tensioning bolts on each end, for a total of 12 bolts  1300 A to  1300 L (only 9 bolts  1300 A to  1300 I are visible in  FIG. 13 ). As seen in  FIG. 11 , blade cartridge  108  includes a frame  1100  comprising a pair of end members  1104 A and  1104 B and a pair of side members  1108 A and  1108 B extending between the end members. In assembled blade cartridge  108 , bolts  1300 A to  1300 L extend through end members  1104 A and  1104 B of the blade cartridge and threadedly engage corresponding respective tensioning assemblies  1204 A to  1204 D, and tension is induced into blades  900  by tightening various ones of bolts  1300 A to  1300 L to stretch the blades between the end members of frame  1100 , placing side members  1108 A and  1108 B into counteracting compression. In other embodiments, tensioning of blades  900  can be effected in another manner. 
     Interdigitating Blade-Tensioning Members 
     In the foregoing example of dual-blade-level cartridge  108 , each blade-level assembly  1200 A and  1200 B is shown as having corresponding particular blade-tensioning assemblies  1204 A to  1204 D. As noted above, each of these blade-tensioning assemblies  1204 A to  1204 D can alternatively be composed of a pair of interdigitating members in a manner similar to the interdigitating members  2704  and  2708  shown in  FIG. 27 . After reading the following description of interdigitating members  2704  and  2708  of  FIG. 27  and how they form each of the tensioning assemblies  2500 A and  2500 B of  FIG. 25 , those skilled in the art will readily understand the changes that would be made to accommodate the arrangement of blades  900  in each of blade-level assemblies  1200 A and  1200 B. 
     Referring to  FIG. 27 , interdigitating member  2704  includes a base  2712  having a plurality of non-threaded apertures  2716 A to  2716 D that allow the shafts (not shown) of corresponding respective tensioning bolts  2504 A to  2504 H ( FIG. 25 ) to pass therethrough. Interdigitating member  2708  similarly includes a base  2720 , which has four threaded apertures  2724 A to  2724 D, which in this example are located at bosses  2728 A to  2728 D to provide additional robustness due to the relatively thin nature of base  2720 . Indeed, a benefit of tensioning assemblies  2500 A and  2500 B ( FIG. 25 ) is that interdigitating members  2704  and  2708  can be readily fabricated, if desired, from sheet metal using standard sheet-metal-forming techniques, which can result in significant manufacturing economy. 
     As those skilled in the art will readily understand, in each of finished tensioning assemblies  2500 A and  2500 B ( FIG. 25 ), base  2720  ( FIG. 27 ) overlays base  2712  so that bosses  2724 A to  2724 D are visible and threaded apertures  2724 A to  2724 D are in registration with non-threaded apertures  2716 A to  2716 D. With apertures  2724 A to  2724 D and  2716 A to  2716 D in registration with one another, corresponding ones of tensioning bolts  2504 A to  2500 H ( FIG. 25 ) can be inserted through the non-threaded apertures and threadedly engaged with the threaded apertures. 
     Interdigitating member  2704  includes a plurality of fingers  2732 A to  2732 F and a plurality of notches  2736 A to  2736 E, and interdigitating member  2708  similar includes a plurality of fingers  2740 A to  2740 F and a plurality of notches  2744 A to  2744 E. In this example, fingers  2732 A to  2732 F and  2740 A to  2740 F and notches  2736 A to  2736 E and  2744 A to  2744 E are configured so that blades  1616  ( FIGS. 24 and 25 ) are beveled relative to the plane of the frame  2400 . However, in other embodiments, the fingers and notches can be configured so that the blades are perpendicular to the plane of frame  2400  ( FIG. 4 ). Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the widths of fingers  2732 A to  2732 F and  2740 A to  2740 F and notches  2736 A to  2736 E and  2744 A to  2744 E are selected to provide the desired spacing of blades  1616  ( FIGS. 24 and 25 ) and so that immediately adjacent ones of the fingers are spaced from one another by about the thickness of the blade that will extend therebetween. In the example shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27 , ends of fingers  2732 A to  2732 F and  2740 A to  2740 F abut corresponding respective bases of notches  2736 A to  2736 E and  2744 A to  2744 E. In some embodiments, each finger end and each corresponding notch base can be secured together, for example, by spot welding, adhesive bonding, etc., to further strengthen the tensioning assembly. 
     Referring to  FIG. 25 , although not shown, each blade  1616  in this example include an aperture near each of its ends, and an elongate end pin is inserted through all of the apertures inside the corresponding one of tensioning assemblies  2500 A and  2500 B. Consequently, when blade cartridge  1612  ( FIG. 24 ) is fully assembled and tensioned, fingers  2732 A to  2732 F and  2740 A to  2740 F ( FIG. 27 ) of each tensioning assembly  2500 A and  2500 B engage the corresponding end pin and induce tension into blades  1616  via the two end pins. In other embodiments, an arrangement different from the end-pin arrangement just described can be used. 
       FIGS. 28 and 29  illustrate an alternative tensioning assembly  2800  that not only utilizes interdigitating fingers  2804 A to  2804 E and  2808 A to  2808 E like tensioning assemblies  2500 A and  2500 B of  FIG. 25 , but also includes underlapping interdigitating fingers. By underlapping, it is meant that each finger  2804 A to  2804 E and  2808 A to  2808 E is longer than the corresponding notch  2812 A to  2812 E and  2816 A to  2816 E and the additional length extends under the base of that notch. This underlapped configuration provides additional strength to assembly because of the additional force that would be needed to disengage underlapped fingers  2804 A to  2804 E and  2808 A to  2808 E. For still additional strength, each finger  2804 A to  2804 E and  2808 A to  2808 E could be bonded to the opposing member  2820 A or  2820 B, for example, by welding or adhesive bonding. 
     Double-Beveled-Blade Arrangement 
     A food-product slicer of the present disclosure can be enhanced using a double-beveled-blade arrangement that skews the slicing blades relative to the thrust axis of the slicer and stair-steps the slicing blades relative to one another. An example of the double-beveled-blade arrangement is seen in slicer  1600  of  FIGS. 16-27 , and the arrangement is especially visible in  FIGS. 17-20 . Referring to  FIG. 17 , in slicer  1600 , the double-beveled-blade arrangement  1702  is executed by providing blade cartridge  1612  with beveled blades  1616  and mounting the blade cartridge to base  1604  at a double-beveled orientation, i.e., an orientation resulting from a compound angle resulting from skewing the blade cartridge horizontally relative to a vertical plane containing thrust axis  1708  and tilting the blade cartridge in a direction along the thrust axis. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the bevel-angle of blades  1616  in blade cartridge  1612  is determined from the skew and tilt angles of the blade cartridge and the need to keep the plane of each blade parallel to the upper surface  1712  of base  1604  along which pusher  1608  slides during the slicing process. It is noted that while the embodiment shown illustrates double-beveled-blade arrangement  1702  executed in the context of a blade-cartridge-based slicer, it can be executed in a non-cartridge design. In addition, a similar double-beveled-blade arrangement can be executed in reciprocating-blade slicers, automated slicers, and non-horizontal slicers, among others. 
     Beveled-Blade Cartridge 
     As noted immediately above, the execution of a double-beveled blade design in a blade-cartridge-based food-product slicer, such as slicer  1600  of  FIGS. 16-27 , results in a beveled-blade cartridge, such as blade cartridge  1612  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 17 and 24 ). Those skilled in the art will readily understand that similar beveled-blade cartridges can be made for other slicer configurations and types as desired. It is noted that the beveling of the blades in the cartridge need not be beveled for a double-beveled-blade arrangement, but rather could be arranged, for example, for tilting only in a direction along the food-product thrust axis. Such a cartridge could be used, for example, in a hard-food-product slicing (cleaving) in a horizontal slicer in which the cartridge cantilevers over the end of the base in a manner similar to slicer  1600  of  FIG. 17 , but without the horizontal skewing. Such blade arrangements are easily accommodated using the interdigitating finger or underlapping interdigitating finger tensioning assemblies described above. In addition, it is noted that while blade cartridge  1612  is shown as having blades  1616  having cutting edges lying in a common plane, in other embodiments the blades can be arranged differently. Indeed, an imaginary surface containing the cutting edges of the blades in a particular cartridge can have any cross-sectional shape when that surface is cut by a plane perpendicular to the long axes of the blades. For example, such cross-sectional shape can be a V-shape with the blade(s) at or closest to the vertex being closest to the pusher prior to slicing, a V-shape with the blade(s) at or closest to the vertex being farthest from the pusher prior to slicing, a zig-zag shape, such as a W-shape, and a wavy shape, such as a sinusoidal shape, among many others, and any combination thereof. These blade arrangements, too, can easily be accommodated using the interdigitating finger or underlapping interdigitating finger tensioning assemblies described above. 
     Cantilevered-Blade Arrangement for a Non-Vertical Slicer 
     As mentioned immediately above, a horizontal food-product slicer of the present disclosure can be enhanced with a cantilevered blade design. This can be particularly useful for cantilevering at least a portion of the blade over an end, side, etc., of a base of the slicer to allow a prep pan to be placed at least partially underneath the blades to catch product slices that have been sliced by the blades. In the context of slicer  1600  of  FIGS. 16-27 , this cantilevering of the blades is seen best in  FIGS. 18, 20, and 21 , and especially  FIG. 21  which shows prep pan  2100  positioned partially underneath blade cartridge  1612  for catching food-product slices (not shown) after they have been produced by the blade cartridge. It is noted that the cantilevered arrangement need not be implemented in a double-beveled-blade arrangement, as it can similarly be implemented in a single-bevel arrangement, such as the hard-product-slicer embodiment described briefly in the immediately previous section. Nor does the cantilevered-blade arrangement need to be implemented in a blade-cartridge context. In addition, it is noted that a slicer utilizing a cantilevered-blade arrangement need not be horizontal, since, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, the benefits from cantilevering can be obtained at non-horizontal orientations as well. As with other blade arrangements disclosed herein, the cantilevered-blade arrangement can also be used with reciprocating blades, automated slicers, and hard- and soft-food-product slicers, among others. 
     Additional Exemplary Embodiments 
     A unique camming action is described above in connection with universal food-product slicer  100  of  FIGS. 1-15  that induces a combined slicing and cleaving action as between the food-product and the blade set. This combined action is particularly described above in connection with  FIGS. 6 and 7 . It is noted above that this camming action need not necessarily result from a pusher having a camming region designed and configured to induce that combined slicing and cleaving action. Indeed,  FIGS. 32 and 33  illustrate a universal food-product slicer  3200  that illustrates one alternative for inducing a combined slicing and cleaving action into a food-product. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 32 and 33 , universal food-product slicer  3200  includes a pusher  3204  movable relative to a blade set  3208 , in this example, via an actuator arm  3212  coupled to the pusher via a pair of cam followers  3216 ( 1 ) and  3216 ( 2 ) (only follower  3216 ( 1 ) is visible in the figures) each fixed at one end to the pusher and movable engaged with the actuator arm via corresponding respective slots  3220 ( 1 ) and  3220 ( 2 ) (only slot  3220 ( 1 ) is visible in the figures) in which each cam followers can moved freely along the long axis of that slot. Food-product slicer  3200  also includes a camming arrangement  3224  having a pair of cam slots  3228 ( 1 ) and  3228 ( 2 ) in which cam followers  3216 ( 1 ) and  3216 ( 2 ) are slidingly engaged. As those skilled in the art will readily understand, when a user moves actuator arm  3212  between an open position  3232  ( FIG. 32 ) and a closed position  3300  ( FIG. 33 ), cam followers  3216 ( 1 ) and  3216 ( 2 ) follow the contours of corresponding respective cam slots  3228 ( 1 ) and  3228 ( 2 ) and also move relative to the actuator arm by moving within corresponding respective slots  3220 ( 1 ) and  3220 ( 2 ). Correspondingly, pusher  3204  is coupled to actuator arm  3212  in a way that it can move, as cam followers  32316 ( 1 ) and  3216 ( 2 ) follow cam slots  3228 ( 1 ) and  3228 ( 2 ), in a direction  3236  parallel to the longitudinal axis  3240  of the actuator arm. When food-product (not show) is captured between pusher  3204  and blade set  3208 , this movement of the pusher is such that the food-product is moved by the pusher to create a combined slicing and cleaving action as between the food-product and the blade set. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the shapes of pusher  3204  and cam slots  3228 ( 1 ) and  3228 ( 2 ) may be designed together to achieve the combined slicing and cleaving action at the appropriate times during a cutting operation so that the best cutting results are achieved. In one embodiment, the shapes of pusher  3204  and cam slots  3228 ( 1 ) and  3228 ( 2 ) may be designed to impart the food-product motion illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , described above. Other components of universal slicer  3200  of  FIGS. 32 and 33 , such as blade set  3208  and base  3244  can be the same as or similar to the corresponding features of universal slicer  100  of  FIGS. 1-15 . 
       FIGS. 34 and 35  illustrate a multilevel blade cartridge  3400  suitable for use with a food-product slicer, such as either of universal food-product slicers  100  and  3200  described above. As can be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, universal food-product slicers, which need to be very robust to handle hard food-products, require very robust blade sets with highly tensioned blades to handle the large forces encountered during cutting operations. Multilevel blade cartridge  3400  provides such a robust design. Referring to  FIGS. 34 and 35 , cartridge  3400  is a bi-level cartridge having first and second blade levels  3404 ( 1 ) and  3404 ( 2 ), respectively. In this example, cartridge  3400  is particularly designed and configured for soft food-product, which as noted above benefits from slicing action to inhibit squashing of the soft food-product. 
     Each blade level  3404 ( 1 ) and  3404 ( 2 ) includes a plurality of blades  3408  and  3412  (only a few of each labeled for convenience), each of which is serrated to assist in slicing. As mentioned immediately above and elsewhere herein, slicing is particularly useful for slicing soft food-product. Blades  3408  and  3412 , however, are relatively short and robust, making them also suitable for standing up to the rigors of cleaving hard food-products. As best seen in  FIG. 35 , blades  3408  on first blade level  3404 ( 1 ) are spaced from blades  3412  on second blade level  3404 ( 2 ) in a direction parallel to cutting axis  3416 , with a plane  3500  defined by the tips of blades  3412  on second blade level  3404 ( 2 ) being spaced by a distance, D, from a plane  3504  defined by the trailing edges of blades  3408  on first blade level  3404 ( 1 ). As described above, this is beneficial to keep slices of food-product, especially of hard food-product, from binding within blade cartridge  3400  by increasing the ratio of open area to total area on each of first and second blade levels  3404 ( 1 ) and  3404 ( 2 ). 
     Multilevel blade cartridge  3400  includes a robust frame  3420  that allows blades  3408  and  3412  to be highly tensioned. In the embodiment shown and as best seen in  FIG. 35 , blades  3408  on first blade level  3404 ( 1 ) are held at opposing ends by corresponding respective blade holders  3508 ( 1 ) and  3508 ( 2 ), and blades  3412  on second blade level  3404 ( 2 ) are held at opposing ends by corresponding respective blade holders  3512 ( 1 ) and  3512 ( 2 ). Blades  3408  are laterally constrained by corresponding respective slots  3516  (only one labeled for convenience) in blade holders  3508 ( 1 ) and  3508 ( 2 ), and, likewise, blades  3412  are laterally constrained by corresponding respective slots  3520  (only one labeled for convenience) in blade holders  3512 ( 1 ) and  3512 ( 2 ). Blades  3408  and  3412  are held longitudinally by corresponding respective pins  3524 ( 1 ) to  3524 ( 4 ) that extend through apertures in the blades. Blades  3408  are tensioned using tensioning screws  3528 ( 1 ) to  3528 ( 3 ) that extend through frame  3428  to threadingly engage blade holder  3508 ( 1 ) and a similar set of tensioning screws (not shown) on the opposite end of the frame. Likewise, blades are tensioned using tensioning screws  3532 ( 1 ) to  3532 ( 3 ) that extend through frame  3420  to threadingly engage blade holder  3512 ( 1 ) and a similar set of tensioning screws (not shown) on the opposite end of the frame. 
       FIGS. 36 and 37  illustrate another embodiment of a universal food-product slicer  3600  made in accordance with the present invention. Slicer  3600  differs from slicer  100  of  FIGS. 1-15  in that the movability of pusher  3604  and blade set  3608  are reversed relative to combined pusher-cradle  124  and blade set  108 A of slicer  100 . In slicer  3600  of  FIGS. 36 and 37 , pusher  3604  is fixed relative to a fixed base  3612  and blade set  3608  is movable relative to the fixed base and the fixed pusher. Pusher  3604  includes a camming portion  3604 A that, when blade set  3608  is moved into contact with a food product  3616  being held by the pusher (in this embodiment camming portion  3604 A also acts as a cradle of sorts to hold the food-product) and then into the food-product, the advancing motion of the blade set and the contour of the camming portion result in a combined slicing and cleaving interaction between the blade set and the food product in a manner similar to the interaction between combined pusher-cradle  124  and blade set  108 A of slicer  100  of  FIGS. 1-15 . In one example, the contour of camming portion  3604 A is elliptical, though other contours are possible. 
     In the embodiment shown, camming portion  3604 A includes one or more food-product stabilizers, here spikes  3620  (one seen because of the nature of the side view), that pierce food-product  3616  to assist in holding the food-product in place prior to cutting. As seen in  FIGS. 36 and 37 , in this embodiment blade set  3608  is movable using an lever-arm  3624  actuated by a human user (not shown).  FIG. 36  shows lever arm  3624  in an open position  3628  in which food-product  3616  can be placed into camming region  3604 A on spikes  3620 , and  FIG. 37  shows lever arm  3624  in a closed position  3632  after food-product  3616  has been cut by blade set  3608 . Note the difference in the position  3636  of food-product  3616  in  FIG. 36  relative to the position  3640  of the food-product in  FIG. 37 . In position  3636  of  FIG. 36 , food-product  3616  is resting in a ready-for-cutting position, stabilized by piercing spikes  3620 . After the “closing” of lever arm  3624  to effect slicing, food product  2616 , now in the form of multiple slices after being cut by blades  3608 A and  3608 B (only two visible on differing blade levels  3644  due to the nature of the view), has been moved along the contour of camming region  3604 A of pusher  3604  when it had been forced into contact with a stop region  3604 B of the pusher. 
     Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that which is specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.