Patent Publication Number: US-8109065-B2

Title: Automated method for placing sliced food stacks in packages

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 12/033,714, filed Feb. 19, 2008, which is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 10/701,731, filed Nov. 5, 2003, now abandoned, which is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 09/815,457, filed Mar. 23, 2001, now abandoned, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an automated system and method for slicing meat products and placing the sliced meat products in stacked form into packages. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a prior process for slicing and packaging smaller sized slices of luncheon meat, e.g. slices on the order of 1.75 inches in diameter and 0.120 inch in thickness, the luncheon meat is sliced into a stack that is then manually placed into a package. More particularly, the package includes a multi-compartment tray, and the worker grabs a stack of slices off of a conveyor for placement into a particular one of the tray compartments. 
     A problem with the above-described system and method is in forming the stacks of meat slices. Currently, an initial meat slice is cut from a log of the luncheon meat product with the cut slice free-falling onto the conveyor surface. Subsequent slices similarly undergo a free-falling action for landing in a stack one on top of the other until the desired number of slices in the stack has been achieved. Thereafter, the stack of slices is advanced downstream by the conveyor to the insertion station where they are manually placed into the tray compartments, as described above. It has been found that it requires very precise control over the process parameters in order for the stacks to develop in a well-defined manner with the above-described process. 
     More specifically, the logs are fed toward a cutting blade that has its cutting faces substantially orthoganal to the longitudinal axis of the meat log with the elongate logs being fed to the blade on a slight downward incline. The blade cutting faces can be configured to direct the cut slices in the preferred manner. In this regard, the slices cut from the end of the log need to undergo a reorientation as they free-fall and come to rest on the conveyor surface or another slice in the stack from their orientation when part of a log. Of course, this renders precise control over these slices extremely difficult and generally produces misshapen stacks such as those having accordion shapes where the individual adjacent slices in the stack are offset from one another in the lateral direction, skewed stacks, tipped over stacks, as well as other slice defects. Where workers observe that the frequency of the misshapen, or tipped over stacks are increasing, the line has to be shutdown so that the process parameters causing the stacking problem can be identified and corrected. Such parameters include temperature of the meat, sharpness of the cutting blade, equipment setup, and the like. As is apparent, this type of line shutdown reduces slice yield, lowers throughput and decreases worker productivity. Moreover, misshapen stacks can also cause efficiency problems in terms of the speed at which a worker can manually place a stack into the package compartment and can create a less than desirable presentation in the packages due to the presence of sloppy stacks therein. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for placing sliced food stacks, i.e. sliced luncheon meat, into packages that limits the need for manual handling of the stacks of luncheon meat slices. Further, a system and method for slicing meat into stacks and placing the stacks of sliced meat in packages is needed that can increase worker productivity and generate faster throughput. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, an automated system and method for slicing a meat product formed into stacks and placing the stacked slices into packages is provided. In the preferred form, after a log of meat is loaded into an initial upstream slicing station, the sliced stacks of meat are generated and packaged without the need for manual handling thereof unlike the previously described meat processing system where workers manually picked up and placed the sliced meat stacks into the package compartments. To this end, the meat log is sliced into smaller sections or chubs which are then, in turn, sliced into the individual meat slices for automated placement into the package compartment. By utilizing an extra slicing operation for forming a chub of meat that corresponds to the amount of meat to be placed into the package, there can be achieved greater control over the subsequent slicing action performed on the chub in terms of maintaining the slices in a stacked form thereof so that well-formed stacks of sliced meat products are generated. In other words, the chub has an outer configuration which in the illustrated form is a short cylindrical section of the log that matches the outer configuration of the sliced meat stack generated from the log. The cut slices do not undergo a free-falling action and the attendant difficulties this creates in achieving uniform stacks of sliced meat products as in the prior process. In contrast, the present system and method&#39;s use of two slicing stages allows for the production of well-formed stacks of sliced meat products that are substantially uniform in configuration from one stack to the next. In this regard, it is preferred that the chubs be oriented vertically so that they are lying flat with one of their cut faces against a support surface when they are sliced, as described hereinafter. 
     These uniformly, well-formed stacks of meat slices allow for the automated transfer of the stacks into the package compartment to take place without handling by workers, as mentioned above. The well-formed nature of these stacks enables the automated transfer to take place with a highly controlled guiding action as the stacks can be transferred, preferably by a vertical free-fall into packages therebelow. Accordingly, the present system and method significantly reduces the possibilities of introducing contamination to the meat slices due to handling thereof. In addition, the system and method herein can increase productivity by achieving faster throughput, improved yields, and lower maintenance and labor costs. 
     In a preferred form of the invention, an automated system for slicing meat and placing the sliced meat in stacks into a package therefor is provided. This system includes a slicing station having a chub slicer for slicing a chub of predetermined size from a log of meat fed to the slicer. The predetermined chub size substantially corresponds to a predetermined amount of meat to be placed in a compartment of the package. A chub slicing or harping station includes spaced harping blades and a chub advancement mechanism. The harping station receives chubs from the slicing station with the chubs pushed past the blades with a predetermined amount of force via the chub advancement mechanism to form a predetermined number of stacked meat slices from the chub. A stack insertion station receives the stacked meat slices from the harping station and includes a stack guide that maintains control over the stack of meat slices for automated transfer thereof into the package compartment. As is apparent, the above system substantially eliminates the need for workers to place stacks of meat slices into packages as it creates well-formed stacks of meat slices by cutting the chub from the meat log and then slicing it via the harping blades at the harping station which avoids having the slices undergo a free-falling action after they are cut from the log as in the prior process and method. With the stack of meat slices well-formed via the slicing and chub harping stations, the stack insertion station can automatically transfer the stack into the package compartment while maintaining control thereover in a simple and effective manner. 
     The chub slicer of the slicing station preferably includes a cutting assembly that supports the log on either side of a narrow slot through which a rotary cutting blade passes for slicing a chub of predetermined size from the meat log. In this manner, the meat log is not cantilevered from the support which can cause drooping and misshapen cuts as opposed to the desired planar cut end-face that is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the log. It is preferred that the rotary blade have substantially parallel planar cutting surface portions that pass through the log in the area aligned with the slot to further enable substantially flat end-faces to be formed on the cut chub. With the present chub slicer, the slices at the end of the chub including the end faces thereof will be of a high quality, i.e. with flat, parallel opposite faces, similar to the intermediate slices therebetween. 
     In a preferred form, the harping blades include a drive and blade mount assembly that cooperate so that the blades can undergo reciprocating movement. More specifically, the harping blades have an elongate flat configuration with a cutting edge along one edge against which the chub is pushed via the chub advancement mechanism, and the drive causes the blades to undergo reciprocating movement in the lengthwise direction thereof transverse to the pushing of the chubs. The reciprocating movement produces a slicing action on the chubs so as to minimize the force by which the advancement mechanism must push the chub through the blades. Accordingly, the likelihood of the blades deflecting as the chub is pushed thereagainst is reduced for forming high quality slices of meat. 
     Where the stack is in its preferred vertical orientation at the stack insertion station, the stack guide can include a weight that is engaged against the topmost slice in the stack. Thus, when the package is aligned with the stack, a gating mechanism at the insertion station can be actuated to shift from its support position to a release position which allows the stack with the guide weight thereagainst to fall into the aligned package therebelow. In this manner, the present system provides a controlled free-fall to a well-formed stacked of meat slices with the guide weight bearing against the upper slice to keep the stack in vertical alignment so that the stack drops in centered into the compartment clearing the sidewalls thereof. Thus, the present system avoids having individual slices that are airborne and fall into a stack which can create significant variations in the form of the stack from one stack to the next absent high-precision control over the various process parameters that affect the trajectory of the slices cut from the log. Further, there is no manual handling of the stack of slices for placement into the compartment as in the prior process. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an automated processing method for a meat product is provided including cutting a section of the meat product from a larger section thereof, the section corresponding to a predetermined amount of the meat product to be placed in a package, slicing the section into a predetermined number of slices that are formed simultaneously in a single slicing operation so that a stack of the slices is formed, aligning the package with the stack of slices for receipt in the package, and shifting the stack of slices automatically into the aligned package to avoid manual handling of the stack. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a slicing station for forming chubs from a log of meat, and a vibratory conveyor for transporting the chubs for further processing in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side-elevational view of an indexing feed mechanism and a chub slicing assembly adjacent outlet of the feed mechanism in the slicing station; 
         FIG. 3  is a elevational view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  showing meat logs placed in support channels leading to inlet of the feed indexing mechanism; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a log support showing a clearance slot for supporting the log thereacross and allowing a rotary blade, shown in phantom lines, to pass therethrough; 
         FIG. 5  is a side-elevational view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4  showing a log on the support spanning the slot and the blade cutting a chub from the log; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the outlet of the indexing mechanism and the chub slicing assembly showing the rotary blade as it passes through the slot to cut chubs from the logs at the slicing station; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view similar to  FIG. 6  showing the progression of the rotary blade so as to cut all of the chubs from the logs in a single pass of the blade through the slot of the support; 
         FIG. 8  is a front-elevational view of the rotary cutting blade for the chub slicer; 
         FIG. 9  is a side-elevational view of the cutting blade showing opposite substantially parallel planar cutting surface portions of the blade; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the rotary blade taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  are color schematic perspective views of a table that receives chubs from the chub conveyor for further processing into stacks of slices for placement into compartments of trays on a conveyor traveling below the table; 
         FIG. 13  is a color schematic perspective view of one of the operating units on the table showing a staging area for the chubs and a chub advancement mechanism for pushing the chubs for slicing thereof; 
         FIG. 14  is a color photographic view of the operating unit showing chubs entering the staging area from a chute extension portion of a channel on the chub conveyor; 
         FIGS. 15-18  are color photographic views of the operating unit showing sequential operations of a slide member and paddle member for indexing the chub into alignment with a pusher member of the chub advancement mechanism; 
         FIGS. 19 and 20  are color schematic perspective views of reciprocating harping blades in a blade set showing blade mount bars and mounting arms attached thereto; 
         FIGS. 21-23  are color photographic views showing details of the blade mount bars and their arms securing the blades thereto; 
         FIG. 24  is a color photographic view of an eccentric blade drive for reciprocating the harping blades; 
         FIG. 25  is a color schematic perspective view of the eccentric blade drive showing pivotal plate actuators connected to the drive and to the blade mount bars; 
         FIG. 26  is an exploded perspective view of the eccentric blade drive showing the construction of eccentric drive sections thereabout; 
         FIG. 27  is a plan view of the assembled eccentric blade drive sections of  FIG. 26 ; 
         FIG. 28  is a color schematic perspective view of a chub centering mechanism showing upper and lower shiftable plate members and a linkage actuation system therefor operated by a pressure source to keep the plate members equally spaced from a center point therebetween; 
         FIGS. 29 and 30  are color schematic perspective views of the chub pusher member, the chub centering mechanism, and an insertion station showing the chub pusher member traveling between the plate members and to the insertion station; 
         FIGS. 31 and 32  are color photographic views showing the chub pusher member extended to push the chub through harping blades and the stack to a receptacle at the insertion station; 
         FIGS. 33 and 34  are color schematic perspective views of a stack guide and a gating mechanism at the chub insertion station showing an aperture of a gate member of the gating mechanism indexed to the receptacle and an enlarged weighted head of the guide shifting downwardly through a bottom opening in the receptacle and through the aligned gate member aperture; 
         FIGS. 35-37  are color photographic views of the operation at the insertion station showing a stack in the receptacle, the weighted engagement head brought into engagement therewith, and the gate member indexed to bring its aperture into alignment with the receptacle opening allowing the stack and engaged head to fall therethrough; and 
         FIG. 38  is a flow diagram of the method of operation of the present system for generating chubs from meat logs and stacks of meat slices from the chubs that are deposited into packages therefor. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In  FIGS. 1 ,  15  and  32 , the various stations for cutting and slicing of a food product  10 , e.g. precooked luncheon meats, into stacks and for automated placement thereof in packages  14  are shown.  FIG. 38  shows the method of operation at the various stations to provide an automated system  16  that slices the luncheon meat  10 , generates well-formed stacks  12  of the sliced meat  10 , and automatically transfers the well-formed stacks  12  into the packages  14  avoiding manual handling of the meat  10  at each of the operating stations. 
     More specifically, the stations include a slicing station  18 , and a chub harping station  20  and stack insertion station  22  adjacent to each other, as can be seen in  FIG. 32 . After a worker loads meat logs  24  into feed section  26  at the slicing station  18 , handling by the workers of the meat  10  ceases and is no longer required as the meat logs  24  are cut into chubs  26  that correspond to the predetermined amount of meat to be placed in an individual package  14 , and specifically a particular compartment  28  thereof. Thereafter the chubs  26  are transported to the harping station  20  where they are sliced into well-formed stacks  12  of a predetermined number of meat slices  30  that enable automated transfer thereof into the package compartments  28 , as will be more fully described hereinafter. 
     As mentioned, the present system  16  cuts the logs  24  into chubs  26  prior to forming slices  30  of the meat product with the size of the chubs  26  corresponding to the predetermined amount of meat that is to be placed into the package compartment  28 . Where the package  14  includes other compartments  32  for other ready-to-eat food products, the system  16  herein is well adapted for use with the Lunchables® product line of the assignee herein. In this regard, other food items in addition to the sliced meat product  10  herein can include a farinaceous food, one or more sauces or dips, and a confectionary or desert food, some of which may be prepackaged for placement in the other compartments  32 . Examples of farinaceous foods include breadsticks, pizza crust, nacho chips and the like. Examples of sauces or dips include cheese sauce, salsa, pizza sauce and the like. Examples of desert foods include candy pieces, cookies and the like. In addition to the precooked meat product  10 , shredded cheese or other cheese products can also be included in the meal kit. If desired, other components can also be included in the meal kit, such as utensils or other implements to assist with assembling the food items, spices, napkins and the like. 
     Returning to the description of the system  16  herein, by forming the chubs  26 , the subsequent slicing operation conducted at the harping station  20  can be much more controlled in terms of how the stacks  12  are formed as instead of individual slices coming off of the logs  24  of meat  10 , the slices  30  of a particular stack  12  are all formed simultaneously in a single cutting operation at the harping station  20  so that the sliced stacks  12  of meat slices  30  substantially retain the same configuration as that of the chubs  26 . As shown, the chubs  26  preferably have substantially parallel flat end-faces  34  and  36  with a cylindrical outer surface  38  extending therebetween. In this regard, the logs  24  also include a cylindrical outer surface thereof; however, it is also contemplated that the logs  24  and the chubs  26  cut therefrom can have a different outer configuration such as a polygonal configuration while not departing from the invention herein. 
     In forming the chubs  26 , it is important that the cut end-faces  34  and  36  be well-formed, i.e. flat and parallel, so that the slices  30  formed from the chubs  26  are likewise well-formed. For this purpose, chub slicing assembly  40  at the slicing station  18  includes a log support  42  on which the logs  24  rest on either side of cutting area  44  through which cutting blade  46  passes. In this manner, the logs  24  are substantially fully supported on both sides of the cutting area  44  so that as the blade  46  cuts the logs  24 , there will be no pulling of the chubs  26  before they are fully severed from the logs  24  as could occur if the logs were not supported on the downstream side of the cutting area  44 . In other words, if the logs  24  were simply left to hang downstream of the cutting area  44 , it has been found that such cantilevered logs  44  will droop and cause misshapen or other than planar cut end-faces  34  and  36  to result. 
     Another contributing factor to having the desired planar faces  34  and  36  of the chubs  26  is the configuration of the cutting blade  46  itself. In this respect, the cutting blade  46  is preferably of the rotary type having a plate-like form with a circular outer configuration and a central hub assembly  47  including a through aperture  48  formed therein, as best seen in  FIGS. 8-10 . The hub assembly  48  is mounted to an eccentric shaft of a blade drive motor offset from the axis of the rotary output generated thereby so that the rotary blade  46  undergoes an eccentric, orbital motion with the cutting area  44  lying in the orbital path through which it travels during slicing operations. 
     The configuration of the cutting blade  46  is generally flat in that it includes substantially parallel planar cutting surface portion  50  and  52  on opposite faces  46   a  and  46   b  of the blade  46 , as can best be seen in  FIG. 9 . Unlike prior blades having contoured cutting faces that can impart a desired motion to the cut product as the blade passes therethrough, the present blade with the opposite parallel flat cutting surface portions  50  and  52  will pass through the logs  24  and will push the cut surfaces equally away from each other, thus ensuring that the blade  46  does not impart any contour to the cut faces  34  and  36  of the chubs  26  that is other than planar as is desired. Accordingly, with the combination of the log support  42  that spans the cutting area  44  and the flat configuration of the cutting blade  46 , the chubs  26  formed in the slicing station  18  will have the desired flat, parallel end-faces  34  and  36  which, in turn, leads to the high quality of the meat slices  30  in the subsequent slicing operation, as described hereinafter. 
     After the chubs  26  are formed at the slicing station  18 , they are transported to the harping station  20 . At the harping station  20 , the chubs  26  are received in a staging area  54 , that is preferably sized to receive a single one of the chubs  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 13-16 . With the chub  26  in the staging area  54 , it is then shifted into alignment with a chub advancing mechanism  56 , as will be described more fully hereinafter. The chub advancing mechanism  56  is then operable to push the chubs  26  through a set of harping blades  58 , as can be seen in FIGS.  19  and  29 - 31 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , generally the harping blades  58  have a flat, elongate configuration having one of the edges  60  thereof serrated, and against which the chubs  26  are pushed. The harping blades  58  are shown in their preferred form as extending horizontally such that the chub  26  is preferably oriented in a vertical fashion with one of the end-faces  34  and  36  thereof resting on a support surface as the chub  26  is pushed through the harping blades  58 . As can best be seen in  FIGS. 13 ,  29 ,  30  and  32 , the chub advancing mechanism  56  preferably includes a arcuate engagement end portion  62  for bearing against the chub cylindrical outer surface  38  as it is pushed through the harping blades  58 . In addition, the advancing mechanism  56  is slotted at the end portion  62  to provide clearance for the harping blades  58  as the chub  26  is pushed therethrough. The arcuate engagement end  62  preferably extends for substantially the full height of the chub outer surface  38  between the ends  34  and  36  thereof and has a curvature that extends for approximately 180 degrees about the chub outer surface  38  so that it securely engages and centers with the chub  26  to push it through the harping blades  58 . 
     In the illustrated and preferred form, there are five harping blades  58  vertically equally spaced from each other so as to generate six slices  30  from the chub  26  when pushed therethrough. As is apparent, the slicing operation performed by the harping blades  58  causes the slices  30  to be formed simultaneously from a single one of the chubs  26 . As has been discussed, this eliminates the free-falling of meat slices as occurred in the prior process, and thus better generates on a consistent basis slices  30  that are in well-formed stacks  12  which substantially matches the cylindrical outer configuration of the chubs  26  themselves. 
     For pushing the chubs  26  through the harping blades  58 , the advancing mechanism  56  includes a power actuator  64  that causes the engagement end  62  to push on the chub  26  with a predetermined amount of force. In a preferred form, the actuator  64  is a power cylinder  66  which when actuated causes the engagement end  62  to shift toward the harping blades  58 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . The cylinder  66  includes a regulator  67  that limits the amount of force applied by the engagement end  62  to the chubs  26 . In this manner, the force with which the chubs  26  will engage the harping blades  58  can be precisely controlled so as to avoid deflecting the blades  58  which can potentially cause misshapen meat slices  30  to be formed from the chub  26 . 
     It is preferred that the harping blades  58  undergo reciprocating motion, preferably along their lengthwise extent. In this regard, a drive  68  and a blade mount assembly  70  are provided ( FIGS. 19-27 ) that cooperate to produce the reciprocating action of the harping blades  58 . As can best be seen in  FIGS. 24-26 , the drive preferably is an eccentric blade drive  68  for generating the oscillating or reciprocating movements of the harping blades  58 . To this end, a pivotal actuator  72  is connected between the drive  68  and the blade mount  70 . The pivotal actuator  72  is operable to translate the rotary, eccentric motion of the drive  68  to a reciprocating movement of the harping blades  58  via the blade mount assembly  70 , as described further hereinafter. Thus, as the eccentric drive  68  rotates, the pivotal actuator  72  will alternatively pull and push on portions of the blade mount assembly  70  to generate reciprocation of the harping blades  58 . The reciprocating action of the blades  58  enables the output force from the power cylinder  66  to be kept to a minimum while still achieving well-formed slices  30  from the chub  26 . To this end, it is found that a regulated force of approximately 10 psi in the cylinder  66  is sufficient to cause the chub  26  to be pushed with the desired force via the chub advancing mechanism  56  for slicing the chub  26  with the reciprocating harping blades  58  into well-formed meat slices  30 . At this low force level, the blades  58  are less likely to deflect or wander such as in an up and down fashion that could cause wavy or other than planar cut faces on the meat slices  30 . 
     As previously mentioned, the harping station  20  and insertion station  22  are preferably closely adjacent to each other, as shown in  FIG. 32 . In this manner, the chub advancing mechanism  56  can be utilized to transfer the sliced chubs  26  from the harping station  20  to the insertion station  22  adjacent thereto. In the preferred and illustrated form, a chub centering mechanism  74  is generally disposed at the harping station  20  and preferably extending to the insertion station  22 , as will be described more fully hereinafter. The centering mechanism  74  includes opposing upper and lower members  76  and  78  between which the chub  26  is advanced by the chub advancing mechanism  56 . The members  76  and  78  are biased toward one another so as to engage the chub faces  34  and  36 , respectively, with equal and opposite force. The centering mechanism  74  is arranged so that the mid-point between the upper and lower members  76  and  78  corresponds to the vertical mid-point of the set of harping blades  58 . Thus, the centering mechanism  74  keeps the vertical center of the chub  26  aligned with that of the set of harping blades  58  thus ensuring that the top and bottom slices including respective end-faces  34  and  36  are of substantially equal thickness despite potential variations in the height of the cylindrical outer surface  38  of the chub  26  between the end-faces  34  and  36  thereof. Accordingly, at a minimum, with the chub centering mechanism  74 , the top and bottom slices in the stack  12  will be of equal thickness and the intermediate slices, there being four such slices where there are five harping blades  58 , will be of equal thickness based on the equal spacing between the blades  58 . By way of example and not limitation, with the Lunchables® product line, the thickness of the intermediate meat slices can be approximately 0.120 inch with the small sized luncheon meat of approximately 1.75 inches in diameter. The height of the stack  12  will be approximately 0.875 inch with slight variations therefrom due to any variations in the height of the chub  26  that might be produced at the slicing station  18 . 
     After the chub  26  has been sliced by being pushed through the harping blades  58  and between the chub centering mechanism members  76  and  78  with the chub advancing mechanism  56 , the stack  12  of meat slices  30  slides out from between the members  76  and  78  into the insertion station  22 . A conveyor  80  brings the packages  14  to the insertion station  22  for automatically being filled with stacks  12  of meat slices  30 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The conveyor is preferably an indexing conveyor  80  that aligns the packages  14 , and specifically the compartment  28  thereof designated for receipt of the stack  12  of meat slices  30 , with the stacks  12 . In this regard and as shown in  FIGS. 33-37 , a stack gating mechanism  82  is disposed between the stack  12  and the aligned packages  14 . With the stacks  12  in their preferred vertical configuration after having the chubs  26  sliced at the harping station  20 , the package delivery conveyor  80  will run below the gating mechanism  82 . Accordingly, the gating mechanism  82  has a support position which allows the advancing mechanism  56  to slide the stack  12  off of the lower member  78  of the centering mechanism  74  with the lowest slice in the stack  12  including one of the end-faces  34  and  36  engaged flush on the gating mechanism  82 . Once the package conveyor  80  has brought the package compartment  32  into alignment with the stack  12 , the gating mechanism  82  shifts to its release position which allows the stack  12  to fall into the aligned compartment  28 . Thus, the insertion station  18  receives very tight, well-formed stacks  12  of meat slices  30  from the harping station  20  and automatically transfers them into the package compartments  28  therefor without the need for handling of the meat stacks  12 . 
     To ensure that the stacks  12  are properly transferred into the package  14  while maintaining their well-formed configuration as previously described, a stack guide  84  is provided at the insertion station  22 . During transfer of the stack  12 , the guide  84  can engage against one of the end faces  34  or  36  of the stack  12  for pushing the stack  12  into the aligned package compartment  28  while maintaining the substantial well-formed cylindrical outer configuration thereof. With the stack  12  in its preferred vertical orientation with one end  34  or  36  resting on the gating mechanism  82  as previously described, an actuator  86  for the guide  84  is operable to shift a weighted engagement head  88  to bear against the other of the stack end faces  34  or  36  which faces upwardly toward the head  88 . Thus, when the gating mechanism  82  is shifted to its release position, the stack  12  will fall into the compartment  28  with the weighted head  88  engaged thereagainst to undergo a free-falling action therewith. With the weighted head  88  of the guide  84  falling vertically under the influence of gravity, there is less likelihood that the meat slices  30  in the stack  12  will lose their desired configuration in the stack  12  during this transfer into the compartment  28 . Accordingly, the stack guide  84  keeps control over the free-falling stack  12  of meat slices  30  so that they fall properly into the aligned package compartment  28  therebelow minimizing the instances of having the slices  30  in the stack tilting or shifting out therefrom and/or engaging a compartment wall or the like during the transfer. In this manner, the system  16  and method herein generally provides an improved presentation of the meat stacks  12  in the packages  14  over stacks that are manually placed therein with the prior process where the stacks are more likely to be misshapen, as previously described. 
     Accordingly, the present system  16  and method allow meat logs  24  to be manually loaded into the slicing station  18  and thereafter be continuously automatically processed at the stations  18 ,  20  and  22  for automated placement into packages therefor without the need for handling of the meat stacks  12  by workers. To this end, the slicing station  18  is effective to form smaller sections or chubs  26  from the meat logs  24  and to do so such that the chubs  26  are provided with substantially parallel flat end-faces  34  and  36  to ensure that high quality meat slices  30  are generated therefrom. The chubs  26  are then transported to the harping station  20  where each of the chubs  26  undergoes a single cutting operation, thus simultaneously forming the meat slices  30  therefrom and substantially maintaining the slices  30  in the configuration of the chubs  26  for generating well-formed stacks  12  of the slices  30 . Thereafter, the stacks  12  are received at the insertion station  22  where they are transferred to their packages  14 , on an automated basis without the need for manual handling thereof. This is enabled due to the well-formed stacks  12  generated by the harping station  20  which allows the stacks  12  to be dropped into the packages  14  aligned therebelow. 
     Turning next to more of the details and referencing  FIGS. 1-7  to describe the slicing station  18  and, more particularly, the feed section  25  and the chub slicing assembly  40  thereat, a frame  90  is provided to support the feed section  25  and the chub slicing assembly  40 . The feed section  25  includes a plurality of channels  92  into which the meat logs  24  fit for being manually loaded therein. The channels  92  can have an upwardly facing concave surface  94  which generally matches the outer cylindrical contour of the logs  24 , as best seen in  FIG. 3 . The channels  92  are oriented at a downward incline via support leg  96  of the frame  90  so that the logs  24  are fed downwardly toward the slicing assembly  40 . 
     At the lowermost end of the channels  92 , an indexing feed mechanism  98  is provided for controlled feeding of the logs  96  to the slicing assembly  40 . Accordingly, inlet end  100  of the feed mechanism  98  is adjacent the lower end of the channels  92  and outlet end  102  of the feed mechanism  98  is adjacent the slicing assembly  40 . The indexing mechanism  98  can include upper and lower belt assemblies  104  and  106  which cooperate to securely grip the logs  96  for advancing them by predetermined increments to the slicing assembly  40 . In this regard, the upper belt assembly  104  includes a lower run  108  thereof that is in opposing substantially parallel relation to an upper run  110  of the lower belt assembly  106  for engaging the upper and lower portions of the logs  24  therebetween. To this end, the spacing between the parallel runs  108  and  110  is slightly less than the diameter of the logs  24  to ensure that there is no slippage of the logs  24  therebetween. In addition, the belt assemblies  104  and  106  can include fraction belts  112  that have raised transversely extending ribs  114  thereon, as best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . These ribs  114  securely grip the outer surface of the logs  24  without breaking through the surface or otherwise damaging the logs  24 . Accordingly, the belt assemblies  104  and  106  can provide the feed mechanism  98  with precision-indexed movements of the logs  94  to the slicing assembly  40  under command of a programmable logic controller (PLC) or the like so that the chubs  26  are formed with substantially the same axial length of their outer surface  38  between the ends  34  and  36  thereof from one slicing operation to the next. 
     In the preferred and illustrated form, the four channels  92  are provided on an incline table  115  supported by the frame leg  96 . To raise the channels  92  to the desired height, a base box portion  116  of the frame  90  is supported raised off the floor adjacent the four corners thereof by lower adjustment legs  118  with the leg  96  extending from the upper surface of the box portion  116  to the table  115 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The four channels  92  lead to two pairs of upper and lower belts  112   a  and  112   b  with each belt pair operable to feed two logs  24  to the slicing assembly  40 . The pairs of belts  112   a  and  112   b  are trained about rollers  120  rotatably mounted to a belt sub-frame  122  secured to the table  115  via mounting bars  124  on either side thereof. 
     The rollers  120  can include upper and lower tensioning rollers  126  that deflect upper and lower runs  128  and  130  of the belt assemblies  104  and  106 , respectively. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the upper deflection roller  126  causes the upper run  128  to travel back upstream from the outlet end  102  of the feed mechanism  98  at an upward angle and then back down toward the inlet end  100  of the indexing mechanism  98 , and the lower deflection roller  126  causes the lower run  130  to travel back upstream from the indexing mechanism outlet end  102  at a downward angle and then back at an upward angle to the indexing mechanism inlet end  100 . The tensioning rollers  126  are effective to remove slack that can build up in the belt assemblies  104  and  106  during their operation and cause less than precision movements of the logs  24  therewith. 
     The chub slicing assembly  40  has a pair of lower support members  132  and  134  with the member  132  being upstream from member  134  and separated by a gap  136  therebetween defining the cutting area  44 . The members  132  and  134  extend along their length transverse to the axial feed direction of the logs  24  along their longitudinal axis  24   a  so that the gap is in the form of an elongate, transverse slot  136  through which the blade  46  has clearance to pass. As best seen in  FIG. 4 , each of the support members  132  and  134  preferably include four upwardly facing concave surfaces  138  in alignment with the corresponding surfaces  94  of the channels  92  on the incline table  115 . In addition, an upper guide member  140  is provided for cooperating with the upstream support member  132 . The upper guide member  140  preferably includes four concave surfaces  142  facing downwardly toward corresponding concave surfaces  138  on the lower support member  132 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the support members  132  and  140  are arranged closely adjacent the outlet end  102  of the indexing feed mechanism  98  so that as the logs  24  emerge from between the belt runs  108  and  110 , they enter the area between facing concave surfaces  138  and  142  of the respective members  132  and  140 . 
     As the logs  24  advance downstream, they are supported to straddle the gap or slot  136  by the downstream support member  134  until the chubs  26  are cut therefrom by the rotary blade  46 . As previously mentioned, it has been found that the use of the downstream support member  134  is of particular importance in obtaining the desired planar cut end-faces  34  and  36  for the chubs  26  normal to the log axis  24   a . The downstream support  134  keeps the end of the logs  24  from drooping or sagging downwardly and generating an other than planar cut on the end face  34  or  36  of the chubs  26 . 
     Accordingly, the downstream support member  134  is effective to keep the log  24  aligned along its longitudinal axis  24   a  during a cutting operation. The width of the slot  136  between the support members  132  and  134  is kept to a minimum while allowing the blade  46  to fit between the members  132  and  134  for slicing a chub  26  off of the end of a log  24 , as best seen in  FIGS. 5-7 . In this manner, there is only a small portion of the log  24  that goes unsupported in the cutting area  44  by either of the members  132  or  134 . The illustrated blade  46  can have a maximum thickness of 0.188 inch between faces  46   a  and  46   b  thereof with the slot width slightly larger to provide the blade  46  with clearance between the members  132  and  134 . 
     In addition to keeping the log  24  supported on either side of the cutting area  44 , another important consideration in achieving planar, parallel end-faces  34  and  36  on the chubs  26  is the configuration of the blade  46 . As previously discussed, it is desired to have substantially planar, parallel cutting surface portions  50  and  52  on the blade faces  46   a  and  46   b , respectively, so that the blade  46  itself does not cause any preferential movement of the log  24  either upstream or downstream along the axis  24   a  during a slicing operation. To this end, the blade  46  is preferably beveled at the outer, circular edge  144  thereof along both of the blade faces  46   a  and  46   b . Thus, the blade  46  includes opposite tapered surface portions  146  and  148  at the outer edge of the respective faces  46   a  and  46   b  that meet at a sharp tip or point  150 , as best seen in  FIG. 10 . 
     The blade  46  is mounted to its orbital shaft such that hub axis  47   a  is substantially parallel to log axis  24   a . Accordingly, as the blade  46  rotates in its orbital path, the sharp point  150  at the blade peripheral edge  144  will pierce the logs  24  and then will progress therethrough with the meat  10  separating along the tapered surface portions  146  and  148  as the blade continues its penetration through the log  24 . At the radially inward end of the tapered surface portions  146  and  148 , the meat  10  is separated by the flat, parallel cutting surface portions  50  and  52 . Accordingly, the rotary blade  46  herein generates equal and opposite forces on the cut meat  10  as it passes therethrough due to the generally symmetric configuration of the blade about the periphery thereof, including the double-bevel surfaces  146  and  148  leading to the parallel cutting surface portions  50  and  52 . This blade design in conjunction with that of the log support  42  previously described, has been found to generate sliced chubs  26  from the logs  24  that have well-formed, substantially flat and parallel cut end-faces  34  and  36  thereon. 
     Continuing with reference to  FIG. 10 , it can be seen that the rotary blade  46  includes a recessed or dished area  152  radially inward from the flat cutting surface portion  50  on the blade face  46   a  facing in the upstream direction during a cutting operation. One problem that has been noted is that despite the relatively large, heavy construction of the blade, e.g. 15¾ inch diameter of stainless steel material, and the speed at which it driven, clean slicing of four meat logs  24  can be difficult to achieve. In other words, as the blade  46  is in cutting engagement with all four logs  24 , there will be a large surface area on the blade faces  46   a  and  46   b  that is in contact with the meat  10 . Depending on the type and consistency of the meat  10 , this large surface area of engagement can cause the blade velocity to significantly slow and even cease up entirely generating less than clean slices and severing of chubs  26  from the logs  24  which, in turn, can create imprecision or other than planar cut end-faces  34  and  36  as is desired. In particular, on the upstream face  46   a  of the blade  46 , the weight of the logs  24  less the end chub portions downstream therefrom will be pushed thereagainst making it more difficult for the blade  46  to make a clean pass through the cutting area  44  without undesirably slowing or stalling. Accordingly, the recess area  152  is provided to allow the cut end of the log  24  to expand slightly, thus slightly relieving and decreasing the downward force applied by the logs  24  against the blade face  46   a  and more readily allowing for a clean cut of all four of the logs  24  with the rotary blade  46  herein. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , the support and guide members  132 ,  134  and  140  and the blade  46  are supported downstream of the indexing feed mechanism  98  via frame members generally designated with reference numeral  154 . In particular, there is a transverse frame member  156  which extends across and upwardly from the outlet end  102  of the feed mechanism  98  at an incline so that it is substantially normal to the log axis  24   a . The member  156  defines the cutting area  44  in which the rotary blade  46  operates. A housing  158  for the blade drive is attached to the downstream side of the member  156  and includes a door  160  to provide access thereto for maintenance and the like. 
     Upon slicing of the chubs  26  via slicing operations at the slicing station  18 , the chubs  26  fall onto a conveyor  162 , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . The conveyor  162  extends between the slicing station  18  and the harping station  20  so that sliced chubs  26  are transported thereby for the subsequent slicing operation on individual ones of the chubs  26  at the harping station  20 , as previously described. 
     In the preferred and illustrated form, the above-described conveyor is in the form of vibratory table  162  which has its upstream end  164  generally oriented below the cutting area  44  so that sliced chubs  26  will fall generally downwardly onto the vibrating table surface  166 . The table surface  166  can be oriented at a pitch or incline in the downstream direction so as to provide the chubs  26  with a gravity assist as they travel from the upstream end  164  toward the downstream end  168  thereof. 
     The vibratory conveyor table  162  generally causes any chubs  26  that land on their cylindrical outer surface  38  to reorient themselves from their less than stable orientation on the curved surface  38  to their more stable orientation that is an upright vertical orientation with one of the flat end-faces  34  or  36  engaged on the table surface  166 . In addition to the curvature of surface  38  and the flatness of surfaces  34  and  36 , the shorter axial length of the surface  38  relative to the diameter across the surfaces  34  and  36  renders the vertical orientation of the chubs  26  more stable than when they are laying on their sides  38 . The planar, parallel cut end-faces  34  and  36  also can contribute to the ability of the chubs  26  to maintain a vertical orientation on the table surface  166  as they travel downstream thereon. To ensure that the cubs  26  stay on the table surface  166 , a pair of raised guide rails  170  and  172  can be provided on either side of the table surface  166  extending between the upstream and downstream ends  164  and  168  thereof. 
     As previously has been discussed, the harping and insertion stations  20  and  22  are closely adjacent to each other. This provides for space conservation, and allows the chub advancing mechanism  56  of the harping station  20  to be used to shift the stacks  12  to the insertion station  22 , as has been described. To provide efficiencies in production, the illustrated and preferred form of the automated system  16  herein provides for four operating units  174  each including a set of adjacent harping and insertion stations  20  and  22 , as best can be seen in  FIG. 12 . 
     Chubs  26  from the vibratory conveyor table  162  are directed to each of the operating units  174 . For this purpose, a diverter in the form of a wedge guide  176  is provided on the conveyor surface  166  intermediate the ends  164  and  168  thereof. The wedge guide  176  is operable to divert chubs  26  as they travel downstream on the table  162  to feed channels  178  on either side of the table surface  166  toward the downstream end  168  thereof. The wedge guide  176  includes a pair of guide members  180  and  182  that meet at an upstream point and are mounted on the table surface  166  so that they diverge from each other as they extend downstream toward the feed channels  178 . The downstream ends of the members  180  and  182  are closely adjacent inlets  184  of the innermost pair of channels  178  so that chubs  26  either enter the innermost pair of channels  178   a  or the outermost pair of channels  178   b . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of free wheeling rollers  186  are rotatably mounted to the table surface via generally vertically extending bearing shafts  188  that allow the rollers  186  to freely rotate thereabout. The rollers  186  are effective to keep the chubs  26  on the table surface  166  progressing in a downstream path thereon, and can be located adjacent the inlets  184  so as to direct the chubs  26  therein and to keep chubs  26  from entering the area on the table surface  166  downstream of the wedge guide  176  between the channels  178   a.    
     As previously mentioned, there are four operating units  174  and each of the units  174  is associated with one of the feed channels  178  for receiving chubs  26  therefrom. In this regard, the operating units  174  are mounted on a table member  190  that is generally at a lower elevation than that of the downstream end  168  of the vibratory conveyor table  162 , as best seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . As each of the operating units  174  is on the table member  190  spaced form the conveyor downstream end  168 , the feed channels  178  each include chute portions  192  that lead the chubs  26  from the end  168  of the conveyor table  162  to the respective operating units  174 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , inner feed portions  192   a  are associated with inner feed channels  178   a  and outer chute portions  192   b  are associated with outer feed channels  178   b . The chute portions  192  each include a generally horizontal run  194  and a generally downwardly inclined run  196 . In this manner, chubs in the feed channels  178  come off of the vibratory conveyor table  162  into the chute portions  192  and traverse the horizontal run  194  thereof and build up therein until run  194  is substantially full, whereupon they enter the downward inclined run  196  which allows them to be readily directed toward their respective operating unit  174  in the longitudinal direction of travel denoted by arrow  197  in  FIG. 13 . 
     Each of the operating units  174 , and specifically the harping station  20  thereof is provided with a staging area, as has been generally designated with reference numeral  54 . The staging area  54  is adjacent the chub advancing mechanism  56 . The staging area  54  receives a chub  26  therein which is then indexed into proper position relative to the advancing mechanism  56  for being shifted thereby via timed operation of power actuators  200  and  202 , as will be described more fully hereinafter. The operating units  174  each include a horizontal support member  204  secured to the table  190  about which the chubs  26  are indexed so that they are raised above the surface  190   a  of the table  190 . 
     More specifically, the power actuators  200  and  202  can be power cylinders  206  and  208 , respectively, similar to power cylinder  66 . The power cylinders  66 ,  206  and  208 , all are preferably pneumatic cylinders each including a driven cylinder plunger  209  that shifts between extended and retracted positions relative to its cylinder. 
     The horizontal support member  204  fixedly mounts three generally parallel elongate slide bearing members  210 ,  212  and  214  extending transverse and as shown, preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal travel direction  197  as denoted by arrow  215  in  FIG. 13 . The slide bearing member  210  includes a guide portion  216  thereof adjacent outlet end  218  of the chute  192 . Between the bearing members  210  and  212  is a slide member  220  that is shifted upon actuation of the power cylinder  206 . 
     To form the staging area  54 , the slide member  220  has an open-ended chub carrying compartment  222  at its distal end aligned with the guide portion  216  of bearing member  210  and the outlet  218  of the chute portion  192 . The compartment  222  is formed by parallel vertical side surfaces  224  and  226  generally aligned with sidewalls  228  and  230  of the chute portion  192  that are spaced slightly further than the diameter across the faces  34  and  36  of the chubs  26 . In addition, the width of the slide member  220  in the direction  197  transverse to its direction of movement upon actuation of power cylinder  206 , and thus the size of the surfaces  224  and  226  in this direction is approximately the same or slightly larger than the diameter across the chub faces  34  and  36 . In this manner, the carrying compartment  222  is sized to receive a single one of the chubs  26  upon its exit from the chute portion  192 . 
     For directing the chubs  26  into the compartment  277 , the guide portion  216  of the slide bearing member  210  has upstanding wall portions  232  and  234  interconnected by bottom wall portion  236 , as best seen in FIG.  14 . The wall portions  232  and  234  are spaced at a slightly greater distance from each other than the corresponding sidewalls  228  and  230  of the feed channel chute portion  192  so that at the outlet end  218  thereof, the sidewalls  228  and  230  can fit and extend between the wall portions  232  and  234  for feeding chubs  26  to the staging area compartment  222 . As previously mentioned, the compartment  222  is open-ended in the direction  197  of movement of the chubs  26  down the chute  192 . For receiving chubs  26  in the compartment  222 , the slide bearing member  212  closes off the open end of the compartment distal from the outlet  218  of the chute  192  so that pressure from the pushing action generated by chubs built up in the chute  192  on the chub  26  in the compartment  222  can cause the chub  26  in the compartment  222  to bear against the slide member  212 , as seen in  FIG. 15 . 
     The chub  26  in the compartment  222  can be indexed to the chub advancing mechanism  56  for slicing based upon timed intervals of operation for each of the power cylinders  66 ,  206  and  208  such as under control of a PLC. In this regard, when the cylinder  206  is actuated to shift its plunger rod  209  to the extended position, the cylinder  208  has already been actuated so that its plunger rod  209  is in its retracted position. Preferably, upon actuation of the cylinder  206 , the power cylinder  66  will also have been actuated so that its plunger rod  209  is in its extended position, as shown in  FIG. 14  and for reasons described hereinafter. 
     When the power cylinder  206  is actuated to shift its plunger rod  209  to its extended position, the slide member  220  will linearly slide in the transverse direction  215  between the slide bearing members  210  and  212  carrying the chub  26  in the compartment  222  therewith. As best seen in  FIG. 15 , the slide bearing members  210 ,  212  and  214  can be of a low friction plastic material with the intermediate guide member  212  provided with opposing guide ways  238  and  240  formed on either side thereof. An elongate projection  242  extends from side  244  of the slide member  220  for a tight sliding fit in the guide way  238 . The slide member  220  can also be of a low friction plastic material similar to the slide bearing members. A v-groove  246  is formed in opposite side  248  of the slide member  220 , and a corresponding shaped projection  249  extends from raised portion  250  of the slide bearing member  210  for a sliding fit in the groove  246 . The remaining components of the system  16  herein are preferably of a food grade stainless steel material such as the table  190 , chute portions  192 , support member  204 , cylinders  66 ,  206 ,  208 , and the cylinder rods  209  therefor. 
     To rigidly connect the cylinder rod  209  of the power cylinder  206  to the slide member  220 , an attachment head  252  is provided at the distal end of the rod  210 . The slide member  220  includes a stepped well  254  formed adjacent its proximate end, including a slot opening  256  thereto through which the cylinder rod  209  extends, as shown best in  FIG. 17 . An integral recessed block portion  258  is formed in the well  254 , and the attachment head  252  can have an L-shaped configuration for seating tightly thereagainst and being fastened thereto as by bolting or the like. 
     When the power cylinder  206  is actuated to cause the rod  209  to shift to its extended position, the slide member  220  will shift therewith transverse to the travel direction  197  of the chubs  26  into the staging area carrying compartment  222 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . In this position, the chub  26  in the compartment  222  is ready for being indexed into position for being engaged by the chub advancing mechanism  56 . As can be seen, the side  248  of the advanced slide member  220  spans the distance between upstanding wall portions  232  and  234  of the slide bearing member guide portion  216 , so that chubs  26  can continue to build up in the chute portion  192  without advancing out from the outlet end  218  thereof. In this regard, photo sensors or the like can be provided to monitor the build up of chubs  26  on the vibratory table  162  as well as in the feed channels  198  to effect an automatic shutdown of the feed mechanism  98  at the slicing station  18  until the backup of chubs has been obviated by continued production of sliced stacks  12 . 
     As generally can be seen in  FIG. 12 , the four operating units  174  are split into two pairs that are generally oriented on either side of the table  190 . Accordingly, the transverse sliding of the slide members  220  pushes the chubs  26  on opposite sides of the table member  190  centrally toward each other and in alignment with chubs  26  being processed by the operating unit  174  on the same side of the table member  190 . 
     With the chubs  26  in the compartments  222  as shifted by the slide member  220  in its extended position via piston rod  209 , they will be in position for being indexed into alignment with the chub advancing mechanism  56 , and specifically the arcuate engagement end  62  thereof. In this regard, it is noted that the chubs  26  are to be shifted in a direction parallel to their original travel direction  197  in the chutes  192  at a more central region on the table  190 . For this purpose, paddle push members  260  are employed to engage the chub  26  through the opening formed between the slide member surfaces  224  and  226  and, with the opposite opening now clear of the slide bearing member  212 , through the compartment  222  so that the chub  26  is deposited in the area aligned with the chub advancing mechanism  56 , and specifically on the lower member  78  of the chub centering mechanism  74 , as seen in  FIG. 17 . To this end, the lower member  78  can include a lead-in surface portion  262  on which the chub slides once out of the compartment  222  until it is aligned between the chub centering mechanism upper and lower members  76  and  78 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  16 , it can be seen that the paddle members  260  are formed integrally on a pair of longitudinally extending bars  264  and  266  interconnected by a shorter joining transverse bar  268  at the end of the bars  264  and  266  adjacent the downstream end of the vibratory conveyor table  162 . The distal end of the plunger rod  209  of power cylinder  208  is rigidly connected to the transverse bar  268  at approximately the mid-point thereon, so that actuation of the cylinder  208  causes the longitudinal bars  264  and  266  to shift equally in the longitudinal direction  197 . Slotted transverse supports  267  and  269  are mounted to the table  190  adjacent ends of the bars  264  and  266  to support the bars  264  and  266  in outer end slots thereof (see opposite end slots  269   a  and  269   b  in  FIG. 25 ) for their sliding movements upon operation of the cylinder  208 . With the plunger rod  209  in its retracted position, the paddle members  260  will be in the position shown in  FIG. 16  generally aligned with the outlet end  218  of each of the feed channel chute portions  192  associated with respective ones of the operating units  174  to provide clearance for the slide member  220  to index a chub  26  carried thereby as has been described. 
     With single ones of the chubs  26  in respective carrying compartments  222  of the slide members  220  indexed in direction  215  via operation of the power cylinder  206  to its extended state, the power cylinder  208  then fires to shift its plunger  209  to its extended position causing the paddle members  260  to shift longitudinally through the carrying compartments  222  with each of the four chubs  26  riding on lead-in surfaces  262  of the lower members  78  of each of the operating units centering mechanisms  74 . In this manner, power cylinder  208  acts as a common cylinder for driving each of the paddle members  260  associated with each one of the operating units  174 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 17 , with the cylinder  208  actuated so that the plunger  209  is in its extended position, the stroke of the cylinder  208  is such that the paddle member  260  will have shifted the chubs  26  off of the lead-in surfaces  262  to be in substantial alignment between the centering mechanism upper and lower members  76  and  78  in each of the operating units  174 . In this position, the chubs are substantially aligned with the engagement ends  62  of the chub advancement mechanisms  56  in each of the operating units  174 . 
     More specifically, the advancement mechanism  56  includes a pusher member  270  such as of stainless steel material and having the engagement end  62  formed thereon. At the end opposite to the arcuate engagement end  62 , the pusher member  270  includes an L-shaped member rigidly connected thereto with the opposite end of the member  272  connected to distal end of the plunger rod  210  of the power cylinder  66 . Accordingly, operation of the power cylinder  66  to shift the plunger rod between retracted and extended positions thereof causes the pusher member  270  to move in the transverse direction  215  via the rigid connection provided by the L-shaped member  272  therebetween. As is apparent, each of the operating units  174  includes both a power cylinder  66  for its chub advancement mechanism  56  and a power cylinder  206  for the slide member  220 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 14 , the power cylinders  206  and  66  generally face oppositely to each other in terms of the cylinder end from which the plunger rod  209  extends. In this regard, the L-member  272  allows the power cylinder  66  to be adjacent the chub pusher member  270  that it drives for conserving space on the table  190  in the transverse direction  215 . Accordingly, while actuation of the cylinder  206  so that the plunger rod  209  thereof is in its extended position causes the slide member  220  to advance, similar operation of the power cylinder  66  with its plunger rod  209  in its extended position causes the pusher member  270  to retract. Likewise, operation of the cylinder  206  so that its plunger  209  is retracted causes the slide member  220  to similarly retract. Operation of the cylinder  66  so that its plunger  209  is retracted causes the pusher member  270  to advance thus bringing the arcuate end  62  thereof into engagement with the chub  26  in alignment therewith for slicing via the harping blades  58 , as described more fully hereinafter. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , before the cylinder  66  is operated to retract its plunger  209  for advancing the pusher member  270 , the cylinders  206  and  208  are timed so that after cylinder  208  is fired to its extended position for shifting the chubs  26  as shown in  FIG. 17 , the cylinder  206  will be fired to its retracted position to retract the slide member  220  for bringing the compartment  222  back into alignment with the chute portion  192  for receiving the leading chub  26  in the associated chute portion  192  therein, as seen in  FIG. 18 . Either before or after the cylinder  206  is operated to shift to its retracted position, the cylinder  208  can be operated to shift back to its retracted position, as also seen in  FIG. 18 . Preferably, the cylinder  208  is operated for refraction after the cylinder  206  has refracted the slide member  220  so that the paddle members  260  shift to their retracted position in clearance from the distal end of slide member  220 . Alternatively, the cylinder  208  can retract the paddle members  260  prior to operation of cylinder  206  for retracting the slide member  220  with the members  260  traveling through now empty slide member compartment  222 . 
     As can be seen best in  FIG. 18 , the pusher member  270  has opposite sides  274  and  276  adjacent the slide bearing members  212  and  214 , respectively. Along the length of the pusher member sides  274  and  276  are longitudinally extending projections  278  and  280 , respectively, that are formed approximately mid-way along the height of the sides  274  and  276 . The projection  278  is sized to mate in the elongate guide way  240  of the bearing member  212  for a tight sliding fit therein. Similarly, bearing  214  includes an elongate guide way  282  such that projection  280  has a tight sliding fit therein. In this manner, the pusher member  270  is guided via the slide bearing members  212  and  214  for back and forth sliding in the transverse direction  215 . 
     As previously mentioned, the arcuate engagement end  62  of the pusher member  270  has a slotted construction, as can be seen in  FIGS. 13 and 30 . More specifically, the pusher member  270  has a body  284  having an elongate window opening  286  formed therein between the sidewalls  274  and  276  thereof. The opening  286  at its forward or distal end stops short of the arcuate engagement end  62  of the pusher member  270 . A plurality of horizontal slots  288  are formed in the pusher member body  284  at the distal end  62 . The slots  288  are equal in number to the number of harping blades  58  to allow the pusher member  270  to advance the chubs  26  through the blades  58  for creating the stacks  12 . In the preferred and illustrated form, stacks  12  of six meat slices  30  are formed via five harping blades  58  such that there are likewise five horizontal slots  288  formed in the pusher member arcuate end  62 . From top to bottom, the pusher member  270  is sized to generally correspond to the height of the chub cylindrical surface  38  so that the engagement end  62  bears on the surface  38  for substantially the full height thereof, less the areas corresponding to the thin or narrow slot spacings  288  formed in the end  62 . For secure engagement with the chub  26 , the curvature of the end  62  extends close to 180° about the chub surface  38 . The horizontal slots  288  extend rearwardly toward the pusher member opening  286  a sufficient distance in the direction  215  to allow the entire pusher member arcuate end face  62  to be advanced past the harping blades  58  at which point the meat slices  30  have been formed and to continue to push the stack  12  to the insertion station  22 . To this end, the slots  288  extend rearwardly in the pusher member body  284  and stop adjacent the forward end of the opening  286 . 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 19-23 , the harping blades  58  and the blade mount assembly  70  therefor will be more particularly described. The blade mount assembly  70  carries the blades  58  for reciprocation in the longitudinal direction  197  as the pusher member  270  advances the chubs  26  therethrough in the transverse direction  215  via actuation of the power cylinder  66  to its refracted state. For this purpose, the blade mount assembly  70  includes two pairs of longitudinal bar members  290  and  292  each of which carries a predetermined number of blades  58  less than the total number of blades  58  in a blade set  294  needed to cut the chubs  26  into the stacks  12  at each of the operating units  174 , and specifically at the harping stations  20  thereof. As shown, the blade mount bar  290  carries two blades  58  and the blade mount bar  292  carries the remaining three blades  58  in a set  294  such that opposite movements of the bars  290  and  292  in the longitudinal direction  197  via the blade drive  66  will generate the desired reciprocating movement of the harping blades  58  relative to each other. 
     Each one of the pairs of bar members  290  and  292  is disposed inward relative to the center of the table  190  of an adjacent one of the longitudinal bars  264  and  266  so that each pair of bar members  290  and  292  carries blade sets  294  for two adjacent harping stations  20  on the same side of the table  190 , as best seen in  FIG. 12 . More specifically, the bar member  290  is disposed between the adjacent one of the bar members  264  or  266  and the bar member  292  which is located closest to the center of the table  190 . Each of the bars  290  and  292  includes pairs of depending arms  296  and  298 , there being two such pairs of arms  296  and  298  with each bar  290 ,  292 , in the illustrated form. The arms  296  and  298  include respective plate mounts  300  and  302  integral therewith for securing the arms  296  and  298  to the bars  290  and  292 . In this regard, the plate mounts  300  and  302  are attached to inner surfaces  290   a  and  292   a  of the respective bars  290  and  292  that are in facing relation to each other. This allows the blades  58  carried by the two pairs of arms  296  and  298  to be aligned with each together for longitudinal shifting in the space between two adjacent blades or over or under a blade carried by the opposite bar  290  or  292  when undergoing reciprocating action, as shown and described hereinbelow. In this manner, the blade sets  294  are disposed in the area aligned below the space between adjacent bar members  290  and  292 . 
     For attaching the plate mounts  300  and  302  to the bars  290  and  292 , their surfaces  290   a  and  292   a  each include cross-recesses  304  into which corresponding raised cross-portions  306  of the plate mounts  300  and  302  fit. The plate mounts  300  and  302  are also fastened to the bar members  290  and  292  via bolting or the like. 
     Referring more specifically to  FIG. 21 , the arms  296  secured to bar  292  will next be described. As shown, the arm  296  projects down from one side of the plate mount  300  thereof. Toward the lower end of the arm  296 , there are five narrow slots or slits  308  extending transverse through the arm  296  and opening inwardly in a direction away from bar surface  292   a  and thus toward the chub pusher member  270 . Three harping blades  58  are secured in three of the slits  308   a  spaced from each other by open slits  308   b  with the blades  58  having their serrated edge  60  facing the pusher member  270 . For this purpose, ends  310  of the blades  58  extend out from the slits  308   a  into an arcuate recess area  312  formed on the outer side of the leg  296 . Double-headed rivets  314  extend through the blade ends  310  with the rivet heads  316  residing in the recess  312  so as to limit sliding of the blades  58  along their length. Arms  296  substantially identical to that carried by bar  292  as described above are carried by bar  290 , however with the slits  308  formed so that they open in a direction toward the bar surface  290   a  and thus toward the pusher member  270 . In addition, the arm  296  of bar  290  carries only two blades  58  which are mounted in slits  308   b  thereof leaving slits  308   a  open with the edge  60  of the blades  58  facing the pusher member  270 . 
     The slits  308   a  of the arm  296  carried by the bar  290  are vertically aligned with the slits  308   a  of the arm  296  carried by the bar  292 . The slits  308   b  on the arms  296  of each bar  290  and  292  are likewise vertically aligned. In this manner, when the blades  58  are reciprocating, the two blades carried by the arm  296  of bar  290  will pass through the two open slits  308   b  of arm  296  on bar  292 ; and, in a similar manner, the three blades  58  carried by the arm  296  on bar  292  will pass through the three open slits  308   a  on arm  296  carried by bar  290 . 
     At their outermost ends  318  relative to the chubs  26  as will be described hereafter, the blades  58  are mounted to mounting arms  298 , such as shown in  FIG. 23  with respect to bar  290 . The arms  298  only include the number of blade slits  308  corresponding to the number of blade ends  318  attached thereto as blades  58  mounted to a corresponding pair of arms  296  and  298  on the other one of the bars  290  or  292  in a blade set  294  do not need to pass therethrough during the reciprocating action of the harping blades  58 . Thus, the arms  298  will have either two slits if mounted to bar  290  or three slits if mounted to bar  292 . Accordingly, for a blade set  294 , there is one pair of arms  296  and  298  on bar  290  that carry two of the blades  58  and another corresponding pair of arms  296  and  298  on bar  292  that carry the other three blades  58  of the set  294 . Also and has been mentioned, each pair of bars  290  and  292  has two blade sets  294  associated therewith so that each bar  290 ,  292  in a pair will have two mounting arms  296  and two mounting arms  298  that it carries. 
     The arms  298  include enlarged lower ends  320  in the direction transverse to the length of the blades  58  for the provision of tensioning members  322  on the outer side  320   a  of the leg ends  320 , as best seen in  FIG. 23 . The tensioning members  322  include a forked end  324  through which a threaded adjustment member  326  passes and into a threaded recess in the enlarged end  320  of the arm  298  for securing the tensioning member  322  thereto. At its other end  328 , the tensioning member  322  includes a slit  330  aligned with one of the slits in the arm enlarged end  320 . The slits  330  extend through to the outer surface  332  of the tensioning member  322  and in which an arcuate recess  334  is formed. The blade ends  318  pass through these slits  330  and are secured at the tensioning members  322  as by the double-headed rivet  314  with the heads  316  residing in the recess  334 . 
     The tensioning member  322  includes a projection  336  formed on inner surface  340  thereof facing the outer side  320   a  of the arm enlarged end  320 . The projection  336  is seated in a groove  338  in the arm outer side  320   a  and is allowed to pivot slightly therein for tension adjustments of the blade  58  associated with the tensioning member  322 . In this regard, the tensioning member  322  inner surface is  340  faceted so that on either side of the projection  336 , there are surface portions  340   a  and  340   b  that taper from the projection  336  to either tensioning member end  324  and  328 , respectively, and away from the outer side  320   a  of the arm  298 . 
     Accordingly, turning head  340  of the adjustment member  326  in a tightening direction pivots the tensioning member  322  to bring the surface portion  340   a  closer to arm surface  320   a  with the surface  340   b  pivoting further from arm surface  320   a  with the projection  336  acting as a fulcrum. Because the blade ends  318  are secured in recess  334  located adjacent the tensioning member end  328 , the tightening action of the adjustment member  326  causes a pulling force to be exerted on the blade  358  via the tensioning member  322  having its other end  310  secured to arm  296  so as to increase the tension thereon. To lessen the tension, the adjustment member  326  is turned in the loosening direction to allow the tensioning member  322  to pivot about projection  336  so that the tension in the blade  58  pulls the surface  340   b  closer to the arm surface  320   a  with the tensioning member  322  pivoting about the projection  336  so that surface  340   a  pivots away from the arm surface  320   a . In this manner, the tensioning members  322  allow each blade  58  to have their tension levels individually controlled via the tensioning member  322  associated therewith. Precision control over the blade tension allows the optimum tension levels to be determined such as for different types of meats  10 , temperatures thereof, and/or operating speeds of the various components of the automated system  16  herein, and specifically at the harping station  20  thereof, in terms of minimizing flexing and/or breakage of the blades  58 . 
     Reciprocation of the harping blades  58  in a blade set  294  is caused by operation of the eccentric blade drive  68 , as previously discussed. More particularly, the two pairs of blade mount bars  290 ,  292  extend in the longitudinal direction  197  and are supported for reciprocation along their length by the transverse slotted support bars  268  and  269  utilized for supporting the paddle member longitudinal bars  264  and  266  at either end of the table  190  via interior slots  342  formed in the support bars  268  and  269 , as can be seen in  FIG. 25  with reference to support bar  269 . As shown, retainer members  344  can be fastened to the tops of the bars  268  and  269  with each retainer member  344  spanning across two adjacent support slots  342 . 
     Each of the two pair of blade mount bars  290  and  292  are operatively connected to the eccentric blade drive  68 . As best seen in  FIG. 11 , the blade drive  68  is disposed at the distal end of the table  190  from the downstream end  168  of the chub conveyor table  162 . Ends of the bars  290  and  292  projecting through the slots supports  342  of the support bar  269  have devises  346  attached thereto, as shown in  FIG. 25 . The pivotal actuator  72  is in the form of a pivotal, oscillating plate member  348  which is connected at one end  350  to the eccentric drive  68  and at its other end  352  to the clevis  346 . The plate  348  is pivotally attached between sides  346   a  and  346   b  of the clevis via a pivot pin  354  extending between the clevis sides  346   a  and  346   b  and through the plate end  352 . The eccentric blade drive  68  is shown in  FIGS. 24-27 . 
     The eccentric drive  68  includes a drive shaft  356  extending along its axis  356   a  oriented in the transverse direction  215 . Along the length of the drive shaft  356  are formed eccentric sections  358 , each section  358  being associated with one of the blade mount bars  290  or  292 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 26 , the eccentric sections  358  each include an eccentric drive portion  360  and a large annular ring bearing  362 . The eccentric drive portion  360  is mounted to the drive shaft  356  for rotation therewith the drive portion  360  including an offset lobe portion  364 . The lobe portion  364  is formed such that when inner race  366  is pressed onto outer surface  368  of the drive portion  360 , the central axis of the annular ring bearing  362  will be offset from the longitudinal axis  356   a  of the drive shaft  356 . As shown, the lobe portion  364  will extend for a greater radial extent from the drive axis  356   a  to the outer surface  368  than the remainder of the drive portion  360 . 
     The plate member  348  has its end  350  enlarged relative to its pivot end  352  so that the plate  348  has a generally triangular configuration. At the enlarged end  350  there is a large circular opening  370  for being mounted onto outer race  372  of the ring bearing  362 . Accordingly, each plate member  348  is attached to one of the eccentric sections  358  of the drive shaft  356  via one of the ring bearings  362 . As the drive shaft  356  rotates, the eccentric section  358  causes the attached plate member  348  to orbit about the shaft axis  356  thus alternately pulling on the connected blade mount bar  290 ,  292  as the shaft  356  rotates to shift the lobe portion  364  to the point furthest from the bar support  269  and pushing on the blade mount bar  290 ,  292  as the shaft  356  rotates to shift the lobe portion  364  to be at its closest point to the bar support  269 . 
     The eccentric sections  358  are mounted to the drive shaft  356  such that offset lobe portions  364  in a pair of sections  358  associated with a pair of blade mount bars  290  and  292  have their respective offset lobe portions  364  spaced from each other by 180° about the drive shaft  356 . In this manner, when one of the blade mount bars  290 ,  292  is undergoing a pulling action via its associated eccentric section  358 , the other blade mount bar  290 ,  292  in the pair is undergoing an opposite pushing action via its associated eccentric section  358 . Accordingly, the blades  58  carried by the mounting arms  296  and  298  on the respective blade mount bars  290  and  292  will alternate in their motion relative to each other so as to produce a slicing action on the chub  26  being pushed therethrough with the pusher member  270  of the chub advancing mechanism  56 . In other words, opposite faces of a slice will be formed by blades  58  that are traveling in opposite directions to each other. 
     The offset lobe portion  364  is sized to provide the plate members  348  with a predetermined travel distance or stroke in the direction  197  such that a pair of associated adjacent blade mount bars  290  and  292  shift relative to one another whereby the outer arm  298  on one of the bars  290 ,  292  will not travel sufficiently to engage an adjacent inner arm  296  on the other of the bars  290 ,  292 . In this regard, only central portions  58   a  of the blades  58  disposed between the arms  296  are exposed to the chub  26  pushed therethrough. It is at these portions  58   a  that the blades  58  secured to the arms  296  and  298  of one of the bars  290 ,  292  are mounted to overlap the blades  58  secured to the arms  296  and  298  of the other one of the bars  290 ,  292  for undertaking the scissor-like slicing action relative to each other as the blades  58  associated with one of the bars  290 ,  292  and the blades  58  associated with the other of the bars  290 ,  292  travel in opposite directions relative to each other, generally toward and away from each other in direction  197 . The spacing of the arms  296  on respective bars  290  and  292  at its minimum will always be greater than the size of the pusher member  270  in the direction  197  so that its arcuate engagement end portion  62  can fit therebetween as it pushes the chubs  26  through the alternately, reciprocating blade portions  58   a . In practice, the blades  58  undergo twelve inches of total reciprocating travel for a full slicing cycle of a chub  26 , which takes on the order of 0.5 second to complete. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 25 , the drive shaft  356  is mounted for rotation in bearing blocks  374  and  376  at either end thereof. One end  378  of the shaft  356  extends beyond the bearing  374  and has a large pulley member  380  attached thereto. As can be seen in  FIG. 11 , a motor  382  for the blade drive  68  has a small drive pulley  384  attached to its output end. A drive belt  386  is trained about the drive pulley  384  and the driven pulley  380  to impart rotation to the drive shaft  356  upon operation of the motor  382 . Accordingly, the output speed of the motor  382  and the speed reduction provided by the relative sizing of the pulleys  380  and  384  will govern the speed at which the blade mount bars  290  and  292  and thus the blades  58  carried thereby reciprocate for slicing of the chubs  26  into stacks  12  of meat slices  30 . It has been found that a preferred range of reciprocating blade travel of approximately 7″ to 12″ in conjunction with the preferred operation force of 10 psi of the cylinder  66  for driving the pusher member  270  against the chub  26  to advance it through the blades  58  provides well-formed meat slices  30 . 
     Each of the operating units  174  includes a chub centering mechanism  74 , as shown in  FIGS. 28-30 . As previously discussed, the centering mechanism  74  operates to keep the vertical center of the chub  26  held between the upper and lower plate members  76  and  78  aligned with the vertical center of the blades  58  in a blade set  294 , e.g. at the third blade  58  from the top or bottom of a five blade  58  blade set  294 . This ensures that the upper and lower slices  30  formed from a chub  26  will be of equal thickness despite minor variation in the axial heights of different chubs  26 . 
     The chub  26  is pushed between the members  76  and  78  via the lead-in surface  262  provided on member  78  by a paddle member  260 , as previously described. A pressure source  388  drives a linkage system  390  that maintains pressure equally distributed on either side of a center line of force application to keep the chub  26  centered with respect thereto with the chub held between the plates  76  and  78  engaged against the faces  34  and  36  thereof. 
     More specifically, a small pneumatic cylinder  392  is operable to exert pressure along an output shaft member  394  having link members generally designated  396  pivotally attached thereto at one end thereof and at their other ends pivotally attached to parallel shafts  398  and  400  of the respective plate members  76  and  78 . The link members  396  are operable to allow the plates  76  and  78  to shift up and down to accommodate for changes in height of the chubs  26  and to tie these movements of the plate members  76  and  78  to each other. 
     A guide frame  402  is provided for the link members  396 . The link members  396  include a pair of upper and lower proximate link members  404  and  406  and a pair of upper and lower distal link members  408  and  410 . Guide surfaces  412 - 418  are provided on the frame  402  corresponding to ends of the links  404 - 410  pivotally attached to the plate shafts  398  and  400 . Accordingly, as the shaft member  394  advances relative to the cylinder  392 , the ends of the links  404 - 410  will ride on their corresponding guide surfaces  412 - 418  and move toward the shaft member  394  causing the plate members  76  and  78  to move in equal amounts toward each other. Likewise, when the shaft member  394  retracts relative to the cylinder  392 , the ends of the links  404 - 410  will ride on the associated surfaces  412 - 418  away from the shaft member  394  shifting the plates  76  and  78  in equal amounts away from each other. 
     As is apparent, should a chub  26  that is larger in size than a previously processed chub  26  be slid between the plate members  76  and  78  via the lead-in surface  262 , the above-described linkage system  390  will cause the plate member  78  to shift downwardly while the plate member  76  will shift an equal and opposite amount upwardly, thereby keeping the vertical center of the chub  26  that is to be processed next at the same location as the vertical center of the previously processed smaller chub  26 . In a like manner, any movement of one of the plates  76  or  78  to accommodate a smaller chub  26  than one that was previously processed will also include a corresponding movement of the other plate member  76  or  78  in an equal amount toward the other plate  76  or  78  thereby keeping the vertical centers of the chubs  26  identical. 
     Referring more specifically to  FIGS. 29 and 30 , there it can be seen that the plate members  76  and  78  extend in the direction  215  beyond their respective shafts  398  and  400 . In addition, it is noted that the shafts  398  and  400  extend in the direction  197  parallel to bars  264 ,  266  and bars  290 ,  292 . The shafts  398  and  400  will be disposed between the bar  264  or  266 , depending on which side of the table  190  the centering mechanism  74  is located, and the pair of blade mount bars  290 ,  292  on that side of the table  190 . The plates  76  and  78  include portions  420  and  422 , respectively, that extend in the direction  215  beyond the adjacent blade mount bars  290  and  292  with the upper plate portion  420  extending above the uppermost blade  58  in the associated blade set  294  and the lower plate portion  424  extending below the lowest blade  58  in the blade set  294 . The plate portions  420  and  422  extend past the innermost blade mount bar  292  to the insertion station  22 . 
     The insertion stations  22  for each of the operating units  174  is at the center of the table  190  so that all four insertion stations  22  are aligned with each other, as best seen in  FIG. 12 . Thus, the distal ends of the plate portions  420  and  422  terminate adjacent the insertion stations  22  at the center of the table  190 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 29 and 30 . The chub pusher member  270  is advanced by operation of its cylinder  66  to its retracted state such that the arcuate end portion  62  thereof travels between the upper and lower members  76  and  78  of the chub centering device  74  and past the distal ends of the respective plate portions  420  and  422  to deposit the sliced chub  26  in its stacked form at the insertion station  22 , as depicted in  FIGS. 29-32 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 32-37 , the insertion station  22  includes a receptacle  424  for receiving the stacks  12  as they are slid out from between the centering mechanism members  76  and  78  via the chub pusher member  270 . The receptacle  424  can include an arcuate or concave upstanding wall  426  facing the pusher member arcuate engagement end  62  such that when the pusher member  270  has been fully advanced, the engagement end face  62  will cooperate with the concave wall  426  to completely encircle the chub outer surface  38  about 360° thereof. To this end, in the preferred form, the upstanding wall  426  will extend approximately 180° to cooperate with the preferred approximately 180° of curvature of the pusher member arcuate end  62 , as shown in  FIG. 32 . 
     A small, cylindrical portion  428  can be raised from the table  190  at the bottom of the receptacle  424 , a portion of which forms the bottom of the wall  426  and is integral therewith. The cylindrical portion  428  has a height corresponding generally to the level at which the centering mechanism lower member  78  is raised above the table  190 . Referring to  FIGS. 33 and 34 , at the bottom of the receptacle  426 , a cut-out opening  430  is formed in the table  190 . The stack gating mechanism  82  is in the form of an elongate, apertured gate member  432  that is slidingly indexed back and forth between support and release positions thereof. In the support position, a circular aperture  434  thereof, substantially corresponding in shape to the cut-out opening  430  and slightly larger than the diameter across the chub faces  34  and  36  is shifted so as to be out of alignment with the receptacle  424 , as shown in  FIGS. 35 and 36 . After the stack  12  is received in the receptacle  424  and the receiving tray  14  is indexed into alignment with the station  22 , the gate member  432  can then be indexed to bring the aperture  434  thereof into alignment with the receptacle opening  430  to allow the stack  12  to fall into the aligned tray compartment  28  therebelow. 
     More particularly, after the chub pusher member  270  has been advanced to shift the stack  12  to the insertion station  22  ( FIG. 32 ) via operation of the power cylinder  66  thereof to its retracted state, the cylinder  66  is again fired to its extended state to refract the pusher member  270  ( FIG. 35 ). Thereafter, the stack guide  84  is operable via actuator  86  thereof to bring the weighted engagement head  88  into contact with the top face  34  or  36  of the chub  26 , as shown in  FIG. 36 . At this time, the gate member  432  is indexed to its release position shown in  FIGS. 34 and 37  as by a power actuator or cylinder (not shown) whereby the stack  12  falls under the guidance of stack guide head  88  into the aligned compartment  28  therebelow. 
     Since all four insertion stations are aligned centrally on the table  190 , the gate member  432  can extend in the longitudinal direction  197  to each of the stations  22  and be provided with four apertures  434  for each of the station receptacles  424 . With the gate member  432  in its support position, and four stacks  12  at each of the insertions stations  22 , the stack guide actuator  86  is operable to bring the weighted engagement heads  88  at each station  22  into engagement with the chubs  26 , as described above. More specifically, the stack guide actuator  86  can include a single common power cylinder in the form of pneumatic cylinder  436  that shifts a framework assembly  438  up and down vertically as the cylinder plunger  209  is advanced and retracted, respectively. The framework  438  includes a plurality of lugs  440  formed thereon which can include sleeve bushings  441  pressed therein. The framework assembly  438  extends longitudinally in the direction  197  centrally along the table  190  and is guided for its vertical movement by vertical guide rods  442  and  444 , extending through the bushings  441  and mounted to the table  190  adjacent the longitudinal ends thereof. The weighted engagement heads  88  are integrally formed at the bottom of each of the shafts  446  and enlarged relative thereto so as to be slightly smaller than the chub faces  34 ,  36  for fitting through the openings  430  and  434 . The shafts  446  are fixedly attached to the framework assembly  438  via the mounting lugs  440  for vertical shifting therewith. 
     Accordingly, after the pusher member  270  has shifted a stack  12  into the insertion station receptacle  424 , the pneumatic cylinder  436  is evacuated to allow the plunger  209  to retract therein with the weighted engagement heads  88  on the bottom ends of the shafts  436  resting with its entire weight on the top face  34  or  36  of the stacks  12 . Before the gate member  432  is shifted to its release position, the tray conveyor in the form of a pin conveyor  80  will be indexed so that the compartments  28  of four of adjacent packages or trays  14  extending in direction  197  are aligned below the four receptacles  424 . With the tray compartments  28  so aligned, the gate member  432  can then be slidingly indexed to its release position, and the stacks  12  will fall into the aligned compartments  28  with the engagement heads  88  falling a predetermined distance with the stack  12  as shown in  FIG. 37 . Thus, the engagement heads  88  will guide the stack  12  for a vertical fall and oppose any tendency for the stack slices  30  to shift out from the desired cylindrical configuration such as due to outside influences during the descent of the stack  12 . For instance, if there is a tendency for the stack  12  to start shifting so that its axis is tilted from the vertical, this tendency for shifting will be transferred between the slices  30  to the topmost slice in the stack  12 . However, because the head  88  is engaged flush against the top slice keeping it properly vertically aligned, this will resist any shifting tendency in the remainder of the stack  12  thus maintaining it in its well-formed configuration with its axis vertically oriented which, in turn, allows the stack  12  to properly fit into the aligned compartment  28  therebelow such as without having the slices  30  engage against sidewalls  28   a  of the compartments  28  as they fall therein. 
     The heads  88  preferably do not fall the entire distance corresponding to the distance the stacks  12  fall so that with the stacks  12  received in the tray compartments  28 , the bottom  448  of the engagement head  88  will be spaced from the uppermost slice  30  in the stack  12 . In this manner, when the cylinder  436  is fired to its extended state for lifting the heads  88  back through the aligned openings  430  and  434 , there will be no problems relating to sticking of the meat slices  30  to the head  88  and thus disturbing the well-formed stack  12  placed into the tray compartment  28 . For this purpose, washers  450  fixedly attached to the shafts  446  at a predetermined position thereon such as disposed adjacent the top thereof can engage a vertically fixed bearing lug  440  through which the shaft  446  extends to limit the downward travel of the weighted engagement head  88 . It is the distance between the washer  450  and the fixed lug  440  that will determine the distance the head  88  travels in the downward direction, with this distance sized to be slightly less than the travel distance of the stacks  12  from the table  190  into the tray compartment  28 , as previously discussed. 
     While there have been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modification which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.