Patent Description:
Food processing machines may utilize various food processing devices to process food products. For instance, some food processing machines utilize rotating cutting members to slice food products. Other food processing machines utilize varying food processing devices to form, mold, cut, package, or process food products in various ways. It can be advantageous to move the food processing devices towards or away from the food products to accomplish the desired objective.

In some food slicing systems, a rotating blade slices multiple slices of a food product or "food log. " There is usually a dwell time or period of time that the food product is not advanced toward the blade for slicing, which may occur between production of separate stacks of the food slices. This permits the produced food stack to move further along a conveyor belt before production of the next food stack begins.

The blade continues to spin during the dwell time, but is not supposed to produce additional slices. However, because the food product often is soft or has water added, it does not act as a rigid solid mass, and may bulge slightly or flow, however minutely, as it rests on the conveyor belt. Such slight bulging or flowing causes the food product to nonetheless contact the spinning blade, which produces a small quantity of food product or "shrapnel" in the form of food particles, unwanted scrap, and other small pieces of food product. This is not only unhygienic and requires additional cleaning of the machine, such accumulation of food product tends to unduly clog various mechanical linkages and mechanisms, and also represents a loss of food product and an unnecessary expense.

Some systems have attempted to compensate for shrapnel and scrap production during the dwell time by linearly moving the blade away the food product during the dwell time. Some systems retract the food product away from the blade using a rear gripper. Other systems retract the blade away from the food product in a parallel or linear manner using rails, spindles, or other guide mechanisms. Once such system directed to linear retraction is described in a first embodiment described below with respect to <FIG>, which show that a blade assembly is moved in a linear path away from the food product. However, this requires a complex structural arrangement and is expensive to manufacture and difficult to maintain. A food slicing machine is needed to overcome one or more of the problems described above.

Further, <CIT> discloses a slicing assembly in which the blade and its motor can be moved, by means of a parallelogram between an extended and a retracted position. <CIT> discloses a slicing assembly according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved slicing assembly.

This object is accomplished by a slicing assembly according to claim <NUM>.

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a food processing system <NUM> for processing food products, wherein this embodiment is not in accordance with the invention. The food processing system <NUM> includes a track or input conveyor <NUM> configured to transport the food product, a slicing apparatus or assembly <NUM>, an auxiliary input conveyor <NUM>, and a control system <NUM>. Food product is loaded on to the track <NUM>, which delivers it to the auxiliary input conveyor <NUM>, which in turn, feeds the food product to the slicing apparatus <NUM>. The slicing apparatus <NUM> includes a cutting member <NUM>, which slices the food product. In other embodiments, the slicing apparatus <NUM> may vary. An output conveyor <NUM> then carries the sliced food product away from the food processing system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> controls operation of the food processing system <NUM>. In other embodiments, the food processing system <NUM> may vary.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus <NUM>, and a mounting plate <NUM> to which the apparatus <NUM> is attached, removed from the food processing system <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates the same perspective view of <FIG> with a portion of the mounting plate <NUM> and a portion of a driven system <NUM> removed to illustrate inner components. <FIG> illustrates an opposite side perspective view as <FIG> with the mounting plate <NUM> removed.

As shown collectively in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> includes the cutting member <NUM>, the driven system <NUM>, a driving system <NUM>, and an actuator system <NUM>. The driving system <NUM> selectively rotates itself, the driven system <NUM>, and the connected cutting member <NUM> in clockwise direction <NUM>. The driving system <NUM> comprises a motor <NUM>, a driving pulley <NUM>, and a belt <NUM>. The motor <NUM> selectively rotates the attached driving pulley <NUM>, which correspondingly rotates the belt <NUM>, which correspondingly rotates the driven system <NUM>, which correspondingly rotates the cutting member <NUM> all in clockwise direction <NUM>. In such manner, food product may be selectively sliced with the cutting member <NUM>. In other embodiments, the driving system <NUM> may vary.

The actuator system <NUM> comprises an actuator shaft <NUM> (powered by a motor), and actuator arms <NUM>. The actuator system <NUM> selectively moves the driven system <NUM> and the connected cutting member <NUM> between extended and retracted positions along axis <NUM>. When the actuator shaft <NUM> moves the cutting member <NUM> in the extended position, the actuator shaft <NUM> moves in direction <NUM>, thereby causing attached ends <NUM> of the attached actuator arms <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>. This causes ends <NUM> of the actuator arms <NUM> to move in direction <NUM> as a result of the actuator arms <NUM> pivoting at pivot point <NUM> which is pivotally attached to the housing of the food processing system <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The movement of the ends <NUM> of the actuator arms in direction <NUM> causes the attached driven system <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>. The movement of the attached driven system <NUM> in direction <NUM> causes the attached cutting member <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>. When the cutting member <NUM> is in the extended position, the cutting member <NUM> is disposed further away from the belt <NUM> than when the cutting member <NUM> is in the retracted position. When the cutting member <NUM> is in the extended position, the cutting member <NUM> is in position to slice food product.

When the actuator shaft <NUM> moves the cutting member <NUM> into the retracted position, the actuator shaft <NUM> moves in direction <NUM>, thereby causing attached ends <NUM> of the attached actuator arms <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>. This causes ends <NUM> of the actuator arms <NUM> to move in direction <NUM> as a result of the actuator arms <NUM> pivoting at pivot point <NUM> which is pivotally attached to the housing of the food processing system <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The movement of the ends <NUM> of the actuator arms in direction <NUM> causes the attached driven system <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>. The movement of the attached driven system <NUM> in direction <NUM> causes the attached cutting member <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>. When the cutting member <NUM> is in the retracted position, the cutting member <NUM> no longer cuts the food product. As a result, the actuator system <NUM> is used to selectively cut food product by moving the cutting member <NUM> between the extended and retracted positions. In other embodiments, the actuator system <NUM> may vary.

<FIG> illustrates a side view of the driving system <NUM>, driven system <NUM>, and cutting member <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG> with an interior of the driven system <NUM> being exposed. As shown, the driven system <NUM> comprises a driven pulley hub <NUM>, a driven pulley <NUM>, a main housing <NUM>, a spindle housing <NUM>, and a spindle <NUM>. The driven pulley hub <NUM> is fixedly attached to an end <NUM> of the spindle <NUM> and to the driven pulley <NUM>. The other end <NUM> of the spindle <NUM> is fixedly attached to the cutting member <NUM>. In other embodiments, the driven system <NUM> may vary.

Counter weights <NUM> are fixedly attached to the cutting member <NUM>. When the motor <NUM> of the driving system <NUM> rotates the driving pulley <NUM> in clockwise direction <NUM>, which correspondingly rotates the belt <NUM> in clockwise direction <NUM>, the belt <NUM> correspondingly rotates the driven pulley <NUM> in clockwise direction <NUM>. When the driven pulley <NUM> is rotated in clockwise direction <NUM>, the fixedly attached pulley hub <NUM> and the spindle <NUM> also rotate in clockwise direction <NUM> with the spindle <NUM> rotating relative to and within the spindle housing <NUM>.

The spindle housing <NUM> is fixedly attached to the main housing <NUM>. As a result, the spindle <NUM> rotates in clockwise direction <NUM> relative to both the spindle housing <NUM> and the main housing <NUM>. Rotation of the spindle <NUM> in clockwise direction <NUM> causes the fixedly attached cutting member <NUM> and counter weights <NUM> to also rotate in clockwise direction <NUM>. In such manner, the driving system <NUM> can selectively cause the cutting member <NUM> to rotate in clockwise direction <NUM> to cut food product.

The driving pulley <NUM> comprises a driving pulley pocket <NUM> which the belt <NUM> is disposed against. A width <NUM> of the driving pulley pocket <NUM> is larger than a width <NUM> of the belt <NUM> to allow relative movement of the driving pulley <NUM> along axis 42A relative to the belt <NUM> as the actuator system <NUM> (discussed collectively in <FIG>) selectively moves the driven system <NUM> and the connected cutting member <NUM> between the extended and retracted positions. In such manner, the belt <NUM> is allowed to traverse back and forth along axis 42A relative to the driving pulley <NUM> during extension and retraction of the cutting member <NUM> to allow the longitudinal position of the cutting member <NUM> to be changed without damaging the belt <NUM>.

The width <NUM> of the driving pulley pocket <NUM> is at least <NUM> times larger than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM>. In another embodiment, the width <NUM> of the driving pulley pocket <NUM> is at least <NUM> times larger than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM>. In still other embodiments, the width <NUM> of the driving pulley pocket <NUM> may vary as to how much larger it is than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM>.

Similarly, the driven pulley <NUM> comprises a driven pulley pocket <NUM> which the belt <NUM> is disposed against. A width <NUM> of the driven pulley pocket <NUM> is larger than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM> to allow relative movement of the driven pulley <NUM> along axis <NUM> relative to the belt <NUM> as the actuator system <NUM> (discussed collectively in <FIG>) selectively moves the driven system <NUM> and the connected cutting member <NUM> between the extended and retracted positions.

In such manner, the belt <NUM> is allowed to walk back and forth relative to the driven pulley <NUM> along axis <NUM> during extension and retraction of the cutting member <NUM> to allow the longitudinal position of the cutting member <NUM> to be changed without damaging the belt <NUM>. The width <NUM> of the driven pulley pocket <NUM> is at least <NUM> times larger than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM> to allow relative movement between the belt <NUM> and the driven pulley pocket <NUM> to avoid damage to the belt.

This multiplier of at least <NUM> has been found to be a critical dimension with unexpected results due to the reduction and/or complete elimination of belt damage occurring at this critical dimension. In another embodiment, the width <NUM> of the driven pulley pocket <NUM> is at least <NUM> times larger than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM>. In still other embodiments, the width <NUM> of the driven pulley pocket <NUM> may vary as to how much larger it is than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a side view of the actuator system <NUM>, driven system <NUM>, and cutting member <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG> with an interior of the driven system <NUM> being exposed. <FIG> illustrates a close-up view of the interior of the driven system <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG> collectively, the actuator system <NUM> selectively moves the driven system <NUM> and the connected cutting member <NUM> between extended and retracted positions along axis <NUM>.

As previously discussed, when the actuator shaft <NUM> moves the cutting member <NUM> in the extended position, the actuator shaft <NUM> moves in direction <NUM>, thereby causing attached ends <NUM> of the attached actuator arms <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>. This causes ends <NUM> of the actuator arms <NUM> to move in direction <NUM> as a result of the actuator arms <NUM> pivoting at pivot point <NUM> which is pivotally attached to the housing of the food processing system <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Ends <NUM> of the actuator arms <NUM> are attached to the main housing <NUM>. The movement of the ends <NUM> of the actuator arms in direction <NUM> causes the attached main housing <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>. Movement of the main housing <NUM> in direction <NUM> causes the attached spindle housing <NUM>, driven pulley hub <NUM>, driven pulley <NUM>, spindle <NUM>, cutting member <NUM>, and counter weights <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>.

Due to the width <NUM> of the driven pulley pocket <NUM> being larger than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM>, the belt <NUM> is allowed to walk relative to the driven pulley <NUM> along axis <NUM> during the extension of the cutting member <NUM> in direction <NUM> to allow the longitudinal position of the cutting member <NUM> to be changed without damaging the belt <NUM>. Similarly, as shown in <FIG>, due to the width <NUM> of the driving pulley pocket <NUM> being larger than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM>, the belt <NUM> is allowed to walk relative to the driving pulley <NUM> along axis 42A during the extension of the cutting member <NUM> in direction <NUM> to allow the longitudinal position of the cutting member <NUM> to be changed without damaging the belt <NUM>.

When the cutting member <NUM> is in the extended position, the cutting member <NUM> is disposed further away from the belt <NUM> than when the cutting member <NUM> is in the retracted position. When the cutting member <NUM> is in the extended position, the cutting member <NUM> is in position to slice food product.

As previously discussed, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> collectively, when the actuator shaft <NUM> moves the cutting member <NUM> into the retracted position, the actuator shaft <NUM> moves in direction <NUM>, thereby causing attached ends <NUM> of the attached actuator arms <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>. This causes ends <NUM> of the actuator arms <NUM> to move in direction <NUM> as a result of the actuator arms <NUM> pivoting at pivot point <NUM> which is pivotally attached to the housing of the food processing system <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The movement of the ends <NUM> of the actuator arms in direction <NUM> causes the attached main housing <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>. Movement of the main housing <NUM> in direction <NUM> causes the attached spindle housing <NUM>, driven pulley hub <NUM>, driven pulley <NUM>, spindle <NUM>, cutting member <NUM>, and counter weights <NUM> to also move in direction <NUM>.

Due to the width <NUM> of the driven pulley pocket <NUM> being larger than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM>, the belt <NUM> is allowed to walk relative to the driven pulley <NUM> along axis <NUM> during the retraction of the cutting member <NUM> in direction <NUM> to allow the longitudinal position of the cutting member <NUM> to be changed without damaging the belt <NUM>. Similarly, as illustrated in <FIG>, due to the width <NUM> of the driving pulley pocket <NUM> being larger than the width <NUM> of the belt <NUM>, the belt <NUM> is allowed to walk relative to the driving pulley <NUM> along axis 42A during the retraction of the cutting member <NUM> in direction <NUM> to allow the longitudinal position of the cutting member <NUM> to be changed without damaging the belt <NUM>.

When the cutting member <NUM> is in the retracted position, the cutting member <NUM> no longer cuts the food product. As a result, the actuator system <NUM> shown in <FIG> is used to selectively cut food product by moving the cutting member <NUM> between the extended and retracted positions.

<FIG> illustrates the side view of the embodiment of <FIG> with the cutting member <NUM> having been moved into the extended position by the actuator system <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the side view of the embodiment of <FIG> with the cutting member <NUM> having been moved into the retracted position by the actuator system <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a second main embodiment of the food processing system <NUM> of <FIG>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the food processing system <NUM> includes a pivoting blade assembly <NUM> rather than the blade apparatus <NUM> shown in the first main embodiment of <FIG>. The pivoting blade assembly <NUM> is similar in some respects to the apparatus or blade apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> in that it may include some similar components, such as a blade or cutting member <NUM>, a motor <NUM>, and a drive belt <NUM> operatively coupled between the motor <NUM> and the blade <NUM>. Preferably, the motor <NUM> is an electric servomotor, but any suitable motor may be used.

Note that in the second main embodiment of <FIG>, the entire blade assembly <NUM> pivots about an axis in an arcuate path between an extended position, where the blade <NUM> is capable of slicing the food product, and a retracted position, where the blade <NUM> does not contact the food product, and where a gap exists therebetween.

Referring to <FIG>, the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> may pivot about an axis <NUM> extending between two parallel support members or extended arms <NUM> of the food processing system <NUM>. In contrast, the blade apparatus <NUM> of the embodiments illustrated in <FIG> does not pivot at all, but rather, moves in a linear fashion so that as the blade apparatus <NUM> of those figures moves between the retracted and extended position, and remains in a parallel orientation relative the food product and the cutting plane of the food product. In other words, blade apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> moves linearly, along a path that is essentially coaxial with the food product, and thus the plane of the blade forms a parallel gap between the blade and the food product, which changes in width as the blade assembly <NUM> moves linearly between the extended and retracted positions.

Referring now to <FIG>, <FIG> shows a side view of the pivoting blade assembly <NUM>, which may include a blade assembly housing or support frame <NUM>, a motor housing <NUM> configured to protect and encompass the motor <NUM> (which motor housing <NUM> may be part of or integrally formed with the blade assembly housing <NUM>, or affixed thereto), and right and left side housing support rails <NUM> operatively coupled to (or integrally formed with) the blade assembly housing <NUM> on opposite sides thereof (only one of which is visible in the Figures).

Also included is an actuator cylinder <NUM>, a cylinder piston or rod <NUM> reciprocally driven by the actuator cylinder <NUM>, right and left side actuator linkages <NUM> arranged on a driven reciprocating shaft <NUM>, and a support shaft <NUM> about which or with the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> may pivot or partially rotate during reciprocal movement between the extended position and the retracted position. The driven reciprocating shaft <NUM> and the support shaft <NUM> may be secured between the support arms <NUM>. The actuator cylinder <NUM> may be secured to one of the support arms <NUM> by a suitable bracket <NUM>, bolt, weld, or other known fastening structure.

In one embodiment, the support shaft <NUM> may be fixed between the support arms <NUM> without rotational ability, and the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> may pivot about the support shaft <NUM> during movement between the extended position and the retracted position. In another embodiment, the support shaft <NUM> may pivot or rotate between the support arms <NUM>, and the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> may be fixed to the support shaft <NUM> during movement between the extended position and the retracted position.

In <FIG>, the food product <NUM> is shown positioned for slicing in the food processing machine <NUM>. As described above, the motor <NUM> is configured to drive the cutting blade <NUM>, and in some embodiments may operatively drive the blade <NUM> with a belt, timing belt, pulley, or other suitable mechanical arrangement or linkage. Alternately, the motor <NUM> may drive the blade <NUM> with a gearing arrangement, such as with a worm drive, gears, and the like. Any suitable mechanism may be used to operatively couple the motor <NUM> to the blade <NUM>, including a direct drive connection. The motor <NUM> of <FIG> may be similar or identical to a motor housed in the motor housing <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a side view of the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> with the blade <NUM> in the extended position and ready to contact the food product <NUM> for slicing. Conversely, <FIG> shows a side view of the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> with the blade <NUM> in the retracted position and away from the food product <NUM>. <FIG> shows an enlarged and overly exaggerated view of the blade <NUM> relative to the food product <NUM> in the retracted position of <FIG>, particularly illustrating the exaggerated angle between the face of the blade <NUM> and the food product <NUM>. Note that for clarity, the angle is not drawn to scale and is greatly exaggerated for purposes of illustration only.

As shown in <FIG>, the support shaft <NUM> extends laterally between the parallel support arms <NUM>. Any suitable arrangement of the support arms <NUM> may be used that have the required structural strength and rigidity to support the pivoting blade assembly <NUM>. The pivoting support shaft <NUM> may be received within corresponding apertures <NUM> of the left and right side housing support rails <NUM>, and in the embodiments that permit the blade assembly <NUM> to pivot relative to a fixed support shaft <NUM>, a race bearing <NUM> or other bearing or support pin arrangement may be included to effect smooth reciprocal rotation of the pivoting blade assembly <NUM>.

The housing support rails <NUM> preferably extend along a length of the blade assembly housing or frame <NUM>, and may be attached to the blade assembly housing <NUM> using rail bolts <NUM>. However, any suitable means may be used to attach the housing support rails <NUM> to the blade assembly housing or frame <NUM>, such as by welds, mechanical fasteners and the like, or in some embodiments, the housing support rails <NUM> may be integrally formed with the blade assembly housing <NUM>.

As described above, <FIG> shows the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> in the extended position where a plane of the cutting blade <NUM> is co-planar with a cutting plane <NUM> of the food product <NUM>. In this extended position, the cutting blade <NUM> may slice the food product <NUM> as the food product <NUM> is fed toward the cutting blade. As described above, the plane of the cutting blade <NUM> is substantially co-planar with the cutting plane <NUM> of the food product <NUM>. However, in some embodiments, a small negative angle may be induced between the plane of the cutting blade <NUM> and cutting plane <NUM> of the food product. In other words, the pivoting blade assembly <NUM>, and hence the blade <NUM>, may be slightly angled into the food product <NUM> to compensate for blade wear. Such a maximum negative angle is preferably no greater than -<NUM> degrees, with a typical negative angle between -<NUM> degrees and -<NUM> degrees if blade wear compensation is used.

<FIG> show the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> in the retracted position where the plane of the cutting blade <NUM> is disposed at a predetermined angle <NUM> away from the cutting plane <NUM> of the food product <NUM>. In this position, the cutting blade <NUM> does not contact the food product <NUM>. The predetermined angle <NUM> is preferably about <NUM> degrees, but may vary between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees. In some embodiments, the predetermined angle <NUM> may vary between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees.

As described above and shown in <FIG>, the actuator cylinder <NUM> may be operatively coupled to the blade assembly housing or support frame <NUM> at one end, where such operative coupling may be accomplished via left and right side linkages <NUM>, which preferably may be identical. Preferably, the actuator cylinder <NUM> is a linear electric servomotor. However, any suitable actuator may be used, such as a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a servomotor, or a stepper motor, as long as the required precise movements at rated speed can be performed.

The left and right side linkages <NUM> are shown in greater detail in <FIG>. The linkages <NUM> permit the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> to reciprocally move between the extended and retracted positions, as powered by the actuator cylinder <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> is in the retracted position, which is indicated by the directional arrow "R" for "retracted" in <FIG> when the cylinder rod <NUM> is retracted into the cylinder <NUM>, and is in a fully backward position, as shown by arrow "B" for "backward" in <FIG>.

Conversely, when the cylinder rod <NUM> is moved in the forward direction as shown by arrow "F" for "forward" in <FIG>, the pivoting blade assembly <NUM> is in extended position, as shown in the directional arrow "E" for "extended," and which extended position can be seen in <FIG>. As can be understood by <FIG>, the linkages <NUM> translate linear movement of the cylinder rod <NUM>, as shown by arrows "F" and "B" of <FIG> into pivoting movement of the pivoting blade assembly <NUM>, as shown by arrows "E" and "R.

The cylinder rod <NUM> terminates at a cylinder rod head <NUM>, which preferably attaches to the cylinder rod <NUM> with a threaded connection, although any suitable connection structure may be used. The cylinder rod head <NUM>, in turn, is operatively coupled to a connecting arm <NUM>. The connecting arm <NUM>, which may have a first or forked end <NUM> (which fork preferably has parallel portions, as best seen in <FIG>), may be coupled to the cylinder rod head <NUM> with a fork bolt <NUM>.

Preferably, when the fork bolt <NUM> is fully tightened, the connecting arm <NUM> is still able to freely move or pivot about the fork bolt <NUM> due to the forked configuration <NUM>, the spacing between forked portions, and rigidity thereof, so as to prevent frictional compression of the forked end <NUM> against the cylinder rod head <NUM>. Thus, the connecting arm <NUM> can freely pivot about the fork bolt <NUM> as the cylinder rod <NUM> moves forward and backward.

As described above with respect to <FIG> and <FIG>, the driven reciprocating shaft <NUM> is secured between opposite parallel support arms <NUM> and is able to reciprocally pivot or freely rotate between the support arms <NUM>. As best shown in <FIG>, to drive or pivot the driven reciprocating shaft <NUM>, a clamp end <NUM> of the connecting arm <NUM> is fixedly secured to the driven reciprocating shaft <NUM>. The clamp end <NUM> of the connecting arm <NUM> is formed with a through bore configured to receive the driven reciprocating shaft <NUM> therethrough, and is arranged in a split ring configuration, with the split <NUM> clearly visible in <FIG>.

When a first split ring compression bolt <NUM> is tightened, the clamp end <NUM> compresses and tightens about the driven reciprocating shaft <NUM>, thus fixedly securing the clamp end <NUM> of the connecting arm <NUM> to the driven reciprocating shaft <NUM>. In this way, as the connecting arm <NUM> pivots during movement of the cylinder rod <NUM>, the driven reciprocating shaft <NUM> rotates accordingly.

Because only one actuator cylinder <NUM> is needed, only one connecting arm <NUM> is provided. However, for purposes of balance, reduction of vibration, and torque balancing, two sets of linkages <NUM> may be provided, one at opposite ends of the driven reciprocating shaft <NUM>, namely the left side linkages and the right side linkages <NUM>, both of which may be composed of several identical structural components.

Each of the left side linkages and the right side linkages <NUM> may include a fixed link <NUM> and a free link <NUM>. The fixed link <NUM> has a split ring clamping configuration similar to that of the split ring configuration of the clamp end <NUM> of the connecting arm <NUM>. Similarly, when a second split ring compression bolt <NUM> is tightened, the fixed link <NUM> tightens about the driven reciprocating shaft <NUM> so that rotational movement of the driven reciprocating shaft <NUM> rotationally powers the fixed link.

To make the final operative structural coupling between the actuator cylinder <NUM> and the pivoting blade assembly <NUM>, the free link <NUM> operatively couples a stub end <NUM> of the fixed link <NUM> to the housing support rails <NUM>. As described above, the left and right side linkages <NUM> may be identical.

A first free link bolt <NUM> pivotally couples the stub end <NUM> of the fixed link <NUM> to one end of the free link <NUM>, while a second free link bolt <NUM> pivotally couples the other end of the free link <NUM> to the housing support rail <NUM>. The first and second free link bolts <NUM>, <NUM> are configured, either with spacers or appropriate threaded and non-threaded portions, to permit free pivotal movement of each end of the free link <NUM>, relative to the stub end <NUM> and the support rails <NUM>, respectively. In some embodiments, ends of the fixed link <NUM> and/or ends of the free link <NUM> may also have a parallel forked arrangement for secure pivotal coupling.

Note that in <FIG> and <FIG>, the blade <NUM> is shown in the retracted position, thus the plane of the cutting blade <NUM> is disposed at the predetermined angle <NUM> away from the cutting plane <NUM> of the food product <NUM>. The predetermined angle <NUM> is preferably about <NUM> degrees, but in the figures shown, due to the scale, the angle is difficult to visualize. Such predetermined angle is shown more clearly in the enlarged an exaggerated view of <FIG>.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claim 1:
A slicing assembly (<NUM>) for a food slicing system (<NUM>), the slicing assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a) a support (<NUM>);
b) a cutting blade (<NUM>) configured to slice a food product (<NUM>) into a plurality of food slices;
c) a motor (<NUM>) configured to operatively drive the cutting blade (<NUM>);
d) a support shaft (<NUM>) operatively coupled to the support (<NUM>) and configured to permit pivotal movement of the support (<NUM>) about a pivot point;
e) an actuator (<NUM>) operatively coupled to the support (<NUM>) and configured to reciprocally move the slicing assembly (<NUM>) between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein when the slicing assembly (<NUM>) is in the extended position, a plane of the cutting blade (<NUM>) is substantially co-planar with a cutting plane of the food product, and the cutting blade (<NUM>) slices the food product and wherein when the slicing assembly (<NUM>) is in the retracted position, the plane of the cutting blade (<NUM>) is disposed at a predetermined angle away from the cutting plane (<NUM>) of the food product, and the cutting blade (<NUM>) does not contact the food product;
characterized in that
f) the support (<NUM>) is a support frame (<NUM>) and
g) the actuator (<NUM>) is a linear electric servomotor (<NUM>).