Patent ID: 6883411

Claim:
An impeller arranged for placement in a rotary slicing machine, comprising: a substantially circular base plate having an axis of rotation; at least one ring having an axis generally parallel with the axis of rotation of the base plate; a plurality of paddles extending between opposed radial surfaces of the base plate and the at least one ring in a circumferentially spaced relationship relative to the base plate; each of the paddles extending at an identical and constant angle relative to the axis of rotation of the base plate, a trailing edge of each paddle being located adjacent the base plate in a trailing relationship relative to a leading edge of the paddle located adjacent to the at least one ring in an intended direction of rotation of the base plate; each of the paddles oriented to extend at an angle relative to a radius of the base plate and the at least one ring, an inner edge of each paddle extending between the base plate and the at least one ring being located in a leading relationship relative to an outer edge extending between the base plate and the at least one ring of the paddle, the inner edge of each paddle defining a first corner with the leading edge and a second corner with the trailing edge of the paddle; wherein a first radial distance is defined between the first corner and the axis of rotation of the base plate and a second radial distance is defined between the second corner and the axis of rotation of the base plate, the first radial distance being greater than the second radial distance.