Patent ID: 7007595

Claim:
A computerized product slicing device, the device comprising: (a) at least one blade; (b) a product holder having at least two operational states including a first operational state in which said product holder is open to accept the product and a second operational state in which said product holder is closed upon the product so that the product is engaged and retained therein; said product holder capable of communication with a product presence sensor; (c) said product presence sensor designed and constructed to detect presence of the product in proximity to said product holder and to cause said product holder to switch from said first operational state to said second operational state when said presence of the product in proximity to said product holder is detected; (d) a slicing mechanism designed and constructed to cause repeated passage of said blade through the product so that slices thereof are produced; (e) a first weighing module designed and constructed to collect, retain and weigh said slices of the product produced by said slicing mechanism and to communicate a determined weight thereof to a computerized processing unit (CPU); (f) said CPU designed and configured to accept a data input from a user of the device via a data input mechanism; receive said determined weight from said first weighing module; and to control operation of said slicing mechanism and said product holder; (g) a display device designed and constructed to display at least one item selected from the group consisting of said data input, said determined weight, a number of slices currently present in said weighing module, and an item of information pertaining to the product; and (h) a second weighing module designed and constructed to weigh the product prior to slicing by said slicing mechanism and to communicate a determined weight thereof to said computerized processing unit (CPU); and (i) a wrapping unit designed and constructed to wrap said slices of product; (j) a printer in communication with said CPU, said printer designed and constructed to print a label containing at least price information pertaining to said slices in said weighing module in response to a command from the CPU; (k) a product retrieval mechanism designed and constructed to select a product from among a plurality of products, retrieve said selected product and deliver said selected product to said product holder; and (l) a product identification sensor designed and constructed to identify the product and communicate information pertaining thereto to said CPU.