Patent ID: 8683903

Claim:
A compliant hold-down system for a food processing apparatus for slicing a deformable food product to a desired thickness and then separating the sliced sections of the deformable food product from each other, while gripping the top surface of a deformable food product to advance a deformable food product with a compliant hold-down conveyor configured to overlay and grip a deformable food product, the apparatus having a first conveyor for supporting, engaging, and transporting a deformable food product past the workstation, the compliant hold-down system comprising a moving belt structure draped over a deformable food product, wherein: the belt structure is of flexible material and operable under a low tension load such that the belt structure when draped over a deformable food product nominally conforming to the topography of the surface of a deformable food product facing the moving belt structure while gripping a deformable food product and to enable the distance separating the belt structure from the first conveyor to vary with the changes in topography of the deformable food product facing the moving belt structure; and the belt structure capable of applying a load on a deformable food product in the range of about 0.05 lb. per square inch to 0.2 lb. per square inch of deformable food product.