Patent ID: 7137325

Claim:
A method for maximizing slicing yield while using a transverse slicer to slice a plurality of food items entering at a measurable rate, wherein said plurality of food items has an item velocity, said transverse slicer produces slices having a slice thickness, and said transverse slicer produces a number of slices per revolution, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing said plurality of food items on a conveyor having at least one lane, wherein each one of said at least one lane has a duty cycle defined as the ratio of the combined lengths of the food items to the length of the lane; b) measuring the duty cycle of at least one lane to obtain at least one measured duty cycle; c) feeding said plurality of food items into a transverse slicer; and d) operating said transverse slicer so that said slicer has a cutting speed of X rotations per minute, wherein X is substantially equal to or slightly greater than a minimum rotational velocity, and said minimum rotational velocity equals the item velocity multiplied by one of said at least one measured duty cycle, divided by the slice thickness, and divided by the number of slices per revolution.