Patent ID: 7600459

Claim:
A modular slicing apparatus comprising: (a) a bearing plate having a first leg member joined to a second leg member by a base; (b) a rotary motor mounted to one of said leg members; (c) a first pulley drivingly linked to the rotary motor; (d) a second pulley rotatably mounted to another of said leg members; (e) an elongated blade guide mounted at a first end to the first leg member and at a second end to the second leg member, the blade guide having a longitudinal slot for retaining a blade; (f) a continuous loop blade extending around the first and second pulleys and through the slot in the blade guide, the blade having an exposed cutting edge, wherein the bearing plate, first and second pulleys, motor, blade and blade guide are connected as an operable unit; (g) a first finger member interposed between the first end of the blade guide and the first leg member of the bearing plate; (h) a first shaft extending between the first leg member and the first finger member for mounting the first leg member to the first finger member; (i) an adjustment shaft extending between the first leg member and the first finger member, the adjustment shaft extending from rigid connection to one of said first members through an aperture in the other of said first members; and (j) a cam nut rotatably mounted on said adjustment shaft and having an offset lobe inserted into said aperture, said lobe seating against an aperture sidewall and exerting a force against said sidewall upon rotation of the cam nut about the adjustment shaft for rotating the first finger member about the first shaft.