Installation for cutting food products equipped with means for filling the chute

Installation for cutting food products which are in the form of elongated loaves and which comprises:

• at least one assembly comprising at least one chute or magazine for receiving a loaf of food product, this chute having the form of an elongated compartment, generally directed from top to bottom, and configured to receive said loaf via the open upper end of said chute, and to direct said loaf towards and beyond the open lower end of said chute under the effect of its own weight;
• a generally horizontal tray, arranged at a distance from the open lower end of said chute, and a cutting blade arranged near this tray;
• displacement means of said assembly configured to alternatively guide said open lower end near said tray so that said blade interacts with said loaf and executes the cutting of said loaf,
• wherein said installation comprises on the one hand a storage unit of food loaves and on the other hand mechanised and/or automated means for picking-off at least one loaf from said storage unit and for transferring and loading said loaf in said chute, via the open upper end thereof and in that:
• said storage unit comprises one or more superposed trays forming a stack, for receiving a plurality of loaves;
• said installation comprises means configured so that the highest tray of said stack on which loaves are present always occupies a constant level;
• said installation comprises at least one thrust member configured to discharge said loaves present on the highest tray of said stack;
• as well as a receptacle mobile between a loading position in which said receptable receives at least one loaf discharged by said at least one thrust member, and a transfer position in which said receptacle is positioned opposite said chute, in the immediate vicinity of the open upper end thereof.