Apparatus and process for dicing a deformable product

A method of cutting a deformable product having a front end and a remainder, comprising the steps of:

• conveying the product in a feed direction along a conveyance surface;
• slitting the product into strips using a plurality of cutting elements arranged in a V shape, as viewed from above, as the product is conveyed in the feed direction;
• and
• stabilizing the product during said slitting step by laterally containing at least a portion of the remainder between one pair of the cutting elements while the front end is being slit by the next successive cutting elements in the feed direction.

A method of cutting a deformable product having a leading end and a trailing end, comprising the steps of:

• conveying an elongated piece of the product in a feed direction along a conveyance surface;
• slitting the product into strips using a plurality of cutting elements arranged in a V shape, as viewed from above, said slitting operation comprising:
• a first slitting step comprising slitting the piece of the product into a plurality of longitudinal strips using a first pair of axially aligned cutting elements;
• and
• a second slitting step comprising slitting at least one of the strips of the product into smaller strips using a second cutting element or a pair of axially aligned cutting elements,
• wherein the leading end of the product is brought into contact with the second cutting element or pair of elements while the trailing end is still passing between the first pair of cutting elements.