Control system and method for a food product slicer

A food product slicer particularly adapted for automatic operation, comprising:

• a frame;
• a circular blade mounted for rotation to said frame and having a peripheral cutting edge;
• means for rotationally driving said blade;
• a carriage for supporting a food product;
• means connected to said frame for mounting said carriage for lateral reciprocating motion along a linear path parallel with respect to the plane of said blade to bring the food product into and out of contact with the cutting edge of said blade;
• a motor;
• means for drivingly connecting said motor to said carriage for selective energization to produce movement of said carriage along said path;
• count means for generating a count signal during energization of said motor, wherein each increment of said count corresponds to an incremental distance of movement of said carriage along said path;
• sensor means mounted to said frame and said carriage for producing a reference signal upon positioning of said carriage along aid path in a reference position;
• first operator-actuation of said switch means for producing an initiation signal upon actuation of said switch means;
• and
• control means (1) for receiving said initiation signal, said reference signal and said count signal and (2) for selectively controlling energization of said motor, upon receiving said initiation signal, in accordance with the following sequence:
• a. energize said motor to move said carriage in a first direction along said path until said reference signal is received;
• b. in response to receipt of said reference signal, deenergize said motor and initialize a cumulative count;
• c. energize said motor to move said carriage along said path in a second, opposite direction and simultaneously receive said count signal and update said cumulative count therewith until said cumulative count equals a first value corresponding to a first position along said path corresponding to a first end of a slicing stroke;
• and
• d. energize said motor to move said carriage in said second direction along said path and simultaneously receive said count signal and update said cumulative count therewith until said cumulative count equals a second value corresponding to a second position along said path corresponding to a second, opposite end of said slicing stroke.

A method of automatically controlling a food product slicer having a rotating blade and a carriage for supporting the food product, said carriage being mounted for lateral reciprocating motion along a linear path with respect to said blade to bring the food product into and out of contact with the cutting periphery of said blade by motion in, respectively, second and first directions, the slicer further including a motor and clutch means for drivingly connecting said motor to said carriage for movement of said carriage along said path, comprising the sequential steps of:

• a. causing said clutch means to drivingly engage said motor and said carriage;
• b. energizing said motor to move said carriage in said first direction away from said blade toward the operator along said path to a reference position defined along said path by maximum movement in said first direction furthest from said blade "regardless of carriage's initial position along said path";
• and
• c. energizing said motor to move said carriage reciprocatingly along said path.

A food product slicer particularly adapted for both manual and automatic operation, comprising:

• a frame;
• a circular blade mounted for rotation to said frame and having a peripheral cutting edge;
• means for rotationally driving said blade;
• a carriage for supporting a food product;
• means connected to said frame for mounting said carriage for lateral reciprocating motion along a linear path parallel with respect to the plane of said blade to bring the food product into and out of contact with the cutting edge of said blade by motion in, respectively, second and first directions;
• a carriage motor;
• clutch means for selectively engaging said carriage motor to said carriage for driving movement of said carriage by said motor along said path;
• sensor means mounted to said frame and said carriage for producing a reference signal upon positioning of said carriage along said path in a reference position, said reference position being defined along said path by maximum movement in said first direction, nearest an operator of the slicer;
• first operator-actuated switch means for producing an initiation signal upon actuation of said switch means;
• and
• control means (1) for receiving said initiation signal, said reference signal and said count signal, (2) for selectively causing said clutch means to engage and disengage said motor and said carriage and (3) for controlling energization of said motor, upon receiving said initiation signal, in accordance with the following sequence:
• a. cause said clutch means to drivingly engage said motor and said carriage;
• b. energize said motor to move said carriage in a first direction toward the operator along said path until said reference signal is received;
• and
• c. in response to receipt of said reference signal, energize said motor to move said carriage reciprocatingly along said path.