Method and apparatus for producing a wrapped food material in single slice form

Apparatus for producing a wrapped food material in single slice form, comprising:

• means to conduct the food material into a wrapping film to form a wrapped food material;
• slice forming means to press the wrapped food material at spaced intervals to form a continuous strip of connected, wrapped food material slices
• cutting means to cut said continuous strip at said spaced intervals to produce individually wrapped and sealed food material slices;
• and
• means to guide said continuous strip from the slice forming means to the cutting means along a predetermined path of travel, and including
• i) a guide plate located between the slice forming means and the cutting means, and extending along said path of travel, and
• ii) means connected to the plate to develop a partial vacuum between said continuous strip and at least a portion of the guide plate to draw said strip thereagainst as the strip of connected slices passes to the cutting means, said guide plate having first and second opposite transverse sides, a guide surface for said strip and including a base member forming a groove extending inward from the guide surface, means located in the groove to conduct a first stream of air laterally outward from said groove and towards the first transverse side of the guide plate, and to conduct a second stream of air laterally outward from the groove and towards the second transverse side of the guide plate, said first and second streams of air producing a partial vacuum between a portion of the guide surface and the continuous strip of wrapped food material slices, said means to develop a partial vacuum including means to conduct pressurized air to said groove from a source of pressurized air.