Holder for automatic slicing machine

Abstract

An apparatus for cutting slices from a foodstuff has a support, a blade on the support extending perpendicular to and rotatable about an axis, and a table adapted to support the foodstuff to be sliced. The table is reciprocated transversely of the axis past the blade and the foodstuff is synchronously periodically shifted on the table axially toward the blade. A guide rail extends transversely of the axis immediately adjacent the blade and carries a holding arm engageable with the foodstuff on the table and displaceable along the rail in a forward direction to press the foodstuff against the table and in an opposite reverse direction. Interengaging formations on the rail and arm prevent movement of the arm in the reverse direction on the guide rail, and a drive including an electric motor connected to the arm displaces same on the rail in the forward direction and disengages the formations and displaces the arm on the rail in the reverse direction. Thus a controller connected to the drive and shifting devices can reverse displace the holding arm during shifting of the foodstuff toward the blade. In this manner the foodstuff is held immediately adjacent the blade during each slicing operation, and then is released and advanced, before it is held again for the next slice.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.