Device for slicing loaves and other bakery products

Device (1) for slicing loaves and other bakery products, comprising a frame (2), which is provided with support means (4,5) for the loaves (7), the support means define a path for the loaves through the device, a cutting-blade carrier (10), which holds a plurality of thin, elongate cutting blades (11) having a longitudinal direction and coming into contact with the loaves (7) over a length thereof defining a bread-contacting length of the cutting blades (11), the cutting blades (11) being next to one another and at a distance from one another, each cutting blade having a cutting edge (13) which has cutting formations for cutting the loaves, drive means for creating a reciprocating movement of the cutting blades with respect to the support means (4,5) for the loaves, which reciprocating movement is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cutting blades, the drive means of the cutting-blade carrier providing a first movement, defining a first amplitude in the longitudinal direction of the cutting blades (11) and a first frequency, and also provide a second movement, defining a second amplitude in the longitudinal direction of the cutting blades and a second frequency, the first amplitude being greater than the second amplitude and the first frequency being lower than the second frequency, and in that the drive means are designed to superimpose the first movement and the second movement to form a resultant movement, and in that the drive means drive the cutting blades (11) with the resultant movement, and a cleaning means (70,71), which clean the cutting blades during the cutting of the loaves, the cleaning means are disposed outside the path for the loaves (7) which is defined by the support means (4,5), and wherein the first amplitude is such that the bread-contacting length of the cutting blades (11) substantially pass over the cleaning means (70,71) while other portions of the cutting blades (11) different from the bread-contacting length do not substantially pass over the cleaning means (70,71).