Slicing machine, and method of use and components thereof

A bulk food product slicing machine comprising:

• a base for supporting said slicing machine;
• a rotatable blade for slicing a bulk food product;
• a motor operably connected to said rotatable blade for rotating said blade against a bulk food product to slice the bulk food product into slices;
• a carriage slidably mounted to said base for providing movement in a table movement direction toward said rotatable blade and away from said rotatable blade;
• a support arm being pivotally mounted to said carriage to promote selective pivot of the support arm away from the base of the slicing machine to ease access for cleaning;
• and
• a table releasably mounted to said support arm and having a top surface supporting the bulk food product during slicing, said table having a release for disengaging said table from said support arm to allow separation of said table from said support arm;
• wherein said table is conveniently cleaned by pivoting said support arm away from the base, then utilizing said release to disengage said table from said support arm while leaving said support arm attached to said carriage;
• and
• an adjustable gauge plate for varying the thickness of the slices;
• and
• an interlock system operably connecting said gauge plate and said table release such that said gauge plate must remain fully closed against said rotatable blade while said table is disengaged from said support arm.