Dicing machines and methods of use

A machine for dicing solid and semisolid materials, the machine comprising:

• a support structure;
• means interconnected with the support structure for producing slices by slicing a solid or semisolid material;
• a circular cutter and a cross-cutter that are each individually rotatably mounted to the support structure by cantilevered shafts, the shafts of the circular cutter and the cross-cutter each having an outboard end;
• circular knives on the circular cutter that are adapted and arranged to cut into strips the slices produced by the slice-producing means;
• cross-cut knives on the cross-cutter that are adapted and arranged to dice the strips produced by the circular knives;
• a stripper plate having a first edge between the circular cutter and the cross-cutter for removing the strips from the circular cutter, the stripper plate defining a second edge adapted to ensure complete dicing of the strips by the cross-cut knives of the cross-cutter;
• means for adjusting the placement and proximity of the second edge relative to the cross-cut knives, said adjusting means comprises shimming means;
• and outboard support means
• for supporting and radially centering the outboard ends of the shafts of at least the circular cutter and the cross-cutter and for supporting and securing the stripper plate relative thereto.