Slicing machine with removable deposition plate

A slicing machine for cutting slices from lengths of food, the slicing machine comprising:

• a machine housing, which retains a drive motor and a rotating blade for cutting the slices, the rotating blade being driven by the drive motor, the machine housing including a deposition region which is arranged in the region of the blade, the deposition region comprising a deposition plate positioned for receiving and holding the slices that have been cut off, the deposition plate including a cone,
• wherein the deposition plate has a horizontally extending rotary shaft disposed in a receptacle of a coupling device such that the deposition plate can be rotated from a horizontal position into a vertical position,
• wherein the deposition plate is rigidly connected to the machine housing, by the coupling device, when in the horizontal position,
• wherein the deposition plate is removable from the machine housing when in the vertical position,
• wherein, when the deposition plate is in the vertical position, the horizontally extending rotary shaft is movable in a horizontal direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft so as to be removable from and insertable into the receptacle of the coupling device whereby the coupling device is operable to releasably retain the deposition plate, and
• wherein, when the deposition plate is in the horizontal position, the cone rests against a contact surface of the coupling device opposite the receptacle limiting the movement of the rotary shaft in the horizontal transverse direction to provide the rigid connection.