FOOD SLICING APPARATUS FOR A FOOD PROCESSING LINE

摘要

A food slicing apparatus and components where the apparatus includes a frame 12 and a pivotally mounted carriage 18. The frame mounts a height adjustable conveyor system while the carriage hosts a latch 290 for a slice thickness adjustment cam. The carriage also supports a drive system which precisely moves a food transporting tube assembly 200 over a base, such as pizza dough, while food is cut by a laterally moving blade mounted around two drums, one of which is adjustable to change tension in the blade. The blade 36 is further supported by a blade guide which also guides the sliced food to the pizza dough base. The drive system includes a servomotor, a group of gears 229, a crank 232 connected to the gears, a cam roller 234 and a cam follower plate 236 with a slot 241. The cam follower plate 236 is connected by a quick connect and disconnect connector 250 to the food tube assembly. The result is a compact, efficient slicing apparatus with a small footprint that is usable in a food processing line. The apparatus is easy to clean and the food tube assembly is easily exchanged with an assembly having a different arrangement of the food tubes.