Amca International Corporation

Frank S Kasper

Gary L Wallace

The thickness of slices cut by an automatic slicing machine is controlled to produce a draft of slices having a predetermined weight. Desired thickness is determined in accordance with the cross-sectional density of the food product being sliced, which is obtained from the weight and thickness of the most recently cut slice or slices. This information is combined with a desired weight for each of the remaining slices to be cut in the draft to control the rate of advance of the food product into a continuously rotating knife so as to obtain the proper thickness.

Slice thickness control for an automatic slicing machine

The current that drives the motor for a slicing blade is continuously monitored to detect when it rises above a threshold level. This threshold level is related to the resistance to the rotation of the blade that is presented by a product being sliced. When this current rises above the threshold level, the slicing operation is momentarily interrupted. The threshold level is adjustable in accordance with the number of slices that is desired to be trimmed. While the slicing operation is interrupted, the first few irregular slices from the leading edge of the product can be carried away from the location of the slicing blade. Then slicing can resume with the first slice in the first full draft being a full slice.

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Orland Park, IL, United States of America

Frank S Kasper