Variable thickness bread slicer

Abstract

A powered bread slicer capable of slicing successive loaves of bread to selected different slice thicknesses. A rotating circular bread slicing knife is mounted on a pivotal, reciprocal arm for shifting the knife from a retracted position through slicing positions between and transverse to an infeed table and an out feed table, and return to the retracted position. The slice thickness is selected, as for standard one-half inch thickness, deli one-quarter to three-eighths inch thickness, garlic or French bread up to one inch thickness, or otherwise. A variable stepper motor incrementally advances a loaf pusher one step at a time, the dimension of the step being of the selected slice thickness dimensional. The distance by the travelled loaf pusher to reach the end of its travel is monitored to determine whether the bread heal is thick enough to slice once more. This decision is a function of the selected slice thickness dimension. A detector sensing the leading end of the loaf initially activates the slicer knife drive and the support arm drive. A pusher detector adjacent the knife prevents knife advancement with presence of the pusher adjacent the knife, allowing the pusher to move past the knife to push the fully sliced loaf completely onto the discharge table, and then return to the infeed table.