Food product load assembly for a food product slicing apparatus

Abstract

A food product forming machine is configured to slice food product into slices. A main frame mounts a load assembly which receives food product and moves the food product through an opening in the main frame, a feed assembly downstream of the load assembly which moves food product through the main frame, and a slicing assembly downstream of the feed assembly which slices the food product into slices. In a first embodiment, the load assembly is at a rear end of the main frame, and in a second embodiment, the load assembly is at a side of the main frame. The load assembly is pivotally mounted to the main frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food product slicing apparatus for slicing food product into slices comprising:
 a main frame;   a load assembly mounted on the main frame and configured to receive food product and to move the food product through an opening in the main frame;   a feed assembly mounted in the main frame downstream of the load assembly, the feed assembly being configured to move food product through the main frame; and   a slicing assembly in the main frame downstream of the feed assembly and configured to slice the food product into slices.   
     
     
         2 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the load assembly is hingedly attached to the main frame at a hinge, wherein the load assembly is proximate to the opening and to the feed assembly in a first position, and the load assembly is rotated around the hinge in a second position. 
     
     
         3 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the load assembly comprises a support coupled to the main frame by the hinge, and a conveyor mounted on the support, wherein the conveyor aligns with the opening in the first position. 
     
     
         4 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein an angular position of the support can be varied relative to the main frame to vary the angular position of the conveyor. 
     
     
         5 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a lock configured to secure the load assembly in the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the load assembly comprises a plate extending from the main frame below the opening, the plate being coupled to the main frame by the hinge, and a pusher mounted on the plate, the pusher being activable for reciprocating motion for moving food product positioned on the plate through the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the load assembly further comprises a tub on the plate, the tub having first and second aligned openings through which the pusher can move to move food product onto the feed assembly when in the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the load assembly further comprises a height adjustable plate, wherein a vertical position of the height adjustable plate can be varied to vary a size of the second opening. 
     
     
         9 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the load assembly further comprises a lock configured to fix the position of the height adjustable plate relative to the tub. 
     
     
         10 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the pusher is movable in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the feed assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is in a rear of the main frame. 
     
     
         12 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the load assembly is hingedly attached to the main frame at a hinge, wherein the load assembly is proximate to the opening and to the feed assembly in a first position, and the load assembly is rotated around the hinge in a second position. 
     
     
         13 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the load assembly comprises a support coupled to the main frame by the hinge, and a conveyor mounted on the support, wherein the conveyor aligns with the opening in the first position. 
     
     
         14 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein an angular position of the support can be varied relative to the main frame to vary the angular position of the conveyor. 
     
     
         15 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a lock configured to secure the load assembly in the first position. 
     
     
         16 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is in a side of the main frame. 
     
     
         17 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the load assembly comprises a plate extending from the main frame below the opening, and a pusher mounted on the plate, the pusher being activable for reciprocating motion for moving food product positioned on the plate through the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the load assembly further comprises a tub on the plate, the tub having first and second aligned openings through which the pusher can move to move food product onto the feed assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the load assembly further comprises a height adjustable plate, wherein the position of the height adjustable plate can be varied to vary the size of the second opening. 
     
     
         20 . The food product slicing apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the pusher is movable in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the feed assembly.