Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for slicing or scoring bakery products which comprises a stationary horizontal bed over which muffins or other bakery products are sequentially moved at high speed. Movement of the muffins is effected by first and second endless conveyor belts, each having a flight disposed adjacent the stationary bed and in opposition to the other. A hold down plate is suspended in overlying relation to the stationary bed, so that travel of the bakery products is bounded on the top and bottom by stationary surfaces, and on the sides by the conveyor belts. A disc cutting blade rotating at high speed projects into this travel space (in the preferred embodiment, one of the conveyor belts comprises dual belts which are spaced apart to permit projection of the blade therebetween), and the scoring or slicing function occurs as the bakery products move sequentially in slicing engagement with the rotating blade. The blade operates in a plane that is substantially parallel with the stationary bed and spaced above it an amount which determines the position of the slice on the product. Circular bakery products such as English muffins are controllably rotated as they pass through the disc cutting blade. This is accomplished by operating one conveyor belt in the forward direction and the other conveyor belt in the opposite direction, so that the muffins move forward sequentially at a predetermined linear speed and rotated at the same time, both as a function of belt speed differential. Means are provided for adjusting both the depth of the cut into the product as well as the position of the cut in the product.

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First Claim