US Patent Application Serial: No. 13/099,325
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`PRV01-102-US
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`AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS:
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`This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the
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`application:
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`1.
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`(Currently Amended) A food article slicing machine comprising:
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`a slicing station comprising a knife blade and a knife blade drive driving the blade along
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`a cutting path in a cutting planafld
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`a food article feed apparatus disposed over a food article loading apparatus, said food
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`article feed apparatus having an upper conveyor assembly with independently driven endless
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`conveyor belts, each belt connected to a food article gripper for moving a food article along a
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`food article feed path, wherein each food article gripper is activated between a closed position, in
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`which the food article gripper seizes a food article, and an open position,
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`in which the food
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`article gripper releases a food article.
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`2.
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`(Withdrawn) The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein the food article
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`feed path comprise lanes within a lift tray.
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`3.
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`(Withdrawn) The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein a food article
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`gate disposed upstream of the slicing station forms a portion of the food article feed path.
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`4.
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`(Withdrawn) The food article slicing machine of claim 3, wherein the food article
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`loading apparatus includes a lift tray assembly moveable between a staging position and an
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`US Patent Application Serial: No. 13/099,325
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`PRV01-102-US
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`elevated position, said elevated position being a position wherein the food articles disposed
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`within the lift tray assembly are in the food article feed path,
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`and wherein the food articles are supported in position along the food article feed path by
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`at least the food article gate when the lift tray assembly is moved from its elevated position.
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`5.
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`(Withdrawn) The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein the food article
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`feed path feeds the food article between a front lower conveyor and upper presser plate upstream
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`of the slicing station
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`Claims 6-83
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`(Cancelled)
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`84.
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`(Withdrawn) The food article slicing machine of claim 5 wherein the lower
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`conveyor pivots between a first position which decreases the distance between the upper presser
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`plate and the lower conveyor, and a second position which increases the distance between the
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`upper presser plate and the lower conveyor.
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`85.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 1 wherein each
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`independently driven endless conveyor belt is wrapped around a drive roller, said driver roller
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`having a toothed outer diameter for engaging with the endless conveyor belt and a toothed
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`recessed diameter for engaging with a drive belt.
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`86.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 85 wherein the
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`drive belt is connected to a drive shaft connected to a servomotor.
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`US Patent Application Serial: No. 13/099,325
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`PRV01-102-US
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`87.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 86 wherein each
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`endless conveyor belt is driven independently by a servomotor; each servomotor arranged on the
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`same side of the endless conveyor belts.
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`88.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 1 wherein each
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`independently driven endless conveyor belt can be timed to move food articles towards the
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`slicing station at the same rate.
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`89.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 1 comprising at
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`least two conveyor belts each connected to a food article gripper.
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`90.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 1 comprising
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`three conveyor belts each connected to a food article gripper.
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`9l.
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`(Withdrawn) The food article slicing machine of claim 1 wherein the food article
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`loading apparatus forms a portion of the food article feed path.
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`92.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 1 wherein
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`movement of the conveyor belt is in a plane parallel to the food article feed path.
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`93.
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`(Withdrawn) The food article slicing machine of claim 1 wherein the grippers are
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`connected to the bottom of the endless conveyor belt.
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`US Patent Application Serial: No. 13/099,325
`
`PRV01-102-US
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`94.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 1 wherein the
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`plane defined by the conveyer belt surface is parallel to the food article feed path.
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`Claims 95-98 (Cancelled)
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