IN THE CLAIMS:
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`1.
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`(Currently Amended)
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`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 a cutting
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`path in a cutting plane; and
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`a food article feed apparatus comprising an upper conveyor assembly with independently driven
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`endless conveyor belts and a food article gripper connected to each conveyor belt, each food article
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`gripper configured to engage and move a food article along a food article feed path, wherein each food
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`article gripper is activated between a closed position, in which the food article gripper seizes a food
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`article, and an open position, in which the food article gripper releases a food article; and
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`a food article loading apparatus having an upper surface upon which food articles are configured
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`to be loadedI the upper surface being disposed vertically below bottom runs of the conveyor belts at
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`least during engagement of the food article grippers with the food articles under—the-feeel-art-iele-f-eeel
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`apparatus.
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`2.
`
`(Withdrawn)
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`The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein each food article feed path
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`comprises a lane within a lift tray.
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`3.
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`(Withdrawn)
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`The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein a food article gate disposed
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`upstream of the slicing station forms a portion of the food article feed path.
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`4.
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`(Withdrawn)
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`The food article slicing machine of claim 3,
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`wherein the food article loading apparatus includes a lift tray assembly moveable between a
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`staging position and an elevated position, said elevated position being a position wherein the food
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`articles disposed within the lift tray assembly are in the food article feed path; and
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`wherein the food articles are supported in position along the food article feed path by at least
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`the food article gate when the lift tray assembly is moved from its elevated position.
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`5.
`
`(Withdrawn)
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`The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein the food article feed path
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`feeds the food article between a front lower conveyor and an upper presser plate upstream of the
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`slicing station.
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`

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`6-83.
`
`(Cancelled)
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`84.
`
`(Withdrawn)
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`The food article slicing machine of claim 5 wherein the lower conveyor pivots
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`between a first position which decreases the distance between the upper presser plate and the lower
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`conveyor, and a second position which increases the distance between the upper presser plate and the
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`lower conveyor.
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`85.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 1 wherein each independently
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`driven endless conveyor belt is wrapped around a drive roller; said driver roller having a toothed outer
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`diameter for engaging with the endless conveyor belt and a toothed recessed diameter for engaging
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`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 drive belt is
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`connected to a drive shaft connected to a servomotor.
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`87.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 86 wherein each endless
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`conveyor belt is driven independently by a servomotor; each servomotor arranged on the same side of
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`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 independently
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`driven endless conveyor belt can be timed to move food articles towards the slicing station at the same
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`rate.
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`89.
`
`(Canceled)
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`90.
`
`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 1 comprising three conveyor
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`belts each connected to a food article gripper.
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`91.
`
`(Canceled)
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`92.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein movement of each
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`conveyor belt is in a plane parallel to the food article feed path.
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`

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`93.
`
`(Canceled)
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`94.
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`(Previously Presented) The food article slicing machine of claim 1, wherein a plane defined by a
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`surface of each conveyer belt is parallel to the food article feed path.
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`95-99.
`
`(Cancelled)
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