215,403. Thomas, H., and Berkel & Parnall's Slicing Machine Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and Berkel, C. F. M. van. Nov. 16, 1922. Cutting slices in succession. -To facilitate the positioning on the meat-table of a piece of meat, from which slices have already been served, in a manner which ensures uniformity in thickness and the correctness of the thickness of the first slice, an abutment plate is positioned parallel to the cutting-plane, at a slice-thickness therefrom, and is adapted to be moved into an inoperative position before the slicing commences. The abutment plate may be interconnected with, and positioned automatically bv. the feed regulating mechanism. In Fig. 1, the abutment plate 24 is carried on the base B of a reciprocating-table machine by a bracket 21, vertically slidable on a guide 20, the bracket 21 having a sliding dovetail connection with a cross-member 26, which supports the plate 24, whereby movement, transverse to the cutting- plane, is permitted. The plate 24 is raised into position by a bell-crank lever 28, 28<a> and is. positioned laterally by mechanism, interconnected with the feed-regulating bar g, comprising a lever which actuates a shaft terminating in a screw 34 which engages a non-rotating nut 33 connected to a slotted member 31 having guide-pins 32. A tongue 30 on the cross-member 26 is received in the member 31 and transmits the lateral motion, corresponding to the slice-thickness, to the plate 24. The lever 28, 28a is slotted to receive a pin 29<a>, the slot being undercut at its upper end so that the pin 29a engages the undercut portion and retains the plate 24 in the raised position. When slicing commences, a pin 37 on the handwheel D engages a pin 38 on the bell-crank and the plate 24 falls out of operation. The tongue 30 and member 31 may be reversed and rollers may replace the tongue. The plate may be rendered inoperative by the movement of the carriage. Lateral movement may be effected by forming, on the bar g, a rack which engages a pinion with an eccentric pin which actuates the member 31 by a connecting-rod. In Fig. 5, the plate 24b is provided with pins 52, vertically slidable in slotted guides 20a, Fig. 4, which are offset at the tops whereby vertical adjustment produces lateral movement. A pin 58 on the plate 24<b> engages a slot 56<a> in a quadrant lever 56, struck from a centre below its pivot 57, and is raised by a pin 55, on the lever 56, engaging a slot 53<a> in a handlever 53 which moves over a scale corresponding to the slice-thickness. A roller 69a on the reciprocating carriage engages a projection 70 on the lever 56, and puts the plate 24<b> out of operation. A spring-pressed ball on the lever 53 may engage indentations in the base B to retain the plate 24<b> in the raised position. Fig. 8 shows, in plan, a modification wherein the plate 24e is set by the hand-lever 78 and is released by the friction of the meat on the plate 24e during the advance towards the knife, moving the plate 24e against springs 77<a> and withdrawing the notched quadrant 76 from the lever 77, springs 75 pushing the plate 24e away from the meat. Short pins' may be provided on the plate 24e to increase the friction. The quadrant 76 may be dispensed with and the lever 78 connected to the feed-regulator. In another modincation, Fig. 10<a>, the plate 24f is mounted on a slidable rod 81 having a stop-pin 81<b> and a pin 82 engaged by a spring-returned lever 82a. The slot and pin connection 83<a>, 83<b> transmits motion, from a rack engaging with the feed-regulating wheel, to the plate 24f, which is rendered inoperative by hand, a handle 91 with a spring- stop which engages a hole 92 in the base B retaining the plate inoperative against the action of the spring 82d. The rod 81 may be coupled to the rod 83 and detached therefrom when put out of operation. Fig. 11 shows the application to a stationary-table, swinging disc-knife machine, E being the knife-carrying arm, 24<a> a hinged abutment plate and 50 a spring-catch which keeps the plate in operation. The plate 24<a> is hinged to laterally slidable stops 44 which are joined, inside the base B, by a member 45 connected by levers &c. 46, 48 to the feed-regulating rod g<1> whereby the plate 24<a> is laterally positioned. A spring-returned rod 51 contacts with a projection F<1> on the arm E, releases the catch 50 and permits the plate 24<a> to fall out of operation, this being ensured by a wedge shaped piece E<1> on the arm E. The abutment plate may be made of metal strips.