A slicing machine is known which deposits a succession of slices at a predetermined location on a table which can be moved in a predetermined direction so that, although the slices are always deposited at the same location or in a line at the same location, the table can be stepped so that each slice lies partially uncovered on the table. Such an arrangement is particularly useful when the thus-arrayed slices are thereafter bubble-packed so that the consumer can see the product. This type of arrangement is also useful when an attractive display of the slices, normally of cold cuts, cheese, or the like, is desired.
A substantial difficulty with the known machines is that it is necessary to make up the packages one at a time, or to form a relatively large display of a plurality of distinct arrays of slices. In order to form relatively large packages or arrays, it would be necessary to provide a relatively large depositing table which would increase the overall size of the slicing machine considerably. Since the creation of large packages or large arrays is not frequently necessary, such an increase in size can hardly be justified economically.