Abstract: A motor driven slicing machine for potatoes and the like is disclosed. The machine includes a circular fly wheel with a blade thereon which rotates across an exit port. Potatoes enter a feed tube at an entrance port and wedge against an outwardly tapered wall at the exit port so as the potato is sliced it is urged into the exit port by the slicing action against the tapered wall. Slices fall through an opening in the fly wheel to be collected or cooked.

Abstract: A frying unit for continuously frying potato chips and other snack foods such as corn chips and sweet potato chips is disclosed. The unit is compact, may be easily cleaned and serviced, and automatically controlled at an external control station. The unit consists of an elongated frying kettle covered by a hood and having, optionally, a slicer at an entrance end. A product delivery conveyor is disposed at an exit end. Twin paddle wheels are provided within the kettle for breaking up the sliced product as it enters an oil bath therein. Downstream of the paddle wheels a submersion conveyor is provided having depending flytes mutually spaced therealong for conveying the product through the oil bath to the delivery conveyor at the exit end. The entire product conveyor system, paddle wheels and conveyors may be pivoted upwardly as a unit, out of the kettle, by a linear actuator mounted on the external side thereof. A flexible drive coupling is provided to facilitate this pivotal movement.