Abstract: A knife assembly includes a knife blade of which a front edge is a cutting edge, a holder configured for supporting the knife blade, a clamp arranged for clamping the knife blade onto the holder, and a fastening mechanism cooperating with the clamp and the holder for securing and clamping We knife blade between the clamp and the holder with the cutting edge protruding at a front side of the knife assembly. The holder has a frontal part which is, in clamped state, in contact with a bottom side of the knife blade at a first distance from the cutting edge. The clamp has a leading edge which, in clamped state, clamps onto a top side of the knife blade and is located a second distance from the cutting edge, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a rake-off angle in a centrifugal cutting head includes mounting a plurality of cutting stations on a rim structure with a gap between adjacent cutting stations, each cutting station holding a cutting element at a leading end of the cutting station and comprising an inner surface extending from the leading end to a trailing end forming a product sliding surface along which food product slides between successive cuts; and adjusting the rake-off angle by adjusting a rear part of the product sliding surface at a trailing end of at least one cutting station without changing the leading end.

Abstract: Impeller for a centrifugal cutting apparatus, provided for being coaxially mounted within an annular-shaped cutting head and to be rotated inside the cutting head about a rotational axis in a rotational direction, the impeller comprising: a base plate, an annular cover plate and a plurality of circumferentially spaced paddles mounted between the base and cover plates. The paddles are oriented such that they have a first impelling surface directed towards the rotational direction and the circumference of the impeller, so as to drive the product that is admitted into the impeller forwards and outwards towards cutting elements mounted on the cutting head. The paddles have peripheral parts located at or near the circumference of the impeller. The peripheral parts of the paddle elements are provided with replaceable, removably mounted wear parts which form a second impelling surface on the respective paddle.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a rake-off angle in a centrifugal cutting head includes mounting a plurality of cutting stations on a rim structure with a gap between adjacent cutting stations, each cutting station holding a cutting element at a leading end of the cutting station and comprising an inner surface extending from the leading end to a trailing end forming a product sliding surface along which food product slides between successive cuts; and adjusting the rake-off angle by adjusting a rear part of the product sliding surface at a trailing end of at least one cutting station without changing the leading end.

Abstract: A knife assembly comprising a knife blade of which a front edge is a cutting edge, a holder configured for supporting the knife blade, a clamp arranged for clamping the knife blade onto the holder, and a fastening mechanism cooperating with the clamp and the holder for securing and clamping the knife blade between the clamp and the holder with the cutting edge protruding at a front side of the knife assembly. The holder has a frontal part which is, in clamped state, in contact with a bottom side of the knife blade at a first distance from the cutting edge. The clamp has a leading edge which, in clamped state, clamps onto a top side of the knife blade and is located a second distance from the cutting edge, the second distance being smaller than the first distance. A cutting apparatus comprising at least one such knife assembly.

Abstract: Cutting head for a centrifugal cutting apparatus, comprising cutting stations, each of which has a cutting element at a leading end and an inner wall extending from the leading end to a trailing end and forming a product sliding surface. The cutting stations are assembled adjacent one another with a gap between each pair of adjacent cutting stations, a rake-off angle ?R being defined as the angle that a product slice deviates upon being cut by one of the cutting elements and exiting the cutting head through the respective gap, said angle being measured relative to a tangent line to the product sliding surface at the trailing end of the respective preceding cutting element. A rear part of the product sliding surface at the trailing end is adapted such that the rake-off angle ?R is below 17°.

Abstract: A knife assembly including a flat knife blade, a holder, a clamp arranged for clamping the knife blade onto the holder, and a fastening mechanism for securing the knife blade between the clamp and the holder. The clamp has clamping parts along a clamping line rearward from the front edge. The clamp includes clamping geometrical elements, corresponding to complementary contact geometrical elements of the knife blade, positioned at least in part at a different distance from said front edge than the clamping line. The clamp engages the knife blade along the clamping line and at the corresponding contact geometrical elements.

Abstract: A method for producing a knife assembly for a food cutting apparatus includes providing a clamp, by use of a grinding process, with an inwardly corrugated shape which is complementary to that of a knife blade of the assembly, and which forms a clamping surface which, when the knife assembly is in a clamped state, tightly fits over the knife blade, the fit being such that particles of food product being cut by means of the knife assembly are prevented from entering in between the clamp and the knife blade.

Abstract: A knife assembly including a corrugated knife blade, a holder, a clamp arranged for clamping the knife blade onto the holder, and a fastening mechanism for securing the knife blade between the clamp and the holder. The clamp has clamping parts along a clamping line rearward from the front edge. The clamp includes clamping geometrical elements, corresponding to complementary contact geometrical elements of the knife blade, positioned at least in part at a different distance from said front edge than the clamping line. The clamp engages the knife blade along the clamping line and at the corresponding contact geometrical elements.

Abstract: Impeller for a centrifugal cutting apparatus, provided for being coaxially mounted within an annular-shaped cutting head and to be rotated inside the cutting head about a rotational axis in a rotational direction, the impeller comprising: a base plate, an annular cover plate and a plurality of circumferentially spaced paddles mounted between the base and cover plates. The paddles are oriented such that they have a first impelling surface directed towards the rotational direction and the circumference of the impeller, so as to drive the product that is admitted into the impeller forwards and outwards towards cutting elements mounted on the cutting head. The paddles have peripheral parts located at or near the circumference of the impeller. The peripheral parts of the paddle elements are provided with replaceable, removably mounted wear parts which form a second impelling surface on the respective paddle.

Abstract: Cutting head for a centrifugal cutting apparatus, comprising cutting stations, each of which has a cutting element at a leading end and an inner wall extending from the leading end to a trailing end and forming a product sliding surface. The cutting stations are assembled adjacent one another with a gap between each pair of adjacent cutting stations, a rake-off angle ?R being defined as the angle that a product slice deviates upon being cut by one of the cutting elements and exiting the cutting head through the respective gap, said angle being measured relative to a tangent line to the product sliding surface at the trailing end of the respective preceding cutting element. A rear part of the product sliding surface at the trailing end is adapted such that the rake-off angle ?R is below 17°.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting head assembly (100) for a centrifugal cutting apparatus. The cutting head assembly (100) comprises a plurality of cutting stations (101) each provided with a cutting element (104, 204) for cutting or reducing food products. The cutting stations (101) being separately mounted adjacent one another on a rim structure (102, 202, 302, 402). The cutting head assembly (100) further comprising fixing elements (103, 203) for securing the cutting stations (101) to the rim structure (102, 202) and a first set of gap setting elements (105, 205, 305) arranged for adjusting the position of the rear edge of the cutting stations (101) with respect to the front edge of the cutting elements (104, 204) of adjacent cutting stations (101). The gap setting elements (105, 205, 305) being arranged for adjusting the position of the rear edge of the cutting stations (101) with respect to the rim structure (102, 202, 302, 402).

Abstract: A knife assembly comprising: a flat knife blade, a holder, a clamp arranged for clamping the knife blade onto the holder, and a fastening mechanism for securing the knife blade between the clamp and the holder. The clamp has clamping parts along a clamping line rearward from the front edge. The clamp comprises clamping geometrical elements, corresponding to complementary contact geometrical elements of the knife blade, positioned at least in part at a different distance from said front edge than the clamping line. The clamp engages the knife blade along the clamping line and at the corresponding contact geometrical elements.

Abstract: A knife assembly comprising: a corrugated knife blade, a holder, a clamp arranged for clamping the knife blade onto the holder, and a fastening mechanism for securing the knife blade between the clamp and the holder. The clamp has clamping parts along a clamping line rearward from the front edge. The clamp comprises clamping geometrical elements, corresponding to complementary contact geometrical elements of the knife blade, positioned at least in part at a different distance from said front edge than the clamping line. The clamp engages the knife blade along the clamping line and at the corresponding contact geometrical elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting head assembly (100) for a centrifugal cutting apparatus. The cutting head assembly (100) comprises a plurality of cutting stations (101) each provided with a cutting element (104, 204) for cutting or reducing food products. The cutting stations (101) being separately mounted adjacent one another on a rim structure (102, 202, 302, 402). The cutting head assembly (100) further comprising fixing elements (103, 203) for securing the cutting stations (101) to the rim structure (102, 202) and a first set of gap setting elements (105, 205, 305) arranged for adjusting the position of the rear edge of the cutting stations (101) with respect to the front edge of the cutting elements (104, 204) of adjacent cutting stations (101). The gap setting elements (105, 205, 305) being arranged for adjusting the position of the rear edge of the cutting stations (101) with respect to the rim structure (102, 202, 302, 402).

Abstract: A cutting wheel using knives with slice thickness gauging surfaces defining, with the knife cutting edges, a thickness dimension of sliced food products and a throat dimension measured perpendicular to the wheel cutting plane between each knife cutting edge and the terminal edge of the adjacent gauging surface, wherein the knives each have a single primary bevel extending practically tangent to the cutting plane on the side of the knife facing towards the cutting plane and a smooth transition area on the opposite side of the knife, and the ratio of throat dimension to slice thickness dimension is 1 to 1.7.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cutting food products, in which the products are individually delivered to a cutting device by causing the products to free-fall through a feed passage and then free-fall completely through the cutting means uninterrupted and entirely under the force of gravity. The food products are contacted and positioned as they drop through the feed passage prior to encountering the cutting device so as to produce size-reduced products of uniform size.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for cutting food products, in which the products are fed single-file by gravity through a cutting device comprising one or more cutting elements. The apparatus makes use of a device for contacting and positioning the products as they drop through a feed passage prior to encountering the cutting device so as to produce size-reduced products of more uniform size.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting food product. The apparatus includes a cutting device and housing thereabove that defines a passage with an opening in proximity to the cutting device for delivering the food product to the cutting device. The apparatus is preferably adapted to cut food products in a substantially horizontal plane, and as such the cutting device is preferably oriented to make a substantially horizontal cut through a food product. A lower portion of the housing has a lower extremity that defines the opening of the passage. The apparatus is equipped with various features that improve the operation of the apparatus and the consistency of the sliced product, particularly if the delivered food product varies in shape and size and may contain embedded stones.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting food product so that the product is properly oriented and stabilized before and throughout the cutting operation to produce a sliced product of uniform thickness, even if the delivered food product varies in shape and size, such as when both round and elongate potatoes are used to produce potato chips. The apparatus includes a cutting device and housing thereabove that defines a passage with an opening in proximity to the cutting device, such that food product is delivered to the cutting device in a substantially vertical direction. To improve the stability of round product during the cutting operation, the housing has an upper portion and a flared lower portion immediately below the upper portion so that at least a portion of the opening of the passage is defined by the flared region and has a larger radius of curvature than the upper portion.