Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a cutting system for vegetables, including potatoes, which includes a water system for moving the item to be cut along a tubular passageway and through a cutting mechanism. The system includes a water bypass arrangement which is controllable to provide a constant velocity so that the flow of product to the cutting knife is maintained at a desirable level. Alignment fingers may also be provided to prevent rotation of the uncut product and centering thereof as the cutting knife is approached. After the product is cut, the pieces pass into an outlet section where water from the bypass system may be injected to achieve, in the preferred embodiment, coil separation when the device is used for cutting helical strips of potatoes.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a cutting system for vegetables, including potatoes, which includes a conveyor for transporting food product to the general vicinity of a rotating cutting blade. The conveyor generally aligns the food product and arranges it in a single row. The conveyor introduces the food product between a pair of endless belts which include contoured paddles on their mating surfaces to receive the food product and drive it toward the cutting knife. The endless belts are floating and coupled to pneumatic pistons to maintain contact between the paddles and the food product, even though the food product may vary in size. A double sided driving chain belt drives the endless belts to ensure positive, non-slipping feeding. The paddles prevent rotation of the food product while it is being cut. In the most preferred embodiment, the device is used for feeding potatoes into a rotating knife adapted to cut helical strips.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a cutting system for vegetables, including potatoes, which includes a water system for moving the item to be cut along a tubular passageway and through a cutting mechanism. The system includes a water bypass arrangement which is controllable to provide a constant velocity so that the flow of product to the cutting knife is maintained at a desirable level. Alignment fingers may also be provided to prevent rotation of the uncut product and centering thereof as the cutting knife is approached. After the product is cut, the pieces pass into an outlet section where water from the bypass system may be injected to achieve, in the preferred embodiment, coil separation when the device is used for cutting helical strips of potatoes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting articles such as potatoes into helical strips wherein the potato is held against rotation and aligned by a plurality of fingers and moved longitudinally against a rapidly rotating cutting head. The cutting head may include a hollow central cutting tube mounted at its axis of rotation. A feed mechanism is provided to feed potatoes to the holder for cutting and automatic sensing and sequencing control system controls the loading and feeding of potatoes. A plurality of holding and cutting mechanisms can be simultaneously fed and operated by the control system.