Patents Assigned to FAM
  • Patent number: 10293505
    Abstract: Cutting head assembly for a centrifugal cutting apparatus, comprising a plurality of drum stations, at least one of which is a cutting station, provided for together forming a drum, and fixing parts provided for assembling and holding the drum stations together. The drum stations have overlapping parts with each time at least one receiving part for receiving one of the fixing parts, such that in assembled condition the adjacent drum stations are each time fixed to each other by means of at least one of the fixing parts at the overlapping parts of the adjacent drum stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Brent L. Bucks
  • Patent number: 10265877
    Abstract: Impeller for a centrifugal food cutting apparatus, comprising a base plate and at least one set of paddle parts mounted on the base plate and provided for imparting centrifugal force to food products to be cut. Each set comprises inner and outer paddle parts defining at least a first stage and a second, cutting stage, the inner and outer paddle parts being offset from each other in radial and angular direction of the impeller, such that a safe compartment is defined for food product which is in the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Brent L. Bucks
  • Publication number: 20190099910
    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°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: FAM
    Inventor: Brent BUCKS
  • Patent number: 10213935
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting products, comprising: a base; a cutting head rotatably fitted to the base; an impeller adapted for rotating concentrically within the cutting head to urge products fed into the cutting head towards the circumference of the cutting head by means of centrifugal force; an impeller drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the impeller at an impeller rotational speed setting the centrifugal force; and a cutting head drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the cutting head at a cutting head rotational speed which is greater than the impeller rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Brent L. Bucks
  • Patent number: 9855668
    Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of apparatuses for cutting products, comprising: a base; a cutting head with at least one cutting element along the circumference of the cutting head for cutting products fed into the cutting head, the cutting head being rotatably fitted to the base; an impeller adapted for rotating concentrically within the cutting head to urge products fed into the cutting head towards the circumference of the cutting head by means of centrifugal force; a first drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the impeller at a first rotational speed setting the centrifugal force; and a second drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the cutting head at a second rotational speed, determined such with respect to the first rotational speed that the product is cut by the at least one cutting element at a predetermined cutting velocity; and a controller for controlling said apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Brent L. Bucks
  • Patent number: 9718203
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Brent Bucks
  • Patent number: 9643332
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting products, comprising: a base; a cutting head rotatably fitted to the base; an impeller adapted for rotating concentrically within the cutting head to urge products fed into the cutting head towards the circumference of the cutting head by means of centrifugal force; an impeller drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the impeller at an impeller rotational speed setting the centrifugal force; and a cutting head drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the cutting head at a cutting head rotational speed which is greater than the impeller rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Brent L. Bucks
  • Publication number: 20170106556
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting products, comprising: a base; a cutting head rotatably fitted to the base; an impeller adapted for rotating concentrically within the cutting head to urge products fed into the cutting head towards the circumference of the cutting head by means of centrifugal force; an impeller drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the impeller at an impeller rotational speed setting the centrifugal force; and a cutting head drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the cutting head at a cutting head rotational speed which is greater than the impeller rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: FAM
    Inventor: Brent L. Bucks
  • Publication number: 20160075047
    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).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: FAM
    Inventor: BRENT BUCKS
  • Patent number: D740068
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Brent L. Bucks
  • Patent number: D742180
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Sven Van Wemmel
  • Patent number: D742181
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventors: Brent L. Bucks, Rudi Van Buynder
  • Patent number: D742701
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventors: Brent L. Bucks, Rudi Van Buynder
  • Patent number: D745338
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventors: Brent L. Bucks, Rudi Van Buynder
  • Patent number: D756592
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventors: Brent L. Bucks, Rudi Van Buynder
  • Patent number: D758043
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Sven Van Wemmel
  • Patent number: D765342
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventors: Brent L. Bucks, Rudi Van Buynder
  • Patent number: D768951
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventors: Brent L. Bucks, Rudi Van Buynder
  • Patent number: D783925
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Sven Van Wemmel
  • Patent number: D793158
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Brent L. Bucks