Abstract: Methods and apparatus suitable for cutting food product. The apparatus includes an annular-shaped cutting head and an impeller coaxially mounted within the cutting head for rotation about an axis of the cutting head in a rotational direction relative to the cutting head. The cutting head has lower and upper structural members, circumferentially-spaced support segments between the lower and upper structural members, and at least one knife assembly located at a perimeter of the cutting head adjacent a corresponding one of the support segments. The knife assembly includes a holder having a slot, a knife partially received within the slot, and tensioning means for inducing a longitudinal tension in the knife.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting food products. 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: A slicing apparatus and method suitable for reliably slicing elongated food products along a longitudinal axis thereof. The apparatus includes a slicing wheel mounted for rotation about a roughly horizontal axis, a first delivery structure adapted to deliver food product to the slicing wheel, and a moving delivery device adapted to press the food product against the first delivery structure and propel the food product in a delivery direction along a length of the first delivery structure to the slicing wheel. The slicing wheel produces a slice cut in the food product parallel to the delivery direction in which the food product is delivered to the slicing wheel.

Abstract: An impeller for use in a food cutting apparatus. The impeller is adapted to be mounted coaxially within a cutting head having one or more cutting knives disposed about a circumference thereof. The impeller is equipped with paddles such that, as the impeller rotates within the cutting head, the paddles force food product radially outward toward the stationary cutting knives of the cutting head. The paddles are equipped with grooves on at least one face thereof. The grooves preferably extend across the entire surface of the paddle face for the purpose of promoting the stability of the food product relative to the impeller.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting food product includes at least one knife having longitudinal ends and a hollow spindle. The knife has a central region therebetween and a base and opposite sides located along a longitudinal extent thereof. The hollow spindle has a slot for receiving the knife. The slot has a base wall for engaging and supporting the base of the knife and side walls for engaging and supporting the sides of the knife. The spindle includes a circumferential wall in which at least two circumferential gaps are present to segment the wall into at least two end wall segments and a third wall segment therebetween. The gaps separate the slot into at least two end slot segments and a third slot segment therebetween that are complementary to and receive, respectively, the base and side walls of the knife at the longitudinal ends and central region, respectively, of the knife.

Abstract: A material reduction apparatuses and methods suitable for performing cutting operations on a variety of materials, including food and nonfood products. The apparatus includes a machine having a cutting head, an impeller adapted for rotation within the cutting head about an axis thereof, means disposed on the cutting head for reducing the size of a material forced therethrough by the impeller, and an electric motor unit disposed in-line with the axis of the impeller. The electric motor unit supports the cutting head and impeller and has a shaft coupled to the impeller to rotate the impeller within the cutting head. The apparatus further includes means physically coupled to the electric motor unit for supporting the machine within a duct in which the machine is entirely enclosed. The supporting means includes arms that extend from the electric motor unit.

Abstract: Apparatuses for cutting food product are provided having a cutting head. The cutting head includes one or more knife assemblies. Each knife assembly includes a knife extending toward the food product and is adapter to secure the knife to the cutting head. The knife has a corrugated shape to produce a food product slice with generally parallel cuts wherein the food product slice has a periodic shape and a large-amplitude cross-section.

Abstract: Knife assemblies and methods therefor that are adapted to be used with a cutting apparatus capable of producing a variety of shaped food products having large amplitudes, for example, sliced, shredded, and strip-cut food products. The knife assembly is adapted for cutting food product includes a knife having a corrugated shape to produce a large-amplitude food product slice having a periodic shape and at least one julienne tab metallurgically joined to the knife adapted to cut the food product slice into strips.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus having an annular-shaped cutting head and an impeller assembly coaxially mounted for rotation within the cutting head to deliver food products radially outward toward the cutting head. The cutting head has at least one knife extending radially inward toward the impeller assembly. The knife has a cutting edge at a radially innermost extremity and a radially outer face that defines a trajectory plane for slices removed from the products by the cutting edge. The knife is clamped to the cutting head with a clamping feature that provides clearance for slices when traveling the trajectory plane of the knife.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for slicing food products, and particularly soft, pliable food products susceptible to being deformed to the slicing process. The slicing apparatus includes a slicing wheel assembly and device for stabilizing the food product as it is being fed through the slicing wheel assembly. The slicing wheel assembly includes a hub, a rim circumscribing the hub so as to define an annular space therebetween, and arcuate blades extending between and removably attached to the hub and rim. The hub, rim, and blades lie in a cutting plane of the slicing wheel assembly. Each blade has an arcuate cutting edge on a convex portion thereof, with radially innermost and radially outermost extents of the blade that do not lie on the same radial of the slicing wheel assembly.