Abstract: Methods and equipment suitable for slicing products into lattice-type slices or chips. The methods and equipment utilize a knife assembly that includes a corrugated knife, a knife holder, and a clamp. A leading edge of the knife holder is defined by fingers and notches therebetween, and the fingers of the knife holder engage valleys in a first surface of the corrugated knife. The clamp is mated with a second surface of the corrugated knife and secures the corrugated knife to the knife holder. The clamp has a leading edge defined by fingers and notches therebetween. The fingers of the clamp engage valleys on the second surface of the corrugated knife, such that the fingers of the clamp are interdigitated with the fingers of the knife holder.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for cutting food products. The apparatus includes an annular-shaped cutting head having at least a first mounting frame surrounding a central axis of the cutting head and a plurality of cutting tools arranged around the central axis of the cutting head and pivotably coupled to the first mounting frame such that each cutting tool has a pivot axis. The method includes deflecting each cutting tool about its pivot axis by engaging first portions of the cutting tools in proximity to the first mounting frame to deflect the first portions a first radial deflection distance relative to the central axis and engaging second portions of the cutting tools to deflect the second portions a second radial deflection distance relative to the central axis. The first and second radial deflection distances can be adjusted individually or in unison.

Abstract: Machines and methods for slicing products into lattice-type slices or chips. The methods and machines utilize a cutting head having an annular shape that defines an axis of the cutting head, and an impeller assembly coaxially mounted within the interior of the cutting head for rotation about the axis of the cutting head. The cutting head having at least one knife at a perimeter thereof and extending radially inward of the cutting head. The impeller assembly has a base, a cavity within the base, a central opening to the cavity within the base, and equi-angularly spaced tubular guides extending radially outward from the base for delivering products within the cavity toward the perimeter of the cutting head as the impeller assembly rotates within the cutting head. The impeller assembly includes features with the ability to increase product throughput and increase the useful lives of the impeller assembly and cutting head.

Abstract: Size-reduction units, size-reduction machines, and methods capable of producing size-reduced products from a variety of solid and semisolid materials. A size-reduction unit includes a circular cutter adapted and arranged to cut a product into strips, a rotating cross-cutter adapted and arranged to receive the strips from the circular cutter, and a stripper plate. The cross-cutter has knives with cutting edges that are adapted and arranged to cut the strips into a size-reduced product, and the stripper plate defines a shear edge in proximity to the cutting edge of each knife of the cross-cutter as its cutting edge encounter the shear edge during rotation of the cross-cutter. The cross-cutter has a helical fluted shape comprising flutes between adjacent pairs of the knives.

Abstract: Machines and methods for slicing products into lattice-type slices or chips. The methods and machines utilize a cutting head having an annular shape that defines an axis of the cutting head, and an impeller assembly coaxially mounted within the interior of the cutting head for rotation about the axis of the cutting head. The cutting head having at least one knife at a perimeter thereof and extending radially inward of the cutting head. The impeller assembly has a base, a cavity within the base, a central opening to the cavity within the base, and equi-angularly spaced tubular guides extending radially outward from the base for delivering products within the cavity toward the perimeter of the cutting head as the impeller assembly rotates within the cutting head. The impeller assembly includes features with the ability to increase product throughput and increase the useful lives of the impeller assembly and cutting head.

Abstract: Methods and equipment for cutting products, including food products. Such equipment includes an impeller adapted to be coaxially mounted within an annular-shaped cutting head for rotation about an axis of the cutting head in a rotational direction relative to the cutting head. The impeller includes a base and ring spaced axially from each other, at least a first intermediate plate disposed between the base and the ring so as to define at least first and second tier levels within the impeller, and paddles disposed between the base and the ring and within the first and second tier levels. The first intermediate plate has an opening therein that defines a passage between the first and second tier levels. The impeller further has pockets defined by and between immediately adjacent pairs of paddles within each tier level.

Abstract: Methods and equipment suitable for slicing products into lattice-type slices or chips. The methods and equipment utilize a knife assembly that includes a corrugated knife having oppositely-disposed surfaces that terminate at a cutting edge. The knife assembly further includes a knife holder having a registration surface and an oppositely-disposed knife seat configured to mated with a first surface of the corrugated knife, and means for securing the knife to the knife seat of the knife holder. The knife seat comprises a pattern of peaks and valleys complementary to a pattern of peaks and valleys in the first surface of the corrugated knife. The securing means cooperates with the knife holder to inhibit accumulation of solids of products along at least one of the first and second surfaces of the corrugated knife, and/or stabilizes the knife by reducing a cantilevered beam length thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food product to produce food product slices. The apparatus includes a circular cutting head having an axis and at least one knife assembly on the circumference of the cutting head, and a knife extending axially inward and having a corrugated shape to produce a food product slice with a periodic shape characterized by peaks and valleys. At least one component securing the knife to the cutting head has a surface facing radially inward and a corrugated shape shaped differently than the corrugated shape of the knife to minimize surface contact between unsliced food products and the cutting head.

Abstract: Size-reduction units, size-reduction machines, and methods capable of producing size-reduced products from a variety of solid and semisolid materials. A size-reduction unit includes a circular cutter adapted and arranged to cut a product into strips, a rotating cross-cutter adapted and arranged to receive the strips from the circular cutter, and a stripper plate. The cross-cutter has knives with cutting edges that are adapted and arranged to cut the strips into a size-reduced product, and the stripper plate defines a shear edge in proximity to the cutting edge of each knife of the cross-cutter as its cutting edge encounter the shear edge during rotation of the cross-cutter. The cross-cutter has a helical fluted shape comprising flutes between adjacent pairs of the knives.

Abstract: Methods and equipment for producing shaped food products having large amplitudes, for example, sliced, shredded, and/or strip-cut food products. The methods and equipment utilize a cutting apparatus having at least two sequential knives at different radial positions in reference to radial distances of the sequential knives in radial directions of the cutting apparatus. Each sequential knife has a corrugated shape comprising peaks and valleys, and the sequential knives are arranged to be in phase or out of phase alignment with each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food product to produce food product slices. The apparatus includes a rotatable cutting wheel having two or more knife assemblies. Each knife assembly includes a knife extending radially between a hub and rim of the cutting wheel. The knife has a leading edge facing a direction of rotation of the cutting wheel and a large-amplitude corrugated shape characterized by peaks and valleys. The knife is secured to the hub and rim with a knife holder, and a clamp secures the knife to a first surface of the knife holder. The knife holder and knife are configured to provide continuous and accurate alignment of an individual food product throughout the slicing thereof by the knife of each knife assembly to produce food product slices with a generally parallel-cut cross-section having a uniform thickness and a large-amplitude periodic shape with an amplitude of 0.1 inch or greater.

Abstract: Methods and equipment for producing shaped food products having large amplitudes, for example, sliced, shredded, and/or strip-cut food products. The methods and equipment utilize a cutting apparatus having at least two sequential knives at different radial positions in reference to radial distances of the sequential knives in radial directions of the cutting apparatus. Each sequential knife has a corrugated shape comprising peaks and valleys, and the sequential knives are arranged to be in phase or out of phase alignment with each other.

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 includes a primary blade having a corrugated shape to produce a large-amplitude food product slice having a periodic shape, and at least one tab blade assembled with or formed from the primary blade to cut a food product slice into strips.

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food product to produce food product slices. The apparatus includes a circular cutting head having an axis and comprising at least one knife assembly on the circumference of the cutting head, a knife extending axially inward and having a corrugated shape to produce a food product slice with generally parallel cuts, wherein the food product slice has a periodic shape characterized by peaks and valleys, and means for securing the knife to the cutting head, the securing means comprising a surface facing radially inward and having a corrugated shape. The corrugated shape of the surface of the securing means is shaped differently than the corrugated shape of the knife to minimize surface contact between unsliced food products and the cutting head.

Abstract: Methods and equipment suitable for slicing products into lattice-type slices or chips. The methods and equipment utilize a knife assembly that includes a corrugated knife having oppositely-disposed surfaces that terminate at a cutting edge. The knife assembly further includes a knife holder having a registration surface and an oppositely-disposed knife seat configured to mated with a first surface of the corrugated knife, and means for securing the knife to the knife seat of the knife holder. The knife seat comprises a pattern of peaks and valleys complementary to a pattern of peaks and valleys in the first surface of the corrugated knife. The securing means cooperates with the knife holder to inhibit accumulation of solids of products along at least one of the first and second surfaces of the corrugated knife, and/or stabilizes the knife by reducing a cantilevered beam length thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food product to produce food product slices. The apparatus includes a rotatable cutting wheel having two or more knife assemblies. Each knife assembly includes a knife extending radially between a hub and rim of the cutting wheel. The knife has a leading edge facing a direction of rotation of the cutting wheel and a large-amplitude corrugated shape characterized by peaks and valleys. The knife is secured to the hub and rim with a knife holder, and a clamp secures the knife to a first surface of the knife holder. The knife holder and knife are configured to provide continuous and accurate alignment of an individual food product throughout the slicing thereof by the knife of each knife assembly to produce food product slices with a generally parallel-cut cross-section having a uniform thickness and a large-amplitude periodic shape with an amplitude of 0.1 inch or greater.

Abstract: Methods and equipment for producing shaped food products having large amplitudes, for example, sliced, shredded, and/or strip-cut food products. The methods and equipment utilize a cutting apparatus having at least two sequential knives at different radial positions in reference to radial distances of the sequential knives in radial directions of the cutting apparatus. Each sequential knife has a corrugated shape comprising peaks and valleys, and the sequential knives are arranged to be in phase or out of phase alignment with each other.

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.