Abstract: Hydraulic line switcher (10) for use with a hydraulic food cutting system having flexible tube (50) supported in cradle (52). Flexible tube (50) is conically tapered from a larger inlet to a smaller outlet and attached to slide plate (78). Air cylinder (94), through lever (104) is used to selectively position slide plate (78) to one of a plurality of discharge ports quickly enough to prevent initiation of system blockage, and with sufficient force to shear trapped food product.

Abstract: Pressure sensing transducer 140 monitors pressure transients in the liquid in accelerator tube 110 of a hydraulic cutting system induced by food product impinging upon, being cut by, and passing through cutter blade assembly 80. The occurrence of above-normal pressure transients indicates the presence of a system blockage caused by failure of food product to pass cleanly through the cutter blade assembly, and is used as a control signal to activate stepping motor 170 to rotate cylinder assembly 12. Cylinder assembly 12 contains a plurality of barrel assemblies holding cutter blade assemblies 80 and is rotated to index clean barrel assemblies into the hydraulic cutter system pressurized fluid flow path, either upon the detection of a system blockage, or in a timed automatic replacement sequence.

Abstract: A toroidal shaped impact assembly (10) for use in a hydraulic food cutting system is disclosed. Impact assembly (10) includes frustum shaped housing (22), an attachment plate (28) for mounting the assembly within a hydraulic food assembly, and a toroidally shaped impact ring (20). Food products such as peppers (12) are suspended in water and accelerated into assembly (10) where the aligned whole peppers impact against ring (20) thereby breaking apart into food pieces and an unattached seed pod or core.

Abstract: A food product, suitable for slicing into helical strips, comprising a whole fruit or vegetable having an outer surface, a longitudinal center axis and a plurality of penetration slots which extend radially inwardly from the outer surface to the longitudinal center axis.

Abstract: A cut food piece formed in the shape of a helical split ring (10) having a predetermined number of spirals by means of first piercing a series of slots in the whole food product by penetration blade assembly (248) prior to urging the whole food product into engagement with cutter blade assembly (200) having wheel plate (202) rotating about central axis (206). Said cutter blade assembly (200) further having a plurality of ring cutters (208) attached to and extending normally out from wheel plate (202) for cutting continuous concentric helical spirals in the whole food product. Shear blade (210) extends angularly out from wheel plate (202) for cutting concentric helical spirals of food product off the whole food product.

Abstract: A conveyor chain transport system for delivering fruits or vegetables to a longitudinal passageway (22) defined by two sets of opposing endless loop conveyor chains (24). A plurality of tensioner assemblies (30), which have two opposing pairs of independently acting chain sprocket assemblies (70 and 100), are provided to independently tension each set of conveyor chains (24) along both an x and a y axis so that each individual food product, regardless of shape and size, is subjected to uniform chain tension. Each pair of opposing chain sprocket assemblies are interconnected to a single cam ring (34 and 52), such that displacement of one chain sprocket by food product results in reciprocal and equal displacement of the other opposing chain sprocket, thus facilitating centering of the food product as it is delivered to cutter blade assembly (200).

Abstract: A cutter blade assembly (10) for cutting soft core vegetable stuffs using a hydraulic cutting apparatus. The cutter blade assembly (10) is constructed from a front inlet adapter plate (12) having an inner longitudinal passage (28) therethrough. Pyramidal knife supports (14) and (16) are attached on opposite sides of the longitudinal passage (28) to the back side of front inlet adapter plate (12) to form a pyramidal frame. A plurality of strip knives (18) are attached in a staggered, inclined and parallel arrangement to form a sequential cutting grid of inclined knives to permit cutting of soft core food stuffs.

Abstract: A conveyor belt transport system having hopper (20) for delivering fruits or vegetables to a longitudinal passageway (22) defined by two sets of opposing endless loops conveyor belts (24). A plurality of tensioner assemblies (30), which have two opposing pair of independently acting belt roller assemblies (70 and 100), are provided to independently tension each set of conveyor belts (24) along both an x and a y axis so that each individual food product, regardless of shape and size, is subjected to uniform belt tension. Each pair of opposing belt roller assemblies are interconnected to a single cam ring (34 and 52), such that displacement of one belt roller by food product results in reciprocal and equal displacement of the other opposing belt roller, thus facilitating centering of the food product as it is delivered to a rotating cutter blade assembly.

Abstract: A cut food piece formed in the shape of a helical split ring (10) having a predetermined number of spirals by means of first piercing a series of slots in the whole food product by penetration blade assembly (248) prior to urging the whole food product into engagement with cutter blade assembly (200) having wheel plate (202) rotating about central axis (206). Said cutter blade assembly (200) further having a plurality of ring cutters (208) attached to and extending normally out from wheel plate (202) for cutting continuous concentric helical spirals in the whole food product. Shear blade (210) extends angularly out from wheel plate (202) for cutting concentric helical spirals of food product off the whole food product.

Abstract: A cutter blade assembly 100 for producing elongated string cuts of food product using a hydraulic cutting apparatus where the elongated string cuts produced are free from feather cuts and compression cell damage, and further have small cross-sectional areas. The cutter blade assembly 100 is constructed from a front inlet adapter plate 101 having an inner longitudinal passageway therethrough shaped to form a conical converger 102. Pyramidal knife supports 103, 104, 105 and 106, are attached in opposing pairs around conical converger 102 to the back of front inlet adapter plate 101 to form a pyramidal frame. A plurality of strip knives are attached in a staggered perpendicular interlocking arrangement to form a sequential cutting grid.

Abstract: A cutter blade assembly 100 for producing elongated string cuts of food product using a hydraulic cutting apparatus where the elongated string cuts produced are free from feather cuts and compression cell damage, and further have small cross-sectional areas. The cutter blade assembly 100 is constructed from a front inlet adapter plate 101 having an inner longitudinal passageway therethrough shaped to form a conical converger 102. Pyramidal knife supports 103, 104, 105 and 106, are attached in opposing pairs around conical converger 102 to the back of front inlet adapter plate 101 to form a pyramidal frame. A plurality of strip knives are attached in a staggered perpendicular interlocking arrangement to form a sequential cutting grid.

Abstract: A cutter blade assembly (10) having a plurality of strip knives (15) for cutting away peripheral segments (19) of a potato (17) in order to define a decorative geometric shape for the residual cross sectional core area (18) of the potato, for use in a hydraulic food cutting apparatus and decorative food cores manufactured by the process disclosed herein.

Abstract: A cut food piece formed in the shape of a helical split ring (10) by means of first cutting a slot in the whole food product by slot cutter (30) prior to urging the whole food product into engagement with cutter blade assembly (20) having wheel plate (21) rotating about central axis (23). Said cutter blade assembly (20) has a plurality of ring cutters (24) attached to and extending normally out from wheel plate (21) for cutting continuous concentric helical spirals in the whole food product. Shear blade (25) extends angularly out from wheel plate (21) for cutting concentric helical rings of food product off the whole food product.

Abstract: A cut food piece formed in the shape of a helical split ring (10) by means of first cutting a slot in the whole food product by slot cutter (30) prior to urging the whole food product into engagement with cutter blade assembly (20) having wheel plate (21) rotating about central axis (23). Said cutter blade assembly (20) further having a plurality of ring cutters (24) attached to and extending normally out from wheel plate (21) for cutting continuous concentric helical spirals in the whole food product. Shear blade (25) extends angularly out from wheel plate (21) for cutting concentric helical rings of food product off the whole food product.

Abstract: A cutter blade assembly 10 for the production of a decorative food core 18 for use with hydraulic food cutting apparatus has a frame constructed from a series of sequential rings 11, 12 and 13 which together define a longitudinal passageway. A plurality of strip knives 15 are arranged therein to define various segments of the longitudinal passageway and are connected to rings 11, 12 and 13 by inserting the end tabs of strip knives 15 into notches 14. Rings 11, 12 and 13 are then bolted together by the use of bolts passing through holes 16.

Abstract: In a hydraulic food cutting apparatus having mixing tank 13, food pump 14, converging tube segment 11 for accelerating and aligning food product to be cut, deceleration loop 18 and separating means 20 a method and means for reducing turbulent flow of cut food product 19 and carrier fluid which is either a converging cutter blade assembly 10, having the same angle of convergence and serving as an extension of converging tube segment 11, or in the event a standard in line cutter blade assembly 21 is used, then a second converging tube segment 22 attached to the discharge of the in line cutter blade assembly 21 for reaccelerating the carrier fluid and cut food product 19 as it exits the cutter blade assembly 21, in order to induce improved laminar flow of the carrier fluid and to reduce tumbling of the cut food product 19.

Abstract: Method and alignment tube apparatus for the production of onion rings in an hydraulic food cutting system. Onions are pre-cut at top and bottom to provide an onion having a predetermined thickness. The onions so cut are then propelled through a flow tube which aligns the onion into a preselected position relative to cutting knives. The onion is then forced by hydraulic pressure through the cutting knives, which are horizontally oriented and vertically stacked, to cut the concentric layers of onion into onion rings. The alignment tube of the present invention includes a pair of oppositely disposed converging ramps which define an outlet port having an height substantially the same as the thickness of the precut onion. The onion is thereby precisely oriented for proper cutting.

Abstract: A centering and aligning tube for use in hydraulic food cutting apparatus, said tube including a rigid outer housing and a resilient liner insertable into the housing, the liner constructed of resilient material and preferably provided with a plurality of evenly spaced, radially inward and longitudinally extending ribs operable to engage the food product, such as a potato, for alignment and centering thereof relative to a cutter. The ribs are preferably tapered from entrance to a location adjacent the exit of the liner. A resilient annular seal with an opening for passage of the food product, such as a raw potato, is provided adjacent the exit end of the liner to increase the exit speed of the potato and to restrict fluid use for greater efficiency. An inner tube engaging the inner most surface of the ribs may optionally be provided.