Abstract: A tension knife includes an elongate knife body with a thin, flat profile. The tension knife defines first and second mounting points at opposing ends of the knife body. The knife body has a characteristic width across a length of the knife body between the first and second mounting points. The characteristic width of the knife body defines a centerline between a leading edge of the knife body and a trailing edge of the knife body. One or more of the first and second mounting points has a focus between the centerline of the knife body and the leading edge. A frame can be configured to support and tension the tension knife to form a tension knife assembly. Clamp blocks can be used to mount the tension knife to the frame at the first and second mounting points, where one or more of the clamp blocks is configured to rotate with respect to the frame to tension the leading edge of the tension knife.

Abstract: A tension knife includes an elongate knife body with a thin, flat profile. The tension knife defines first and second mounting points at opposing ends of the knife body. The knife body has a characteristic width across a length of the knife body between the first and second mounting points. The characteristic width of the knife body defines a centerline between a leading edge of the knife body and a trailing edge of the knife body. One or more of the first and second mounting points has a focus between the centerline of the knife body and the leading edge. A frame can be configured to support and tension the tension knife to form a tension knife assembly. Clamp blocks can be used to mount the tension knife to the frame at the first and second mounting points, where one or more of the clamp blocks is configured to rotate with respect to the frame to tension the leading edge of the tension knife.

Abstract: A lattice-cut potato product is sliced so that the ridges (115) and grooves (122) on one surface of the slices are oriented transversely to the ridges (116) and grooves (124) on the opposite surface of the slices. The sizes and shapes of the ridges and grooves are particularly selected so that each point in the interior of a slice is no greater than a specified distance from an outer surface of the slice. These parameters enable a lattice-cut potato product to consistently achieve a crispy outer surface and a smooth and creamy interior when cooked by baking or microwaving.

Abstract: A lattice-cut potato product is sliced so that the ridges (115) and grooves (122) on one surface of the slices are oriented transversely to the ridges (116) and grooves (124) on the opposite surface of the slices. The sizes and shapes of the ridges and grooves are particularly selected so that each point in the interior of a slice is no greater than a specified distance from an outer surface of the slice. These parameters enable a lattice-cut potato product to consistently achieve a crispy outer surface and a smooth and creamy interior when cooked by baking or microwaving.

Abstract: A lattice-cut potato product is sliced so that the ridges and grooves on one surface of the slices are oriented transversely to the ridges and grooves on the opposite surface of the slices. The sizes and shapes of the ridges and grooves are particularly selected so that each point in the interior of a slice is no greater than a specified distance from an outer surface of the slice. These parameters enable a lattice-cut potato product to consistently achieve a crispy outer surface and a smooth and creamy interior when cooked by baking or microwaving.

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.

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 impeller assembly is equipped with paddles, each having a radially outer extremity adjacent the impeller assembly, a radially inner extremity, and a face therebetween facing the rotational direction of the impeller assembly. According to preferred aspects of the invention, removable posts radially extend from the radially outer extremity of each paddle, and/or the face of each paddle has grooves transverse to a radial of the impeller assembly.

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.

Abstract: A cutting head mounting and supporting ring assembly having an interlocking joint arrangement for mounting the cutting head on a food slicing machine. The ring assembly includes a support ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending flange segments having a flange end portion inclined relative to the axis thereof, and a mounting ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending protrusions having a protrusion end portion inclined relative to the axis thereof. The flange and protrusion surfaces of the flange segments and the protrusions are complementary shaped and arranged to mutually engage face-to-face to define scarf type joint connections when they are interdigited.

Abstract: A cutting head mounting and supporting ring assembly having an interlocking joint arrangement for mounting the cutting head on a food slicing machine. The ring assembly includes a support ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending flange segments having a flange end portion inclined relative to the axis thereof, and a mounting ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending protrusions having a protrusion end portion inclined relative to the axis thereof. The flange and protrusion surfaces of the flange segments and the protrusions are complimentary shaped and arranged to mutually engage face-to-face to define scarf type joint connections when they are interdigited.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a food product is disclosed which utilizes a cutting wheel having a plurality of knives extending between a hub and a rim in conjunction with other cutting knives to produce a multi-dimensional cut of the food product. The use of the additional cutting knives enables the apparatus to dice a thin layered or leafy food product (cut it into small pieces) as opposed to merely slicing the food product in a single dimensional cut. The additional cutting knives may include one or more julienne knives attached to each of the knives of the cutting wheel so as to extend approximately at right angles to the cutting plane defined by the cutting wheel knives. A circular knife may be located upstream of the cutting plane defined by the cutting wheel such that the rotary knife longitudinally cuts the food product before it passes through the cutting plane. The apparatus according to the invention also utilizes separate drive motors for the feed conveyor and for the cutting wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a food product is disclosed which utilizes a cutting wheel having a plurality of knives extending between a hub and a rim in conjunction with other cutting knives to produce a multi-dimensional cut of the food product. The use of the additional cutting knives enables the apparatus to dice a thin layered or leafy food product (cut it into small pieces) as opposed to merely slicing the food product in a single dimensional cut. The additional cutting knives may include one or more julienne knives attached to each of the knives of the cutting wheel so as to extend approximately at right angles to the cutting plane defined by the cutting wheel knives. A circular knife may be located upstream of the cutting plane defined by the cutting wheel such that the rotary knife longitudinally cuts the food product before it passes through the cutting plane. The apparatus according to the invention also utilizes separate drive motors for the feed conveyor and for the cutting wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a food product is disclosed which utilizes a cutting wheel having a plurality of knives extending between a hub and a rim in conjunction with other cutting knives to produce a multi-dimensional cut of the food product. The use of the additional cutting knives enables the apparatus to dice a thin layered or leafy food product (cut it into small pieces) as opposed to merely slicing the food product in a single dimensional cut. The additional cutting knives may include one or more julienne knives attached to each of the knives of the cutting wheel so as to extend approximately at right angles to the cutting plane defined by the cutting wheel knives. A circular knife may be located upstream of the cutting plane defined by the cutting wheel such that the rotary knife longitudinally cuts the food product before it passes through the cutting plane. The apparatus according to the invention also utilizes separate drive motors for the feed conveyor and for the cutting wheel.

Abstract: An improved cutting head for slicing a food product is disclosed wherein the cutting head includes a lower mounting ring attached to the bottom of the cutter support segments to position the cutter support segments and which lower mounting ring rests on and is supported by the cutting head support ring. The cutting head also includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust the width of the slicing opening, the mechanism having an adjustment member which is configured to engage a pin attached to a cutter support segment and to contact an adjusting surface on the upper mounting ring so as to space the pin a predetermined distance from the adjusting surface. The cutting head also includes a system for removably attaching the cutting blade to the cutter support segment such that the blade may be readily removed and replaced without completely removing the clamping member from the cutter support segment.