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: Machines and methods suitable for performing cutting operations on products to yield a reduced-size product, for example, slicing and strip-cutting elongate food products. Such a method includes simultaneously delivering products to annular-shaped cavities of a rotating impeller. The products are simultaneously delivered with a feed unit that has a feed chute extension that protrudes into an interior of the impeller. The feed chute extension defines feed chutes that are aligned with the annular-shaped cavities of the impeller and direct the products to circumferential series of pockets within the annular-shaped cavities. The products are held within the pockets by centrifugal force as the products are carried past a slicing knife to form a first longitudinal cut through each of the products during a rotation of the impeller and to produce therefrom a substantially longitudinally sliced product.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for slicing products, including food products. Such an apparatus has an annular-shaped cutting head equipped with knife assemblies located at a circumference of the cutting head, and interior surfaces each located in a circumferential direction of the cutting head relative to one of the knife assemblies such that each interior surface leads one of the knife assemblies and trails a different one of the knife assemblies. Each knife assembly has a flat knife that extends radially inward to define a gate opening. Each interior surface has continuous flow paths defined therein that extend across at least a majority of the interior surface from adjacent a leading edge thereof through a trailing edge thereof and are fluidically connected to one of the gate openings between the interior surface and the knife that trails the interior surface.

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: 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: Machines and methods adapted to process, for example, to reduce the size of, disperse, or homogenize, a variety of materials and compositions. Such methods and machines are capable of reducing the size of a material and dispersing the material in a liquid by cutting the material with knives located along a perimeter of an annular-shaped cutting head, causing the cut material to flow radially outward from the cutting head through gaps between the knives, and flowing a liquid through passages in the cutting head that cause the liquid to cascade around the knives of the cutting head in an axial direction of the cutting head.

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: Cutting wheels equipped with knife assemblies suitable for performing size reduction operations on products, methods of operating cutting wheels, knife holders for such knife assemblies, methods of manufacturing knife holders, and slicing machines capable of utilizing such cutting wheels. The knife assemblies each have a leading edge that faces a direction of rotation of the cutting wheel, a trailing edge oppositely disposed from the leading edge, and a cutting edge on the leading edge. Each knife assembly further has a knife holder having a first surface that faces the products advanced toward the cutting wheel in a feed direction and a registration surface formed in the first surface. The registration surface is defined by at least a first recessed planar surface that is recessed a distance relative to the first surface and defines with the first surface at least a first step therebetween.

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: 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: Methods and apparatuses for reducing food products. Such a method includes introducing a food product into an impeller rotating within a casing about an axis thereof. The impeller has paddles and pockets defined by and between adjacent pairs of the paddles. The paddles are circumferentially spaced so that each pocket is sequentially radially aligned with a circumferential opening of the casing as the impeller rotates. Each paddle has a relief slot defined in an outer radial edge of the paddle. Food products are expelled from the pockets and cut with a knife disposed at the circumferential opening of the casing as the impeller rotates and the pockets travel past the circumferential opening. The knife defines a cord of the casing, extends into the path of the paddles, and passes through the relief slots of the paddles.

Abstract: Double-edged knives for use in centrifugal-type cutting apparatuses, for example, the Urschel Model CC®, and transverse cutting wheel-type cutting apparatuses, for example, the Urschel TranSlicer 2000®, to produce uniform cuts in bulk quantities of food products. Such a knife has a longitudinal length defining oppositely-disposed first and second ends and defining oppositely-disposed edges between the first and second ends. Each of the edges has a cutting edge defined thereon adapted for slicing food products. As a result, the knife has two operational life spans and can be removed and reinstalled to utilize either of its cutting edges.

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: 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: 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.