Abstract: The system comprises a tank containing water and potatoes entrained therein. A food pump transports the mixture through a relatively long accelerator conduit of tapering cross-section. Some of the water from the output of this conduit is bypassed in accordance with the setting of a valve. A second conduit also has a tapering cross-section to align the potatoes. A water-operated turbine carries a disc-like cutter which is arranged in close proximity to the output of the second conduit. The cutter cuts the potato into helical lengths. Slitter blades on the cutter further cut the potato into helical strips. The turbine has a rotor which, in turn, carries a flywheel portion, the two parts being integral. Bearings press-fit on the rotor are journalled onto upstream and downstream stators in the turbine. Lubricating water is delivered to the bearing surfaces between the rotor and the stators.

Abstract: The system comprises a tank containing water and potatoes entrained therein. A food pump transports the mixture through a relatively long accelerator conduit of tapering cross section. Some of the water from the output of this conduit is bypassed in accordance with the setting of a valve. A second conduit also has a tapering cross-section to align the potatoes. A water-operated turbine carries a disc-like cutter which is arranged in close proximity to the output of the second conduit. The cutter cuts the potato into helical lengths. Slitter blades on the cutter further cut the potato into helical strips. The turbine has a rotor which, in turn, carries a flywheel portion, the two parts being integral. Bearings press-fit on the rotor are journalled onto upstream and downstream stators in the turbine. Lubricating water is delivered to the bearing surfaces between the rotor and the stators.

Abstract: A food slicing method and apparatus includes blades mounted on a shaft for rotation therewith, the blades successively converging and diverging to slice the food pieces as the shaft rotates. An inlet flume conveys the food pieces to and through the rotating blades. A flighted conveyor within the flume submerges the food pieces at the flume inlet and releases them at the bottom of the flume to float upward, oriented according to their buoyancy before entering the blades. In one embodiment, the blades are mounted on a curved shaft which rotates about a longitudinal axis of symmetry to cause the blades to converge on the inward side of the shaft and diverge on the outward side. The blades engage a synchronously counterrotating drum to slice the food pieces as they enter on the inward side of the shaft. As the blades diverge, the majority of the slices fall free of the blades.

Abstract: An endless conveyor particularly suited for use in food processing includes a plurality of conveyor flights flexibly connected at their sides by endless chains. Each flight has a longitudinally curved supporting portion upon which a supported product may be blanched, dried, or otherwise treated. The conveyor is supported at its ends by sprockets cooperable with the chains. The radius of curvature of the supporting portion approximates the pitch of the sprockets such that the conveyor flights, as they travel radially about the axis of rotation of the sprockets, form a continuous cylinder-like surface.