Abstract: For grating cheese for commercial purposes, a motor driven disk having grating surfaces is provided. A semi-cylindrical trough is aligned below the axis of rotation of the disk. A top is hinged to a housing for the motor and has a guard for the upper half of the disk and a cover for the trough. Within the trough is a pusher which pushes a block of cheese against the lower half of the disk. A motor advances the pusher through a rack-and-pinion drive. The top has a latch which engages the pinion to cause it to engage the rack when the top is down. Safety means are provided to stop the motors when the pusher is close to the disk. A further safety feature permits the motors to start only when the top is closed.

Abstract: In food processing apparatus having a working bowl with a motor-driven shaft extending vertically upwards through the bottom of the bowl and various selected rotary tools having disc-like cutting tool members positioned in the top of the bowl which can be engaged with this shaft for processing food introduced through a feed tube in a cover secured over the bowl during use, improved rotary food processing apparatus is provided preventing the cutting surfaces of the disc-like member from inadvertently coming into contact with the undersurface of the cover. The disc member is provided with one or more rounded bearing elements elevated above the cutting elements by a small amount, for example in the range from 1/32 to 3/32 of an inch. These bearing elements are positioned closely adjacent to the periphery of the disc member, and in one illustrated embodiment the bearing element is formed directly at the periphery, thereby not impeding the feeding of food items to the cutting elements in the disc member.

Abstract: The knife assembly consists essentially of a relatively light two-edged cutting insert and a heavier holder. The insert is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis. In cross-section the two cutting edges of the insert represent the acute corners of a parallelogram, the obtuse corners of which are occupied by two longitudinal grooves that are hook-shaped in cross section. The holder includes a base plate having a projection complementary to either of said grooves. A clamping plate secures the insert on the base plate and binds said projection and said hook-like groove together. In the assembled knife the cutting edge of the insert is bounded by two plane surfaces one of which is flush with a plane surface on the holder and the other of which is flush with a plane surface on the clamping plate.

Abstract: The knives on the surface of a peeler and grater disc for a vegetable peeling machine are formed from portions of the disc and are integral therewith. The knives are arranged in generally spiral rows from the center of the disc. Upturned reinforcing lips formed from and integral with the disc are located adjacent slots in front of each individual knife. The lips and knives cooperate to define the knife cutting depths. A pair of radially extending ribs on the disc cooperate with spiral ribs along the walls of the peeling chamber to promote circulation and rotation of all the vegetables for uniform exposure of all sides of all the vegetables to the disc.