Abstract: An appliance for processing food items including a first housing and a second housing releasably attached to the first housing. The first housing has a handle to facilitate hand-held use. A cutting member is mounted in the second housing and apparatus is mounted in the first housing for driving the cutting member. The driving apparatus is connected to the cutting member and actuated by a switch. A locking member secures the two housings together and an alignment mechanism is provided to position the housings for proper operation of the locking member. In one embodiment the locking member is operatively connected to the switch so that when the appliance is turned on the two housings are simultaneously locked together. The cutting member is a plastic hollow frusto-conical housing with metal cutting blades integrally molded into the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are providing for shredding and loading pre-portioned quantities of products, typically food products such as cheeses. The food product or the like is shredded at an on-line location which is a component of a filling and sealing line by which a plurality of pockets of packaging components are filled and then sealed under vacuum or gas-flushed conditions. The resulting pre-portioned shredded or grated product is moved into one of the pockets of the packaging component prior to the sealing operation. This movement is coordinated and in timed sequence with a conveyor assembly which properly positions the pocket under the fixture through which the grated product flows. Tamping equipment can be provided by which the grated product is leveled off while it is within the pocket and prior to sealing. Multiple pocket filling is also addressed.

Abstract: An improved hand-held, hand-crank operated rotary drum-type grater for cheese and the like is provided. The grater is adapted to incorporate molded plastic or metal components but preferably utilizes a cage-type drum body having a cylindrical surface defined by a metal sheet having bladed perforations. The drum is insertable into either end of a cylindrical cavity defined transversely in the grater hopper and thereafter is engagable with a crank. The drum has an internally threaded hub at one end that is engagable with a threaded stub shaft of the crank. The hopper has an improved integral support handle and also is associated with an improved press plate with an integral support arm. The arm pivotably extends adjacently to the handle, both the handle and the arm are graspable by one hand. The grater has few components, and the food contacting components thereof can be readily dissembled so that the entire grater is easily cleaned after use.

Abstract: An electric hand-held cheese grater device has a hinged spring-loaded cheese compartment door. The upper portion houses the power unit, which is activated by a button on the top of the unit. The lower portion houses a vertically-oriented grater blade in the form of a hollow cylinder residing within a conforming exit tube. The grater blade is connected to and rotated by a shaft powered by the power unit. Extending from the side of the lower portion is a cheese compartment wherein a piece of cheese is placed against the grater blade. A hinged, spring-loaded door opens outwardly to allow for the insertion of a piece of cheese into the cheese compartment. The spring-loading action of the door retains the cheese within the cheese compartment and forces the cheese against the rotating grater blade. In this manner, one hand operation of the cheese grater is effected.

Abstract: A portable snow cone maker that includes a housing with a mounting plate arranged to receive studs that extend at right angles outwardly from a drive shaft end of an electric motor, the studs fitted through holes in the mounting plate with nuts turned thereover to mount the motor within the housing, which housing mounting plate is open to accommodate the drive shaft fitted therethrough. An ice cube shaving blade, that is a metal band connected at its ends and is slotted laterally at spaced intervals therearound with an edge of each slot elevated to form an ice shaving scoop that shaves ice off of an ice cube that is urged against the blade top surface, the shavings to pass through the blade slots. The blade is mounted to extend outwardly from a blade mount that includes a collar for mounting to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A slicing/shaving machine particularly adapted for high speed slicing/shaving or food products in which at least one slicing/shaving blade defines a slicing/shaving edge of a generally arcuate configuration. The blade is carried by a slicing/shaving drum which is rotated about an axis to impart a circular path of travel to the slicing/shaving edge disposed at an angle other than parallel thereto. The product is fed/guided generally radially toward the slicing/shaving edge and is sliced/shaved thereby along the circular path in a continuous high speed fashion.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance for slicing food has a slicing cylinder arranged rotatably in a housing. Material to be sliced is pressed against the slicing cylinder by means of a pusher which can be moved into a feeding chamber. The wall of the feeding chamber located at the rear in the direction of rotation of the slicing is fixed. The pusher is guided pivotably and displaceably in its vicinity. To the front it has a terminating wall which, during pressing, slides on the outside beyond the housing and completely seals the feeding chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is a process and an apparatus for efficiently separating fine bones from fish flakes wherein fish flakes are dispersed after dehydration or dehydrated after dispersion, and separated using a sieve with a plate with slits formed thereon.

Abstract: A cutter blade projects tangentially from the peripheral surface of a solid cylindrical rotor for travel along an arcuate path in converging relation to a support surface of an anvil aligned with a horizontal travel path along which scrap lumber is continuously fed by an infeed roller into a cutting zone formed between the anvil support surface and the peripheral surface of the rotor. Oversized solids emerging from the cutting zone below the rotor are separated from a wood chip product of desired size and recirculated to the infeed roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for chipping solid materials generally comprises a chippr having a plurality of blades mounted between two hubs and spaced from one another and the shaft so that the chipped material does not jam the chipper. The blades preferably have a blade angle of from about 35 to about 60 degrees. An apparatus including the chipper, a device for support solid billets, and a conveyor for conveying the solid billets over the supporting device and into the chipper is also provided and advantageously occupies a minimum space.

Abstract: An appliance for processing food items including a first housing and a second housing releasably attached to the first housing. The first housing has a handle to facilitate hand-held use. A cutting member is mounted in the second housing and apparatus is mounted in the first housing for driving the cutting member. The driving apparatus is connected to the cutting member and actuated by a switch. A locking member secures the two housings together and an alignment mechanism is provided to position the housings for proper operation of the locking member. In one embodiment the locking member is operatively connected to the switch so that when the appliance is turned on the two housing are simultaneously locked together. The cutting member is a plastic hollow frusto-conical housing with metal cutting blades integrally molded into the housing.

Abstract: A hand-holdable food processor for cutting, slicing, shredding or grating vegetables, fruit, cheese and the like. The food processor is operable in various orientations while being held by hand and has a power supply, food cutting means for cutting, slicing, shredding or grating operatively engaging the power supply and a food delivery means extending from the processor for momentary storage and feeding of food to the food cutting means. A food cutting device also is disclosed which includes one or more blade sections eccentrically positioned about the axis of a food processor.

Abstract: Waste material pulping process includes(a) providing tank structure having an inlet and an outlet, and forming sequential zones through which waste material passes, including first, second and third zones,(b) providing a shredding and mulching rotor carried by the tank to rotate in the second zone, said rotor being porous and hollow and having waste mulching ribs positioned to impact and shred waste material passed to the rotor as the rotor rotates so that the shredded waste material passes into the rotor hollow wherein it is mulched as the rotor rotates,(c) passing liquid into the tank to penetrate the waste received in the first zone and the shredded waste in the second zone and within the rotor hollow, and to carry the mulched waste into the third zone, in slurry form;(d) and processing said slurry downstream of said outlet to produce solid form, usable end product waste material.

Abstract: A comminutor and a pump are assembled together so that they are driven by the same prime mover, such as a tractor power take-off, the pump being arranged to draw liquid, such as sewage, into a comminution chamber containing a rotating hollow cylinder which functions as a combination cutter and strainer. The solids in the sewage are comminuted until they are of a size small enough to pass through openings in the cylinder into the interior thereof from which the comminuted particles are pumped to a desired location, such as an irrigated field by the pump. The pump shaft has a drive shaft extension that extends through the center of the rotating cylinder to drive a planetary gear system arranged so that the rotating cylinder is driven at a speed much less than the pump speed.

Abstract: In order to provide a method and a disc cutter machine for carrying out the method with which the previously strenuous blade receiver exchange is simplified and facilitated, it is provided that the blade receiver (8) to be exchanged is tilted up by means of a tilting arrangement (19) with its end facing the outer side of the disc cutter, received by a guide (27) and drawn out substantially in the radial direction along the guide from the region of the disc cutter (6) and then the new blade receiver is inserted along the guide into the disc cutter.

Abstract: Process for preventing clogging of an atomizing device, which is used to feed a fluid coal-liquid slurry fuel into a combustion chamber in the form of a particulate spray, by continuously passing all of the slurry fuel through a comminuting means positioned upstream of the atomizing device in the slurry fuel passage connected to the atomizer, and apparatus therefor.

Abstract: Pulping apparatus particularly for reducing waste fibrous material into a fiber slurry. A disintegrating and mulching drum is provided to shred and tear wet feed material into clumps of wet fibrous material and the clumps then converted into water-logged masses of wet fibers. A dispersing drum then converts the water-logged masses of fibers into a fiber slurry.

Abstract: A raw refuse processing apparatus disk screen separating bed has a series of interdigitated rotatable disk assemblies and is adapted to receive raw refuse at one end, including bagged refuse, and at an intermediate location along its length the separating bed is provided with a bag breaker arrangement comprising a floating carriage having bag delaying disk assemblies and overlying bag ripping disk assemblies of the separating bed.

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed in a process for producing foamed articles of thermo-plastic or thermo-setting compounds. The improvement reduces the number of steps normally followed to make a foamed product and cuts down on the time.

Abstract: A coconut grater for grating and removing the coconut flesh from the interior of a coconut shell has a rotatable shaft and a plurality of curved grating members. Each grating member has a front portion secured to a leading end of the shaft and then curving outwardly and rearwardly to extend in spaced relation to the shaft. A plurality of angularly spaced struts extend radially from the shaft at a location rearwardly spaced from the leading end thereof. Each grating member has a rear portion secured to at least one of the struts, and also has grating edges formed by small apertures with outwardly projecting sharp edges.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food processor of the slicer/shredder type having a power base L-shaped housing with a second feed chute housing rotatably attached to the L-shaped housing to extend above it in an operative position over the L with the chute foldable in a box-like position for compact and convenient storage. In this general combination, a simple clutch structure is disposed between the housing and chute to provide a rotatable function whereby the chute is rotated into one position for removal for cleaning, into a second upright position where food is inserted into cutters and discharged, and into a third position opposite the second whereby the chute is secured and locked into a compact low box-like profile for easy storage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food processer of the slicer/shredder type having a power base L-shaped housing and a second feed chute offset from the upstanding base and rotatably attached to the L-shaped housing to extend above it in an operative positive position over the L with the chute foldable in a box-like position for compact and convenient storage. A cylindrical hollow cutter disposed in one end of the chute and an axially aligned cylindrical outlet with a detachable spout is disposed adjacent the cutter. A clutch around the shaft rotatably connects the chute and housing together and the shaft is slanted down up to 10.degree. below and over the L-portion with housing and chute having abutting spaces offset substantially the same amount from the vertical for food to easily exit the outlet. An interlocking control connects the clutch so the chute is partly rotated from the vertical operative position in one direction about the shaft for removal and cleaning and/or it may be rotated substantially 180.

Abstract: The slicer for food products comprises a circular blade 2 mounted to rotate in a support-means 1, and a base 4 comprising a surface 5 for the accommodation of the product to be sliced, the said surface running substantially parallel with axis of rotation X-X' of blade 2. Base 4 is hinged along axis Y-Y' in relation to support-means 1 and comprises, at 8, a fractioning element, such as a grater and/or shaver, rotating about an axis Z-Z' at right angles to surface 5 of base 4, the said axis being located in a plane at right angles to axis Y-Y' of base 4 and passing through axis of rotation X-X' of the blade. Fractioning element 9 is provided with means for coupling it, in rotation, to blade 2, after base 4 has been pivoted towards blade support means 1.

Abstract: A machine for producing thin shavings from chopped cellulose chips, in which the shavings are cut substantially in the fiber direction and have a large surface area relative to their thickness. The machine comprises a first part provided with at least one knife means and a second part provided with at least one anvil surface for the chips, the first and second parts being arranged for rotation relative to one another. The second part provided with the anvil surface comprises a center member having open, helical conveying channels for conveying the chips axially, while the first part provided with the knife means is in the form of a cylindrical ring which surrounds the center member and which closes said channels over at least a part of their axial length. The depth of the channels varies in the peripheral direction of the member, said channels being deeper at the leading edge thereof than at their trailing edge, as seen in the relative rotational direction of the member relative to the surrounding ring.

Abstract: A rotating cutterhead projects forward from a tractor or other suitable vehicle and fells trees as the tractor is moved over land to be cleared. The tree-felling cutterhead rotates in a direction such that its leading face moves upward and then rearward to kick the butt of a felled or falling tree upward and then move it rearward onto an apron. The apron forms the bottom of a flared throat leading to a chipping cutterhead. An overhead live feed roll or a swinging feed rake positively feeds each tree rearward along the apron to the chipping cutterhead. Upright cutterheads may be carried at the sides of the flared throat to delimb a tree, or at least to crush the limbs inward, as the tree is moved rearward by the upper feed roll or rake.

Abstract: The pusher plate which pushes foodstuffs through the chute to the food processor in a vegetable slicer is divided, each portion being separately operable and having divider walls for selectively reducing the effective capacity of the chute to expedite handling of small and odd-sized foodstuffs.

Abstract: In a device and method for particulating conglomerated materials, and especially soil samples, a revolving drum is mounted for eccentric rotation about a vertical axis. A grating or screen comprises the cylindrical wall of the open ended drum. The materials to be worked are placed between the outer periphery of the drum and an arcuate wall mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the drum. The materials are then crowded by the movable wall into engagement with the grating of the revolving eccentric drum to break up the materials into particles of workable size. Hard matter, such as rocks or gravel, is segregated during the process. If desired, a row of fingers and/or a brush can be mounted for engagement with the drum to loosen accumulated materials from the drum during operation of the device.

Abstract: The specification discloses an attachment for a food cutting machine which facilitates perpendicular cutting and chopping of food. The attachment is designed for ready attachment to a conventional food cutter of the type having a rotatable cutting cone with cutting edges defined on the surface thereof and of the type also having a hopper disposed adjacent the cone for retaining and feeding food to the cutting edges thereof. The attachment, designed to position food approximately normally the cutting edges of the cone, includes a supporting surface adapted to be supported by the walls of the hopper and a bearing surface extending into the hopper short of the cone at an angle to the supporting surface.

Abstract: Food in a hopper is sliced or shredded by a conical cutter which rotates adjacent to the lower edge of the hopper. A set of interchangeable cutters are provided for producing products of different shapes. Such cutters have conical walls of differing conical diameters and cutting portions which project different distances from the walls so that the cutting edges of the cutters in the set all lie substantially the same distances from their cutter axes and from the lower edge of the hopper.

Abstract: A rotary conical cutter lies adjacent to the lower edge of a food-retaining hopper to grate, shred or slice food in the hopper. Cut food enters the center of the cutter through openings defined by cutting edges which project from the conical wall in the cutter. A set of interchangeable such cutters have cutting portions with cutting edges which project different distances from their cutter axes and from their respective walls. The lower edge of the hopper is movable to vary its distance from the cutter cones, and retaining means are provided for holding the lower edge of the hopper at an adjusted position proximate to the path of the cutting edges of the cutting portions.

Abstract: A whole tree chipper composed of a housing encasing a rotor formed by a pair of substantially identical axially aligned frustro-conical hollow discs having their minimum diameter ends connected together and provided with at least one knife on each disc is disclosed. A slot extends through each disc adjacent each knife, for directing chips cut by the knife through the disc into a chip chamber located at the adjacent axial end of the housing. The rotor is rotated about the said axially aligned axes of the pair of discs and wood in the form of whole tree sections, is advanced longitudinally through an inlet spout which extends through the peripheral wall of the housing toward the conical faces of the discs forming the rotor. A debris chamber extends circumferentially of the rotor in said housing between the inlet spout and a debris outlet.

Abstract: A food-cutting machine for slicing, grating or shredding foodstuffs such as fruits, vegetables, meats or cheeses. The device is designed particularly for home kitchen use and features a hollow body or housing, the interior of which is adapted to storage of a set of stacked or nested cutters having blades for producing different cuts in various food items. The housing latches to a suction base by means of a cam lock operated by a lever which also operates the suction disc of the base. When the housing is latched to the base, the base is simultaneously fastened to an appropriate work surface by the suction of the disc. When the lever is raised to unlatch the housing, the suction is released so that the device may be moved to another location.

Abstract: The periphery of the chipping drum carries one or more axial rows of individual chipping bits in which the bits of adjacent rows are in staggered relationship if there is more than one row, and further carries an evening knife located in a position trailing the row or rows of individual cutting bits. The individual cutting bits are located with reference to ridges of the circumferentially corrugated drum periphery so that each ridge is disposed substantially centrally of a cutting bit. The anvil is corrugated complementally to the chipping drum periphery and is located so that the cutting edges of individual bits move through notches of the anvil. The evening knife moves close to the projections between the anvil notches.

Abstract: Wood chipping apparatus including a removable wood chipping cartridge in the form of a hollow drum having axial extending wood chipping knives positioned adjacent to wood chip receiving apertures in the drum. The drum is removably connected, at one end, to the end of a drive shaft, whereby the drum is supported in a cantilever fashion. For knife sharpening, the entire cartridge is removed and replaced with a cartridge having sharpened knives.

Abstract: A machine for cutting wood chips to shavings comprises a rotatable drum having circumferentially spaced cutting members connected to a feed passageway. The latter extends along a substantial portion of the length of the drum and houses feed screws forcing the chips into contact with the cutting members. The drum is surrounded by a housing with a widened portion defining a wedge-shaped cutting chamber. The formed shavings pass inside the drum in the longitudinal direction thereof to the outlet of the machine.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting ligneous materials into small pieces comprises a toothed cutting cylinder and a reaction member. In a mobile version of the machine the reaction member is in the form of a toothed felling cylinder 14, which is tangentially mounted with the cutting cylinder within a frame. The cutting and felling cylinders are coupled to a mechanism for driving them in rotation in such manner that their angular speeds are equal. The number of cutter blades carries by the cutting cylinder is equal to, or an integral multiple of, the number of teeth on the felling cylinder. The frame is mounted on a vehicle chassis so as to be rotatable relative thereto about two axes at right angles to each other. Jacks are provided for orientating the frame relative to the chassis which itself is tiltable by jacks with respect to a driving undercarriage.