Abstract: An apparatus for slicing vegetables includes a stationary member holding stationary knives about the periphery of a rotating impeller hub. The hub has a hollow central opening for receiving vegetables. A plurality of circular tubular extensions having circular openings therein extending radially from the central opening in the impeller hub. Each circular opening has an impeller tube located therein. The impeller tube transports the vegetable outwardly by centrifugal force against the cutting knives. As the impeller hub rotates inside the stationary knife holding member the impeller tube simultaneously rotates upon the impeller hub such that each successive slice of the vegetable is at an angle, preferably 90 degrees, to the preceding slide. A bearing is located between the impeller tube and the impeller hub to allow this relative rotation. A pair of seals, one on each side of the bearing, prevents water and other contaminants from entering the bearing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding whole produce items, especially those with peels, to a centrifugal slicer so as to maximize the amount of whole slices and retention of peel includes an insert block with a central vertical infeed passage, a plurality of horizontal radially extending passages from the central passage, the end of the passageway shaped to allow the product being sliced to wedge in the passageways and prevent product bounce and roll during slicing.

Abstract: An improved package wind cutter utilizes a specially configured guide hook carried on the periphery of a reduced diameter winder dome to eliminate the need for a pressure roller mounted internally of the winder dome, thereby simplifying the manufacture, operation and maintenance of the apparatus and appreciably improving the strand distribution characteristics of the cutter as the relative speed of the cutter reel and winder dome are varied. The improved guide hook passes the strand from the dome to the reel with minimum separation from both the reel and the remaining pressure roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monolayering sliced wafer-like articles such as fruit or vegetable slices to enhance further product processing. The apparatus includes a slice catcher in cooperative relationship with a centrifugal slicer such that discharged product slices impinge onto the slice catcher inner surface and are captured by a flow of liquid passing over the slice catcher inner surface. The slices are controllably separated, conveyed and deposited in monolayered fashion on a conveyor for subsequent processing.

Abstract: A domestic ice shaver comprises a box-like base frame unit having a top surface beyond which a drive shaft rotated by a built-in motor protrudes, a shaver case unit mounted on the base frame unit and having a shaved ice piece discharge port to which a shaving blade faces, a rotary blade unit fixed to the upper end of the drive shaft within the shaver case unit and having, on its top, a cylindrical hopper, and a cover unit mounted to the shaver case unit to cover an upper portion thereof and having a central openable lid. There is provided on the outer surface of the shaver case unit a shaving blade block detachably disposed rearwardly of the shaved ice piece discharged port. The shaving blade block has a front edge portion mounted with the shaving blade confronting the shaved ice piece discharge port.

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: A centrifugal slicer is provided with an in-feed apparatus for feeding one item of produce at a time to be sliced. The in-feed apparatus includes a block with a channel having an inlet at the center of the slicer impeller for gravity feed of items to be sliced to an outlet located at a single area on the periphery of the slicer impeller.

Abstract: An improved rotary cutting apparatus is provided for cutting vegetables, particularly such as potatoes, into a distribution of strip sizes not exceeding a predetermined length limit. The apparatus comprises a conventional rotary impeller having peripheral blades for carrying potatoes into cutting relation with a slicing knife on an impeller housing for dividing the potatoes into slices followed by subsequent cutting into strips by strips knives on an adjacent cross-cut spindle. The impeller further includes an axially centered divider ring defining a pair of annular chambers for potato passage outwardly to the slicing knife, wherein longer potatoes are required to orient with their longitudinal axes extending generally radially with respect to the impeller, and generally perpendicular to the slicing knife, to limit the maximum length of the cut slices and the resultant cut strips.

Abstract: Pieces of produce are sliced in a centrifugal slicer having an impeller rotating within a cylindrical slicing head having one or more slicing knives, the slicing head being rotated in the same direction as the impeller but at a rotational speed less than that of the impeller. This results in significantly less waste and scrap as compared to a conventional commercial slicer.

Abstract: Food product pieces are formed with corrugations on opposite sides thereof, wherein the corrugations are substantially parallel and of substantially equal frequency and amplitude, and wherein the corrugations on one side are phase-shifted with respect to the corrugations on the opposite side by about 1/4 of the pitch distance of the corrugations. As a result, a food product piece with unique texture, flavor and appearance is produced after later cooking processes.

Abstract: A cutter for food materials, has a holder including a corrugated distal end and an intermediate stepped portion forming a rearwardly extending groove. A corrugated cutter is disposed on the holder and includes a corrugated cutting edge extending forwardly of the distal end of the holder and a rearward end engaged in the groove. A vertical cutter located on the corrugated cutter and includes a plurality of vertically extending blades provided therein and spaced away from one another by a constant distance and a rearward end engaged in the groove. A clamp member is fixedly attached to the holder and pressed into engagement with the corrugated and vertical cutter, the distal end edge of the clamp member having a corrugation corresponding to that of the corrugated cutter and having slots each of which receives one of the vertically extending blades of the vertical cutter and has a length larger than the width of the blade.

Abstract: This is a food-cutting apparatus wherein: a cutting blade is disposed on a back surface of a cutting plate so as to protrude its front tip from an opening provided in the cutting plate; the cutting plate is disconnectably mounted on a mounting plate having a saddlelike engaging recess at its middle portion; the mounting plate engages at its engaging recess rotatably with a supporting rod interposed between a pair of arms provided on the supporting plate which is provided in a back side of the cutting plate; a width of the cutting blade is shorter in dimension than a length of an interval between the pair of arms; and, interposed between a rear portion of the mounting plate and the supporting plate are a spring and an adjusting means for adjusting a protruding amount of the front tip of the cutting blade.

Abstract: The cutting comprises a drive disc, over whose periphery detachable secured rods 12, preferably having a square cross-section, are distributed at equal spacings and are aligned parallel to the drum axis. Between each pair of adjacent rods a blade box 42 is inserted which bears all replaceable wearing parts 56, 74, 80, these being directed into the drum interior. In operation each blade box rests againt the rods, owing to plane surface contact when these rods have a polygonal or, preferably, square cross-section.

Abstract: In a food slicer, a frame is mounted to posts standing uprightly on a base, a cutting plate is removably secured to an upper portion of the frame, and a transfer rotor is removably secured to an upper portion of a rotary shaft which passes through the frame and the cutting plate to extend upwards. The rotary shaft is rotatably supported by the frame and driven by a drive member disposed beneath the cutting plate. A hood is mounted to the base, for surrounding a region in which the drive member beneath the frame is arranged. The hood is mounted with a discharge chute which passes through an opening formed in the frame to reach an opening in the cutting plate for insertion of a cutting blade. The frame is connected with a drain pipe.

Abstract: According to the disclosed process, an endless fibrous material to be cut is wound in spiral form onto a rotatable cutter roll having radially outwardly oriented knives. A cutting force acts from the outside of the cutter roll radially inwardly, by way of a pressure roller contacting the wound material, for cutting, for example, synthetic fibers. In the process, at least two cutting forces are effective against the axis of the cutter roll, these forces being directed against each other. In the apparatus for conducting the process, two pressure rollers are articulated to each other by way of a double rocket arm. Consequently, the optimum cutting level, which will be different in individual cases, is automatically set. The effective cutting force for each roller is of equal strength.

Abstract: A knife assembly for a potato slicing machine used in slicing potatoes into waffle or lattice cut sections includes an elongated, corrugated knife and inner and outer clamping members for clamping the knife therebetween. The inner and outer clamping members each have a plurality of parallel, tapered fingers which extend toward a cutting edge of the knife along grooves in one side of the knife, thereby to support both sides of the knife and lift potato surfaces away from such side and any potential interfering edges which might shear away portions of the cut potato surfaces. A unique potato product formed using such knife assembly is a substantially ellipsoidal section having a peak to peak thickness of about 7/16 inch. The section has opposite sides, each with longitudinal ridges and grooves therebetween. The ridges and grooves of one side are disposed at an angle to those of the other. The section also has a grid of openings formed therein.

Abstract: A rotary cutting machine is provided for cutting vegetable products and the like, such as potatoes, into a plurality of smaller pieces, such as elongated shreds to form hashbrown potatoes. The cutting machine comprises a stationary cylindrical knife housing having about its periphery a plurality of axially extending open slots each lined on one side by a cutting knife. The product is supplied into an impeller mounted for rotation within the knife housing for centrifugally throwing the product into cutting engagement with the cutting knives. The impeller comprises a circular base plate closing one axial end thereof, an annular cover plate defining an enlarged central opening for admission of the product at the opposite axial end thereof, and at least one annular divider plate positioned axially between the base plate and the cover plate, all supported at their peripheries by a plurality of axially extending paddles.

Abstract: The shredding of fibres in the form of bands or strands to staple fibres with short staple length and fibre velocities of up to 6,000 m/min is attained by winding the fibre tow around a cutting ring with adjustable blades and cutting up the fibre tow by pressure rollers pressing radially on the winding. The feeding of the fibre tow is synchronized with the pressure rollers, as these rollers are fixed in supporting discs which rotate above and below the cutting ring with the same velocity as the depositing nozzle.

Abstract: An improved impeller assembly for use in a vegetable cutter comprises a series of equally spaced impeller blades radiating from a central shaft. The blades of the impeller curve around the shaft as they extend along the shaft to form curved, cupped sections of the blade. The impeller assembly rotates within a hollow drum and the blades urge vegetables within the drum against a slabbing knife having its cutting edge positioned within the drum. The curve of the impeller blades is such that when vegetables are introduced into the drum, the impeller blades curve away from the vegetables. The force with which the vegetables contact the blades is thus reduced so as to avoid bruising the vegetables. The shape of the impeller blades also serves to properly align the vegetables within the drum prior to slicing. In a preferred embodiment, the interior of the drum has a series of grooves formed therein to assist in aligning the vegetables prior to cutting.

Abstract: A circular vegetable cutting tray is supported in the upper portion of a cooking pot and includes a circumferential wall having apertures therethrough. Each aperture has a cutting edge past which vegetables can be moved by radiating arms of a rotor received in the vegetable cutting tray. An electric motor mounted on a cover for the pot can be connected to rotate the rotor and such cover and vegetable cutting tray are interconnected to prevent relative rotation of the cover and tray as the rotor is rotated.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for accelerating a filament wherein an impelling force is applied to a length of filament a torque arm distance from an axis of rotation to rotate the length of filament about the axis of rotation thereby developing a tip speed that is of sufficient velocity for using the tip portion to cut a workpiece and, alternatively, to sequentially release the moving tip portion to discharge a series of particles for performing welding, drilling, coating, cutting and like operations. The length of filament, preferably, is the end section of a coil of filament and is simultaneously advanced along the longitudinal axis of the length of filament toward the tip portion during the application of said impelling forces. The advancement of the filament is controlled. The enclosure of the filament in an evacuated space increases the speed range.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for cutting tow by supplying the tow with a pair of rolls to form a package next to cutting edges inside a rotating ring of blades. A pressure roll forces the tow against the cutting edges which form a surface of rotation preferably at an angle of 5.degree. to 85.degree. to the axis of rotation of the circle of blades.

Abstract: A foodstuff slicer which is particularly useful for shaving ice, frozen fruits and the like is disclosed. The foodstuff slicer is provided with a rotor composed of a downwardly diverging hood, a plurality of carrier-arms and a boss connected to a vertical driving shaft. The carrier-arms extend radially and upwardly in spaced relation with a wall of a conical case which diverges upwardly. A cutting blade is attached to a upper portion of the conical case. Centrifugal forces acting on lumps of foodstuff become nearly maximum at the position of the cutting blade to slice the foodstuff steadily.

Abstract: An improved cutter for hot plastic strands is provided which uses an inwardly extruding frustoconical die and corresponding frustoncnical cutter rotating within the die. Severed particles are fluid cooled and cutter clearance is readily controlled even when a cutter has been reground for sharpening and the diameter reduced.

Abstract: This patent presents apparatus for cutting staple fibers to predetermined accurate lengths from yarn, tow or ropes. The apparatus includes a circular assembly incorporating a plurality of knives and one or more camming means which cooperate with the plurality of knives to pull a tow into cutting engagement with the knives in response to rotational movement of either the knife assembly or the camming means. A movable endless belt encircles the camming means and is adapted to move with the tow and, thereby, eliminate frictional heating generated between the tow/s and the camming surface/s. In one embodiment the endless belt is supported by a film of air, gas or liquid between it and the cam, and in an alternate embodiment the cam is a circular rotatable means and the endless belt is in direct contact therewith, but frictional heating is effectively eliminated because sliding engagement between the endless belt and the camming means is minimized.