Abstract: Apparatus for slicing ham or the like comprising a ham holder adapted to hold the ham to be sliced and journalled for rotation so as to spin the ham, motor spinning the ham holder, rotatable slicer blade and motor spinning the blade and respective rams for moving the blade into cutting engagement with the ham while simultaneously moving it upwardly so as to cut a continuous spiral around the bone of the ham. Respective adjustment means are provided for adjusting the thicknesses of the slices of ham that are produced and for securing the respective order of moving the cutting blade away from the ham before it is brought upwardly or downwardly from its finishing position to its starting position.

Abstract: The machine comprises a lift-conveyor with a lower return-stretch (5) followed in succession by sets of accelerator-chains (7), cutter-device (25), pressure-shoe device (26), bottle-neck exit device (27) and deflector device (22). Sets of channels composed of one fixed (39) and one movable oscillating cheek (20) are arranged in succession about the periphery of the drum (15) and caused thus to rotate. A gulley (40) located between each pair of fixed channel-cheeks provides for discharging peeled tomatoes. Each of the movable channel-cheeks is fitted outermost with a roller (21) designed to pass through the deflector (22) which causes the cheek itself to be drawn toward a fixed magnet (23) and held thereby in the open position until coming against a flexible cam profile (24) which detaches it from said magnet in order to bring about the required squeezing action performed by the channel-cheeks in causing each single tomato to eject from its covering of skin, viz. (28).

Abstract: A rotary live knife assembly includes a directionally biased shaft housing with a rotary peeling cutter mounted on a shaft within the housing, a chip breaker also mounted on the shaft and a guard on the shaft housing for adjusting the depth of cut made by the cutter into a piece of fruit during a peeling operation. The guard is positively positioned on the shaft housing relative to the direction of shaft housing bias and the guard has a peel shearing surface facing upstanding blades of the chip breaker to sever removed peelings into small pieces by a scissor-like action.

Abstract: A spiral meat slicer is provided particularly for slicing ham, wherein a ham is mounted vertically on a slowly rotating spiked platform. A rotating, substantially horizontal disk blade is pivotally mounted on the meat slicer to permit the blade to be biased by spring means toward and into the ham to spirally cut the ham to the bone. A non-rotating arm is carried in bearings below the spiked platform, this arm reaching up above the ham and containing a spiked, rotatable top support that is pressed into the top portion of the ham to steady the ham against pressure of the cutting blade. The spiked platform is mounted on a vertical lead screw, that causes the ham to be lowered steadily as the ham rotates to produce a spiral cut around the ham bone. The weight of the ham aids in moving the ham down steadily, permitting the ham to be automatically sliced substantially from one end to the other, including around the aitch bone without requiring manual manipulation.

Abstract: A spiral meat slicer is provided which operates to form a continuous spiral slice on a piece of meat such as a ham or roast which has a central bone structure of non-uniform diameter. Included in the slicer is an improved elevator and oscillator which provide the necessary cutting action in a manner to avoid unnecessary vibration and further permits ready access for servicing as well as increased durability.

Abstract: A coconut shredder and cutter apparatus comprises a housing having therein a coconut cutting and shredding compartment with a removable tray bottom, and a transparent cover for the compartment. A motor driven shaft extends into one end of the compartment on which a shredder blade or coconut holder may be selectively mounted for shredding and cutting operations, respectively. During shredding, a coconut half section is supported by a coconut holder mounted on the inner end of a manually manipulable holder mount supported for axial, radial and pivotal movement with respect to the shredder blade which is then mounted on the motor shaft. The coconut half section is manipulated by the operator to bring portions of the meat in the coconut section into engagement with the rotating shredder blade thereby to effect removal of the meat from the coconut shell.

Abstract: A peeling machine for peeling fruits and vegetables comprising a cutter disc having in its center a boss for mounting the disc to a driving shaft and having a plurality of apertures arranged substantially radially and open into clearances arranged at the periphery of the plate, each said aperture being bounded on its rear side relative to the rotation of the plate by a cutter blade with a sharp edge. The plate may further comprise at least one, and preferably two radial protruding bosses, the upper portion of each of the bosses comprising at least one aperture also bounded on its rear side with a cutter blade whereby the fruit or vegetables to be peeled are stirred during the peeling operation. A peripheral safety guard and a tapered edge may also be provided for the plate.

Abstract: A spiral meat slicer or ham slicer is disclosed in which a rotating circular or disk like blade is brought into contact with a rotating ham for the purpose of slicing the ham. Means are provided for causing the blade to be moved axially in relation to the axis of the ham, and for canting the axis of rotation of the blade slightly in relation to the axis of rotation of the ham, whereby to form a single continuous spiral slice from the whole ham. Means are also provided for preventing exposure of the blade when not in use, whereby to avoid injury to the operator of the slicer and others. Additional means are also provided for stabilizing the operation of the cutter or slicer unit, whereby greater efficiency in operation and use of the device, as well as an improved product, is attained.

Abstract: A skinning apparatus includes a suspension device and a skinning device suspended by the suspension device for easy manipulation by an operator in removing the skin from the ham area of a hog carcass which is suspended from an overhead support. The skinning device includes a revolvable tooth roller and blade which cooperate with each other and which are dimensioned to progressively remove the skin from both ham areas of a hog carcass in a single pass. The suspension device permits easy manipulation of the heavy skinning device in following the contours of the ham areas of the suspended hog carcass during the skinning operation. Control means on the hand grips of the skinning device control operation of both the skinning and suspension device.

Abstract: Apparatus for spirally slicing a cut of meat such as a ham or the like. The meat is retained in a substantially vertical position by means of upper and lower skewers. The lower skewers are powered thus providing for rotation of the cut of meat along a substantially vertical axis. A rotary circular cutting blade is supported by an arm which is generally movable about a vertical axis. A carriage imparts vertical movement to the arm and blade. When the rotary blade is brought into contact with the rotating cut of meat it is caused to be advanced along the axis of rotation of the meat thereby to form a continuous spiral slice in the meat. Sensing and control means are provided limiting both the horizontal and vertical movement of the blade to enable the cut of meat to be sliced about an internal bone.

Abstract: A hand-held peeler for vegetables and the like having an elongate housing containing a fluid driven motor and a bladed drum. In one embodiment, the motor is connected to a source of pressurized water with a hose. A detachable hollow drum having axially aligned, elongate blades mounted at the circumference of the drum is coaxially attached to the water motor and rotates in the elongate housing. The bladed drum is exposed and accessible through an opening in the housing. Water exiting the water motor is used to wash peels and such from the bladed drum and elongate housing.

Abstract: An improved live knife assembly construction is provided based on such assemblies as are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,058,502 (FIG. 8) and 3,277,941. The aforementioned patents are owned by the assignee of this invention and this application.

Abstract: An apparatus for effectively washing food articles of many different varieties, especially fruits and vegetables, which conveniently can be used as a household appliance. The washing apparatus is comprised of a container for housing the food articles, an agitation system and washing system for removing undesired foreign materials from the surface of the food articles without causing bruising or damage, and a discharge system.

Abstract: A potato processing apparatus which comprises a rotatable potato receiving means having a number of receptacles into which potatoes to be processed are rotated. At least one potato processing station is provided adjacent the receiving means and has potato compressing, cutting and removing means. Rotation of the receiving means is synchronized with operation of the processing station or stations such that with a potato rotated on a receptacle the compressing means operate to firmly lodge said potato within the receptacle following which the cutting means are engaged with the potato so as to cut it into a substantially spherical shape. The removing means then operate to remove the substantially spherical shaped potato from the receptacle. There is also provided potato handling apparatus which cooperates with the processing station or stations to lodge potatoes in successive receptacles as they enter the respective processing station.

Abstract: A method for processing pineapples by sequentially drilling a central hole, cutting off the upper end, transferring the pineapple to a peeling spindle, indexing the pineapple on the spindle through a series of peeling stations, cutting off the bottom end, rotating the spindle a single turn at each peeling station adjacent an array of rotating cutters to remove spaced bands from the outer surface of the pineapple while maintaining the original ovoid shape of the pineapple, pushing the peeled pineapple through a rotating circular knife to form the pineapple into a cylinder and an outer blanket, and removing the remaining fibrous core prior to discharge.

Abstract: A method and machine for processing pineapples by sequentially drilling a central hole, cutting off the upper end, transferring the pineapple to a peelng spindle, indexing the pineapple on the spindle through a series of peeling stations, cutting off the bottom end, rotating the spindle a single turn at each peeling station adjacent an array of rotating cutters to remove spaced bands from the outer surface of the pineapple while maintaining the original ovoid shape of the pineapple, pushing the peeled pineapple through a rotating circular knife to form the pineapple into a cylinder and an outer blanket, and removing the remaining fibrous core prior to discharge. The outer blanket, frequently termed the "crush blanket", is useful as such rather than as merely a source of juice.

Abstract: A method and machine for processing pineapples by sequentially drilling a central hole, cutting off the upper end, transferring the pineapple to a peeling spindle, indexing the pineapple on the spindle through a series of peeling stations, cutting off the bottom end, rotating the spindle a single turn at each peeling station adjacent an array of rotating cutters to remove spaced bands from the outer surface of the pineapple while maintaining the original ovoid shape of the pineapple, pushing the peeled pineapple through a rotating circular knife to form the pineapple into a cylinder and an outer blanket, and removing the remaining fibrous core prior to discharge. The outer blanket, frequently termed the "crush blanket", is useful as such rather than as merely a source of juice.

Abstract: A rotating shaving mechanism for the preparation of artichoke hearts including a circular knife mounted at an angle to the longitudinal extension of the artichoke. The knife is rotatable on an arm mounted on a rotatable shaft to enable the knife to be rotated about the central axis of the shaft while rotating about its own axis. The shaft is mounted in a support which may be displaced towards or away from the artichoke to be prepared.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically peeling fruit whereby a cutter blade is moved toward and away from the fruit as a function of the sensed impedance between the cutter blade and ground through the fruit so that substantially all of the peel is removed. In the preferred embodiment, a horizontal assembly presents a fruit to each of a plurality of fruit holders mounted on a vertical assembly so that each one of the presented fruit is impaled on a different spike of the vertical assembly. A plurality of cutter assemblies each mounting a cutter blade are moved toward and away from the fruit as it is rotated and moved upward to remove the peel. A control circuit includes a counter incremented by pulses from Hall Effect Switches which are energized by magnets mounted on the vertical and horizontal assemblies and controls movement of the assemblies to carry out a predetermined cycle.

Abstract: A spiral meat slicer especially for cutting ham, wherein the ham is mounted vertically on a spiked platform which slowly revolves. A rotating disk blade is brought into engagement with the periphery of the ham to cut the ham to the bone. The blade support is mounted on a lead screw so that the blade steadily rises as the ham rotates. Thus an unbroken spiral cut of ham is produced. In order to permit selective manual control when cutting around the aitch bone, a manually manipulatable arm is provided, by which the blade may be selectively moved toward and away from the rotative axis of the ham. Once the aitch bone has been cleared, the arm is detented into an extreme position and thereafter the blade is automatically biased toward the ham with a predetermined spring force, by means of a biasing spring.