A food chopper includes an upper handle and a lower handle secured to the upper handle, the lower handle including a receptacle extending from a proximalmost end thereof, the receptacle configured to receive a food item therein and the receptacle defining a track mechanism on an inner sidewall thereof. The food chopper further includes a pusher assembly including a pusher shaft and a pusher press plate, the pusher press plate having a boss protruding outwardly from a top surface thereof, wherein the boss is configured to releasably engage the track mechanism defined within the receptacle such that the pusher press plate remains flat as it travels within the receptacle.

A slicing apparatus including at least one pusher head and at least one blade. The pusher head is movable from a first position, wherein an object to be sliced is capable of being placed between the pusher head and the blade, and a second position, wherein the pusher head contacts and/or pushes the object to be sliced against the at least one blade.

A slicing apparatus including at least one pusher head and at least one blade. The pusher head is movable from a first position, wherein an object to be sliced is capable of being placed between the pusher head and the blade, and a second position, wherein the pusher head contacts and/or pushes the object to be sliced against the at least one blade.

A tool for cutting uniformed, conical-shaped pieces of watermelon from a whole watermelon. The tool includes a base configured to be held in a fixed, tangent position on the outside surface of a watermelon. Formed inside the base is a center opening in which a rotating adapter is placed. Formed in the adapter is a semi-circular slot with an axis diagonally aligned with the axis of rotation of the adapter when placed in the base. The tool also includes a hand piece with a handle and a lower cutting member. The lower cutting members cross-sectional shape enables it to slide through the semi-circular slot and penetrate the watermelon. The lower cutting member includes two elongated cutting edges that cut the watermelon when the hand piece and adapter are rotated 360 degrees in the base. Also disclosed is a method for making conical-shaped pieces of watermelon from a large watermelon using the tool.

A tool for cutting uniformed, conical-shaped pieces of watermelon from a whole watermelon. The tool includes a base configured to be held in a fixed, tangent position on the outside surface of a watermelon. Formed inside the base is a center opening in which a rotating adapter is placed. Formed in the adapter is a semi-circular slot with an axis diagonally aligned with the axis of rotation of the adapter when placed in the base. The tool also includes a hand piece with a handle and a lower cutting member. The lower cutting members cross-sectional shape enables it to slide through the semi-circular slot and penetrate the watermelon. The lower cutting member includes two elongated cutting edges that cut the watermelon when the hand piece and adapter are rotated 360 degrees in the base. Also disclosed is a method for making conical-shaped pieces of watermelon from a large watermelon using the tool.

Exemplary embodiments are directed to an apparatus for filling a central open space in a jar. The apparatus includes a base, an indexing station including a magazine, a blade, and a first actuator, a filling station including cartridges, and a second actuator. The magazine is rotatably mounted to the base. The platform of the cutting station is configured to receive a whole cucumber at a loading area and is incrementally indexed to reposition the whole cucumber from the loading area to a cutting area above the blade. The first actuator is configured to urge the whole cucumber through the blade and cut the whole cucumber into spears. The spears drop into and are held by one of the cartridges. The second actuator is configure to push at least one of the spears out from the cartridge into the central open space of the jar.

Knife assemblies having primary and secondary blades and at least one tab blade. The primary and secondary blades each have a corrugated shape as a result of defining a wave pattern that defines peaks and valleys. The primary and secondary blades each further having upper and lower surfaces, leading and trailing edges, and a depth defined by and between the leading and trailing edges. The upper surface of the primary blade and the lower surface of the secondary blade are complementary so that the secondary blade and the peaks and valleys thereof are able to nest on the primary blade and the peaks and valleys thereof. The secondary blade has at least one tab blade that projects from one of its peaks and is defined by a cut in the peak to form a tab that is bent so that the tab projects from the peak.

Knife assemblies having primary and secondary blades and at least one tab blade. The primary and secondary blades each have a corrugated shape as a result of defining a wave pattern that defines peaks and valleys. The primary and secondary blades each further having upper and lower surfaces, leading and trailing edges, and a depth defined by and between the leading and trailing edges. The upper surface of the primary blade and the lower surface of the secondary blade are complementary so that the secondary blade and the peaks and valleys thereof are able to nest on the primary blade and the peaks and valleys thereof. The secondary blade has at least one tab blade that projects from one of its peaks and is defined by a cut in the peak to form a tab that is bent so that the tab projects from the peak.

Machines for cutting products and impellers therefor. Such an impeller is adapted to be coaxially mounted within a cutting head for rotation therein. The impeller includes a lower plate having a paddle that directs material placed on the lower plate in a radially outward direction of the impeller when the impeller is rotated. A recess in the lower plate is continuous between upper and lower surfaces of the lower plate and contiguous with the perimeter of the lower plate to define a passageway to enable debris at the upper surface to exit the impeller therethrough. A chute is located at an outer radial extent of the paddle and defines a first opening adjacent the paddle, a second opening adjacent the recess, and a passageway within the chute and between the first and second openings through which the debris passes before exiting the impeller through the passageway of the recess.