An automated food processing machine includes a receptacle, a slitter assembly, and a controller. The slitter assembly is coupled to a first motion actuator and includes a third motion actuator coupled to a slitter blade. In response to an input signal, the controller is configured to (1) actuate the first motion actuator to translate the slitter assembly along a first axis until the slitter blade has penetrated into a whole fruit or vegetable, and (2) actuate the third motion actuator to move the slitter blade relative to the slitter assembly with a component along an axis that is not parallel to the first axis.

An automated food processing machine includes a receptacle, a slitter assembly, and a controller. The slitter assembly is coupled to a first motion actuator and includes a third motion actuator coupled to a slitter blade. In response to an input signal, the controller is configured to (1) actuate the first motion actuator to translate the slitter assembly along a first axis until the slitter blade has penetrated into a whole fruit or vegetable, and (2) actuate the third motion actuator to move the slitter blade relative to the slitter assembly with a component along an axis that is not parallel to the first axis.

A manual tool includes a support (1) with stops (20) on which the carving elements (2) are arranged and includes a first central tubular sector (7) having a hollow interior; second lateral sectors (10); wings (11) facing each other that start from each of the second sectors (10); a recess (12) between both wings (11), for housing the carving element (2); and a rotating part (16) mounted between the wings (11), that includes two couplings (15) and two housings (17) and (18), in which the rotating part (16) is rotatory between a first position in which the carving element (2) linked to the first housing (17) while the carving element (2) linked to the second housing (18) is oriented inwards the recess (12) and a second position in which the carving element (2) of the first housing (17) is oriented inward toward the recess (12).

A manual tool includes a support (1) with stops (20) on which the carving elements (2) are arranged and includes a first central tubular sector (7) having a hollow interior; second lateral sectors (10); wings (11) facing each other that start from each of the second sectors (10); a recess (12) between both wings (11), for housing the carving element (2); and a rotating part (16) mounted between the wings (11), that includes two couplings (15) and two housings (17) and (18), in which the rotating part (16) is rotatory between a first position in which the carving element (2) linked to the first housing (17) while the carving element (2) linked to the second housing (18) is oriented inwards the recess (12) and a second position in which the carving element (2) of the first housing (17) is oriented inward toward the recess (12).

A handheld motorised food cutting device (10) is disclosed herein. The handheld motorised food cutting device (10) comprises a body (12) to be gripped in a user's hand so that the device (10) is supported by the hand, the body (12) having a passage (14) extending inwardly of the body (12) from an inlet opening (16) through which a food item to be processed is inserted for movement along the passage (14) in a processing direction (18); a blade assembly (30) moveably mounted in the body (12) for reciprocating movement along a cutting path that is transverse of said processing direction (18), with the blade assembly (30) being exposed to the passage (14) so as to be engaged by the food item moved in said processing direction (18); and a drive assembly (50) to drive said blade assembly (30) along said cutting path, wherein the body (12) provides a surface to abut a palm of said hand, with fingers of the hand extending at least partly about said body so that the body (12) is gripped, and wherein said processing direction (18) is transverse of said surface.

A handheld motorised food cutting device (10) is disclosed herein. The handheld motorised food cutting device (10) comprises a body (12) to be gripped in a user's hand so that the device (10) is supported by the hand, the body (12) having a passage (14) extending inwardly of the body (12) from an inlet opening (16) through which a food item to be processed is inserted for movement along the passage (14) in a processing direction (18); a blade assembly (30) moveably mounted in the body (12) for reciprocating movement along a cutting path that is transverse of said processing direction (18), with the blade assembly (30) being exposed to the passage (14) so as to be engaged by the food item moved in said processing direction (18); and a drive assembly (50) to drive said blade assembly (30) along said cutting path, wherein the body (12) provides a surface to abut a palm of said hand, with fingers of the hand extending at least partly about said body so that the body (12) is gripped, and wherein said processing direction (18) is transverse of said surface.

The manual food processor includes a first shelf configured to receive a blade cartridge. The first shelf includes a first slider configured to selectively retain the blade cartridge at the first shelf. The manual food processor also includes a pair of guide rails extending from the first shelf and a second shelf slidable along the pair of guide rails. The second shelf is configured to receive a pusher block cartridge and includes a second slider configured to selectively retain the pusher block cartridge at the second shelf. The manual food processor also includes a handle mechanism operable to cause the second shelf to slide along the guide rails between an open position and a closed position. The first shelf is spaced apart from the second shelf in the open position, and the pusher block cartridge interfaces with the blade cartridge in the closed position.

The manual food processor includes a first shelf configured to receive a blade cartridge. The first shelf includes a first slider configured to selectively retain the blade cartridge at the first shelf. The manual food processor also includes a pair of guide rails extending from the first shelf and a second shelf slidable along the pair of guide rails. The second shelf is configured to receive a pusher block cartridge and includes a second slider configured to selectively retain the pusher block cartridge at the second shelf. The manual food processor also includes a handle mechanism operable to cause the second shelf to slide along the guide rails between an open position and a closed position. The first shelf is spaced apart from the second shelf in the open position, and the pusher block cartridge interfaces with the blade cartridge in the closed position.

An avocado cutting method discloses feeding, orientation and traveling along multi-lanes of avocados (A), a pre-cutting stage to create an incision in the upper and lower portions of each avocado (A) while the avocado (A) is held with its axis stem-blossom vertically oriented, and a cutting stage for cutting each avocado (A) in the sides thereof in order to divide the avocado (A) into two halves with simultaneous hit on its pit. A multi-lane machine is also disclosed having a cutting section (54) with a plurality of pairs of separate cutting blades (55). The cutting section (54) has a plurality of plungers (56) in the form of rods, each plunger (56) being movable between the separate cutting blades (55) with respect to an upper head (43) to strike the pit (N) and move it inside the avocado (A) in order to detach it from the pulp (P).

An avocado cutting method discloses feeding, orientation and traveling along multi-lanes of avocados (A), a pre-cutting stage to create an incision in the upper and lower portions of each avocado (A) while the avocado (A) is held with its axis stem-blossom vertically oriented, and a cutting stage for cutting each avocado (A) in the sides thereof in order to divide the avocado (A) into two halves with simultaneous hit on its pit. A multi-lane machine is also disclosed having a cutting section (54) with a plurality of pairs of separate cutting blades (55). The cutting section (54) has a plurality of plungers (56) in the form of rods, each plunger (56) being movable between the separate cutting blades (55) with respect to an upper head (43) to strike the pit (N) and move it inside the avocado (A) in order to detach it from the pulp (P).