A hand-operated lettuce-cutting appliance with a chassis has a cutter grid and positioning device for positioning the chassis on at least one support. The appliance further includes a guide well having a bottom end extending adjacent to and facing said cutter grid and a vegetable-pusher device mounted to slide along at least one column fastened to the chassis so as to extend parallel to the well. The vegetable-pusher device has a body shaped so as to engage in the well in order to push the vegetable through the cutter grid.

An apparatus and method for cutting frozen confection including a frame defining a product void for receiving a product at least partly coated, a set of side knives, at least two knives mounted on the frame opposite of the product void, wherein the knives are rotatable arranged on the frame such that they can be rotated into a product coating cutting position for cutting the coating on the side of the product and out of such a position to a non-engaging position to allow the product to be moved passed the knives, and an end knife for cutting the coating on the end of the frozen confection.

Apparatus for moving logs (2) within cutting-off machines. The apparatus includes a platform (1) with one or more longitudinal channels (10) inside which the logs to be cut are disposed, and a pusher device (3) acting in correspondence of the platform (1) and intended for acting on the back of the logs (2) to push them, along respective guide channels (10), toward a cutting device (4) disposed downstream. The apparatus includes a clamping device (5) disposed intermediate between the pusher device (3) and the cutting device (4) and intended for engaging the logs (2) which are pushed along the channels (10) of platform (1) by the pusher device (3) and driving them along up to the cutting device (4).

Apparatus for moving logs (2) within cutting-off machines. The apparatus includes a platform (1) with one or more longitudinal channels (10) inside which the logs to be cut are disposed, and a pusher device (3) acting in correspondence of the platform (1) and intended for acting on the back of the logs (2) to push them, along respective guide channels (10), toward a cutting device (4) disposed downstream. The apparatus includes a clamping device (5) disposed intermediate between the pusher device (3) and the cutting device (4) and intended for engaging the logs (2) which are pushed along the channels (10) of platform (1) by the pusher device (3) and driving them along up to the cutting device (4).

A method of processing a food item that includes moving a food item along a direction towards an automated slicer, wherein prior to the food item being sliced by the automated slicer the food item that is being moved has a length, L, as measured along the direction. The method further includes determining a thickness, T, of a slice of the food item to be generated by the automated slicer and slicing the food item that has the length, L, by the automated slicer so that a maximum possible number, N.sub.max, of slices of the food item are generated that have the thickness, T.

The trimmer includes: a pusher 2 that pushes the bound material 1; a pusher moving device that moves the pusher; a positioning part 111 that positions the bound material pushed by the pusher; an allowable position memory that memorizes an allowable position range relevant to the pusher; an allowable reaction force memory that memorizes an allowable reaction force range relevant to the pusher; and a determiner that determines whether a length of the bound material is normal or abnormal. The determiner determines that: the length L of the bound material is normal; or the length L of the bound material is abnormal.

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.

A produce caddy and produce slicing system including a produce caddy may be used in to facilitate simultaneous slicing of multiple pieces of produce. The produce caddy may include a plurality of interconnected produce receiving assemblies. Each produce receiving assembly may be defined by at least two side walls. A bottom connects the at least two side walls of each produce receiving assembly. The produce receiving assembly may be interconnected at the side walls between adjacent produce receiving assemblies.

A bagel slicer includes a frame. A pusher assembly translates along a slicing path within the frame between an open position and a sliced position. At least one blade is positioned within the slicing path. Movement of the pusher assembly along the slicing path from the open position to the sliced position translates a bagel along the slicing path about the at least one blade to slice the bagel. Movement of the pusher assembly along the slicing path from the sliced position to the open position returns the sliced bagel to the open position of the pusher assembly.

The present invention relates to a device to cut hair, fibers, or thin, flexible materials, comprising at least one retaining element (2) with a cylindrically formed interior that is suitable for immobilizing and potentially bundling in lengthwise direction a sample (1) to be cut, composed of a multiplicity of hairs, fibers, or thin, flexible materials, and a cutting device (3) that is suitable for cutting the sample that is immobilized and possibly bundled in lengthwise direction, in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the interior of the retaining element (2). The present invention relates furthermore to a method making use of the device, as well as a hair section that can be produced with the device or the method.