A method of adjusting a rake-off angle in a centrifugal cutting head includes mounting a plurality of cutting stations on a rim structure with a gap between adjacent cutting stations, each cutting station holding a cutting element at a leading end of the cutting station and comprising an inner surface extending from the leading end to a trailing end forming a product sliding surface along which food product slides between successive cuts; and adjusting the rake-off angle by adjusting a rear part of the product sliding surface at a trailing end of at least one cutting station without changing the leading end.

Impeller for a centrifugal food cutting apparatus, comprising a base plate and at least one set of paddle parts mounted on the base plate and provided for imparting centrifugal force to food products to be cut. Each set comprises inner and outer paddle parts defining at least a first stage and a second, cutting stage, the inner and outer paddle parts being offset from each other in radial and angular direction of the impeller, such that a safe compartment is defined for food product which is in the second stage.

A knife holder has a base and a knife support portion extending from the base. The knife support portion includes a distal edge and a knife support surface for supporting a knife. The knife support surface includes a shaped portion and a relieved surface. The shaped portion has a wavy shape and is located adjacent the distal edge. The relieved surface does not have a wavy shape and is located on the knife support surface so that at least part of the shaped portion is between the relieved surface and the distal edge. An abutment surface is between the base and the relieved surface and is defined by the relieved surface.

An apparatus for cutting food products is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cutting head comprising a cutting tool that is rotatable between a plurality of positions to change the cutting thickness of the cutting tool. The cutting head also includes a biasing element that biases the cutting tool in a position, and a moveable stop configured to cooperate with the biasing element to maintain the first cutting tool at any of the plurality of positions. The biasing element may be a mechanical spring.

Tools for replacing knives in cutting machines. The tools include a clamping body having a base, bracket, clamp, and knife support tab(s). The bracket has a flange portion spaced apart from an upper surface of the base. The clamp is coupled to the base for translating in translation directions transverse to a longitudinal axis of the base. The clamp has a lift tab on the same side of the base as a rear surface thereof, and a handle is secured to the flange portion of the bracket and located on the same side of the base as the lift tab. The support tab projects from the front surface of the base, and the clamp is biased toward the support tab so that the clamp and support tab create a knife gripping mechanism for clamping an edge of a knife against the tab.

A knife assembly includes a knife blade of which a front edge is a cutting edge, a holder configured for supporting the knife blade, a clamp arranged for clamping the knife blade onto the holder, and a fastening mechanism cooperating with the clamp and the holder for securing and clamping We knife blade between the clamp and the holder with the cutting edge protruding at a front side of the knife assembly. The holder has a frontal part which is, in clamped state, in contact with a bottom side of the knife blade at a first distance from the cutting edge. The clamp has a leading edge which, in clamped state, clamps onto a top side of the knife blade and is located a second distance from the cutting edge, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.

A cutting head for a centrifugal cutting apparatus includes a rim structure; and a plurality of cutting stations mounted onto the rim structure, each of said cutting stations comprising a cutting element for cutting food products at a leading end of the cutting station and an inner wall extending from the leading end to a trailing end and forming a product sliding surface, along which the food product slides between successive cuts. The cutting stations are assembled adjacent one another onto the rim structure in such a way that a gap is present between each pair of adjacent cutting stations through which a product slice exits the cutting head upon being cut. The cutting head also includes a gap setting mechanism for setting the radial size of the gap by adjusting the radial offset of the trailing end of the respective cutting station with respect to the rim structure.

Existing blade assemblies for cutting complex three-dimensional shapes such as twisted shapes are typically slow and suffer from frequent breakdowns. Disclosed herein is a stationary blade assembly for cutting food products into complex shapes as the food products are directed along a direction of flow at the blade assembly, wherein the blade assembly comprises a plurality of blades, each of the plurality of blades having a length, wherein the length of the blade is oriented along the direction of flow and the blade is twisted along its length, whereby the food products are rotated by the blade during cutting.

Knife assemblies for securing knives to slicing machines, slicing machines equipped therewith, and methods of operating knife assemblies for securing knives to and releasing knives from slicing machines. Such a knife assembly includes a knife holder having a knife support surface, a knife supported on the knife support surface, and a clamp having a base portion adjacent a trailing edge of the clamp and a knife-engaging portion adjacent a leading edge of the clamp. The knife assembly applies a clamping load to the clamp to secure the knife to the knife holder. The clamp is prevented from translating relative to the shaped knife in a leading direction of the knife assembly as the clamping load is applied and/or permits removal of the clamp by being translated in the leading direction.

A cutter assembly for use in a composite placement machine has a holder having a mounting surface for mounting a cutting insert. A first foot and a second foot is formed on the mounting surface, and a first leg extends between the first and second feet. A first step and a second step is formed on the cutting insert and a first rise extends between the first and second steps. When the cutting insert is mounted in the holder the two feet contact the two steps and the first leg is in contact with the first rise to form a surface area of contact between the mounting surface and the cutting insert that is greater than the surface area of contact between the two feet and the two steps.