Knife assemblies and cutting apparatuses adapted for producing strip-cut products, for example, a strip-cut food product. The knife assemblies include a slicing knife having a leading edge configured to produce a slice product from a product, at least one tab that extends outward from the slicing knife and configured to cut the slice product into strips, a knife holder for securing the slicing knife and fixing a proximal end of the tab to a position adjacent to the slicing knife, and a tab support assembly configured to clamp onto a distal end of the tab and optionally pull the tab in a direction away from the knife holder along a longitudinal axis of the tab to apply tension to the tab.

An apparatus for cutting vegetable slices that includes a central impeller coaxially mounted with a cutting head for rotation about an axis within the cutting head for delivering vegetables radially outwardly from a center of the impeller toward the cutting head. A water jet spray device is mounted at the base of the impeller, aligned with the axis, and includes a raised mound having an outer wall surrounding an inner wall defining a central depression, the outer wall extending downwardly and outwardly from an annular rim between the central depression and the outer wall, and a plurality of substantially radially oriented channels serially provided around the raised mound, each channel extending outwardly from a channel inlet within the central depression to a channel outlet in the outer wall.

Cutting head assembly for a centrifugal cutting apparatus, comprising a plurality of drum stations, at least one of which is a cutting station, provided for together forming a drum, and fixing parts provided for assembling and holding the drum stations together. The drum stations have overlapping parts with each time at least one receiving part for receiving one of the fixing parts, such that in assembled condition the adjacent drum stations are each time fixed to each other by means of at least one of the fixing parts at the overlapping parts of the adjacent drum stations.

A modular unit configured for mounting to a cutting head of a slicing machine and for securing a knife to the cutting head, and slicing machines equipped with one or more of such modular units. The modular unit includes mounting blocks adapted to be spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head, and a clamping assembly assembled with the mounting blocks so as to be between the mounting blocks. The clamping assembly is configured to secure a knife to the cutting head, and at least portions of the clamping assembly may be removable from the cutting head by disassembling the clamping assembly from the mounting blocks without removing the mounting blocks from the cutting head.

Modular units with clamping assemblies for securing knives to slicing machines, and a slicing machine having a cutting head equipped with one or more modular units mounted thereto for securing knives to the cutting head. Such a clamping assembly includes a knife holder, a knife supported by the knife holder, a clamp overlying the knife holder so that the knife is between the knife holder and the clamp, and a cam rod that secures the clamp to the knife holder and clamps the knife therebetween. The cam rod has oppositely-disposed ends rotatably coupled with the mounting blocks and a camming portion between the oppositely-disposed ends and arranged for contacting the clamp. The clamping assembly further includes complementary features for inhibiting deflection of the camming portion away from the knife holder when the cam rod is in a clamping position.

Slicing machines having a cutting head equipped with one or more cutting units mounted thereto for securing knives to the cutting head. The cutting head has structural members spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head and circumferentially-spaced cutting units between the structural members. Each cutting unit includes a knife holder adapted for supporting a knife, a clamp overlying the knife holder and arranged to apply a clamping force to a knife disposed between the knife holder and clamp, and a cam rod adapted to apply a clamping force to the clamp. The clamp has upstanding flanges, each having a hole therethrough and a slot that engages a pivot, and the clamp, slots, cam rod, and pivots are arranged so that the clamp both pivots and translates relative to the pivots as the cam rod rotates between clamping and release positions.

A lattice-cut potato product is sliced so that the ridges (115) and grooves (122) on one surface of the slices are oriented transversely to the ridges (116) and grooves (124) on the opposite surface of the slices. The sizes and shapes of the ridges and grooves are particularly selected so that each point in the interior of a slice is no greater than a specified distance from an outer surface of the slice. These parameters enable a lattice-cut potato product to consistently achieve a crispy outer surface and a smooth and creamy interior when cooked by baking or microwaving.

The present invention relates to a centrifugal-type food slicer of the kind having a cutting head comprising a plurality of blades and an impeller provided with paddles. The present invention also relates to method for slicing food using such a centrifugal-type slicer. An inclined configuration of the impeller paddles relative to a rotational axis of the impeller, cooperating with blades inclined relative to the central axis of the cutting head provides balanced turning forces on the unsliced product during a cutting operation.

A method for producing a knife assembly for a food cutting apparatus includes providing a clamp, by use of a grinding process, with an inwardly corrugated shape which is complementary to that of a knife blade of the assembly, and which forms a clamping surface which, when the knife assembly is in a clamped state, tightly fits over the knife blade, the fit being such that particles of food product being cut by means of the knife assembly are prevented from entering in between the clamp and the knife blade.

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.