Slicing machines, knife assemblies, and methods for slicing products

A knife assembly comprising:

• a corrugated knife having oppositely-disposed first and second surfaces terminating at a cutting edge, the cutting edge and at least portions of the first and second surfaces adjacent thereto being characterized by a pattern of peaks and valleys;
• a knife holder having a registration surface and an oppositely-disposed knife seat mated with the first surface of the corrugated knife, the knife seat comprising a pattern of peaks and valleys complementary to the pattern of peaks and valleys in the first surface of the corrugated knife, the knife holder having a leading edge beyond which the corrugated knife and the cutting edge thereof project;
• and
• means for securing the corrugated knife to the knife seat of the knife holder, the securing means comprising a member having fingers and notches therebetween that define a pattern complementary to the pattern of peaks and valleys in the second surface of the corrugated knife, the fingers of the member engaging the valleys on the second surface of the corrugated knife and protruding beyond the leading edge of the knife holder to reduce a cantilevered beam length of the corrugated knife.

A knife assembly of a slicing machine adapted to slice products, the knife assembly comprising:

• a corrugated knife having oppositely-disposed first and second surfaces terminating at a cutting edge, the cutting edge and at least portions of the first and second surfaces adjacent thereto being characterized by a pattern of peaks and valleys;
• a knife holder having a registration surface and an oppositely-disposed knife seat mated with the first surface of the corrugated knife, the knife seat and the registration surface each comprising a pattern of peaks and valleys complementary to the pattern of peaks and valleys in the first surface of the corrugated knife, the knife holder having a leading edge beyond which the corrugated knife and the cutting edge thereof project, the patterns of peaks and valleys of the knife seat and the registration surface causing the leading edge to be sharp and have a substantially constant thickness;
• and
• means for securing the corrugated knife to the knife seat of the knife holder, the securing means having fingers and notches therebetween that contact the second surface of the corrugated knife, distal ends of the fingers defining nearest adjacent extremities of the securing means to the cutting edge of the corrugated knife;
• wherein the knife holder and the securing means cooperate to inhibit accumulation of solids of the products along at least one of the first and second surfaces of the corrugated knife.

A slicing machine for slicing products, the slicing machine comprising:

• a cutting head having an annular shape that defines an axis of the cutting head, the cutting head having at least one knife assembly having a corrugated knife oriented axially at a perimeter of the cutting head and extending radially inward into an interior of the cutting head, the corrugated knife having oppositely-disposed first and second surfaces terminating at a cutting edge, the cutting edge and at least portions of the first and second surfaces adjacent thereto being characterized by a pattern of peaks and valleys;
• and
• an impeller assembly coaxially mounted within the interior of the cutting head for rotation about the axis of the cutting head in a rotational direction relative to the cutting head, the impeller assembly comprising means for delivering products within the interior of the impeller assembly toward the perimeter of the cutting head as the impeller assembly rotates within the cutting head, the delivering means rotating about an axis thereof so that products within the delivering means rotate about axes thereof while the impeller assembly rotates about the axis of the cutting head;
• wherein the knife assembly further comprises:
• a knife holder having a registration surface and an oppositely-disposed knife seat mated with the first surface of the corrugated knife, the knife seat and the registration surface each comprising a pattern of peaks and valleys complementary to the pattern of peaks and valleys in the first surface of the corrugated knife, the knife holder having a leading edge beyond which the corrugated knife and the cutting edge thereof project, the patterns of peaks and valleys of the knife seat and the registration surface causing the leading edge to be sharp and have a substantially constant thickness;
• and
• means for securing the corrugated knife to the knife seat of the knife holder, the securing means having fingers and notches therebetween that contact the second surface of the corrugated knife, distal ends of the fingers defining nearest adjacent extremities of the securing means to the cutting edge of the corrugated knife;
• wherein the knife holder and the securing means cooperate to:
• inhibit accumulation of solids of the products along at least one of the first and second surfaces of the corrugated knife;
• and/or
• stabilize the corrugated knife by reducing a cantilevered beam length of the corrugated knife.

A slicing machine for slicing products, the slicing machine comprising:

• a cutting head having an annular shape that defines an axis of the cutting head, the cutting head having at least one knife assembly having a corrugated knife oriented axially at a perimeter of the cutting head and extending radially inward into an interior of the cutting head, the corrugated knife having oppositely-disposed first and second surfaces terminating at a cutting edge, the cutting edge and at least portions of the first and second surfaces adjacent thereto being characterized by a pattern of peaks and valleys;
• and
• an impeller assembly coaxially mounted within the interior of the cutting head for rotation about the axis of the cutting head in a rotational direction relative to the cutting head, the impeller assembly comprising means for delivering products within the interior of the impeller assembly toward the perimeter of the cutting head as the impeller assembly rotates within the cutting head, the delivering means rotating about an axis thereof so that products within the delivering means rotate about axes thereof while the impeller assembly rotates about the axis of the cutting head;
• wherein the knife assembly further comprises:
• a knife holder having a registration surface and an oppositely-disposed knife seat mated with the first surface of the corrugated knife, the knife seat comprising a pattern of peaks and valleys complementary to the pattern of peaks and valleys in the first surface of the corrugated knife, the knife holder having a leading edge beyond which the corrugated knife and the cutting edge thereof project;
• and
• means for securing the corrugated knife to the knife seat of the knife holder, the securing means comprising a member contacting the second surface of the corrugated knife, the member having fingers and notches therebetween that define a pattern complementary to the pattern of peaks and valleys in the second surface of the corrugated knife, the fingers engaging the valleys on the second surface of the corrugated knife and protruding beyond the leading edge of the knife holder to reduce a cantilevered beam length of the corrugated knife;
• wherein the knife holder and the securing means cooperate to:
• inhibit accumulation of solids of the products along at least one of the first and second surfaces of the corrugated knife;
• and/or
• stabilize the corrugated knife by reducing a cantilevered beam length of the corrugated knife.