Knife assembly and cutting system equipped with same

A centrifugal cutting apparatus comprising an annular-shaped cutting head comprising at least one rim structure and a plurality of knife assemblies assembled onto said at least one rim structure,

• wherein the cutting head is configured for cutting corrugated slices with a substantially uniform slice thickness and wherein each knife assembly comprises
• a knife blade of which a front edge is a cutting edge, wherein the knife blade is corrugated with peaks and valleys;
• a holder configured for supporting the knife blade, wherein the holder comprises a bearing surface with peaks and valleys corresponding to the peaks and valleys of the knife blade;
• a clamp arranged for clamping the knife blade onto the holder, wherein the holder and the clamp have complementary shaped surfaces such that in clamped state both the holder and the clamp have a surface contact with the knife blade along the entire width of the knife blade;
• and
• a fastening mechanism cooperating with the clamp and the holder for securing and clamping the knife blade between the clamp and the holder with the cutting edge protruding at a front side of the knife assembly;
• wherein the holder comprises a frontal part or portion which is the foremost part or portion of the knife assembly at a bottom side of the knife blade, and of which a foremost contact point is, in clamped state, in contact with the bottom side of the knife blade at a first distance from the cutting edge, and
• wherein a leading portion of the knife blade protrudes forward with respect to said foremost contact point of the holder with the bottom side of the knife blade,
• wherein the clamp comprises front portions which protrude forward and into the valleys of the knife blade and which fully engage the valleys of the knife blade, wherein the front portions have leading edges that protrude forward from said foremost contact point up to a second distance from the cutting edge, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.