Method and apparatus for delivering product to a cutting device
AssigneeUrschel Laboratories, Inc.
InventorBrent L. Bucks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus by which potatoes and other elongate food product can be properly oriented and stabilized during a slicing operation performed by a cutting device having a horizontal cutting plane. The apparatus includes a passage extending downwardly toward the cutting device and defining an opening in proximity to the cutting device, splines or other suitable features disposed along a first portion of the passage and oriented substantially parallel to the passage, and means for applying a force on a food product traveling downward through the passage so as to urge the product into contact with the splines during engagement with the cutting device.
Claims40
An apparatus for delivering food product to a means for cutting in a substantially horizontal plane through the product, the apparatus comprising:
- a passage extending downwardly toward the cutting means and defining an opening in proximity to the cutting means;
- guide means disposed along a first portion of the passage and oriented substantially parallel to the passage;
- and
- means for applying a force on a product traveling downward through the passage so as to urge the product into contact with the guide means during engagement with the cutting means.
An apparatus for delivering elongate food product to a cutting means having a substantially horizontal cutting plane, the apparatus comprising:
- means for defining a substantially vertical passage, the defining means comprising a wall portion, a second portion spaced apart from the wall portion by the passage, and an opening in proximity to the cutting means;
- splines disposed on the wall portion and oriented substantially parallel to the passage;
- at least a first set of at least two fluid jets flowing in a downward direction across the passage from the second portion of the passage toward the wall portion, the fluid jets converging toward the first wall portion to apply a force on a product traveling downward through the passage and maintain the product in contact with the splines during engagement with the cutting means;
- and
- means for delivering the product to the passage, the delivering means being operable to separate and longitudinally align the product with the passage so that the product enters and travels through the passage with a longitudinal axis of the product substantially parallel to the passage.
A method of delivering food product to a means for cutting in a substantially horizontal plane through the product, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a passage extending downwardly toward the cutting means and defining an opening in proximity to the cutting means, the passage comprising guide means disposed along a first portion of the passage and oriented substantially parallel to the passage;
- and
- applying a force on a product traveling downward through the passage so as to urge the product into contact with the guide means during engagement with the cutting means.
A method of delivering elongate food product to a cutting means having a substantially horizontal cutting plane, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a substantially vertical passage defined by a wall portion, a second portion spaced apart from the wall portion by the passage, and an opening in proximity to the cutting means, the wall portion having splines extending therefrom and oriented substantially parallel to the passage;
- delivering elongate product to the passage so that the elongate product are separated and longitudinally aligned with the passage so that the elongate product enters and travels through the passage with a longitudinal axis of the elongate product substantially parallel to the passage;
- and
- flowing at least a first set of at least two fluid jets in a downward direction across the passage from the second portion of the passage toward the wall portion, the fluid jets converging toward the first wall portion to apply a force on a product traveling downward through the passage and maintain the product in contact with the splines during engagement with the cutting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.