Method and apparatus for feeding slicers
AssigneeFrito-Lay, Inc.
InventorsLawrence W. Wisdom, Ponnattu K. Joseph
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A centrifugal slicer is provided with an in-feed apparatus for feeding one item of produce at a time to be sliced. The in-feed apparatus includes a block with a channel having an inlet at the center of the slicer impeller for gravity feed of items to be sliced to an outlet located at a single area on the periphery of the slicer impeller.
Claims7
A method of feeding a centrifugal slicer of the type having a rotary impeller with a plurality of blades, which impeller cooperates with a stationary member having a plurality of slicing knives, the method comprising:
- (a) feeding a plurality of produce items vertically and downwardly in a single file line and in abutting relationship towards the center of the cup-like impeller and then along an inclined path from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction, while
- (b) forcing the first in line of the single file line of produce items to the periphery of the rotary impeller.
An apparatus for automatically feeding individual items of produce in succession to a centrifugal slicer of the type having a rotary impeller with an axial center for normally receiving a plurality of items to be sliced, and a stationary slicing head assembly having a plurality of knives, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) an in-feed means for feeding the items vertically and downwardly, the in-feed means having a passageway with a dimension to feed the items in single file relationship,
- (b) the passageway shaped and positioned to extend and incline along a curved path from a vertical direction at the axial center of the rotary impeller to a horizontal direction outwardly therefrom, and
- (c) an exit of the passageway positioned at the periphery of the impeller so as to feed only one item of produce at a time in a horizontal direction for slicing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.