Food processing apparatus and method
AssigneeLamb Weston, Inc.
InventorsJohn C. Julian, Gary D. Cuddeford, Kenneth J. Stanley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention discloses an apparatus for slicing a food product such as a potato into helical strips such as curlicue potato fries. The potatoes are pumped with water by a centrifugal food pump to a tapered elastic tubular delivery tube. The tube expands as the potato progresses along the tube. The delivery tube allows the potato to be gently forced against a circular rotating cutting head assembly. The cutting head assembly cores the potato, scores concentric cuts and then slices the potato to produce helical cut segments.
Claims30
An apparatus for slicing potatoes and the like into helical strips comprising:
- a feed tube having an outlet end;
- a rotary knife assembly having an axis of rotation;
- a mounting structure for mounting the rotary knife assembly adjacent the outlet end of the feed tube such that the axis of rotation is in axial alignment with the outlet end;
- a drive structure for rotating the knife assembly about its axis of rotation;
- the knife assembly including a cutting plate having a radially extending slicing edge and front and back surfaces, a central tube extending substantially perpendicularly from the front surface in line with the axis of rotation, and a plurality of scoring knives extending substantially perpendicularly from the front surface of the cutting plate and being located varying radial distances from the central tube;
- and
- a hydraulic transport system for transporting the potatoes in single file in a fluid flow through the feed tube to the rotary knife assembly;
- the knife assembly being mounted such that the front surface of the cutting plate is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
An apparatus for slicing potatoes and the like into helical strips comprising:
- a feed tube having an outlet end;
- a rotatable cutting head assembly located in close proximity to the outlet end and having an axis of rotation in axial alignment with the outlet end;
- drive means for rotating the cutting head assembly about is axis of rotation;
- and
- a hydraulic transport system for transporting each potato in a fluid flow through the feed tube to the cutting head assembly and forcing the potato against the cutting head assembly;
- the cutting head assembly including a rotatable cutting plate positioned substantially perpendicular to both the axis of rotation and fluid flow.
An apparatus for slicing potatoes and the like into helical strips comprising:
- rotary knife means for slicing the potatoes into helical strips, the rotary knife means including a cutting plate and having an axis of rotation;
- drive means for rotating the knife means about its axis of rotation;
- a feed tube having an outlet end which terminates in close proximity to the rotary knife means, the feed tube being in axial alignment with the axis of rotation;
- and
- a hydraulic transport system for transporting potatoes in single file in a fluid flow to the knife means and forcing each potato against the knife means;
- the rotary knife means including holding means for mounting the cutting plate substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation and direction of fluid flow.
An apparatus for slicing potatoes and the like into helical strips comprising:
- a feed tube having a diameter conducive to transporting potatoes in single file therein and an outlet end;
- a knife assembly capable of cutting potatoes into helical strips, the knife assembly including a cutting plate having a radially extending slicing edge, an axial centerline passing through the center of the cutting plate, and a plurality of scoring blades extending substantially perpendicularly from the cutting plate and being spaced varying radial distances from the centerline;
- a mounting structure for mounting the feed tube and knife assembly such that the outlet end of the feed tube is axially aligned with and in close proximity to the cutting plate;
- a drive structure for rotating the knife assembly about the axial centerline;
- and
- hydraulic means for transporting the potatoes in a fluid media through the feed tube and then against the cutting plate as the cutting plate rotates, the fluid media and potatoes having a flow path which is perpendicular to the cutting plate.
A method for slicing potatoes and the like into helical strips:
- transporting singulated potatoes in a flow of hydraulic fluid contained within a conduit, the conduit defining a flow path for the potatoes;
- locating in the flow path a cutting head assembly capable of cutting potatoes into helical strips;
- rotating the cutting head assembly about an axis of rotation;
- and
- directing the singulated potatoes in the hydraulic flow against the rotating cutting head assembly so as to slice the potatoes into helical strips.
A method for slicing potatoes and the like into helical strips:
- rotating about an axis of rotation a cutting head assembly capable of slicing potatoes into helical strips;
- providing an enclosed conduit having an outlet end in close proximity to and axially aligned with the cutting head assembly;
- and
- transporting the potatoes in a hydraulic flow within the conduit to the cutting head assembly where the potatoes are sliced into helical strips.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.