Apparatus and method for cutting helically shaped potato pieces

Apparatus for cutting helically shaped potato pieces, comprising:

• a top portion comprising a drive section, a center portion comprising a feed section and a lower portion comprising a cutting section, said portions in series;
• said drive section comprising a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in an upper frame member, said shafts extending in a circle about a central axis, and means for rotating said shafts at upper ends thereof;
• said feed section comprising a plurality of rods rotatably mounted in a top support member at an upper part of each rod, said rods extending in a circle about said central axis, each rod at an upper end flexibly connected to a lower end of one of said shafts and including for at least a lower portion of each rod a spiral, screw-like, outer surface, and a mid-guide member spaced down from said top support member having a plurality of elongate radially extending slots, one of said rods positioned in each of said slots;
• said cutting section comprising a driving member mounted for rotation about said central axis, means for rotating said driving member, and a cutting member attached to a lower end of said driving member for rotation therewith, said cutting member comprising a hollow conical member having a large diameter open inlet end and a lower apex end, said large diameter inlet end facing towards said feed section, said hollow conical member having a series of spiral channels on an inner surface, each channel ending in an aperture extending through a wall of the cutting member and forming cutting edges, said spiral channels being immediately adjacent each other and the apertures being positioned in a spiral around the cutting member.