Cutting apparatus for obtaining a specimen of a food product container
AssigneeThe Pillsbury Company
InventorsRobert A. Strange, Debra A. Crea, Joseph G. Anton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cutting apparatus includes a mandrel insertable in a food product container. The mandrel supports the container in a fixed position by contacting an inner surface of the container. The mandrel is locatable on a support apparatus so that as the mandrel and container are rotated on the support apparatus, the container remains in a fixed axial position. Spaced-apart cutting knives contact an outer surface of the container to cut the sample therefrom while the mandrel and container are rotated.
Claims21
A cutting apparatus for cutting a specimen of a selected dimension from a food product container, the cutting apparatus comprising:
- a mandrel comprising:
- a first portion insertable in the food product container having an outer surface adapted to engage an inner surface of the food product container so that rotation of the mandrel causes rotation of the food product container;
- and
- a second portion having a first guide member;
- a support base for supporting the mandrel for rotation thereon, the support base having a second guide member operable with the first guide member to maintain an axial position of the mandrel during rotation;
- and
- a knife assembly movably joined to the support base, the knife assembly having spaced-apart cutting knives engageable with an outer surface of the food product container for obtaining the specimen.
A cutting apparatus for cutting a specimen of a selected dimension from a tubular food product container, the cutting apparatus comprising:
- a mandrel comprising:
- a first cylindrical portion insertable in the food product container having an outer surface adapted to engage an inner surface of the food product container so that rotation of the mandrel causes rotation of the food product container;
- and
- a second cylindrical portion having a first guide member;
- a support base for supporting the mandrel for rotation thereon, the support base having a first end support, a second end support and a trough extending between the first end support and the second end support for supporting the mandrel, and a second guide member operable with the first guide member to maintain an axial position of the mandrel during rotation;
- and
- a knife assembly movably joined to the support base, the knife assembly having spaced-apart cutting knives engageable with an outer surface of the food product container for obtaining the specimen.
A cutting apparatus for cutting a specimen of a selected dimension from a food product container, the cutting apparatus comprising:
- a mandrel comprising:
- a first portion insertable in the food product container having an outer surface adapted to engage an inner surface of the food product container so that rotation of the mandrel causes rotation of the food product container;
- and
- a second portion having a first guide member;
- support means for removably supporting the mandrel for rotation thereon, the support means having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are substantially convergent, the support means having a second guide member detachably coupleable with the first guide member to maintain an axial position of the mandrel during rotation;
- and
- a knife assembly movably joined to the support base, the knife assembly having spaced-apart cutting knives engageable with an outer surface of the food product container for obtaining the specimen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.