Processing center for three dimensional cutting of food products

A method for cutting an integral piece of a fruit or vegetable into smaller separate pieces, said method comprising:

• (a) placing the integral piece within a first working area
• (b) fixation of the integral piece steadily within the first working area
• (c) slicing the integral piece into sliced sections by a slicing means
• (d) discharging the sliced sections from the first working area
• (e) directing the sliced section to a second working area so as to expose them to a cutting action performed by a plurality of parallel cutting knives
• (f) adjusting a distance between the planes of adjacent cutting knives according to desired width of the finally cut smaller pieces
• (g) cutting the sliced sections into smaller pieces along a first cutting direction by a plurality of parallel cutting knives effecting simultaneous multiple cutting action along a first cutting direction
• (h) indexing the second working area in a position in which the sliced sections are exposed to multiple cutting action along a second cutting direction, said second cutting direction being non-parallel to the first cutting direction
• (i) cutting the sliced sections into smaller pieces along a second cutting direction by the plurality of parallel cutting knives.

An apparatus for cutting an integral piece of a fruit or vegetable into smaller separate pieces, said apparatus comprising:

• a first cutting unit capable of preliminary slicing the integral piece into sliced sections, said unit being provided with
• (a) a working area into which the integral piece is fed
• (b) a holding means for stationary holding the integral piece within the working area
• (c) a first cutting unit provided with a slicing means capable to slice the integral piece into sliced sections,
• (d) a first driving means capable to impart motion to the slicing means, said motion is accompanied by slicing of the integral pieces into sliced sections,
• a means for discharging the sliced sections from the working area and for directing them to
• a second cutting unit capable to effect a cutting action to cut the sliced sections into a plurality of smaller pieces, said cutting unit being provided with
• a working table, adapted to receive the sliced sections discharged from the first cutting unit, said table being rotatable and indexable so as to expose said sections successively to a cutting action along at least two non parallel cutting directions,
• a second cutting unit for effecting said cutting action, said second cutting unit having a plurality of parallel cutting knives residing within a base frame, said base frame being mounted above said working table in a manner that allows said base frame to approach the sliced sections and to effect the cutting action along a cutting direction,
• a second driving means capable to impart to the base frame linear reciprocating motion accompanied by multiple cutting action, of said sliced sections effected by the plurality of said knives,
• in which said first cutting unit resides above the said second cutting unit, and,
• in which said working table is provided with a plurality of perforations, said perforations are connected with a source of vacuum for holding the sliced pieces firmly on the table during the cutting action.

An apparatus for cutting an integral piece of a fruit or vegetable into smaller separate pieces, said apparatus comprising:

• a first cutting unit capable of preliminary slicing the integral piece into sliced sections, said unit being provided with
• (a) a working area into which the integral piece is fed
• (b) a holding means for stationary holding the integral piece within the working area
• (c) a first cutting unit provided with a slicing means capable to slice the integral piece into sliced sections,
• (d) a first driving means capable to impart motion to the slicing means, said motion is accompanied by slicing of the integral pieces into sliced sections,
• a means for discharging the sliced sections from the working area and for directing them to
• a second cutting unit capable to effect a cutting action to cut the sliced sections into a plurality of smaller pieces, said cutting unit being provided with
• a working table adapted to receive the sliced sections discharged from the first cutting unit, said table being rotatable and indexable so as to expose said sections successively to a cutting action along at least two non parallel cutting directions,
• a second cutting unit for effecting said cutting action, said second cutting unit having a plurality of parallel cutting knives residing within a base frame, said base frame being mounted above said working table in a manner that allows said base frame to approach the sliced sections and to effect the cutting action along a cutting direction,
• a second driving means capable to impart to the base frame linear reciprocating motion accompanied by multiple cutting action of said sliced sections effected by the plurality of said knives,
• in which said second cutting unit is provided with a means for variation of the distance between the planes of adjacent knives.

An apparatus for cutting an integral piece of a fruit or vegetable into smaller separate pieces, said apparatus comprising:

• a first cutting unit capable of preliminary slicing the integral piece into sliced sections, said unit being provided with
• (a) a working area into which the integral piece is fed
• (b) a holding means for stationary holding the integral piece within the working area
• (c) a first cutting unit provided with a slicing means capable to slice the integral piece into sliced sections,
• (d) a first driving means capable to impart motion to the slicing means, said motion is accompanied by slicing of the integral pieces into sliced sections,
• a means for discharging the sliced sections from the working area and for directing them to
• a second cutting unit capable to effect a cutting action to cut the sliced sections into a plurality of smaller pieces, said cutting unit being provided with
• a working table adapted to receive the sliced sections discharged from the first cutting unit, said table being rotatable and indexable so as to expose said sections successively to a cutting action along at least two non parallel cutting directions,
• a second cutting unit for effecting said cutting action, said second cutting unit having a plurality of parallel cutting knives residing within a base frame, said base frame being mounted above said working table in a manner that allows said base frame to approach the sliced sections and to effect the cutting action along a cutting direction,
• a second driving means capable to impart to the base frame linear reciprocating motion accompanied by multiple cutting action of said sliced sections effected by the plurality of said knives,
• in which the first cutting unit is provided with
• (a) a transporting means adapted to advance the piece to be cut towards the working area, and,
• (b) a feeding means adapted to advance the piece within the working area, said slicing means is formed as a slicing blade connectable to a frame, said blade is slanted with respect to the plane of the working area, wherein said first driving means is capable to impart linear reciprocating motion to said slicing blade to approach the integral piece and to slice thereof into separate sections, said first driving means is capable to accelerate the said motion after the integral piece is approached,
• the apparatus further comprising
• (c) a third driving means capable to rotate said working table and to index thereof in the working position, and,
• (d) a control means for programmed operation of the apparatus,
• in which said transporting means comprises a conveyer with secured thereon plurality of compartments adapted to receive therein integral pieces to be sliced, said conveyer being driven by a motor.