Food processing apparatus for forming strips, slices and cubes
First Claim
1. A food processing apparatus for slicing food into slices, strips and cubes comprising:
- a frame;
a first shaft coupled to the frame for rotation relative to the frame about a longitudinal axis of the first shaft;
a second shaft coupled to the frame for rotation relative to the frame about a longitudinal axis of the second shaft, the longitudinal axis of the second shaft being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft and being displaced therefrom by a displacement;
a first subset of blades mounted to the first shaft, each blade of the first subset of blades being displaced along the longitudinal axis of the first shaft from adjacent blades of the first subset of blades by a first displacement;
a second subset of blades mounted to the first shaft, each blade of the second subset of blades being displaced along the longitudinal axis of the first shaft from adjacent blades of the second subset of blades by a second displacement differing from the first displacement;
a third subset of blades mounted to the second shaft, each blade of the third subset of blades being displaced along the longitudinal axis of the second shaft from adjacent blades of the third subset of blades by the first displacement;
a fourth subset of blades mounted to the second shaft, each blade of the fourth subset of blades being displaced along the longitudinal axis of the second shaft from adjacent blades of the fourth subset of blades by the second displacement, wherein the first subset of blades cooperate with the third subset of blades to form a first cutting region therebetween for cutting food to a first dimension and the second subset of blades cooperate with the fourth subset of blades to form a second cutting region therebetween for cutting food to a second; and
a food orientation guide configured to be positioned relative to the frame in a first position or a second position, wherein food guided by the food orientation guide is guided through the first cutting region and is blocked from the second cutting region when the food orientation guide is in the first position, and wherein food guided by the food orientation guide is guided through the second cutting region and is blocked from the first cutting region when the food orientation guide is in the second position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A food processing apparatus comprises a first and second shaft and first, second, third and fourth subsets of blades. The first and second subsets of blades are mounted to the first shaft. The blades of the first subset of blades are separated by a first displacement. The blades of the second subset of blades are separated by a second displacement differing from the first displacement. The third and fourth subsets of blades are mounted to the second shaft. The blades of the third subset of blades are separated by the first displacement. The blades of the fourth subset of blades are separated by the second displacement. The first and third subset of blades form a first cutting region for cutting food to a first dimension and the second and fourth subset of blades form a second cutting region for cutting food to a second dimension.
42 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A food processing apparatus for slicing food into slices, strips and cubes comprising:
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a frame; a first shaft coupled to the frame for rotation relative to the frame about a longitudinal axis of the first shaft; a second shaft coupled to the frame for rotation relative to the frame about a longitudinal axis of the second shaft, the longitudinal axis of the second shaft being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft and being displaced therefrom by a displacement; a first subset of blades mounted to the first shaft, each blade of the first subset of blades being displaced along the longitudinal axis of the first shaft from adjacent blades of the first subset of blades by a first displacement; a second subset of blades mounted to the first shaft, each blade of the second subset of blades being displaced along the longitudinal axis of the first shaft from adjacent blades of the second subset of blades by a second displacement differing from the first displacement; a third subset of blades mounted to the second shaft, each blade of the third subset of blades being displaced along the longitudinal axis of the second shaft from adjacent blades of the third subset of blades by the first displacement; a fourth subset of blades mounted to the second shaft, each blade of the fourth subset of blades being displaced along the longitudinal axis of the second shaft from adjacent blades of the fourth subset of blades by the second displacement, wherein the first subset of blades cooperate with the third subset of blades to form a first cutting region therebetween for cutting food to a first dimension and the second subset of blades cooperate with the fourth subset of blades to form a second cutting region therebetween for cutting food to a second; and a food orientation guide configured to be positioned relative to the frame in a first position or a second position, wherein food guided by the food orientation guide is guided through the first cutting region and is blocked from the second cutting region when the food orientation guide is in the first position, and wherein food guided by the food orientation guide is guided through the second cutting region and is blocked from the first cutting region when the food orientation guide is in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A food processing apparatus comprising:
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a frame; a first shaft coupled to the frame for rotation relative to the frame about a longitudinal axis of the first shaft; a second shaft coupled to the frame for rotation relative to the frame about a longitudinal axis of the second shaft, the longitudinal axis of the second shaft being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft and being displaced therefrom; a first set of pairs of cooperating blades, each pair of cooperating blades including a first blade mounted to the first shaft and a second blade mounted to the second shaft in close proximity to the first blade and each pair of cooperating blades being spaced apart from adjacent pairs of cooperating blades in the first set of pairs of cooperating blades by a first displacement, each pair of cooperating blades of the first set of pairs of cooperating blades being adjacent another pair of cooperating blades of the first set of pairs of cooperating blades to define a first cutting region between the first and second shaft; a second set of pairs of cooperating blades, each pair of cooperating blades including a first blade mounted to the first shaft and a second blade mounted to the second shaft in close proximity to the first blade and each pair of cooperating blades being spaced apart from adjacent pairs of cooperating blades in the second set of pairs of cooperating blades by a second displacement greater than the first displacement, each pair of cooperating blades of the second set of pairs of cooperating blades being adjacent another pair of cooperating blades of the second set of pairs of cooperating blades to define a second cutting region between the first and second shaft; a motor having a drive shaft; a linkage configured to convert rotation of the drive shaft of the motor into rotation of the first and second shafts; and a food orientation guide movable relative to the frame between a first position and a second position, the food orientation guide adapted to guide food into the first cutting region when in the first position and adapted to guide food into the second cutting region when in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A food processing apparatus comprising:
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a frame; a first shaft coupled to the frame for rotation relative to the frame about a longitudinal axis of the first shaft; a second shaft coupled to the frame for rotation relative to the frame about a longitudinal axis of the second shaft, the longitudinal axis of the second shaft being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft and being displaced therefrom; a first set of pairs of cooperating blades, each pair of cooperating blades including a first blade mounted to the first shaft and a second blade mounted to the second shaft in close proximity to the first blade and each pair of cooperating blades being spaced apart from adjacent pairs of cooperating blades in the first set of pairs of cooperating blades by a first displacement, each pair of cooperating blades being adjacent another pair of cooperating blades to define a first cutting region between the first and second shaft; a second set of pairs of cooperating blades, each pair of cooperating blades including a first blade mounted to the first shaft and a second blade mounted to the second shaft in close proximity to the first blade and each pair of cooperating blades being spaced apart from adjacent pairs of cooperating blades in the second set of pairs of cooperating blades by a second displacement different than the first displacement, each pair of cooperating blades being adjacent another pair of cooperating blades to define a second cutting region between the first and second shaft; and a food orientation guide positioned on the frame, the food orientation guide adapted to direct food through the first cutting region and block food from the second cutting region. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification