Ralph E Chester

US Patent:

20030221536, Dec 4, 2003

Filed:

Jun 4, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/250113

Inventors:

Brent Bucks - Valparaiso IN, US
Daniel King - Valparaiso IN, US
Ralph Chester - Valparaiso IN, US

International Classification:

B26D007/06
B27B031/04

US Classification:

083/713000

Abstract:

An apparatus for cutting food product so that the product is properly oriented and stabilized before and throughout the cutting operation to produce a sliced product of uniform thickness, even if the delivered food product varies in shape and size, such as when both round and elongate potatoes are used to produce potato chips. The apparatus includes a cutting device and housing thereabove-that defines a passage with an opening in proximity to the cutting device, such that food product is delivered to the cutting device in a substantially vertical direction. To improve the stability of round product during the cutting operation, the housing has an upper portion and a flared lower portion immediately below the upper portion so that at least a portion of the opening of the passage is defined by the flared region and has a larger radius of curvature than the upper portion.

US Patent:

20060163792, Jul 27, 2006

Filed:

Feb 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/276271

Inventors:

Brent Bucks - Valparaiso IN, US
Daniel King - Valparaiso IN, US
Ralph Chester - Valparaiso IN, US

Assignee:

URSCHEL LABORATORIES, INC. - Valparaiso IN

International Classification:

B41F 13/58

US Classification:

270006000

Abstract:

An apparatus for cutting food product. The apparatus includes a cutting device and housing thereabove that defines a passage with an opening in proximity to the cutting device for delivering the food product to the cutting device. The apparatus is preferably adapted to cut food products in a substantially horizontal plane, and as such the cutting device is preferably oriented to make a substantially horizontal cut through a food product. A lower portion of the housing has a lower extremity that defines the opening of the passage. The apparatus is equipped with various features that improve the operation of the apparatus and the consistency of the sliced product, particularly if the delivered food product varies in shape and size and may contain embedded stones.