FOOD CUTTING BLADES SET.

Abstract

A blade assembly comprising a blade support frame and a plurality of V-shaped blades detachably attached to the blade support frame. The blade support frame has a downward-extending food flow channel and a plurality of blade assemblies distributed around the food flow channel. Each V-shaped blade has a first end portion connected to one of the blade assemblies, a second end portion connected to another of the blade assemblies, and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion in the food flow channel.In the first and second extreme portions of each V-shaped blade, one of the respective blade supports overlaps both the upward-facing edge and the downward-facing edge of the V-shaped blade to inhibit the V-shaped blade from rotating when impacted by food.

Description

SET OF KNIVES FOR CUTTING INCREASES FIELD OF THE INVENTION .5 This application refers to the field of blade assemblies for eating food, such as vegetables and fruits. INTRODUCTION This application refers to blade assemblies for cutting food into pieces. More specifically, this application relates to blade assemblies comprising a plurality of V-shaped blades that cut food into cradle-shaped food pieces. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a hydraulic cutting system, according to one modality; FIG, 2 is a perspective view of a blade assembly, a whole potato and pieces of potato cut according to a modality; FIG. 3 is a front view of the blade assembly of Fig. 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a set of euch fia according to another modality; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of potato pieces cut by a group of blades in the blade assembly of FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the blade assembly of fig. 2; FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view of the blade assembly of fig. 2< Figure 8 is a perspective view of the blade support frame of the blade assembly of FIG. 2; The FIQ.. 9 is a perspective view of a blade assembly according to another modality; FIG. 10 is a partially exploded view of the blade assembly, from fig. g. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the support frame for the blade of the blade assembly of FIG. 9; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a blade assembly according to another modality; FIG: T3 is a partially exploded view of the blade assembly of fig. 12; FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the blade support frame of the 20 blade assembly of FIG. 12; and Figs. 15A-Q are views of cutting blades in various configurations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, a set of blades for cutting food is provided. The blade assembly includes a blade support frame and a plurality of V-shaped blades. The blade support frame may have an upstream end, a downstream end, a food flow path extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and a plurality of blade assemblies distributed around the food flow path. The plurality of V-shaped blades may be detachably attached to the blade support frame. Each V-shaped blade may have a first end portion connected to one of the blade supports, a second end portion connected to another of the blade mounts, and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the intermediate portion extending into the food flow path.Each V-shaped blade may include an upstream edge and a downstream dome. The upstream and downstream edges may each extend from the first end portion to the second end portion, and on the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade, one of the respective blade assemblies may overlap both the upstream edge and the downstream edge of the V-shaped blade to inhibit rotation of the V-shaped blade when affected by food. In another aspect, a set of blades for cutting food is provided. The blade assembly may include a blade support frame and a plurality of V-shaped blades. The blade support frame may have an upstream end, a downstream end, a food flow path extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and a plurality of blade mounts distributed around the food flow path. The plurality of V-shaped blades may be detachably attached to the blade support frame. Each V-shaped blade may have a first end portion connected to one of the blade mounts, a second end portion connected to another of the blade mounts, and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the intermediate portion extending into the food flow path.Each of the first and second extreme portions of each V-shaped blade can be detachably attached to one of the respective 25 blade holders by means of at least two separate removable fasteners to prevent the V-shaped blade from rotating when affected by food. In another aspect, a set of blades for cutting food is provided. The blade assembly may include a blade support frame and a plurality of 30 V-shaped blades. The blade support frame may have an upstream end, a downstream end, a food flow path extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and a plurality of blade assemblies distributed around the food flow path. The plurality of V-shaped blades may be detachably attached to the blade support frame. Each V-shaped blade may have a first end portion connected to one of the blade holders, a second end portion connected to another of the blade holders, and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the intermediate portion extending into the food flow path. Each of the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade may be detachably attached to one of the respective blade holders by means of at least one mounting pin and at least one removable fastener to prevent the V-shaped blade from rotating when impacted by food. In another aspect, a method is provided for cutting a food product into V-shaped pieces. The method may include; A method for cutting a food product into V-shaped pieces, the method comprising; to propel a food product into a blade assembly, the blade assembly comprising a plurality of V-shaped blades, each of the plurality of V-shaped blades having a first end portion, a second end portion and an unsupported intermediate portion, wherein the unsupported intermediate portion is located in a food flow path of the blade assembly; impaling the intermediate portions of the V-shaped blades with the food product, wherein each first end portion and each second end portion is removably attached to a respective blade support adapted to inhibit the V-shaped blade from rotating when impacted by the food product; and moving the food product to one end downstream of the food flow path, whereby the intermediate portion of the plurality of V-shaped blades cuts the food product into V-shaped pieces; DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS MODALITIES Numerous embodiments are described in this application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The embodiments described are not intended to be limiting in any way. The invention is broadly applicable to numerous embodiments. <w es fácilmente evidente a partir de la divulgación en este documento. Les expertos en la materia reconocerán que la presente invención se puede practicar can modificación y alteración sin apartarse de las enseñanzas aquí descritas. Aunque las características particulares de la presente invención pueden describirse con referencia a una: o más modalidades o figuras particulares, debe entenderse que tales características no se limitan al uso en la una o más 5 modalidades o f igu ras particulares con referencia a las cuales se describen. The terms “a modality, modality, modalities, da modality”, the modalities, one or more modalities”, some modalities” and a modality mean one or more (but not all) of the modalities of the present invention(s), 10 unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “includes,” “comprises,” and variations thereof mean “any, but not limited to,” unless expressly stated otherwise. A list of Parties does not imply that any or all of the Parties are mutually exclusive unless expressly stated otherwise. The terms “one,” “an,” and “the” mean one or more, unless expressly stated otherwise. As applied in this document and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be coupled, connected, joined, incorporated, fixed, or adhered, where the parts are joined or function together either directly or indirectly (i.e., through one or more intermediate parts), provided that a link is produced. As used in this document and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be directly coupled, directly connected, directly joined, directly incorporated, directly fixed, or directly adhered, where the parts are connected in physical contact with each other. As used herein, two or more parts are said to be rigidly coupled, rigidly connected, rigidly joined, rigidly fixed, or rigidly affixed, where the parts are coupled to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation with respect to each other.None of the terms "collected", "connected", "attached", "joined", and "subject" distinguish the way in which two or more parts are joined. Some items in this document may be identified by a part number, which consists of a base number followed by an alphabetic or subscript numeric suffix (for example, 110a or 1101). Multiple items in this document may be identified by part numbers that share a common base number and differ in their suffixes (for example, 110i, 1102, and 1103). All items with a common base number may be referred to collectively or generically using the base number without a suffix (for example, 1W). For the sake of clarity, the following description refers to potatoes as the food product being cut. However, it will be appreciated that the blade assembly configurations described herein can be used to cut any suitable food, including, without limitation, fruits and vegetables. Accordingly, whenever potatoes are mentioned, it is expressly understood that potatoes may be substituted with another suitable food product. In various configurations, the blade assembly can be used to cut dense vegetables, such as tubers and root vegetables. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a hydraulic cutting system 10 according to at least one modality. In the example shown, potatoes 14 are fed from a hopper 18 into a tank 22 in which the potatoes 14 are immersed in water 26. As shown, conduits 30 can connect the tank 22 to a pump 34 and connect the pump 34 to a set of blades 100. In some embodiments, the pump 34 circulates water 26 from the tank 22 to carry the potatoes 14 through the conduits 30 to the blade assembly 100. In some examples, the conduits 30 are sized to receive potatoes 14 in a single file. For example, the conduits (e.g., pipes) 25 30 may have a diameter larger than the diameter of the potatoes 14, and smaller than the diameter of two potatoes 14. In the example shown, potatoes 14 travel through conduits 30 to the blade assembly 100 at a speed imparted by pump 34. Several embodiments of the blade assembly 100 are described in detail below. As the potatoes 14 travel through the blade assembly 100, they are cut into smaller potato pieces 38 and discharged through outlet conduit 42. Optionally, the potato pieces 38 may undergo further processing, such as cooking, frying, freezing, packaging, or combinations thereof. s Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows a whole potato 14 upstream of blade assembly 100, and cut potato pieces 38 downstream of blade assembly 100. The potato 14 and potato pieces 38 travel in a downstream direction 104 along a food flow path that extends through blade assembly 100, so that the blades of blade assembly 100 cut the potato 14 into potato pieces 38. As shown, the blade assembly 100 includes a blade support frame 110 on which a plurality of blades 116, 120 are mounted. The blade support frame 110 extends from an upstream end of frame 112 to a downstream end frame 114. The food flow path 108 extends through the blade assembly 100 from the upstream end frame 112 to the downstream end frame 114. The blades 116, 120 extend into the food flow path 108 so as to cut the potatoes 14 traveling downstream along the food flow path 108 through the blade assembly 100. As used herein and in the claims, the term axially refers to a direction parallel to the downstream direction 104. For example, 20 a first part described as axially aligned with a second part, is aligned with the second part in a direction parallel to the downstream direction 104. Two parts described as having different axial positions are placed in different locations in a direction parallel to the downstream direction 104 (for example, one downstream of the other) and the two parts may not be axially aligned 25 together. Figure 3 is a front view of the blade assembly 100 looking downstream, aligned with the food flow path. As shown, the blade support frame 110 may include a base 124 at the upstream end of the frame 112. The base 124 may include a flow opening 128 that limits (e.g., surrounds) the flow path. Food flow through blade assembly 100. The blade assembly 10Q may include a plurality of V-shaped blades 116, and optionally one or more additional blades 120. As shown, the V-shaped blades 116 may be arranged in several blade groups 132 that are circumferentially distributed around the centerline 136 of the flow path. Within a blade group 132, V-shaped blades 116 may be radially nested. For example, each V-shaped blade 116 may include an apex 140.blade at a radially inner end of blade 116, and the vertices 140 of the V-shaped blade 116 within a group 132 of blades may be radially separated (i.e., located at different radial distances from the centerline 136 of the flow path). As shown, the blade vertices 140 within a group 132 of blades may also be radially aligned (i.e., they may lie on a common imaginary radius line extending from the centerline 136 of the flow path). This can provide symmetry to the cuts made by the V-shaped blades 116 within a group 132 of blades. In alternative embodiments, the blade vertices 140 within a group 132 of blades may not be radially aligned. This may allow the V-shaped blades 116 within a group 132 of blades to make uneven cuts, which can give the cut potato pieces a rustic, homey character. Still referring to FIG. 3, the profile spaces 144 between the blades 116, 20 T20 when viewed axially (i.e., parallel to the downstream direction) define the shapes of the potato pieces cut by the blade assembly 100. As shown, the radially adjacent V-shaped blades 116 within a blade group 132 can define a V-shaped profile space 144, whereby a potato cut by these blades 116 will produce a V-shaped potato piece. The 25 V-shaped potato pieces can be useful for dipping seasonings. As shown, the T32 blade groups can be spaced roughly around the centerline of the flow path 136. The blade assembly 100 can include any number of blade groups 132. In the illustrated example 30, the blade assembly 100 included 6 blade groups. In other embodiments, the blade assembly 100 can include, for example, 3 to 20 blade groups. Each blade group 132 may include any number of V-shaped blades 11 S>. It will be appreciated that for a given flow path diameter, a greater number of V-shaped blades TI 6 within a blade group 132 will produce V-shaped potato pieces that are greater in number and thinner, all else being equal. In the illustrated embodiment, the blade assembly 100 includes three V-shaped blades 116 per blade group 132. In other embodiments, the blade assembly 100 may include 5 fewer V-shaped blades 116 per blade group 132 (e.g., 1 or 2), or a greater number of V-shaped blades 116 per blade group (e.g., 4 to 20). Figure 4 shows a modality of the blade assembly 100 which includes two V-shaped blades 116 per blade group 132. Still referring to FIG. 3, each blade group 132 may include the same number of V-shaped blades 116 as shown or a different number of V-shaped blades 116. In the illustrated example, each blade group 132 is substantially identical to the other blade group 132. In other embodiments, one or more (or all) of the blade groups 132 may differ in one or many respects (e.g., shape, size, edge configurations, orientation, number of blades, blade arrangement, blade shape or blade size) from one or more (or all) of the other blade groups 132. 2Q In some embodiments, the blade assembly 100 may include one or more blades 120. As shown, a blade 120 may be a straight blade (i.e., as distinct from a blade having an intermediate corner, such as V-shaped blades 116) that extends transparently across the food flow path 108. For example, a blade 120 may intersect the centerline 136 of the flow path, and thus bisect the food flow path 108. Alternatively, a blade 120 may be separated from the centerline 136 of the food flow path. In the illustrated example, there are half as many blades 120 as there are blade groups 132, and the T2Ü ss blades cross each other at the center line 136 of the flow path, so the blades 120 divide the food flow path into sectors 148 (e.g., pie-shaped sectors 30 as shown). Each group of blades 132 can be located within one of the different flow path sectors 148. When the blade assembly 100 is viewed axially in profile (for example, as in Figure 3), each group of blades 132 can be separated from the straight blade that borders the flow path sector 148 in which that group of blades 132 is located. Accordingly, a V-shaped profile space 152 can be defined by the innermost blade 116 of each blade group 132, and the blades 120 bordering the flow path sector 148 in which that group of 5 blades 132 is located. Accordingly, the V-shaped blades 116 and the larger blades 120 can cooperate to define additional V-shaped profile spaces 152, so that a potato cut by these blades 116, 120 will produce additional V-shaped potato pieces. In some embodiments (including any embodiment described herein, such as in relation to Figures 4, 6S7, 9, and 10), the blades 126 may be interleaved. For example, blade 1202 may include a slot that receives a portion of blade 1201, and blade 1203 may include a slot that receives a portion of blade 1202. Interconnecting the blades 120 in this manner may help improve the structural rigidity of the blades 120. In alternative embodiments, the blade assembly 100 may not include straight blades 120. For example, the blade assembly 100 may include additional V-shaped blades 116 (for example, three additional ones) having blade vertices 140 that meet (for example, on the centerline 136 of the flow path). Such V-shaped blades may have any concave shape described herein, such as, for example, the shapes described below in relation to FIG. 15B. Reference is now made to Figs. 3 and 5. The illustration shows potato traces 25 38 cut by blades 116,120 (figure 3) associated with a flow path sector 148. As shown, the potato pieces 38 include V-shaped potato pieces 381 that were cut by radially adjacent blades 116, 120 and a wedge-shaped piece of diseased potato 382 that was cut by the outermost radially adjacent blade 116 of the blade group 132.Regarding Figs. 6-8, each V-shaped blade 116 may include a first extreme portion 156, a second extreme portion 160, and an intermediate portion 164 joining the first extreme portion 156 to the second extreme portion 160. As shown, the intermediate portion 164 may include a corner (e.g., a sharp or rounded curve) at the apex of the blade 140. Each V-shaped blade 116 also includes an upstream edge 168 and a downstream edge 172 (also known as an upstream edge 168 and a downstream edge 172). Each of the upstream edge 168 and the downstream edge 172 extend from the first extreme portion 156, through the middle portion 164 to the second extreme portion 160. As shown, the upstream edge 168 includes a blade edge 176 that makes the first contact with the potatoes traveling downstream along the food flow path 108 (Figure 8).The edge of the blade 176 of each V-shaped blade 116 can have any profile suitable for cutting food into pieces, such as a wavy edge profile as shown, a straight edge profile, a crinkled edge profile, or a corrugated edge profile. The intermediate portion 164 of each V-shaped blade 116 can define an internal angle 178 of less than 135 degrees. Preferably, the internal angle 178 is acute (i.e., less than 90 degrees), such as, for example, 10-85 degrees. This can cut V-shaped potato wedges that work well for containing toppings (e.g., gravy, cheese, sour cream, or ketchup) and that are also relatively narrow and therefore easy to eat (i.e., fit in the mouth). In the illustrated example, the internal angle 178 is approximately 60 degrees. The intermediate portion 164 can have any concave shape. Figure 151 shows an example in which the intermediate portion 164 includes a curved blade apex 140, with radius of curvature 244. Figure 158 shows an example in which the intermediate portion 164 includes a sharp (i.e., uncurved) vertex 140 where the first and second blade segments 248, 252 meet. Figure 15C shows an example in which the intermediate portion 164 includes a square vertex 140, in which a straight blade segment 256 joins the first and second blade segments 248, 252. In some embodiments, all the blades 116 can have the same concave shape. This allows the blade assembly to cut potato pieces that have the same shape. profile on the inner and outer surfaces, Alternatively, some of the blades 116 may include different concave shapes of other blades: 118.For example, adjacent radial blades 116 can have different concave shapes. This allows the assembly of ©uchiilá to cut pieces of potato that have different profile shapes on the inner and outer surfaces. The blade support frame 110 includes a plurality of ISO blade mounts located outside the food flow path 108 (e.g., radially outward from the base flow opening 128). Each blade mount 180 is detachably secured to an end portion 156, 160 of a V-shaped blade 116. As shown, the first and second end portions 158, 160 of a V-shaped blade 116 can be secured to the respective blade mounts 180 at locations radially outside the food flow path 108, with the intermediate portion 164 extending into the food flow path 108 to cut passing potatoes. The intermediate portion 164 of each V-shaped blade 116 may not be supported within the food flow path 108. That is, there may be no elements of the blade assembly 100, within the food flow path 108, that are in contact with the intermediate portion 164. In fact, there may be no elements of the blade assembly 100, within the food flow path 108, that are in contact with any part of the V-shaped blade 116. As shown in FIG. 3, this allows the separate blades 116, 120 within a blade group 132 to define V-shaped profile spaces 144, 152 that produce V-shaped potato pieces whose concavity makes them so suitable for holding toppings (e.g., gravy, cheese, sour cream, or ketchup). However, when an unsupported intermediate portion 164 is repeatedly struck by dense vegetables, such as potatoes, the V-shaped blade 116 will experience torsional loads at the first and second end portions 156, 180 where the V-shaped blade 116 is mounted to the blade support frame 110. The torsional loads 25 are greater when the blade angle 178 is small. For example, V-shaped blades 116 can experience significant torsional loads from the impact of potatoes when they have acute blade angles 178 (i.e., less than 90 degrees). Torsional loads will force the V-shaped blades 116 to rotate in the downstream direction 104. If that happens, then the V-shaped blades 116 will become misaligned with the downstream direction 104. For example, a rotated V-shaped blade 116 may extend from an upstream edge 168 of the blade to a downstream edge 172 of the blade in a direction that is not parallel to the direction 104 downstream. In this turned orientation, the V-shaped blade 116 may be unable to make clean cuts, and instead may scrape the passing potatoes so that the cut potatoes cannot be used. In the context of a high-speed hydraulic cutting system 10 (Figure 1), the V-shaped blades 116 of the blade assembly 100 can cut thousands of potatoes per day. Consequently, the V-shaped blades 116 can frequently become dull and damaged, and therefore may require routine repair or replacement. It would be prohibitively expensive to replace the entire blade assembly 100 each time the 10 individual V-shaped blades 116 become dull or damaged (e.g., daily).Therefore, it is important that the V-shaped blades 116 are detachably fixed to the blade support frame 110. In other words, permanently connecting the V-shaped blades 116 to the blade support frame 110 (for example, by welding or forming the blades 116 integrally with the frame 110) does not provide an effective solution to the problem of the V-shaped blades 116 rotating out of alignment with the downstream direction 104 of the repeated impact of the potatoes. The embodiments herein pertain to a blade assembly 100 that includes a blade support frame 110 with blade mounts 180 designed to provide increased torsional rigidity to the connected V-shaped blades 110, thereby reducing the likelihood of the V-shaped blades 110 rotating in the downstream direction 104 when struck by potatoes. This facilitates the assembly of blades 100 equipped with V-shaped blades 116 having unsupported intermediate portions 164 for use in a high-speed hydraulic cutting system 10 (Figure 25 1) for cutting potatoes into potato chunks (e.g., V-shaped potato pieces) on an industrial scale. With reference to Rgs. 7-8, each blade assembly 180 may include a recess 184 in the blade support frame 110. A portion of the blade end 156, 160 may be received in each recess 184 when attached to the associated blade support 180. When a portion of the blade end 156, 160 is received in a recess 184, the blade assembly 180 may overlap the upstream and downstream edges 168, 172 of the blade end portion 156, 160. Consequently, the blade assembly 180 may interfere with the V-shaped blade 116 rotating in a downstream direction of the potato pass impact. For example, this rotation would be inhibited by contact between the blade support 180 and the upstream and downstream edges 168, 172. As illustrated, a blade support 180 may include an upstream portion 188, a downstream portion 192, and an intermediate portion 196 extending from the upstream portion 188 to the downstream portion 192. Portions 188, 192, and 196 may border (for example, define) the blade mounting recess 184. The upstream mounting portion 188 may be axially opposed to the downstream mounting portion 192. The upstream mounting portion 188 may overlap the upstream edge 168 of a V-shaped blade end portion 156, 160, and the downstream mounting portion 192 may overlap the downstream edge 172 of the V-shaped blade end portion 156, 160. That is, the upstream mounting portion 188 can be located upstream of the upstream blade edge 168 and axially aligned with the edge 15 of the upstream blade 168.Similarly, the downstream mounting portion 192 can be located downstream of the downstream edge 172 of the blade and aligned axially with the downstream edge 172 of the blade. As shown, the upstream mounting portion 188 and the downstream portion 192 can project cw^ from the intermediate portion 196 to define the blade mounting recess 184 in which a blade end portion 156,160 is received. If the V-shaped blade 116 were urged to rotate in the downstream direction 104, the rotation would be obstructed by the contact between the upstream mounting portion 188 and the upstream edge 168 of the blade, and by the contact between the downstream mounting portion 192 and the downstream edge 172 of the blade. In some embodiments, an upstream mounting portion 188 may be formed by the base 124. For example, knife-edge assemblies 1801 are shown having an upstream portion 188 formed by the frame base 124. The amount of play (e.g., wobble) between the blade mounting recess 30 184 and a connected V-shaped blade 116 may depend on the gaps between the upstream and downstream blade edges 168, 172 and the overlapping mounting portions 188, 192, respectively. Preferably, there is little or no gap between the overlapping portions 188, 192 and the blade edges 168, 172, so that the blade end portions 156, 160 make contact with the overlapping portions 188, 192 (and thus inhibit further blade rotation) after the V-shaped blade 116 has rotated very little (or not at all). In some embodiments, a small clearance (for example, less than 1 mm) 5 is located between the overlapping portions 188, 192 and the upstream and downstream edges 168, 172 of a blade end portion 156, 160 to facilitate insertion and removal of the blade end portion 158, 160 from the blade mounting recess 184. For example, the recess may have a recess width 204, measured (parallel to the downstream direction 104) from the upstream portion 188 to the downstream portion 192 that is slightly (for example, 0.01 mm to 1 mm) larger than the axial width of the blade 208, measured on the blade end portion 156, 160 from the rising edge of the blade 168 to the downstream edge 172 of the blade. In alternative embodiments, the recess width 204 may be equal to the axial blade width 208 in a blade end portion 156, 160. This provides physical contact between the blade mounting portions 188, 192 and the blade edges 168, 172 throughout, so that any and all rotations of the V-shaped blade 116 in the downstream direction 104 may be inhibited by the blade mounting 180. In this case, a user may insert and remove the blade end portions 156, 160 into the blade mounting recesses 184 using a tool such as a hammer or pliers. A V-shaped blade 116 can be attached to the blade supports 180 in any way that allows the V-shaped blade 116 to be removed for repair or replacement, and a new or repaired blade 116 to be reattached to the blade supports 180. For example, the V-shaped blades 116 can be attached to the blade supports 180 by means of a removable fastener 210. The removable fastener 210 can be, for example, a threaded fastener (for example, a bolt as shown, a screw, or a nut), a clamp, or a dowel with a central axis. In the illustrated embodiment, each blade end portion 156,160 has a locking opening 212 that aligns with a locking opening 216 of a blade holder 180, and a removable fastener 210 extends through both openings 212, 216 to removably fasten the blade end portion 156, 160 to the holder.The blade 180, as shown, the clamping opening 216 can be formed in the intermediate mounting portion 196, so that the fastener 210 when inserted can be oriented transversely (e.g., perpendicular) to the downstream direction 104. In some embodiments, a fastener 210 may, in addition to securing a V-shaped blade 116 to a blade holder 180, contribute to inhibiting the V-shaped blade 116 from rotating in the downstream direction 104. For example, the fastener 210 may cooperate with one or both mounting portions 188, 192 to prevent the V-shaped blade 116 from rotating in the downstream direction 104. In some embodiments, the blade assembly 180 may include only one of the mounting portions 188 or 192 that are axially aligned 10 with a respective edge of the blade 168 or 172. For example, the fastener 210 and the mounting portion 188 or 192 may together inhibit the V-shaped blade 116 from rotating in the downstream direction 104 when the V-shaped blade 116 is impaled by food. The blade support frame 110 can include any arrangement of blade mounts 180 suitable for the removable attachment of the V-shaped blade end portions 156, 160. For example, all the blade mounts 180 of the blade support frame 110 can be located on the same axis. This can provide a compact configuration with a relatively small axial width dimension 20. Alternatively, the illustrated embodiment includes axially distributed blade assemblies 180. This allows the blade support frame 110 to carry axially staggered blades 116. This can reduce the number of blades 25 116 that pierce a potato at a time. Not being limited by theory, it is believed that a blade Blade 116 experiences a peak resistive force the moment it first pierces the potato. By staggering or sequentially cutting through a potato (e.g., one subset of blades after another), the blade assembly 100 can experience a lower peak force during the cutting of that potato. This can reduce the incidence of blade damage and other general wear on the blade assembly 106. In some configurations, 180 blade assemblies may include a depression 260 located near the upstream portion 188. The depressions 260 can provide clearance for blade edges 176 that have a profile extending out of the plane. For example, the depressions 260 can accommodate blade edges 176 that have a wavy, crease, or ripple edge profile. Alternatively, ISO blade assemblies may not include depressions 260. For example, blade assembly 5 may also include blade edges 176 that have straight edge profiles, which may not extend out of the plane, thus making depressions 260 unnecessary. Still referring to Figs. 7-8, the blade support frame 110 can include a plurality of blade support risers 220 extending downstream from the frame base 124. The blade support risers 220 can be distributed around the centerline of the flow path 136 outside the food flow path 108. As shown, each blade support riser 220 can include a plurality of blade mounts 180. The blade mounts 180 of a blade support riser 220 may be axially staggered. In the illustrated example, the blade support risers 220 include the first blade mounts 1801 located upstream of the second blade mounts 1802, which are located upstream of the third blade mounts 1803.In other configurations, the 220 blade support lifts may include more or less than 20 ISO blade assemblies arranged in the same or different axial positions. In the illustrated embodiment, each blade assembly 180 of a blade support riser 220 cannot be axially aligned with any other blade assembly 180 of that blade support riser 220 (or indeed any blade support riser 220). For example, each blade assembly can be offset, in direction(s) perpendicular to the downstream direction 104, from each other blade assembly 180. This allows the blade support risers 220 to hold the blades 116 in a separate relationship when viewed axially in profile (e.g., as in Figure 3). This can prevent two blades 116 from making the same cut. In 30 other configurations, the 180 blade assemblies can be axially aligned, and instead the 116 blades can extend in different directions from the axially aligned 180 blade assemblies to avoid making duplicate cuts. Still referring to Figs. 7-8, in some embodiments, each V-shaped blade 116 can be attached to two circumferentially adjacent blade support risers 220. For example, the V-shaped blade 1161 is shown having a first end portion 156 detachably attached to the blade support 1801 of the vertical blade support 2201, and a second end portion 160 detachably attached to the blade support 1801 of the vertical blade support 2202. The vertical blade support risers 2201 and 2202 are circumferentially adjacent. As shown, the V-shaped blades 116 of a blade group 132 can all be fixed to the same two circumferentially adjacent blade support lifters 10 220. For example, the V-shaped blades 1161, 1162, and 1163 of the blade group 1321 are all shown detachably fixed to the blade support lifters 2201 and 2202. In some embodiments, a blade support lifter 220 may include a first side 224 and an opposite second side 228. Each side 224, 228 may include a plurality of blade assemblies 180. This may allow each blade support lifter 220 to cooperate with both circumferentially adjacent blade support lifters 220 to support V-shaped blades 116. For example, blade support lifters 2201 and 2202 cooperate to support three V-shaped blades 116, and blade support lifters 2201 and 2203 cooperate to support another three V-shaped blades 116. This may reduce the number of blade support lifters 220 required by the blade support frame 1.10 to support the V-shaped blades 116, compared to the 220 blade support lifts that have 180 blade mounts on one side only. As shown, each blade assembly 180 on a first side 224 of a blade support riser 220 can be located in the same axial position as another blade assembly 180 on a second side 228 of the blade support riser 220. For example, the V-shaped blades 1161 fixed to the first and second sides 224, 228 of the blade support riser 2201 are shown to have the same axial position. Similarly for the V-shaped blades 1162 and 1183. As shown, the width of the blade support riser 2201 can be gradually reduced from the axial position of the blade assemblies 1801 to the axial position of the blade assemblies. 1802 to the axial position of the blade mounts 1803 to provide offset mounting positions for the blades 116. In alternative embodiments, a blade support lift 220 may include blade mounts 180 on only one of the sides 224, 228 of the blade support lift 220. This may be the most appropriate configuration for the intended blade mounting pattern. Still referring to Figs. 7-8, the blade support frame 110 may include additional supports 232 for the blades 120. In the illustrated example, the blades 120 are straight blades that cut the path of the food flow 108. As shown, each blade 120 has a first end portion 156 connected to one blade support 232 and a second end portion 160 connected to another blade support 232. For example, the blade supports 232 carrying a blade 120 may be provided by radially opposed blade support risers 220 as illustrated. Because the blades 120 are straight, unlike the V-shaped blades 116, the blades 120 do not face the problem of torsional loading experienced by the V-shaped blades 116.Accordingly, it may not be necessary for the blade holders 232 to have features that inhibit the blades 120 from rotating in the downstream direction 104. In the illustrated example, each blade 120 is detachably fixed at its first and second end portions 156, 160 to the blade holders 232 by means of removable fasteners 210, which may be the same as or different from the fasteners 210 that secure V-shaped blades 116 to the blade holder frame 110, 25. In some embodiments, the blades 120 can be offset from each other in the downstream direction 104, for the same reasons described above with respect to the V-shaped blades 116. For example, the illustrated embodiment shows blade 1201 located upstream of V-shaped blade 1202, which is 30° upstream of V-shaped blade 1203. Reference is now made to Figs. 9-11, which show another embodiment of the blade assembly 100. As an alternative to (or in addition to) a blade mounting recess 184 (FIG. 7), each V-shaped blade end portion 156, 160 can be detachably fastened to a blade assembly 180 by two or more removable fasteners. 210. For example, a V-shaped blade 1163 is shown, which has end portions 156, 160, each of which is attached to a respective blade holder 1803 by two removable fasteners 210. Together, the two removable fasteners 210 can provide superior torsional stability compared to a single removable fastener 210, all else being equal. This design can have lower manufacturing cost and complexity compared to a design that relies on the blade mounting recesses for torsional stability. However, this design also requires additional fasteners 210, which can increase assembly costs. In some embodiments, the blade assembly 100 can include blade assemblies 180 with both blade mounting recesses 184 (Figure 7) and supporting double fasteners. 210. This design can provide even greater torsional stability, all else being equal, although at a higher manufacturing and assembly cost. Each blade end portion 156, 160 may have two clamping openings 212 that align with two corresponding clamping openings 216 of a blade holder 180, and two retractable fasteners 210 may extend through the openings 212, 216 to removably clamp the blade end portion 156, 160 to the blade holder 180. As shown, the clamping openings 216 may be separated. In the illustrated example, the clamping openings 216 are radially separated (i.e., they are positioned at different radial distances from the centerline 136 of the flow path). Alternatively or in addition, the clamping openings 216 may be axially separated. Reference is now made to Figs. 12–14, which show another embodiment of the 25 blade assembly 100. As an alternative to (or in addition to) a blade mounting recess 184 (Fig. 7) and multiple fasteners 210 (Fig. 10), each blade assembly 180 may include at least one mounting pin 234 and supports a removable fastener 210. Together, the removable fastener 210 and one or more mounting pins 234 can provide superior torsional stability compared to a removable fastener 210 alone, all else being equal. Furthermore, the mounting pins 234 can conveniently hold a V-shaped blade 116 in position in a blade support frame 110 while a removable fastener 210 (e.g., screw or bolt) is being inserted.This design may have a lower cost and assembly time compared to the use of multiple fasteners per blade mount 180, and may have a similar or lower manufacturing cost and complexity compared to 180 blade supports, including 184 blade mounting recesses (FIG. 7). As shown, each blade mount 180 on a first side 224 of a blade support lift 220 can be located in the same axial position as another blade mount 180 on a second side 228 of the blade support lift 220. For example, the V-shaped blades 1181 fixed to the first and second sides 224, 228 of the blade support lift 2201 are shown with the same axial position. Similarly for the V-shaped blades 1162 and 1163. As shown, the width 10 of the blade support lift 2201 can be gradually decreased from the axial position of the blade mounts 1801 to the axial position of the blade mounts 1802 to the axial position of the blade mounts 1803 to provide offset mounting positions for the blades 116. In alternative embodiments, a blade support riser 220 may include blade mounts 180 on only one of the sides 224, 228 of the blade support riser 220. This may be the most appropriate configuration for the intended blade mounting pattern. Still referring to Figs. 7-8, the blade support frame 110 may include additional supports 232 for the blades 120. In the illustrated example, the blades 120 are straight blades that cut the path of the food flow 108. As shown, each blade 120 has a first end portion 156 connected to one blade support 232 and a second end portion 160 connected to another blade support 232. For example, blade supports 232 carrying a blade T20 may be provided by radially opposed blade support risers 220 as illustrated. Because the blades 120 are straight, unlike the V-shaped blades 116, the blades 120 do not face the problem of torsional loading experienced by the V-shaped blades TI 6.Accordingly, it may not be necessary for the blade supports 232 to have features that inhibit the blades 120 from rotating in the downstream direction 104. In the illustrated example, each blade 120 is detachably fixed at its first and second end portions 1S6, 160 to the blade supports 232 by means of two removable fasteners 210, which may be the same as or different from the fasteners 210 that secure V-shaped blades 116 to the blade support frame 110. In some embodiments, the blades 120 can be offset from each other 5 in the downstream direction 104, for the same reasons described above with respect to the V-shaped blades 11 δ. For example, the illustrated embodiment shows blade 1201 located upstream of V-shaped blade 1202, which is upstream of the V-shaped blade 1203. Reference is now made to Figs. 9-11, which show another embodiment of the blade assembly 100. As an alternative to (or in addition to) a blade mounting recess 184 (FIG. 7), each V-shaped blade end portion 156, 160 can be detachably fastened to a blade assembly 180 by two or more removable fasteners 210. For example, a V-shaped blade 1163 is shown having end portions 156, 180, each of which is fastened to a respective blade holder 1803 by two removable fasteners 210. Together, the two removable fasteners 210 can provide superior torsional stability compared with a single removable fastener 210, all else being equal. This design can have a lower manufacturing cost and complexity compared to a design that relies on blade mounting holes for torsional stability.However, this design also requires additional fasteners 210, which can increase assembly costs. In some embodiments, the blade assembly 100 may include blade assemblies 180 with both blade mounting recesses 184 (Figure 7) and supporting double fasteners 210. This design can provide even greater torsional stability, all else being equal, although it results in higher manufacturing and assembly costs. Each blade end portion 156,180 may have two clamping openings 212 that align with two corresponding clamping openings 216 of a blade holder 180, and two removable fasteners 210 may extend through the openings 212, 216 to removably clamp the blade end portion 156,160 to the blade holder 180. As shown, the clamping openings 216 may be separated. In the illustrated example, the clamping openings 212 and 216 are radially separated (i.e., they are positioned at different radial distances from the centerline 136 of the flow path). Alternatively or in addition, the clamping openings 216 may be axially separated. Reference is now made to Figs. 12-14, which show another embodiment of the blade assembly 100. As an alternative to (or in addition to) a blade mounting recess 184 (FIG. 7) and multiple fasteners 210 (FIG. 10), each blade assembly 180 may include at least one mounting pin 234 and supports a removable fastener 210. Together, the removable fastener 210 and one or more mounting pins 234 can provide superior torsional stability compared to a removable fastener 210 alone, all else being equal. In addition, the mounting pins 234 can conveniently hold a V-shaped blade 116 in position in a blade support frame 110 while a removable fastener 210 (e.g., screw or bolt) is inserted. This design may have a lower cost and assembly time compared to using multiple fasteners for 180 blade mounting, and may have a cost and complexity of 1.5 of similar or smaller manufacture compared to ISO blade holders, including blade mounting recesses 184 (FIG. 7). Each blade assembly 180 may include one or more protruding mounting pins 234. This is in addition to supporting a removable fastener 210, such as including a fastener opening 216. The mounting pins 234 may be positioned separately and may align with corresponding pin openings 236 in a blade end portion 156, T60. The mounting pins 234 may have any shape suitable to extend through the blade pin openings 236. For example, the mounting pins 234 may be cylindrical as shown, an extracted polygon, or have another regular polygon or irregular shape. The mounting pins 234 are preferably shaped and dimensioned to pass freely through the blade pin openings 236. As shown, each mounting pin 234 can be separated from the removable fastener 210 when a V-shaped blade 116 is attached to the blade holder 180. For example, a mounting pin 234 can be separated radially from the fastener opening 216 as shown. Alternatively or in addition, the mounting pin 234 can be separated in the downstream direction 104 (i.e., toward the upstream blade or downstream rim 16 & 172). In the illustrated embodiment, each blade assembly 180 includes two mounting pins 234, flanking the clamping opening 216. In alternative embodiments, the mounting pins 234 may be located to one side of the clamping opening 216. Alternatively, in addition to an ISO blade holder that includes a mounting pin 234, a blade end portion 156, 160 may include a mounting pin that is sized and positioned to extend within a blade pin opening of the respective ISO blade holder. Reference is now made to Figs. 2, 8 and 7. In use, a potato 14 can be driven in the downstream direction 104 towards a blade assembly 100 according to any modality. The blade assembly 100 may include V-shaped blades 116 having intermediate portions 164 that are not supported in a food flow path IOS of the blade assembly 100. The potato 14 may impact the intermediate portions 15 164 of the V-shaped blades 116, which may exert a torque on the V-shaped blades 116 to rotate in the downstream direction 104. However, the first and second end portions 156,160 of each V-shaped blade 116 may be detachably attached to a respective blade holder 180 in a manner that inhibits the rotation of the V-shaped blade 116 when impacted by the potato 14.The potato 14 can then continue moving downstream past the downstream end of the food flow path 108, so the intermediate portions 164 of the V-shaped blades 116 can cut the potato 14 into V-shaped pieces 38. Although the foregoing description provides examples of the embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit and operating principles of the described embodiments. Consequently, what has been described above is intended to be illustrative of the invention and not limiting, and those skilled in the art will understand that other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The scope of the claims shall not be limited by the preferred embodiments and examples, but shall have the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. The broadest interpretation should be given: with the description as a whole. PARTS Part 1: A food-cutting blade assembly, the blade assembly comprising: a blade support frame having an upstream end, a downstream end, a food flow path extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and a plurality of blade assemblies distributed around the food flow path; a plurality of V-shaped blades detachably attached to the blade support frame, each V-shaped blade having a first end portion connected to one of the blade supports, a second end portion connected to another of the blade supports, and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the intermediate portion extending into the food flow path; Wherein each V-shaped blade includes an upstream edge and a downstream edge, the upstream and downstream edges each extend from the first portion of the end to the second portion of the end, and on the first and second portions of the end of each V-shaped blade, a respective blade support overlaps both the upstream and downstream edge of the V-shaped blade to prevent the V-shaped blade from rotating when impacted by food. Part 2: The blade assembly of: any previous Part, in which the intermediate portion of each blade is not compatible. Part 3: The blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein: The middle portion of each V-shaped blade is bent at an internal angle of 30 degrees between 1 δ and 85 degrees, Part 4: The blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein: The plurality of V-shaped blades includes a first plurality of spaced V-shaped blades, and a second plurality of spaced V-shaped blades located downstream of the first plurality of V-shaped blades, Part 5: The blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein: Each of the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade is received into a recess of a respective blade assembly. Part 6: The CiMiquiér Blade Set Previous Part, in which: Each of the blade mounts includes an upstream portion, a downstream portion, and an intermediate portion extending from the upstream portion to the downstream portion; the upstream and downstream portions project from the intermediate portion to define the recess. Part 7: The blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein; Each of the first and second extreme portions of each V-shaped blade is detachably attached to a respective blade holder by means of a detachable fastener. Part 8; The blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein: The blade support frame comprises a plurality of blade support lifts spaced circumferentially around the food flow path, each of the blade support lifts includes a plurality of blade supports, and for each of the V-shaped blades, the first end portion is removably attached to one of the blade supports on one of the blade support lifts, and the second end portion is removably attached to another of the blade mounts on the circumferentially adjacent blade support riser tube. Porte 9: The blade assembly of any previous Part, in which: The plurality of V-shaped blades comprises a plurality of blade groups, each blade group includes at least two V-shaped blades that together define a V-shaped profile space when viewed parallel to a downstream direction. Part 10: B blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein: Each of the two V-shaped blades in each blade group has different axial positions. Part 11: The blade assembly of any preceding Part, in which: a portion of the upstream edge of each V-shaped blade is rsoibe eh a 10 depression of the respective blade assembly. Part 12: A food cutting blade assembly, the blade assembly comprising: a blade support frame having an upstream end, a downstream end, a food flow path extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and a plurality of blade assemblies distributed around the food flow path: a plurality of V-shaped blades detachably fixed to the blade support frame, each V-shaped blade having a first exuemo portion 20 connected to one of the blade supports, a second end portion connected to another of the blade supports, and an Intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the intermediate portion extending into the food flow path: wherein each of the first and second extreme portions of each 25 V-shaped blade is detachably attached to one of the respective blade holders by means of at least two separate removable fasteners to prevent the V-shaped blade from rotating when impacted by food. Part 13: The blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein: Removable bras are sprayed bras. Part 14: The blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein: the middle portion of each blade is not compatible. Part 15* The blade assembly d® any of the preceding Part, wherein: The blade support frame comprises a plurality of blade support risers spaced circumferentially around the food flow path, each of the blade support risers including a plurality of 5 blade supports, and for each of the V-shaped blades, the first end portion is removably attached to one of the blade supports on one of the blade support risers, and the second end portion is removably attached to another of the blade mounts on the circumferentially adjacent blade support 10 riser tube, Parts 16: The set of blades of any of the above Parts, wherein: The plurality of V-shaped blades comprises a plurality of blade groups, each group of blades includes a^ V-shaped blades that together define a V-shaped profile space when viewed parallel to a downstream direction. Part 17: A set of food-cutting blades, the set comprising: a blade support frame having an upstream end, a downstream end, a food flow path extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and a plurality of blade assemblies distributed around the food flow path: a plurality of V-shaped blades detachably fixed to the 25 blade support frame, each V-shaped blade having a first end portion connected to one of the blade supports, a second end portion connected to another of the blade supports, and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the intermediate portion extending into the feed flow path; wherein each of the first and second extreme portions of each V-shaped blade is detachably attached to one of the respective blade holders by means of at least one mounting pin and at least one removable fastener to prevent the V-shaped blade from rotating when food is affected. Part 18: The set of blades Part.antenor, in which: Each blade assembly comprises at least one mounting pin. Part 19: The blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein: Each of the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade includes a pin opening which receives a respective mounting pin from a respective blade assembly. Part 20: The blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein: Each of the first and second extreme portions of each V-shaped blade includes a locking opening separate from the pin opening. Part 21: The set of blades of any preceding Part, wherein: the middle portion of each blade is not compatible. Part 22: The blade assembly of any preceding Part, wherein: The blade support frame comprises a plurality of blade support lifts spaced circumferentially around the food flow path, each of the blade support lifts including a plurality of 20 supports, of the: blade, and for each of the V-shaped blades. The first end portion is removably attached to one of the blade supports on one of the blade support lifts, and the second end portion is removably attached to another of the blade supports on the circumferentially adjacent 25 rise tube blade support. Part 23; A method for cutting a food product into V-shaped pieces, the method comprising: to propel a food product downstream towards a blade assembly, the 30 blade assembly comprises a plurality of V-shaped blades, each of the plurality of V-shaped blades having a first end portion, a second end portion and an unsupported intermediate portion, wherein the unsupported intermediate portion is located in a food flow path of the blade assembly: impacting the intermediate portions of the V-shaped blades with the food product, wherein each first end portion and each second end portion is removably attached to a respective blade holder adapted to inhibit the V-shaped blade from rotating when impaled by the food product; and moving the food product to a downstream end of the food flow path, whereby the intermediate portion of the plurality of V-shaped blades cuts the food product into V-shaped pieces.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A food-cutting blade assembly, the blade assembly comprising: 5 a blade support frame having an upstream end, a downstream end, a food flow path extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and a plurality of blade assemblies distributed around the food flow path; a plurality of V-shaped blades detachably fixed to the blade support frame, each V-shaped blade having a first end portion connected to one of the blade supports, a second end portion connected to another of the blade supports, and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the intermediate portion extending into the food flow path;15 wherein each V-shaped blade includes an upstream edge and a downstream edge, the upstream and downstream edges each extend from the first end portion to the second end portion, and on the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade, a respective blade support overlaps both the upstream and downstream edge of the V-shaped blade to prevent the V-shaped blade from rotating when impacted by food.

2. The blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the intermediate portion of each blade is not compatible, 25 3. The blade assembly according to claim I, wherein: the intermediate portion of each V-shaped blade is bent at an internal angle of between 10 degrees and 85 degrees. 30 4. The blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of V-shaped blades includes a first plurality of spaced V-shaped blades, and a second plurality of spaced V-shaped blades located downstream of the first plurality of V-shaped blades, 5. The blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein: each of the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade is received in a recess of a respective blade assembly.

6. The blade assembly conforms to claim 5, wherein: each of the blade mounts includes an upstream portion, a downstream portion and an intermediate portion extending from the upstream portion to the downstream portion, the upstream and downstream portions projecting circumferentially from the intermediate portion to define the recess.

7. The blade assembly according to claim i, wherein: each of the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade is detachably attached to a respective blade holder by means of a removable fastener.

8. The blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the blade support frame comprises a plurality of blade support risers spaced circumferentially around the food flow path, each of the blade support risers includes a plurality of 20 blade supports, and for each of the V-shaped blades, the first end portion is removably attached to one of the blade supports on one of the blade support risers, and the second end portion is removably attached to another of the blade mounts on the circumferentially adjacent 25 rise tube blade support.

9. The blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of V-shaped blades comprises a plurality of blade groups, each blade group includes at least two V-shaped blades that together define a V-shaped profile space when viewed parallel to a downstream direction.

10. The knife assembly conforming to claim 9, wherein; each of the two V-shaped blades of each blade group has different axial positions.

11. The blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein: 5 a portion of the upstream edge of each V-shaped blade is received in a depression of a respective blade assembly.

12. A food-cutting blade assembly, the blade assembly comprising:

10. a blade support frame having an upstream end, a downstream end, a food flow path extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and a plurality of blade assemblies distributed around the food flow path; 15. a plurality of V-shaped blades detachably fixed to the blade support frame, each V-shaped blade having a first end portion connected to one of the blade supports, a second end portion connected to another of the blade supports, and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the intermediate portion extending into the food flow path;20 wherein each of the first and second extreme portions of each V-shaped blade is detachably attached to one of the respective blade supports by means of at least two separate removable fasteners to prevent the V-shaped blade from rotating when affected by food.

13. The blade assembly according to claim 12, wherein: The removable fasteners are threaded fasteners.

14. The blade assembly according to claim 12, wherein: the intermediate portion of each blade is not compatible.

15. The blade assembly according to claim 12, wherein: the blade support frame comprises a plurality of blade support risers spaced circumferentially around the food flow path, each of the blade support risers includes a plurality of blade supports, and for each of the V-shaped blades, the first end portion is removably attached to one of the blade supports on one of the blade support risers, and the second end portion is removably attached to another of the blade mounts on the circumferentially adjacent blade support riser tube.

16. The blade assembly according to claim 12, wherein: 10 the plurality of V-shaped blades comprises a plurality of blade groups, each blade group includes at least two V-shaped blades that together define a V-shaped profile space when viewed parallel to a downstream direction. 15 17. A blade assembly for cutting food, the blade assembly comprises: a blade support frame having an upstream end, a downstream end, a food flow path extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and a plurality of blade assemblies distributed around the food flow path.; a plurality of V-shaped blades detachably fixed to the blade support frame, each V-shaped blade having a first end portion connected to one of the blade supports, a second end portion connected to another of the blade supports, and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the intermediate portion extending into the food flow path; wherein each of the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade is detachably attached to one of the respective blade supports by at least one mounting pin and at least one removable retainer to prevent the V-shaped blade from rotating when food is involved.

16. The blade assembly according to claim 17, wherein: each blade assembly comprises at least one mounting pin.

19. The blade assembly according to claim 18, wherein: each of the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade includes a pin opening receiving a respective mounting pin of a respective blade assembly.

20. The blade assembly of claim 19, wherein: each of the first and second end portions of each V-shaped blade includes a locking opening separate from the pin opening. 10 21. The blade assembly according to claim 17, wherein: the intermediate portion of each blade is not compatible.

22. The blade assembly, according to claim 17, wherein: the blade support frame comprises a plurality of blade support lifts spaced circumferentially around the food flow path, each of the blade support lifts includes a plurality of blade supports, and for each of the V-shaped blades, the first end portion is removably attached to one of the blade supports on one of the blade support lifts, and the second end portion is removably attached to another of the blade mounts on the circumferentially adjacent blade support riser tube.

23. A method for cutting a food product into V-shaped pieces, the method comprising: propelling a food product downstream towards a blade assembly, the blade assembly comprising a plurality of V-shaped blades, each of the plurality of V-shaped blades having a first end portion, a second end portion and an unsupported intermediate portion, wherein the unsupported intermediate portion is located in a food flow path of the blade assembly; impacting the intermediate portions of the V-shaped blades with the food product, wherein each first end portion and each second end portion is removably attached to a respective blade holder adapted to inhibit the V-shaped blade from rotating when impaled by the food product;and move the food product to a downstream end of the food flow path, so that the intermediate portion of the plurality of V-shaped blades cuts the food product into V-shaped pieces.

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