FOOD GRINDER AND METHOD FOR CUTTING FOOD PRODUCTS

Claims

1. A food grinder having an axis for moving the food product and comprising: knife holder and a plurality of circular knives attached to a knife holder, wherein each of the plurality of disk knives forms a corresponding axis of rotation of the knife, and each disk knife is configured to rotate relative to the knife holder around the corresponding axis of rotation of the knife, and the corresponding axis of rotation of the disk knife is perpendicular to the axis of movement of the food product and is offset from it, wherein each disk knife has a peripheral edge with the same radius from the corresponding axis of rotation of the knife, wherein the peripheral edge of each disk knife has a series of alternating protrusions and depressions, and each protrusion and depression has an amplitude in a direction parallel to the corresponding axis of rotation of the knife.

2. A food chopper according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge of each disc knife is adjacent to the peripheral edge of at least one other disc knife.

3. A food grinder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the peripheral edge of each disc knife is adjacent to the axis of movement of the food product.

4. A food grinder according to any one of paragraphs 1-3, in which: the plurality of disc knives includes a first disc knife and a second disc knife, and The second disc knife is located downstream from the first disc knife.

5. A food chopper according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein each disc knife is designed to rotate freely relative to the knife holder around the corresponding axis of rotation of the knife.

6. A food grinder according to any one of paragraphs 1-3, in which: the plurality of circular knives includes a first circular knife, and the first disc knife is responsively connected to the rotating drive element.

7. A food grinder according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plurality of disc knives are arranged in a circular arrangement of disc knives surrounding the axis of movement of the food product.

8. A food disposer according to claim 7, wherein the circular arrangement of the disc knives comprises at least three disc knives.

9. A food grinder according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the circular arrangement of the disc knives is uniformly distributed along an imaginary circle surrounding the axis of movement of the food product.

10. A food chopper according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein a peripheral edge of each disc knife in the circular arrangement of disc knives is adjacent to a peripheral edge of each other disc knife in the circular arrangement of disc knives.

11. A food chopper according to any one of paragraphs 7-10, in which the peripheral edge of each disc knife in the circular arrangement of disc knives is adjacent to the axis of movement of the food product.

12. A food chopper according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the peripheral edge of each disc knife has an equal number of protrusions and recesses.

13. The food chopper of claim 1, wherein the plurality of disc knives includes at least a first row of disc knives and a second row of disc knives.

14. A food grinder according to claim 13, wherein: the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the first row of circular knives is collinear with the axis of rotation of each other circular knife in the first row of circular knives, and the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the second row of circular knives is collinear with the axis of rotation of each other circular knife in the second row of circular knives.

15. A food grinder according to claim 13 or 14, wherein: the peripheral edge of each circular knife in the first row of circular knives is adjacent to the peripheral edge of the corresponding circular knife in the second row of circular knives.

16. A food grinder according to any one of paragraphs 13-15, in which: the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the first row of circular knives is parallel to the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the second row of circular knives.

17. A food grinder according to any one of paragraphs 13-16, in which: the plurality of circular knives includes at least a third row of circular knives and a fourth row of circular knives, the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the third row of circular knives is collinear with the axis of rotation of each other circular knife in the third row of circular knives, the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the fourth row of circular knives is collinear with the axis of rotation of each other circular knife in the fourth row of circular knives, the peripheral edge of each circular knife in the third row of circular knives is adjacent to the peripheral edge of the corresponding circular knife in the fourth row of circular knives, and the axis of rotation of each disc knife in the third and fourth rows of disc knives is not parallel to the axis of rotation of each disc knife in the first and second rows of disc knives.

18. A food grinder according to claim 17, wherein: the axis of rotation of each disc knife in the third and fourth rows of disc knives is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of each disc knife in the first and second rows of disc knives.

19. A food disposer according to claim 17 or 18, wherein: The third and fourth rows of disc knives are located after the first and second rows of disc knives.

20. A food grinder having an axis for moving the food product and comprising: knife holder and a plurality of circular knives attached to a knife holder, wherein each of the plurality of disk knives forms a corresponding axis of rotation of the knife, and each disk knife is configured to rotate relative to the knife holder around the corresponding axis of rotation of the knife, and the corresponding axis of rotation of the disk knife is perpendicular to the axis of movement of the food product and is offset from it, wherein each disk knife has a peripheral edge with the same radius from the corresponding axis of rotation of the knife, wherein each of the plurality of circular knives has a corresponding cutting axis parallel to the axis of movement of the food product and tangent to the peripheral edge of the circular knife, wherein the cutting axis of each of the plurality of circular knives is substantially collinear with the cutting axis of at least one other of the plurality of circular knives.

21. A food chopper according to claim 20, wherein each disc knife is designed to rotate freely relative to the knife holder around the corresponding axis of rotation of the knife.

22. A food chopper according to claim 20 or 21, wherein: the plurality of disc blades includes a first disc blade, and the first disc blade is operably connected to a rotating drive member.

23. A food chopper according to claim 20 or 21, wherein: the plurality of disc knives includes a first disc knife and a second disc knife, and a peripheral edge of the first disc knife is adjacent to a peripheral edge of the second disc knife.

24. A food chopper according to claim 20 or 21, wherein: the plurality of disc knives includes a first disc knife and a second disc knife, and the second disc knife is located further than the first disc knife.

25. A food grinder according to any one of claims 20-24, wherein the plurality of disc knives are arranged in a circular arrangement of disc knives surrounding the axis of movement of the food product.

26. A food chopper according to claim 25, wherein the circular arrangement of the disc knives comprises at least 3 disc knives.

27. A food grinder according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the circular arrangement of the disc knives is uniformly distributed along an imaginary circle surrounding the axis of movement of the food product.

28. A food chopper according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein a peripheral edge of each disc knife in the circular arrangement of disc knives is adjacent to a peripheral edge of each other disc knife in the circular arrangement of disc knives.

29. A food chopper according to any one of paragraphs 25-28, in which the peripheral edge of each disc knife in the circular arrangement of disc knives is adjacent to the axis of movement of the food product.

30. A food chopper according to any one of paragraphs 20-29, in which the peripheral edge of each disc knife has the same number of protrusions and recesses.

31. The food chopper of claim 20, wherein the plurality of disc knives includes at least a first row of disc knives and a second row of disc knives.

32. A food grinder according to claim 31, wherein: the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the first row of circular knives is collinear with the axis of rotation of each other circular knife in the first row of circular knives, and the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the second row of circular knives is collinear with the axis of rotation of each other circular knife in the second row of circular knives.

33. A food grinder according to claim 31 or 32, wherein: the cutting axis of each circular knife in the first row of circular knives is essentially collinear with the cutting axis of the corresponding circular knife in the second row of circular knives.

34. A food grinder according to any one of paragraphs 31-33, in which: the peripheral edge of each circular knife in the first row of circular knives is adjacent to the peripheral edge of the corresponding circular knife in the second row of circular knives.

35. A food grinder according to any one of paragraphs 31-34, in which: the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the first row of circular knives is parallel to the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the second row of circular knives.

36. A food grinder according to any one of paragraphs 31-35, in which: the plurality of circular knives includes at least a third row of circular knives and a fourth row of circular knives, the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the third row of circular knives is collinear with the axis of rotation of each other circular knife in the third row of circular knives, the axis of rotation of each circular knife in the fourth row of circular knives is collinear with the axis of rotation of each other circular knife in the fourth row of circular knives, the peripheral edge of each circular knife in the third row of circular knives is adjacent to the peripheral edge of the corresponding circular knife in the fourth row of circular knives, and the axis of rotation of each disc knife in the third and fourth rows of disc knives is not parallel to the axis of rotation of each disc knife in the first and second rows of disc knives.

37. A food grinder according to claim 36, wherein: the axis of rotation of each disc knife in the third and fourth rows of disc knives is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of each disc knife in the first and second rows of disc knives.

38. A food grinder according to claim 36 or 37, wherein: The third and fourth rows of disc knives are located after the first and second rows of disc knives.

39. A method of cutting a food product into pieces, comprising: moving the food product in a downstream direction along the axis of movement of the food product towards a plurality of rotating disc knives, In this case, the food product hits a plurality of disc knives, with each disc knife forming a corresponding axis of knife rotation; wherein each disc knife penetrates the food product, and each disc knife has a peripheral edge with a series of alternating peaks and valleys, and each peak and valley has an amplitude in a direction parallel to the corresponding axis of rotation of the knife, - moving the food product further downstream through a number of disc knives, wherein each rotary knife of the plurality of rotary knives rotates as the food product passes through the plurality of rotary knives; and - cutting a food product into pieces by means of cuts made by a plurality of disc knives, by moving the food product through a plurality of disc knives.

40. The method according to paragraph 39, wherein: each disk knife is designed to rotate freely around the corresponding axis of rotation of the knife, and Each rotary blade rotates at a blade speed determined by the interaction between: (i) the food product and (ii) the projections and depressions of each rotary blade that pierce the food product.

41. The method according to paragraph 39, wherein: Each disc knife is rotated around the corresponding knife rotation axis by means of a rotating drive element.

42. The method according to any of paragraphs 39-41, wherein: as the food product moves further through the plurality of disc knives, each disc knife forms a cut in the food product, the end of which is inside the food product, and the cut formed by each circular knife coincides with the cut formed by at least one other circular knife, thus dividing the food product into pieces.

43. The method according to paragraph 42, wherein: the end of the cut formed by each circular knife is adjacent to the end of the cut formed by at least one other circular knife.

44. The method according to any of paragraphs 39-41, wherein: as the food product moves further through the multiple disc knives, each disc knife creates a cut in the food product, and The cut formed by each circular knife has a wavy profile formed by the peaks and valleys of that circular knife.

45. The method according to paragraph 44, wherein: The wavy profile of each cut includes peaks and valleys alternating in the direction of product movement.

46. ​​The method according to any of paragraphs 39-41, wherein: as the food product moves downstream through a plurality of disc knives, each disc knife creates a cut in the food product, and said dividing the food product into pieces comprises dividing the food product into a plurality of slices, each slice having a first surface intersecting a second surface at the apex of the slice, each of the first and second surfaces being formed by a cut formed by one of a plurality of different disc knives.

47. The method according to paragraph 46, wherein: each of the first and second surfaces of each lobule has a wavy profile formed by the peaks and valleys of the disc knife that forms the cut that forms each surface.

48. The method according to paragraph 47, wherein: the wavy profile of each of the first and second surfaces includes protrusions and depressions alternating in the direction of product movement.

49. The method according to any of paragraphs 39-41, wherein: food pieces are slices of food, and the method additionally includes: impacts on the second set of disc knives of food product slices, moving the food slices further downstream through a second set of disc knives, wherein each rotary blade in the second plurality of rotary blades rotates as the food slices pass through the second plurality of rotary blades, wherein each rotary blade in the second plurality of rotary blades rotates at a blade rotation speed determined by the interaction between: (i) the food slices and (ii) the protrusions and recesses of each rotary blade piercing the food product; and cutting the food product slices into food product sticks by means of cuts made by the second plurality of rotary knives by moving the food product through the plurality of rotary knives.

50. The method according to paragraph 49, wherein: the plurality of circular knives represents the first plurality of circular knives, the cuts made by the first set of circular knives are substantially parallel, the cuts made by the second set of circular knives are substantially parallel, and the cuts made by the first plurality of circular knives are not parallel to the cuts made by the second plurality of circular knives.

51. The method of claim 49 or 50, wherein the cuts made by the first plurality of circular knives are substantially perpendicular to the cuts made by the second plurality of circular knives.

52. The method according to any of paragraphs 49-51, wherein: each stick of food product has an upstream end, a downstream end, and four sides, each side extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and The four sides of each food stick were made by cutting two different rotary knives of the first set of rotary knives and two different rotary knives of the second set of rotary knives.

53. The method according to any of paragraphs 49-51, wherein: each stick of food product has an upstream end, a downstream end, and four sides, each side extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, and Each of the four sides of each food stick has a wavy profile, including peaks and valleys that alternate in the direction of travel of the product.

54. The method according to paragraph 39, wherein: each disk knife is designed to rotate freely around the corresponding axis of rotation of the knife, and the axis of rotation of each disk knife is perpendicular to the axis of movement of the food product and offset from it.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein the peripheral edge of each disc knife is at a constant radius from the axis of rotation of that disc knife.

56. The method according to claim 54 or 55, wherein the peripheral edge of each circular knife is adjacent to the peripheral edge of at least one other circular knife.

57. A method for cutting a food product into pieces, comprising: moving the food product in a downstream direction along the axis of movement of the food product towards a plurality of rotating disc knives, wherein the food product hits a plurality of disc knives, with each disc knife forming a corresponding axis of rotation of the knife, each disc knife penetrates the food product, wherein each disk knife has a peripheral edge with a constant radius from the axis of rotation of the knife; - moving the food product further downstream through a plurality of disc knives; and - cutting a food product into pieces by means of cuts made by a plurality of disc knives, by moving the food product through a plurality of disc knives, wherein each disc knife forms a cut in the food product, the end of which is located inside the food product, and the end of each cut is adjacent to the end of a cut formed by at least one other of the plurality of disc knives.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the peripheral edge of each circular knife is adjacent to the peripheral edge of at least one other circular knife.

59. The method according to claim 57 or 58, wherein the cut formed by each disc knife coincides with the cut formed by at least one other disc knife, dividing the food product into pieces.

60. The method according to any one of paragraphs 57-59, wherein the cut formed by each disc knife has a wavy profile including projections and depressions alternating in the downstream direction.