Patent ID: 11858162
Assignee: FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Field: Machine tools (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 8:
9. A cutting machine comprising an annular-shaped cutting head and an impeller coaxially mounted within the cutting head for rotation about an axis of the cutting head in a rotational direction relative to the cutting head, the cutting head having multiple knives each extending radially inward toward the impeller in a direction opposite the rotational direction of the impeller, the impeller comprising:
a lower plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a perimeter;
at least a first exit slot located in the lower plate, intersecting the perimeter of the lower plate, and extending through the lower plate to define a passageway to enable foreign debris at the upper surface to pass through the passageway, wherein the at least first exit slot is defined by a protrusion that projects toward an opposing wall to define a neck that is open to the perimeter, an arcuate wall located radially inward from the perimeter of the lower plate and joining the protrusion to the opposing wall, and wherein a portion of the wall tapers outwardly from the upper surface to the lower surface of the lower plate; and
at least one paddle located adjacent the wall, opposed to the protrusion, and configured with the lower plate to direct material on the lower plate in a radially outward direction of the impeller when the impeller is rotated, at least one of the paddles having an outer radial extent that is adjacent the perimeter of the lower plate.