Patent ID: 6973862
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: B26D,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for delivering food product to a means for cutting in a substantially horizontal plane through the product, the apparatus comprising: a passage extending downwardly toward the cutting means and defining an opening in proximity to the cutting means, the passage comprising oppositely-disposed first and second portions; means for delivering to the passage elongate food products having diameters smaller than a distance between the first and second portions of the passage, the delivering means being operable to longitudinally align the products with the passage so that the products enter and travel downwardly through the passage with a longitudinal axis of each product substantially parallel to the passage; guide means disposed along the first portion of the passage and oriented substantially parallel to the passage; and means for applying a force on each of the products as the product travels downward through the passage so that the product is forced away from the second portion of the passage, toward the first portion of the passage, and into contact with the guide means during engagement with the cutting means, wherein the applying means comprises at least two fluid jets flowing across the passage from the second portion thereof toward the first portion thereof so as to impact the product as the product travels downward through the passage, forcing the product away from the second portion of the passage and into contact with the guide means, and the at least two fluid jets are disposed at an angle relative to each other of greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees.