Patent Publication Number: US-11027450-B2

Title: Cutting heads, cutting machines equipped therewith, and methods of operation

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/787,568 filed Jan. 2, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to machines for cutting products, including but not limited to slicing, strip cutting, shredding, and/or granulating food products. The invention particularly relates to clamping and adjustment units for assembling, securing, and adjusting various components of a cutting machine in a manner that promotes sanitary operation and maintenance of the machine, as a nonlimiting example, if the product being cut is a food product. 
     Various types of equipment are known for slicing, strip cutting, shredding, or granulating food products, as nonlimiting examples, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and meat products. Widely used machines for this purpose are commercially available from Urschel Laboratories, Inc., and include machines under the name Model CC®. Model CC® machines are centrifugal-type machines capable of cutting a wide variety of products at high production capacities. The Model CC® line of machines is particularly adapted to produce uniform slices, strip cuts, shreds, and granulations. Certain configurations and aspects of Model CC® machines are represented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,139,128, 3,139,129, 5,694,824, 6,968,765, 7,658,133, 8,161,856, 9,193,086, 9,469,041, and 10,456,943 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2016/0361831 and 2018/0126581. The entire contents of these prior patent documents are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIG. 1  schematically depicts a machine  10  representative of a Model CC® machine. The machine  10  includes a generally annular-shaped cutting head  12  equipped with cutting knives (not shown) mounted at its inner circumference. An impeller  14  is coaxially mounted within the cutting head  12  and has an axis  17  of rotation that coincides with an axis of the cutting head  12 . The impeller  14  is rotationally driven about its axis  17  through a shaft that is enclosed within a housing  18  and coupled to a gear box  16 . The cutting head  12  is mounted on a support ring  15  above the gear box  16  and remains stationary as the impeller  14  rotates. Products are delivered to the cutting head  12  and impeller  14  through a feed hopper  11  located above the impeller  14 . In operation, the hopper  11  delivers products to the impeller  14 , whose rotation generates centrifugal forces that cause the products to move outward into engagement with the knives of the cutting head  12 . The impeller  14  comprises generally radially-oriented paddles  13 , each having a face that engages and directs the products radially outward toward and against the knives of the cutting head  12  as the impeller  14  rotates. Other aspects pertaining to the construction and operation of Model CC® machines, including various embodiments thereof, can be appreciated from the aforementioned prior patent documents incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIG. 2  is an isolated view of a nonlimiting embodiment of the cutting head  12  of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a fragmentary bottom view of the cutting head  12  of  FIG. 2 . The cutting head  12  is generally annular-shaped with cutting knives  20  mounted at its perimeter. Each knife  20  projects radially inward in a direction generally opposite the direction of rotation of the impeller  14 , and defines a cutting edge at its radially innermost extremity. The cutting head  12  further comprises a lower support ring  22 , an upper support ring  24 , and circumferentially-spaced support segments, also referred to herein as shoes  26 , to which the knives  20  of the cutting head  12  are individually secured with clamping assemblies  28 . The shoes  26  are represented as secured with fasteners  30  to the support rings  22  and  24 , such that the rings  22  and  24  and shoes  26  define a rigid structural unit or frame of the cutting head  12  to which the clamping assemblies  28  and other components of the cutting head  12  are assembled and secured. Each clamping assembly  28  includes a knife holder  28 A mounted with fasteners  29  to the radially inward-facing side of a shoe  26 , and a clamp  28 B mounted on the radially outward-facing side of a shoe  26  to secure a knife  20  to the knife holder  28 A. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  further represent the trailing edge of each shoe  26  as defined by a removable component, referred to herein as a gate  34 , that defines a replaceable interior transition surface secured with fasteners  35  to the shoe  26 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , a food product crosses a gate  34  prior to encountering the trailing knife  20  mounted to the succeeding shoe  26 , and the trailing edge defined by each gate  34  cooperates with the cutting edge of the trailing knife  20  to define a cutting gap (or gate opening) therebetween. Each shoe  26  is equipped with coaxial pivot pins (not shown) that engage holes in the support rings  22  and  24 . By pivoting on its pins, the orientation of a shoe  26  can be adjusted to alter the radial location of the cutting edge of its knife  20  with respect to the axis of the cutting head  12  and with respect to the trailing edge defined by the gate  34  of the preceding shoe  26 , thereby controlling the gate opening between the cutting and trailing edges that determines the thickness of the cut food product. As an example, adjustment can be achieved with an adjusting screw and/or pin  32  located circumferentially behind the pivot pins. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show the knives  20  and clamps  28 B secured to their respective knife holders  28 A with fasteners  36 . Alignment of the knife  20  and clamp  28 B of each assembly  28  is achieved with pins  38  that protrude from the support surface of the knife holder  26 B. As better understood through the detail view of  FIG. 4 , the opposing surfaces of the knife holder  28 A and clamp  28 B result in the clamp  28 B applying a force to the knife  20  adjacent its cutting edge. 
     While Model CC® machines have performed extremely well for use in a wide variety of cutting applications, further improvements are continuously desired and sought for cutting machines. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides cutting heads and machines equipped therewith for cutting products, including but not limited to slicing, strip cutting, shredding, and/or granulating food products. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, an annular-shaped cutting head is provided that includes annular-shaped first and second structural members spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head, and circumferentially-spaced support segments between the first and second structural members. Each support segment has a leading edge and an oppositely-disposed trailing edge, an inner surface region facing in a radially inward direction of the cutting head, an outer surface region facing in a radially outward direction of the cutting head, a knife support surface defined on the inner surface region adjacent the leading edge of the support segment, and a gate located adjacent the trailing edge of the support segment. The cutting head further has knife assemblies located adjacent the leading edge of each support segment. Each knife assembly comprises a holder opposing one of the knife support surfaces of the support segments and adapted to clamp a knife between the holder and knife support surface. The cutting head further comprises at least one of the following: first camming units engaging the first and second structural members and adapted to draw the first and second structural members together to releasably secure the support segments therebetween; second camming units located at the outer surface regions of the support segments and adapted to draw the holders of the knife assemblies toward a corresponding one of the knife support surfaces to clamp a knife between the holder and knife support surface; and/or adjustment pins engaging the first and second structural members and having a camming portion adapted to cam against the outer surface regions of the support segments adjacent the trailing edges of the support segments to deflect the gates of the support segments in the radially inward direction of the cutting head. 
     According to another preferred aspect of the invention, a cutting machine is provided in which an annular-shaped cutting head as described above is installed. The cutting machine includes 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. 
     Other aspects of the invention include methods of assembling and disassembling a cutting head as described above by operating the first and/or second camming units, and methods of adjusting a cutting head as described above by rotating the adjustment pins to deflect the gates of the support segments. 
     Technical aspects of machines described above preferably include the ability to utilize clamping and/or adjustment units that can reduce the number of threaded fasteners, seals, etc., that might otherwise be used or required to assemble and secure components of a cutting machine. In so doing, the number of locations in which food particles and residues might accumulate is reduced, resulting in a design that is capable of promoting sanitary operation and maintenance of the machine by making components of the machine more readily accessible for cleaning. 
     Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be appreciated from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically represents a side view in partial cross-section of a centrifugal-type cutting machine known in the art. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view representing a cutting head of a type suitable for use with the cutting machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view showing a fragment of the cutting head of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a detailed view of a portion of a clamping assembly of the cutting head. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a fragment of a cutting head suitable for use with the cutting machine of  FIG. 1  in accordance with a first nonlimiting embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are isolated perspective views of a support segment of the cutting head of  FIG. 5 , and show radially outer and inner surface regions, respectively, of the support segment. 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary perspective view of a lower end of a pin of a first camming unit adapted to releasably secure support segments of the cutting head of  FIG. 5  between first and second structural members of the cutting head, and shows the lower end of the pin protruding through and below one of the structural members. 
         FIGS. 9 through 14  contain various fragmentary perspective views showing components and the operation of a camming member of the first camming unit located opposite the lower end of the pin depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 15  is a fragmentary perspective view of an adjustment unit adapted to deflect a gate of a support segment of the cutting head of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 16  is a fragmentary perspective view of a camming portion and gage of the adjustment unit of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a fragmentary perspective view showing a second camming unit clamping a knife between a holder and knife support surface on a support segment. 
         FIG. 18  is a fragmentary perspective view of the second camming unit of  FIG. 17  with the knife removed from between the holder and knife support surface. 
         FIG. 19  is a fragmentary perspective view of the second camming unit of  FIG. 15  with a support segment removed to reveal the holder. 
         FIG. 20  is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative adjustment unit adapted to deflect a gate of a support segment of the cutting head of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIGS. 21 and 22  are fragmentary perspective views showing a lower support structure of the cutting head of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIGS. 23 through 40  are various views of components and portions of a cutting head in accordance with a second nonlimiting embodiment of the invention, wherein  FIGS. 23 through 40  show views of the second embodiment corresponding to  FIGS. 5 through 22 , respectively, of the first embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 5 and 23  represent fragmentary portions of, respectively, first and second embodiments of cutting heads  40  that are capable of use with a variety of cutting machines, including the centrifugal cutting machine  10  depicted in  FIG. 1 , and in some instances may be a modification or retrofit for such a machine.  FIGS. 6 through 22  and  FIGS. 24 through 40  contain various views of nonlimiting aspects of the cutting heads  40  of  FIGS. 5 and 23 , respectively, in which clamping and/or adjustment units are employed to reduce the number of threaded fasteners, seals, etc., often used or required to assemble and secure components of a cutting head, such as the cutting head  12  of  FIGS. 2 through 4 . The cutting heads  40  will be described hereinafter in reference to the cutting machine  10  of  FIG. 1  equipped with an impeller  14  as described in reference to  FIG. 1 , and as such the following discussion will focus primarily on certain aspects of the invention, whereas other aspects not discussed in any detail may be, in terms of structure, function, materials, etc., essentially as was described in reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 . However, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the invention are more generally applicable to various types of centrifugal cutting machines. 
     To facilitate the description provided below of the embodiments represented in the drawings, relative terms, including but not limited to, “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “forward,” “rearward,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “right,” “left,” etc., may be used in reference to the orientation of the cutting heads  40  as they would be mounted in the machine  10  of  FIG. 1 . On the basis of a coaxial arrangement of each cutting head  40  with the impeller  14  of the machine  10 , relative terms including but not limited to “axial,” “circumferential,” “radial,” etc., and related forms thereof may also be used below to describe the nonlimiting embodiments represented in the drawings. Furthermore, as used herein, “trailing” (and related forms thereof) refers to a position on a cutting head that follows or succeeds another in the direction of rotation of an impeller assembled with the cutting head, whereas “leading” (and related forms thereof) refers to a position on a cutting head that is ahead of or precedes another in the direction opposite the impeller&#39;s rotation. All such relative terms are intended to indicate the construction and relative orientations of components and features of the cutting heads  40 , and therefore are relative terms that are useful to describe the illustrated embodiments but should not be otherwise interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. 
     With reference to the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 through 22 , the cutting head  40  of  FIG. 5  has a generally annular-shape, similar to the cutting head  12  of  FIG. 2 . In the fragmentary view of  FIG. 5 , the cutting head  40  is depicted as having two cutting units  42 , though as evident from  FIG. 2  the cutting head  40  would typically have additional cutting units  42  circumferentially mounted along its entire perimeter. The cutting units  42  are mounted between first and second annular-shaped structural members, referred to herein as upper and lower support rings  44  and  46  based on their represented shapes and typical positions within the machine  10  of  FIG. 1 . The rings  44  and  46  are axially spaced apart from each other in an axial direction of the cutting head  40 . Each cutting unit  42  comprises a support segment, referred to herein as a shoe  48 , mounted to and between the rings  44  and  46 , and a knife assembly  50  mounted at a leading edge of the shoe  48  and securing an individual knife  52  to the cutting unit  42 . Each knife  52  is mounted to and supported by a radially inner surface of the shoe  48 , referred to herein as a knife support surface  54  that is visible in  FIG. 7 . The knives  52  are mounted to project in a radially inward direction of the cutting head  40  and in a direction that is generally opposite the direction of rotation of an impeller within the cutting head  40 . 
     Each knife  52  defines a cutting edge at its radially innermost extremity that engages products propelled within the cutting head  52  by an impeller rotating within the cutting head  40 . Depending on the configuration of the knives  52 , slices, strip cuts, shreds and granulations may be produced with the cutting head  40  as a result of products engaging the knives  52 . In the particular but nonlimiting embodiment represented in  FIG. 5 , the knives  52  are represented as corrugated and adjacent knives  52  are offset 180 degrees from each other in the axial direction of the cutting head  40 , so that peaks of a knife  52  are aligned with valleys of a knife  52  of an adjacent cutting unit  42 , such that the resulting products produced by the cutting head  40  are shreds. Further details relating to the manner in which the knives  52  are secured within their respective knife assemblies  50  will be discussed below in reference to  FIGS. 15 and 17 through 19 . 
       FIG. 5  represents the shoes  48  as mounted to and secured between the rings  44  and  46  with camming units  56 . Each camming unit  56  comprises a pin  58  that spans the axial distance between the rings  44  and  46 . As depicted in  FIG. 8 , a lower end of each pin  58  protrudes through a hole  98  in the lower ring  44 , and has an enlarged head  60  that prevents the pin  58  from being withdrawn upward through the hole  98 .  FIG. 9  depicts an oppositely-disposed upper end of the pin  58  as protruding through a hole  104  in the upper ring  44 . The upper end of the pin  58  has an enlarged feature  62  (represented as a fragment of a sphere) adjacent the upper end of the pin  58  and an enlarged feature  64  (represented as roughly one-half of a disk) disposed at the upper end of the pin  58 . The feature  62  is configured to pivotally engage a slot  68  in a camming member  66 , depicted in  FIGS. 10 through 14  as assembled with the upper end of the pin  58 . The camming member  66  is located at the upper ring  44 , and utilizes an over-center or toggle operation in which a camming surface  67  of the camming member  66  bears against a surface of the upper ring  44  to achieve a bistable pivoting action for the member  66 , which displaces the upper end of the pin  58  away from the upper ring  44  to draw the rings  44  and  46  toward each other and thereby releasably secure the shoes  48  therebetween. More particularly,  FIG. 10  represents the position of the camming member  66  in a locking position in which the feature  62  of the pin  58  is captured within the slot  68  of the camming member  66  and the pin  58  is tensioned through the action of the camming surface  67  of the camming member  66 , such that the rings  44  and  46  and the shoe  48  associated with the camming member  66  are drawn together by its pin  58  to define a rigid structural unit or frame of the cutting head  40  to which the knife assemblies  50  and other components of the cutting head  40  are assembled and secured. In this manner, the camming unit  56  serves as a replacement for the fasteners  30  shown in  FIG. 2  as securing the shoes  26  of the cutting head  12  to the support rings  22  and  24 .  FIGS. 11 and 12  represent the position of the camming member  66  in an unlocking position in which the pin  58  releases the rings  44  and  46  and shoes  48 , enabling these components of the cutting head  40  to be disassembled. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  represent the position of the camming member  66  in an unlocking position in which a narrower slot  70  of the camming member  66  has captured the feature  64  of the pin  58 . As seen in  FIG. 14 , the feature  64  and slot  70  are complementary in shape, such that the camming member  66  is not only operable to draw the pin  58  upward to lock the rings  44  and  46  and shoe  48  together, but is also operable to rotate the pin  58  about its axis of rotation. This aspect can be utilized to enable the pins  58  to not only serve as locking pins for the rings  44  and  46  and shoes  48  as part of the camming units  56 , but also as adjustment pins for the knife assemblies  50  of the shoes  48  as part of an adjustment unit associated with each shoe  48 . 
     For this purpose,  FIGS. 15 and 16  depict one of the pins  58  as having a wedge-shaped camming portion  72  axially disposed between the rings  44  and  46  and adapted to cam against an inclined surface  74  ( FIGS. 6 and 16 ) formed on an outer surface region of the shoe  48  adjacent its trailing edge, such that the camming portion  72  is operable to deflect a gate  76  of the shoe  48  ( FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 16 ) in a radially inward direction of the cutting head  40 . By deflecting the gate  76  in this manner, the pin  58  and its camming portion  72  in cooperation with the surface  74  (together constituting an adjustment unit  77 ) move the radial location of the trailing edge of the gate  76  relative to the cutting edge of the knife  52  (not shown) that trails the gate  76  on the cutting head  40 , thereby controlling a gate opening  75  ( FIG. 15 ) between the cutting and trailing edges that determines the thickness of a product cut with the knife  52 . In this manner, the adjustment unit  77  serves as a replacement for the adjusting screw/pin  32  shown in  FIG. 2 . However, it is also foreseeable that the cutting head  40  could lack the adjustment unit  77  or any other adjustment feature adapted to alter the gate opening  75 , and instead operate with a fixed gate opening  75 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 15  represent the shoe  48  as having a relief  82  in its outer surface region, extending in the axial direction of the cutting head  40  between the gate  76  and the leading edge of the shoe  48 . The relief  82  creates a reduced-thickness section of the shoe  48  that promotes the ability of the gate  76  and its trailing edge to pivot or flex relative to the remainder of the shoe  48 , including the knife  52  at its leading edge, so that the gate opening  75  defined by and between the trailing edge of the gate  76  and the cutting edge of a knife  52  immediately trailing the gate  76  can be selectively varied with the adjustment unit  77 . 
     In the particular embodiment represented in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the camming portion  72  is threadably engaged with threads  78  on the pin  58 , so that rotation of the pin  58  about its axis of rotation causes the camming portion  72  to move in the axial direction of the cutting head  40  between the rings  44  and  46 . The camming portion  72  and the surface  74  against which it cams are further depicted as comprising complementary features that in combination define a gage  80  with gage markings to indicate how far the gate  76  has been deflected by the camming portion  72 . The graduation marks and accuracy of the gage  80  can be sufficient for producing shredded products. 
       FIG. 20  represents an alternative embodiment in which the camming portion  72  is an eccentric camming surface formed directly on the surface of the pin  58 , so that rotation of the pin  58  about its axis of rotation causes the camming portion  72  to cam against surfaces  74  on an outer surface region of the shoe  48  adjacent the trailing edge of the shoe  48 . As such, the camming portion  72  is operable to deflect the gate  76  in a radially inward direction of the cutting head  40  to alter the gate opening (not shown) defined by and between the trailing edge of the gate  76  and the cutting edge of the knife  52  (not shown) immediately trailing the gate  76 . 
       FIG. 5  represents the cutting head  40  as further comprising an additional set of camming units  84  adapted to secure the knives  52  of the cutting units  42  within their respective knife assemblies  50 . As shown in more detail in  FIGS. 15 and 17-19 , each camming unit  84  comprises camming members  86  located at the outer surface region of each shoe  48  and adapted to draw a knife holder  88 A of the knife assembly  50  toward the knife support surface  54  of the shoe  48  to clamp the knife  52  between the knife holder  88 A and a clamp  88 B ( FIG. 18 ) positioned between the knife  52  and knife support surface  54 . Each camming unit  84  further comprises at least two clamping pins  90  ( FIGS. 17 and 18 ) that each extend through the corresponding shoe  48 , clamp  88 B, and knife holder  88 A, with one end of each clamping pin  90  engaging the knife holder  88 A and an opposite second end  92  ( FIG. 19 ) of each pin  90  protruding from the shoe  48  and engaging one of the camming members  86 . Each camming member  86  pivotally engages the second end  92  of its respective clamping pin  90  and is adapted to displace the second end  92  away from the shoe  48  when pivoted relative to the clamping pin  90  so as to draw the knife holder  88 A toward the shoe  48  and thereby releasably secure the knife  52  and clamp  88 B between the knife holder  88 A and the knife support surface  54  on the inner surface region of the shoe  48 , as represented in  FIGS. 15 and 17 .  FIG. 18  depicts the camming members  86  as having been pivoted in the opposite direction to an unlocking position, thereby releasing the knife holder  88 A from the knife support surface  54  to allow removal of the knife  52  (not shown). The camming members  86  are located adjacent outer surface regions of the shoe  48  and, similar to the camming members  66  of the camming units  56 , the locking and unlocking actions of the members  86  are derived from an over-center or toggle action in which a camming surface  87  of each camming member  86  bears against an outer surface region of the shoe  48  to achieve a bistable pivoting action for the member  86 . To simplify the operation of the camming members  86  and promote a more uniform application of the clamping load, the camming unit  84  shown in  FIGS. 15, 17 and 18  further includes a connecting bar  89  that rigidly interconnects the camming members  86  to each other. The camming units  84  of the cutting head  40  serve as replacements for fasteners  36  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  as securing the knives  20  and clamps  28 B to the knife holders  28 A. 
       FIGS. 6, 7, 21, and 22  represent additional nonlimiting aspects of the invention. As depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , each shoe  48  has axially aligned pairs of pins  94  located at the leading edge thereof and adapted for engaging the rings  44  and  46  to positively locate the leading edges of the shoes  48  relative to the rings  44  and  46 . Spacers  96  surround the pins  94 , and additional spacers  97  are located near the trailing edge of the shoe  48 .  FIG. 22  is an isolated view of the lower ring  46 , but is representative of the upper ring  44  as well. The rings  44  and  46  each comprise alternating sets of first and second holes  98  and  100 , with the former having smaller diameters than the latter as a result of the latter being counterbored. The pins  94  are sized to be received within the smaller holes  98  and the spacers  96  and  97  are sized to be received in the larger counterbored holes  100  but not the smaller holes  98 . Through-holes  104  pass through the counterbored holes  100  and, when the shoe  48  is assembled with the rings  44  and  46  with the lower pin  94  and associated spacer  96  received in one of the counterbored holes  100  of the lower ring  46 , the through-hole  104  of the other counterbored hole  100  is axially aligned with one of the holes  102  formed within the spacers  97  on the shoe  48 , creating a series of holes  102  and  104  through which the pin  58  passes, thereby positively locating the trailing edge of the shoe  48  relative to the rings  44  and  46 . With this configuration, the shoe  48  is positioned on the lower ring  46  so that its lower pin  94  and spacers  96  and  97  are received in the larger counterbored holes  100 , such that the lower surface of the shoe  48  is in direct contact with the lower ring  46 . Alternatively, the shoe  48  can be selectively positioned on the lower ring  46  so that its lower pin  94  (but not its corresponding spacer  96 ) is received in one of the smaller holes  98  and the hole  102  through the other spacer  97  on the shoe  48  is coaxially aligned with the other smaller hole  98  of the same set on the lower ring  46 , such that the spacers  96  and  97  space the lower surface of the shoe  48  apart from the lower ring  46 , as shown for the lefthand shoe  48  of  FIG. 21 . Conversely, the upper ring  44  can be assembled with the same shoe  48  so that the upper pin  94  and its corresponding spacer  96  are received in one of the larger counterbored holes  100  and the other spacer  97  is received in the other counterbored hole  100  of the same set on the upper ring  44 , such that the upper surface of the shoe  48  is in direct contact with the upper ring  44 . In this manner, any shoe  48  of the cutting head  40  can be axially offset between the rings  44  and  46 , as evident from the two shoes  48  seen in  FIG. 21 . Such an offset is desirable for offsetting the knives  52  to produce shredded products, and eliminates the need for shims to obtain the offset. 
     In view of similarities between the first and second embodiments of the cutting heads  40  represented in  FIGS. 5 through 22  and  FIGS. 23 through 40 , respectively, the following discussion of the second embodiment will focus primarily on aspects of the second embodiment that differ from the first embodiment in some notable or significant manner. Other aspects of the second embodiment not discussed in any detail can be, in terms of structure, function, materials, etc., essentially as was described for the first embodiment. For convenience, identical reference numerals are used in  FIGS. 23 through 40  to denote the same or functionally related/equivalent elements described for the cutting head  40  of  FIGS. 5 through 22 . 
     The cutting head  40  represented in  FIGS. 23 through 40  primarily differs from the cutting head  40  of  FIGS. 5 through 22  as a result of having modified locking/adjustment pins  58  (visible in  FIGS. 23, 26-35, and 37-39 ) utilized by the camming and adjustment units  56  and  77 , and the use of steps formed in the rings  44  and  46  ( FIG. 40 ) instead of the holes  98 ,  100  and  104  and spacers  96  and  97  of  FIGS. 6, 7, and 22  to achieve an offset function. 
     Regarding the modified locking/adjustment pins  58 , it can be seen that the head  60  ( FIG. 8 ) and feature  64  ( FIGS. 9-14 ) have been modified to have hexagonal forms (visible in  FIGS. 26-32 ), which enable the pins  58  to be rotated with the camming members  66  when not locked, but prevent rotation when the pins  58  are being tightened to prevent unintended adjustment changes. In addition, it can be seen that the camming portions  72  of the pins  58  shown in  FIGS. 23, 26-35 , and  37 - 39  correspond to that shown in  FIG. 20 , namely, an eccentric camming surface formed directly on each adjustment pin  58 . Finally, the gages  80  used to indicate how far the gate  76  has been deflected by the camming portion  72  are now present on the circumferences of the pins  58 , with the deflection indicated by the numbers on each pin  58  aligned with arrows embossed on the shoes  48 . 
     The steps formed in the rings  44  and  46  in  FIG. 40  are defined by recessed surfaces  106  circumferentially spaced apart on each ring  44  and  46 . Each recessed surface  106  is circumferentially between two of the raised surfaces  108 , and both surfaces  106  and  108  are sized to accommodate the circumferential length of a shoe  48 . As a result, adjacent shoes  48  mounted to adjacent recessed and raised surfaces  106  and  108  will be axially offset from each other, as evident from the two shoes  48  seen in  FIG. 39 , to produce shredded products. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of a particular embodiment, it should be apparent that alternatives could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the machine  10 , cutting head  40 , impeller  14 , clamping and adjustment units  56 ,  84 , and  77 , and their respective components could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiments described herein and shown in the drawings, functions of certain components could be performed by components of different construction but capable of a similar (though not necessarily equivalent) function, and various materials could be used in the fabrication of the machine  10 , cutting head  40 , impeller  14 , clamping and adjustment units  56 ,  84 , and  77 , and their respective components. As such, it should be understood that the above detailed description is intended to describe the particular embodiments represented in the drawings and certain but not necessarily all features and aspects thereof, and to identify certain but not necessarily all alternatives to the represented embodiments and described features and aspects. As a nonlimiting example, the invention encompasses additional or alternative embodiments in which one or more features or aspects of a particular embodiment could be eliminated or two or more features or aspects of different embodiments could be combined. Accordingly, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to any embodiment described herein or illustrated in the drawings. It should also be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed above are for the purpose of describing the illustrated embodiment, and do not necessarily serve as limitations to the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.