Patent Publication Number: US-2020276724-A1

Title: A food processing apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national phase application of International Application No PCT/EP2018/080562, filed Nov. 8, 2018, which claims priority to Great Britain Patent Application Serial No. 1718456.5, filed Nov. 8, 2017, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to a food processing apparatus, and in particular to an apparatus for cutting foodstuff into predetermined shapes and sizes. 
     It is often desirable to shape or size items of food in order that they are more easily consumed, more palatable, can be processed more easily, or are just more aesthetically pleasing. In the most basic sense this can be achieved by simply manually slicing a food item, such as a vegetable item, to create the desired shape or size. Whilst this is suitable for simple shapes and low volume, for more complicated shapes or higher volume applications, manual cutting is not practical. 
     Devices exist which automate the process of shaping and sizing, for example, vegetables. These devices come in a variety of forms. One such device comprises a grid like cutting implement, the vegetable being forced through the grid with the aid of an attached lever or ram, slicing the vegetable along the gridlines. Other implements mount the vegetable therein and utilize a spinning motion to shear a portion of the outer surface creating a spiral shaped portion of vegetable. There also exists commercial devices comprising a drum into which a plurality of vegetable items are placed, the drum having an opening to a blade and rotating such that portions of the vegetables become exposed to the aperture and the blade and as such are sliced. The shape of the vegetable in this case being determined by the configuration of the aperture and the blade. 
     What all of the current devices have in common is a limitation on the shape which can be created from the food item. Simply forcing a vegetable through a two dimensional die or grid, or removing generally parallel slices from a food item, limits the variety and complexity of shape that can be produced. 
     Moreover, many of the available devices create a significant amount of wastage, and suffer from jamming or clogging due to waste portions of food becoming lodged therein. 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide for the shaping and sizing of foodstuff in a manner which minimizes waste and provides flexibility in terms of the shapes that may be created. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the invention there is provided a food processing apparatus for the cutting of foodstuff comprising a guide means; a primary cutting means locatable at or proximal an open first end of the guide means and at least one secondary cutting means locatable at or proximal a second end of the guide means distal the first end; wherein the guide means is configurable to guide foodstuff cut by the primary cutting means towards and into contact with the at least one secondary cutting means for further cutting and/or processing by the at least one secondary cutting means. 
     Ideally, the primary cutting means is configured to cut the foodstuff such that it is sized to pass into the guide means. 
     Preferably, the primary cutting means defines a cutting area and is configured to minimise wastage of the foodstuff and/or prevent clogging by aligning all parts of the foodstuff cut within the cutting area with at least a portion of the guide means into which the cut foodstuff passes. 
     Advantageously, all of the foodstuff cut within the cutting area passes into the guide means and is thereafter processed by the secondary cutting means, resulting in minimal wastage and preventing cut portions of foodstuff clogging any portion of the apparatus. 
     Ideally, the guide means comprises a plurality of guide members, each guide member having at least a portion of the primary cutting means locatable at an open first end. 
     Preferably, the portion of the primary cutting means locatable at the first end of each guide member defines an aperture for passing cut foodstuff into the open first end of the guide member. 
     Ideally, the aperture defined by the primary cutting means is alignable with an opening of the open first end of the guide member. 
     Preferably, at least a portion of the primary cutting means is alignable with and projects from the periphery of the open first end of each guide member. 
     Advantageously, as each guide member has a portion of primary cutting means alignable around its periphery, any foodstuff forced towards the guide member will be cut by the portion of primary cutting means alignable therewith and will resultantly pass into the guide member. 
     Ideally, the primary cutting means is a one piece cutting means comprising a plurality of cutting members formed integrally thereof. 
     Alternatively, the primary cutting means comprises a plurality of cutting members joinable to form the primary cutting means, 
     Preferably, the plurality of cutting members form the primary cutting means such that no gaps exist between adjacent cutting members. 
     Preferably, the primary cutting means comprises a tessellated cutting means. 
     Ideally, the primary cutting means comprises a tessellated arrangement of cutting members. 
     Advantageously, the tessellated nature of the primary cutting means results in a cutting arrangement providing guide member apertures alignable with the opening of the guide members, but having no gaps between these guide member apertures. 
     Further advantageously, as foodstuff is forced onto the primary cutting means, all of the foodstuff is cut and passed into one or more guide members as no alternative gaps exist between the tessellated arrangement of cutting members, thus wastage and clogging is greatly reduced or eliminated. 
     Preferably, the primary cutting means comprises a tessellated arrangement of hexagonal cutting members. 
     Alternatively, the cutting members forming the tessellated arrangement of the primary cutting members can be of any shape suitable for tessellation. 
     Ideally, the cutting members forming the tessellated arrangement of the primary cutting means are uniformly shaped and sized cutting members. 
     Alternatively, cutting members of varying shapes and sizes are combined to form a tessellated arrangement. 
     Preferably, the cutting members are of either regular shape, irregular shape, or a mixture of regular and irregular shapes, but when combined form a primary cutting means which comprises no gaps between adjacent cutting members. 
     Ideally, the cutting members are of either polygonal shape, non-polygonal shape, or a mixture of polygonal and non-polygonal shapes, but when combined form a primary cutting means which comprises no gaps between adjacent cutting members. 
     Preferably, each of the guide members comprises a cutting member of the primary cutting means projecting therefrom. 
     Ideally, the cutting members have a cutting end locatable distal the end of the cutting members closest the guide members. 
     Preferably, the cutting members adjoin at least at their cutting end to form a tessellated cutting arrangement. 
     Ideally, the primary cutting means is formed integrally of the guide means. 
     Alternatively, the primary cutting means is attachable to the guide means. 
     Ideally, the primary cutting means cuts the foodstuff such that it is a suitable size and/or shape for further cutting and/or processing by the secondary cutting means. 
     Preferably, the guide members each comprise a tube, pipe, or other such conduit suitable for conveying foodstuff. 
     Preferably, the apparatus comprises a plurality of secondary cutting means. 
     Ideally, each guide member comprises its own secondary cutting means. 
     Preferably, the secondary cutting means comprises a means for cutting the foodstuff such that the foodstuff is shaped to a predetermined shape. 
     Ideally, the predetermined shape is a generally rectangular cuboid, twisted generally rectangular cuboid, spiral, or any other such shape desired by a user. 
     Ideally, the predetermined shape is of square, pentagon, hexagon, septagon, or heart cross-sectional shape. 
     Preferably, the secondary cutting means is a rotatable cutting means. 
     Ideally, the secondary cutting means comprises a die for shaping the foodstuff. 
     Preferably, the secondary cutting means comprises a cutting blade. 
     Ideally, the cutting blade of the secondary cutting means is a blade arrangement. 
     Ideally, the cutting blade of the secondary cutting means has a sweep and/or taper which encourages movement of the foodstuff through the cutting blade. 
     Preferably, the cutting blade of the secondary cutting means has a sweep and/or taper which encourages rotation of the cutting blade as the foodstuff passes through the cutting blade. 
     Preferably, the cutting blade of the secondary cutting means has a sweep and/or taper which encourages rotation of the foodstuff as the foodstuff passes through the cutting blade. 
     Preferably, the secondary cutting means comprises a bearing, the cutting blade of the secondary cutting means being operably mountable within the bearing. 
     Alternatively, the secondary cutting means comprises a bushing, the cutting blade of the secondary cutting means being operably mountable within the busing. 
     Ideally, the secondary cutting means comprises a bearing housing, the bearing being operably mountable within the bearing housing. 
     Preferably, the secondary cutting means are locatable within, attachable to, or mountable on the second end of the guide members. 
     Alternatively, the secondary cutting means are mountable within an end plate arrangement, the end plate arrangement being locatable at the second end of the guide means. 
     Ideally, the end plate arrangement comprises a plurality of end plates, each end plate having a secondary cutting means mountable therein. 
     Preferably, the plurality of end plates are layered such that they form a layered end plate arrangement. 
     Ideally, the bearing is configured to permit rotation of the secondary cutting means. 
     Preferably, the guide members extend at an angle from their first ends closest the primary cutting means towards their second ends closest the secondary cutting means. 
     Preferably, the guide members diverge from their first ends closest the primary cutting means towards their second ends. 
     Ideally, the guide members extend at an angle such that at least a portion of the first ends thereof are adjoining and the second ends thereof are separated from each other. 
     Advantageously, the divergence of the guide means and resulting separation at their second ends provides sufficient space between the guide means at their second ends such that a secondary cutting means, including associated bearing, can be mounted to each guide means. 
     Further advantageously, whilst the separation created by the divergence of the guide means permits space for mounting the secondary cutting means, including associated bearing, to the second end of the guide members, it also permits the apparatus to maintain a reduced overall cross-sectional area at least at the first end of the apparatus. 
     Ideally, at least some of the guide members differ in length from each other. 
     Preferably, the guide members are generally aligned at their first end, any differences in length of the guide members resulting in a staggered arrangement at the second ends of the guide members. 
     Ideally, the length of each guide member and spacing between the guide members at their second ends is configured to accommodate the mounting of a secondary cutting means thereto. 
     Advantageously, the differing lengths of the guide members permits the mounting of a secondary cutting means, with associated bearing, to each guide means, whilst maintaining a reduced cross-sectional area. 
     Alternatively, the secondary cutting means are locatable within the guide means. 
     Ideally, the secondary cutting means is an interchangeable secondary cutting means such that different secondary cutting means having different shaped cutting blades or blade arrangements can be removably mounted to the second end of the guide members to impart different predetermined shapes on the foodstuff. 
     Ideally, the secondary cutting means are free running cutting means. 
     Preferably, the secondary cutting means is rotatably driven by the foodstuff as the foodstuff is forced through the secondary cutting means. 
     Alternatively, the secondary cutting means is rotatably driven by a drive means such as a motor, actuator, or other such drive means. 
     Further alternatively, the secondary cutting means are fixed cutting means, the cutting blades of which have a sweep and/or taper which force the foodstuff to rotate as the foodstuff is forced through the secondary cutting means. 
     According to the invention there is provided an item of food processing plant or machinery comprising a food processing apparatus for the cutting of foodstuff, the a food processing apparatus for the cutting of foodstuff comprising a guide means; a primary cutting means locatable at or proximal an open first end of the guide means and at least one secondary cutting means locatable at or proximal a second end of the guide means distal the first end; wherein the guide means is configurable to guide foodstuff cut by the primary cutting means towards and into contact with the at least one secondary cutting means for further cutting and/or processing by the at least one secondary cutting means. 
     According to the invention there is provided a cutting means for a food processing apparatus, the cutting means comprising a cutting blade having a taper and/or sweep that encourages rotation of the cutting blade and/or the foodstuff processed by the food processing apparatus, and/or encourages the foodstuff to move through the cutting means. 
     Ideally, the cutting blade of the cutting means for a food processing apparatus is shaped for cutting the foodstuff such that the foodstuff is shaped to a predetermined shape. 
     Preferably, the cutting means is a rotatable cutting means. 
     According to the invention there is provided a method of cutting a foodstuff comprising forcing the foodstuff through a primary cutting means such that the cut foodstuff is sized for passing into a guide means, encouraging the cut foodstuff to travel along the guide means and into contact with one or more secondary cutting means such that the cut foodstuff is further cut and/or processed and/or shaped by the one or more secondary cutting means. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a food processing apparatus according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a food processing apparatus according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a guide means of a food processing apparatus according to the invention, showing the primary cutting means; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a guide means of a food processing apparatus according to the invention, showing the primary cutting means; 
         FIG. 5  is a view from a second end of a food processing apparatus according to the invention showing features internally of the guide means; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view through section G-G of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a secondary cutting means according to the invention showing a bearing; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a secondary cutting means according to the invention showing a bearing; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a secondary cutting means according to the invention showing a bearing; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention showing a staggered arrangement at a second end of the food processing apparatus; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of a variety of secondary cutting blades for a secondary cutting means according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of a further variety of secondary cutting blades for a secondary cutting means according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present teaching will now be described with reference to an exemplary food processing apparatus for the cutting of foodstuff. It will be understood that the exemplary food processing apparatus is provided to assist in an understanding of the present teaching and are not to be construed as limiting in any fashion. Furthermore, elements or components that are described with reference to any one Figure may be interchanged with those of other Figures or other equivalent elements without departing from the spirit of the present teaching. 
     Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a food processing apparatus for the cutting of foodstuff  10  having a guide arrangement  11 . A primary cutter  12  is located at an open first end  13  of the guide arrangement  11 . A secondary cutter  14  is located at or about a second end  15  of the guide arrangement  11  distal the first end  13 . The guide arrangement  11  guides foodstuff (not shown) cut by the primary cutter  12  towards and into contact with the secondary cutter  14  for further cutting and/or processing by the secondary cutter  14 . The primary cutter  12  cuts the foodstuff such that it is sized to pass into a portion of the guide arrangement  11 , and such that it is a suitable size and/or shape for further cutting and/or processing by the secondary cutter. 
     The primary cutter  12  defines a cutting area  16  and is configured to minimize wastage of the foodstuff and/or prevent clogging by aligning all parts of the foodstuff cut within the cutting area  16  with at least a portion of the guide arrangement into which the cut foodstuff passes. As a result, all of the foodstuff cut within the cutting area passes into the guide arrangement  11  and is thereafter processed by the secondary cutter  14 , resulting in minimal wastage and preventing cut portions of foodstuff clogging any portion of the apparatus  10 . 
     The guide arrangement  11  has a plurality of guide tubes  17 , each guide tube  17  having a portion  18  of the primary cutter  12  located at an open first end  13 , the portion  18  of the primary cutter  12  defining an opening for allowing passage of cut foodstuff into the open end  13  of the guide tubes  17 . 
     A portion  18  of the primary cutter  12  is aligned with and projects from the periphery of the first end  13  of each guide tube  17 . As each guide tube  17  has a portion  18  of primary cutter  12  aligned around its periphery, any foodstuff forced towards the guide tube  17  will be cut by the portion  18  of the primary cutter  12  aligned therewith and will resultantly pass into the guide tube  17 . The primary cutter  12  comprises a tessellated arrangement of cutting members  18 , each cutting member forming the portion  18  of the overall primary cutter  12  aligned around each guide tube  17 . In a preferred embodiment as shown in the drawings, the primary cutter  12  comprises a tessellated arrangement of hexagonal cutting members  18 . It should be noted that a person skilled in art would be aware that a tessellated arrangement could be formed from any shape suitable for tessellation. Moreover, the shapes forming the tessellated arrangement can be uniformly shaped and sized, or of non-uniform shapes and sizes which combine to form a tessellated arrangement, or a combination of some uniform and some non-uniform shapes. The tessellated nature of the primary cutter  12  results in a cutting arrangement providing guide tube apertures  19  aligned with the opening of the guide tubes  17 , but having no gaps between these guide tube apertures  19 . As foodstuff is forced onto the primary cutter  12 , all of the foodstuff is cut and passed into one or more of the guide tubes  17 . As no gaps exist between the tessellated arrangement of cutting members  18 , wastage and clogging is greatly reduced or eliminated. 
     Each of the guide tubes  17  comprises a cutting member  18  of the primary cutting means projecting therefrom. Some of the cutting members  18  have at least one shared wall  20  which is shared by at least one adjacent cutting member  18 . The cutting members  18  have a cutting end  21  locatable distal the end of the cutting members  18  closest the guide tube  17 , the cutting members  18  adjoining at their cutting end  21  to form the shared walls  20  and thus form a tessellated cutting arrangement. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings, the cutting members  18  are formed integrally of a portion  22  of the guide tubes  17 . In an alternative embodiment, the cutting members  18  may be attached to the guide tubes  17 . 
     Each guide tube  17  has its own secondary cutter  14 , the secondary cutter  14  having a blade arrangement  23  for cutting the foodstuff such that the foodstuff is shaped to a predetermined shape. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, and referring particularly to  FIGS. 8 and 10 , the blade arrangement  23  is shaped to form a twisted rectangular cuboid from the foodstuff passed therethrough. However, it should be appreciated that the shape of the blade arrangement  23  of the secondary cutter  14  can be configured to create any shape from the foodstuff desired by a user. Examples of various shapes which the blade arrangement may take are illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The secondary cutter  14  can also be an interchangeable secondary cutter such that different secondary cutters  14  can be removably attached to the apparatus  10  in order to create different predetermined shapes from the foodstuff. 
     The secondary cutter  14  is a rotatable cutter operably mounted within a bearing  24 , the bearing  24  being configured to permit rotation of the secondary cutter  14 . The bearing  24  and secondary cutter  14  are operably mountable within end plates  30 . The end plates  30  are located at the second end of the guide tubes  17  and each bearing  24  is mountable within a throughbore  32  formed in an end plate  30 , the multiple end plates forming a layered end plate arrangement. The mounting of the bearings  24  forms a staggered or misaligned mounting arrangement within the layered end plate arrangement, as best viewed in  FIG. 6 . The staggered nature or misalignment of the secondary cutters allows the bearings  24  and associated secondary cutters  14  to be positioned in their desired location given their diameter, the length of the guide tube  17 , and the divergence of the guide tubes  17  from one another. 
     The guide tubes  17  diverge at an angle from their first ends  13  closest the primary cutter  12  towards their second ends  15  closest the secondary cutter. The first ends of the guide tubes  17  adjoin at the cutting end  21  of the primary cutter  12  and the second ends  15  of the guide tubes  17  are separated from each other. The divergence of the guide tubes  17  and resulting separation at their second ends  15  provides sufficient space between the guide tubes  17  at their second ends  15  such that a secondary cutter  14 , with associated bearing  24 , can be mounted to each guide tube  17 . In addition, whilst the separation created by the divergence of the guide tubes  17  permits space for mounting the secondary cutter  14 , with associated bearing  24 , it also permits the apparatus to maintain a minimal overall size as at least the first end  13  can still have a compact cross-sectional area. In an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, the bearing and secondary cutting means may be locatable entirely within the guide tubes. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the guide tubes  17  differ in length. The guide tubes  17  are generally aligned and adjoined at their first end  26 , and any differences in length of the guide tubes  17  results in a staggered arrangement at the second ends  27  of the guide tubes  17 . The length of each guide tube  17  and/or spacing between the guide tubes  17  at their second ends  27  is configured to accommodate the mounting of a bearing  24  thereto whilst maintaining a minimal cross-sectional area at the second end of the apparatus  10 . 
     The secondary cutters  14  are driven by the foodstuff as the foodstuff is forced through the secondary cutting means. The secondary cutter  14  has a blade arrangement  23  having sweep and/or taper which encourages movement of the foodstuff through the cutting blade by encouraging rotation of the blade arrangement  23  as the foodstuff passes through the cutting blade. Alternatively or in combination, the sweep and/or taper of the blade arrangement  23  may encourage rotation of the foodstuff as the foodstuff passes through the cutting blade. In an alternative embodiment, the secondary cutters  14  are driven by a drive motor (not shown). 
     The apparatus  10  may be incorporated into a piece of food processing plant or machinery and form a step in a wider cutting and/or processing process. 
     In use, the foodstuff is forced onto the primary cutter  12  which cuts the foodstuff and transfers each cut section into a guide tube  17 . As each portion of the primary cutter  12  is aligned with a guide tube  17  due to the tessellated arrangement of the primary cutter  12 , all of the cut foodstuff will be transferred to a guide tube  17 . The guide tube  17  guides the cut foodstuff towards and into contact with the secondary cutter  14 . The cut foodstuff travels through the rotating secondary cutter  14  which cuts/shapes the foodstuff further to create a predefined shape and size. 
     A method of cutting a foodstuff comprises forcing the foodstuff through the primary cutter  12  such that the cut foodstuff is sized for passing into the guide tubes  17 , encouraging the cut foodstuff to travel along the guide tubes  17  and into contact with a secondary cutter  14  such that the cut foodstuff is further cut and/or processed and/or shaped by the secondary cutter  14 . 
     The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.