Patent Description:
Generally, fries and other sliced food products are cut by use of a water knife and subsequently processed by blanching, drying, battering, frying, and/or freezing. In many fry products, such as straight-cut fries, the fries easily separate. However, with the development of more unique fry shapes, the food product may retain its shape after cutting and require manual manipulation to separate the fries from each other. The need for manual separation can substantially increase manufacturing costs and/or reduce throughput of a cutting system. Other disadvantages may exist.

<CIT> discloses a flow-propelled rotary knife system includes a housing, having an outlet end and walls defining a fluid passage, a rotatable blade holder, disposed at the outlet end and having a central aperture substantially aligned with the fluid passage, and at least one blade, extending diametrically across the central aperture of the blade holder. The blade holder is configured to rotate about a rotational axis passing through the central aperture, and the at least one blade has a twisted shape selected to rotationally propel the blade and the blade holder to rotate about the rotational axis when the blade is contacted by fluid flowing through the fluid passage and the central aperture in a flow direction, whereby objects propelled along the fluid flow path in the flow direction toward the outlet are helically cut by the rotating blade.

<CIT> discloses a distributor for guiding solid food pieces suspended in a working liquid to one or both of at least first and second destinations, the distributor comprising a tapered entry conduit having opposite first and second ends connected by a central longitudinal axis, a cylindrical drum to which the second end of the entry conduit is mounted, the drum having opposing first and second longitudinal ends connected by a central longitudinal drum axis, where the conduit axis is transverse to the drum axis, first and second outlet tubes extending from the drum to respective first and second destinations.

<CIT> discloses an apparatus and method for production of a crinkle cut food product, wherein said product is first impelled by hydraulic fluid through a cutter means to remove the longitudinal exterior slabs therefrom and then fed through first and second cutting zones in sideways fashion to cut the product into a plurality of elongated segments having corrugated sides.

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for separating cut food products that overcomes and/or mitigates some of the problems and disadvantages discussed above.

Viewed from a first aspect, there is provided a system for separating a cut food product as defined in claim <NUM> of the appended claims.

An embodiment of a system for separating a cut food product into a plurality of food product pieces includes a flow inlet, a flow outlet, and at least one drum connecting the flow inlet and the flow outlet. The cut food product has a plurality of nested food product pieces. The flow inlet is positionable to receive a cut food product to be separated. The flow inlet may receive a fluid, such as water, from a water knife. The flow inlet and the flow outlet are positioned to create a cyclonic flow path through the at least one drum. The flow inlet may be aligned with a discharge of a knife block or a water knife. The flow inlet is oriented to direct the cut food product tangentially into the at least one drum. The flow inlet may be oriented to direct the cut food product into the at least one drum at a right angle to a longitudinal axis of the at least one drum. The flow inlet may be positioned on a top portion of the at least one drum. The at least one drum may be a plurality of drums including a first drum and a second drum. The flow inlet may be positioned on a top portion of the first drum. The flow inlet may be positioned on the first drum and the flow outlet may be positioned on the second drum. The cyclonic flow path is configured to separate the plurality of nested food product pieces into a plurality of food product pieces, substantially each of which are individually separated from one another.

The system may include a passageway providing fluid communication from the first drum to the second drum. The passageway may include a first end connected to the first drum and a second end connected to the second drum. The passageway may include a tapered section between the first end and the second end that narrows toward the second end. The flow inlet may be aligned with the flow outlet. The first drum may have an inner diameter of approximately twelve inches. The first drum may have a length of approximately twenty-four inches. The first drum may include a first drain valve. The second drum may include a second drain valve. The system may include a bypass flow path having a bypass inlet and a bypass outlet. The system may be pivotable between a first position and a second position. The flow inlet may be aligned with the discharge (an inlet axis) in the first position and the bypass inlet may be aligned with the inlet axis in the second position. The at least one drum may have a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to gravitational forces.

Viewed from a second aspect, there is provided a method for separating a cut food product as defined in claim <NUM> of the appended claims.

An embodiment of a method for separating a cut food product into a plurality of food product pieces includes directing a flow of fluid along a fluid flow path of a denester. The denester includes at least one drum. The flow of fluid is directed tangentially into the at least one drum. The flow of fluid may be from a water knife. The method includes rotating the cut food product along a length of the at least one drum, wherein the cut food product is separated into a plurality of food product pieces, and removing the plurality of food product pieces from the at least one drum through a flow outlet. Substantially each of the plurality of food product pieces that are nested within each other are individually separated from one another.

The method may include directing the cut food product along the fluid flow path tangentially into the at least one drum at a right angle to a longitudinal axis of the at least one drum. The method may include removing the plurality of food product pieces from the drum through a tangentially oriented flow outlet.

The at least one drum may include a first drum and a second drum. The rotating the cut food product along a length of the at least one drum may include rotating the cut food product along a length of the first drum, passing the cut food product into the second drum, and rotating the cut food product along a length of the second drum. The passing the cut food product into the second drum may include passing the cut food product along a passageway from the first drum to the second drum. The passageway may be tapered and increase a velocity of the cut food product as it is passed into the second drum. The cut food product may be a potato. The potato may be cut into a plurality of helical wedges. The method may include cutting the potato into the plurality of helical wedges before the flow of fluid carrying the potato is directed tangentially into the at least one drum. The rotating the cut food product along the length of the at least one drum may comprise causing a portion of the flow of fluid closest to an interior wall of the at least one drum to move at a faster rate than a portion of the flow of fluid in a center of the at least one drum.

The denester may include a bypass flow path. The method may include moving the denester, wherein the movement of the denester orients the bypass flow path in place of the fluid flow path. The denester may include a flow inlet oriented along a first axis. The bypass flow path may include a bypass inlet oriented along a second axis. The second axis may be parallel to the first axis. The moving the denester may comprise pivoting the denester between a bypass position and an engaged position. The flow inlet is in communication with a discharge of a knife block or a water knife in the engaged position. The bypass inlet is in communication with the discharge in the bypass position.

An embodiment of a system for separating a cut food product into a plurality of food product pieces, includes a plurality of drums, a flow inlet, a flow outlet, and a flow path. The cut food product has a plurality of nested food product pieces. The plurality of drums includes a first drum and a second drum. The flow inlet is positioned on the first drum. The flow inlet is configured to be placed into fluid communication with a discharge of a knife block or a water knife. The flow outlet is positioned on the second drum. The flow path extends from the flow inlet to the flow outlet through the plurality of drums. The flow path is configured to impart turbulence and centripetal acceleration to a cut food product received through the flow inlet. The flow path may be configured to separate the plurality of nested food product pieces into a plurality of food product pieces, substantially each of which are individually separated from one another.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and altematives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

<FIG> show an embodiment of a denester <NUM> for separating cut food products. The denester <NUM> is positioned to receive cut food products from a discharge <NUM> of a water knife <NUM>. A knife block, or other cutting device, may be used in place of the water knife <NUM>. A supplemental fluid stream may also be used in some embodiments. Although the water knife <NUM> and discharge <NUM> have been show adjacent to the denester <NUM>, it is appreciated that a longer flow path of discharge <NUM> may be used to redirect the cut food product to the denester <NUM> and the denester <NUM> is located later in a processing line than the cutting device. For example, the discharge <NUM> may include a portion that temporarily holds cut food products to be separated and/or the discharge <NUM> may receive cut food products from multiple cutting devices. By way of example, the water knife <NUM> may be a knife fixture such as described in <CIT> and titled "Rotary Knife Fixture For Cutting Spiral, Textured Potato Pieces," or <CIT> as <CIT> and titled "System For Cutting Spiral Shaped Pieces," or <CIT> as <CIT> and titled "Flow-Propelled Rotary Knife". As may be appreciated by these disclosures, food products, such as potatoes are cut into helical wedge shapes. The helical wedge shapes are intertwined around one another (nested within each other) and may exit the water knife with the appearance of a full potato. In other words, a cut food product comprise a plurality of food product pieces nested within each other. Although the embodiments described herein may make reference to the helical wedge shapes, it is appreciated that this disclosure may also be applicable to the separation of other types of unique cuts that would otherwise use manual labor to separate. By way of example, cut food shapes that may benefit from this disclosure include, but are not limited to, those shown and described in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and Registered Community Design Nos. <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

In contrast to known systems, which tend to minimize turbulence at the discharge <NUM> of a water knife <NUM> to prevent product damage, the denester <NUM> is configured to impart friction, directed turbulence, and centripetal acceleration to the cut food products in order to separate the individual pieces of the food products. The denester <NUM> may include no moving parts and use only the flow of a fluid, such as water, carrying the food products through the water knife <NUM>. The denester <NUM> includes one or more drums, such as a plurality of drums to impart turbulence and centripetal acceleration to the cut food products in order to separate the nested food products. As shown in <FIG>, the denester <NUM> includes a plurality of drums including a first drum <NUM> and a second drum <NUM> with a passageway <NUM> therebetween. The first drum <NUM> and the second drum <NUM> may have a substantially cylindrical shape. As used herein, the term "substantially" means at least almost entirely. For instance, substantially each of the previously nested food product pieces may be individually separated from one another when at least one of the food product pieces is not nested with one or more of the other food product pieces. In quantitative terms, "substantially" means at least <NUM>% of a stated reference (e.g., quantity or shape). Furthermore, an object is cylindrical if it appears as such to an ordinary user, recognizing that, for example, manufacturing processes may create tolerances in the shape or design and the object may include surface features or mechanisms for which the surface is not perfectly smooth or symmetrical. In some embodiments, one or both of the drums <NUM>, <NUM> may be another shaped chamber. For example, one or both of the drums <NUM>, <NUM> may form a conical frustum or a hexagonal prism. The first drum <NUM> includes a flow inlet <NUM> that receives water and the food products from the water knife <NUM> via discharge <NUM>. The flow inlet <NUM> is configured to be placed into fluid communication with the discharge <NUM> of a water knife <NUM>. The flow inlet <NUM> may be oriented to direct the flow in a direction tangential to the interior diameter of the first drum <NUM> (best shown in <FIG>). The flow inlet <NUM> may also be oriented approximately at a right angle to a longitudinal axis <NUM> of the first drum <NUM> (best shown in <FIG>). As used herein, the term approximately means close in value, but not necessarily precise, such as +/- <NUM>%.

The first drum <NUM> includes a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. The first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> may each be a flanged end, as shown. The longitudinal axis <NUM> extends from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM> of the first drum. A first end cap <NUM> may be affixed to the first end <NUM> and a second end cap <NUM> may be affixed to the second end <NUM>. One or more of the end caps <NUM>, <NUM> may be made of a substantially transparent material, such as a polycarbonate or glass, that enables monitoring of the interior volume of the first drum <NUM>. The end caps <NUM>,<NUM> may include a gasket or seal to provide a water-tight connection. The first drum <NUM> may be supported upon a frame <NUM> of the water knife <NUM> via a support <NUM>.

The second drum <NUM> includes a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. The first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> may each be a flanged end, as shown. A first end cap <NUM> may be affixed to the first end <NUM> and a second end cap <NUM> may be affixed to the second end <NUM>. One or more of the end caps <NUM>, <NUM> may be made of a substantially transparent material, such as a polycarbonate or glass, that enables monitoring of the interior volume of the second drum <NUM>. The end caps <NUM>,<NUM> may include a gasket or seal to provide a water-tight connection. The second drum <NUM> may be supported upon a support arm <NUM>. The second drum <NUM> includes a flow outlet <NUM> that discharges water and separated food product pieces from the second drum <NUM>. The flow outlet <NUM> may be oriented tangentially to the interior diameter of the second drum <NUM> to avoid damaged to the food product pieces (best shown in <FIG>). In some embodiments, the flow inlet <NUM> of the first drum <NUM> and the flow outlet <NUM> of the second drum <NUM> may be aligned along the same axis <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). It may be desirable for the flow inlet <NUM> and the flow outlet <NUM> to be aligned along the same axis <NUM> to decrease the length of a processing line and/or to more readily install the denester <NUM> within an existing processing line.

The denester <NUM> includes a passageway <NUM> connecting the first drum <NUM> to the second drum <NUM>. The passageway <NUM> may extend from the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM> to the first end <NUM> of the second drum <NUM>. As shown, the passageway <NUM> may include a first end <NUM> that is oriented at a right angle to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the first drum <NUM> (best shown in <FIG>) and optionally tangentially to the interior diameter of the first drum <NUM> (best shown in <FIG>). A second end <NUM> of the passageway <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) may be oriented at a right angle to a longitudinal axis <NUM> of the second drum <NUM> (best shown in <FIG>) and/or tangentially to the interior diameter of the second drum <NUM> (best shown in <FIG>). The longitudinal axis <NUM> extends from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM>. The passageway <NUM> may include a flanged portion <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) to facilitate assembly of the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM>. The passageway <NUM> may include a tapered section <NUM> that extends toward the second end <NUM> such that water flowing through the passageway <NUM> must pass through a smaller cross-sectional area and a velocity of the flow is increased. The increased flow velocity increases the centripetal acceleration experienced by the cut food product within the second drum <NUM>. The increased centripetal acceleration may assist with separating the cut food product into distinct food product pieces.

With reference to <FIG>, a food product, such as a potato, is cut by the water knife <NUM> and continues in a fluid flow path through the discharge <NUM> and into the flow inlet <NUM> of the first drum <NUM>. The flow within the first drum <NUM> creates a cyclonic flow path from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, with the flow inlet <NUM> positioned tangentially to the bottom side of the interior diameter of the first drum <NUM>, the flow operates in a counterclockwise direction as it moves from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM>. Depending upon the volume flow rate of the water, the first drum <NUM> may be substantially filled with water and the tangential orientation of the flow may cause the portion of the flow closest to the interior walls to move at a faster rate than a portion of the flow in a center of the first drum <NUM>. As a result, the cut potato may tumble as it rotates through the cyclonic flow path.

Once the potato reaches the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM>, it is received into the first end <NUM> of the passageway <NUM>. The first end <NUM> of the passageway <NUM> may have a greater diameter than the second end <NUM> of the passageway <NUM>. The greater diameter may assist with orienting the potato into the passageway <NUM> and inhibit a blockage from forming. As the potato travels through the passageway <NUM>, the tapered section <NUM> of the passageway <NUM> increases the velocity of the flow as the potato enters the second drum <NUM>.

The flow within the second drum <NUM> creates a cyclonic flow path from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM> of the second drum <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, with second end <NUM> of the passageway <NUM> is positioned tangentially to the bottom side of the interior diameter of the second drum <NUM>, the flow operates in a counterclockwise direction as it moves from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM> of the second drum <NUM>. As with the first drum <NUM>, depending upon the volume flow rate of the water, the second drum <NUM> may be substantially filled with water and the tangential orientation of the flow may cause the portion of the flow closest to the interior walls to move at a faster rate. As a result, the cut potato may tumble as it rotates through the cyclonic flow path. Once the potato reaches the second end <NUM> of the second drum <NUM>, the separated potato pieces are discharged through the flow outlet <NUM> for further processing.

By way of example, a flow rate of <NUM> litres per second (<NUM> gallons per minute (GPM)) was determined to be more effective at separating product than a flow rate of <NUM> litres per second (<NUM> GPM). In addition, a drum having an interior diameter of <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> inches) was determined to have better performance than a drum having an annular flow space between a <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> inches) drum installed within a drum having an interior diameter of <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> inches), which was determined to have better performance than a drum having an interior diameter of <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> inches). The use of two drums having an interior diameter of <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> inches) and a length of <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> inches) with a flow rate of <NUM> litres per second (<NUM> GPM) was found to have a separation rate of more than <NUM>%. Also by way of example, the flow inlet <NUM> may have an inner diameter of approximately <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> inches), the first end <NUM> of the passageway <NUM> may have an inner diameter of approximately <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> inches), the second end <NUM> of the passageway <NUM> may have an inner diameter of approximately <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> inches), and/or the flow outlet <NUM> may have an inner diameter of approximately <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> inches).

<FIG> show an embodiment of a denester <NUM> positioned to receive water and cut food products from a water knife <NUM>. The denester <NUM> includes a first drum <NUM> and a second drum <NUM> with a passageway <NUM> therebetween. The first drum <NUM> includes a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. A transparent end cap <NUM> is affixed to the second end <NUM>. The first drum <NUM> is supported upon a frame <NUM> of the water knife <NUM> via a support (not shown). The second drum <NUM> includes a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. A transparent end cap <NUM> is affixed to the first end <NUM>. The second drum <NUM> is supported upon a support arm <NUM>. The second drum <NUM> includes a flow outlet <NUM> that discharges water and separated food product pieces from the second drum <NUM>. The flow outlet from the water knife <NUM> and the flow outlet <NUM> of the second drum <NUM> are aligned along the same axis.

The denester <NUM> includes a passageway <NUM> extending from the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM> to the first end <NUM> of the second drum <NUM>. The passageway <NUM> includes a first end <NUM> that is oriented tangentially to the interior diameter of the first drum <NUM>. A second end <NUM> of the passageway <NUM> is oriented tangentially to the interior diameter of the second drum <NUM>. The first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the passageway <NUM> are connected via a flanged connector <NUM>. The passageway <NUM> includes a tapered section <NUM> that extends toward the second end <NUM> such that water flowing through the passageway <NUM> must pass through a smaller cross-sectional area and the velocity of the flow is increased. The larger diameter of the first end <NUM> of the passageway <NUM> inhibits a blockage from forming when unseparated portions of a food product are received sideways into the passageway <NUM>. The increased flow velocity increases the centripetal acceleration experienced by the cut food product within the second drum <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a potato <NUM> was cut by the water knife <NUM> and carried along a cyclonic flow path from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM>. The potato <NUM> has been separated into a plurality of pieces and is about to complete a clockwise rotation (viewed from the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM>) and be received into the passageway <NUM>. The potato <NUM> has fully separated by movement along the cyclonic flow path within the first drum <NUM>. In <FIG>, the pieces of the potato <NUM> have entered the second drum <NUM> and are moving toward the flow outlet <NUM>. A second potato <NUM> was cut by the water knife <NUM> and carried along a cyclonic flow path from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM>. A portion of the second potato <NUM> has been separated by movement along the cyclonic flow path within the first drum <NUM>, but another portion of the second potato <NUM> remains intertwined. The second potato <NUM> will continue its clockwise rotation (viewed from the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM>) and be received into the passageway <NUM> and further movement along the cyclonic flow path within the second drum <NUM> will further separate the intertwined portion of the second potato <NUM>.

<FIG> show sequential views of a cut food product, such as a potato <NUM>, separating into a plurality of food product pieces as it travels through the cyclonic flow path of the denester <NUM>. In <FIG>, the potato <NUM> has been cut into a plurality of food product pieces which are intertwined around one another and ready to be introduced into the denester <NUM>. In <FIG>, some of the food product pieces have started to unwind from other food product pieces by rotation relative to the other food product pieces as the potato <NUM> travels through the cyclonic flow path. In <FIG>, the potato <NUM> has traveled further through the cyclonic flow path and further unwound into multiple subsets of food product pieces, but some food product pieces remain intertwined with other food product pieces. In <FIG>, after further travel through the cyclonic flow path, the plurality of food product pieces of the potato <NUM> have completely unwound from each other.

<FIG> show an embodiment of a denester <NUM> positioned to receive water and cut food products from a water knife <NUM>. The denester <NUM> includes a first drum <NUM> and a second drum <NUM> with a passageway <NUM> therebetween. The first drum <NUM> includes a first end <NUM>, a second end <NUM>, and a flow inlet <NUM> that receives water and the food products from the water knife <NUM> via a discharge <NUM> (best shown in <FIG>). The second drum <NUM> includes a first end <NUM>, a second end <NUM>, and a flow outlet <NUM> that discharges water and separated food product pieces from the second drum <NUM> into an ancillary flow path <NUM>. The discharge <NUM> of the water knife <NUM> and the flow outlet <NUM> of the second drum <NUM> may be aligned along the same axis <NUM>.

The denester <NUM> includes a passageway <NUM> extending from the second end <NUM> of the first drum <NUM> to the first end <NUM> of the second drum <NUM>. A portion of the passageway <NUM> near the first drum <NUM> is oriented tangentially to the interior diameter of the first drum <NUM>. A portion of the passageway <NUM> near the second drum <NUM> is oriented tangentially to the interior diameter of the second drum <NUM>. The passageway <NUM> is tapered toward the second drum <NUM> such that water flowing through the passageway <NUM> must pass through a smaller cross-sectional area and the velocity of the flow is increased. The increased flow velocity increases the centripetal acceleration experienced by the cut food product within the second drum <NUM>. The flow inlet <NUM>, flow outlet <NUM>, first drum <NUM>, second drum <NUM>, and passageway <NUM> form a denester fluid flow path.

The denester <NUM> includes a first drain valve <NUM> in fluid communication with the first drum <NUM> and a second drain valve <NUM> in fluid communication with the second drum <NUM>. When the denester <NUM> is not in operation, the first drain valve <NUM> may be opened to drain any water from within the first drum <NUM> and the second drain valve <NUM> may be opened to drain any water from the second drum <NUM>.

The denester <NUM> includes a bypass flow path <NUM> having a bypass inlet <NUM> and a bypass outlet <NUM>. The bypass inlet <NUM> and bypass outlet <NUM> may be aligned along the same axis <NUM>. The axis <NUM> associated with the bypass flow path <NUM> and the axis <NUM> associated with the flow inlet <NUM> and flow outlet <NUM> may be parallel axes. In some embodiments, the bypass inlet <NUM> and bypass outlet <NUM> may not be aligned along the same axis <NUM>, but the bypass inlet <NUM> and the flow inlet <NUM> may be relatively positioned in the same manner as the bypass outlet <NUM> and flow outlet <NUM>. In pivoting embodiments, the flow inlet <NUM> and the bypass inlet <NUM> may be equidistantly located from the pivot point within their plane of movement. Also, the flow outlet <NUM> and bypass outlet <NUM> may be equidistantly located from the pivot point within their plane of movement. The denester <NUM> is supported upon a frame <NUM> with a pivot connection <NUM>. The pivot connection <NUM> enables the first drum <NUM> and the second drum <NUM> to be pivoted between a bypass position (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) and an engaged position (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>). An embodiment of a pivot connection <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The pivot connection <NUM> includes a plate <NUM> fixedly connected to the frame <NUM>. The second drum <NUM> is supported upon a bearing <NUM>, such as an Acetal bearing, that enables rotational motion of the second drum <NUM> with respect to the plate <NUM>. The plate <NUM> may include a recess <NUM> bounded by a first side <NUM> and a second side <NUM>. The denester <NUM> may include a stop pin <NUM> that extends from the second drum <NUM> or a frame portion into the recess <NUM>. Although <FIG> show only the pivot connection <NUM> with respect to the second drum <NUM>, it is appreciated that first drum <NUM> may be pivotally connected in a similar manner.

In operation, the denester <NUM> might be pivoted between its bypass position and its engaged position. In the bypass position shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the discharge <NUM> of the water knife <NUM> is in communication with the bypass inlet <NUM> of the bypass flow path <NUM> and the bypass outlet <NUM> of the bypass flow path <NUM> is in communication with the ancillary flow path <NUM>. A food product, such as a potato, is cut by the water knife <NUM> and continues through the discharge <NUM>, into the bypass inlet <NUM> and then through the bypass outlet <NUM> of the bypass flow path <NUM>, and into the ancillary flow path <NUM> for further processing. In the bypass position, the stop pin <NUM> is positioned against the first side <NUM> of the plate <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) to prevent further rotation. In this configuration, a first set of food products, such as straight-cut fries may bypass the first drum <NUM> and the second drum <NUM> of the denester <NUM>. By way of example, the bypass position may be desirable for cuts where it is desirable to minimize turbulence in order to prevent damage to the food products.

Once the first set of food products has been cut, a cutting head within the water knife <NUM> may be changed to cut and separate a second set of food products, such as twisted wedges. The denester <NUM> is pivoted to its engaged position (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>). In the engaged position, the flow inlet <NUM> of the first drum <NUM> is aligned and in communication with the discharge <NUM> of the water knife <NUM> and the flow outlet <NUM> of the second drum <NUM> is aligned and in communication with the ancillary flow path <NUM>. In the engaged position, the stop pin <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) is positioned adjacent to the second side <NUM> of the plate <NUM>. In this position, the second set of food products can travel through the first drum <NUM> and the second drum <NUM> to be separated. Once cutting has been complete, the drain valves <NUM> and <NUM> may be operated in order to remove water within the first drum <NUM> and the second drum <NUM>. Such drain valves <NUM> and <NUM> may be particularly desirable when the flow inlet <NUM> and/or the flow outlet <NUM> are positioned on a top portion of the first drum <NUM> and the second drum <NUM> as shown. In addition, the denester <NUM> may be pivoted to the bypass position to assist with draining the first drum <NUM> and the second drum <NUM>. It is anticipated that in some embodiments, the orientation of the first drum <NUM> and the second drum <NUM> in the bypass position and the engaged position may be reversed. For example, the first drum <NUM> and the second drum <NUM> may have a horizontal orientation in the bypass position and have an angled orientation in the engaged position. In addition, in some embodiments, at least one of the drums <NUM>, <NUM> could operate in a vertical orientation or angled orientation and the flow of the water would oppose gravity.

A variety of modification and combinations of these embodiments will be understood by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. For example, the first drum and the second drum could be combined or oriented along the same longitudinal axis. Also for example, more than two drums could be used and/or the drums could be of varying sizes. Furthermore, the direction of rotation may be changed between drums in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the flow inlet and the flow outlet may be positioned on a top portion of the first drum and the second drum. In other embodiments, the flow inlet and the flow outlet may be positioned on a bottom portion of the first drum and the second drum. In still other embodiments, the flow inlet and the flow outlet may be positioned within different planes. In some embodiments, the denester may be moveable in another manner to permit orientation of a bypass flow path with the discharge of the water knife in place of the fluid flow path of the denester. For example, the bypass inlet and bypass outlet may be oriented perpendicular to the flow inlet and flow outlet and the denester may be rotated <NUM> degrees to align the bypass flow path.

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for separating a cut food product, having a plurality of nested food product pieces, into a plurality of food product pieces, the system (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a flow inlet (<NUM>, <NUM>) for receiving a cut food product having a plurality of nested food product pieces, the flow inlet is in fluid communication with a discharge (<NUM>) of a knife block or a water knife (<NUM>);
a flow outlet (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
at least one drum (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) connecting the flow inlet (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the flow outlet (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the flow inlet (<NUM>, <NUM>) is oriented to direct the cut food product tangentially into the at least one drum (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and the flow inlet (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the flow outlet (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are positioned to create a cyclonic flow path through the at least one drum (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the cyclonic flow path is configured to impart turbulence and centripetal acceleration to a cut food product having a plurality of nested food product pieces received through the flow inlet (<NUM>, <NUM>).