Patent ID: 8752464

Claim:
In an apparatus for automatically slicing apples or other produce items into a plurality of wedge shaped segments, wherein said apparatus has a circular array of generally V-shaped blades, each of said blades having first and second legs, an apex having an apex angle formed by said first and second legs, and having first and second tips at the ends of said first and second legs, respectively, wherein an outer blade support ring carries said array of blades, and wherein an inner blade support hub removably supports each of said blades at said apex, the improvement comprising: first and second U-shaped tabs formed at said tips of each of said legs each of said first and second U-shaped tabs having first and second arms, said first arm comprising a section of said first and second legs of said blades adjacent said tips of said legs, and each of said second arms comprising a free arm of said U-shaped tabs, wherein said free arms of each of said tabs extend in a direction generally toward said apex and also form a tapered surface between said free arms wherein the distance between said second arms increases closer to said apex, clinch means for each of said blades for removably interlocking with and connecting with said first and second U-shaped tabs of each blade, wherein each clinch means includes a block having a rectangular recess, said block extending between and interlocking with said first and second U-shaped tabs without any welding wherein each said clinch means also includes a threaded and tapered nut removably carried in said recess wherein said nut frictionally engages said second arm of both of said first and second U-shaped tabs, and blade tensioning means for each of said blades, said tensioning means including a threaded member extending from said outer support ring, through each said block, and threadably connecting to each said tapered nut, whereby tightening said threaded member tensions said blade, and whereby loosening said threaded member and disconnecting said threaded member from said nut and said block allows said blade to be quickly removed, allowing a replacement blade to be inserted, and said tapered nut and said block to be reused with said replacement blade.