MACHINES AND METHODS FOR CUTTING PRODUCTS AND IMPELLERS THEREFOR

摘要

Methods and equipment for cutting products, including food products. Such equipment includes an impeller (40) adapted to be coaxially mounted within an annular-shaped cutting head (12) for rotation about an axis of the cutting head (12) in a rotational direction relative to the cutting head (12). The impeller (40) includes a base (44) and ring (46) spaced axially from each other, at least a first intermediate plate (60) disposed between the base (44) and the ring (46) so as to define at least first and second tier levels (70) within the impeller (40), and paddles (42) disposed between the base (44) and the ring (46) and within the first and second tier levels (70). The first intermediate plate (60) has an opening (66) therein that defines a passage between the first and second tier levels (70). The impeller (40) further has pockets (68) defined by and between immediately adjacent pairs of paddles (42) within each tier level (70).