Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming shaped potato products are disclosed, pursuant to which a die roll is disposed adjacent an opposed, coacting, counter-rotating feed roll. The feed roll includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending grooves and the die roll defines a plurality of circumferentially extending longitudinally spaced, continuous grooves. The grooves on the die roll have opposed sidewalls which include alternating laterally zig-zag excursion so that strips of dough shaped therein have a crinkle configuration. A woven cotton belt is supported below the die roll and an adjustably positioned resilient pressure roll biases the belt into contact with a portion of the periphery of the die roll. A potato dough is forced into the grooves by the feed roll and compressed by the belt and pressure roll. When it separates from the die roll, the belt creates a suction which extracts a continuous strip of shaped food product from the die roll. The continuous strip of product may then be cut into individual lengths.

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First Claim