Importance

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Abstract

A cutter apparatus is disclosed for cutting elongated food products such as french fry potato strips, to cut them in two or to remove defects. The cutter apparatus includes two independently operated knives which are actuated by pneumatic cylinders controlled by solenoid valves that apply air pulses to such cylinders for fast operation. The valves are operated in response to control signals produced by light sensor means which senses the defect and causes a central processing unit of a computer to produce the control signals. The knife blades are each connected to the piston rod of the cylinder by a flexible resilient connector for causing the blade to move in a non-linear manner downward in response to linear movement of the piston rod for cutting the defect from the food product while such product is moving along a conveyor belt beneath such cutter, without arresting movement of the food product. The knife blade is returned to a raised static position by a rubber band strap member secured to the lower end of the piston rod. Two independently controlled knives are employed to enable the cutter to remove defects of different lengths with little waste or to cut product to different lengths.

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First Claim