[0001] The present invention relates to an improved machine for cutting food products. In
particular, the present invention relates to a machine for cutting vegetable food
products such as tubers and other fruit and vegetables adapted to be sliced.
[0002] In the food industry there is the need to slice and/or cut certain products into
suitable shapes and sizes during preparation and processing. For example, during the
preparation and processing of potatoes, it is necessary to cut the tuber to obtain
slices or sticks of various shapes suitable for cooking, for example for frying. Therefore,
the market offers machines for cutting potatoes adapted to produce parts of various
shapes, according to market demand and to consumer appreciation.
[0003] The various types of machines for cutting food products comprise machines in which
the food product is fed towards, and through, a plurality of blades, according to
a rectilinear trajectory, and machines in which the product is fed towards, and through,
the blades according to a curved trajectory, these latter as a result of the centrifugal
force exerted by a plate or rotatable drum onto which the product is loaded.
[0004] An example of machines in which the product is fed towards and through the blades,
according to a rectilinear trajectory is provided by
EP 2 408 599 B1, which relates to a blade assembly for producing cut food products, in which the
blades are wave-shaped, are arranged parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction
of the blade assembly, and form blade peaks and blade troughs of identical shape.
The food product, for example a potato, is cut by feeding the potato in the longitudinal
direction of the blade assembly and through these blades, in this way obtaining a
wavy slice. A plurality of sectioning blades arranged transversely to said longitudinal
direction of the blade assembly, and of feed of the potatoes, further cut the slice
into channel-shaped sticks, i.e., sticks having a U-shaped cross section.
[0005] In a machine for cutting food products provided with a blade assembly with the structure
described above, the product is fed through the blades by means of a jet of pressurized
water, which forms the means of transport towards and through the blades. This system
requires the use, and management, also from the point of view of hygiene, of large
amounts of pressurized water and requires a substantial consumption of material and
energy. When processing potatoes the wear of the blades in these systems is accelerated
by the continuous flow of pressurized water containing native starch granules, which
being hard act as abrasive material on the blades. Moreover, in the crossing point
of the blades it is possible, during production, for fibrous vegetable material to
accumulate and lodge in the slits that form the joints of the blades. This causes
damage to the product during cutting, with increased loss of starch in the conveying
fluid, which accelerates wear of the blades and causes a substantial loss of output.
Finally, this system requires complete disassembly of the cutting assembly even to
replace only one broken blade. A further drawback is due to a higher cost of blades
with respect to the cost of blades used in circular/centrifugal systems.
[0006] Examples of machines in which the product is fed towards and through the blades,
according to a curved trajectory are provided in the documents below.
[0007] EP 1 626 844 B1 describes an annular-shaped cutting head for food products, which comprises a plurality
of blades mounted on related supports, mounted inside which is a rotatable drum, into
which the food product is placed, to be thrust through centrifugal force against the
blades and sliced. The blades can be wave-shaped and are mounted vertically on the
related supports, i.e., parallel to the rotation axis of the drum. The distance between
two contiguous blades defines the thickness of the slice to be cut. As the blade supports
are rotatable on vertical pivots so as to move contiguous blades towards or away from
one another, the thickness of the slices is adjustable. This type of cutting head
is suitable to produce flat or wavy slices, for example of potatoes, but is not able
to produce sticks or the like.
[0008] A cutting head for food products of the aforesaid type is also described in
EP 2 918 384 A1. This type of cutting head is also suitable to a produce wavy or zigzag slices, for
example of potatoes, but is not able to produce sticks or the like.
[0009] US 2014/0260850 A1 describes a cutting head that produces wavy sticks, for example of potatoes, of a
width such as to define an adjacent wave peak and wave trough, i.e., a double channel.
The general structure of the cutting head is that defined for
EP 1 626 844 B1 and
EP 2 918 384 A1, the main difference being that the wave-shaped blade is provided with teeth that
extend perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal plan along which the blade
extends, starting from the cutting edge thereof, and alternated by the peaks and the
troughs of the cutting blade, so that the potato is cut directly into double channel-shaped
sticks. Production of a blade having a grate-like structure of this kind, i.e., with
teeth that extend perpendicularly from the cutting edge thereof, means that the teeth
are attached to the blade only in one point, which, besides representing a structurally
weak element of the blade, makes them relatively costly to manufacture. Moreover,
the distance between the teeth is permanent; therefore, the production of sticks of
different transverse size requires the use of another blade. This limits the use of
this cutting head. Another disadvantage of the blade structure of
US 2014/0260850 A1 derives from the fact that the blade must be replaced when either the teeth or the
wave-shaped blade, but not necessarily both, become worn, with the disadvantage of
having to replace the whole grate-shaped blade even if a part of it is still efficient
and functional. This entails costs in terms of replacing the material, machine downtime
and labour costs to carry out the replacement operations. Finally, if wishing to re-utilize
the blades after sharpening, this operation would be very difficult due to the position
in contact of the perpendicular blades.
[0010] WO 2016/115413 A1 describes an apparatus for cutting food products of the general type described above,
provided with a single cutting station along the circumference, in which the product
is first sliced, then each slice is thrust against a first knife with circular blades
that cut the slice into parallel wavy sticks, which then encounter a second knife
with multiple blades arranged transversely to those of the circular knife, adapted
in turn to cut the sticks into transverse segments. Besides not being designed to
produce a stick-shaped product, the fact of comprising a single cutting station does
not permit efficient slicing and limits the productivity of the apparatus.
[0011] JP H03 123699 U upon which the preamble of claim 1 is based, discloses a machine for cutting food
products comprising a plurality of cutting stations, each comprising a vertical wave-shaped
blade and a plurality of horizontal blades.
[0012] WO 2013/101621 A1 discloses an apparatus for cutting food products comprising a cutting head including
one or more knife assemblies having a corrugated shape to produce a food product slice.
[0013] It would therefore be desirable to obtain a machine for cutting food product into
wavy, in particular channel-shaped, sticks that reduces or eliminates the drawbacks
of prior art machines, in particular for cutting potatoes.
[0014] It would be desirable for this machine to be provided with sturdy cutting elements,
capable of minimizing accidental breakages, and which can be produced with relatively
simple mechanical processes.
[0015] It would also be desirable for this machine to be versatile and to allow simple and
effective adjustment of the sizes and the thickness of the cut product.
[0016] It would further be desirable for this machine to permit the best use of all the
blades, also those that are durable, without the need to replace them before completion
of their life cycle. Finally, it would be desirable for this machine to be capable
of ensuring high productivity and for the components used for its manufacture to allow
minimization of blade wear.
[0017] Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to provide a machine for cutting food
products into wavy sticks that eliminates or minimizes the drawbacks related to prior
art machines, as described above.
[0018] Within the scope of the aforesaid aim, an object of the present invention is to provide
a machine equipped with sturdy cutting elements, capable of minimizing accidental
breakages, and which can be produced with relatively simple mechanical processes.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for cutting food
products that permits simple and effective adjustment of the sizes and the thickness
of the cut product.
[0020] A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine that allows use
of the blades to be maximized, without the need to replace them all before completion
of their life cycle. Yet another object of the present invention is of provide a machine
that allows high productivity and minimization of blade wear.
[0021] The aforesaid and other objects and advantages of the invention, which will be apparent
in the description below, are achieved by a machine for cutting food products, comprising:
- an annular-shaped cutting head, mounted in said machine with its axis (Y) disposed
vertically, comprising a plurality of cutting stations, each cutting station comprising
at least a wave-shaped blade that extends vertically and a plurality of blades that
extend horizontally and are superimposed on and spaced vertically from one another,
said wave-shaped blade being formed with wave peaks and wave troughs;
- a rotatable drum coaxially disposed within said cutting head, provided with radially
oriented blades;
- motor means of said drum, operatively adapted to rotate said drum about its vertical
axis (Y);
characterized in that:
- each of said cutting stations comprises a support device of said wave-shaped blade
and a support device of said plurality of blades that extend horizontally, said support
devices being spaced radially from each other;
- said blades that extend horizontally are formed with a cutting edge oriented towards
the inside of said annular-shaped cutting head and with a side in contact with, or
in proximity to, said wave peaks of said wave-shaped blade.
[0022] According to an aspect of the invention, said support of said wave-shaped blade comprises
means for adjusting the inclination of said blade.
[0023] According to another aspect of the invention, said plurality of blades that extend
horizontally and are superimposed on and spaced vertically from one another, are detachably
mounted in said support device.
[0024] According to yet another aspect of the invention, said support device of said plurality
of blades that extend horizontally are provided with means for adjusting the distance
between each of said blades.
[0025] According to a further aspect of the invention, said wave-shaped blade comprises
V-shaped wave peaks and U-shaped wave troughs.
[0026] According to one more aspect of the invention, in each of said cutting stations said
blades that extend horizontally are in contact with said V-shaped wave peaks of said
wave-shaped blade. Further features and advantages of the present invention will be
more apparent from the description of preferred embodiments, illustrated by way of
non-limiting example in the accompanying figures, wherein:
- Fig. 1 is a schematic top perspective view of a cutting head according to an embodiment
of the machine for cutting food products according to the present invention;
- Fig. 2 is a schematic bottom perspective view of the cutting head of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a schematic top perspective view of some components of the machine of Fig.
1, unassembled;
- Fig. 4 is another schematic perspective view of some of the components represented
in Fig. 3;
- Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the components of Figs. 3 and 4, assembled;
- Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the components of Fig. 5 according to a
different angle;
- Fig. 7 is a schematic top perspective view of a rotatable drum of the machine for
cutting food products according to the present invention;
- Fig. 8 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the components of the drum of Fig.
7;
- Fig. 9 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a wave-shaped blade and
of the related support device, belonging to the cutting head of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the wave-shaped blade and of the related support device
of Fig. 9;
- Fig. 11 is a front elevation view of the wave-shaped blade and of the related support
device of Fig. 9;
- Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the wave-shaped blade and of the related
support device of Fig. 9;
- Fig. 12A is a schematic view of an embodiment of the wave-shaped blade of Fig. 12;
- Fig. 13 is a schematic top view of the plurality of horizontal blades and of the related
support device, belonging to the cutting head of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the components of Fig. 13;
- Fig. 14A is a view of a detail of Fig. 14;
- Fig. 15 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a wave-shaped blade and
of the related support device, belonging to the cutting head of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 16 is a side perspective view of the wave-shaped blade and of the related support
device according to the embodiment of Fig. 15;
- Fig. 17 is a schematic view of different operating dispositions of the wave-shaped
blade and of the related support device according to the embodiment of Fig. 15;
- Fig. 18 is a partially sectioned top plan view of the cutting head and of the drum
belonging to the machine for cutting food products according to the present invention;
- Fig. 19 is a view of detail of Fig. 18 which shows cutting of a food product;
- Fig. 20 is an enlarged view of a detail of Fig. 19;
- Figs. 21 and 22 show different forms of food products cut with the machine of the
present invention.
[0027] The machine for cutting food products according to the present invention is suitable
to cut numerous types of food products, in particular vegetables such as tubers and
other fruit and vegetables adapted to be sliced. Hereinafter in the description, reference
will be made to cutting potatoes, but the same considerations can be applied without
limitation to other types of products.
[0028] As mentioned in the introduction, the food processing industry requires machines
for cutting potatoes into various shapes and sizes. The cut potatoes, for example
in the form of slices or sticks, are then processed with different methods to obtain
a finished or semi-finished product. For example, the raw sticks are fried and then
frozen, so that the consumer only requires to defrost and heat the product in order
to consume it.
[0029] One type of stick in demand has a channel shape, i.e., a U-shaped cross section,
as shown in Fig. 21. The channel can be simple or multiple, for example double, as
shown in Fig. 22. The channel shape is particularly appreciated as the concave U-shape
allows the stick to be dipped in sauce, as if it were a spoon, and the potato chip
to be enjoyed accompanied by the sauce. To obtain channel-shaped sticks it is necessary
to have cutting machines provided with at least one wave-shaped blade.
[0030] The machine for cutting food products according to the invention is of the type in
which the product is fed towards the wave-shaped blade and other blades, as described
below, according to a curved trajectory, also as a result of the centrifugal force
exerted by a rotatable plate onto which the product is loaded.
[0031] With reference to Figs. 1-6 and 12A, there will now be described an embodiment of
the cutting head belonging to the machine for cutting food products according to the
invention.
[0032] The cutting head, indicated as a whole with 10, is annular-shaped and comprises a
plurality of cutting stations 12, all spaced at equal distances from a vertical central
axis Y. In other words, the section of the cutting head according to a plane perpendicular
to the axis Y is of circular shape, as shown in Fig. 18.
[0033] Each cutting station 12 comprises at least one wave-shaped blade 20 that extends
vertically and a plurality of blades 30 that extend horizontally and that are superimposed
and spaced vertically.
[0034] The wave-shaped blade 20 is formed with wave peaks 21 and wave troughs 22, as better
shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 12A. The term "wave-shaped blade that extends vertically"
is intended as a blade with wave peaks 21 and wave troughs 22 that project for the
same distance from a vertical plane Z-Z, as shown in Fig. 12A, where the plane Z-Z
is parallel to the axis Y of the cutting head and perpendicular to each plane on which
the horizontal blades 30 lie. It can be noted that Fig. 12A shows a particular embodiment
of the wave-shaped blade 20, in which the wave peaks 21 form a sharp edge, i.e., are
V-shaped, while the wave troughs 22 are rounded, i.e., are U-shaped. In a preferred
embodiment, the wave peaks 21 define an angle ε preferably comprised between 45 and
90°.
[0035] Each wave-shaped blade 20 is detachably mounted in a support device 24, which will
be described in detail below, with the cutting edge 20' of the blade projecting from
the support.
[0036] The plurality of blades 30 that extend horizontally and that are superimposed and
spaced vertically are also detachably mounted in a support device 34, which will be
described in detail below. The term "plurality of blades that extend horizontally"
indicates blades lying on planes perpendicular to the axis Y of the cutting head and
parallel to one another.
[0037] As shown in particular in Figs. 3,4 and 5, the support device 24 with the related
blade 20 and the support device 34 with the related plurality of blades 30 are associated
to form a cutting station 12 of the food product. The support devices 24 and 34 are
attached with the respective upper ends to an upper ring 40 and with the respective
lower ends to a lower ring 42.
[0038] The cutting head 20 is therefore formed by the plurality of cutting stations 12 mounted
on the rings 40, 42.
[0039] The support device 24 of the wave-shaped blade 20 is mounted inside the rings 40,
42, while the support device 34 of the related plurality of vertically superimposed
horizontal blades 30 is mounted outside the rings 40,42. Therefore, the support devices
24,34 are spaced radially from each other. The relative mounting of the two support
devices 24, 34 is implemented so that the blades 30 are aligned with the wave peaks
21 of the wave-shaped blade 20. Alignment of the blades 30 with the peaks 21 of the
wave-shaped blade 20 can cause contact between the blades 30 and the peaks 21, or
proximity of the blades 30 to the peaks 21. The term "proximity of the blades to said
wave peaks" means a disposition between blades 30 and peaks 21 in which there is no
effective contact between them but a space exists between blades 30 and peaks 21 such
that transverse cutting of the slices of potato into simple or multiple channel-shaped
sticks is in any case obtained.
[0040] With reference to Figs. 13, 14 and 14A, each blade 30 is flat and has a polygonal
shape. In the embodiment illustrated, each blade 30 has an approximately trapezoidal
shape and has a side 31 for insertion and attachment to the support device 34, a side
or cutting edge 32 and a side 33 of contact with or proximity to the wave-shaped blade
20 of the support 24. An edge 32' is defined between the cutting side 31 and the contact
side 33. The cutting side 32, which in the present description is interchangeably
indicated as cutting edge, is oriented towards the inside of the cutting head 10 and
forms an angle δ with respect to the side 31. The angle δ varies between 45 and 90°,
preferably between 60 and 70°. Alignment of the blade 30 with the wave peak 21 of
the wave-shaped blade 20 is implemented by moving the side 33 of the blade 30 in proximity
to and/or in contact with the peak 21 of the blade 20.
[0041] As shown in particular in Figs. 5 and 6, each cutting station 12 has a side directed
towards the inside of the cutting head 10 and a side directed towards the outside
of the cutting head 10. As will be described in detail below, the side directed towards
the inside forms the cutting side, i.e., the side that enters the product to be cut,
while the side directed towards the outside forms the unloading side, i.e., the side
from which the cut product is delivered.
[0042] According to the invention, the relative disposition of the blades 30 and of the
wave-shaped blade 20 is such that the edge 32' of the blade 30 is not placed in contact
with or in proximity to the cutting edge 20' of the blade 20 but is placed in a position
moved back by an angle δ with respect to the cutting edge 20', as shown in Fig. 20.
This disposition is such that the product to be cut, which is fed towards the cutting
station from the inside towards the outside in the direction of the arrow A, first
encounters the wave-shaped blade 20 and then the plurality of blades 30, first cutting
a wave-shaped slice and then cutting the slice into sticks, as will be explained below.
[0043] Figs. 3 and 4 show that the cutting station 12 is assembled on the rings 40, 42 with
screws 36 and nuts 38 passing through corresponding holes of the supports 24, 34 and
of the rings 40,42. Figs. 7 and 8 show the rotatable drum belonging to the machine
according to the invention, indicated as a whole with 50.
[0044] The drum 50 is formed by a plate 52 provided with three blades 56 disposed along
its outer edge and oriented towards the inside starting from the circumference of
the plate 52, which are attached at the top to a ring 54. The plate 52 is provided
with holes 18 for connection to motor means, not illustrated, adapted to rotate said
drum about its vertical axis Y. The components of the drum are attached with screws
57, as shown in Fig. 8. The diameter and height of the drum 50 are such as to allow
its insertion into the cutting head 20 and to allow the blades 56 to graze the inlet
side of the cutting stations 12.
[0045] Naturally, in addition to the motor means of the drum 50, the cutting machine according
to the invention comprises other known components or devices, not illustrated and
described, such as hoppers for loading the potatoes and unloading the cut sticks,
container of the cutting head, optional cover, control unit of the motor means and
of any other electrical and electronic components.
[0046] Figs. 9-12 show a first embodiment of the support 24 of the wave-shaped blade 20.
[0047] The support 24 comprises a base 23 provided with holes 26, 27 for attaching to the
upper ring 40 of the machine according to the invention, and holes 26', 27' for attaching
to the lower ring 42 of the machine according to the invention.
[0048] The base 23 is provided with a wave-shaped portion 25, having substantially the same
shape and size as the blade 20, adapted to accommodate the blade 20 with its cutting
edge 20' projecting therefrom. The portion 25 is inclined with respect to the base
23, so that when the support 24 is mounted in the cutting head the blade 20 it is
directed towards the inside of the head.
[0049] The support 24 also comprises a plate 28 provided with fingers 29 also inclined with
respect to the plate 28. The plate 28 is provided with holes 44 aligned with holes
46 of the base 23, for attachment by means of screws 48. The ends of the fingers 29
are in contact with the wave troughs 22 of the blade 20 and act thereon maintaining
it against the portion 25 of the support 24. Preferably, a finger 29 is associated
with each wave trough 22. The wave-shaped blade 20 is held in position on the wave-shaped
portion 23 by means of pivots 17 pressure fitted in holes 15 made in the wave-shaped
portion 23. The pivots 17 create points on which the blade 20 rests, so that it is
held in position and is prevented from moving following the stresses created during
cutting of the product.
[0050] The presence of the fingers 29 has the main function of facilitating unloading of
the cut product, as will be seen below, as they form a continuous inclined surface
that substantially covers the wave troughs 22, thereby facilitating delivery of the
product from the cutting station 12, preventing parts of the potato from being inserted
into the wave troughs 22 instead of being thrust towards the unloading side of the
cutting station.
[0051] The holes 27,27' of the base 23 of the support 24 are elongated so as to form a slot
in the horizontal direction.
[0052] The support 24 comprises means for adjusting its inclination with respect to the
circumference of the cutting head, which for the present objects, is considered defined
by the rings 40, 42, so that the blade 20 mounted on the support is oriented towards
the inside of the cutting head, as shown in Fig. 1. This adjustment of the inclination
of the support 24 is achieved through means for tilting the support, described below.
[0053] Figs. 1-3 show that it is possible to adjust the position of the support 24, and
more precisely the inclination of the support 24 with respect to the rings 40, 42,
and hence the disposition of the blade 20, i.e., its inclination towards the inside
of the cutting head, using means for tilting the support 24.
[0054] The means for tilting the support 24 are produced by interposing, between the rings
40, 42 and the support 24, suitable spacers 46, 47, between the upper part of the
support 24 and the upper ring 40, and corresponding spacers 46',47' between the lower
part of the support 24 and the lower ring 42. The spacers 47,47', placed in proximity
to the cutting edge of the wave-shaped blade 20, are thicker than the spacers 46,46',
so as to determine a divergence angle α between the rings 40, 42 and the blade 20
and orient the cutting edge of the blade 20 towards the inside of the cutting head,
as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 19. The spacers 46,46',47,47' are perforated so as to
allow screws 36 to pass through them into the holes 26, 26', 27, 27' of the support
24. Moreover, the slot shape of the holes 27,27' allows the spacers 47,47' to move
along the slots and further adjust the divergence angle α between the rings 40, 42
and the wave-shaped blade 20.
[0055] Due to the disposition of the supports 24 along the circumference of the annular-shaped
cutting head 20 and to adjustment of the divergence angle α with respect to the rings
40,42, a distance in radial direction is defined between the wave-shaped blades 20
of two contiguous cutting stations 12. This distance determines the thickness of the
slice of food product that is cut. In fact, each slice has an outer side that is cut
by the first blade 20 the product encounters during its trajectory in the cutting
station 12, and an inner side, which is cut by the blade 20 of the subsequent cutting
station 12 that the product encounters along its trajectory, as will be better described
below. It must be noted however that being arranged along a circumference, the blades
20 are not disposed parallel to one another. In fact, an angle β is defined between
two adjacent vertical planes Z-Z of the wave-shaped blades 20 (Fig. 19).
[0056] Figs. 13-14A show an embodiment of the support 34 of the plurality of blades 30 that
extend horizontally and that are superimposed and spaced vertically. The figures also
show the means for adjusting the distance between each blade.
[0057] The support 34 is formed with a parallelepiped-shaped cavity 35 in which the blades
30 are accommodated with interposition of spacer blocks 37, which form an embodiment
of the means for adjusting the distance between each blade.
[0058] Each blade 30 is inserted in the cavity 35 with the attachment side 31, in proximity
of which a hole 38 is made. Each spacer block 37 is also provided with a hole 38'
aligned with the holes 38. An elongated screw 39 with the threaded end 39' is inserted
into the holes 38 of the blades 30 and 38' of the spacer blocks 37, and passes through
corresponding holes 55 of the support 34 to be finally screwed into a nut 57, producing
locking of the blades 30 and of the spacer blocks 37 in the cavity 35.
[0059] This structure allows one or more of the blades 30 to be replaced or repaired, without
the need to replace blades without wear. Moreover, it allows the distance of the blades
30 from one another to be adjusted simply using spacer blocks of different length
l (Fig. 14). In a preferred embodiment, the length
l of the spacer block 37 corresponds to the distance between two wave peaks of the
wave-shaped blade 20.
[0060] The support 34 of the plurality of blades 30 is also provided with holes 58, 59 for
attachment to the upper ring 40 of the machine according to the invention, and holes
58', 59' for attachment to the lower ring 42 of the machine according to the invention.
The holes 59,59' are elongated so as to form a slot in the horizontal direction. In
this way, as shown in Fig. 3, it is possible to obtain alignment of the support 34
with the support 24 when this is moved along the excursion permitted by the elongated
holes 27,27'.
[0061] Figs. 15-17 show a second embodiment of the support, which in this embodiment is
indicated with the numeral 124, of the wave-shaped blade 20.
[0062] The support 124 comprises a base 123 coupled to two support heads 127, 127', for
attachment to the rings 40, 42 of the cutting head 20. The support head 127 is provided
with holes 126 for attachment to the upper ring 40 of the machine according to the
invention, and the support head 127' is provided with holes 126' for attachment to
the lower ring 42 of the machine according to the invention.
[0063] The base 123 is provided with a wave-shaped portion 125, having substantially the
same shape and size as the blade 20, adapted to accommodate the blade 20 with its
cutting edge 20' projecting therefrom. The portion 125 is inclined with respect to
the base 123, so that when the support 124 is mounted in the cutting head the blade
20 is directed towards the inside of this head.
[0064] The support 124 also comprises a plate 128 provided with fingers 129 also inclined
with respect to the plate 128. The plate 128 is provided with holes aligned with holes
of the base 123, not illustrated, for attachment by means of screws 148. The ends
of the fingers 129 are in contact with the wave troughs 22 of the blade 20 and contribute
to filling the wave troughs of the wave-shaped portion 125 of the support 24, and
of the blade 20, facilitating unloading of the cut potato, as was explained in relation
to the support 24. Preferably, a finger 129 is associated with each wave trough 22.
[0065] As described in relation to the fingers 29, also the fingers 129 have the important
function of facilitating unloading of the cut product, as will be seen below, as it
forms a continuous inclined surface that facilitates delivery of the cut product from
the cutting station 12. Moreover, the slits 150 of the fingers 129 allow more delicate
delivery of the cut product, to avoid impacts that could compromise the integrity
of the product and the appearance of cutting defects identifiable with wrinkles, (known
as "feathering" in jargon).
[0066] The embodiment described in Figs. 15-17 comprises means for tilting the blade 20
with respect to the support 124. In fact, coupling between the base 123 and the two
support heads 127, 127' allows rotation of the base around a central pivot 140 accommodated
in a corresponding longitudinal hole 141, as shown in Fig. 17. The sides of the base
123 are provided with holes 133, into which screws 144 passing through corresponding
slot-shaped elongated holes 143, provided in the support heads 127, 127', are screwed.
In this way, it is possible to rotate the base 123 with respect to the support heads
127, 127', hence with respect to the rings 40,42 of the cutting head. Fig. 17 shows
the support 124 without the two support heads 127, 127' highlighting the two end positions
taken by the base 123 by rotation around the pivot 140. This rotation determines an
inclination of the blade 20 towards the inside of the cutting head, defined by the
angle γ shown in Fig. 17. The maximum degree that the angle γ can take is determined
by the width of the slot-shaped elongated holes 143, and is comprised between 0 and
40°, preferably between 0 and 15°.
[0067] As the wave-shaped blade 20 is integral with the base 123, rotation of the base 123
naturally also causes rotation of the blade 20 with respect to the support heads 127,
127', hence with respect to the rings 40,42 of the cutting head. Each support head
127,127' has in its front side in proximity to the wave-shaped blade 20, an extension
147 provided with an elongated hole 145. At one side of the hole 145 marked by the
notches 149, so that by sighting through the hole and having as reference a notch
made on the portion of the base 123 corresponding to the hole 145, it is possible
to establish the degree of inclination of the base 123 with respect to the support
heads 127, 127', i.e., the angle γ, and consequently, the degree of divergence of
the blade 20 towards the inside of the cutting head.
[0068] With particular reference to Figs. 18 and 19, operation of the machine for cutting
food products according to the invention will now be described.
[0069] The food product to be cut, for example a potato 60, is inserted into the drum 50
and rests on the plate 52, or on other potatoes above it. The drum is rotated according
to the direction of the arrow A by known motor means, not illustrated. Rotation of
the drum causes a centrifugal force that thrusts the potato towards the circumference
of the plate 52, where the blades 56 push it towards the cutting stations 12 positioned
along the cutting head 10. The trajectory travelled by the potato towards and through
the cutting station is curved, and substantially circular. The potato then enters
a first cutting station 12 and encounters the wave-shaped blade 20, which, as already
stated, is oriented towards the inside of the cutting head and diverges from the lower
ring 42 of the cutting head by an angle α. The angle α is adjustable as explained
above in relation to the structure of the support 24 or 124 of the wave-shaped blade
20. It must be borne in mind that the angle α can be determined solely by inclination
of the support 24 with respect to the rings 40,42 of the cutting head, as in the case
of the embodiment of the support of the wave-shaped blade indicated with 24, or it
can be determined solely by inclination of the blade 20 according to the angle γ,
as in the case of the embodiment of the support of the wave-shaped blade indicated
with 124, in which case α = γ, or by a combination of these two embodiments.
[0070] The wave-shaped blade 20 cuts the potato initially forming a wave-shaped slice. The
slice surmounts the blade 20 for a short portion and encounters the cutting edge 32
of the blades 30, which makes transverse cuts with respect to those made by the blade
20, forming a plurality of sticks 62. As each blade 30 is positioned at each peak
21 of the blade 20, and therefore the number of the blades 30 is the same as the number
of the peaks 21, the stick 62 has the shape of a single channel, as shown in Fig.
21. In an alternative embodiment of the blade, not illustrated, the blade 30 is positioned
in a disposition alternated with respect to the peaks 21 of the blade 20, i.e., the
number of the blades 30 is halved with respect to the number of the peaks 21 of the
blade 20. In this embodiment a double channel-shaped stick 63 is produced, as shown
in Fig. 22. The sticks 62 travel on the fingers 29, 129 of the support 24,124 of the
blade 20, passing from the inlet side to the outlet side of the cutting station 12,
from which there are unloaded outside the cutting head. The presence of the fingers
29,129 facilitates unloading of the sticks 62,63 as the fingers 29,129 form a continuous
inclined surface that prevents the sticks from being inserted into the wave troughs
22 of the blade 20, or into the corresponding cavities of the portion 25,125 of the
support 24,124 of the blade 20. As already stated, in the production of the cutting
station 12 according to an embodiment of the invention, illustrated in particular
in Figs. 5 and 6, the relative disposition of the blades 30 and of the wave-shaped
blade 20 is such that the edge 31' of the blade 30 is not placed in contact with or
in proximity to the cutting edge 20' of the blade 20, but is placed in a position
withdrawn with respect to the cutting edge 20', in the direction of the arrow A (Figs.
5,18,19). This disposition is such that the potato, which is fed in the direction
of the arrow A, first encounters the wave-shaped blade 20 and then the plurality of
blades 30, first cutting a wave-shaped slice and then cutting the slice into sticks.
The two cuts, consecutive and not simultaneous, make it possible to reduce the impact
force of the product on the blades, dividing it into two subsequent moments. This
reduces any damages that might be caused to the product. Moreover, as described previously
in relation to Fig. 14A, to further reduce the force required for the cut, the blade
30 does not cut the product perpendicularly to the direction of feed of the product
but according to an angle δ, preferably comprised between 60° and 70°, as can be noted
in Figs. 18-20. The potato on which the cut has been made travels along the inner
side of the blade 20, i.e., the side opposite the side on which the fingers 29 (or
129) are present, and then along the wave-shaped portion 25 (o 125), as can be better
understood from Fig. 5. The potato then encounters the subsequent cutting station
12, which in the same way cuts the side of the slice and immediately afterwards cuts
it into sticks. The centrifugal force and the thrust of the blades 56 allow the remaining
part of potato to be thrust against the subsequent cutting stations, until cutting
has been completed.
[0071] Due to the disposition of the supports 24 along the circumference of the cutting
head 20, and to adjustment of the divergence angle α with respect to the rings 40,42,
a distance in radial direction is defined between the wave-shaped blades 20 of two
contiguous cutting stations 12. As stated above, this distance determines the thickness
of the slice of food product that is cut. The thickness of each slice of potato, hence
of each stick 62, is determined by the distance in radial direction of the two successive
blades 20.
[0072] According to the various aspects of the invention, the machine for cutting food products
has numerous advantages with respect to prior art machines.
[0073] Firstly, the vertical wave-shaped blade that cuts the slice is independent and separate,
even though in contact with or in proximity to, the horizontal blades that cut the
slice into sticks. In this way, when necessary, it is possible to replace single blades
and not all the blades simultaneously, as instead occurs when the sticks are cut by
means of a single grate-shaped blade.
[0074] Other advantages consist in the versatility with which the inclination of the wave-shaped
blade towards the inside of the cutting head and the distance of the vertical blades
can be adjusted, in order to cut sticks with a single or multiple channels.
[0075] Moreover, the embodiment in which the horizontal blades 30 are placed at the V-shaped
peaks of the wave-shaped blade 20 makes it possible to obtain channel-shaped sticks
with a precise U-shaped cross section.
[0076] With the machine according to the present invention it is also possible to achieve
high productivity in terms of cut product, without jamming due to the accumulation
of cut product in the cutting stations. In fact, due to the particular structure of
the blade supports, the cut sticks are easily unloaded from the cutting head.
[0077] Finally, the machine according to the invention can be produced with numerous cutting
stations, for example 16 or even more cutting stations, disposed on the circumference
of the cutting head. The high number of cutting stations reduces the distance between
two consecutive blades, making it possible to obtain greater precision during cutting
and to avoid unwanted movements of the product between consecutive cuts. This also
reduces the amount of scraps and increases output and hourly capacity.
1. Machine for cutting food products into wavy sticks (62; 63), comprising:
- an annular-shaped cutting head (10) comprising a plurality of cutting stations (12),
each cutting station comprising at least a wave-shaped blade (20) that extends vertically
and a plurality of blades (30) that extend horizontally and are superimposed on and
spaced vertically from one another, said wave-shaped blade (20) being formed with
wave peaks (21) and wave troughs (22), each of said cutting stations (12) comprising
a support device (24; 124) of said wave-shaped blade (20) that extends vertically,
and a support device (34) of said plurality of blades (30) that extend horizontally,
which are detachably mounted in said support device (34);
- a rotatable drum (50) coaxially disposed within said cutting head (10), provided
with blades (56) placed along the outer edge of said drum;
- motor means of said drum, operatively adapted to rotate said drum about its vertical
axis (Y);
characterized in that:
- said wave-shaped blade (20) that extends vertically has a cutting edge (20') projecting
from said support (24; 124), said support devices (24, 124; 34) of said wave-shaped
blade (20) and of said plurality of blades (30) that extend horizontally are spaced
radially from each other;
said blades (30) that extend horizontally are formed with a cutting edge (32) oriented
towards the inside of said cutting head (20) and forming an angle (δ) with respect
to said cutting edge (20') of said wave-shaped blade (20), said blades (30) that extend
horizontally being aligned with said wave peaks (21) of said wave-shaped blade (20);
whereby the food product to be cut, which is fed towards the cutting stations, first
encounters said wave-shaped blade (20) then said plurality of superimposed blades
(30) that extend horizontally.
2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said wave-shaped blade (20) comprises means (46,47,46 ', 47'; 140,143,144) for adjusting
the position of said blade.
3. Machine according to one or more of claims 1-2, characterized in that said support device (34) of said plurality of blades (30) that extend horizontally
and are vertically superimposed is provided with means (35, 37) for adjusting the
distance between each of said blades (30).
4. Machine according to one or more of claims 1-3, characterized in that in each of said cutting stations (12) said blades (30) that extend horizontally are
in contact with, or in proximity to, said wave peaks (21) of said wave-shaped blade.
5. Machine according to one or more of claims 1-4, characterized in that said wave-shaped blade (20) comprises V-shaped wave peaks (21) and U-shaped wave
troughs (22).
6. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said blades (30) that extend horizontally are in contact with, or in proximity to,
said V-shaped wave peaks (21) of said wave-shaped blade (20).
7. Machine according to one or more of the claims 1-3, characterized in that each of said blades that extend horizontally and are vertically superimposed has
a polygonal shape and has a side (31) for fastening to the relative support device
(34), a cutting edge (32) and a side (33) of contact with, or proximity to, said wave-shaped
blade (20) mounted in said support device (24;124).
8. Machine according to one or more of Claims 1-7, characterized in that said support device (24) of said wave-shaped blade (20) comprises a base (23; 123)
provided with a wave-shaped portion (25; 125) adapted to accommodate said wave-shaped
blade (20), said wave-shaped portion (25; 125) being inclined with respect to said
base (23; 123) so that said wave-shaped blade (20) is operatively directed towards
the inside of said cutting head (10).
9. Machine according to one or more of Claims 1-7, characterized in that said support device (24; 124) of said wave-shaped blade (20) comprises a plate (28;
128) provided with fingers (29; 129) inclined with respect to said plate (28; 128),
said fingers being superimposed on said wave troughs (22) of said blade (20).
10. Machine according to Claim 9, characterized in that one of said fingers (29; 129) is associated with each of said wave troughs (22) of
said blade (20).
11. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said means for adjusting the position of said wave-shaped blade (20) comprise means
for tilting said support (24; 124) which comprise spacers (46, 47, 46', 47') of different
thickness, adapted to determine a divergence angle (α) between said support (24; 124)
and said cutting head (20).
12. Machine according to Claim 11, characterized in that said means for adjusting the inclination of said wave-shaped blade (20) comprise
means for tilting said blade (20) with respect to said support (124).
13. Machine according to one of Claims 11 or 12, characterized in that said means for adjusting the inclination of said wave-shaped blade (20) comprise
a pair of support heads (127, 127'), each attached to rings (40, 42) of said cutting
head (10), said base (123) of said support (124) being rotatably coupled to said pair
of support heads (127, 127').
14. Machine according to claim 13, characterized in that said base (123) is rotatably mounted around a central pivot (140) with respect to
said support heads (127, 127') and is provided with means for locking the rotation
144, 143) with respect to said support heads (127, 127').
1. Maschine zum Schneiden von Nahrungsmitteln in wellenförmige Stangen (62; 63), aufweisend:
- einen ringförmigen Schneidekopf (10), aufweisend eine Mehrzahl an Schneidestationen
(12), wobei jede Schneidestation zumindest eine wellenförmige Klinge (20), die vertikal
verläuft, und eine Mehrzahl an Klingen (30), die horizontal verlaufen und übereinandergelegt
sind und vertikal voneinander beabstandet sind, aufweist, wobei die wellenförmige
Klinge (20) mit Wellenbergen (21) und Wellentälern (22) ausgebildet ist, wobei jede
der Schneidestationen (12) eine Tragevorrichtung (24; 124) der wellenförmigen Klinge
(20), die vertikal verläuft, und eine Tragevorrichtung (34) der Mehrzahl an Klingen
(30), die horizontal verlaufen, aufweist, die abnehmbar in der Tragevorrichtung (34)
montiert sind;
- eine drehbare Trommel (50), die sich koaxial innerhalb des Schneidekopfes (10) befindet
und mit Klingen (56) versehen ist, die entlang der äußeren Kante der Trommel platziert
sind;
- eine Motoreinrichtung der Trommel, die operativ darauf ausgelegt ist, die Trommel
um ihre vertikale Achse (Y) zu drehen;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:
- die wellenförmige Klinge (20), die vertikal verläuft, eine Schneidkante (20') aufweist,
die von dem Träger (24; 124) hervorragt, wobei die Tragevorrichtungen (24, 124; 34)
der wellenförmigen Klinge (20) und der Mehrzahl an Klingen (30), die horizontal verlaufen,
radial voneinander beabstandet sind;
wobei die Klingen (30), die horizontal verlaufen, mit einer Schneidkante (32) gebildet
sind, die in Richtung des Inneren des Schneidekopfes (20) orientiert ist und einen
Winkel (δ) in bezug auf die Schneidkante (20') der wellenförmigen Klinge (20) bildet,
wobei die horizontal verlaufenden Klingen (30) auf die Wellenberge (21) der wellenförmigen
Klinge (20) ausgerichtet sind; wodurch das zu schneidende Nahrungsmittel, das in Richtung
der Schneidestationen geführt wird, zuerst auf die wellenförmige Klinge (20) und dann
die Mehrzahl an übereinandergelegten Klingen (30), die horizontal verlaufen, trifft.
2. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die wellenförmige Klinge (20) Einrichtungen (46, 47, 46', 47'; 140, 143, 144) zum
Einstellen der Position der Klinge aufweist.
3. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1-2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Tragevorrichtung (34) der Mehrzahl an Klingen (30), die horizontal verlaufen
und vertikal übereinandergelegt sind, Einrichtungen (35, 37) zum Einstellen der Entfernung
zwischen jeder der Klingen (30) aufweist.
4. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1-3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in jeder der Schneidestationen (12) die Klingen (30), die horizontal verlaufen, mit
den Wellenbergen (21) der wellenförmigen Klinge in Kontakt stehen oder sich in deren
Nähe befinden.
5. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1-4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die wellenförmige Klinge (20) V-förmige Wellenberge (21) und U-förmige Wellentäler
(22) aufweist.
6. Maschine nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Klingen (30), die horizontal verlaufen, mit V-förmigen Wellenbergen (21) der
wellenförmigen Klinge (20) in Kontakt stehen oder sich in deren Nähe befinden.
7. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1-3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede der horizontal verlaufenden und vertikal übereinandergelegten Klingen eine polygonale
Form aufweist und eine Seite (31) zum Befestigen an der relativen Tragevorrichtung
(34), eine Schneidkante (32) und eine Seite (33) des Kontakts mit oder der Nähe zu
der wellenförmigen Klinge (20), die in der Tragevorrichtung (24; 124) montiert ist,
aufweist.
8. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1-7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Tragevorrichtung (24) der wellenförmigen Klinge (20) einen Sockel (23; 123) aufweist,
der mit einem wellenförmigen Abschnitt (25; 125) versehen ist, der darauf ausgelegt
ist, die wellenförmige Klinge (20) aufzunehmen, wobei der wellenförmige Abschnitt
(25; 125) in bezug auf den Sockel (23; 123) geneigt ist, so dass die wellenförmige
Klinge (20) operativ in Richtung des Inneren des Schneidekopfes (10) gerichtet ist.
9. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1-7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Tragevorrichtung (24; 124) der wellenförmigen Klinge (20) eine Platte (28; 128)
aufweist, die mit Fingern (29; 129) versehen ist, die in bezug auf die Platte (28;
128) geneigt sind, wobei die Finger an den Wellentälern (22) der Klinge (20) übereinandergelegt
sind.
10. Maschine nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass einer der Finger (29; 129) jedem der Wellentäler (22) der Klinge (20) zugeordnet
ist.
11. Maschine nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einrichtungen für das Einstellen der Position der wellenförmigen Klinge (20)
eine Einrichtung zum Neigen des Trägers (24; 124) aufweist, die Abstandhalter (46,
47, 46', 47') mit unterschiedlicher Dicke aufweist und darauf ausgelegt ist, einen
Divergenzwinkel (α) zwischen dem Träger (24; 124) und dem Schneidekopf (20) zu bestimmen.
12. Maschine nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einrichtungen zum Einstellen der Neigung der wellenförmigen Klinge (20) Einrichtungen
aufweisen, um die Klinge (20) in bezug auf den Träger (124) zu neigen.
13. Maschine nach einem der Ansprüche 11 oder 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einrichtungen zum Einstellen der Neigung der wellenförmigen Klinge (20) ein Paar
Trageköpfe (127, 127') aufweisen, die jeweils an Ringen (40, 42) des Schneidekopfes
(10) befestigt sind, wobei der Sockel (123) des Trägers (124) drehbar mit dem Paar
Trageköpfe (127; 127') verbunden ist.
14. Maschine nach Anspruch 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Sockel (123) drehbar um einen im Verhältnis zu den Trageköpfen (127, 127') zentralen
Drehpunkt (140) montiert ist und über Einrichtungen zum Sperren der Drehung (144,
143) im Verhältnis zu den Trageköpfen (127, 127') verfügt.
1. Machine permettant de découper des produits alimentaires en bâtons ondulés (62 ; 63),
comprenant :
- une tête de découpe (10) de forme annulaire comprenant une pluralité de postes de
découpe (12), chaque poste de découpe comprenant au moins une lame (20) en forme de
vagues qui s'étend verticalement et une pluralité de lames (30) qui s'étendent horizontalement
et sont superposées et espacées verticalement les unes par rapport aux autres, ladite
lame (20) en forme de vagues étant formée avec des pics de vagues (21) et des creux
de vagues (22), chacun desdits postes de découpe (12) comprenant un dispositif de
support (24 ; 124) de ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues qui s'étend verticalement,
et un dispositif de support (34) de ladite pluralité de lames (30) qui s'étendent
horizontalement, qui sont montés de manière détachable dans ledit dispositif de support
(34) ;
- un tambour rotatif (50) disposé de manière coaxiale dans ladite tête de découpe
(10), doté de lames (56) placées le long du bord extérieur dudit tambour ;
- des moyens moteurs dudit tambour, adaptés de manière fonctionnelle pour faire tourner
ledit tambour autour de son axe vertical (Y) ;
caractérisée en ce que :
- ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues qui s'étend verticalement présente un bord de
découpe (20') faisant saillie depuis ledit support (24 ; 124), lesdits dispositifs
de support (24, 124 ; 34) de ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues et de ladite pluralité
de lames (30) qui s'étendent horizontalement sont espacés radialement les uns des
autres ;
lesdites lames (30) qui s'étendent horizontalement sont formées avec un bord de découpe
(32) orienté vers l'intérieur de ladite tête de découpe (20) et formant un angle (δ)
par rapport audit bord de découpe (20') de ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues, lesdites
lames (30) qui s'étendent horizontalement étant alignées sur lesdits pics de vagues
(21) de ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues ; selon laquelle le produit alimentaire
devant être découpé, qui est avancé vers les postes de découpe, rencontre tout d'abord
ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues puis ladite pluralité de lames (30) superposées
qui s'étendent horizontalement.
2. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues comprend des moyens (46, 47, 46', 47' ; 140,
143, 144) permettant d'ajuster la position de ladite lame.
3. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 2, caractérisée en ce que ledit dispositif de support (34) de ladite pluralité de lames (30) qui s'étendent
horizontalement et sont superposées verticalement est doté de moyens (35, 37) permettant
d'ajuster la distance entre chacune desdites lames (30).
4. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que dans chacun desdits postes de découpe (12) lesdites lames (30) qui s'étendent horizontalement
sont en contact avec lesdits, ou à proximité desdits, pics de vagues (21) de ladite
lame en forme de vagues.
5. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée en ce que ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues comprend des pics de vagues (21) en forme de
V et des creux de vagues (22) en forme de U.
6. Machine selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que lesdites lames (30) qui s'étendent horizontalement sont en contact avec lesdits,
ou à proximité desdits, pics de vagues (21) en forme de V de ladite lame (20) en forme
de vagues.
7. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que chacune desdites lames qui s'étendent horizontalement et sont superposées verticalement
présente une forme polygonale et présente un côté (31) permettant d'être fixé au dispositif
de support (34) relatif, un bord de découpe (32) et un côté (33) de contact avec,
ou à proximité de, ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues montée dans ledit dispositif
de support (24 ; 124).
8. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisée en ce que ledit dispositif de support (24) de ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues comprend
une base (23 ; 123) dotée d'une portion en forme de vagues (25 ; 125) adaptée pour
recevoir ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues, ladite portion en forme de vagues (25
; 125) étant inclinée par rapport à ladite base (23 ; 123) de sorte que ladite lame
(20) en forme de vagues soit dirigée de manière fonctionnelle vers l'intérieur de
ladite tête de découpe (10).
9. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisée en ce que ledit dispositif de support (24 ; 124) de ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues comprend
une plaque (28 ; 128) dotée de doigts (29 ; 129) inclinés par rapport à ladite plaque
(28 ; 128), lesdits doigts étant superposés auxdits creux de vagues (22) de ladite
lame (20).
10. Machine selon la revendication 9, caractérisée en ce qu'un desdits doigts (29 ; 129) est associé à chacun desdits creux de vagues (22) de
ladite lame (20).
11. Machine selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens permettant d'ajuster la position de ladite lame (20) en forme de vagues
comprennent des moyens permettant de pencher ledit support (24 ; 124) qui comprennent
des écarteurs (46, 47, 46', 47') d'une épaisseur différente, adaptés pour déterminer
un angle de divergence (α) entre ledit support (24 ; 124) et ladite tête de découpe
(20).
12. Machine selon la revendication 11, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens permettant d'ajuster l'inclinaison de ladite lame (20) en forme de
vagues comprennent des moyens permettant de pencher ladite lame (20) par rapport audit
support (124).
13. Machine selon l'une des revendications 11 ou 12, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens permettant d'ajuster l'inclinaison de ladite lame (20) en forme de
vagues comprennent une paire de têtes de support (127, 127'), chacune attachée à des
anneaux (40, 42) de ladite tête de découpe (10), ladite base (123) dudit support (124)
étant accouplée de manière rotative à ladite paire de têtes de support (127, 127').
14. Machine selon la revendication 13, caractérisée en ce que ladite base (123) est montée de manière rotative autour d'un pivot central (140)
par rapport auxdites têtes de support (127, 127') et est dotée de moyens permettant
de bloquer la rotation (144, 143) par rapport auxdites têtes de support (127, 127').