Dicing machine

Claim 1

Apparatus for cutting a product into diced sections comprising: a) a rotatable first knife roll having a plurality of spaced apart, generally circular knives extending across a product feed path for cutting the product into a plurality of strips; b) a rotatable feed drum extending generally parallel to the fist knife roll and defining therewith a feed throat, the rotatable feed drum having a peripheral surface defining a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending generally across the product feed path adapted to contact the product so as to control the speed of the product through the feed throat, each of the longitudinal grooves being defined by a generally radially extending face and a generally longitudinally extending face, wherein the generally radially extending face faces in a direction generally opposite to the direction of rotation of the feed drum; c) a conveyor assembly including a driven, generally horizontal feed belt for supporting and conveying the product, the conveyor assembly defining an exit end; d) a rotatable feed roll positioned near the exit end of the feed belt, the rotatable feed roll and the feed belt adapted to engage and convey the food product directly into the feed throat; e) biasing means operatively associated with the feed roll to resiliently bias the feed roll against the product on the feed belt. f) a crosscut assembly including a second knife roll having a plurality of elongate knifes extending generally across the product feed path; g) a stripper plate defining a shear edge, the stripper plate being operatively associated with the first knife roll to remove the product from between the spaced knives after the product has been cut into a plurality of strips and operatively associated with the second knife roll such that the elongate knives cooperate with the shear edge to cut the product strips into diced sections; and, h) drive means operatively associated with the first knife roll, the feed drum, the feed roll and the second knife roll so as to rotate the first knife roll, the feed drum, the feed roll and the second knife roll.