J.r. Simplot Company

Patrick J Linder

Richard B Jensen

An improved knife fixture is provided of the type having a plurality of knife blades for cutting food products, such as cutting potatoes into elongated French fry strips, wherein the knife fixture includes a detector system and method for promptly indicating breakage of a knife blade. The knife fixture generally comprises a fixture frame adapted to support the plurality of knife blades under tension during normal cutting operation, in accordance with the knife fixture disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,623. The detector system and method comprises, in one preferred form, mounting the knife blades for passage of an electrical current and monitoring the current level for abrupt changes indicative of a broken blade. In another preferred form, a strain gauge is provided on the fixture frame to measure the tension force applied to the knife blades, and to permit monitoring of abrupt changes in tension indicative of a broken blade.

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Hermiston, OR, United States of America

Patrick J Linder