General Mills, Inc.

Peter M Smith

Barrie R Froseth

Loren J Gordon

S Ganesh Ganesan

Douglas J Brash

A slitting assembly ( ) in the preferred form of a rotary cutter includes a shaft ( ) upon which relatively thin, large diameter annular blades ( ) are slid and held in place on the shaft by relatively large diameter hubs ( ). An axial bore ( ) is provided through the shaft ( ) for circulating a coolant in fluid communication therewith by rotary joints ( ). Thus, the blades ( ) are cooled below ambient temperature by conduction through hubs ( ) and shaft ( ) for imparting continuous longitudinal cuts in a band ( ) of fat-free brownie products having an internal temperature higher than ambient. The outer periphery of the blades ( ) rotate against a back-up roll ( ) rotatable about a parallel axis below the band ( ). Scrapers ( ) are provided to remove any product sticking to the back-up roll ( ) and the axial faces of the blades ( ).

Assembly and methods for slitting fat-free products

A slitting assembly (10) is disclosed in the preferred form of a rotary cutter including a shaft (50) upon which relatively thin, large diameter annular blades (56) are slid. Relatively large diameter hubs (60) are provided having inner surfaces for receipt on the shaft (50) and having axial ends which flushly abut with the axial faces of the blades (56) for holding the blades (56) in axially spaced relations on the shaft (50). An axial bore (54) is provided through the shaft (50) for circulating a coolant in fluid communication therewith by rotary unions (74, 78). Thus, the blades (56) are cooled below ambient temperature by conduction through hubs (60) and shaft (50) for imparting continuous longitudinal cuts in a band (12) of fat-free brownie products having an internal temperature higher than ambient. The outer periphery of the blades (56) rotate against a back-up roll (22) rotatable about a parallel axis below the band (12). Scrapers (30, 70) are provided to remove any product sticking to the back-up roll (22) and the axial faces of the blades (56).

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Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Peter M Smith