5  EP 3 800 019 A1 6  invention. (about 3 to 7 mm), and most preferably of about 0.15 to 0.225 inch (about 3.8 to 5.7 mm). FIGS. 13a-c schematically represent interference zones ofbiasedknivesinaccordance withanaspect this invention. 5 [0017] For convenience, consistent reference num- bers are used in reference to a first embodiment of the invention, including but not limited to representations in FIGS.5,8,11e,12,and 13c,todenotethe same orfunc- tionally equivalent elements as described in FIGS. 1-4. FIGS.17-23depictadditionalembodiments ofthe inven- tion in which consistent reference numbers are used to identifythe sameorfunctionallyequivalentelements,but with a numerical prefix (1, 2, or 3, etc.) added to distin- guish the particular embodiment from the first embodi- ment. FIG.14 iscross-sectionaland top views representing an impellerwith an impactabsorbing materialon the side of the impeller that impacts food product in ac- cordance with an aspect of this invention. 10 15 20 FIG. 15 is a side view representing a profile of three types of knife assemblies in accordance with an as- pect of this invention. FIG.16isa cross-sectionalview showing phase mis- alignment in a chip. FIG. 17 is a side view representing a cutting appa- ratus,with partialcutaways toexpose a cutting head within the cutting apparatus in accordance with an aspect this invention. FIG.18 isa side view ofthecutting apparatus ofFIG. 17, with partial cutaways to expose the cutting head within the cutting apparatus. 25 30 FIG. 19 is a side view representing a cutting appa- ratus,with partialcutaways toexpose a cutting head within the cutting apparatus in accordance with an aspect this invention. [0018] The cutting apparatus of the first embodiment isrepresented inFIG.5 as comprising an annular-shaped cutting head 12. The cutting head 12 is configured for operation with an impeller 10, such as of the types rep- resented in FIGS. 2 and 4, and can be used in various types of machines including that represented in FIG. 1. Regardless of its particularconfiguration,the impeller10 iscoaxiallymountedwithinthe cuttinghead 12 forrotation about an axis of the cutting head 12 in a rotational direc- tion relative to the cutting head 12. Furthermore, the im- peller10 comprises atleastone paddle 16 and preferably multiple paddles 16 circumferentially spacedalong a pe- rimeter thereof for delivering food product radially out- ward toward the cutting head 12. The cutting head 12 comprises at least one and preferably multiple knife as- semblies arranged in sets spaced around the circumfer- ence of the cutting head 12. Each knife assembly in- cludes a knife 14 and means for securing the knife 14 to the cutting head 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the securing means comprises a shoe 22, a knife holder 27 mounted to the shoe 22, and a clamp 26 that secures the knife 14 to the knife holder 27. Though shown as discrete components, the knife 14 and holder 27 or the shoe 22 and holder 27 could be fabricated as an integral unitary piece. Although the securing means of the knife assembly is represented as comprising a shoe 22, knife holder 27, and clamp 26, it is foreseeable that the knife 14 could be secured by other means such as, but not limited to, fasteners or bolts. The knife 14 is mounted to extend radially inward toward the impeller 10 and has a cutting edge 48 that terminates at a knife tip 14a project- ing toward the impeller 10. 35 40 FIGS. 20-21 are perspective views representing a cutting wheel in accordance with an aspect this in- vention. FIGS. 22-23 are perspective views representing a knife assemblyfora cutting wheelin accordance with an aspect this invention. [0019] Alternatively or in addition, the clamp 26 may be a quick clamping device thatallowsforrelativelyquick removal of the knife assembly from the cutting head 12, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,658,133, whose subjectmatterrelating to a quickclamping device is incorporated herein by reference. An exemplary quick clampingdeviceisrepresented in FIGS. 6and 7. Asrep- resented, the knife 14 is secured to the knife assembly by a radially outer knife holder 27a and a radially inner knife holder27b.Inthisparticularexample,the knife hold- er 27b comprises an insert 58 that serves to protect the edge of the knife holder 27b from debris. A clamping rod 60 is secured to the radially inner holder 27b with a fas- [0016] The present invention provides cutting appara- tuses capable of producing a variety of food products, including chips from potatoes, and to the resulting sliced food product produced with the apparatus. Although the invention willbedescribed herein ascuttingfood product, itisforeseeablethatthe cutting apparatusesmay be used for cutting other materials and therefore the scope of the invention should notbe limitedto food products.Thecut- tingapparatuses arepreferablyadapted to cutfood prod- ucts into slices with generally parallel cuts resulting in food product slices having cross-sections with an ampli- tude of at least 0.1 inches (about 2.5 mm) or greater. Preferably, the cutting apparatuses are adapted to pro- duce food product slices having cross-sections with a large amplitude of about 0.100 to 0.350 inch (about 2.5 to 9 mm), more preferably of about 0.12 to 0.275 inch 45 50 55 4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION