17  EP 3 800 019 A1 18  17.An apparatusaccording to clause 1,whereinthe paddles (16) of the impeller (10) are adapted to de- form to conform to the shape of the food product. 18.An apparatusaccording to clause 1,whereinthe knife assembliescomprise surfaces thatface the im- peller(10)and have corrugated shapescorrespond- ing to the corrugated shape of the knife (14). 5 10 15 rearwardly of the axis of rotation with respect to thedirection ofcutting head(112)rotation to dis- pose the outlet opening (138) of the feed chute (140) adjacent the lower circumferential wall portion of the cutting head (112) so that each food product is caused to engage the lower cir- cumferential wall portion of the cutting head (112)forslicing bythe knife (114)during rotation of the cutting head (112). 26. An apparatus according to clause 25, wherein thelarge-amplitude cross-section ofthe food product slice has an amplitude of about 2.5 to 9 millimeters. 27. An apparatus according to clause 25, wherein thelarge-amplitude cross-section ofthe food product slice has an amplitude of about 3 to 7 millimeters. 28. An apparatus according to clause 25, wherein thelarge-amplitude cross-section ofthe food product slice has an amplitude ofabout3.8 to 5.7millimeters. 29. An apparatus according to clause 25, wherein a leading edge of each knife (114) corresponds to a trailing end of an adjacent knife assembly to define a sufficiently low rake-off angle to reduce through- slice cracking of the food product. 20. An apparatus according to clause 18, wherein the knife assemblies comprise means (52) for accu- ratelyaligning the corrugated shapesofthe surfaces ofthe knife assemblies with the corrugated shape of the knife (14). 21.An apparatusaccording to clause 1,whereinthe knife assemblies have fingers (50) that engage val- leys defined by the corrugated shape of the knife (14). 20 25 30 35 22. An apparatus according to clause 21, wherein the fingers (50) of the knife assemblies are beveled on a side of the knife assemblies facing the impeller (10). 23.An apparatusaccording to clause 1,whereinthe knife assemblies comprise a shoe (22),aknife holder 30. An apparatus according to clause 29, wherein the rake-off angle for the knife (114) is less than 23 degrees. 31. An apparatus according to clause 29, wherein the rake-off angle for the knife (114) is less than 20 degrees. 32. An apparatus according to clause 29, wherein the rake-off angle for the knife (114) is about 17 de- grees. (27) mounted to the shoe (22) and a clamp (26) se- curing the knife (14) to the knife holder (27). 25.An apparatus forcuttingfood productcomprising: 24.An apparatusaccording to clause 1,whereinthe knife assemblies comprise a quick clamping device (26) for securing the knife (14). 33. An apparatus according to clause 25, wherein each knife (114) has a biased bevel comprising a bevel (54) that faces away from the central axis of rotation. 34. An apparatus according to clause 33, wherein the bevel (54) of the biased bevel has a grind angle of about 7° to 11 °. 35. An apparatus according to clause 25, wherein theknifeassembliescomprise surfacesthatfacethe central axis of rotation and have corrugated shapes corresponding to the corrugated shape of the knife (114). 36. An apparatus according to clause 35, wherein the corrugated shape of the surfaces of the knife assemblyare shaped differentlythanthe corrugated shapes of the knives (114) to minimize surface con- tact between the unsliced food product and the cut- ting head (112). a cylindrical-shaped cutting head (112)mounted forrotation aboutahorizontallydisposed central axis of rotation, the cutting head (112) compris- ing a circular-shaped front opening and a cir- cumferential wall defined in part by at least one knife assembly comprising an axially extending knife (114) and means for securing the knife (114)tothecutting head (112), each knife (114) having a corrugated shape to produce a food productslicewith generallyparallelcuts,where- in the food product slice has a periodic shape and a large-amplitude cross-section; means for rotating the cutting head (112) about the central axis of rotation; and a stationary hollow elongate feed chute (140) disposed through the front opening and includ- ing aninletopening and an outlet opening (138) for containing and consecutively feeding a sup- ply of food products to the knife (114); wherein the longitudinal axis of the feed chute (140) intersects the circumferential wall of the cutting head (112) approximatelymidway be- tween the opposite ends of the wall and spaced 55 50 45 40 37. An apparatus according to clause 35, wherein the knife assemblies comprise means (52) for align- ingthe corrugated shapes ofthesurfaces ofthe knife assemblies with the corrugated shape of the knife (114). 38. An apparatus according to clause 25, wherein the knife assemblies comprise fingers (50) that en- 10 19. An apparatus according to clause 18, wherein the corrugated shapes of the surfaces of the knife assembliesare shaped differentlythan thecorrugat- ed shapes of the knives (14) to minimize surface contact between the unsliced food product and the cutting head (12).