The present invention relates to the field of food preparation. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus of cutting potato or any other similar vegetable or fruit, pierced by the wooden skewer through the longitudinal axes, in to spiral and spiral stretched along the skewer covering always the same length of the skewer regardless on the size of the potato within appropriate potato size range,

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Food product developed for catering at events, but not limited to, like sport, music, exhibitions, markets and all other gatherings is potato on the skewer (but not limited to the potato only) cut in to spiral shape spread over the length of the skewer, deep in to batter and fried for immediate consumption. As this product is served at events involving thousands of people the major issue is how to produce quantity to satisfy demand in relatively short period of time within the limited space and available equipment.

Prior art methods of making potato twist is based on manually operated apparatus designed to cut potato in spiral which is already placed on the skewer or alternatively inserted skewer after cutting. Spreading cut potato over the skewer was done by hand in very labour intensive operation and operator dependant with varying aesthetic appearance. New invention eliminates all negative aspects of making potato twist and significantly increases output per operator.

Currently available are manual device designed just to cut potato in to spiral without skewer which is inserted after the cutting process. Spreading potato in to spiral at appropriate pitch, on to manually inserted skewer is done by operator manually. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is preferred object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for potato twist (or any other applicable vegetable or fruit) making that addresses or at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art.

It is preferred object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for potato twist making that enable caterer to affordable, practical and efficient method of, on site, making potato twist (or any other applicable vegetable and fruit twist).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, but not necessarily the broadest aspect, the invention resides in a method of potato cutting and forming potato twist comprising:

at least one fresh potato (or any other applicable piece of fruit and vegetable) with inserted skewer along longitudinal axes and placed on predetermined position on the skewer;

apparatus for potato cutting in to spiral and spreading over the skewer (forming potato twist) comprising of structural frame, cutting blade, potato support and skewer centralizing for rotation purposes, primary threaded spindle for cutting potato in to spiral, secondary threaded spindle for skewer pushing at appropriate ratio to spiral cutting, electric motor with timing belt arrangement to drive primary spindle, electric motor with timing belt arrangement to drive secondary spindle, electronic speed control for both motors, electric device (linear transducer) to measure potato size, PLC to control operation and calculate necessary parameters, control panel for human/machine interface. According to second aspect, but not necessarily the broadest aspect, the invention resides in method of potato cutting and forming potato twist comprising:

fresh potato with inserted skewer is placed on to primary threaded spindle on one end and against potato support and cutting blade on the other end. Skewer is used to provide axes of rotation and maintain centralized position. Bringing potato against cutting blade and potato support is enabled by disengaging primary threaded spindle half nut and spring tension. Placing the primary threaded spindle with potato in position, secondary threaded spindle is pushed against skewer by disengaging secondary threaded spindle half nut and spring tension. Process of potato cutting in the spiral form is performed by turning potato via primary spindle over the knife placed perpendicular to the skewer and almost touching the skewer. Continuous spiral cutting is achieved by feeding potato with primary spindle with appropriate thread pitch to insure constant and predetermined thickness of the potato spiral flight.

Process of spreading spiral over the skewer is performed via secondary threaded spindle which pushes skewer faster forward than the speed created by cutting spiral. Differential speed forward of the potato and the skewer (skewer faster than potato) creates gap between spiral flights which is variable dependant on the potato size. All potatoes within acceptable size range (60mm to 130mm) are spread on the same length of the skewer by stretching spiral more for the smaller potatoes and less for bigger potatoes.

According to third aspect, but not necessarily the broadest aspect, the invention resides in method of cutting and forming potato twist comprising:

direct measuring of each potato size and transferring information through control system and CPU calculating parameters and setting up motor drives to achieve always the same length of the potato spiral on the skewer.

In one aspect, there is provided a method and apparatus for cutting potato or any other similar vegetable or fruit forming potato twist (or any other suitable vegetable or fruit twist) in a single operation combining and preciously controlling all movements. In another aspect, there is provided an apparatus for producing a spiral from a vegetable or fruit comprising:

a cutter; and

a motor arranged for rotationally driving the cutter or the vegetable/fruit such that the cutter rotates relative to the vegetable/fruit through the vegetable or fruit;

wherein the apparatus inserts a skewer through the vegetable or fruit such that the apparatus produces the spiral with the skewer inserted along a substantially longitudinal axis of the spiral. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, here is shown in picture and the drawing form, the final product and as well apparatus to perform required task presently preferred; it is being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Figure: 1 is presentation of the final product for consumption;

Figure: 2 is top view of the apparatus performing potato measuring, spiral cutting and spiral spreading over the skewer; and

Figure: 3 is side view of the apparatus showing potato support and cutting blade. DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to method and apparatus of cutting and forming potato twist. The present invention provides conditions to improve product preparation and giving caterers better chance to fulfil customer expectation. Referring to Figure: 1, illustrates final product "Potato Twist" prepared and deep fried for consumption.

Process of spiral cutting and spreading over the skewer is performed by apparatus shown on Figure: 2 and Figure: 3. Apparatus is fixed on to the bench top of practical height and using 240V power to run it. Figure: 2 shows apparatus from top view, Figure: 3 shows apparatus from output side.

Prepared potato (or any other suitable vegetable or fruit) (0), already on the skewer is placed on to primary spindle (5) and centralized between potato support (3) and cutting blade (4). As potato on the skewer(O) is placed in the correct position, potato length is recorded via transducer (14) and measurement transferred to the PLC (15) for processing. Secondary spindle can be released and pushed by spring to support skewer at the start and process of loading is finished. By pressing start button cycle is initiated and motors (8) and (12) rotates spindles (5) and (10). As potato is engaged with primary spindle (5) it spins over the cutting blade (4) forming potato spiral. As potato goes over the cutting blade it is required to move potato at appropriate pitch provided by thread pitch on the primary spindle. At the same start time by rotating secondary threaded spindle (10) skewer is pushed faster than spiral is cut and therefore potato spiral pitch is formed to spread over the skewer.

Potatoes(or any other suitable vegetable and fruit) are not the same size and therefore every cycle size is measured and skewer speed adjusted to spread potato over the constant length. This function is achieved via electronic motor speed controllers (9) and (13) supplied with appropriate parameters from PLC (15).

In one example, the apparatus starts with potato (vegetable or fruit) with skewer pre inserted through longitudinal axes and while spiral is cut the skewer is pushed through at calculated pitch, for each potato, to accommodate different potato sizes to be spread over constant skewer length. (Each potato is cut and spread with different spiral pitch, but on the skewer they are spread always over predetermined skewer length).

In one example, there is provided a machine with motorized two axes movement, first for potato rotation and second for pushing skewer at appropriate pitch for spreading. Movement of axes are electronically controlled by programmable logical controller (PLC) and driven by motor variable speed control unit. Potato is pushed through by two threaded spindles with different but constant thread pitch. One to provide cutting pitch and another to provide spiral spreading pitch. To achieve potato spiral pitch variation it is used motor speed variation in appropriate, individually calculated, ratio to potato rotation speed.

The skewer is inserted before cutting process on the separate device. One method is to first manually punch hole through and on the way of sliding potato off the punch, potato is slid on to skewer. Second method is using powered device which pushes skewer on to potato in one movement. Examples of the invention may provide a method and apparatus of cutting and forming potato twist (or vegetable and fruit twist) utilizes specially designed apparatus to provide required movements based on the method of cutting continuous spiral of the potato and at the same time pushing through skewer with higher speed than longitudinal speed of spiral cutting to form spiral flight pitch greater than spiral cutting pitch. This may provide infinite variability of the spiral flight pitch to ensure that potato twist covers constant skewer length regardless on size variation within potato size range (60 to 130mm).

Examples may be developed to suit food caterers at big entertainment events, sport events or any other gathering where is food sold. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter fonns part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.