Abstract: A bearing cover is provided for attachment relative to a bearing assembly. The cover includes a flange and a magnet associated with the flange. The magnet is configured to removably retain the bearing cover relative to the bearing assembly.

Abstract: A rotary knife includes a handle, a rotatable annular blade, and a blade carrier assembly. The blade carrier assembly includes an expandable blade housing operably coupled to the handle and configured to removably support the blade. The blade housing is movable relative to the handle between a blade-securing condition, in which the blade housing securely supports the blade for rotational operation, and a relatively expanded blade-releasing condition, in which the blade housing permits removal and installation of the blade relative to the blade housing. The carrier assembly includes a lever mechanism shiftably mounted relative to the handle and configured when shifted to expand the blade housing from the blade-securing condition to the blade-releasing condition.

Abstract: A universal blade sharpening machine is operable to securely hold and sharpen any one of multiple variously sized circular blades. The machine includes a blade-sharpening drive with an adjustable blade sharpener and also includes a universal blade holder that is rotatably powered by the drive. The blade holder includes a blade-receiving chassis that holds the blade during sharpening and is rotatable about a rotation axis of the blade holder. The chassis includes a plurality of radially spaced blade-retaining sections each associated with a respective one of the circular blades.

Abstract: A powered rotary knife includes a handle, a blade housing, an annular blade, and a blade bushing for rotatably mounting the blade within the housing. The blade housing includes an inner groove that is operable to receive the blade bushing therein. The blade housing and blade bushing are split in order to expand and receive the blade. The blade includes an outer groove that is also operable to receive the blade bushing. Thus, the blade bushing is spaced between the blade housing and blade and rotatably secures the blade within the blade housing.

Abstract: A rotary knife assembly includes a rotary knife with a spinning blade, a motor operable to power the rotary knife, a flexible drive cable with a proximal end drivingly connected to the knife to transmit rotational power to the blade while being flexed along the length of the cable, and a safety release drivingly connected to a distal end of the cable. The safety release is drivingly coupled to the motor and is operable to transmit rotational power from the motor to the drive cable and thereby the rotary knife. The safety release includes input and output members releasably drivingly engaged with one another. The safety release is operable to drivingly disengage the members.

Abstract: A powered rotary knife includes a handle, a blade housing, an annular blade, and a blade bushing for rotatably mounting the blade within the housing. The blade housing includes an inner groove that is operable to receive the blade bushing therein. The blade housing and blade bushing are split in order to expand and receive the blade. The blade includes an outer groove that is also operable to receive the blade bushing. Thus, the blade bushing is spaced between the blade housing and blade and rotatably secures the blade within the blade housing.

Abstract: A powered rotary knife includes a handle, a blade housing, an annular blade, and a blade bushing for rotatably mounting the blade within the housing. The blade housing includes an inner groove that is operable to receive the blade bushing therein. The blade housing and blade bushing are split in order to expand and receive the blade. The blade includes an outer groove that is also operable to receive the blade bushing. Thus, the blade bushing is spaced between the blade housing and blade and rotatably secures the blade within the blade housing.

Abstract: A blade-sharpening machine for sharpening any one of various sizes of rotary blades comprises a drive unit and a universal blade chuck for holding the blade to be sharpened. The drive unit further includes a sharpening assembly that sharpens the blade while the drive unit rotates the blade chuck. The blade chuck includes a chassis and jaws that are circumferentially spaced about the chassis and are shiftably attached thereto for securing the rotary blade. A spring-loaded fastener normally urges the jaws radially inwardly into engagement with the blade. A centrally-positioned cam is operable to shift the jaws simultaneously so that the blade can be selectively secured on the blade chuck.

Abstract: A universal blade sharpening machine is operable to securely hold and sharpen any one of multiple variously sized circular blades. The machine includes a blade-sharpening drive with an adjustable blade sharpener and also includes a universal blade holder that is rotatably powered by the drive. The blade holder includes a blade-receiving chassis that holds the blade during sharpening and is rotatable about a rotation axis of the blade holder. The chassis includes a plurality of radially spaced blade-retaining sections each associated with a respective one of the circular blades.

Abstract: A rotary knife assembly includes a rotary knife with a spinning blade, a motor operable to power the rotary knife, a flexible drive cable with a proximal end drivingly connected to the knife to transmit rotational power to the blade while being flexed along the length of the cable, and a safety release drivingly connected to a distal end of the cable. The safety release is drivingly coupled to the motor and is operable to transmit rotational power from the motor to the drive cable and thereby the rotary knife. The safety release includes input and output members releasably drivingly engaged with one another. The safety release is operable to drivingly disengage the members.

Abstract: A dressing device for sharpening or conditioning of a blade or the like includes one or more disk pairs each having a pair of disks respectively presenting a plurality of ribs. The disks are oriented in face-to-face relationship with the ribs thereof in meshed, intercalated relationship to thereby create circumferential dressing openings. The ribs are configured to create sharpened edge on a knife blade or the like.

Abstract: A dressing device for sharpening or conditioning of a blade or the like includes one or more disk pairs each having a pair of disks respectively presenting a plurality of ribs. The disks are oriented in face-to-face relationship with the ribs thereof in meshed, intercalated relationship to thereby create circumferential dressing openings. The ribs are configured to create sharpened edge on a knife blade or the like.

Abstract: A dressing device for sharpening or conditioning of a blade or the like includes one or more disk pairs each having a pair of disks respectively presenting a plurality of ribs. The disks are oriented in face-to-face relationship with the ribs thereof in meshed, intercalated relationship to thereby create circumferential dressing openings. The ribs are configured to create sharpened edge on a knife blade or the like.

Abstract: A blade-sharpening machine for sharpening any one of various sizes of rotary blades comprises a drive unit and a universal blade chuck for holding the blade to be sharpened. The drive unit further includes a sharpening assembly that sharpens the blade while the drive unit rotates the blade chuck. The blade chuck includes a chassis and jaws that are circumferentially spaced about the chassis and are shiftably attached thereto for securing the rotary blade. A spring-loaded fastener normally urges the jaws radially inwardly into engagement with the blade. A centrally-positioned cam is operable to shift the jaws simultaneously so that the blade can be selectively secured on the blade chuck.

Abstract: A powered rotary knife includes a handle, a blade housing, an annular blade, and a blade bushing for rotatably mounting the blade within the housing. The blade housing includes an inner groove that is operable to receive the blade bushing therein. The blade housing and blade bushing are split in order to expand and receive the blade. The blade includes an outer groove that is also operable to receive the blade bushing. Thus, the blade bushing is spaced between the blade housing and blade and rotatably secures the blade within the blade housing.

Abstract: A powered rotary knife includes a handle, a blade housing, an annular blade, and a blade bushing for rotatably mounting the blade within the housing. The blade housing includes an inner groove that is operable to receive the blade bushing therein. The blade housing and blade bushing are split in order to expand and receive the blade. The blade includes an outer groove that is also operable to receive the blade bushing. Thus, the blade bushing is spaced between the blade housing and blade and rotatably secures the blade within the blade housing.

Abstract: A tripe washing and refining apparatus (10) includes a base (20), a vessel (14), and a motor (16). The vessel (14) includes a selectively reversible rotatable disc (30) and two baffles (32,34) extending from an annular side wall (24) above the disc (30). Disc projections (40,42,44) extend from an upper surface (38) of the disc (30) and present opposed washing (48) and refining (50) surfaces. The baffles (32,34) likewise present opposed washing (60) and refining (62) surfaces. The washing surfaces of the disc projections (40,42,44) and the baffles (32,34) engage the tripe to agitate and wash it. The refining surfaces of the disc projections (40,42,44) and the baffles (32,34) engage the tripe to remove fat or other components from its exterior.

Abstract: A dressing device (10,90) for sharpening or conditioning of a blade (18) or the like includes one or more disk pairs (36–40,108), each having a pair of disks (52,54,110,112) respectively presenting a series of circumferentially spaced, projecting teeth (64) with openings (66) therebetween. The disks (52,54,110,112) are oriented in face-to-face relationship with the teeth (64) thereof in meshed, intercalated relationship to thereby create circumferential dressing openings (76,122). The dressing surfaces (74) of the teeth (64) are of arcuate, concave configuration so as to create a desirable gothic-arch edge on a blade (18) or the like.