Abstract: A blade sharpener having a sharpening mechanism which functions to sharpen a blade engaging that mechanism and being moved longitudinally relative thereto. The sharpener also includes sharpening defeating means which, when operative, at least inhibits and possibly prevents sharpening of a blade by the sharpening mechanism when that blade is moved longitudinally through the sharpener in one direction. The defeating means is responsive to blade movement so as to adopt an operative condition when the blade is moved in the aforementioned one direction, and to adopt an inoperative condition when the blade is moved through the sharpener in the opposite direction. The defeating means includes a blade engaging member such as a roller, and in the operative condition that roller engages and presses against the cutting edge of the blade so as to impose a force on the blade which acts counter to the force causing the blade to engage the sharpening mechanism.

Abstract: The proposed apparatus comprises a chamber containing an abrasive powder, two pairs of powder compacting mechanisms arranged one above the other, means for charging the abrasive powder to the chamber, and gates for discharging the used powder. In addition, the apparatus further includes a system of conduits for separately feeding the abrasive powder to the space between working members of the powder compacting mechanisms and the plane along which the strip is pulled, and a system of conduits for separately evacuating the powder from said working space to gates for discharging the powder from the chamber.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for grinding the proper taper and all of the flutes with the correct number of spirals simultaneously in a single cycle of the grinding machine. This is accomplished by passing a rotating stock to produce the correct number of spirals under a grinding wheel that is dressed with three or four properly formed ribs depending on how many flutes are being manufactured. These ribs are spaced so as to exactly match the lead distance of the rotating stock during 120.degree. or 90.degree. of revolution, depending on whether a three or four fluted instrument is being manufactured. The height of each individual rib on the grinding wheel varies in relationship with each other to exactly match the correct taper being created by moving either the rotating stock portion of the machine or the grinding wheel portion of the machine so as to increase the distance therebetween.

Abstract: A contouring tool for grinding cylindrical worm profiles includes two disks 46, 47 having hard grain coated surfaces 48, 49 for contouring the opposing flanks 3, 4 of the grinding worm 1. Hard grain coated parts 50, 52, which are provided for contouring the root and crest sections 5, 6 that directly adjoin the flanks 3 to be dressed with one disk 47, are mounted on the other disk 46. The surfaces 48, 49 can thus be lapped. A grinding worm 1 can be contoured in one operation with this tool.

Abstract: An ultra-precision grinding machine capable of effectively dealing with finishing of a complicated curved groove loop on a workpiece, while improving efficiency and consistency of the operation. The machine includes a processing member carrying a grinding tool; a work table which is slidable and rotatable in a horizontal plane, and which holds a workpiece underneath the grinding tool; and a slide table having a motor for driving the work table in rotational motion, the slide table being slidable in a horizontal plane together with the work table.

Abstract: A shrimp processing method in which ventral and tails cuts are made in the shell of the shrimp. The ventral cut extends from the first body segment at least through the second to last body segment, and the tail cut extends from the tail through a portion of the first segment. The cuts facilitate removal of the shrimp meat from the shell by the consumer.

Abstract: A cutter body (22, 22') has a slot (26, 26') opening onto its nominal outer cylindrical surface (24) and extending along a plane that intersects the cutter axis (X) at an acute axial rake angle (A). A flat cutter blade insert (40) with an elliptical polycrystalline diamond cutting edge (48) is secured in the slot (26, 26'). The insert (40) is positioned to produce a non-negative radial rake at each point along the cutting edge (48). Preferably, the cutter (20, 20') has a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots (26, 26') and inserts (40). The slots (26') may be arranged in a herringbone pattern to resist delamination of a workpiece. Preferably, the cutter relief angle varies along the insert (40) from a minimum at the leading end (50) to a value at the trailing end (52) equal to the minimum plus the angle between the radial lines of the cylinder (24) through the leading and trailing ends (50, 52), respectively.

Abstract: A micro-positioning tool post comprises a flexible support which performs parallel motion and supports a tool, a piezoelectric actuator for displacing the flexible support, a displacement sensor for detecting displacement of the tool, and a state observer for receiving the voltage applied to the piezoelectric actuator and the output from the displacement sensor as input, producing an estimate of a velocity signal and feeding back the estimate to the voltage applied to the piezoelectric actuator. The feedback control greatly improves the dynamic stiffness of the tool post while also providing excellent static characteristics, dynamic characteristics and static stiffness.