Abstract: To provide a plate material cutting device of which thickness can be reduced and made compact. A plate material cutting device includes: a first cutting blade fixed to a housing; a second cutting blade that cuts plate material collaboratively with the first cutting blade; and a drive unit that causes the second cutting blade to reciprocally move with respect to the first cutting blade, wherein the drive unit includes: a shaft that is rotatable on a rotational axis; a first motor connected to one end portion of the shaft; a first mechanism that is capable of causing the second cutting blade to reciprocally move with respect to the first cutting blade in conjunction with rotation of the shaft on the rotational axis; and a second mechanism that is capable of supporting a load onto the shaft at a time of cutting plate material.

Abstract: A method is provided of pressing an irregularly shaped, elongated loaf of an elastic material into a strand with a cross-section which is constant along its longitudinal extension. The method includes disposing the loaf in a form tube of the slicing machine, and determining basic data of the loaf before pressing, the basic data comprising at least physical basic data of the loaf before pressing. The method further includes determining a target length change of the loaf between an unpressed state and a pressed state, determining a target cross-sectional change of the loaf between the unpressed state and the pressed state, and pressing the loaf in the form tube in at least one cross direction to the longitudinal extension by a cross press stamp and in a longitudinal pressing direction of the form tube by a longitudinal press stamp, according to the target length change and the target cross-sectional change.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for cutting a continuous rubber-covered belt in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, wherein the apparatus includes a cutting group, in turn comprising: a knife formed by a first half-part and a second half-part and movable along a cutting direction that is tilted with respect to a supply direction of a rubber-covered belt placed beneath the knife. The process includes: lifting a lifting element placed below the continuous rubber-covered belt and at the cutting zone, until a portion of rubber-covered belt is lifted, and lowering the single first-half part of the knife, making it slide with respect to the second half-part.

Abstract: Kits and methods of play for creating decorative objects are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a kit comprises a plurality of rubber sticks, each stick with a continuous internal pattern that extends down the entire length of a longitudinal axis of the stick; a coring device, wherein the coring device includes a core cutter that is designed to cut holes through the plurality of rubber sticks; a cutting device designed to cut segments from the plurality of rubber sticks; and, a plurality of retainers designed to couple a plurality of segments together.

Abstract: Device for cutting and transferring a length of strip let off a continuous strip, comprising a first face and a second face to be laid on a rotary receiving surface and containing a cutting means to separate the said length from the continuous strip along a cutting line, a telescopic conveyor belt, arranged in a longitudinal direction between the cutting means and the receiving surface, to receive the length of strip via the first face, a first half-anvil, upstream of the cutting line, and comprising holding means to grasp the strip via the first face, a transporter, having holding means to grasp the front edge or rear edge of the length of strip via the second face, the transporter able to move in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A die apparatus includes a tip end part blanking punch which forms a tip end configuration of a belt-shaped sheet through a punch holding unit in an upper die. The punch holding unit includes a punch plate which holds the tip end part blanking punch, a punch plate moving mechanism which is lowered together with the upper die in a state where the punch plate is separated from the upper die when the tip end configuration of the belt-shaped sheet is formed, and holds the punch plate in a state where the punch plate is allowed to come near to the upper die when the punch plate is lifted, and an actuating mechanism which operates the punch plate moving mechanism in cooperation with a blanking or stamping operation of the upper die only when the tip end configuration of the belt-shaped sheet is formed.

Abstract: Machines and methods for removing screens from cable, wherein screen surrounds at least one electrical or optical conductor (22). The screen may be a braided screen (21) from a cable (19) including at least one conductor (22), screen (21), and outer insulation (20). After baring screen (21) by removing outer insulation (20), a section is deformed and/or unbraided, and then the deformed section of the screen (21) is cut off. The step of deforming and/or unbraiding is accomplished by lifting-off the screen (21) from the inner conductor (22) on at least one end of the section of the screen (21) to be removed, at least over a part of the circumference of the cable. This step additionally includes or may be followed by pressing the parts of the screen (21), that have been lifted off onto an erection surface (28) before cutting them off, whereby preferably the parts of the screen (21) that have been lifted off are bent backwards in the direction of the yet undeformed screen (21).

Abstract: A cutting method and cutting stage of toughened glass with which a piece of toughened glass is divided into unit pieces of toughened glass. The cutting method cuts a piece of toughened glass which is strengthened by forming a compressive stress in the surface of a raw glass plate. The method includes the steps of reducing the central tension inside a cutting portion of the piece of toughened glass that is to be cut by concavely bending the cutting portion; and cutting the piece of toughened glass by forming a median crack in the cutting portion.

Abstract: A device for cutting a wafer provided with grooves on its upper surface having its lower surface supported by a flexible film secured to a frame. This device includes a system for locating the grooves and for positioning the frame with respect to a cutting system, and setting means for positioning the wafer in front of the locating system so that the located area is at a determined distance from the locating system.

Abstract: Chamfer cutting devices are described. The chamfer cutting devices include a mounting bracket, an electromagnet rigidly attached to the mounting bracket, a hold/release arm magnetically coupled to the electromagnet, a chamfer former rigidly attached to the hold/release arm, wherein the chamfer cutter comprises two bending beams, each terminating in a chamfer point, and a blade rigidly connected to the mounting bracket and positioned between the chamfer points. Dispensers incorporating such chamfer cutting devices and methods of chamfer cutting are also described.

Abstract: Process for closing and cutting into sections a flexible tube, with a cutting element and a pinching closing device for cutting into sections with two cross-sections, each with two parts with indentations that can be placed in removable extension by combination elements and that make a passage with an access, whereby the pinching closing device is in the open or closed state where the cross-sections are closed by locking members and where the surfaces form a pinching closing passage of the tube; the pinching region of the tube is positioned in the indentation of a cross-section; the other cross-section is brought opposite the preceding one and the pinching closing device in the closed state, with cooperation of the locking elements, the tube being positively pinched and closed in two positive pinching zones, and thus held in place; the tube is cut into sections between the parts in the closed state, using the cutting element by passing it into the passage without it interfering with the pinching closing devic

Abstract: Method for binding a quire formed of folded sheets slipped into each other, characterized in that it consists in providing at least one cut through the sheets of the quire as of a short distance from the folding edge of the quire, whereby every cut through a sheet of the quire defines a lip extending mainly crosswise to the above-mentioned folding edge of the quire and which is connected to the quire with its far end turned towards the folding edge, and whereby said lip has a widening.

Abstract: A slitting machine for slitting or longitudinally cutting material, especially fibrous material, where the cut is critical. A cutting arrangement produces a slit or cut that divides a sheet of material, the cutting arrangement comprising an upper blade and a lower blade. A non-cutting tool for producing a cutting channel in a surface of the sheet of material is disposed upstream of the cutting arrangement as viewed in a direction of slitting. The cutting arrangement is adapted to enter the cutting channel and to execute a cut or slit along the cutting channel.

Abstract: In order to keep a portioning machine economical, a pre compression in longitudinal direction is maintained, but complexity is minimized on the portioning side in that preferably no portioning plate, in particular no portioning revolver is used but the cutting material (2) is moved forward in longitudinal direction (10) up to a stop from the forming tube (1), wherein the stop rotates e.g. as a stop plate (9) together with the blade (8) and thus on the same axis as the forming tube revolver (1). Thus, it is important that the rotating blade (8) is always kept tight at the forming tube revolver (1) and thin slices (2a) are prevented from adhering to the rotating blade (8).

Abstract: The present invention comprises a protrusion cutting apparatus (30) for cutting a closed-cell foam product (32) comprising a support surface (36) adapted to support the foam product (32); a template (34) having an opening, the template (34) being movable relative to the support surface (36) to compress the foam product (32) between the support surface (36) and the template (34) so that a portion of the foam product (32)protrudes through the opening; a cutting tool (40) adapted to cut the foam product (32) adjacent to the template (34) so that the portion of the foam product (32) protruding through the opening is cut from the foam product (32); and one or more air vents (42) formed in the support surface (36) to allow air trapped between the compressed foam product (32) and the support surface (36) to escape.

Abstract: In making bodily fluid absorbent pads quantity of scrapped material is reduced. A bodily fluid absorbent pad (liner) 10 has a shape symmetric in a longitudinal direction P as well as in a transverse direction Q. A dimension of the pad 10 in the transverse direction Q is larger in opposite end regions 31, 32 than in an intermediate region 33. The pad 10 is formed along opposite side edges 11a, 11b with first and second compressed lines 21, 22. Paired compression rolls 302 are used to form the first and second compressed lines 21, 22, and at least one roll constituting the paired compression rolls 302 is formed on a peripheral surface thereof with compressing units projecting from the peripheral surface. The compressing units are arranged in a circumferential direction to form one row and at least one additional row, which is adjacent to the one row in an axial direction of the roll.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for producing a groove near an intended edge part of a conveyor belt, which groove is intended to be filled with a filler having sealing properties, in which the groove is formed by removing conveyor belt material from one of the surfaces of the conveyor belt and in which, during the step of removing conveyor belt material, the conveyor belt is bent at the position of the groove to be formed near the intended edge part, and also to a conveyor belt in which a groove is produced in this manner.

Abstract: A sawing apparatus is implemented to cut rolls out of an elongated log. An in-feed conveyor pushes the log, and a braking system stops the log at a controlled position. A clamping system then holds the log in place while a saw blade travels to cut a roll out of the log. While the log is being cut, a bending pressure is applied on the log. The roll then is unloaded onto a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: Machine for cutting the paper wrapping (2) which wraps and holds together in a packing (3) at least a stack of axial-symmetrical products (4) and/or at least an extended product (4), comprising a casing (5) for containing and protecting the moving parts, which contains a cutting station (T), comprising cutting means (6), comprising in turn at least a blade (7), and means (8) for folding in longitudinal direction, substantially uniformly and towards outside a portion (9) of the side surface of the paper wrapping (2) of a packing (3?), which is disposed in the cutting station (T), said portion (9) of the side surface having a length substantially corresponding to the longitudinal extension of the same packing (3, 3?); said machine (1) comprising also moving means (61) of said blade (7) for positioning the same at the folded portion (9) of the surface of the paper wrapping (2) and for translating it along the folded portion (9) itself, so that it is longitudinally cut.

Abstract: A scribing system comprising a mounting mechanism, stylus, and force generating mechanism is provided. The mounting mechanism is configured to rotate an elongated object in such a manner that the object is subjected to a bow effect wherein a middle portion of the object bends relative to the end portions of the object. The stylus is for scribing the object at a position x along the long dimension of the object while the mounting mechanism rotates the object. The force generating mechanism is connected to the stylus so that the stylus applies the same constant force to the elongated object regardless of the position x along the long dimension of the object that the stylus is positioned, while the mounting mechanism rotates the object and thereby subjects the object to the bow effect, thereby scribing the object.

Abstract: Cutting device for cutting a rubber component (9) for a green belt. The cutting device comprises a roller conveyor (1) for conveying the rubber component in a direction of conveyance. The roller conveyor comprises a number of conveyor rollers (2) which are substantially parallel to and spaced apart from each other. The cutting device comprises a knife (4) for cutting the rubber component at an angle with the direction of conveyance, wherein the cutting device is provided with a lifting beam (8) that extends transverse to the direction of conveyance between two conveyor rollers. The lifting beam (8) is vertically movable for lifting the rubber component. The knife (4) is arranged so as to be displaceable along a guide rail with respect to the roller conveyor, wherein the angle that the knife forms with the direction of conveyance is adjustable in a range of approximately 18° to approximately 34.

Abstract: The dispenser dispenses tickets such as instant-winner lottery tickets from a strip in which the individual tickets are delineated by perforation lines. The dispenser includes a separator to tear the tickets apart before issuing them from the machine. The separator preferably is rotary and has a dull helical blade which rotates to contact the ticket strip adjacent a perforation line, and presses against the strip to tear the tickets apart along the perforation line at a point which progresses across the strip along the perforation line. Preferably, a bar code reader is provided for reading codes on tickets in the dispensing machine. The bar code reader is used in reading information from the tickets to initialize the dispenser control system and in accounting for the sale of tickets, and in the verification of winning tickets being sold. A game is provided in which the concept is that a jackpot is built up using the detection of each ticket sold.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for feeding and slitting mattress covers, quilts and other soft goods supported on a table. The apparatus has a first slitting wheel rotatable by a motor. A second slitting wheel is rotatable by the motor and contacts the first slitting wheel to provide a cutting action. The apparatus further includes a conveyor operable by the motor for conveying the soft goods past the slitting wheels, and a compression assembly having an actuator, a gear housing, and powered wheels for compressing the soft goods and holding the soft goods against the conveyor to preventing slippage or twisting.

Abstract: A trimmer producing a profiled spine in a book. The device includes a first clamp element and a second clamp element contacting the second side and an actuating device moving the first clamp element with respect to the second clamp element so as to skew the spine. A trimming blade cuts the book.

Abstract: A method and a device for cutting along a cutting line of a laminate (1), including a first (5) and a second (8) textile layer surrounding an intermediate layer (6) of a porous elastic material. The laminate (1) is pressed together in a local nip (2) between an ultrasound emitting element (3) and a counteracting element (4), and the laminate (1) is moved in the cutting line through and passed the nip during ultrasound cutting of the laminate (1) simultaneous with ultrasound welding of the first and the second surface layers to each other in order to form a smooth, rounded, continuous edge joint (11) between the surface layers at a free edge (10) of the laminate. The invention concerns also a cut product.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mattress including providing a foam block, convoluting the foam to form a tongue extending longitudinally along the foam block, and removing at least a portion of the tongue, to thereby form a channel within the foam block.

Abstract: A method of preventing crown hydration of a golf green by providing a polyethylene tube, stretching the tube to form a stretched tube, cutting the tube in a spiral fashion to form a first sheet with force striations at an acute angle to an edge of the sheet, forming a second sheet in a similar manner as the first sheet with a force striations at an acute angle, securing a surface of the first sheet to a surface of the second sheet with the force striations of the first sheet at a relative angle to the force striation of the second sheet to form a layered sheets, providing a plurality of layered sheets, securing the edges of the layered sheets to form a golf green cover, and applying a holding means through a reinforced section to hold the cover in place.

Abstract: A floor covering repair technique and tool includes placement of a spacer between a patch and a damaged floor covering piece before cutting through both layers. This way, the replacement patch is elevated slightly above the damaged piece and this slight elevation allows for a slight increase in the perimeter/total area of the patch, which offsets the slight retraction/contraction of the edges of the patch and/or the edges of the original flooring after the cut. This results in a more exact fit between the patch and the surrounding, original undamaged when the patch is installed.

Abstract: At least one longitudinally extending series of cuts and separable connectors is formed in a fibrous insulation blanket with one or more rotating compression-cutting blades and a cooperating anvil to form separable blanket sections in the insulation blanket. The size and configuration of the teeth and notches in the compression-cutting blade, which may be determined through the use of an empirical equation, insure that the insulation blanket has the integrity to be handled and installed as a unit, but can be separated by hand into the blanket sections. The anvil has a moving surface that drives the compression-cutting blade at the velocity blanket is being fed between the cutting blade and the anvil.

Abstract: A dough divider including a hopper with a lid, latch assembly and press plate. The lid has an open and closed position. The latch assembly is adapted to maintain the lid in the closed position when activated and to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position when deactivated. The press plate is vertically slidable within the hopper, with the hopper being adapted to accept dough between the lid and the press plate. The press plate is adapted to be driven towards the lid in order to compress the dough between the press plate and the lid within the hopper. The latch assembly is automatically activated to maintain the lid in the closed position while the press plate is being driven towards the lid. The latch assembly is automatically deactivated to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position after the dough has been compressed and divided within the hopper.

Abstract: At least one longitudinally extending series of cuts and separable connectors is formed in a fibrous insulation blanket with one or more rotating compression-cutting blades and a cooperating anvil to form separable blanket sections in the insulation blanket. The size and configuration of the teeth and notches in the compression-cutting blade, which may be determined through the use of an empirical equation, insure that the insulation blanket has the integrity to be handled and installed as a unit, but can be separated by hand into the blanket sections. The anvil has a moving surface that drives the compression-cutting blade at the velocity blanket is being fed between the cutting blade and the anvil.

Abstract: A method for producing a profiled spine in a book having a first side defining a first plane, a second side defining a second plane and a spine. The method includes clamping the book using a first clamp element contacting the first side and the second clamp element contacting the second side and moving the first element with respect to the second element so as to skew the spine by moving at least one of the first side in the first plane and the second side in the second plane.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for opening condiment packets, having a base and a support that define an opening to receive a condiment packet. A cutter subassembly connected to the support is used to cut the packet received in the opening. The cutter subassembly includes an upper body portion that releasably connects to the support, a lower body portion, a rod that extends through the upper and lower body portions, a handle connected to a top end of the rod, a cutter connected to a lower end of the rod, and a spring system that controls movement of the cutter and lower body portion relative to the upper body portion. The spring system causes the lower body portion to contact a received packet before the cutter cuts the packet, so that the contents of the packet can be urged away from the area to be cut before the cutting. In one example, the spring system includes springs having different spring constants to cause the lower body portion strikes the packet first.

Abstract: A wheel cutter for cutting a compressible material having a relaxed thickness greater than a radius of the wheel cutter is disclosed, wherein a compressor guide locally compresses the batting to a thickness less than a radius of the wheel cutter. In one configuration, the compressor guide includes a compressor wheel eccentrically mounted with respect to the wheel cutter.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a slab of compressible or cellular polymer material (80), such as polyurethane foam, shapes such slab by cutting portions of the material from one surface. A moving patterned platform (32), preferably an endless belt or a series of interconnected panels, is interposed between a compression roller (56) and a cooperating surface (18) and defines at least one recess (36) or at least one projection (320) or a combination of recesses and projections. When the slab is compressed between the compression roller and the platform, which is supported by the cooperating surface, a portion of the material fills the recess or recesses in the moving platform.

Abstract: At least one longitudinally extending series of cuts and separable connectors is formed in a fibrous insulation blanket with one or more rotating compression-cutting blades and a cooperating anvil to form separable blanket sections in the insulation blanket. The size and configuration of the teeth and notches in the compression-cutting blade, which may be determined through the use of an empirical equation, insure that the insulation blanket has the integrity to be handled and installed as a unit, but can be separated by hand into the blanket sections. The anvil has a moving surface that drives the compression-cutting blade at the velocity blanket is being fed between the cutting blade and the anvil.

Abstract: The present invention is a floor vinyl repair technique and tool. According to the present invention, the prior art repair technique is practiced, except a special domed-disc spacer is placed between the patch and the damaged piece to be removed before the cut through both layers with the knife. This way, the replacement patch is elevated slightly above the damaged piece. This slight elevation allows for a slight increase in the perimeter of the patch, and offsets the slight stretching of the patch during the cut, thereby resulting in a more exact fit between the patch and the surrounding, original undamaged vinyl when the patch is installed.

Abstract: This invention provides patterned tread strips of uniform shape and dimension from salvaged tire carcass tread strips adapted for producing products requiring stacked layers of tread strips. Novel methods of and apparatus for shaping the tread strips in one embodiment results in trimming edges of substantially rectangular shaped tread strips salvaged from tire carcasses having two shorter ends and two longer sides to produce precisely uniform width between the longer sides. Thus the longitudinal tread strips may be passed from one end longitudinally through a power actuated strip feeder which establishes slicing means operable at designated spacings near opposite edges of the tread strips to cut away edges and produce uniform longitudinal strip widths between said two shorter ends as the strips pass through the strip feeder. Other shaping embodiments of the invention include tread surface shavers for producing strips of precise thickness, and length cutters to provide specified lengths.

Abstract: Sheets held by a sheet transfer mechanism are supplied from a supply unit to an aligning unit, and aligned with each other by the aligning unit. Thereafter, corners of the sheets are cut off by first and second cutting units, and then the sheets are vertically inverted by an inverting unit. Then, the sheets are turned into a given direction by a turning unit, and supplied to a discharge unit, from which the sheets are discharged.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously shaping a compressible or cellular polymer material, such as polyurethane foam, by cutting portions of the material from a surface of a slab of the material includes a compression roller, a support surface, a blade and a moving patterned platform interposed between the compression roller and the support surface. The moving patterned platform, preferably an endless belt or a series of interconnected panels, defines at least one recess, and may define a pattern of recesses of complex or simple shapes and at various depths. When the slab of cellular polymer material is compressed between the compression roller and the support surface, a portion of the material fills the recess or recesses in the moving patterned belt. The blade then transversely cuts from the surface of the slab a portion of the material within the recesses in the platform just as the slab emerges from between the compression roller and the support surface.

Abstract: A method for shaping a slab of compressible or cellular polymer material, such as polyurethane foam, by cutting portions of the material from one surface uses a compression roller, a support surface, a blade and a moving patterned platform interposed between the compression roller and the support surface. The moving patterned platform, preferably an endless belt or a series of interconnected panels, defines at least one recess, and may define a pattern of recesses of complex or simple shapes and at various depths. When the slab of cellular polymer material is compressed between the compression roller and the support surface, a portion of the material fills the recess or recesses in the moving patterned belt. At least a portion of the compressed material within the recesses is then cut from the surface of the slab by the blade just as the slab emerges from between the compression roller and the support surface.

Abstract: A machine for rotary cutting of continuous synthetic foam sheets while compressed between two rollers has a roller drive featuring individually adjustable roller speed to allow use of rollers of dissimilar diameter, such as a large diameter pattern roller and a small diameter compression roller. The roller drive may be selectively engaged for driving each roller with a separate drive motor or both rollers with a single motor through a gear train, allowing conversion of the machine to conventional foam convoluting using similar sized rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously shaping a compressible or cellular polymer material, such as polyurethane foam, by cutting portions of the material from a surface of one or more slabs of material (180) includes two compression rollers (146, 146a), two moving patterned platforms (132, 132a) interposed between the compression rollers, and one or more cutting blades (76) for transversely cutting the slab or slabs just as the cellular material emerges from between the compression rollers. At least one of the moving patterned platforms, preferably an endless belt, defines a recess or pattern of recesses. When a single slab or multiple slabs of material are fed and compressed between the compression rollers, a portion of the material from one side of the slab or slabs fills the recess or recesses in one of the moving patterned belts. The blade then transversely cuts the cellular material.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an apparatus for cutting webs of material, including a first revolving member and a second revolving member having cutting elements integrated therein. Said revolving members, respectively, define a cutting region therebetween and supporting elements, respectively, assigned to said revolving elements within said cutting region. Said second revolving member comprises a belt assembly having a layered structure, said cutting elements mounted within said layered structure.

Abstract: A method of removing waste material from an annular, elastomeric article 10. The method includes the steps of: securing at least a portion of the annular, elastomeric article 10; securing at least a portion of the waste material; penetrating the waste material with a cutting tool 52; and guiding the cutting tool 52 through the waste material. The method is characterized by the step of stretching the waste material prior to guiding the cutting tool 52. In the preferred method, the waste material is stretched a distance sufficient to simultaneously apply some degree of tension to the unsecured portions of the waste material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for cutting a piece of fresh whole-muscle meat into several slices having the same thickness and weight, which comprises a loading and pre-pressing unit (1) for accommodating and pressing the piece of fresh whole-muscle meat and a grading unit (2) for determining the thickness and the volume of the slices. The invention is also fitted with a slicing unit (3) arranged between the loading and pre-pressing unit (1) and the grading unit (2) to cut the piece of fresh whole-muscle meat (13) into slices (14) as determined by the grading unit (2).

Abstract: An apparatus for removing binder straps from coils of metal strip in which a cage is engageable with the coil and has a blade carriage displaceable over at least a region in which binder straps may be provided in a continuous manner so that a wedge can engage beneath the straps in succession and a cutting tool can cut through straps in a single continuous operation without interrupting the movement of the carriage. The wedge and the carriage can be provided with clamping elements to engage the strap after it is cut to allow it to be transported to a scrap bin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of forming a multi-layer pad of a non-woven fiber batt and a foam layer having conforming convoluted surfaces and to a multi-layer pad incorporating a non-woven fiber batt and foam layer. The process of forming a non-woven batt layer and a foam layer having conforming convoluted surfaces comprises transporting each layer along its longitudinal dimension while compressing each layer along its lateral dimension. Concomitantly with compression, each layer is cut transversely along its lateral dimension to separate each layer into an upper segment and a lower segment and to provide conforming convoluted surfaces on the segments of each layer, the convoluted surfaces comprised of upstanding projections and depressions.

Abstract: A wire measuring and cutting apparatus 1 is provided with an U-turn guide section 6 which serves to guide a wire W being fed into a guide passage 5b for bending the wire W in a substantially U-shaped manner. In the section 6, a movable guide part 5 is constituted by a pair of guide pieces 5a, 5a which are pivoted so as to open and close together. The U-turn guide section 6 is provided with a displacement mechanism 8. The mechanism 8 can maintain the pair of guide pieces 5a, 5a in the closed position. While, the mechanism 8 can displace the guide pieces 5a, 5a for the opened position together with feeding inertia of the wire W in process of measuring the length of the wire W. With this structure, the guide pieces 5a, 5a can be opened at high speed due to the feeding inertia in addition to the driving force of the mechanism 8 to open the pieces 5a, 5a and there is no need to stop feeding the wire W during the measurement of the wire W.

Abstract: A slicing machine that deposits foodstuff slices in a stack atop a support in a stacking station has a sheet-interposing device provided with a supply roll of sheet material and a feed roller for feeding a leading end of the sheet material in a direction to the stacking station. a guide between the station and the roller imparts to the sheet leading end an upwardly concave U-shape to stiffen the sheet leading end so it projects horizontally stiffly from the guide above the station. A cutter movable between the guide and the station cuts off the sheet leading end so that the cut-off end drops down in the station.