Abstract: A system and method for removes steel beads from large diameter tires by making a series of overlapping punched cuts in a circumferential pattern in the sidewall of the tire around the beads. The punching mechanism is hydraulically operated and remains stationary while a powered roller advances the tire after each successive punching motion until the beads have completely severed from both sidewalls of the OTR tire. The machine is capable of either simultaneously or individually removing both rubber-encased inner beads from the tire.

Abstract: Provided is a cutting equipment for automatically cutting off workpieces from a material tape. The cutting equipment includes an electrical control box, a base board, a material-feeding mechanism, a material-transferring mechanism, a material-pulling mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The material-feeding mechanism includes a supporting bracket, a material disc and a disc-driving device. The material-transferring mechanism mounted on the base board includes a pad board, a first supporting board and a second supporting board. The material-pulling mechanism disposed above the material-transferring mechanism includes a driving component and a material-pulling component. The cutting mechanism mounted on the base board includes a lower supporting plate, an upper cutting plate and a transferring cylinder. The upper cutting plate disposes at least one cutting blade.

Abstract: In an assembly for filling medicine dispensers (11) with administering units (12/i) which are to be taken daily by patients, a deblistering apparatus (39) is provided for the separating, automatic removal of the medicines from the respective blister pack, the blister film (33) of which can be subjected to a notching or cutting pretreatment, only after which the medicine is removed. A transport device (18) is provided which supplies the medicine dispensers (11) to a feeding device, at which the individual medicines can be loaded into receiving compartments (14/1 to 14/4) of the medicine dispenser (11). The assembly comprises modules (17/i) which have in each case a blister shaft (62), a punching device and a feeding device and are arranged along the transport device (18) at spacings from one another which correspond to the spacing of the receiving compartments (14/i) of the dispensers (11/i) or to an integral multiple of said spacing.

Abstract: A three-side trimmer according to the present invention comprises a bound material feed unit (2) for feeding the bound material (1) one by one; a rotating table unit (3) for receiving the bound material (1) from the bound material feed unit (2) at a predetermined position and rotating the bound material at every predetermined angle in such a manner that the bound material is arranged at three positions of a top edge cutting position, a front edge cutting position and a bottom edge cutting position; a trimming unit (4) arranged for movement in a direction close to or away from the rotating table unit (3) between two positions of a cutting position at which the trimming unit (4) becomes close to the rotating table unit (3) so as to cut a top edge section (1a), a bottom edge section (1b) and a front edge section (1c) of the bound material (1), respectively, and a standby position at which the trimming unit (4) is away from the rotating table unit (3); trimming unit guide means (5) arranged between the rotating t

Abstract: A system and process for stamping parts having tolerances below 1000 nanometers. The inventive system and process is particularly suited for producing optoelectronic parts. The system includes a stamping press and one or a progression of stamping stations for supporting a punch and die. The stamping stations are designed to maintain substantial alignment of the punch and die with minimal moving components. The stamping station includes a shaft for rigidly guiding the punch to the die. The stamping press is capable of providing the punch with the necessary force to perform the stamping operations. The system includes an interface system for interfacing the force of the press with the punch, while simultaneously structurally decoupling the press from the punch. The system also includes a locating sub-plate, for locating the stamping station in alignment relative to each other, and means for in-line machine stock material before entry into the stamping stations.

Abstract: A registration device for a sheet material article handler includes a movable backstop which sequentially engages a leading edge portion of a sheet material article as the article moves in a direction of movement along a path of movement in the sheet material article handler, thereby registering the sheet material article relative to the sheet material article handler. A driver is provided, the driver moving the backstop along an arcuate path in the direction of movement of the sheet material article from a first position out of the path of movement to a second position in the path of movement.

Abstract: A splitting apparatus includes a splitter member with a plurality of blades, and a splitting guide configured to anchor articles so that an article to be split is anchored on a splitting guide when the splitter member is moved across the splitting guide. The apparatus includes a gate which is controlled by a gate controller that selectively opens and closes the discharge aperture positioned adjacent the splitting guide so that the split article can be discharged from the splitting guide. A staging platform is provided adjacent the splitting guide for aligning the articles to be split with the splitting guide and a staging advancer is provided to move articles from the staging platform to the splitting guide, and to discharge the split articles after splitting.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the separating of curved sausages (2) from a sausages string (3) by means of a cutting device at a cutting place (31), the sausages string (3) is fed in an arc to the cutting place (31). In this connection, the arc is defined by at least one guide belt (8, 9) which rests at least partially against the sausage (2) or the sausages string (3).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing book blocks from various printed sheets composed of a plurality of quarto sheets which are inserted into one another, wherein the printed sheets are successively pulled fold first along a conveying path from a stack of printed sheets by a gripping unit of a feeder and are subsequently gathered with their flat sides placed against each other into book blocks. The gripping unit which grasps the printed sheets approximately at the fold thereof produces a deformation or injury which extends at least partially through the quarto sheets, so that the respective quarto sheets are secured relative to each other and displacements relative to each other are prevented.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for sheet material, such as a power transmission belt molding pad, which cutting apparatus has a first structure for supporting a sheet material, a second structure for engaging and advancing the sheet material on the first structure to a predetermined cutting position, and structure for guidingly cutting the sheet material in the cutting position.

Abstract: A key punch apparatus is provided for selectively removing notches of material from a key blank. The apparatus includes a punch and die subassembly which is rotatable between first and second positions. A carrier holds the key blank in an operative relation with the subassembly. An actuating handle is operatively coupled to the punch to cause an axial cutting stroke. Cutting a notch with the subassembly in the first position results in a notch having a first shape, while cutting a notch with the subassembly in the second position results in a notch having a second shape.

Abstract: A sheet metal working apparatus having a supply mechanism adapted to supply an elongated and flat strip of sheet metal stock to an inlet of a punch press and along a longitudinal axis of the strip. An intermittently operable drive device is provided for effecting an intermittent movement of the strip of sheet metal stock relative to a punch press. A set of tools are provided on the punch press as well as a second intermittent drive device for effecting a metal working engagement of the tools with the sheet metal stock during intervals of time between the movement of the sheet metal stock to produce a continuous strip of a finished sheet metal fin stock.

Abstract: A web (14) of material such as photographic film is supplied continuously from a stock roll (16) into an infeed vacuum box (24) from which the web passes into an intermittently operated perforator apparatus (30) through which the web is drawn intermittently by a high performance vacuum drum (32) which feeds the web into an outfeed vacuum box (34) from which the web passes continuously to a rewind stock roll (44) or to other intermittently operated processing apparatus. Various patterns of widely spaced perforations and leader/trailer sections may be provided in the stationary web, which moves at high web speeds and accelerations between operations of the perforator apparatus.

Abstract: A tobacco bale slicing machine having a support structure with an inlet opening for the insertion of a bale, and with an outlet portal. A conveyor transfers a bale from the inlet opening to the outlet portal in which there is a guillotine-like cutting device. A thrust device bears against the rear end surface of the bale to urge it towards and through the outlet portal in a controlled manner. The thrust device includes a motor-driven carriage disposed above the conveyor and has a thrust member mounted on an arm which moves between a raised and lowered position. When in a lowered, working position the thrust member can be brought to bear against the rear end surface of a bale carried by the conveyor in order to urge it toward the outlet portal in a controlled manner.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for perforating a plastic film fleader section connecting together a plurality of plastic film bags and forming a pack of saddle bags. The saddle bags are carried on a block with the header on the block and the bags draped thereover. The block is in sliding engagement with a track and is selectively moved in position in the apparatus. A pair of pivotally connected arms are selectively pivotally moved in contact with the plastic film bags pulling the bags generally away from the header and causing the header to become taut. A pair of perforation blades are forced toward the carrying block and through the header simultaneously creating two perforation lines, one line on each side of the header.

Abstract: A cutting device has a transportation railway for guiding a pile of sheets, a cutter positioned along the transportation railway for cutting a pile of sheets delivered thereto into a plurality of smaller sheets; a first pusher movable along the railway by an operating device from a primary delivery starting position to a primary delivery completion position and engageable with a pile of sheets to be cut for intermittently moving a part of the length of the pile of sheets in the direction of the railway past the cutter where the pile of sheets is cut into piles of smaller sheets. Upon the first pusher reaching the primary delivery completion position, it is retracted to the primary delivery starting position for engagement with a succeeding pile of sheets for moving the succeeding pile of sheets toward the cutter.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for transferring material cut in transverse strips and located on an exit zone of an apparatus for the cutting of stacked sheet-like material, to an entry zone of the apparatus for the purpose of cutting such material into longitudinal strips. The apparatus has a cutting table with a table surface possessing a work zone, above which a cutting knife and a press bar are located. An advance device located in the entry zone is provided for the material to be cut. The material present in transverse strips is brought from the exit in zone onto a thin-walled, plate-shaped transport base. The transport base, together with the material, is fed, via at least one table which is arranged laterally of the apparatus and the table surface of which can be arranged level with that of the cutting table of the apparatus, to the entry zone of the apparatus and there, aligned with the entry zone, is removed from the transport base.

Abstract: A film transparency severed from a photographic film web is inserted into a slide mount to prepare a photographic slide. The present invention relates to an "in-plane" film pusher for inserting a severed film transparency into a slide mount. The apparatus includes a pusher assembly having a movable pusher support and a pusher with a front grooved surface designed to engage a trailing edge of the film transparency. The pusher is alternately supported by the movable pusher support between a retracted position below a film plane and an engaging position aligned with the film plane. In operation, the pusher is moved to the engaging position to engage the trailing edge of the film transparency and then is advanced with the movable pusher support toward the slide mount to push the film transparency into the slide mount.

Abstract: A device which trims off the perforated margin strips of printer paper and cuts the paper transversely to separate it into individual pages. The paper which discharges from the printer is drawn around a tension bar and is applied to a toothed belt driven by feed wheels. Cutter wheels act against a grooved roller to cut along the tear lines of the margin strips. A photocell based counting system counts the perforations which pass the photocell to indicate each time the paper is advanced to position one of the transverse fold lines at a cutting station. Then, the paper is stopped and a cutter wire is pulled through the fold line to separate the leading page from the rest of the paper sheet. Each time a new sheet of paper is loaded, a special control circuit assures that the initial advance of the sheet stops with the leading edge of the paper at the cutting station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a film transparency into a slide mount to prepare a photographic slide. The apparatus is useful for preparing a photographic slide for a slide mount of the type formed of upper and lower frame sections connected along an outer border to define a pocket therebetween. The slide mount also includes a slit adjacent to the outer border to separate the upper and lower frame sections to define a first insertion opening adjacent to the slit and a second insertion opening into the pocket of the slide mount. Cooperating film guides are positioned adjacent to the second insertion opening to guide a leading edge of the film transparency, which is inserted into the pocket of the slide mount, through the second insertion opening of the slide mount.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for cutting stacked, sheet-like material, having a table (3) for receiving the material to be cut, a cutting blade (7) movable perpendicularly to the plane of the table, a press beam (8) arranged adjacent to this cutting blade (7) and lowerable onto the material to be cut, and also a plate-shaped front pusher (12) for aligning the material at the feed unit, which front pusher (12) can be brought into contact with the front face of the material to be cut, allowing the material to be cut to be aligned at the feed unit without removing or moving the cut material (5); provision is also made for the front pusher to be movable at an angle from above the table towards the front face of the material to be cut and, in its lower end position, to be positioned with its abutting surface (14) essentially in the cutting plane (10) of the cutting blade.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for advancing a photographic film web for operation in a semi-automatic or automatic slide mounter. The apparatus advances the film for operation across a knife assembly to position the film with upper and lower knife blades of the knife assembly to sever a film transparency from the photographic film web to prepare a photographic slide. The apparatus includes a shuttle bridging mechanism for supporting the film, movable between a retracted position, out of alignment with the knife blades and an advanced position, extending across a support gap defined at the upper and lower knife blades. The shuttle bridging mechanism is advanced during operation to the advanced position and the film is advanced until a trailing edge of a leading film transparency aligns with the upper and lower knife blades.

Abstract: Automatic and semi-automatic slide mounters sever individual film transparencies from a photographic film web to prepare photographic slides therefor. The present invention relates to an apparatus for severing the individual film transparencies from the photographic film web in a slide mounter. The apparatus includes a movable knife assembly adapted for longitudinal adjustment and having a gauge for establishing an adjusted position for upper and lower knife blades therefor. The movable knife assembly is adjusted prior to operation to assure that the individual film transparencies of the film web will be correctly severed along film frame delineations for the individual film transparencies when advanced for operation across upper and lower knife blades of the knife assembly.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus includes a magazine for containing a plurality of frozen blocks of fish therein, the lower surfaces of the blocks resting on a table that is vertically adjustable relative to a reciprocable blade. A pusher unit is provided for each of the plurality of blocks, the pusher units ejecting the cut slabs each time the blade is retracted after completing a cutting stroke. During the cutting stroke the blocks are securely clamped.

Abstract: An electrophotographic recording apparatus records an image on a recording paper, either a cut recording sheet or a continuous recording paper, through steps of feeding the recording paper along a paper feed plane exclusively for the recording paper, stopping the recording paper upon the arrival of the same at a predetermined, exclusive starting position, forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor by an exposure unit as the photoconductor is rotated at a fixed surface speed, developing the electrostatic latent image in a toner image by a developing unit by applying a toner charged in a polarity opposite that of the electrostatic latent image, restarting the feed of the recording paper at a feed seed corresponding to the surface speed of the photoconductor upon the arrival of the first line of the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor at a position which will coincide with a fixed recording position on the recording paper at a transfer position, transferring the toner image fro

Abstract: A component lead cutting apparatus for tape-fed radial lead electrical components is disclosed. The taped components are driven through the machine by a rotary index wheel, with the cutting station element adjacent the wheel periphery. Clamping and cutting die elements are placed at the cutting station, and are actuated by a pneumatic cylinder to clamp and cut the lead components. The apparatus includes adjustment elements readily accessible from the top of the machine to raise or lower the index wheel and thereby adjust for different lead cut lengths, and to position the wheel to accommodate different tape sprocket opening configurations. The machine has a compact, narrow footprint, so that the machine is space-efficient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing preform panels having at least one preform for repairing interconnects, particularly for repairing meander-like interconnects with a preform plated with hard solder. The metal has at least the steps of: providing at least two successive punch events with a die; and performing a predetermined feed (V) between a metal band and the die between the two punch events, whereby the length of the feed (V) is greater than a die width of the die, a length of the die being shorter than a width of the metal band, and the preform being formed by a residual web of the metal band after the two successive punch events.

Abstract: An IC sheet cutting press performs a series of press cutting operations to separate ICs from an IC sheet while feeding the IC sheet stepwise. In the IC sheet cutting press, a series of press molds and an IC feed mechanism are mounted on a common die set to constitute a single press mold unit. When a different type of IC sheet is to be machined, the entire press mold unit can be exchanged with another one, so that various adjustments, e.g., adjustment of arrangement intervals of the press molds or a feed interval of the IC sheet can be omitted, and the operating efficiency of the cutting press and hence the compatibility are improved.An IC sheet processing apparatus, in which the IC sheet cutting press described aboved is combined with an automatic IC sheet loading unit, an IC lead bending press, and an IC storage unit for storing ICs after the lead bending operation, allows automatic IC sheet processing including the cutting operation of ICs from the IC sheet over a long period to time.

Abstract: A continuous form and cutform feeding unit for a printer. The feeding unit permits feeding a continuous form and cutforms utilizing a cutform feeding arrangement and a continuous form tractor feed. In order to permit either type of form to be fed to a main body of a printer, through a single form feeding passage, a cutform feeding passage and a continuous form feeding passage are provided upstream of the single form feeding passage. In the continuous form feeding passage, a continuous form cutting apparatus is operable to cut a continuous form in response to a signal such as for the beginning of the feeding of cutforms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a film perforator having a punch unit, a pad roller and a feed roller which are disposed at the upstream side of the punch unit and support a film by nipping it between them, and a sprocket which is disposed at the downstream side of the punch unit and comes into engagement with punch-finished perforations, the sprocket and the feed rollers are connected by a pulley and the line speed of the sprocket is adjsuted to be a little higher than that of the feed rollers so that the film is caused to slip from its nipped position between the feed roller and the pad roller, whereby the film is exerted with backward tension so as to keep its proper flatness.

Abstract: Strip feeding mechanism intended for use in a stamping and forming machine comprises an intermittently rotated sprocket wheel which is located adjacent to the operating zone of the machine in which the stamping and tooling is located. The strip material is held against the periphery of the sprocket wheel by a retaining shoe so that the sprocket teeth will enter pilot holes in the strip and advance the strip during feeding intervals. During non-feeding intervals, the pilot pins which are part of the stamping and forming tooling, will adjust the position of the strip relative to the tooling performing the operation thereon. The construction of the biasing shoe and the sprocket wheel is such that the strip is not firmly held by the feeding mechanism and can be moved by a very slight amount by the pilot pins in order to position the strip precisely in the operating zone.

Abstract: An improved link separator guide for use with a link separator to aid in the alignment and successive positioning of linked material at a severing station, at the joining segment of the linked material, the improved guide having an arcuate channel substantially conforming to a portion of the circumference of the linked material, the guide having recess semicircular indents for the drive rollers of the link separator to cooperate with the arcuate channel in order to partially encapsulate a portion of the circumference of the linked material in order to position the linked material at the severing station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dividing metal logs into billets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a furnace, a shear spaced from the furnace, and a guide-pusher system for moving the logs relative to the furnace and shear. Using this apparatus, a first log is cut into a plurality of billets each having a predetermined length. As a result, the remaining end of the first log will be unacceptably short. Instead of discarding this portion, it is selectively divided to form the first part of a combination, two-part billet. The second part of the two-part billet is severed from the end of a second log to be processed in the apparatus. As a result, a two-part billet is produced from materials which would normally be discarded, thereby resulting in considerable cost savings.

Abstract: A mechanism for feeding a ribbon having discrete three dimensional objects includes a specially formed finger which fits through a U-shaped opening from the back side of the ribbon and incrementally drives the ribbon into position where it is severed along a predetermined line by a knife which moves transverse to the direction of movement of the ribbon. The knife includes a gap in the blade opposite the U-shaped opening to avoid severing a tab associated with the U-shaped opening.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for converting thermoplastic web material, flat or tubular, to produce bags. A conventional bag machine produces web segments provided with a group of centrally located holes and each segment is transferred by a conventional rotary transfer device to one of a plurality of platforms which are sequentially located at a stacking station. The platforms are provided with upwardly projecting pins on which the web sections are stacked. After the accumulation of a desired number of web segments on the platform located at the stacking station, the loaded platform is indexed away from the stacking station to a perforating station and then to a cutting or cutting and blocking station to thereby produce two bag stacks, each of which are retained on the associated platform by the pins.

Abstract: A bell crank type strip feeding apparatus is disclosed in which one arm of the bell crank is coupled to an actuator and the other arm has a feed pawl thereon for feeding the strip. The actuator is a crank pin which is moved along a circular path about a fixed center. The intermediate pivot of the bell crank is mounted for movement along an arcuate path in response to the circular motion of the crank pin. The intermediate pivotal axis of the bell crank is yieldingly supported so that it can move laterally of the arcuate axis path when the feed pawl engages a fixed stop. A shearing mechanism is also disclosed for shearing the strip material at the conclusion of the feeding stroke.

Abstract: The apparatus for separating folded and perforated or creased endless or reel papers, which form an uninterrupted stack, comprises a conveyor belt 9 conveying the same to a separating station, in order to permit an automatic separation of the stack into individual stacks 7a with a predetermined number of paper sheets. For this purpose, a separating sword 2 is moved preferably from below between the sheets of the stack, so that a stack 7a is formed with the desired number of individual sheets. The small cavity 10 running in the longitudinal direction and formed by the separating sword 2 is used for receiving a knife 4, which is moved at right angles over the stack, in order to separate the same at a perforation or fold. Pivotable removal bolts 1 are used for conveying away the separated stack 7a and for transfer to a second conveyor belt 5.

Abstract: A fuel element bundle cutter that has horizontal rod bundle feed. A portion f the radioactive dust that is produced when a rod bundle is cut is picked up by scavenging air and is withdrawn with the latter via the chute for the cut-off rod pieces. The bottom of the lower part of the cutter housing, between the housing wall that faces the rod bundle feed and the side walls of the housing, is embodied as a grating, on the bottom side of which is disposed a base plate to which is connected a withdrawal mechanism that includes at least one collecting funnel and withdrawal channel for the remainder of the radioactive dust, which is conveyed by a portion of the scavenging air from the cutter housing. Each withdrawal channel communicates with the chute for the cut-off rod pieces.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a continuous paper web with transversely extending weakened zones into successive stacks of overlapping panels in zig-zag formation has two endless foraminous belt conveyors with divergent active reaches which attract alternate panels of the running web and advance alternate weakened zones into the range of the flights of two spiral conveyors. The spiral conveyors terminate the change of orientation of oncoming panels and deposit the panels on a vertically movable support whereon the panels accumulate into a stack. When the number of panels in a stack reaches a predetermined value, a nozzle admits compressed air between the topmost panel of the stack and the next-following panel so as to open the zig-zag formation and permit insertion of a table having a slot for a reciprocable knife which severs the web along the fold line between the topmost panel of the stack and the next-following panel.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for converting thermoplastic web material, flat or tubular, to produce bags. A conventional bag machine produces web segments provided with a group of centrally located holes and each segment is transferred by a conventional rotary transfer device to one of a plurality of platforms which are sequentially located at a stacking station. The platforms are provided with upwardly projecting pins on which the web sections are stacked. After the accumulation of a desired number of web segments on the platform located at the stacking station, the loaded platform is indexed away from the stacking station to a perforating station and then to a cutting or cutting and blocking station to thereby produce two bag stacks, each of which are retained on the associated platform by the pins.

Abstract: A device with the aid of which the first workpiece bundle, in particular, of long and narrow configuration, severed on a panel splitting saw from a workpiece stack which is to be split up into single workpiece bundles, is held in such a way that upon termination of an advancing motion, it cannot tilt over in the direction of advance, is described. To this end, the device is characterized by a counter holding member which is drivable parallel to the cutting plane of the panel splitting saw which splits up the workpiece stack from a position of rest into a stop position engaging the workpiece bundle, and which is movable together with the workpiece bundle in the direction of advance.

Abstract: An apparatus with a cutting device for cutting-off pieces of a wire comb binding material for binding packs of sheets with marginal perforation. The pieces to be cut-off from the material shall have an entire number of teeth. The apparatus has a guide and a conveying wheel for the material. A brake or a catch provides for the pitch-correct cutting of the material. An adjusting device for adjusting the conveying length is provided in the drive connection to the conveying wheel. For this purpose a sector gear wheel comprises partial sector gear wheels. These are rotatable and capable of being fixed with respect to one another. Alternatively, an eccent arrangement may be used for adjusting the conveying length. The radial eccenter distance of the arrangement is adjustable. A chain driven thereby is itself driving a chain wheel, which on its turn drives a catch wheel for driving the conveying wheel.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing flat jumper cable assemblies in strip form from reel comprises slot-like guide having parallel first and second surfaces which receive strip therebetween; channels in first surface receive terminals crimped on cable to prevent lateral shifting so various widths of cable can be dispensed. Elongate apertures in second surface provide access for pawls which bear on terminals to urge cable forward as pawl carrier is advanced horizontally by handle; control is then transferred to a blade carrier which is moved vertically to draw twin blades across cable to sever intermediate portion of cable and isolate individual assembly from strip.

Abstract: A pipe perforating apparatus has a spindle carrying a cutting tool and a drive for rotating the spindle about its own axis while revolving the spindle about the pipe. The cutter periodically engages and perforates the pipe. To provide for small, uniform sized holes in the pipe, the cutting tool is an end cutting punch and the spindle is rotated and revolved around the pipe to roll the punch into and out of the pipe without exerting a tangential force on the pipe.

Abstract: A slicing machine comprises a blade 1, feeding mechanism 8, 9, 11, 12 to feed a product 7, typically a food product, towards the blade 1, and a conveyor system 14 downstream of the blade 1 to form groups of slices. The machine also includes a programmed computer 18 to control the feed rate of the feeding mechanism 8, 9, 11, 12 and control the conveyor system 14 to form groups of slices 13. The programmed computer 18 is programmed to calculate the optimum number of slices and thickness of the slices forming each group in dependence upon physical parameters of the product 7 and to control the feed rate of the feeding mechanism 8, 9, 11, 12 and the conveyor system 14 to form the groups so that the slices in each group are of optimum thickness and there are the optimum number of slices in each group.

Abstract: A low labor, highly efficient process and system for manufacturing chocolate coated ice cream cookie sandwiches is achieved by incorporating a conveyor system for transporting the ice cream cookie sandwich through the various stages of its manufacture along with uniquely constructed ice cream brick slicing machines and a unique chocolate coating machine. In addition, a pass-through freezer is preferably employed prior to the chocolate coating, in order to assure a high quality, tasty product. The ice cream slicing machine of the present invention employed in the process and manufacturing system of this invention is constructed for receiving a plurality of ice cream bricks and cutting each brick into a plurality of slices in an efficient, automatic, integrated operational procedure and presenting each ice cream slice to a holding zone for placement on a cookie moving along the conveyor system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for apportioning and cutting a loaf of meat into slices of equal thickness. The apparatus includes a frame, a meat compartment in the frame adapted to receive the loaf of meat, a measuring device on the frame for apportioning the loaf into a predetermined number or thickness of slices to be cut, a cutting blade on the frame to cut the loaf into the plurality of slices, an advancement ram connected to the measuring device for advancing the loaf after each slice is cut, and a control system interconnecting the measuring device and cutting blade so that the cutting blade will sequentially cut the loaf into the plurality of slices of equal thickness. The measuring device includes a first elongated member having calibrations of equal increments for substantially simultaneously apportioning the number and thickness of slices into which the loaf is to be cut.

Abstract: A machine and method wherein a pusher advances a piece of meat to be sliced across the plane of a slicing blade against a backstop. The blade removes a slice from the piece. The difference between the slice weight and a preselected reference weight is used to adjust the separation of the backstop from the plane of the slicing member and hence the thickness of the next slice to be cut from the piece so as to tend to closely conform the weight of the next slice to the reference weight. Clamps hold the piece during slicing but release to allow the pusher to again advance the piece for production of the next slice. The pusher is actuable for ejecting a residual butt portion of the piece to enable loading of a new piece.

Abstract: Cucumber spears are rapidly and reliably packed into and around the inner periphery of a jar with the same cut side of each of the spears facing outwardly. The spears are formed by pushing a cucumber lengthwise through a set of knife blades, and the resultant spears are individually pushed through twisted channels by flexible rods which deliver them onto a horizontal platform with their cut sides down and all facing the same way. Two conveyor belts are recessed in the top of the platform, so that by lowering the platform the set of spears is deposited on the conveyor belts and conveyed downstream to a pair of adjacent platens each having grooves aligned with the conveyor belts. A fence across the conveyor arrests a first set of spears above the first platen, which is then raised to lift the first set of spears from the conveyor, whereupon a second set of spears accumulate above the second platen.

Abstract: A slicing machine including a rotating blade 1 and a feeding head 8 to feed a block of food product towards the blade includes a position detector 38 to detect when the feeding head 8 is a predetermined distance away from the end of its stroke, an encoder 32 associated with the drive 12 of the feeding head 8 to monitor movement of the feeding head 8 over the predetermined distance from the position detector 38 to the end of its stroke, and a cam and proximity switch 34,35 to monitor the movement of the blade 1 of the slicer. The machine also includes a computer 18 to monitor the position of the feeding head 8 as it moves towards the end of its stroke to establish when there is insufficient of the stroke of the feeding head 8 remaining to allow another whole slice of product to be cut before the feeding head 8 reaches the end of its stroke and to return the feeding head 8 to its starting position after completing the slicing of the last whole slice.