Abstract: A leafy vegetable having a core end and a leafy end is processed after being harvested. The harvested leafy vegetable is transported to a trim area on a conveyor. A first cutting implement located in the trim area trims a portion of the core end. A second cutting implement located in the trim area trims a portion of the leafy end. The first and second cutting implements are spaced a set distance apart, which defines an amount of the leafy vegetable remaining after the portions of the core and leafy ends are trimmed. As the portions of the core and leafy ends of the leafy vegetable are being trimmed by the first and second cutting implements, a set of one or more nozzles located in the trim area sprays a rinsing liquid on cut sites on the leafy vegetable to rinse off natural juices exuding from the cut sites.

Abstract: A food slicer and grater is provided. In one implementation, the food slicer and grater may include an adjustable base including a first and second base portion. The first base portion may be slidably moveable relative to the second base portion in a stepwise incremental fashion. The food slicer and grater may also include a food cutter element configured to be removably coupled between the first base portion and the second base portion. The food cutter element may also be configured to be removably coupled to an outer surface of the adjustable base or the outer surface of another food cutter element.

Abstract: A belt tensioning device for shifting a pulley such that a belt passed around the pulley is tightened to a predetermined tension. The device includes a rod coupled to the pulley, a member coupled to and movable along the rod, and a spring that exerts a reactive force against the member when the member is moved in a first direction along the rod. The device further includes a spacer which engages the member to limit the advancement of the member in the first direction.

Abstract: A sawing device for sheets of wood and plastic material has a support with at least one transport belt. The transport belt has longitudinal profiled sections arranged in the transport direction of the transport belt. The longitudinal profiled sections are positioned at a spacing from one another. At least one saw unit is provided and is moveable transversely to a longitudinal extension of a sheet to be cut while the sheet is resting on the longitudinal profiled sections.

Abstract: A rotary microtome includes a crank mechanism for moving an object carriage up and down in a vertical path and a drive mechanism for driving the crank mechanism. The object carriage has a receptacle for a specimen holder. A mass-balancer balances the moveable masses of the microtome. The mass-balancer has a pretensioned, adjustable spring element and a pivotably mounted lever for compensating different inertial forces of the microtome in combination with the spring element. A drawing element connects the lever to the object carriage. The mass-balancer is indirectly connected to the drive mechanism by the drawing element.

Abstract: A sawmill for milling a length of sawbolt includes a frame and a plurality of saws movably mounted to the frame. The plurality of saws include bandsaws, edging saws, and chain saws for making various cuts necessary in the milling process. A saw positioning system is coupled to the plurality of saws for positioning the saws relative to the frame. A controller is coupled to the saw positioning system. The controller provides a saw position signal and the saw positioning system positions the saws in response to the saw position signal. A number of log positioning mechanisms are also provided.

Abstract: The sliceable product of an automatic slicing machine is advanced toward the stop plate by a slider which is engaged on both sides of the receiving surface for the sliceable product by respective belt drives.

Abstract: A pivoting carriage and saw which is characterized in a preferred embodiment by a carriage capable of receiving curved logs and pivotally mounted on a linear-operated trolley for engaging the logs with a pivoting band saw and cutting a selected non-linear path through the curved logs. In a most preferred embodiment the band saw is pivotally mounted adjacent to the trolley carriage and log and a computerized control system is coupled to fluid-operated cylinders mounted on log-adjusting knees on the carriage and on other fluid-operated cylinders provided on the carriage itself and on the band saw and used to select and control desired cutting paths through the logs.

Abstract: Three parallel wide flange beams (B1, B2, B3) define parallel tracks (T) for side-by-side log carriages (C1, C2). Each log carriage (C1, C2) is an end-dog carriage and includes end dogs (D). Each carriage (C1, C2) is in two sections (10, 12). Each carriage section (10, 12) is supported for movement along its track (T) by four carriage wheels (W), one located at each corner of a carriage frame (F). The carriage wheels (W), the track rails (R1, R2, R3, R4) on which they ride, stabilizing rails (56, 58) and stabilizing wheels (SW) wrap the forces imposed on the carraiges (C1, C2) in a manner resulting in carriage travel along a substantially true line. The dog arms (54) include teeth (94, 96) which are divided into two rows separated by a V-channel (98). The outer faces of the teeth are parallel. The inner faces are defined by the channel (98) and are separated by a substantially sixty degree angle. The edges of the teeth (94, 96) converge as the teeth extend outwardly from the dog arm (54).

Abstract: An end dogging sawmill carriage is described, including a pair of front and rear carriage units having dogs which engage the opposite ends of a log and a pair of independent drives for such carriage units. The pair of drives are temporarily connected together by a releasable connector means to maintain the log clamped between the carriage units as such pair of drives share the load and both drive the log through the primary breakdown log cutting apparatus. The releasable connector can by a cylinder actuated cable clamp mounted on the rear carriage unit for clamping the first drive cable of the front carriage unit in response to an electrical control signal applied to a solenoid valve for operating the clamp cylinder. In another embodiment the releasable connector is a solenoid actuated lock which operates a latch member to selectively engage one of a plurality of notches spaced along a notched connecting rod attached between the end of the first cable and the front carriage.

Abstract: A three-side cutting apparatus which cuts a carried-in book at its top, bottom and side.

Abstract: A food product slicer includes a rotating blade and a carriage for supporting the food product. The carriage is mounted for lateral motion along a linear path to bring the food product into contact with the blade. A drive motor is selectively connected to the carriage for movement of the carriage along the path. In accordance with a method of automatically operating the slicer, the carriage is moved along the path by the motor to a predefined reference position nearest the operator. A motor position count is initialized, and during all motor energization, a count is generated corresponding to incremental movement of the carriage along its path. The motor is energized for a count to move the carraige to a position corresponding to a start of a slicing stroke. The motor is then energized for a count sufficient to move the carriage to a second position corresponding to a completion end of the slicing stroke.

Abstract: A band-saw-cutting system for cutting sections from a work in a substantially continuous, automated manner. The system includes a work carrier adapted to support one or more pieces of work and to be reciprocated to carry the work from a home position to a forward position in a cutting stroke to cut the work and back to the home position in a return stroke. The system includes blade-moving means for automatically moving the blade out of the cutting plane of the blade during each return stroke such that the work will not contact and rub against the blade during the return stroke, and for moving the blade back into the cutting plane prior to the initiation of the next cutting stroke. The system further includes means for automatically moving the work transversely against an adjustable fence to position the work relative to the cutting plane to cut desired thicknesses from the work during each cutting stroke.

Abstract: An end-dogging log carriage system has two narrow, carriage sections, supportably guided on an elongated track, interconnected by a drive cable and a clamping cable. Both cables are wrapped around a spooling drum mounted on one of the carriage sections in such a way so that rotation of the spooling drum simultaneously changes the operative length of both clamping and drive cables thereby moving one carriage section with respect to the other to adjust the length of the log carriage and clamp a log therebetween. The tension in the cable system acting at the cable attachment points on each carriage section provides therein a preinduced countermoment in opposition to the dogging moment occurring when a log is dogged. The carriage sections are laterally biased against a single sidemounted guide rail spaced from the supporting track and discontinuous proximate the saws by a preloaded torque shaft mounted on each carriage section.

Abstract: A microtome comprises a handwheel which can be rotated in two directions of rotation, and drive means for the purpose of driving a specimen holder, so that the specimen holder executes a cutting movement when the handwheel is rotated in one direction, and a resetting movement when the handwheel is rotated in the other direction. The cutting and resetting movements take place relative to a cutting knife. A reduction gearing arrangement enables the speed of the cutting movement to be reduced relative to the speed of the resetting movement without having to rotate the handwheel at a correspondingly lower rate. A catch enables the reduction gearing arrangement to be bridged so that the speed of the cutting movement and resetting movement are equal for any given rate of rotation of the handwheel.

Abstract: An elongated frame supports a pair of rails for a wheeled log carriage. A winch drum is mounted on the frame between the ends of the latter and drives a cable reeved through opposite end pulleys for moving the carriage in feed and return movements. Multiple pulley V-belt assemblies are provided in the drive unit for the carriage and are operated by a manual lever which in one direction actuates feed movement of the carriage and releases return drive movement and in the other direction of the lever releases the drive for the feed movement and actuates the drive for the return movement. Such actuation and release of the multiple pulley V-belt assemblies is controlled by rocker arm clutches controlled by the manual lever. A log ramp is utilized with the mechanism and has a pull cable powered from the main drive mechanism of the sawmill under control of an operator's lever.

Abstract: An arrangement in sawing machines or like processing machines for the forward feeding and infeeding of work pieces, such as logs in particular, to the machine, comprising a stationary saw table which extends parallel to the desired feed line for the workpiece, at least up to the sawing machine, and at least two, individually drivable, endless feed chains which extend in vertical planes parallel with the feed line beneath the saw table. Each of the feed chains is provided with at least one dogging means which moves in a groove in the saw table. The groove is parallel with the feed line and common to all dogging means. The dogging means projects up out of the groove, above the surface of the saw table, in a manner to enable the dogging means to act on the rear end surface of a work piece resting on the saw table, for feeding said workpiece up to and into the sawing machine.

Abstract: Logs are advanced substantially in the direction of their longitudinal axes through a saw while engaged between a driven pusher dog and a retarded holdback dog. The pusher dog is on an endless carrier chain located above an initial log support, and the holdback dog is on an endless carrier chain located below the log path and forwardly of the support. Logs on the support are movable angularly and laterally from the machine axis to displaced positions which are unobstructed by the carrier chains, to permit offset sawing and taper sawing. Chipper heads produce planar surfaces on logs approaching the saw. A retractible preliminary holdback dog engages the forward end of a log and moves past a bottom-flattening chipper head to a tranfer area where the chain-carried holdback dog engages the log and the preliminary holdback dog is retracted.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in a meat slicer comprising a circular blade rotatable vertically on one side of the machine frame, a meat case whch travels forward and backward horizontally on the machine frame along the plane of rotation of said circular blade and lower and upper conveyor apparatus provided on the top and bottom parts of said meat case so as to hold therebetween a block of soft and shapeless meat and force it toward said circular blade to be sliced in desired uniform thickness ranging from several millimeters to 30 millimeters continuously, a structure for the meat case and a mounting device for a driving mechanism to facilitate cleaning of the machine before and after operation and insure effective sanitary control.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for the reciprocating meat supporting carriage of a meat slicing machine wherein the carriage supports the meat product to be sliced and moves the meat product relative to a power driven knife, and which includes an endless belt trained over longitudinally spaced apart pulleys, thereby defining upper and lower horizontal belt runs extending between the pulleys, a drive member connected along the belt and having a driving lug mounted intermediate the ends thereof, the driving lug slidably engaging a drive slot formed in a driven bar extending from the carriage, the slot extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage, and the ends of the drive member being connected to the belt such that the path of the driving lug during the time the connected ends of the drive member traverse the pulleys follows a path substantially longer than the path of either connected end of the drive member, whereby the deceleration and acceleration forces of the driving lug are substantially less

Abstract: A log is moved forwardly in a longitudinal path through a saw while engaged between a pusher dog and a holdback dog. The dogs are supported respectively by a pair of endless carriers which are parallel and adjacent to each other on one side of the log path. The log is scanned and rotationally oriented before being engaged by simultaneous forward movement of the pusher dog and rearward movement of the holdback dog. Forward movement carries the log first to a chipper head and then to a guide surface which engages the face cut by the chipper head for stabilizing the log during sawing.

Abstract: Logs are advanced substantially in the direction of their longitudinal axes through a saw while engaged between a driven pusher dog and a retarded holdback dog.The pusher dog is on an endless carrier chain located above an initial log support, and the holdback dog is on an endless carrier chain located below the log path and forwardly of the support. Logs on the support are movable angularly and laterally from the machine axis to displaced positions which are unobstructed by the carrier chains, to permit offset sawing and taper sawing.Chipper heads produce planar surfaces on logs approaching the saw. A retractible preliminary holdback dog engages the forward end of a log and moves past a bottom-flattening chipper head to a transfer area where the chain-carried holdback dog engages the log and the preliminary holdback dog is retracted.

Abstract: A log is moved forwardly in a longitudinal path through a saw while engaged between a pusher dog and a holdback dog. The dogs are supported respectively by a pair of endless carriers which are parallel and adjacent to each other on one side of the log path. The log is scanned and rotationally oriented before being engaged by simultaneous forward movement of the pusher dog and rearward movement of the holdback dog. Forward movement carries the log first to a chipper head and then to a guide surface which engages the face cut by the chipper head for stabilizing the log during sawing.

Abstract: Logs are advanced substantially in the direction of their longitudinal axes through a saw while engaged between a driven pusher dog and a retarded holdback dog.The pusher dog is on an endless carrier chain located above an initial log support, and the holdback dog is on an endless carrier chain located below the log path and forwardly of the support. Logs on the support are movable angularly and laterally from the machine axis to displaced positions which are unobstructed by the carrier chains, to permit offset sawing and taper sawing.Chipper heads produce planar surfaces on logs approaching the saw. A retractible preliminary holdback dog engages the forward end of a log and moves past a bottom-flattening chipper head to a transfer area where the chain-carried holdback dog engages the log and the preliminary holdback dog is retracted.

Abstract: A device for continuously feeding logs into a machine center to cut or chip pieces from the sides thereof is disclosed. The device includes opposed upper and lower tracks mounting upper and lower endless drive chains. Each drive chain mounts a plurality of spaced dogs adapted to be disposed in alternating sequence of upper and lower pairs, each dog having a horizontally directed gripping surface whereby a log may be gripped between a pair of upper and lower dogs and fed through a machine cutting center. As a first log held by a pair of upper and lower dogs passes through the machine, a second pair on each chain rotates into a feeding position for gripping a second log to be taken through the machine. The device also includes associated centering and positioning members to align logs entering the machine, conveyors for cut pieces, and means for interlocking the upper dog in the lower track as the log gripped thereby passes through the machine center.

Abstract: Logs are advanced through a saw while they are engaged between driven pusher dogs and retarded hold-back dogs. The pusher dogs are mounted on a lower endless roller chain below the logs, and the hold-back dogs are on an upper endless roller chain above the logs. The upper chain and its hold-back dogs are vertically movable to elevations dependent on the elevation of a log, thus assuring proper engagement. When the sawed portion of a log is retained laterally on a support, the hold-back dogs are moved forwardly away from the log so that a hold-back dog will be in the path of the next log to be handled by the system.