Abstract: A vacuum rotary knife is fluidly connectable to a vacuum source conduit. The rotary knife includes an annular blade and a knife head. The knife head supports the blade for rotation about a rotational axis. The knife head presents a vacuum port fluidly connectable to the conduit. The vacuum port is spaced from the blade such that the knife head defines a suction pathway extending between the blade and the vacuum port.

Abstract: A fidget spinner designed to spin in a user's hand includes a body having a central body portion and a plurality of arms. Each of the arms projects outwardly from the central body portion to present a distal end. A bearing assembly is coupled to the central body portion of the fidget spinner. In addition, a plurality of spherical components are included. Each of the spherical components is rotatably supported adjacent the distal end of a respective one of the arms.

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

Abstract: A tripes cleaning apparatus includes a rotatable drum presenting a tripes-supporting surface and an integrated fluid valve and nozzle assembly operable to selectively discharge fluid from a source into the tripes as the drum is rotated. The assembly includes a valve base fixed relative to the tripes-supporting surface and a valve body rotatable relative to the valve base into and out of a closed position. Fluid flow to the tripes is at least substantially prevented when the valve body is in the closed position. The assembly also includes a nozzle rigidly fixed to the valve body. The nozzle is elongated to present a fluid discharge opening spaced from the valve body, with swinging of the nozzle controlling rotation of the valve body into and out of the closed position.

Abstract: A tripes cleaning apparatus includes a rotatable drum presenting a tripes-supporting surface and a nozzle associated with the tripes-supporting surface and operable to discharge fluid from a fluid source into the tripes as the drum is rotated. The tripes cleaning apparatus also includes an automatic valve configured to cyclically control flow from the fluid source to the nozzle in coordination with rotation of the drum.

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

Abstract: A rotary knife includes a frame, an annular blade, and a blade housing mounted to the frame. The housing presents a circumferential mounting surface in contact with the frame. The housing supports the blade on the frame for rotation about a central axis. The housing includes a blade-supporting race defined along a circle centered on the central axis. The mounting surface is defined along a circular arc with a center point spaced from the central axis, such that the blade-supporting race and mounting surface are eccentric relative to one another. The housing presents opposite inner and outer annular faces. At least one of the faces presents a proximal-most end in contact with the frame and a distal-most end spaced from the frame. The proximal-most end is spaced from the central axis a first distance. The distal-most end is spaced from the central axis a second distance. The distances are different.

Abstract: A combination chamber and external suction vacuum packaging machine is operable to evacuate a vacuum bag and seal closed an open margin of the bag. The vacuum packaging machine includes a base and a lid that define a vacuum chamber operable for use in a chamber packaging operation, where the bag is entirely received within the vacuum chamber, and an external packaging operation, where only part of the bag is received within the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A combination chamber and external suction vacuum packaging machine is operable to evacuate a vacuum bag and seal closed an open margin of the bag. The vacuum packaging machine includes a base and a lid that define a vacuum chamber operable for use in a chamber packaging operation, where the bag is entirely received within the vacuum chamber, and an external packaging operation, where only part of the bag is received within the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Improved, portable apparatus for ozone deodorizing and sanitizing of clothing items such as shoes is provided having a housing sized to receive an item to be treated, together with an ozone generator and a ventilation assembly operable to deliver ozone-laden air currents into the housing. In preferred forms, the ozone generator is located within a compartment separate from the housing, and a fan assembly is used to draw ambient air currents adjacent the generator for ozone supplementation, followed by delivery of the ozone-laden air currents into the housing.

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

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

Abstract: A rotary knife includes a rotatable annular blade. The blade includes a blade wall presenting an annular inner surface terminating at a cutting edge. The annular inner surface includes a first section and a second section, with the first section extending from the cutting edge and the second section being located further from the cutting edge than the first section. The first and second sections define first and second angles, respectively, relative to an imaginary plane transverse to the axis about which blade rotates. The second angle is greater than the first angle.

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

Abstract: A container for storing at least one object, such as a knife, utensil, and the like, wherein the object has a blade that is occasionally dressed is disclosed. The container includes a housing presenting an object-receiving opening and a blade-dressing assembly configured to provide selective dressing of the blade. The blade-dressing assembly includes a carrier and a dressing component supported on the carrier. The carrier is shiftably supported on the housing so as to move between a storage position in which the dressing surface is incapable of engaging the blade and an operating position in which the dressing surface is engageable by the blade.

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

Abstract: A rotary knife assembly includes a rotary knife with a spinning blade, a motor operable to power the rotary blade, and a flexible drive cable connected between the motor and knife to transmit rotational power to the blade. The assembly includes a safety release feature drivingly intercoupled between the motor and drive cable so as to drivingly disconnect the cable and knife from the motor when excess torque is experienced. The safety release feature is in the form of a breakaway drive lug operable to normally transmit rotational power from the motor to the knife. In the event of binding of the knife or kinking of the drive cable, excess torque serves to break the drive lug in order to disengage the motor from the knife.

Abstract: Improved, portable apparatus for ozone deodorizing and sanitizing of clothing items such as shoes is provided having a housing sized to receive an item to be treated, together with an ozone generator and a ventilation assembly operable to deliver ozone-laden air currents into the housing. In preferred forms, the ozone generator is located within a compartment separate from the housing, and a fan assembly is used to draw ambient air currents adjacent the generator for ozone supplementation, followed by delivery of the ozone-laden air currents into the housing.