Abstract: A universal blade sharpening machine is operable to securely hold and sharpen any one of multiple variously sized circular blades. The machine includes a blade-sharpening drive with an adjustable blade sharpener and also includes a universal blade holder that is rotatably powered by the drive. The blade holder includes a blade-receiving chassis that holds the blade during sharpening and is rotatable about a rotation axis of the blade holder. The chassis includes a plurality of radially spaced blade-retaining sections each associated with a respective one of the circular blades.

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 assembly includes a rotary knife with a spinning blade, a motor operable to power the rotary knife, a flexible drive cable with a proximal end drivingly connected to the knife to transmit rotational power to the blade while being flexed along the length of the cable, and a safety release drivingly connected to a distal end of the cable. The safety release is drivingly coupled to the motor and is operable to transmit rotational power from the motor to the drive cable and thereby the rotary knife. The safety release includes input and output members releasably drivingly engaged with one another. The safety release is operable to drivingly disengage the members.

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 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 blade-sharpening machine for sharpening any one of various sizes of rotary blades comprises a drive unit and a universal blade chuck for holding the blade to be sharpened. The drive unit further includes a sharpening assembly that sharpens the blade while the drive unit rotates the blade chuck. The blade chuck includes a chassis and jaws that are circumferentially spaced about the chassis and are shiftably attached thereto for securing the rotary blade. A spring-loaded fastener normally urges the jaws radially inwardly into engagement with the blade. A centrally-positioned cam is operable to shift the jaws simultaneously so that the blade can be selectively secured on the blade chuck.

Abstract: A universal blade sharpening machine is operable to securely hold and sharpen any one of multiple variously sized circular blades. The machine includes a blade-sharpening drive with an adjustable blade sharpener and also includes a universal blade holder that is rotatably powered by the drive. The blade holder includes a blade-receiving chassis that holds the blade during sharpening and is rotatable about a rotation axis of the blade holder. The chassis includes a plurality of radially spaced blade-retaining sections each associated with a respective one of the circular blades.

Abstract: A dressing device for sharpening or conditioning of a blade or the like includes one or more disk pairs each having a pair of disks respectively presenting a plurality of ribs. The disks are oriented in face-to-face relationship with the ribs thereof in meshed, intercalated relationship to thereby create circumferential dressing openings. The ribs are configured to create sharpened edge on a knife blade or the like.

Abstract: A dressing device for sharpening or conditioning of a blade or the like includes one or more disk pairs each having a pair of disks respectively presenting a plurality of ribs. The disks are oriented in face-to-face relationship with the ribs thereof in meshed, intercalated relationship to thereby create circumferential dressing openings. The ribs are configured to create sharpened edge on a knife blade or the like.

Abstract: A tripe washing and refining apparatus (10) includes a base (20), a vessel (14), and a motor (16). The vessel (14) includes a selectively reversible rotatable disc (30) and two baffles (32,34) extending from an annular side wall (24) above the disc (30). Disc projections (40,42,44) extend from an upper surface (38) of the disc (30) and present opposed washing (48) and refining (50) surfaces. The baffles (32,34) likewise present opposed washing (60) and refining (62) surfaces. The washing surfaces of the disc projections (40,42,44) and the baffles (32,34) engage the tripe to agitate and wash it. The refining surfaces of the disc projections (40,42,44) and the baffles (32,34) engage the tripe to remove fat or other components from its exterior.

Abstract: A dressing device (10,90) for sharpening or conditioning of a blade (18) or the like includes one or more disk pairs (36–40,108), each having a pair of disks (52,54,110,112) respectively presenting a series of circumferentially spaced, projecting teeth (64) with openings (66) therebetween. The disks (52,54,110,112) are oriented in face-to-face relationship with the teeth (64) thereof in meshed, intercalated relationship to thereby create circumferential dressing openings (76,122). The dressing surfaces (74) of the teeth (64) are of arcuate, concave configuration so as to create a desirable gothic-arch edge on a blade (18) or the like.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine (10) is provided having a base (12) and a pivotally mounted lid (14) which cooperatively define a package air evacuation chamber (76) adapted to receive the open end (98) of a filled flexible package (100), thereby allowing evacuation of air from the package (100) and heat sealing of end (98). The machine (10) is characterized by an essentially flat and uninterrupted, easily cleanable base upper wall (28) which eliminates concavities in the like which can lead to unsanitary collection of fluids or solids. The machine (10) also has a vacuum source (16) and a vacuum conduit assembly (18) the latter having conduits within base (12) and lid (14).

Abstract: A tripe washing and refining apparatus (10) including a base (20), a vessel (14), and a motor (16) is disclosed. The vessel (14) includes a selectively reversible rotatable disc (30) and two baffles (32,34) extending from an annular side wall (24) above the disc (30). Disc projections (40,42,44) extend from an upper surface (38) of the disc (30) and present opposed washing (48) and refining (50) surfaces, wherein the washing surface (48) is substantially smooth and the refining surface (50) is gritted. The baffles (32,34) likewise present opposed washing (60) and refining (62) surfaces. When the rotating disc (30) is rotated in a first direction, the washing surfaces of the disc projections (40,42,44) and the baffles (32,34) engage the tripe to agitate and wash it. When the rotating disc (30) is rotated in a second direction, the refining surfaces of the disc projections (40,42,44) and the baffles (32,34) engage the tripe to remove fat or other components from its exterior.

Abstract: A utensil holder (10) for knives (22) or similar utensils includes an upright, open top housing (12) having a retainer (14) therein. The retainer (14) includes a set (18) of side-by-side, laterally shiftable web members (20) with utensil entrance openings (61) defined between adjacent web members (20). The web member set (18) is held within the housing (12) by a U-shaped keeper (16). When a knife or other implement is inserted into an entrance opening (61), the adjacent web members (20) are slightly laterally separated but resiliently engage the blade (64) of the knife (22).

Abstract: A cutting utensil is disclosed as including a wooden handle and a metal blade projecting outwardly from the handle. The handle includes a blade-receiving slot and an outer edge that circumscribes the slot and extends along the outer surface of the handle. The blade is partly received within the slot, and the outer edge of the handle is spaced from the blade to define a gap therebetween. The gap is filled with a synthetic resin material that bonds to the blade and handle. There consequently is no exposed metal-wood interface on the utensil, thereby eliminating the cracks and cavities normally associated with such an interface.

Abstract: A tripes cleaning apparatus having a suspended, rotatable drum that presents an outer cylindrical surface on which the tripes are supported. The drum includes sets of flighting so as to facilitate arrangement of the tripes on each portion thereof in a single-layered helical orientation. A nozzle is associated with each set of flighting so that a low pressure cleaning fluid can be flushed through the tripes as the drum is rotated. Each nozzle is preferably activated to disperse cleaning fluid by bending the nozzle relative to its normally straight configuration, and a J-hook projects from the drum adjacent each nozzle to releasably hold the nozzle in the open, bent configuration and help retain the tripes against the drum. The apparatus further includes a spray bar operable to clean the outside of the tripes.

Abstract: A utensil holder generally includes a case and a utensil-retaining rod assembly. The case presents a utensil-receiving opening, and the rod assembly includes a plurality of elongated, flexible rods. The rods are confined within the utensil-receiving opening in a manner that permits limited flexing movement of the rods, whereby a utensil inserted into the opening causes elastic displacement of adjacent ones of the rods to define a space that at least substantially collapses when the utensil is removed from the opening. This permits the utensil to be supported virtually anywhere within the opening. In addition, the rods are sufficiently packed within the opening to support the utensil in the desired orientation. Moreover, the rods are restricted against lengthwise shifting relative to one another, which permits the rod assembly to be unitarily disassembled from the case, if desired.