Abstract: There is provided a device for sawing logs to a predetermined length which includes a log lead-in support member, a log support frame, a log cutting station and a log collection deck. The log support frame includes a front end, a rear end, opposite sides and supports a conveyor. An upwardly inclined conveyor moves a log lengthwise through the support frame to the log cutting station which includes a stop gate section, a sawing section, and a debris discharge conveyor. The stop gate section is positioned between the conveyor and the sawing section to set the log for proper timing into the cutting station and to align the butts when a plurality of logs is cut at the same time. A cutting station positioned at the front end of said support frame comprising a housing and a chain saw having a cutting bar on said support frame pivotally mounted to rotate 360.degree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a die from damage due to material jams in material stamping equipment wherein feed material is stamped in a die and then advanced through the die by action of press feed rolls powered by a press feed roll drive motor. The position error of the press feed rolls or the torque of the press feed roll drive motor is monitored during the advance of the feed material through the die. The monitored position error of the press feed rolls or the monitored torque of the press feed roll drive motor is then compared to the expected position error of the press feed rolls or the expected torque of the press feed roll motor, respectively.

Abstract: A cutter for face cutting of carpeting is provided. The cutter includes a floor engaging base and a plate attached to the floor engaging base which is slidable along an inclined path forming an acute angle with the base to form between the movable plate and the base a forwardly facing carpet receiving slot having a longitudinal central axis. A downwardly and rearwardly inclined cutting blade disposed in a plane which is parallel to and spaced to one side of a longitudinal central axis of the carpet receiving slot spans the rear end of the carpet receiving slot at the same acute angle as that formed by the inclined path of the floor engaging base, and is secured in a blade housing having an open-ended slot to provide easy access for adjustment, removal, and replacement of blades. Also provided are coacting bearing surfaces for securing the lowermost end of the blade against deflection, and cutouts for preventing an accumulation of debris around the lowermost corner of the blade.

Abstract: A vertical band saw machine in which a carriage assembly is mounted for pivoting on a base by rotational pivot points. Pivoting of the carriage assembly enables the band saw machine to make miter cuts to a workpiece. The head frame of the band saw machine travels on a guide on the carriage assembly and moves only in the direction of the plane of cut. A vise assembly is preferably attached to the carriage assembly and pivots with the carriage assembly for keeping the vise assembly close to the line of cut at all times, regardless of carriage assembly orientation. A driving wheel and driven wheel are attached to the head frame and may be tilted with respect to the head frame.

Abstract: A crayon sharpening assembly is disclosed comprising an axially rotating cartridge block (106) having an axial bore (178) for axial receipt of a crayon with a forward end of the crayon positioned within a cutting station (152). A pair of convergent sharpening blades (158, 160) carve a conical nose into the forward crayon end; a secondary horizontal blade (180) engages the forward crayon end and cuts an annular stepped shoulder surrounding the conical nose; and a preparatory vertical blade (188) makes a vertical circumscribing cut through the jacket of the crayon proximate the forward end, whereby restoring the forward crayon end into its manufactured form. A carrying case (12, 14) is provided having a pivotal lid (16), with the sharpener drive assembly (20, 22) built into one end wall. A drawer assembly (100) is removable from the end wall and contains the cartridge block (106) and a housing (102) for collecting shavings generated in the sharpening procedure.

Abstract: A portable saw table for a portable saw or router comprising a table base for supporting a workpiece, and a slide track support pivoted about a pivot axis to the table base. A slide is movable with respect to the support and slide tracks are mounted on the slide. A protractor is movable with the support and has indicia about the periphery thereof. An indicator on the table base is associated with the indicia of the protractor. The pivot axis and the protractor have common axis. A lock lever is pivoted on the protractor and a threaded shaft extends through the support and is threaded into the lock member for causing the lock lever to frictionally engage the table base and lock the support and slide in angularly adjusted position relative to the table base and longitudinally adjusted position relative to the support.

Abstract: A portable tool including a frame, a working element on the frame and a power unit for operating the working element. A switch on the frame switches between a first state, e.g., stop operation, and a second state, e.g., running operation. An actuator on the frame is repositionable relative to the frame to selectively change the switch from its first state into its second state and in a first path to change the switch from its first state into its second state. The actuator is mounted for movement relative to the frame in a second path that is different than the first path to change the switch from its first state into its second state.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting thin tissue sections using an anti-roll rake. The anti-roll rake comprises a rake head for engaging the cut tissue section and leading it away from the specimen block without rolling. The rake head is hingedly mounted to a mounting surface in the cutting instrument by way of a linkage assembly in order to provide freedom of movement between the various operational and non-operational positions.

Abstract: A food slicer for automatic operation having a staged dynamic brake for bringing the slicer carriage to rest at a predetermined location in a smooth manner. A sensor or system of sensors are utilized to detect the slicer carriage location. The sensor output is fed through a microprocessor which controls a dynamic brake which in turn acts upon the slicer carriage. The brake acts upon the carriage in two or more stages, so as to bring the carriage to rest in a smooth manner. The invention can also operate to as to bring the carriage to rest in a predetermined location.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a frame and a generally elongated endoscopic section connected to the frame and extending distally therefrom. The endoscopic section includes a mechanism for storing a plurality of staples, a mechanism for advancing the staples for positioning adjacent body tissue and a mechanism for at least partially closing each staple. A low pressure pneumatic system disposed in the frame provides the forces to at least partially activate the staple advancing mechanism. The apparatus has particular application in attaching mesh to body tissue as in laparoscopic hernia repair.

Abstract: A slicing machine for foods includes a circular knife with a peripheral cutting edge mounted rotatingly in a substantially vertical position on a machine housing. The knife defines a substantially vertical cutting plane. A knife protection ring is secured to the machine housing and surrounds a substantial portion of the cutting edge. A carriage for receiving a product to be cut is mounted on the housing on one side of the cutting plane for reciprocating movement in a direction parallel to the cutting plane. A scraper is arranged on an opposite side of the cutting plane to cover part of a face of the circular knife. The scraper is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis defined by a pivot bearing so as to be pivotable from an operating position to a cleaning position. The pivot axis is arranged above the center of the circular knife essentially horizontal and parallel to the cutting plane.

Abstract: A paper dispenser with a rear part fastenable to a wall on which a paper roll is supported and with a front part articulated closed over the rear part. A roller around which the dispensing paper is wrapped such that rotation of that roller moves the paper off the paper roll. A base part supported on the front part of the dispenser at the roller defines a slot with the roller through which the paper passes. A knife supported on the base part cuts the paper as it is pulled out of the dispenser. A pinion on the roller is rotated by a rack that is supported on the frame and that is movable by a lever projecting out of the front part, such that movement of the lever moves the rack to move the pinion to move the roller to move paper off the roll and dispense it.

Abstract: An anvil assembly for use with a circular surgical stapler is disclosed. The anvil assembly includes an anvil body, an anvil disposed around the anvil body and engaged therewith, and a tether line having a first end connected to the anvil body and a second end connected to the anvil. The anvil assembly is configured so that upon completion of the stapling operation, the anvil is disengaged from the anvil body, rotated, and withdrawn from the patient via the tether line. A method of using the anvil assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A slitting machine includes a pair of parallel arbors structured to support a plurality of cutting knives. The arbors are mounted to a head stock and tail stock on the slitting machine. The head stock and tail stock each rotatably support eccentrics which support the end portions of the arbors. Angular contact bearings, such as tapered roller bearings or ball bearings with inclined races, are positioned between the head stock and tail stock and the respective eccentrics and also within the eccentrics between the arbors and the eccentrics. Mechanisms are provided for providing an axial load across all of these bearings to eliminate play and so to accurately position the arbors so that cutting accuracy can be maintained. One such mechanism is a collet/piston supporting the operator's end of the arbors. The collet piston is received in a cylinder to which hydraulic pressure can be applied through a rotary coupling.

Abstract: A method of forming a duct liner from a duct insulation board includes cutting a plurality of parallel grooves into duct boards with a plurality of rotary saw blades which are spaced on 1.57 inch or 3.14 inch centers. The saw blades have peripheral teeth which project outwardly on both sides of the saw blades to form grooves in a first major surface of a duct board which are wider than the saw blades. The grooves have sidewalls which extend perpendicular to the first major surface of the duct board and have a depth from 70% to 90% of the thickness of the duct board. The first major surface is typically coated and a second major surface of the duct board normally has a facing adhered thereto. After the duct board is grooved, the duct board can be curved to conform to the curvature of a tubular metal shell, with the parallel grooves of the duct board extending parallel to the axis of curvature, and placed in the tubular metal shell as a liner to form an insulated air duct.

Abstract: The leading end portion of an elongated length of wire is cut off from the remaining length of wire each time the wire dwells after being advanced along a generally horizontal path. The cutting is effected by moving a cutter downwardly into cutting engagement with the wire and by immediately thereafter moving a wiper downwardly into engagement with the leading end portion of wire to push that portion downwardly and, if necessary, to cause shearing of any uncut diameter of the wire. The cutter and the wiper are actuated by a single, double-acting eccentric which serves to positively advance and positively retract both the cutter and the wiper. The cutter is carried by an arm which is actuated directly by the eccentric while the wiper is carried by a pivoted link connected to the arm. The eccentric, the arm and the link coact to cause the wiper to overtake the cutter as the cutter approaches the bottom of its cutting stroke.

Abstract: A paper cutting apparatus comprising a housing partially enclosing a roll of paper and a cutting member disclosed along an opening of the housing. A leading edge of a roll of paper is unrolled through the opening of the housing and is linearly severed along the cutting member.

Abstract: An elongated rod is journalled in a housing to reciprocate substantially vertical therefrom and has a cutting blade fixed on the tip of the lower end of the rod. A rotary motor is located at the upper end of the housing and is provided with an eccentric cam for converting the rotary motion into linear reciprocating motion.

Abstract: A yarn cutting apparatus comprising a cutter body, piston and a cutting mechanism. The cutting body has a cylindrical bore extending from a first end to a second end and a body notch extending transversely from one side to the other side of the cutter body. The cutting mechanism comprises a first cutting element, having an element notch and a planar support surface and a planar cutting surface parallel with the support surface, slidably mounted in the cutter body to move within the cylindrical bore and a second cutting element resiliently mounted in the cutter body adjacent the body notch. The second cutting element has a cutting edge and a planar surface that is parallel with and in surface to surface contact with the planar surface of the first cutting element.

Abstract: In the course of the upward turning movement of the magazine, the lowermost sheet of staples is taken from the staple cartridge as the feeding member is slidably displaced in the forward direction. Since the thrusting force given by the tension spring is sufficiently larger than the frictional resistance present between the lower surface of the lowermost sheet of staples and the feeding member, each sheet of staples can be more reliably taken from a staple cartridge. As the magazine is turned in an upward direction, a feeding member is displaced in the forward direction by the resilient force of a tension spring, and a contact portion on the feeding member comes in contact with the rear end of the lowermost sheet of staples.