Patents Examined by Clark F. Dexter
  • Patent number: 8209871
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a housing that has a first end wall, a second end wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall and a rear wall. The first end wall has a blade aperture extending therethrough. A fixed blade is mounted in the housing and extends through the blade aperture. The fixed blade includes a sharp edge facing the second side wall. A pivoting blade is pivotally mounted in the housing and extends through the blade aperture. The pivoting blade includes a sharp edge facing the first side wall. The pivoting blade is movable from an open position to a closed position relative to the fixed blade. An actuator is mechanically coupled to the pivoting blade and pulls the pivoting blade toward the fixed blade when actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: Chris D. Palmby
  • Patent number: 8186064
    Abstract: Shaving apparatus with cutting members which are movable relative to one another and are each provided with a row of substantially V-shaped teeth having edges, a cutting opening between each pair of cooperating teeth for catching hairs, said cutting opening having a shearing angle between 1° and 30°, wherein the cutting openings are not completely closed during operation of the shaving apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Johan Pragt, Fokke Roelof Voorhorst, Jan Spoelstra, Alastair Ian Blake, Bastiaan Johannes De Wit, Jasper Zuidervaart, Albert Maas De Lange, Anna Dirkje Bosma
  • Patent number: 8181350
    Abstract: A precision cutting system for efficiently cutting through an external member (i.e. conduit, etc.) without damaging internal components (i.e. wires, cables, etc.). The precision cutting system generally includes a first support structure including a first inner end and a first outer end, a second support structure including a second inner end, a second outer end and an opening extending between thereof, wherein the second support structure attaches to the first support structure and a guide structure extending from the second support structure opposite the first support structure. The first support structure attaches to a cutting tool, wherein the blade of the cutting tool extends between the first inner end and the first outer end of the first support structure, through the opening of the second support structure and adjacent the guide structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Francois C. Morin
  • Patent number: 8166856
    Abstract: A system for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff. The system includes a scanner for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving information from the scanner to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the one or more determined cutting paths. The computer is configured to perform generally four steps: (i) receiving scan information of the foodstuff from the scanner; (ii) building a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff based on the received scan information of the foodstuff; (iii) fitting at least one desired shape, which is stored in memory of the computer, onto the three-dimensional map in the memory of the computer; and (iv) determining one or more cutting paths to be used in portioning the foodstuff so as to produce one or more portioned foodstuffs corresponding to the at least one desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang S. Kim, Stan Wijts, Norman A. Rudy
  • Patent number: 8146474
    Abstract: A quick change cutting link of a saw chain for cutting wood comprises a base member adapted to be pivotally connected to other links of the saw chain. The base member comprises a seat surface. A cutting member comprising a “V” notch releasably engages the seat surface of the base member. Attached to the “V” notch is a carbide tip, including a cutting edge. The carbide tip is accurately placed in the “V” notch by mating with a small piece of metal in the “V” notch. The carbide tip is then sinterbrazed to the cutting member. The cutting member and seat surface may also comprise an inverted L-shaped protrusion and the other includes an inverted L-shaped recess for receiving the inverted L-shaped protrusion. The inverted L-shaped protrusion and recess may be designed so as to form a wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Indigo Innovators, Inc.
    Inventor: David Szymanski
  • Patent number: 8141256
    Abstract: A manually operable ceiling tile cutting tool has a blade slidably retained in one of several pockets or slots in the tool. Each of the pockets formed by complementary grooves and ridges defines a flat blade receiving surface, is a differing predetermined distance from a bottom of the tool which corresponds to a standard dimension in a ceiling tile relief for a suspended ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Allen D. Siblik
  • Patent number: 8136254
    Abstract: An extendable hedge trimmer includes a housing having a handle end and a tool end. The handle end includes a battery and an electrical connector. The tool end includes a hedge trimming implement, a motor, and an electrical connector. The electrical connector of the tool end is electrically connected with the motor. Wiring is included within the handle end for electrically connecting the battery and the electrical connector of the handle end. The trimmer also includes a pole which is releasably connectable between the tool end and the handle end. The pole is configured for electrically connecting the handle end with the tool end. The trimmer also includes a latch mechanism for releasably attaching the pole between tool end and handle end. The trimmer also includes an input for receiving AC line power via a power cord, the trimmer configured for being powered by AC line power and/or battery power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventors: Jason Gieske, Cherry A. Bochmann, Erin Q. Riddell
  • Patent number: 8136434
    Abstract: A control device for a cutting blade, particularly for cutting-off machines for logs of web material, interrupts operation of the cutting blade when deformation of the blade reaches a preset deformation value and resumes operation of the cutting blade when the deformation of the blade is less than another preset deformation value. The control device includes a measuring device for measuring deformation values of at least a portion of the cutting blade, at least one comparator for comparing the measured deformation values with at least one preset deformation value set by an operator, and an actuator which sends, according to signals coming from the comparator, control signals to a motor of the machine to control the start up and/or the stop of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company Italia SpA
    Inventors: Sergio Casella, Mauro Biagioni
  • Patent number: 8122802
    Abstract: A power saw includes a saw assembly attached to a base assembly with an offset support that provides a clear path in line with the saw blade, thereby providing a miter saw, a table saw or a radial arm saw The height of the offset support is adjustable to make dado cuts, and a tilt mechanism is mounted at the top of the offset support to provide an “apparent” tilt axis near the top surface of the turntable, thereby eliminating an axle near the turntable top surface. A first fence used for miter cuts may be moved or removed during table cut operations. Alternatively, a reversible fence may be used for miter cuts when configured and affixed to the base assembly in a first position, and may be used for table or radial cuts when configured and affixed to the base assembly in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventor: Lawrence Lacy
  • Patent number: 8113100
    Abstract: A wood cutting band saw blade includes a cutting edge and a back edge, wherein the cutting edge is defined by a plurality of teeth spaced relative to each other. The plurality of teeth include a plurality of set teeth each having a tip, each defining a bend plane, and each including a shelf located at least partially between the tip and the bend plane for reducing saw dust passing to the kerf and accumulating on the band saw blade. Each of the set teeth may define a relief surface and a cutting surface where the relief surface extends from one side of the tip in a direction opposite that of the movement of the band saw blade and the cutting surface extends from another side of the tip. The shelf includes a shelf surface extending from the cutting surface and may terminate in a shelf tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company
    Inventors: Mark T. Cranna, Darriel Miller
  • Patent number: 8109001
    Abstract: Shaving apparatus including a drivable shaving unit for performing a first shaving action on a user's skin; a motor adapted to drive the shaving unit to perform the first shaving action; a blade having a razor-sharp cutting edge positioned for shaving engagement with the user's skin; and a guard surface provided in front of the razor-sharp blade. During use, the blade performs a second shaving action to cut hair while the drivable shaving unit performs the first shaving action. The first shaving unit may be rotary or linear and may have a static or moving skin-engaging cutter. Two razor-sharp blades may be provided, facing in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Terence G. Royle, Robert White
  • Patent number: 8104178
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting head (1), comprising a lower and an upper shears blade (2, 3), for an electric hair cutting machine (4). The lower shears blade and the upper shear blade (2, 3) are connected to each other, whereby a cutting blade (5), made from a planar material (7), is driven in oscillation in a slot (31) between the lower and the upper shears blade (2, 3) and is provided with cutting teeth (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Wella GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Worgull
  • Patent number: 8099873
    Abstract: An electric-powered cutting machine includes a reciprocable plunger held by and protruding outward from a housing; an operation member capable of being pivoted on the housing; and a blade holding mechanism disposed at a tip end portion of the plunger, the blade holding mechanism causing a blade to be detachably attached to the plunger. The operation member includes an operation portion and an abutting portion, wherein a distance from the operation portion to a rotating fulcrum is longer than a distance from the abutting portion to the rotating fulcrum. The blade holding mechanism is biased and is capable of swinging, and the blade holding mechanism includes a rotating member capable of being pressed against a side of the blade, wherein the abutting portion abuts against the rotating member when the operating member swings, and wherein the blade is detachably attached to the plunger by swinging of the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Eto, Shinichi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8069575
    Abstract: A vegetation pruning device (2) includes a pair (4,6) of pivotally coupled arms. A motor bracket (36) with a rotary output drive (34) provides drive to a cutting element (8) which is coupled to the rotary output drive (34). The cutting element (8) is arranged for cutting vegetation (44) presented thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Stones, David Barker, David Jarman
  • Patent number: 8065805
    Abstract: A vegetation pruning device (102) includes a pair (114, 116) of pivotably coupled handles and a motor having a rotary output drive (130) for driving an endless flexible cutting chain (108). A guard (162) is moved relative to the chain (108) by pivoting the handles (114, 116) relative to each other to grip vegetation between the guard (162) and the chain (108). The guard is provided with a pair of curved upper surfaces (164) having teeth (166). The rotary output drive (130) of the motor is arranged generally coaxially with the axis of pivotal movement of the handles (114, 116).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Stones, David Barker, David Jarman
  • Patent number: 8042443
    Abstract: A disc-shaped tool includes a plurality of virtual regions formed such that it is surrounded by two radius lines extending from a rotation center of a disc-shaped base metal and two concentric circles on the base metal disposed around the rotation center. A central angle formed by the two radius lines is equal to or less than 90°, and the number of the virtual regions is 4 to 24. The concentric circle located in a center of an interval of the two concentric circles forming the virtual region is in a range of 0.6 r to 0.8 r with respect to the rotation center of the base metal when a maximum gullet bottom radius of the base metal is r. An overlapping of the virtual regions continuously adjoining each other is in a range of 0° to 12°. A minimum neighborhood distance between the adjoining slits is equal to or more than 0.05 r. A ratio of a length of an arc of the central concentric circle in each virtual region with respect to the interval of the two concentric circles in the virtual region is 3 to 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kanefusa Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Nishio, Tomoyuki Iinuma, Yasutaka Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8042444
    Abstract: A knife holder (1) for microtome blades (2) has a body (3) for reception of the blade (2) against an abutment edge (4) and a pressure plate (5) for retention of the blade, such that in the retained state, only the blade cutting edge (6) protrudes from the body (3), and an ejection apparatus (8), associated with one side edge (7) of the blade cutting edge (6), is connected to the body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Thiem
  • Patent number: 8037795
    Abstract: A trimmer for trimming brochures has lower blade holders and upper blade holders for top cutting blades and bottom cutting blades lying opposite them. The trimmer further has a guide rail configuration and tensioners by which the lower blade holders can be locked on the guide rail configuration. Accordingly, the tensioners can be actuated from one and the same side of the trimmer. This has an advantageous effect on the time required for changing over the trimmer from one brochure format to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Matthes, Falk Wagner
  • Patent number: 8033203
    Abstract: A cartridge is configured for slitting a mill roll in a slitting machine. The cartridge includes a first shaft mounted in bearings in a pair of endplates, with one end of the shaft having a driven yoke for rotation thereof. The first shaft includes a row of first circular blades spaced longitudinally by corresponding first spacers. A second shaft is pivotally mounted in the endplates, and is spaced parallel with the first shaft. A dovetail bar is fixedly joined to the second shaft parallel therewith. And, a row of blade holders are mounted along the dovetail bar, with each holder including a second circular blade aligned with a corresponding one of the first blades for cutting in shear a web unwound from the mill roll. The cartridge may be quickly replaced in the slitting machine for each production run thereof for alignment with cores on a corresponding arbor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Martin F. Johnson, Paul E. Hensley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8033205
    Abstract: A roof shingle peeler device which comprises a saw blade, a motor to operate the saw blade, a horizontal arm and skiis to regulate the depth of the saw blade, a wedge to remove the nails and shingles from the roof deck and enable the saw blade to cut the shingles into a predefined section, and a frame to facilitate the transportation of the predefined section of shingles for being received and collected into a bag for disposal. A hoist and return hoist are used to pull the roof shingle peeler device up and down the roof deck from the base to the crest while removing shingles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Edward J. Cross