Patents Examined by Maurina T. Rachuba
  • Patent number: 5724876
    Abstract: A log cutting apparatus having a support frame, a cutting arm, and first and second hydraulic cylinders for pivotally actuating the cutting arm through a cutting arc. The support frame comprises two support members and a removable linking member for easy disassembly and transport of the log cutting apparatus. The support frame includes a cutting arm housing for protecting the cutting arm in a laid back position with the cutting side of the cutting arm disposed upwardly. The cutting arm passes through a vertical during the cutting stroke. The first hydraulic cylinder works in conjunction with a cam-link, actuating the cutting arm from a retracted position within the housing to an intermediate position through rotation of the cam-link. The second hydraulic cylinder actuates the cutting arm from the intermediate position to an extended position during which the actual log cutting is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: CTR Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Calvin S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5724877
    Abstract: A tool is used to hold a food product upright while a user manually cuts the food product by slicing the food product from edge to edge with a blade of a knife. The tool includes a base having a top surface adapted to support the food product, a pair of knife blade guide members attached to the base opposite each other and spaced apart to provide a cutting zone, and a cutting pad in the cutting zone comprising a polyester based thermoplastic polyurethane having a Shore A hardness between 75 and 100 that resists being cut by the blade of the knife as the blade cuts through the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Bagel Trap, Inc.
    Inventor: Milo M. Kensrue
  • Patent number: 5724742
    Abstract: A reciprocating saw 10 includes a motor 17, a gear train 19, a drive shaft 15 and a blade clamp 13 for clamping a blade 11 in the saw. Clamp 13 includes sleeve 23 with first and second axially spaced and generally opposed projections 37, 39 for clamping an assembly 21 of blade 11 and drive shaft 15. A bias member 55 for clamping and unclamping blade 11 in sleeve 23 is adjustably attached to a top sidewall 33 of sleeve 23 and engages one side of assembly 21 at a location inwardly of first and second projections 37, 39. Bias member 55 forms a moment arm with a portion of sleeve 23 extending between the location of bias member 55 and first projection 37. Projection 37 serves as the fulcrum for the moment arm. The formation of a moment arm increases the effectiveness of the clamping action and more securely retains the blade 11 in the clamp 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Grabowski
  • Patent number: 5715738
    Abstract: A skate for an end cutter for cutting sheet material such as cloth as the sheet material lies on a supporting surface having opposite sides, the end cutter comprising an elongated track extending across the supporting surface between the sides and having a longitudinal axis, an exposed surface over which the sheet material lies during cutting thereof, a slot extending along the length thereof and a guide surface spaced from the exposed surface facing the slot and extending along the track in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. The skate is elongated, slides along the track, and has an operative surface facing the guide surface of the track. A bracket extends from the skate through the slot in the track member, and a blade is carried by the bracket and extends into the slot for cutting sheet material lying on the exposed surface of the track as the skate slide therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Machine Company
    Inventor: Robert M. Yetman
  • Patent number: 5715736
    Abstract: A hand held food holding device to secure articles of food for cutting or slicing which includes a base, a first wall, and a second wall. The first and second walls being connected to the base and extending upward therefrom to create a U-shaped member able to receive and secure articles of food while they are cut or sliced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Chernz, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Cherney
  • Patent number: 5711201
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bottle top cutting device which includes a base and a housing. The housing has an aperture formed therein, the aperture configured to allow the passage of a bottle tip thereinto while precluding insertion of a finger. A razor is housed in the housing and is positioned such that as the bottle tip is slid in the aperture towards the razor, the tip is cut off of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: Pamela J. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5709138
    Abstract: An apparatus for precision cutting of fiber tow is provided which includes a structure for securing a taut length of fiber tow between two points, a movable cutter, and a structure for guiding a cutting edge of the cutter substantially perpendicularly against the taut length of fiber tow at a predetermined point between the two points. A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Rimer
  • Patent number: 5704126
    Abstract: A dry shaving apparatus includes housing structure, a drive mechanism in the housing structure; at least two elongated cutter heads (SK1, SK2) that extend in longitudinal directions essentially parallel with each other, each cutter head comprising an outer cutter and an inner cutter and the two cutter heads being movable relative to and essentially parallel with each other. A further cutter head (SK3) is arranged intermediate the two cutter heads (SK1, SK2) so as to be pivotal about an axis (Z) extending parallel with the longitudinal directions of the two elongated cutter heads (SK1, SK2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Franke, Hans-Dieter Klauer
  • Patent number: 5701676
    Abstract: A portable rotary saw includes a cooling fan fastened to the output shaft of a motor and a plurality of ports provided downstream of the fan in a blade case defining a blade chamber. The ports allow the cooling air delivered by the fan to blow further downstream in the housing of the portable rotary saw. The portable rotary saw further includes a cover plate provided in front of the ports for separating a pathway of a wind caused by a rotating saw blade and for directing the cooling air out of the blade chamber without disturbing the wind caused by the rotating saw blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 5700184
    Abstract: A dental instrument sharpening system includes an instrument arm for holding a chiral bladed dental instrument and for facilitating movement of at least one of the chiral blades of the dental instrument to a rotatable sharpening stone. A positioning mechanism, coupled to the instrument arm, positions at least one of the chiral blades of the dental instrument in a desired predetermined position. The positioning mechanism includes a clamping mechanism and indexed slotted member. The indexed slotted member has index protrusions, such as protruding nubs, that matingly engage with indentations in the handle of the dental instrument. The handle of the dental instrument includes at least one index indentation such as a conical indentation. The index indentation and the corresponding index protrusion mate to properly position the blade of the dental instrument in a predetermined longitudinal and axial position in the clamping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: David D. Domenella
  • Patent number: 5699707
    Abstract: A machine and method of using same for cutting soft sheet material, such as textile fabric, which includes a cutting table having a support surface with openings distributed thereover. An endless conveyor of relatively high air permeability overlays and is movable relative to the support surface for moving sheet material. An endless micro-porous support belt having a relatively low air permeability overlays the conveyor for corresponding movement therewith. A vacuum source is connected to the cutting table and cooperates with the micro-porous support belt to retain the sheet material thereon in a relatively fixed position during transporting and cutting thereof and to retain the micro-porous support belt in engagement with the conveyor for uniform movement therewith. A cutting tool is supported on a cutting table for cutting the sheet material. The cutting tool has a washer positioned adjacent the cutting wheel to limit the penetration of the cutting wheel in the micro-porous support belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Automated Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Campbell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5697280
    Abstract: To provide a general-purpose saw blade which will saw different materials cost effectively, the saw blade includes a plurality of sets of teeth, each set including saw tooth having a large relief angle and a small tooth angle which provide fast cutting speeds, and with saw tooth having a small relief angle and a large tooth angle which provide the resistance to chipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Armstrong-Blum Mfg. Co
    Inventors: Donald L. Armstrong, Akiyoshi Yoneda, Kunihiko Okada
  • Patent number: 5694824
    Abstract: An improved cutting head for slicing a food product is disclosed wherein the cutting head includes a lower mounting ring attached to the bottom of the cutter support segments to position the cutter support segments and which lower mounting ring rests on and is supported by the cutting head support ring. The cutting head also includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust the width of the slicing opening, the mechanism having an adjustment member which is configured to engage a pin attached to a cutter support segment and to contact an adjusting surface on the upper mounting ring so as to space the pin a predetermined distance from the adjusting surface. The cutting head also includes a system for removably attaching the cutting blade to the cutter support segment such that the blade may be readily removed and replaced without completely removing the clamping member from the cutter support segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Urschel Laboratories Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael S. Jacko, Eugene H. Cole
  • Patent number: 5690013
    Abstract: An automatic bagel slicer includes a transport mechanism with spring loaded clamping panels for securely holding a bagel in a cutting attitude with respect to a horizontally disposed reciprocating cutting edge. A detent plate, that is mounted for limited vertical movement on the transport mechanism, has a contour that controls the opening and closing of the clamping panels in a coordinated manner as the transport mechanism is driven up and down. The sliced bagel is automatically released when the transport mechanism is at the lower part of its travel. The cutting edge is always concealed, thus precluding any danger to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventors: David A. Kanarek, Lawrence S. Kanarek
  • Patent number: 5690011
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided for cutting a workpiece moving in a predetermined path relative to a support. The apparatus includes a carriage and linear bearings for mounting the carriage to a support for movement relative to the support to follow movement of the workpiece as it moves in a predetermined path. A clamp is provided on the carriage for clamping the workpiece to the carriage, the clamp having an open position and a closed position. A scarf cutter movable between a first position and a second position is also provided on the carriage for making a scarf cut in the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventors: Donald R. Hill, James A. Gafkowski
  • Patent number: 5690012
    Abstract: A cutting module comprises a circular knife and a circular bedknife rotatively mounted on a frame in such a way that their respective axes are substantially parallel to each other. The distance between the axis of the knife and the bedknife is such that their respective periphery is brought close together or brought to bear on each other over a part of their periphery in order to cut a web passing between the knife and bedknife. The knife or the bedknife are mounted on a mechanism provided with an adjustable eccentric so as to adjust the penetration by modifying the height of engagement of the knife with respect to the bedknife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Christophe Louis Michel Blandin, Pascal Philibert Bossu
  • Patent number: 5685213
    Abstract: Device for in-line perforation of a continuous web of material in a gap between a pair of cylinders, the web being printed on at least one side thereof, both of the cylinders being held in side walls of a perforating unit and being driven, one of the cylinders carrying elements for perforating the web of material, includes a draw roller for drawing the web of material into the perforating unit, and a separate drive motor associated with the perforating unit and connected with the draw roller and the perforating-cylinder pair for simultaneously driving the draw roller and the perforating-cylinder pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gorl, Gerd Raasch
  • Patent number: 5682679
    Abstract: A hand tool having a pair of pivotally connected blades connected to a cutting blade having an arcuate outer edge with teeth thereon and an anvil so that on movement of the handles toward each other, the blade rotates toward the anvil and the anvil moves toward the blade to cut an object located between the blade and anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Inventor: Edward Dorma
  • Patent number: 5682805
    Abstract: An ultrasonic motor with a vibratory body which has plural groove groups formed in a surface of the vibratory body. Each groove group has at least two grooves which are formed parallel to one another. If the vibratory body has an annular shape, a groove forming member having as many cutting members as grooves in each groove group moves in a radial direction of the vibratory body while the cutting members rotate, simultaneously cutting each groove of a groove group in the surface of the vibratory body. When advancing vibratory waves are generated in a circumferential direction of the vibratory body, the state of vibration of the grooves in a groove group differs, and the resonance of the grooves is suppressed. If the vibratory body has a linear shape, the cutting members rotate as the groove forming member moves perpendicular to the vibratory body, simultaneously cutting each groove of a particular groove group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyasu Ohne
  • Patent number: 5678465
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus for measuring the thickness of slices taken from biological tissue samples by a microtome. The apparatus integrates a digital micrometer, a drive motor, sensing and control circuitry, and a mounting plate, and is designed to be attached to the top of a Krumdieck or similarly designed microtome for measuring the thickness of slices produced. The apparatus is designed so that the spindle of the micrometer is positioned in vertical alignment with the tissue well and plunger of the microtome. The user initiates downward movement of the spindle by depressing a down switch and control circuitry actuates the drive motor to advance the spindle of the micrometer down toward the top of the plunger until the bottom surface of the spindle contacts the plunger. The bottom surface of the spindle is electrically connected to a power source, and the plunger is electrically connected to the control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: Carlos Krumdieck