Abstract: A food product breading machine is disclosed that comprises a breading unit and a battering unit. The breading unit includes a breading material reservoir, a conveyor for moving food products and breading material along a travel path to a breading application station, and a breading material flow controlling system for creating a standing wave of breading material at the breading application station. The breading material flow controlling system comprises food product engaging elements movable toward and away from the conveyor to enable food products to pass through the standing wave and the application station while continuing to restrict the flow of breading material from the station. An adjustable plow projects into the breading approaching the application station to facilitate breading lateral sides of food products approaching the station.

Abstract: A sharpener for blades comprises a movable blade-sharpening surface, a stationary blade guide supported closely adjacent the surface, and a movable support for a blade. The support comprises pivotally interconnected first and second links and a blade holder. The first link is pivotably supported at a location fixed with respect to the blade guide, the second link supports the blade holder adjacent a distal end of the second link. The links support the blade holder for movement in first directions toward and away from the blade-sharpening surface, in second directions transverse to the first directions, and in third directions transverse to the first and second directions. The blade holder is pivotably supported on the second link, with the links and pivots being located and ganged to support the blade holder adjacent the blade guide for movement in three substantially mutually perpendicular directions relative to the blade guide and blade-sharpening surface.

Abstract: Cradle apparatus for mounting an automatic cannon to an elevationally rotatable plate positioned at an exterior region of a weapons system turret or cupola includes an elongate, rigid, box-like cradle and first, second and third universal ball connections, arranged in a generally triangular configuration, for mounting the cradle to the rotatable plate. Each of the connections includes cradle portions fixed to the cradle and plate portions fixed to the plate. The first, uppermost connection includes means for releasably latching together the cradle and plate portions thereof; whereas, the second and third, lower connections define a cradle hinge line about which the cradle is pivotable between open and closed conditions relative to the plate when the first connection cradle and plate portions are unlatched. Means are provided in the cradle for mounting an automatic cannon in a manner enabling ready access to receiver portions thereof when the cradle is in the open condition.