Abstract: A multi-purpose cutting device for removing the spinal cord and spinal meninx lining of the spinal cord of a slaughtered animal which has been longitudinally cut in two along the length of the spinal cord. The cutting device comprises a rotary cutting tool having a hub with radially outwardly projecting cutting fingers equidistantly spaced apart around the hub. The cutting fingers have blunt ends and are of substantially uniform length. A pair of circular saw blades are rigidly secured to opposite faces of the cutting tool. The saw blades have a circumference that approximately matches the effective circumference of the working ends of the cutting fingers. In use, when the cutting device is powered by a drive motor, the cutting fingers and saw blades rotate in unison. The cutting fingers rotate to remove the spinal cord and spinal meninx from the carcass while the saw blades cut into bone along opposite sides of the meninx.

Abstract: Each processor in the system is provided with a processor bus over which access to all storage and peripheral equipments is gained. Each access is performed as an address read or write operation. However, under certain circumstances it is necessary to perform a "read-and-hold" operation when accessing a data word which is to be modified. Typically, entries in the master capability table fall into such a category where the data word, while being modified, must not be accessed by any other processor. In such a read-and-hold operation it is vital that the store accessed is held throughout the period of the read-and-hold operation. This facility is obtained by incorporating parity inverting arrangements in each access unit and each processor so that the parity for a read-and-hold operation is inverted. A failure of the hold facility would be detected by the interrogating processor since a parity failure would be observed at the end of the operation.