Abstract: An apparatus for handling food products comprises an alignment trough disposed at an incline for holding a stack of the food products at an incline. The alignment trough defines a portion of a passage upon which the food products travel. The stack defines a bottom food product. At least one movable member extends into the passage to control the separation of the bottom food product from the remainder of the stack by moving to provide clearance for the food product to pass.

Abstract: A conveyor system for assembling and stacking sliced food products is provided. The conveyor system includes an assembly area, wherein groups of a predetermined quantity of sliced food products travel from a slicer on a conveyor and are deposited on discrete carrier sheets on a downstream conveyor. The assembly area is configured to delay advancement of the carrier sheets on the downstream conveyor until a group of the predetermined quantity is formed. The slicer is configured to calculate the number of slices in each group and determine whether a group is complete. A stacking area of the conveyor system includes a nose conveyor that extends and retracts to deposit each carrier sheet onto a pair of initial supports. The initial supports reciprocate away from each other in opposing directions to drop the carrier sheet onto a subsequent level, with the initial supports reciprocating each time a carrier sheet is deposited thereon.

Abstract: A conveyor system for assembling and stacking sliced food products is provided. The conveyor system includes an assembly area, wherein groups of a predetermined quantity of sliced food products travel from a slicer on a conveyor and are deposited on discrete carrier sheets on a downstream conveyor. The assembly area is configured to delay advancement of the carrier sheets on the downstream conveyor until a group of the predetermined quantity is formed. The slicer is configured to calculate the number of slices in each group and determine whether a group is complete. A stacking area of the conveyor system includes a nose conveyor that extends and retracts to deposit each carrier sheet onto a pair of initial supports. The initial supports reciprocate away from each other in opposing directions to drop the carrier sheet onto a subsequent level, with the initial supports reciprocating each time a carrier sheet is deposited thereon.

Abstract: An attachment for a rotary cutting tool includes a first member for selectively coupling the attachment to a rotary cutting tool at a first location and a second member for selectively coupling the attachment to the rotary cutting tool at a second location. The attachment also includes a body extending between the first member and the second member and a handle extending from the body at a location between the first member and the second member and oriented substantially perpendicular to the body. The body is arranged between the handle and the rotary cutting tool when the attachment is coupled to the rotary cutting too. The attachment also includes a shaft extending from within the body and a base coupled to shaft and configured for contacting a workpiece when the rotary cutting tool is forming cuts in the workpiece.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for handling food products whereby stacked food products can be mechanically singulated or singulated product not on pitch can be dispensed individually at a regular pitch onto transport system carrying the food products to a subsequent process unit or units in an automated and essentially labor-free manner. The automated handling system may be used advantageously on stacks of pizza crusts, among other food product types.

Abstract: An attachment for a hand-held power tool, such as a rotary cutting tool, is disclosed. The attachment is configured for selective coupling to a rotary cutting tool and includes a handle that is substantially perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the rotary cutting tool when the attachment is coupled to the rotary cutting tool.

Abstract: A hand-held power tool includes a housing having a motor provided therein, a cutting accessory coupled to the motor and means for selectively directing a flow of air toward a point of cut of the cutting accessory. The flow of air acts to remove debris at the point of cut to improve visibility of the workpiece.

Abstract: An angle attachment for a rotary power tool includes a first assembly including a first shaft and a first gear and a second assembly including a second shaft and a second gear. The second gear engages the first gear and the central longitudinal axis of the second shaft is not collinear or parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the first shaft. The angle attachment further includes a member configured for removable coupling to a motor shaft of a rotary power tool and for removable coupling with the first assembly. At least a portion of the member is configured for insertion into a component of the first assembly.

Abstract: A jig assembly for use with work piece and a hand-held power tool having a cutting bit includes a first member and at least one insert. The first member has a first opening and is configured to be positioned adjacent a first side of the work piece. The at least one insert is configured to fit within the first opening in the first member and includes a second opening. At least one of the first opening and second opening is configured to allow a portion of the hand-held power tool to pass therethrough to contact the work piece and to act as a guide for the hand-held power tool as it removes material from the work piece.

Abstract: A hand-held power tool includes a housing having a motor provided therein, a cutting accessory coupled to the motor and means for selectively directing a flow of air toward a point of cut of the cutting accessory. The flow of air acts to remove debris at the point of cut to improve visibility of the workpiece.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool includes a housing and a motor provided within the housing for rotating a cutting accessory coupled to the rotary cutting tool. The rotary cutting tool also includes a plurality of light emitting diodes for illuminating a point of cut of the rotary cutting tool. Each of the plurality of light emitting diodes have a central longitudinal axis, and at least one of the light emitting diodes is couple to the housing such that the central longitudinal axis of the light emitting diode is not parallel to a rotation axis of the cutting accessory.

Abstract: An attachment for a hand-held power tool, such as a rotary cutting tool, is disclosed. The attachment is configured for selective coupling to a rotary cutting tool and includes a handle that is substantially perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the rotary cutting tool when the attachment is coupled to the rotary cutting tool.

Abstract: A guide (12) for setting the depth of cut of a rotary cutting tool, or other hand-held power tool, which automatically locks into a desired position to set the depth of a cut without requiring manual operation of a locking knob or similar structure. The depth guide is released from the locked position by actuation of a release switch (94). The depth guide includes a depth guide base (50), a depth guide shaft (52) attached to the depth guide base, and an automatic locking and release mechanism (54) coupled to the depth guide shaft. The automatic locking and release mechanism and depth guide shaft may be mounted in a handle (24) of the hand-held power tool, such as a detachable handle, for mounting the depth guide to the tool.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool includes a housing having a central longitudinal axis and a motor provided within the housing for rotating a cutting accessory coupled to the rotary cutting tool. The rotary cutting tool also includes a plurality of light emitting diodes for illuminating a point of cut of the rotary cutting tool. Each of the plurality of light emitting diodes have a central longitudinal axis, and at least one of the light emitting diodes is coupled to the housing such that the central longitudinal axis of the light emitting diode is not parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the housing.

Abstract: An angle attachment for a rotary power tool includes a first assembly including a first shaft and a first gear and a second assembly including a second shaft and a second gear. The second gear engages the first gear and the central longitudinal axis of the second shaft is not collinear or parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the first shaft. The angle attachment further includes a member configured for removable coupling to a motor shaft of a rotary power tool and for removable coupling with the first assembly. At least a portion of the member is configured for insertion into a component of the first assembly.

Abstract: A jig assembly for use with work piece and a hand-held power tool having a cutting bit includes a first member and at least one insert. The first member has a first opening and is configured to be positioned adjacent a first side of the work piece. The at least one insert is configured to fit within the first opening in the first member and includes a second opening. At least one of the first opening and second opening is configured to allow a portion of the hand-held power tool to pass therethrough to contact the work piece and to act as a guide for the hand-held power tool as it removes material from the work piece.

Abstract: A guide (12) for setting the depth of cut of a rotary cutting tool, or other hand-held power tool, which automatically locks into a desired position to set the depth of a cut without requiring manual operation of a locking knob or similar structure. The depth guide is released from the locked position by actuation of a release switch (94). The depth guide includes a depth guide base (50), a depth guide shaft (52) attached to the depth guide base, and an automatic locking and release mechanism (54) coupled to the depth guide shaft. The automatic locking and release mechanism and depth guide shaft may be mounted in a handle (24) of the hand-held power tool, such as a detachable handle, for mounting the depth guide to the tool.

Abstract: A hand-held power tool, such as a rotary cutting tool, allows for improved operator control and visibility. The power tool includes a housing and a motor provided in the housing. A cutting accessory is coupled to the motor and is adapted to cut a workpiece at a point of cut. At least one light emitting diode is coupled to the housing and configured to direct light toward the point of cut.