Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for containing a material, such as coffee beans, that may be used with a grinding apparatus. The apparatus may have a directing component to guide a controlled dose of material toward the grinding apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a container with a base portion that engages a grinding apparatus. The container, when engaged with the grinding apparatus, can direct coffee beans toward the grinding apparatus and has a door that releases a controlled dose of beans. A grinding apparatus is also disclosed that may have a movable tongue to cause excess grounds caught on interior components of the grinding apparatus to exit the grinding apparatus. The apparatus, systems, and methods reduce labor associated with grinding the material and allow a user, such as a barista, to more efficiently prepare brewed beverages, such as single-cup portions of coffee.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pulper comprising a supply chamber (2) and a displacement chamber (3) for handling materials in an especially gentle manner, having a diameter between the supply chamber and the displacement chamber that is at most ? of the diameter of the displacement chamber (3).

Abstract: A device for processing foodstuffs in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an upper part, a drive mechanism and a lower part with a working container, in which a working unit can be manually driven and made to rotate by means of the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a tractive cable drive and is operatively connected to the working unit by means of a releasable torque-coupled connection. The drive mechanism also includes a primary and secondary drive unit, which are operatively interconnected by means of a gear in such a way that a transmission ratio of between 1:1.5 and 1:4 and preferably between 1:1.8 and 1:1.9 is achieved. The primary and secondary drive units are axially parallel and dimensioned in such a way that at least one of the drive units intersects the rotational axis of the other respective drive unit.

Abstract: A bone mill including a base and a mill head that is removably attached to the base. A cutting disc is moveably disposed in the mill head. A motor is disposed in the base. A spindle attached to the motor releasably engages the cutting disk. The spindle is also capable of movement towards and away from the motor. A spring holds the mill head away from the motor. In some versions of the invention, the spring urges the spindle towards the cutting disc. The biasing force exerted by the spring urges the spindle into engagement with the cutting disc. A locking assembly releasably holds the mill head to the base in opposition of the force exerted by the spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting device for a granulator for obtaining granules from cutting plastic strands which are discharged from nozzles, said cutting device comprising a cutting rotor which is connected to the drive shaft by means of a Cardan joint piece comprising a driven part and a drive part. Said drive part and the driven part comprise a force transfer piece, respectively having a prong like shape such that the prongs rotate about the force transfer piece when they are pivoted at about 90 degrees in relation to each other. Each prong supports the axis which extends through the force transfer piece and both axes are offset in relation to each other essentially about 90 degrees.

Abstract: A grinding roll includes a core comprising an external surface, and at least one wear resistant article adapted for use as a working surface that is removably attached to the external surface of the core. The at least one wear resistant article comprises a metal matrix composite comprising a plurality of inorganic particles dispersed in a metal matrix material comprising one of a metal and a metal alloy, and a plurality of hard elements interspersed in the metal matrix composite. The wear resistance of the metal matrix composite is less than the wear resistance of the hard elements.

Abstract: An estimator (111) is configured to estimate an initial representation of the channel based on the reference signal. A first transformer (112) is configured to transform the initial channel representation into a first domain suitable for suppression of a first type of disturbance. A first suppressor (113) is configured to perform suppression of the first type of disturbance in the first domain for obtaining a first suppressed channel representation. A second transformer (114) is configured to transform the first suppressed channel representation into a second domain suitable for suppression of a second type of disturbance. A second suppressor (115) is configured to perform suppression of the second type of disturbance in the second domain for obtaining a second suppressed channel representation. The first type of disturbance includes one of inter-channel interference and noise, and the second type of disturbance includes the other one of inter-channel interference and noise.

Abstract: A shredder includes a rotor supporting a plurality of multi-point cutters that mesh with a counter-knife having generally V-shaped grooves. Each cutter has at least one corner defined by an intersection between two contiguous side faces of the body of the cutter. The corner defines a plurality of cutting points spaced apart along a first direction. The cutters are mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor such that the first direction of each cutter is substantially tangent to the outer peripheral surface, and such that the corners of the cutters mesh with respective V-shaped grooves in the counter-knife as the rotor rotates about its axis. The multiple points of each cutter encounter and mesh with the groove in the counter-knife in a sequential fashion.

Abstract: Provided is an electric kitchen appliance including a housing which contains an electric motor connected to an upper drive output, a work chamber comprising a work container sealed by a lid with a chute for inserting food, the work container having a discharge outlet, a removable pressing screw which can be rotated by the upper drive output being arranged in the work chamber. Rotation of the pressing screw is provided by a rotary element removably mounted in the work chamber, the rotary element including a pre-cutting disc and a driving member which is rotated by the upper drive output.

Abstract: A crushing device (100) is suitable for crushing pills (703), tablets, or other ingestive objects. The crushing device (100) includes a base (101), an anvil (104), an end pillar (105), and a support pillar (106). A threaded shaft (108) is disposed between the anvil (104) and the end pillar (105), and passes through an aperture (107) in the support pillar (106). The threaded shaft (108) is coupled to a crushing head (109), which translates toward the anvil (104) when a lever (110) coupled to the threaded shaft (108) is rotated radially about an axis (301) of the threaded shaft (108). When a pill crushing pouch (500) having pills (703) therein is placed between the crushing head (109) and the anvil (104), rotation of the lever (110) crushes the pills (703).

Abstract: A chipper striker assembly allowing for the adjustment of the striker blade. The chipper striker assembly having a base capable of attachment to a rotor, an adjustment portion connected to the base, and a striker blade, wherein the adjustment portion is capable of connection to the base in a plurality of adjustment positions.

Abstract: A system for destroying a memory device (e.g., a hard drive) having data stored thereon. The system has a grind chamber with a rotatable grind wheel positioned therein. A pressure arm presses the memory device against the grind wheel as the grind wheel rotates. The rotating grind wheel grinds the memory device into particles from which the data stored on the memory device cannot be recovered. The particles are collected in a receptacle adjacent the grind wheel. The system may include a plurality of guides configured to maintain the memory device in a substantially stationary position relative to the pressure arm as the grind wheel grinds the memory device into particles.

Abstract: A machine for distributing insulation from a bag of insulation having a cross-sectional shape is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is oriented in a substantially vertical plane and is configured to receive the bag of insulation. The inlet end has opposing longitudinal sides configured to be substantially horizontal in orientation. The inlet end also has opposing lateral sides connected to the longitudinal sides. The opposing lateral sides are configured to be shorter than the opposing longitudinal sides and further configured to be substantially vertical in orientation. A plurality of shredders is mounted at the outlet end of the chute and is configured to shred and pick apart the insulation. A discharge mechanism is provided for distributing the insulation into an airstream. The chute has a cross-sectional shape that approximates the cross-sectional shape of the bag of insulation.

Abstract: A crushing mill with an internal ring inside an external ring is disclosed. In some embodiments, the inner ring has protrusions that fit within pockets in the outer ring such that as the rings rotate rock or other materials may be crushed between the protrusions and pockets of the inner and outer rings, respectively. In some embodiments, the inner and outer rings each have surface protrusions such that rock or other materials may be crushed between the inner and outer rings as they rotate. In some embodiments, the inner ring has a circumferential ridge that fits within a circumferential groove of the outer ring such that rock or other materials may be crushed between the rings. In some embodiments the rings operate at differential speeds with respect to each other to induce shear forces on the material to be crushed.

Abstract: A food cutting machine including a base housing a motor, a cover for the base housing a cutting disk, a feeder part joined to the cover, and a feeder mouth which houses a presser to push the food. The presser and food feeder parts are easily removable. Additionally, the presser (4) incorporates a safety lever (15) which activates the power supply switch of the motor (32).

Abstract: A machine for distributing blowing wool from a bag of compressed blowing wool is provided. The machine includes a shredding chamber configured to shred and pick apart the blowing wool. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders and an agitator. The plurality of shredders and the agitator are configured for rotation. The plurality of shredders and the agitator are configured to rotate at different speeds.

Abstract: A cooking utensil includes a cooking bowl unit, a driving support unit, a lid unit, and a lid-opening device. The driving support unit outputs a power to the cooking bowl unit, and includes a bottom seat supporting the cooking bowl unit, and opposite first and second sidewalls disposed on the bottom seat . The lid unit includes a top lid disposed pivotally on a bowl body of the cooking bowl unit for covering a top end opening of the blow body, a pivoting block disposed fixedly on the top lid, a positioning block connected pivotally to the pivoting block and connected removably to the first sidewall, and a retaining block disposed on the top lid. The lid-opening device is disposed on the second sidewall, and includes a locking member locking the retaining block releaseably on the second sidewall, and a controlling member operable to release the retaining block from the second sidewall.

Abstract: Inserted into the housing (2) of a grinder for a coffee machine is a first grinding disc (6), which, via drive means (3), is drivable about a rotational axis. A second grinding disc (9) is attached in a screw-in part (7) which is screwable into the housing and is rotatable with respect to the housing (2) by adjusting means (15), (16). By rotating the screw-in part, the grinding gap between the two grinding discs (6), (9) can be set. The adjusting means comprise a setting wheel (16) arranged on a holder (17) which is attached to the housing (2) and which can be adjusted and fixed in any position with respect to the housing (2). This setting wheel co-operates with the drive wheel (15) attached to the screw-in part (7). The setting wheel (16) which is attached to the holder (17) can thereby engage in the drive wheel (15) in any desired position with respect to the housing, whereby the thus equipped standard grinder can be inserted into different types of coffee machines.

Abstract: A machine for distributing insulation from a bag of insulation is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The chute is configured to receive the bag of insulation. The inlet end of the chute has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially vertical and the outlet end of the chute has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially horizontal. A plurality of shredders is mounted at the outlet end of the chute and is configured to shred and pick apart the insulation. The machine further includes a discharge mechanism for distributing the insulation into an airstream. The plurality of shredders and the discharge mechanism are positioned beneath the outlet end of the chute, such that the insulation feeds in a substantially vertical direction into the plurality of shredders.

Abstract: A pulverizing grinder used in the industrial processing of partially processed, or raw, silicon ore to achieve finely powdered silicon or silicon compound. It involves several parts, primarily an electric motor and a disc and blade arrangement driven by the motor, to achieve a finely ground silicon powder material. The upper part of case contains the electric motor, which dives a shaft that extends to a lower part of the case. The revolving shaft of electric motor is connected with the main shaft inside the case. At least one tier of rotating disc is fastened to the bottom of the shaft. Each disc has an even number of blades, each of which is positioned by suitable anchor fixture. The grinding or pulverizing of the silicon material is achieved by the high speed rotation of the discs and the impact of the blades on the material.

Abstract: A refiner (1) for refining fibrous material has a first refiner element (3, 5) and a second refiner element (3, 5). The second refiner element is arranged around the first refiner element in such a manner that the first refiner element and the second refiner element have a common middle axis (7) such that there is a refining space (8) between the first refiner element and the second refiner element. The first refiner element and/or the second refiner element are arranged to rotate around the middle axis and the refiner elements have refining surfaces (4, 6), through which the fibrous material is fed into or exits the refining space (8). The refiner has, in the direction of the middle axis of the refiner elements, at least two feed regions, through which the fibrous material to be refined is feedable into the refining space (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting device for macerating a free-flowing fluid-solid mixture, having a knife rotor which is mounted in such a manner as to be able to rotate relative to a cutting sieve. Said knife rotor abuts the cutting sieve axially with respect to the direction of its axis of rotation, and is pretensioned against the cutting sieve in the axial dimension. According to the invention, at least one clearance space is included, wherein the same is bounded by at least one first and one second surface, and the first surface is arranged in a manner such that it cannot be displaced in the axial dimension toward the knife rotor, the second surface is arranged in a manner such that it cannot be displaced in the axial dimension toward the cutting sieve, and the first and the second surfaces are arranged such that they cannot rotate about the axis of rotation of the knife rotor with respect to each other.

Abstract: A wear liner for use with a brush cutter, the cutter having a cylindrical, rotatable, cutting drum carrying cutting teeth and a cover at least partially covering the drum to limit dispersal of cut material. The liner comprises a sheet of material which can be shaped to fit against the inner surface of the cover. The liner has holes on its sides for use in detachably connecting the liner with fastening means to the cover against the cover's inner surface. The liner has protective means mounted on its inner surface adjacent each hole to protect part of the fastening means located adjacent the inner surface of the liner, when the liner is mounted to the cover and the fastening means extend through the opening, from wear by material thrown by the cutter during its operation. The invention is also directed toward a brush cutter incorporating the liner.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and an apparatus for treating municipal solid waste, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for treating and recycling municipal solid waste not separately collected, and also for minimizing the amount of final waste to be buried.

Abstract: A food homogenizer is provided, including a base with a driving motor and a homogenizer assembly removably coupled to the base. The homogenizer assembly includes a homogenizing chamber, an inlet chute, and an exit spout. A shredder is disposed within the homogenizing chamber and is driven by the driving motor to homogenize food ingredients into a soft texture with a similar consistency as ice cream or sherbet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device (10) for driving a work unit (30), which contains grinding elements for food, for example, and a method for driving the work unit.

Abstract: A comminutor for shredding rag-like materials includes a frame member having a cutter bar that is affixed thereto and has a plurality of cutter teeth, and includes screen bars aligned with the cutter teeth. Each of the screen bars has an end that fits closely to its adjacent cutter tooth and the frame member so as to close a gap between the cutter tooth and the frame member. The end of the screen bar may include a flange that fits closely to the frame member and a tab proximate to the flange that fits closely to the cutter tooth. In an embodiment where the cutter tooth is flush with the frame member, the end of the screen bar includes a flange that fits closely to both frame member and the cutter tooth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for reducing thermal plastic goods (2), comprising a container (3) for receiving the in particular loosely packed plastic goods (2) and a reducing device (4) projecting into the container or arranged therein for reducing the plastic goods and the conveyance thereof to a discharge opening (5), characterized by air inlets (6) in the region of the reducing device and air outlets (7) in the container wall (8).

Abstract: An apparatus for breaking ice clumps in a refrigerator. The apparatus includes an ice storage bin, an axle rotatably supported by an ice storage bin, an actuator operatively coupled to the axle and an ice breaker operatively coupled to the actuator. The ice breaker moves in a reciprocal manner upon the driving of the axle and the actuator. Such reciprocal movement of the ice breaker breaks ice clumps in the storage bin.

Abstract: A refining surface (1, 2) of a refiner for a refiner intended for defibrating lignocellulose-containing material. The refining surface has a feed edge (14) directed in the direction of the feed flow of the material to be refined and a discharge edge (15) directed in the direction of the discharge flow of the refined material. The refining surface (1, 2) comprises at least one first blade groove (17a) and at least one second blade groove (17b), between which there is a blade bar (16). A distance (D, D17a, D17b) of the bottom (18) of the first blade groove (17a) and the second blade groove (17b) from an upper surface (16a) of the blade bar (16) is arranged, at least in a part of said blade grooves, to change substantially continuously in a direction of travel (A) of the blade grooves.

Abstract: A rotary knife for a granulator having a two-piece design comprising a blade holder and a removable blade, the blade holder having a V-shaped saddle for holding the removable blade aligned. The V-shaped saddle having a flat surface for absorbing the shock of force transmitted by the blade shearing plastic and other materials for recycling and reuse.

Abstract: A buffering device of the invention includes a motor and a drive cutter shaft driven by the motor. Mounted on the drive cutter shaft are a drive cutter gear, a buffering disc, and a buffering gear. The buffering disc contains a cylindrical portion. A shifting block is extended from the cylindrical portion. A receiving hole is defined in the buffering gear. Plural recesses are extended from the circumferential inner wall. The cylindrical portion is inserted into the circumferential inner wall, while the shifting blocks are placed into recesses. A circumferential gap is defined between the shifting block and a recess. By this way, the gear components or motor are protected from being damaged due to overload, hence making it possible to protect the mechanical components and motor of the paper shredder.

Abstract: A blender arm includes a body equipped at one end with a connection for a power unit. The blender arm further includes a rotary shaft having a tool at the end opposite to the connection end. A peripheral protection is provided around the tool. The rotary shaft with the tool is attached movably in axial direction to the body so that the tool may be positioned in a retracted position for operation or a protracted position for cleaning, without having to touch the tool with the hands. The blender arm may further include a resilient element, functionally connected to the tubular body and the rotary shaft, for moving the rotary shaft between the protracted and retracted positions. When the rotary shaft is releases, the tool automatically returns to the retracted position.

Abstract: A refining surface (1, 2) of a refiner for defibrating lignocellulose-containing material has a first blade bar (14?) and a second blade bar (14?) with a blade groove (15) therebetween. A third blade bar has a rising guide surface (21) for guiding the lignocellulose-containing material to an upper surface (14c) of the third blade bar. The third bar guide surface is arranged, in the direction of travel of the first and the second blade bar (14?), at least partly between the first and the second blade bar, between the first blade bar and an imaginary extension of the second blade bar, between an imaginary extension of the first blade bar and the second blade bar, or between the imaginary extensions of both the first and the second blade bar.

Abstract: A pet waste disposal device having a motor driving a set of cutting blades inside of an open ended plenum. A water supply such as a garden hose provides water to a nozzle or jet inside of the plenum, the water washes away the waste as it is chopped by the blades. The motor may be electrical, gasoline driven, or water driven. The plenum may have a safety screen across the open end. In preferred embodi-ments, the device may be mounted on an elongated support with a hand grip at one end and the plenum and motor at the other end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a file shredder with a device for detecting metallic objects introduced into the paper feed of the file shredder, a cutting unit with rotating cutting tools, a motor for driving the cutting tools and a transmission device for connecting the motor to the rotating cutting tools. According to the invention, substantially all of the metallic components of the cutting unit of the file shredder surrounding the rotating cutting tools, the motor and the transmission device are connected with one another in an electrically conducting manner such that they lie on a common defined electric potential.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crushing bucket, which has been designed as an excavator or loader bucket. It comprises a bottom plate (1), side walls (2), and working drums (6) at a rear part of the bucket, which are rotatable about a shaft (6) thereof and crush, while rotating, a bucket-held material and at the same time deliver crushed material out of the bucket between or through the working drums (6). It also comprises enclosures (4) for the power transmission and bearing assemblies of the working drums (3), said enclosures being delimited by frame panels (4b) to which the working drums' (6) bearing cups are attachable. The working drum (6) is provided with at least one crushing tool (7), which is a continuous component extending substantially all the way along the length of a shaft (6a).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a shredder having a device located at least partially between a shredder mechanism and an output side of the shredder housing to disperse any accumulation of shredded materials at least adjacent the output opening, as well as remove shredded materials caught in or near the cutting assembly. One device is a movable device positioned between a shredder mechanism and the output side of the shredder housing that is configured to pivot about an axis in an oscillating manner. Another device includes a fan mechanism for blowing and moving shredded materials through a passageway in the shredder housing and towards an outlet.

Abstract: A household appliance has a container for receiving working material and a housing that is isolated from the container by a wall. A rotatable working tool disposed inside the container. A motor for driving the working tool has a stator and a rotor. The stator is disposed within the housing so as to be isolated from the working material of the container. The rotor is disposed within the container and the working tool is preferably fixed to a shaft of the rotor.

Abstract: A seal system including a sleeve configured to receive a rotatable shaft therein and a dynamic race configured to be rotatably coupled to the shaft. The seal system further includes a biasing element configured to urge the dynamic race into engagement with a static race to form a primary seal, and a shroud configured to be rotatably coupled to the sleeve and positioned radially outside the biasing element. The seal system also includes a sealing element configured to be positioned radially inside the biasing element and to sealingly engage the sleeve to provide a secondary seal to generally block fluid bypassing the primary seal.

Abstract: A plurality of chipper inserts that may be installed on a hammermill rotor in place of the hammer inserts to selectively convert the rotor to a chipper. The chipper inserts include drum surfaces that cooperatively define a chipper drum. The chipper inserts may include cutter inserts that have a cutter disposed in a cutter pocket. The chipper drum may be a generally continuous cylindrical interrupted essentially only by the cutter pockets. The cutters and cutter pockets may be positioned in essentially any desired pattern around the drum. The chipper inserts may include a left cutter insert, a center cutter insert, a right cutter insert and three different size spacer inserts. The different types of cutter inserts and spacer inserts may be installed about the rotor with at least one left cutter insert mounted on the left end of the chipper drum and at least one right cutter insert mounted on the right end of the chipper drum.

Abstract: The brush cutting head for a brush cutter can have internally housed drive and bearing assemblies. The brush cutting head can includes a hollow support body having a first end, an opposed second end, an outer surface and an inner surface. Also provided is a drive and bearing assembly housed at least partially within the hollow of the support body. The drive and bearing assembly can include a drive block mounted to extend within the hollow of the support body at the first end thereof.

Abstract: A food processor includes a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a blade assembly. A rotating disk is adjustable relative to the blade assembly to vary the thickness of the food items cut by the blade assembly. A user-operated pin is positioned below the rotating disk and is moveable between a first position in which the rotating disk is prevented from moving upwardly and downwardly, and a second position in which the rotating disk is permitted to move upwardly and downwardly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for comminuting material components. The invention comprises a housing, at least one rotor (1) that is supported in the housing and has rotor blades (2) and rotor teeth mounted thereon, at least one stator blade (3) that can be supported on the housing, and at least one screen device (4), which can be moved from an operational state of the comminuting device downward or laterally relative to the housing to a maintenance state, wherein in the operational state the at least one stator blade (3) and the at least one screen device (4) are supported against each other and can be moved together into the maintenance state.

Abstract: A device for comminuting feedstock having a rotor, rotating within a housing around an axis, with rotor tools lying within the outer circumferential region on a circumferential ring and a stator, associated with the rotor, with stator tools arranged concentrically in the outer circumferential region and forming a comminuting surface, whereby the rotor tools and the stator tools lie opposite at a distance with the formation of a working gap and the stator tools are formed by segments, which to form the comminuting surface rest on the stator with their rear side and lie with their long sides against one another. The segments are attached to the stator in each case with their first short side and second short side by a positive fit, whereby the stator has a clamping element, which works together with the first short side and/or second short side to clamp the segments against the stator.

Abstract: A mill for shredding scrap, comprising a shredding chamber able to contain scrap during the shredding and having a shredding unit, an inlet pipe connected to an opening of the shredding chamber, in order to transfer the scrap toward the shredding chamber. The mill comprises first thrust means associated with the inlet pipe, selectively movable between a loading position of the scrap into the inlet pipe and one or more intermediate positions to transfer by means of thrusting the scrap toward the shredding chamber. The mill also comprises second thrust means, disposed in proximity with the inlet of the shredding chamber, selectively movable between an inactive position, in which they do not interfere with the introduction of the scrap into the shredding chamber by the first thrust means, and one or more thrust positions in which they introduce into the shredding chamber the scrap moved by the first thrust means until the scrap is in proximity with the opening.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for producing confectionery including a grain supply unit installed on a main body and uniformly supplying grains inserted from the outside, a grain processing unit rotatably installed on the main body, receiving the grains and crushing the grains using a rotating spiral, and simultaneously discharging the grains in a jellylike state using frictional heat generated during collision of the grains, and a drive unit for driving the grain processing unit and the grain supply unit.

Abstract: A device for grinding a biological sample, the device comprising a jar (14) closed by a stopper (26) fitted with a cutter-carrying shaft (36) and with a septum for passing a sample-taking needle, the device including means (12) for supporting and holding still the jar on the axis of an electric motor (20, 22) for driving the shaft (36) in rotation.

Abstract: A grinder/dryer having a plurality of beater blades carried on a rotating shaft in a cylindrical housing, including one or a plurality of grinding members on the cylindrical side wall. The grinding members are adjustably positioned at different locations within the cylinder. The grinding members may be provided in a variety of different combination of elevated ridges and/or valleys used to dry and classify materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in at least one embodiment, a food mincer with blades that are not exposed, simple activation by pressing the actuator down, a transparent bottom vessel allowing the food preparer to see the food while it is being minced, dual rotating blades which rotate around the vertical axis and the horizontal axis, and blades interdisposed for better cuts.