Radial Comminuting Face Patents (Class 241/92)
  • Patent number: 5211688
    Abstract: A mechanized disc flaker for producing curled wood flakes having a rotatable disc plate, and one or more cutting knives mounted to the disc plate so as to provide for a slight "rake angle" defined in accordance with the invention as the angle made between the tool face and a plane perpendicular to the direction of tool travel. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes rotatable and removable knife holders which permit the rake angle and the "cutting angle", defined in accordance with the invention as being the angle the cutting edge of the knife makes with the grain of the wood, to be modified to yield curled wood shavings having different geometries and characteristics. The preferred method of practicing the apparatus involves using a work piece having a certain moisture content which is directed against the work surface of the disc flaker using appropriate pressure all to provide for wood curls of desirable characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Rice, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5209278
    Abstract: A drum chipper having a rotatable, power-driven drum supporting a knife. With rotation of the drum, a cutting edge in the knife is moved past a cutter bar. A knife mounting keyed to the knife is adjustably positioned along a path in the drum to position the knife. The knife is a double-edged knife, with one edge replacing the other with dulling of the latter edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Commerical Knife,Inc.
    Inventors: Charles T. Carpenter, Robert M. Bayly
  • Patent number: 5205498
    Abstract: A cutting device for a chipper used in cutting up garden waste, such as branches, foliage, grass or the like, includes a rotatable cutter disk cooperating with a stationary counter knife located within a cutter housing. The counter knife extends across the cutter disk in a bridge-like manner. A counter brace along with a side support plate of the counter knife provide a support for the material to be chopped, so that a satisfactory cut is assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: SABO-Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinrich Ostermeier, Dieter Dell
  • Patent number: 5199654
    Abstract: An infeed chute with a material and air deflector is provided for a shredding device such as a bark hog. The infeed chute is attached to the inlet of the cutting device and a material and air deflector is defined therein for preventing material from being ejected out of the infeed chute by the cutting blades without substantially obstructing material inflow. The material and air deflector is attached to the inside of the infeed chute and includes a flat plate upstream deflector surface and a curved downstream deflector surface. The deflector surfaces extend across the infeed chute to define a substantially tortuous path between the inlet and outlet of the infeed chute to prevent material ejected by the cutting device from leaving the inlet of the infeed chute or from obstructing infeed flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Fulghum Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: G. Heyward Fulghum, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5139063
    Abstract: A chipper for cutting uniform chips from a log has a sliver ring mounted on the rotary disc radially outside the cutting blade assemblies, and also has cooperating arcuate wrapper member and special sliver bedknife mounted on the front plate of the chipper housing. The wrapper member is concentric with the sliver ring and extends circumferentially around it for a distance, and also extends axially towards the disc and beyond the proximal face of the sliver ring to define a radial gap between the ring and the wrapper. The sliver bedknife extends across the face of the disc from one end of the arcuate wrapper. The sliver bedknife, the wrapper, and the sliver ring cooperate with one another to limit progression of slivers that are formed from wooden logs at the position of the stationary bedknife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Carthage Machine Company
    Inventors: Timothy P. Nettles, Mark D. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5137219
    Abstract: A brush/wood chipper having a small diameter pressing feed cylinder adjacent and parallel to an anvil which is generally perpendicular to the feed disc, the cylinder also being adjacent the chipping disc. This feed cylinder is in an infeed chute, and presses the branches, twigs or other wood against the anvil while the wood is fed to and chipped by knives on the disc. The radially oriented knives are each canted relative to the chordal anvil so that, preferably assisted by a canted feed cylinder, the wood is forced toward the center of the chipping disc. The infeed chute has a wall generally at the center of the disc. The chips are propelled to a flow arrester for discharge into bags or bypassed to a discharge chute extension, using a control valve at the flow arrester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Wood Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Norval K. Morey
  • Patent number: 5129437
    Abstract: A knife holder for a rotary type wood chipper is in the form of a segment occupying a segmental portion of the proximal side of the cutting disk and extending to a chip slot of an adjacent knife from its associated knife assembly. The knife holder has a hardened helicoid proximal wear surface that faces the logs that are fed into the chipper. Each knife holder is formed of a base plate which removably mounts onto the disk and a wear plate that is replaceably attached onto the proximal side of the base plate. The wear plate is mechanically attached to the base plate by set screws and is also attached by a weld that runs along a peripheral chamfer. When the hardfacing surface on the wear plate becomes eroded, the wear plate can be removed and replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Carthage Machine Company
    Inventors: Timothy P. Nettles, David E. Dillon, Norman R. Luffman, James C. Marti, Arthur A. Shattuck, Milton E. Howard
  • Patent number: 5129589
    Abstract: A table-top multi-purpose device (10), for cutting, chopping, grating, squeezing or whipping foodstuffs, comprises a rotating element (19) for processing the foodstuffs placed therein, a drive mechanism (16) for transmitting movement to the element (19) includes an element (15) which engages with the end of the rotating shaft (22) of an immersion type blender (11) disposed in a housing (12), and a safety device (21) for preventing the blender (11) from being inserted in the housing (12) when the lid (23) of the device (10) is not tightly closed in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Eleday Export S.r.l.
    Inventors: Sergio Papaleo, Prato Giovanni
  • Patent number: 5102056
    Abstract: A multipurpose reducer vacuum for vacuuming leaf, garden and lawn debris which uses circular grate bars and free swinging hammers to comminute the debris. The reducer vacuum mounts to the rear bumper of a pickup truck. An adjustable discharge chute is used to direct the comminuted debris into the bed of the pickup truck. A wood chipper is provided on the back side of the apparatus for chipping small limb and branches. An alternate configuration adds an intake hopper which uses a baffle plate in cooperation with cutting bars to pull small limbs, branches and saplings into the reducer vacuum. Feed rates up to one foot per second can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Schiller-Pfeiffer, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard R. Ober
  • Patent number: 5097879
    Abstract: A mechanized disc flaker for producing curled wood flakes having a rotatable disc plate, and one or more cutting knives mounted to the disc plate so as to provide for a slight "rake angle" defined in accordance with the invention as the angle made between the tool face and a plane perpendicular to the direction of tool travel. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes rotatable and removable knife holders which permit the rake angle and the "cutting angle", defined in accordance with the invention as being the angle the cutting edge of the knife makes with the grain of the wood, to be modified to yield curled wood shavings having different geometries and characteristics. The preferred method of practicing the apparatus involves using a work piece having a certain moisture content which is directed against the work surface of the disc flaker using appropriate pressure all to provide for wood curls of desirable characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Rice, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5096732
    Abstract: A fat-reduced, edible, water-in-oil spread is produced by heating a fat which is normally solid at room temperature so as to melt a substantial proportion of less thermally stable crystals in the fat; homogeneously admixing sufficient water to the heated fat to reduce the proportion of fat in the resulting admixture; cooling the admixture to crystallize a substantial proportion of the uncrystallized fat and produce a pumpable plastic mass; and subjecting the pumpable plastic mass to cutting and mixing in a turbine-like comminuting device while limiting the temperature rise of the plastic mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Ault Foods Limited
    Inventors: Gerald Mongeau, Phillipe Bergeron, James J. Clark, Ronald W. Charlton, Mahmound Eino, Terrence J. Maurice, Estelle M. Parnell-Clunies, Wen-Song Cheng
  • Patent number: 5085375
    Abstract: A mulcher for shredding leaves and other vegetation having a plurality of pivoted plastic cutting blades. The material being shredded is introduced into an upper hopper having a plurality of spaced baffle plates. The hub supporting the cutting blades includes fan bldes for generating a flow through the mulcher to recirculate shredded material past the cutting blades for increased fineness of cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Cotter & Company
    Inventor: Edward M. Haworth
  • Patent number: 5080153
    Abstract: A cutter head for a wood chipper has a circular disc and is mounted on a spindle by which the cutter head is rapidly rotated. The disc has at least one knife detachably connected thereto with its cutting edge exposed on the face of the disc engaged by the lengths of wood to be chipped. The connecting means comprise an actuating member releaseably seated against the rear face of the disc in a manner such that it may be moved parallel to the slot through which the knife extends. The knife is releaseably connected to the disc to enable its cutting edge to be advanced or retracted relative to the face of the disc engaged by lengths of wood and is also connected to the actuating member in a manner such that movements of the actuating member in either direction parallel to the knife receiving slot are attended by corresponding movements of the knife in directions normal to movements of the actuating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Inventor: Carl D. Waterman
  • Patent number: 5076504
    Abstract: A poultry pulverizer comprises a portable framework with a vertically oriented hopper secured thereto having an open top end and a lower end. A horizontally disposed shear wheel is positioned at the lower end of the hopper where it forms a bottom wall. The shear wheel has a downwardly extending vertical shaft journaled to the framework for rotation by a motivator that rotates the shaft and in turn the shear wheel. At least one cutter blade mounted on an upper surface of the shear wheel has a slightly raised cutting edge. A stationary anvil bar connected to and extending across the lower end of the hopper has an adjustable height slightly above the cutting edge of the cutter blade whereby poultry introduced into the hopper through the open top end drops by gravity to the lower end where it is pulverized by the shearing action of the rotating cutter blade and the stationary anvil bar. The pulverized poultry is discharged from the hopper through an opening in the shear wheel located adjacent to the cutter blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Animal Health Sales
    Inventor: Galen F. Young
  • Patent number: 5071077
    Abstract: An electric kitchen appliance with mulitiple functions for treating foodstuffs comprises a casing (1,1') of which a base (2, 2') is adapted to receive various accessories comprising a bowl (3) provided with a cover (4) and a tool (5, 6, 8), and an electrical control device for the current supply of the motor comprising a detector for the presence of the cover on the bowl and a speed changer for the motor. The electric control device of the motor comprises also a detector of the presence of the bowl on the base, as well as structure for the identification of the covers which are associated with the detector for the presence of the cover on the bowl and which are adapted to control the speed changer so as to match to each cover an appropriate speed of the tool (5, 6, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Inventors: Mustapha Arroubi, Vital A. Parise
  • Patent number: 5060873
    Abstract: In a wood chipping machine having a rotating cutter disk, a wood chip separator comprising a plurality of fins attached to the back of the cutter disk, near the perimeter, for deflecting wood chips axially away from the cutter disk to minimize the cross over of wood chips to the infeed side of the cutter disk and to minimize the discard of wood chips with wood chaff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Strong Manufacturing
    Inventor: Donald E. Strong
  • Patent number: 5054703
    Abstract: A chipper knife assembly for a stump disintegrator is disclosed in which knife holder bodies radially span across pockets or openings formed in a rotating chipper disk. A reversible and replaceable blade insert with a plurality of selectable carbide edges is carried on the leading face of the holder body and fixed thereon by means of a threaded fastener inserted from the trailing face of the holder body through a hole formed between the trailing face and the leading face. The end of the fastener engages a threaded recess in the blade insert. The chipper knife assembly divides the chipper disk opening into a leading opening through which wood chips and other debris may pass for subsequent discharge and a leading opening which provides clearance and access to the threaded fastener for its removal and installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Wood Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Norval Morey
  • Patent number: 5042730
    Abstract: The invention pertains to the conversion of rotating disc type wood chippers into a multi-purpose shredding device. Such wood chippers are typically equipped with a power driven rotating disc fitted with chipping knives mounted to the disc feed side and adjacent passageways thereto leading to the opposite disc side to a secondary processing chamber for the further processing of materials therewithin. By including channeling members about the passageways which alter the aerodynamics and material flow patterns on the disc feed side, buoyant feed materials (e.g. paper, plastic, etc.) can now be effectively processed with such wood chippers. A grating member can be placed at the material discharge to control the particle size of the discharged materials. An enclosed system fitted with a cyclone and agriculture baler permits the shredded materials to be continuously converted to small bales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Inventor: Vincent G. Hundt
  • Patent number: 5037033
    Abstract: An improved safety interlock is provided for operating a control switch which enables operator activation of a drive motor of a food processor. The safety interlock comprises an axially movable interlock rod for operating the control switch upon movement of the rod in a first direction. A coil spring is provided for resiliently forcing the interlock rod in the direction opposite to the first direction such that the control switch is normally unoperated. A generally U-shaped channel member receives the interlock rod and coil spring to properly align the interlock rod with the control switch. The channel member is removably connected to the food processor such that the channel member, interlock rod and coil spring can be removed for cleaning or replacement. The U-shaped channel member includes flanges outwardly extending from its open side which are received into first and second tracks on the food processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Stottmann, Edward F. Ponikwia
  • Patent number: 5031518
    Abstract: An electric kitchen appliance comprises a base (1) enclosing an electric motor (2) and transmission members (3, 4, 5) to drive in rotation a vertical shaft (6) that emerges from the base (1). The appliance is adapted to drive either a conventional chopping and slicing member in a receptacle at relatively high speed, or alternatively a heating mixing accessory (13) at relatively low speed. This accessory (13) comprises a receptacle (14) enclosing a working tool (15) such as a mixer, the bottom (16) of this receptacle resting on a heating sole (17). A speed reduction system (18) connected to the working tool (15) is disposed below the heating sole (17) and is part of the accessory. This speed reducer can be coupled to the vertical shaft (6). The accessory thus permits alternatively using the appliance for heating and mixing food preparations such as sauces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Seb S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Bordes
  • Patent number: 5029626
    Abstract: The anvil rotor on a wood chip slicing machine is connected to its drive shaft via shear pins which extend into the hub of the rotor from a coupling which is mounted on the shaft. The coupling provides bearings for rotation of the rotor hub thereon when the shear pins are sheared as a consequence of an overload or load shock condition. The overload protection mechanism is applicable to other machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Acrowood Corporation
    Inventors: Donald A. Dean, Adrian Artiano, Gabriel M. Terrenzio
  • Patent number: 5018672
    Abstract: A readily portable apparatus for the size reduction of vegetable and cellulosic material is disclosed. A first shredding means having a plurality of knives is coaxially disposed with an impellar. After contacting the shredding knives the impeller directs the partially shredded material to a contacting screen or impediment which further reduces the size of the vegetable and cellulosic material. The contacting screen is pivotally movable to promote the flow of material to a discharge chute for collection. The apparatus includes means to convert the apparatus to a leaf blower and provides for attachment of a vacuum collection means. Novel safety features preventing access to moving portions of the apparatus are also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Kathcon, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Michael Peck, Thomas R. Hecht, Howard F. Livingston
  • Patent number: 5010796
    Abstract: A cut food piece formed in the shape of a helical split ring (10) by means of first cutting a slot in the whole food product by slot cutter (30) prior to urging the whole food product into engagement with cutter blade assembly (20) having wheel plate (21) rotating about central axis (23). Said cutter blade assembly (20) further having a plurality of ring cutters (24) attached to and extending normally out from wheel plate (21) for cutting continuous concentric helical spirals in the whole food product. Shear blade (25) extends angularly out from wheel plate (21) for cutting concentric helical rings of food product off the whole food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Inventor: George A. Mendenhall
  • Patent number: 5005620
    Abstract: A drum-type wood chipper having a chipper drum with knives mounted in openings with the drum wall. A chip basket is mounted within the drum behind each knife opening. The chipper knife is spaced from the drum wall at both the leading and trailing edges of the knife to define chip ingress and egress openings for the chip box. Cut chips pass into the chip box as the leading edge of the knife chips the infeed material; and the chips are carried by the box for subsequent discharge through the egress opening into a discharge chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Morbark Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Norval Morey
  • Patent number: 5004028
    Abstract: A chip slicer for slicing wood chips such as for use in a pulp preparation procedure with an annular housing having knives therein and a rotor therein with anvil means for carrying wood chips against the knives with a shaft extending coaxially for diving the rotor, a driving hub mounted on the shaft and connected to it, a driven hub rotatably mounted by bearings on the driving hub with each of the hubs having annular plates and shear pins extending axially between the plates of a strength to transmit normal rotational power and to shear upon forced stalling of the rotor with the driven hub permitting continued rotation of the driving hub within the driven hub and continued rotation of the shaft with forced stalling of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventors: James Adams, Richard Gobel, Bryan Lanham
  • Patent number: 4997018
    Abstract: A double-edged knife detachably mounted on a counter knife. The knife overlies surfaces inclined and oriented so that when the knife is clamped in place, it is held well rearwardly an edge in the knife which is exposed for cutting. Fasteners hold the counter knife and these are protected from damage by a shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Commercial Knife, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles T. Carpenter, Robert M. Bayly
  • Patent number: 4984614
    Abstract: A combined saw and chipper head comprises a frustoconical body having a circular saw blade mounted on smaller face. A plurality of straight-edged knives are mounted on truncated face of body with corner of each knife positioned in a gullet between a pair of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Hi-Tech Engineering and Machine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian L. Landers, Richard D. Landers
  • Patent number: 4984747
    Abstract: A chopping- and slicing machine for the crushing of bulky, hard or soft materials whereby these might also be dirtied by soil and stones. The machine has a system of blades that has sharp cutting blades in one direction of course and blunt cutting blades in the other direction of course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Inventor: Magister H. Lechner
  • Patent number: 4977937
    Abstract: The present invention is in a woodworking knife or blade for mounting in a rotating cutterhead of a woodworking machine to either be in alignment with the cutterhead surface or to a table of the woodworking machine whereon wood to be planed or jointed travels. The knife or blade has at least two cutting edges of different sharpness angles ground therein, each cutting edge for machining a surface of a particular type or hardness of wood or related material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Inventor: George D. Hessenthaler
  • Patent number: 4977939
    Abstract: A chipper knife blade assembly for a rotary disk chipper has first and second flat knife blades of substantially identical construction, with one of the blades serving as a chipper blade and the other serving as a counterknife supporting the chipper blade. The counterknife is seated on a sloping support surface in a recess in the disk and has its proximal edge reposed against a support or a thrust bar. A bolt-down clamping member has a shouldered surface with a flat portion clamped down against a top surface of the chipper knife blade, and with a shoulder supporting the proximal edge of the chipper blade. In a preferred embodiment, the chipper blade projects about one-half inch to three-quarters inch beyond the cutting edge of the counterknife blade. With this arrangement, a warn cutting blade can serve a second useful life as a counterknife, absorbing the wear that results from the chips moving at high speed into the chip slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Carthage Machine Company
    Inventors: Garth D. Depuy, Eugene A. Farrell
  • Patent number: 4964447
    Abstract: A horizontal disk wood flaking machine has two or more continuous feed conveyors each of which has a vertical chute or feed box that brings wooden logs to an upper surface of the cutting disk. The drive motor for the disk is situated below the disk at the under side of the machine, so that the power train is from the bottom upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Carthage Machine Company
    Inventors: Eugene A. Farrell, Mark D. Robinson
  • Patent number: 4951882
    Abstract: A multipurpose reducer vacuum for vacuuming leaf, garden and lawn debris which uses circular grate bars and free swinging hammers to comminute the debris. The reducer vacuum mounts to the rear bumper of a pickup truck. An adjustable discharge chute is used to direct the comminuted debris into the bed of the pickup truck. A wood chipper is provided on the back side of the apparatus for chipping small limb and branches. An alternate configuration adds an intake hopper which uses a baffle plate in cooperation with cutting bars to pull small limbs, branches and saplings into the reducer vacuum. Feed rates up to one foot per second can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventor: Howard R. Ober
  • Patent number: 4921175
    Abstract: A food processor includes a main body with a graspable handle. A base plate is disposed in the main body. The base plate has a peripheral wall for defining a chamber. The peripheral wall has a discharge cutout along one circumferential part. A cover is removably placed over the base plate. A rotary blade supported on a driven shaft projects into the chamber between the cover and the base plate. An electric switch for the electric drive motor to the shaft includes a switch lever that pivots toward the main body to close contacts to the drive motor. A bar normally blocks for pivoting of the switch lever until the cover is placed on the base plate. The cover pushes the bar away from blocking the switch lever for enabling the switch lever to pivot to contact the contacts for activating the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Sanyei Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Okada, Yoshihiro Enya
  • Patent number: 4921174
    Abstract: A food processor includes a main body with a graspable handle. A drive motor in the main body drives a shaft that projects up into a container and a rotor on the shaft processes food in the vessel. A cover removably disposed on the container is rotatable between an unlocked and a lockable position. An electric switch includes a switch lever pivotable up and down, and upon downward pivoting of the switch lever, the electric contacts to the motor are closed. A projection from the switch lever projects toward the body. A regulating member movable laterally of the body is contacted by the projection on the switch lever which prevents the switch lever from moving down. An operating piece projecting from the cover engages the regulating member and moves it out of the path of the projection. The operating piece on the cover has a cutout defined in it which receives the projection on the switch lever and enables the switch lever to be pivoted down to close the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Sanyei Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Okada, Yoshihiro Enya
  • Patent number: 4887772
    Abstract: A knife assembly for a wood chipper has a cassette, a top blade holder, and a trapezoidal cross-section double-edge blade. The cassette is of profiled cross-section, with a full-width proximal section, a stepped-down blade holder support surface on an intermediate section, and a blade support surface on a distal or tip section. A proximally and downward sloping surface extends from a distal edge of the blade holder support surface to the blade support surface. The blade has substantially flat upper and lower surfaces so as to avoid structure which is susceptible to snapping or splitting under the stresses normally encountered in a chipping operation. One edge of the trapezoidal blade is exposed and extends forward of the cassette and the blade holder. The tapered ground surface that defines the concealed edge of the blade faces against the sloping surface of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Carthage Machine Co., Div. of Industrial General Corp.
    Inventors: Mark D. Robinson, Eugene A. Farrell
  • Patent number: 4877191
    Abstract: An adjusting device (74) is fixedly and rotatably mounted in axial longitudinal direction on a shaft coupling (22) while being at the same time connected with a disk (24) via an adjustment means (92, 94). Both the shaft coupling (22) and the disk (24) are each in engagement with a shredding or slicing tool (28, 80, 82, 84) via an elongated toothed member (42, 44 and 50, 52) cooperating therewith. The shredding or slicing tool (28, 80, 82, 84) bears against the drive shaft (18) in axial direction and is held in a fixed position relative to the drive shaft (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Golob, Wolfgang Franke
  • Patent number: 4875631
    Abstract: A wood chipper is disclosed comprising a large rotational disc with a pattern of blade mounting pockets, usually in a spiral, on the front face, such that mounted chipping knives project diagonally from the face of the disc at an acute angle to the disc, with chip passage slots extending through the disc at these pockets; and hardened elongated ridges protruding from and integral with the disc face, offset from the pockets and slots toward the direction of rotation, these ridges being diagonally oriented relative to a radius of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Recycling Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary M. Bardos
  • Patent number: 4860961
    Abstract: A garden chopping/shredding apparatus has a frame provided with an upwardly open intake hopper on the frame having a lower end in which is in turn provided a generally horizontal blade plate and formed about the axis with a plurality of angularly spaced apertures. Respective flat blades carried on the blade plate have cutting edges above the apertures and a plurality of prechopping blades carried on the blade plate projecting upward therefrom have cutting edges inclined upward and inward toward the axis. The drive rotates the plate and the blades in a predetermined direction about the axis so as to define with the cutting edges of the flat blades a generally planar and circular orbit perpendicular to the axis and having an inner periphery offset radially outward from the axis and to define with the cutting edges of the chopping blades an upwardly tapered frustoconical orbit centered on the axis and having a small-diameter upper end and a large-diameter lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Crones & Co., GmbH
    Inventor: Gunter Hilgarth
  • Patent number: 4850408
    Abstract: Chipper apparatus including a rotating disc with one or more knives mounted on the disc operable to produce wood chips under the cutting action of the knives. Each knife comprises an elongate knife body bounded by opposed cutting edges. The knife includes a back side formed back knife surfaces extending inwardly on the knife from its cutting edges and the back knife surfaces meeting with a bearing surface. The front side of the knife includes front knife surfaces extending inwardly on the knife from its cutting edges joining with an elongated key-receiving channel indented inwardly into the knife body. A knife is mounted on a rotatable chipper disc through a clamp member which bears against the bearing surface of a knife and a counter-knife which supports the front side of the knife and which includes an elongate key portion fitting within the key-receiving channel of the knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Commercial Knife, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles T. Carpenter, Robert M. Bayly
  • Patent number: 4834302
    Abstract: An apparatus for shredding branches, limbs, twigs, leaves or like material includes a housing having a lower cavity. A rotatable shredding mechanism is provided in the lower cavity. The shredding mechanism includes a plurality of substantially triangular shaped hammers for shredding material within the cavity. The triangular shape of the hammers increases the energy available for shredding material contained within the cavity. The shredding mechanism includes a drive shaft to which a drive sheave is connected, and is driven by a motor having a rotatable motor shaft to which a motor sheave is connected. A belt is provided about the motor and drive sheaves. A clutch mechanism for selectively imparting rotation to said drive shaft from said motor shaft includes an axially movable clutch bar to which a clutch sheave is rotatably connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Inventor: Herbert R. Baker
  • Patent number: 4827989
    Abstract: A wood chipper (40) for chipping wood, such as logs, into wood chips, has a chipping block (80) including one or more chipping knives (96) rotatably mounted in a housing (42l). An input aperture (60) on one face of the housing (42) receives material to be chipped, and a discharge chute (58) extends tangentially from the periphery of the housing (42) to exhaust chips therefrom. Primary and secondary wear blocks (68, 69) having hardened wear surfaces, are mounted at the input aperture (60) of the housing (42), against which incoming wood material abuts as it is fed into the chipper (40). The primary wear block (68) is mounted on a support bracket (66) and adjustable relative to the axial position of the chipper knives (96). The secondary wear block (69) is adapted to be mounted to the housing (42) at an inward edge of the input aperture (60), so that it can be easily removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Inventor: Donald E. Strong
  • Patent number: 4824029
    Abstract: An improved operating interlock is included in a food processor having a drive motor and a control switch which must be operated by the interlock to enable the operation of the drive motor. A shaft projects upwardly through a working bowl of the food processor and is coupled to the drive motor for rotation of a food processing tool coupled to the shaft within the bowl. A bowl cover is detachably secured to the bowl and defines a feed tube for introducing food items through the bowl cover into the bowl. A feed tube cover is detachably secured to the bowl cover for movement between a closed position over the feed tube and an opened position. The improved operating interlock further defines a child-lock for securing the feed tube cover to the bowl cover and the bowl cover to the bowl without enabling operation of the food processor such that one or more food processing tools can be enclosed within the bowl to discourage inadvertent contact with sharp tool portions when the processor is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Stottmann, Edward F. Ponikwia
  • Patent number: 4821968
    Abstract: A hopper for inserting foodstuffs into a food processor apparatus comprising a base which includes an electric motor whose shaft projects through the surface of the base, a bowl (2) removably mounted on said base, and a cover (1) capable of being locked onto the bowl (2), the cover having an opening surrounded by a chute (3), and a pusher (8) capable of being inserted into the chute (3) in order to press against food, the hopper being characterized in that a pusher support (5) is pivotally mounted at the top of the chute (3), said support slidably receiving a pusher rod (8) terminated by a blade (9) whose section is substantially equal to the inside section of the chute (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Robot Coupe S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Fleche
  • Patent number: 4821616
    Abstract: This machine is of the type comprising a frame (1) supporting a hopper (2) for charging the products, a cutting plate, an ejection plate (6a, 6b) for ejecting the cut products disposed under the cutting plate (4), and a device (13) for driving in rotation the cutting plate and the ejection plate. According to the invention, the ejection plate is driven in rotation in a direction opposed to that of the cutting plate. Advantageously, the speed of rotation of the ejection plate is higher than that of the cutting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: DITO - SAMA
    Inventors: Marcel Mayeux, Christian Lallier, Joel Musseau
  • Patent number: 4819882
    Abstract: An improved food pusher support is provided for a food processor having a primary feed tube for introducing food products into the processor and a feed tube cover including an opening for slidingly receiving a primary food pusher by means of compression leaf springs formed into the feed tube cover for engaging elongated ramped projections extending axially along the primary food pusher. In one instance, the projections are formed adjacent the food pushing portion of the primary food pusher such that the primary food pusher can be retained in a raised position for movement of the feed tube cover relative to the feed tube. In another instance, the primary food pusher comprises a hollow shaft defining a secondary feed tube therethrough and a secondary food pusher securably and slidably engageable with the hollow shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Stottmann, Edward F. Ponikwia
  • Patent number: 4817481
    Abstract: A cutting device for cutting a vegetable and the like including a cup-shaped lower housing, an inverted cup-shaped upper housing with a connecting apparatus for connecting these housings, a cutter disk arranged in the lower housing, and a fixing apparatus attached to the lower housing. These housings, the disk, and the fixing apparatus can be disassembled from one another. The upper housing can be detached from the lower housing by releasing the connecting apparatus. The manually operated cutter disk can be lifted and removed from the lower housing. The lower housing also can be disassembled from the fixing apparatus, which has a sucker member operated by a lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honma
    Inventor: Shinobu Homma
  • Patent number: 4817878
    Abstract: Power lock tool retention apparatus for a food processor includes at least one flattened section on the drive shaft with an associated horizontal notch. A socket extending downwardly on the inside of the rotary tool hub is placed onto this drive shaft during manual installation of the tool so that rotation of the shaft will cause the tool to be rotated. At least one horizontal lip is provided in the socket at an elevation to become aligned with the notch on the drive shaft when the hub has been slid down vertically into its operating position on the shaft. The socket configuration is complementary to, but slightly different from, the flattened configuration of the drive shaft in order to permit a small amount of relative angular movement between the shaft and hub when the shaft commences to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Cuisinarts, Inc.
    Inventor: Koichiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 4799626
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a food processing apparatus (2) having a lid (22) adapted to be placed on a vessel (10), with a cover member (26) of semi-circular cross section and having a passage (24) opening into the vessel (10) being provided on the lid. The cover member (26) is provided with a vertically extending rectangular receiving opening (32) for receiving a semi-cylindrical receptacle (34) adapted to swivel through 180.degree. between a loading position and a discharge position. The receptacle (34) is adapted to receive whole fruits (45) without the operator contacting the shredding or cutting tools (12, 13), because the receiving opening (32) is closed in the loading position of the receptacle (34). Following loading of the fruits (45) into the receptacle (34), the latter is swivelled through 180.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sigrun Hickel, Wolfgang Franke
  • Patent number: 4796819
    Abstract: A wood chipper to be lifted, transported and powered by a tractor having a power take-off at its rear, has forward and rearward housings. A chipping unit, located in the forward housing, is mounted on a driven shaft extending into the rearward housing and there provided with a pulley connected by a belt to a pulley on a drive shaft rotatably supported at one end by the rearward housing. The drive shaft extends below the first housing and is connectable to the power take-off of the tractor. The chipping unit has a forward square load-carrying member to which a circular, rearward blade carrying member is connected through impellers by which chips cut by blades are discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventor: Carl D. Waterman
  • Patent number: 4784337
    Abstract: A chipper for cutting uniform chips from a log having a rotating disc containing a plurality of radially disposed cutting stations, each having a knife assembly positioned adjacent a chip slot. Each knife assembly has an elongated cassette having a knife receiving recess formed in the top front surface thereof. A reversible knife is located in the recess by means of a key and is held in place by a retaining bar so that one cutting edge of the knife is accurately positioned at the entrance to the chip slot. Reversing the knife in the cassette after the first edge becomes dulled similarly positions the second cutting edge. Preferably, a plurality of knives are mounted end to end in the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Carthage Machine Company, Div. of Industrial General Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy P. Nettles, Mark Robinson