Abstract: A knife blade for cutting sheet material has a cutting portion which includes two adjoining faces defining a cutting edge and comprises a relatively soft or high wear base material and a relatively hard or low wear coating. One of the faces is formed by the relatively hard coating and the other face is formed by the relatively soft base material. Both of the faces of the cutting portion are bevelled and are exposed to the sheet material during cutting. Another knife blade embodying the invention has a cutting portion which includes one face formed of a relatively soft base material and another corrugated face formed of a relatively hard coating.

Abstract: A tobacco shredding machine wherein the cutting edges of orbiting shredding knives are sharpened by the undulate annular surface of a grinding wheel which is reciprocated forwardly and backwards in parallelism with the axis of the holder for the knives and is retracted from the circular path of the cutting edges during each return stroke of its support. The speed of forward movement of the support while the grinding wheel sharpens the cutting edges is such that the support covers during each revolution of the holder a distance which equals or is a whole multiple of the width of an undulation on the grinding surface. The axes of the grinding wheel and of the holder for the knives are located in a common plane.

Abstract: A knife sharpening device has a slide (8) which carries freely rotatable grinding wheels or disks (11, 12). The slide is adjustable along a bar (5) of a frame (1, 2). The slide is fixed against lateral displacement in an adjusted operating or rather grinding position by the engagement of a pin (17) with a toothed rack (6). The grinding disk or disks are preferably driven by the positive rotation of the knives being sharpened. A slight vertical movement of the grinding disks is possible due to a respective play in the vertical direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for transversely cutting logs of web material which are sequentially advanced along a first path and a rotating disc blade is mounted in said apparatus for movement in a second path through said first path from one side of the other of the first path to transversely sever said logs, a sharpener is provided in said apparatus for sharpening said blade. The apparatus is provided with structure for incrementally changing the relationship of said sharpener and said blade to compensate for diameter reduction of said disc blade. The apparatus is equipped with structure for altering the relationship of said paths to also compensate for diameter reduction of said blade.

Abstract: A cutting device having a circular cutting blade which is mounted so that it can rotate and is supported so that it can be displaced across a web of material to be cut. This circular cutting blade is partially accommodated in a tubular member which is equipped with a slit and extends across the web of material. The member is of metal and spring-loaded so as to rotate towards the circular blade, causing it to rest against and co-act with the latter so that as the circular blade is displaced along the accommodating member with close contact it is made to rotate, while simultaneously being sharpened by the metal member.

Abstract: Lead cutting machine for cutting the leads of components mounted on printed circuit boards, this machine including a conveyor mechanism for the boards and a rotating cutting knife fixed on a carriage which is slidably mounted in a horizontal plane and under the path of the boards and which is coupled with the piston of a pneumatically controlled pressurized air cylinder.

Abstract: A sharpener drive for the straight blade of a fabric cutting machine receives its motion from the crank wheel which drives the blade. A drive wheel, which selectively engages the crank wheel, drives a gear train which drives a gear mounted in splined relationship with an elongated shaft. A sharpener is mounted on the elongated shaft for selective engagement with the straight knife. An actuator is attached to the elongated shaft for sliding the elongated shaft through the gear with which it is splined to thereby move the sharpener axially of the knife while the gear rotates the elongated shaft to drive sharpener wheels. A link is engageable by the elongated shaft in its stored position for effecting disengagement of the drive wheel from the crank wheel. A latch includes a camming portion for moving the latch into locking engagement with the cutting machine housing when the elongated shaft is moved to its stored position.

Abstract: An apparatus utilizing an endless blade for splitting hides, textile products and the like. A fixed assembly carries upper and lower cylinders or rollers for feeding the workpiece to the blade. A mobile or movable assembly carries the blade mounted on two spaced pulleys and is adjustable with respect to the rollers in order to change the spacing between the blade edge and the feeding plane between the rollers. Also mounted on the movable assembly is a sharpening device in the form of two grinding wheels which are biased toward the blade edge. A blade positioning mechanism controlled by a photocell sensing the position of the blade edge maintains the blade edge in the desired position relative to the rollers despite erosion of the blade due to sharpening and wear.

Abstract: A cutting method comprising using a main body in the form of a circular disk and a hard layer provided on one surface of the main body and having a thickness of 0.02 to 0.2 mm. The hard layer is made of cemented carbides, TiC TaC, Cr.sub.2 C.sub.3, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or the like, while the main body is made of a material, such as steel, non-ferrous metal or plastics, which is lower than the hard layer in abrasion resistance. The hard layer is formed along its outer periphery with a cutting edge which is self-sharpened when chipped.

Abstract: A meat cutting band machine for slice cutting soft meats. The machine comprises a base and a vertical band blade support frame secured to the base. A pair of band blade wheels are rotatably supported in a spaced apart manner on the band blade support frame. A flat band blade is drivingly supported about the wheels. A drive is provided to rotate the wheels and the blade. An opening is provided in the band blade support frame to expose a meat cutting area along a straight path of the band blade. A stationary table is secured below the meat cutting area. A horizontally displaceable meat support table is displaceable on an axis parallel to the plane of the flat band blade to displace an end portion of a piece of meat placed on a support surface thereof against a cutting edge of the band blade.

Abstract: A saw chain, for motor chain saws, provided with depth limiters, gauges, or members, and with cutting teeth respectively arranged, in the direction of cutting movement, behind a depth limiter. Each cutting tooth projects outwardly from a base body transverse to the direction of cutting movement of the saw chain, and is set or twisted relative to the plane of the base body, with each cutting tooth having a transverse cutter which is formed by a cutting back surface and an outer surface of the twisted cutting tooth. Each depth limiter is bent laterally out of the plane of the base body of the subsequent cutting tooth, and forms a rearwardly open, acute inclined or chamfered angle with this plane. This angle may range between 3.degree. and 20.degree., and is preferably 9.degree.. The leading region of the depth limiter may be provided with a continuously and uniformly curved, downwardly extending, rounded entry portion.

Abstract: A lightweight spring-loaded grinding wheel assembly for mounting adjacent a disc and wherein idling grinders are positioned away from a blade during inactive portions of the cycle, and upon release of an external force, the grinders are urged into co-acting and sharpening relationship with a blade by a flexing support.

Abstract: There is provided a rotary die cutter for effecting a punching and scribing on a sheet which is fed between a die cylinder and an anvil cylinder disposed in parallel with said die cylinder. The die cylinder is adapted to be rotated in a predetermined direction and provided on its peripheral surface with a knife and a scribing rule. The anvil cylinder is adapted to be rotated in the opposite direction to the die cylinder and provided on its peripheral surface with an anvil for receiving the knife and the scribing rule. There is a mechanism for adjusting the clearance between the die cylinder and the anvil cylinder. A blade carrier is disposed adjacent to the anvil cylinder and slidable in the axial direction of the anvil cylinder. A cutting blade capable of cutting the anvil surface is attached to the blade carrier in such a manner as to move toward and away from the axis of the anvil cylinder.

Abstract: A machine for cutting an elongated paper roll to be cut into a plurality of smaller rolls includes parallel cutting blades and a roll transporting unit with a feedpath inclined relative to the cutting edge of each blade so that the blades penetrate and progressively cut a roll as it is advanced through the feedpath.

Abstract: The leading and lower cutting edges of a reciprocating cutting blade on a sheet material cutting apparatus are sharpened by elevating the blade from a cutting region proximate the sheet material supporting surface of the apparatus to a sharpening region above the cutting region and reciprocating the blade within the sharpening region. The apparatus includes two sharpening wheels mounted on a pivoted yoke and supported at opposite sides of the blade. One of the sharpening wheels is biased toward the blade to bring a face of the one wheel into sharpening engagement with one side of the leading cutting edge of the blade.

Abstract: A powered machine for cutting hard or soft materials such as steel, wood, or the like of comparable hardness, including an endless array of truncated conical teeth affixed end-to-end, longitudinally on a common central axis, the array being disposed about at least two pulleys, at least one of which includes a circumferential recessed track shaped to receive each of the conical teeth. The cutting array is driven around the pulleys in the direction of the larger end (in diameter) of each tooth. The device is capable of cutting one or more pieces of material from any angular direction relative to the plane perpendicular to the central axis of the band of teeth. In one embodiment, the teeth are connected together by movable links which allow for replacement of an individual tooth, if required.

Abstract: A rotary die cutting and scoring machine including a free wheeling resiliently covered anvil roll, an adjustable pusher having a velocity profile insuring that the velocity of the leading edge of the fed sheets matches the peripheral speed of the cutting roll, guides for guiding the side edges of the fed sheets maintaining their guide services parallel to the direction of feed and a reciprocating cutting tool for removing a selected portion of the resilient coating on said anvil roll to produce a fresh anvil surface. The machine also includes a support plate located on the reciprocating pusher to insure accurate feeding of warped sheets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting sheet material utilizes a closed loop automatically controlled cutting machine having a reciprocating cutting blade as the cutting tool. Sheet material to be cut is spread in multiple plies to form a layup, and the cutting blade and the material are then moved relative to one another in cutting engagement along predefined lines of cut. During cutting, a sensor detects a cutting parameter that is affected by the interaction of the cutting blade and sheet material, and signals provided by the sensor are fed back in the closed loop automatic control mechanism to adjust or initiate further steps in the cutting operation. Such adjustment or initiation alters the cutting machine operation for cutting conditions in real time in order to improve the overall performance of the machine.

Abstract: A sharpening device for an orbital saw involving a pair of circular grinding stones freely journalled in a sub-assembly which in turn is slidably and pivotally mounted on the frame of the saw while being pivotally supported on the member providing the orbital motion for the saw.

Abstract: A machine for cutting the lead ends of components mounted at printed-wiring boards, also referred to as printed circuits, comprising at least one rotating driven cutting disk, a grinding device for grinding such cutting disk, the cutting disk and the grinding device being relatively movable towards one another.

Abstract: A program controlled cutting machine is provided with a sharpenable blade for cutting limp sheet material spread in a multi-ply layup on a support table. The program controlling relative movement of the cutting blade and sheet material along a cutting path compensates for wear on the cutting edge of the blade by extending the relative movement at selected points on the cutting path to improve cutting accuracy and quality.

Abstract: A sharpenable cutting blade with a series of alternately inclined skew-cut notches along its main cutting edge. Each notch defines a pair of auxiliary cutting edges respectively on opposite sides of the main cutting edge and facing in opposite longitudinal directions. Each auxiliary edge resides in and is half-defined by a main edge defining surface so as to be sharpened simultaneously with the main edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting sheet material utilizes a closed loop automatically controlled cutting machine having a reciprocating cutting blade as the cutting tool. Sheet material to be cut is spread in multiple plies to form a layup, and the cutting blade and the material are then moved relative to one another in cutting engagement along predefined lines of cut. During cutting, a sensor detects a cutting parameter that is affected by the interaction of the cutting blade and sheet material, and signals provided by the sensor are fed back in the closed loop automatic control mechanism to adjust or initiate further steps in the cutting operation. Such adjustment or initiation alters the cutting machine operation for cutting conditions in real time in order to improve the overall performance of the machine.

Abstract: A thread-cutting assembly for use with a sewing machine that always presents a sharp cutting edge for thread cutting. The assembly includes a circular cutting disk having a circumferential cutting edge, and a guard plate for preventing access to the majority of the circumferential cutting edge of the disk but exposing a portion of the disk circumferential cutting edge. The disk is mounted to the guard plate so that the disk rotates with respect to the guard means about an axis when thread to be cut by the disk is brought into engagement with the exposed portion of the disk so that a new cutting surface is exposed, and the guard plate is operatively mounted to a sewing machine. The guard plate also sharpens the cutting edge of the disk upon rotation of the disk with respect to the guard plate, the guard plate being formed of metal having a greater temper than the metal of the disk.

Abstract: In a tobacco cutting machine where tobacco is cut by knives mounted on a rotating drum, the knives are advanced as they are worn away. In order to prevent the knives being advanced too far, and becoming damaged by contact with other machine parts, a safety device is provided. This includes a blade positioned near the path of the knife edges to be struck by a knife if the latter is advanced too far. The resultant movement of the blade is amplified by a lever system and is used to trigger a microswitch in the cutter drum drive circuit, whereby when a knife is advanced too far the cutter drum is stopped. The advancing mechanism for the knives includes a ratchet device driven by pulses of compressed air via a piston and cylinder device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the transverse cutting of elongated material such as superposed web plies (for example, a convolutely wound log) wherein the material is uniformly advanced along an axial path and a cutting disc blade is moved through an orbit in planetary fashion which intersects the path and is skewed relative thereto while the disc blade is rotating in planes perpendicular to the path.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for cutting pattern pieces from layups having a low stack height employs a cutting head having a small reciprocating blade suspended from a carriage which moves over the layup. The drive motors for reciprocating the blade and orienting the blade in a particular cutting direction about a .theta.-axis remain in a stationary position on the cutting head as the blade is oriented and elevated in and out of cutting contact with the layup. A blade sharpener is suspended from the head with the cutting blade and is energized by spinning the blade about the .theta.-axis. Drilling is also accomplished by spinning the blade.

Abstract: A cutting saw chain having cutting tooth links distributed therealong. Each cutting tooth link having a portion at one end upstanding therefrom and twisted out of the plane of the link to form a cutting edge. The links on opposite sides of the chain have the upstanding portions twisted in opposite directions. Each cutting tooth link at the other end has a portion upstanding in the plane of the link and forming depth limiting means. A link in advance of each cutting tooth link also has an upstanding part forming a depth limiter for the following cutting tooth link.

Abstract: A material cutting machine includes a pair of cylindrical rollers through which a web of sheet material is passed, one roller being driven while the other is allowed to track with the sheet material so that it accurately measures the length of the material passing through the rollers. Means are included for stopping the drive roller after a prescribed length of material has been measured by the measuring roller. After such stopping, a cut-off apparatus is made to reciprocate across the web to cut off a predetermined length of material.

Abstract: A rotary self-sharpening knife comprises two identical half-knives each having a cutting edge on one face, the half knives being arranged with at least part of the peripheries of their other faces in contact, and means for urging the half knives together. In use the half knives are driven at different angular speeds so that there is slight relative movement of the half knives which produces a rubbing action between the peripheries of the half knives to maintain the cutting edges of the half knives sharp. The invention also relates to an assembly incorporating the inventive self-sharpening knife, and a machine for processing a product.

Abstract: The guard cover for a commodity slicing machine sharpener extends over and protects the otherwise exposed knife edge at the knife sharpening area. The guard protects the knife edge at all times regardless of whether the sharpener is in the sharpening position, storage position, or is being moved between these positions. The sharpener employs a non-rotatable honing stone which seeks proper honing relationship with the knife upon coming into contact therewith.

Abstract: A cutter for a non-woven carpet machine in the form of a continuous belt or band which is tensioned and moves continuously in one direction against advancing yarn strands. A sharpening mechanism can be provided to sharpen the blade while it is moving and without stopping the carpet making machine by moving the blade against the sharpening mechanism. A cooling unit can be provided for circulating cooling air against the carpet backing layers to harden adhesive in which the yarn is embedded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the transverse cutting of elongated material such as superposed web plies (for example, a convolutely wound log) wherein the material is uniformly advanced along an axial path and a cutting disc blade is moved through an orbit in planetary fashion which intersects the path and is skewed relative thereto while the disc blade is rotating in planes perpendicular to the path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting sheet material utilizes a closed loop automatically controlled cutting machine having a reciprocating cutting blade as the cutting tool. Sheet material to be cut is spread in multiple plies to form a layup, and the cutting blade and the material are then moved relative to one another in cutting engagement along predefined lines of cut. During cutting, a sensor detects a cutting parameter that is affected by the interaction of the cutting blade and sheet material, and signals provided by the sensor are fed back in the closed loop automatic control mechanism to adjust or initiate further steps in the cutting operation. Such adjustment or initiation alters the cutting machine operation for cutting conditions in real time in order to improve the overall performance of the machine.