Abstract: A machine including: a table having a surface adapted to have a workpiece lay and move thereon, and a vise for gripping the workpiece. The machine also includes a drive system for moving the vise and workpiece a distance along the table surface, and a sensor assembly connected to the vise for measuring an amount of slip distance occurring between the vise and the workpiece. The machine also includes a control unit connected to the sensor assembly and the drive system for storing the measured slip distance and for operating the drive system and for operating to do at least one of, when a predetermined amount of slip distance is detected: sounding an alarm and stopping further movement of the workpiece, and, when a slip distance is measured, for causing the drive system to move the vise and workpiece an added distance equal to the measured slip distance.

Abstract: A slicer that can slice a material to be sliced with a uniform thickness and can also be used sanitarily. A slicer 1 which includes a slice width adjusting mechanism 100 that is provided with a slice width adjusting dial 60 having a cylindrical shape that has a screw portion 62 formed on an outer peripheral surface and is capable of supporting the rear surface 40c of a movable supporting plate 40, a screw receiving hole 13 that is integrally formed with a frame 10 and capable of being engaged with the screw portion 62, and a first rib 45 that is formed on the rear surface 40c of the movable supporting plate 40 so as to stand thereon and capable of being fitted into the slice width adjusting dial 60.

Abstract: A food product slicer includes a carriage assembly is mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past a cutting edge of a knife. An adjustable gauge plate provides variable slice thickness for food product carried by the carriage assembly. During automatic slicing, when the gauge plate is moved from the open position to the closed position, a slicer controller automatically shuts down the carriage drive in a controlled manner that causes the carriage to stop at its most forward position.

Abstract: A method of trimming printed media comprises selecting printed media to be positioned on a conveyor based on predetermined delivery sequence data, positioning the printed media on the conveyor, receiving size data representative of at least one dimension of the printed media to be trimmed, and electronically controlling a trimmer based on the received size data to adjust a location at which the printed media is to be trimmed.

Abstract: A food product slicer includes a carriage assembly is mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past a cutting edge of a knife. An adjustable gauge plate provides variable slice thickness for food product carried by the carriage assembly. During automatic slicing, when the gauge plate is moved from the open position to the closed position, a slicer controller automatically shuts down the carriage drive in a controlled manner that causes the carriage to stop at its most forward position.

Abstract: A food slicer is provided having a support member including a base portion and an upstanding portion integrally formed with the base portion. The upstanding portion includes a rotating cutting blade secured thereto for slicing food product and at least one motor positioned within the upstanding portion for rotating the cutting blade. The base portion includes a food product table slidably secured thereto and is movable across the cutting blade for holding product while it is being sliced by the cutting blade. An adjustable gage plate also is provided for determining the thickness of a food product to be sliced by the cutting blade along with an adjustable gage plate alignment mechanism connecting the upstanding portion to the gage plate at an upper portion of the gage plate.

Abstract: A method of trimming printed media, having a first dimension, a first edge parallel to the direction of the first dimension, and a second dimension substantially perpendicular to the first dimension, includes selecting printed media to be positioned on a conveyor based on predetermined delivery sequence data, positioning the printed media along a path on the conveyor, abutting the printed media with a stop to position the first edge of the printed media at a location along the path, receiving size data representative of the second dimension of the printed media to be trimmed, and electronically controlling at least one of the stop and a trimming device to adjust a distance between the stop and the trimming device, in a direction substantially parallel with the path, based on the received size data to adjust a location along the second dimension at which the printed media is to be trimmed.

Abstract: One embodiment of a manual safety vegetable cutter has a frame which is supported on feet and which is provided with two parallel longitudinal uprights. The uprights define two guiding rails for a carriage which can be moved back and forth in translation and which are connected by means of a plate for adjusting the cutting width. At least one cutting blade is mounted transversely between the longitudinal uprights. The vegetable cutter is provided with at least one removable disc-cutting cartridge which can be inserted longitudinally between the uprights of the frame and which comprises a first edge, on which the cutting blade is mounted This disc-cutting cartridge is provided with gripping elements which co-operate with positioning elements provided on the frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manual vegetable cutter, for selectively varied cutting. Furthermore, the cutter of the present invention does not expose the user to risks of serious cuts. The cutter includes a frame fitted with at least one cutting blade mounted transversely facing a slot through which the cut vegetables pass and also two side rails providing guidance in to and fro translational motion for a guide chamber equipped with a loading volume for the vegetables to be cut up and acting in conjunction with a press-down cap which the user grips in order to move the guide chamber to and fro along the guide rails while constantly exerting pressure on the vegetables contained in the loading volume so that they are pressed against the cutting blade or blades fitted to the frame and can be cut up by the blade or blades.

Abstract: A adjustable shuttle stop apparatus for use in controlling feeding of material to a machining operation on a machine tool, such as a band saw. The apparatus comprises a feed conveyor, a band saw adjacent to the feed conveyor, a shuttle vise movably disposed on the feed conveyor, and an adjustable stop on the feed conveyor for adjusting a distance between the stop and the shuttle vise and for stopping the shuttle vise at the cutting position. The adjustable stop compensates for undesired movement of the shuttle vise caused by clamping the workpiece such that the distance between the stop and the shuttle vise remains substantially constant. This allows for a consistent cut length of the workpiece on subsequent cutting cycles. Different embodiments of the adjustable stop are disclosed along with a method of use of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manual vegetable cutter, for selectively varied cutting. Furthermore, the cutter of the present invention does not expose the user to risks of serious cuts. The cutter comprises a frame fitted with at least one cutting blade mounted transversely facing a slot through which the cut vegetables pass and also two side rails providing guidance in to and fro translational motion for a guide chamber equipped with a loading volume for the vegetables to be cut up and acting in conjunction with a press-down cap which the user grips in order to move the guide chamber to and fro along the guide rails while constantly exerting pressure on the vegetables contained in the loading volume so that they are pressed against the cutting blade or blades fitted to the frame and can be cut up by the blade or blades.

Abstract: A cutting machine for trimming three sides of printed products includes blades that are moved up and down in a first cutting station for trimming the front, and in a second cutting station for trimming the top and bottom of the printed products. A transport mechanism is provided for positioning the printed products at adjustable rear stops. The conveying path formed between adjustable stops associated with the cutting stations and the cutting region specified for top and bottom trimming along the conveying path of the printed products are variable.

Abstract: A device useful in slicing a melon is provided by the present invention. The device includes an elongated stand for holding the melon in a detachable cutting station with a cutting blade member and a movable butt plate that is adjustable to provide melon slices of the desired width. The device includes a blade retaining member to keep the blade member in an upright position while the melon is moved forward after each slice to contact the butt plate. The device is easily adaptable for both left handed and right handed operation. The device is especially useful for making transverse slices of the desired width of elongated melons such as a watermelon in an efficient manner.

Abstract: A adjustable shuttle stop apparatus for use in controlling feeding of material to a machining operation on a machine tool, such as a band saw. The apparatus comprises a feed conveyor, a band saw adjacent to the feed conveyor, a shuttle vise movably disposed on the feed conveyor, and an adjustable stop on the feed conveyor for adjusting a distance between the stop and the shuttle vise and for stopping the shuttle vise at the cutting position. The adjustable stop compensates for undesired movement of the shuttle vise caused by clamping the workpiece such that the distance between the stop and the shuttle vise remains substantially constant. This allows for a consistent cut length of the workpiece on subsequent cutting cycles. Different embodiments of the adjustable stop are disclosed along with a method of use of the apparatus.

Abstract: A safety manual vegetable cutter, characterized in that it comprises a frame (1) fitted with at least one cutting blade (9, 9′) fitted transversely facing a slot (12) through which the sliced vegetables pass and also two side rails (61, 62), providing guidance in translational to-and-fro motion for a guide chamber (2) equipped with a loading volume (17) for the vegetables to be sliced and acting in conjunction with a press-down cap (3) designed to be gripped by the user to move the guide chamber (2) to and fro along the guide rails (61, 62) while exerting a constant pressure on the vegetables contained in the loading volume (17) so as to press them against the cutting blade or blades (9, 9′) fitted to the frame (1) and enable them to the sliced by this blade or these blades (9, 9′).

Abstract: A slicer is provided for use in conjunction with a manually manipulated knife for cutting slices off one end of a loaf of a food product, such as a loaf of bread, a loaf of meat, a loaf of cheese, etc. The slicer includes a U-shaped channel in which the food product loaf is contained with one end of the loaf being in engagement with an end wall. The channel is inclined to the horizontal to cause the loaf to self feed down into engagement with the end wall. A knife slot is provided a fixed distance away from the end wall to allow a slice having a first pre-determined thickness to be provided. One or more thickness adjustment plates may be dropped down into the channel to overlie the end wall to decrease the thickness of the slices in pre-determined increments equal to the thickness of the plates. The plates extend above the end wall to be easily removable from the channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic manufacture of portions of a given length of strip material printed or embossed with a repetitive pattern in a longitudinal strip material, such as venetian blind slats, panels for walls and ceiling coverings and for shutters, awnings and sun louvres, in which the strip material is fed progressively to a cutting unit, first sections are cut, each of said given length, on the strip material, the second sections are cut from parts of the strip material immediately following at least some of the cut-off first sections, in a controlled manner, to allow varying of the length of each of said second sections individually, to provide a controlled positioning of the repetitive pattern along the length of the subsequently cut first sections, the second sections being rejected and the first sections being renewed for further handling.

Abstract: A manual stock stop is diclosed including a track assembly and a sliding stop assembly. A cable-activated electromechanical position transducer sends an electrical signal corresponding to the position of a stop bar mounted on the top assembly to a monitor/control unit which displays the position of the stop bar. A fine adjustment mechanism in the stop assembly allows for precise positioning of the stop bar. An automatic stock stop is also disclosed including a track and sliding carriage assembly. A motorized screw mechanism mounted on the track moves a carriage a limited distance along the track. The ends of flippers mounted on the carriage can be extended beyond an edge of the carriage to actually stop the stock. A guide and a device for performing a machine operation on the stock may also be mounted on the track. A computer control unit activates and coordinates the various functions of the stock stop.

Abstract: A bell crank type strip feeding apparatus is disclosed in which one arm of the bell crank is coupled to an actuator and the other arm has a feed pawl thereon for feeding the strip. The actuator is a crank pin which is moved along a circular path about a fixed center. The intermediate pivot of the bell crank is mounted for movement along an arcuate path in response to the circular motion of the crank pin. The intermediate pivotal axis of the bell crank is yieldingly supported so that it can move laterally of the arcuate axis path when the feed pawl engages a fixed stop. A shearing mechanism is also disclosed for shearing the strip material at the conclusion of the feeding stroke.

Abstract: A pair of wire feed clamps are affixed to parallel flights of a pulley-supported steel cable which is axially driven back and forth by an oscillatably rotatable cable drum whereby the wire feed clamps, which reciprocably move in opposite directions, feed a wire strand along a first path. The cable drum is driven by a drive rod reciprocably movable by an orbiting crank pin on a support member which is adjustably mounted on a motor-driven rotatable feed crank. Crank pin orbit determines drive rod stroke, cable drum position, wire feed clamp spacing and travel, and wire segment length. A locking mechanism releasably locks the support member (crank pin) in desired adjusted positions. Two laterally spaced-apart conveyor assemblies, each having conveyor clamps for receiving the wire strand, convey severed wire segments along a second path perpendicular to the first.

Abstract: A feed and clamping arrangement for a cutting machine such as a band saw, circular saw, frame saw or the like. The cutting machine includes a machine table for receiving the material to be cut with a first pair of clamping jaws arranged at a machine stand in front of the cutting plane in the feed direction of the material with a second pair of clamping jaws being arranged in front of the first pair of clamping jaws, as viewed in the feed direction. A rollway is provided for feeding the material to the cutting machine. The rollway includes a frame having several reversibly driven rollers extending transverse to the feed direction. The second pair of clamping jaws is guided for movement in a direction transverse to the feed direction at a forward end of the rollway frame with the frame being guided for movement to and fro in the feed direction together with the second pair of clamping jaws on either an extension of the stand of the cutting machine or on a separate machine stand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an indexing mechanism for stepwise advancing a workpiece relative to a cutting tool of a machine tool, to enable slices or wafers of predetermined thickness to be cut from the workpiece. The indexing mechanism comprises first and second slide blocks slidable in a slideway in a slide block carrier of the machine tool. The first block carries the workpiece and the second block carries a double-acting index actuator which interconnects the two blocks and is operable to displace the blocks alternately toward and away from each other, the extent of said displacement determining the indexing stroke of the mechanism. The index actuator is provided with an adjustable end stop for adjusting the indexing stroke.

Abstract: Battery grid plate castings are trimmed in a two-step operation. Each plate moves flat along a horizontal or inclined path against a first stop bar. One of two trim blades on a reciprocating upper die block then shears flashing from the leading end of the plate during a downward stroke of the die. Then the stop bar raises during the upward stroke of the die, and the plate moves forwardly against a second stop. Upon the next downward die stroke the second trim blade shears flashing from the trailing edge of the plate. During the next upward stroke, the fully trimmed plate moves forwardly onto a stacking device. As the leading end of one plate is trimmed at the first trim station, the trailing end of a preceding plate is trimmed at the second trim station. The second stop is easily moved to different stop positions along the path of travel of the plates to change the distance between such stop and the second trim blade and thereby enable trimming plates of different lengths without changing dies.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an indexing feed mechanism for a cutting machine comprising an indexing vise for gripping a workpiece and moving it forward into a cutting position. The mechanism includes a lead screw interengaged with complementary means formed on a stopper means adapted to limit the rearward extent of the stroke of the indexing vise. Rotation of said screw will, therefore, cause translation of said stopper means thereby varying the rearward limit of travel of the indexing vise during its stroke. The lead screw extends from a rotatable shaft and means located at the operating station of the cutting machine are provided for rotating the shaft. The shaft is operably connected to a digital indicator which indicates in digital numerals the predetermined stroke of the indexing vise as a function of the angular position of the shaft.