Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting clamps or clips off of the ends of sausages and similar products formed by forcing material into continuous lengths of an outer tubular casing and placing clips intermediately along the length of the outer casing to separate lengths of the sausage or the like. The clips are removed by positioning the clips of a pair of the sausages or the like adjacent a pair of cutters in such a manner that the cutter jaws are positioned between the adjacent ends of sausages. The cutters are then caused to automatically move apart until they engage the ends of the sausages and are positioned between the respective clips and the ends of the sausages. The cutters are then automatically actuated to cut through the outer casing between the clips and the ends of the sausages to thereby effect removal of the clips and separation of the pair of sausages.

Abstract: A cutting table having a suction chamber and operable to retain tobacco leaves thereon. A plurality of knives are located adjacent the table, and the knives and table are movable relative to one another so that the knives can be exposed above the surface of the table. A pressure device is positionable over the table and is cooperable with the exposed knives to cut tobacco leaves. The knives are located with respect to one another so that in the method of cutting wrappers from tobacco leaves, consecutive cutting operations can be performed after displacing the tobacco leaf but while maintaining the same orientation of the stem of the leaf.

Abstract: A process and a gel cutting device constructed and adapted to remove gel like material from a surface, the device having a hollow body with fluid communication therethrough, a pickup conduit attached to the inlet of the body, a cutter on the inlet end of the pickup conduit. The outlet of the body is connectable to a vacuum source. In operation the process and the gel cutter have the cutter of the pickup conduit passed into gel material, cutting same and passing the removed material through the pickup conduit into the hollow body.

Abstract: Control of the flow of fibrous material and selective shearing the material at predetermined lengths is provided by apparatus including a first shear element having an aperture in a plane face thereof and adapted with an input tube for feeding the fibrous material through the aperture in the shear element. A second shear element is rotatably attached to the first shear element and has an aperture in a plane face thereof alignable with the aperture of the first shear element. An egress tube is attached to the second shear element for receiving material from the aperture in the second shear element when aligned with that of the first shear element. The fibrous material is moved through the input tube and out of the egress tube by air pressure when the apertures in the shear elements are aligned. By rotating the first shear element relative to the second shear element, the fibrous material passing through the apertures therein is sheared and the flow of material therethrough stopped.

Abstract: A slitter having slitting blades juxtaposed to the periphery of a bristle-face anvil roll is provided with a dust collector adjacent the interface between said blades and roll. The dust collector includes a housing having a slot for receiving dust and a manifold chamber. Spaced partitions in the housing provide communication between the manifold chamber and specific portions of said opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting threads, particularly threads formed of mineral substances such as glass, are disclosed. A rotating drum carrying a plurality of radially extending cutting blades operates in conjunction with a rotating support drum which carries and supports the thread for cutting by the cutting blades. Ejector elements carried by the cutting drum and positioned in the spaces between the cutting blades are urged radially outwardly by centrifugal force and compress the thread against the surface of the support drum. The ejector elements then serve to strip cut sections of the thread from between the blades as the cutting blades move away from the support drum. Compressed air is supplied to the spaces between the cutting blades to remove waste material resulting from the cutting operation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the removal of tobacco cuttings in the wrapper cutting portion of a cigar making machine in which a hollow, rotatable die turret having a pair of hollow die units on its upper surface, air openings at its lower surface and passageways from such openings to the interior of the units, is rotatably mounted on a stationary support having a pair of air chambers therein with openings in the upper wall thereof which permit air to flow into or out of the turret passageways through the openings at its lower surface at various portions of the cycle of rotation of the turret. Each die unit has holes around the periphery of the cutting edge which extend into the die unit interior. One of the chambers is kept continuously under vacuum so that during part of the rotation of the turret, air is drawn through the die unit holes to maintain a strip of tobacco on top of a die unit.