Abstract: An apparatus for cutting slices from a foodstuff has a support, a blade on the support extending perpendicular to and rotatable about an axis, and a table adapted to support the foodstuff to be sliced. The table is reciprocated transversely of the axis past the blade and the foodstuff is synchronously periodically shifted on the table axially toward the blade. A guide rail extends transversely of the axis immediately adjacent the blade and carries a holding arm engageable with the foodstuff on the table and displaceable along the rail in a forward direction to press the foodstuff against the table and in an opposite reverse direction. Interengaging formations on the rail and arm prevent movement of the arm in the reverse direction on the guide rail, and a drive including an electric motor connected to the arm displaces same on the rail in the forward direction and disengages the formations and displaces the arm on the rail in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A combined jump conveyor and slicing machine includes a jump conveyor formed by a first short conveyor (1) adjacent the slicing blade (3) of the slicing machine having a length substantially equal to the length of one or two shingled slices in the shingled direction and a second conveyor (2) downstream of the first conveyor (1). Both conveyors (1 and 2) of the jump conveyor have an independent drive (7,8) and a controller (9) to drive the two conveyors at the same speed or at different speeds. The independent drive (7) and controller (9) of the first conveyor (1) also enable it to be driven at high speed in the reverse direction away from the second conveyor (2) to reject slices cut by the slicing blade (3).

Abstract: A servicer is described for supplying two cut-to-length strips of sidewall simultaneously to a tire building drum without handling by the tire builder, thereby eliminating any stretching of the sidewalls or distortion of the shape of the sidewalls which can happen when the sidewalls are physically handled by the tire builder. The servicer employs twin cassettes which contain two spools of spirally wound sidewall which is separated by a comparatively rigid, U-shaped protective liner.The servicer has an indexing table for moving twin cassettes from a standby position to a let-off position to a take-up position and, lastly, to a removal position where the cassette is removed for rewinding with new material.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to various aspects of automated excision of undesirable material (and optionally excision of bone) from meat, and automated production of starting material for restructured meat, including: (a) an apparatus and method generally drawn to, optical detection of the location of undesirable material in meat, communication of information regarding the location of the undesirable material to a control means, and excision of the undesirable material from the meat using a high pressure water jet controlled by the control means; (b) a bone location sensor and method of bone location sensing, each employing a plurality of needles, and; (c) a multiple blade slicer.

Abstract: A device installed in an imsge recording apparatus for pulling out the leading edge of a rolled recording medium such as a rolled paper and then cutting the recording medium at a predetermined length as measured from the leading edge to feed the resulting sheet to a predetermined recording section of the apparatus. A plurality of paper feed mechanisms are each provided with a cutter for cutting a paper which is paid out from a roll. When two or more of the paper feed mechanisms are loaded with a paper of a desired kind, they are automatically and repetitively switched from one to another every time a sheet feed operation is performed.

Abstract: Device for cutting loose a bacon- and/or fat layer from meat, consisting of a frame having a transportation surface for the meat to be processed and in which transportation surface a gripping roll has been arranged or to which transportation surface a gripping roll adjoins, by means of which the meat may be drawn against and past a cutting knife mounted near the gripping roll the height of the cutting knife being continuously adjustable under the control of an ultrasonic sensing device which detects the position of the separating plane between the meat and the bacon- or fat layer.

Abstract: A stock feed and cutter system for forging machines and the like in which stationary grippers and linearly movable grippers alternately grip rod or wire stock. The movable grippers reciprocate toward and away from the stationary grippers and operate to feed the stock without slippage a precise distance into a cutter. A stock gage is therefore not required and an optimum cutter structure can be provided even for very short workpieces. After each feed operation, the cutter shears a workpiece from the end of the stock, which is subsequently formed to a desired shape. A running adjustment is provided for the reciprocating grippers so that the machine operator can adjust the length of the workpiece produced while the machine is running. A short blank detector independently measures the length of stock being fed and is connected to cause rejection of such short blank. The grippers operate without slippage and, in cooperation with the cutter, produce very uniform workpieces.

Abstract: A web cutter for use in high speed web transport machines has a roller with a hub, two flanges and three knives supported on the hub between the flanges. In one preferred embodiment the web rides on shoulders provided on the flanges. In another embodiment, the web rides on spacers that are held in position by spring biased conically tipped pilot pins. In a third embodiment the web rides on a slotted cylinder. In all embodiments the web is brought into engagement with one of the knives directly in response to excessive tension in the web.

Abstract: In a ham loaf slicing machine having a rotary cutter supported for cyclical orbital movement into and out of a slicing station, a ham loaf size sensing mechanism is provided in a collar having an aperture for supporting a ham loaf in position at the entrance to the slicing station to control the speed of ham loaf feed toward the slicing station. In the inner wall of the collar which defines the aperture, an annular groove and a draw-out passage for a flexible strap-like member which leads to a location outside the collar are provided. The strap-like member is disposed in the annular groove, one end of the member being fixed at a suitable location in the groove. The other end of the strap-like member is positioned outside the collar past the draw-out passage and is connected to a sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting the leads of an electronic part inserted into a printed board and simultaneously detecting the insertion of said leads and/or the characteristics of said electronic part, said apparatus comprising:a first blade means having an electrically conductive surface;a second cutting blade means positioned in a cooperating relation to the first cutting blade means so as to cut the lead, said blade means having a substrate made of an electrically non-conductive material, a blade edge provided at one end of the substrate, and at least one wear-resisting electrode coating secured to the substrate in the vicinity of the blade edge so that the electrode coating is electrically in communication with the first cutting blade means through the lead only at the time of the cutting of the lead, said coating being made of a metal having wear resistance or an electrically conductive ceramic; andmeans for electrically connecting said electrode coating to said first blade member and for detecting the inserti

Abstract: A control system is established wherein, when there is a flow of continuous web material (2), an identification phase is provided by increasing the torque signal to a pull roll motor (13) until slippage between the pull roll (12) and continuous web is created at a breakaway torque point, the value of which is measurable. The pull roll motor is then caused to be driven by a signal which creates a motor torque output which is of a value less than the breakaway torque point. Thus, no slippage can occur. As the motor is driven at the lower torque value, a calibration phase is entered wherein an encoder output of the pull roll is properly equated with that of a measuring wheel (9), this phase occuring at a time when there can be no slip between the web-roll interface. The identification-calibration process can be repeated as often as desired.

Abstract: The method of the present invention comprises scanning a piece of lumber proximate its end to determine which side of its longitudinal center line its fibers are oriented toward. The piece of lumber then is oriented such that the tangent of the cutting circle of a rotary cutter, which is used to machine finger joints in its end, is offset from the fiber direction by at least 90.degree.. Finger joints then are machined in the end of the piece of lumber by the cutter. The apparatus includes a conveyor which transports a plurality of pieces of lumber normal to their longitudinal axes. A scanner, which determines the fiber direction of each piece of lumber, transmits this information along with the location of the piece of lumber on the conveyor to a microprocessor. An orienter then is annunciated by the microprocessor to rotate those pieces of lumber having fiber direction which is oriented improperly before they are fed through a finger jointer.

Abstract: The pressure beam is adapted to be used in sawing machines for cutting workpieces such as panels or packs of panels (P), of the type comprising a workpiece support table (L) having a straight longitudinal slot defining a cutting line and a sawing tool (Z) movable along the cutting line. The pressure beam is arranged above the workpiece support table (L), extends along the whole length of the cutting line and consists of two pressure elemments (R, R') arranged at both sides of the cutting line, parallelly thereto. Each pressure element (R, R') can be raised and lowered independently of the other and laterally moved by slides to vary the distance of the pressure elements (R, R') with respect to the cutting line located between them.

Abstract: A flange of a structural shape is cut by a saw apparatus with a rotary metal saw which has a specified number of sawteeth. The structural steel shape lies on a table or roller bed, clamped onto a stationary piece of equipment with a vise, within range of the metal saw. The metal saw is operated at a specified number of r.p.m. and is driven toward the projected sawcut at a specified feed speed. The speed of the cut is determined by the number of r.p.m., the number of sawteeth and the radius of the metal saw. During the sawing process the structural flange is subjected to a forced elastic deflection and is impacted by the thus required restoring force and movements of the sawteeth. These movements are determined by the tooth succession time which, in turn, depends on the number of sawteeth and the number of r.p.m. The oscillation time of the oscillation of the structural flange, which was activated by the elastic deflection, is ascertained. The metal saw is then operated at a number of r.p.m.

Abstract: A band saw machine is provided with a fixed and movable blade guide arm which are set apart by a distance which is proportional to the width of workpiece to be cut. A detector mounted on one of the guide arms senses the lateral deviation of the saw blade during cutting and a control circuit outputs a termination signal to shut down the machine when the deviation is larger than a desired maximum value. When a workpiece of a different width is to be cut the guide arms are reset apart by a distance proportional to the width of the new workpiece and a detector is provided which senses the change of distance between the guide arms and outputs a signal to a revising circuit. The revising circuit then revises the maximum value of deviation to be allowed based on the change of distance between the guide arms.

Abstract: A saw assembly for reducing logs while passing the logs at least once through the assembly and resawing the resultant sawn blocks while re-passing the blocks at least once through the saw assembly. The assembly comprises a pair of chippers (1) and at least one pair of band saws (2) located downstream thereof, and a pair of guide-and-feed devices (9) located between the chippers and the band saws. The components in each of these pairs of assembly units are located opposite one another on different sides of the center line of the saw line and are adjustable in relation to the center line.

Abstract: The instant invention is particularly directed to a method and apparatus for automated handling of panels comprising a plurality of interconnected substrates in order to control and separate the circuit boards in a continuous processing line. One embodiment incorporates two shearing stations and a rotary transfer device therebetween in order to transfer a panel portion from the first station to the second station while controlling and rotating the panel for subsequent feed to the second station such that the panel portion is cut on a line of the substrate which is perpendicular to the original line of cut of the substrate. Throughout the handling of the panels and panel portions, sensing, gripping, and indexed feeding of the panels and panel portions are under the control of a programmable computer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of clamping tube-like members on a clamping support, for cutting off portions of the tube-like members are provided. Clamping forces are applied to the tubes alternately in horizontal and vertical directions in such a way that the clamping forces generated are higher than clamping forces which are applied only in a horizontal direction, without however causing permanent deformation of the tube-like members. The apparatus comprises a horizontal clamping mechanism and a vertically displaceable clamping member. A measuring device is associated with the horizontal clamping mechanism and the vertically displaceable clamping member, for measuring the geometrical deformation of the tube-like members which occurs during a clamping operation. The measuring device produces a signal to stop the clamping operation before the degree of deformation of the tube-like members reaches an inadmissible value.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling the raising and lowering of a cutting head assembly of a horizontal bandsaw machine. The apparatus comprises a sensing member for sensing the top surface of a workpiece to be cut and an actuating device which is operatively coupled to the sensing member. The actuating device switches from a first state to a second state when the sensing member senses the top surface of the workpiece. A carrier device is operatively coupled to the actuator wherein the position of the carrier is movable with respect to the cutting edge of the blade of the bandsaw when the actuator is in the first state and the position of the carrier is fixed with respect to the cutting edge of the bandsaw when the actuator is in the second state.

Abstract: Metering apparatus includes a casing defining spaced first and second chambers and respective first and second piston members sealingly slidable by applied fluid pressure in the chambers. Support member coupled to and moveable with the second piston members projects from the casing to receive a load to be metered. Located within the first piston member is a third chamber in which a plunger is sealingly slidable. The second and third chambers are in communication whereby respective opposed transverse faces of the second piston members and the plunger are engageable to determine a limit position for the second piston means in the second chamber. In a preferred application, the metering apparatus is incorporated in a block forming machine, for example a cheese block forming machine, in which the load support platform is positioned within an upright housing to receive a column of a solid medium confined within the housing.

Abstract: An arrangement for feeding blocks of timber into a cutting machine has a stationary rear pair of lateral guide rollers immediately in front of the saw blades, a laterally displaceable front pair of lateral guide rollers and a middle lateral guide device, which may be a pair of lateral guide rollers. The middle lateral guide device is at half the distance between the front and the rear pair of lateral guide rollers. The front pair of lateral guide rollers is arranged on a support arm which can swing on a swivel point which is in front of the rear pair of lateral guide rollers at a distance of six tenths of a distance between the front and rear pair of lateral guide rollers. The arrangement is suitable for curved sawing both in sawing machines and in reducing and reducing sawing machines.

Abstract: A foodstuff such as a sausage is sliced in a predetermined slicing direction into a succession of slices each having a respective width measured parallel to the slice direction. This succession of slices is then deposited on a support in a plurality of rows with the slices in each row offset from one another by a predetermined first distance and the rows offset from each other by a predetermined second distance. The width of the slices is continuously measured as they are cut and at least one of the distances is automatically varied in dependence of the measured width to produce a uniformly overlapping array of slices. In addition the machine can calculate the weight of a given slice by combining the width with the slice thickness and the slice density, and this weight can be divided into a desired weight to determine how many slices at the predetermined size are needed to make up the desired weight. A signal can indicate then when this weight is reached.

Abstract: A horizontal bandsaw machine provided with a detecting means for detecting the cross-sectional length of the workpiece being cut during a cutting operation and an actuating means which is controlled by the detecting means to move either or each of the guide means for guiding the bandsaw blade toward and away from the other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the feeding of a bandsaw blade in a horizontal bandsaw machine so that the bandsaw blade is fed at a uniform optimum cutting rate. A control system is provided for controlling the feeding speed and the driven speed of the bandsaw blade in such a manner that the ratio of the feeding speed to the driven speed is kept constant during a cutting operation.

Abstract: A double bay industrial saw having delivery mechanism to receive timber cants of substantial size selectively directed to either saw bay where a single source of power operates multiple saw systems respectively operable to produce different types of boards with different edge configurations simultaneously as selected and desired. The cantilever type of pairs of arbors at opposite sides of a central housing respectively support sets of cooperating saw blades on driven arbors separately driven and supported upon separate arbors, and chippers if required to form edge configurations are also mounted upon said arbors, whereby the saws produce finished cuts in the cants to form completed products at the delivery end of the machine. Various feed rollers and cooperating pressure rollers insure positive feeding of the cants to and through the sawing regions of the machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting off and beveling the ends of wood web components for trusses. A length of lumber is guided longitudinally into the machine against a stop and clamped near its lead end, following which the clamped portion is cut off to component length, the stop retracted, and the clamped portion automatically moved laterally to pass its ends across a pair of two-way beveling saws. The beveled clamped portion is then returned to starting position where it is automatically unclamped and then manually pushed longitudinally past the retracted stop to be engaged by an ejection device which discharges the component from the machine and automatically extends the stop into the path of the next component.

Abstract: In a sawing machine of the type having a plurality of press rolls to constrain a traveling workpiece a control system is provided to sequence the press rolls. The thickness of an incoming workpiece is detected as are certain positions of the workpiece. The detected information is utilized to raise the press rolls a predetermined distance above the top surface of the workpiece and to then lower the rolls after the leading end passes under the respective roll. Flexible biasing means are designed into the press roll positioning means in order to accept shock loading and thereby minimize lateral deviation from straight line travel.

Abstract: A guard barrier in front of the exposed portion of the blade of a band saw is raised or lowered responsive to the elevation of the portion of the non-planar workpiece which is approaching the blade to be cut so that the varying length of exposed blade is continuously guarded without interfering with the cutting operation. A pneumatic cylinder controls the position of the guard barrier. Cam followers at the bottom end of the barrier ride along the uneven surface of the workpiece acting as a cam and follower movements operate a throttle valve which controls the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder to cause the barrier to move to and hover at its guarding location. An auxiliary valve is provided for rapid raising of the barrier to accommodate a steep rise on the workpiece, to broaden the range of useful operation in relation to workpiece profiles, and for manually controlled lifting of the guard.An electric system is coordinated with the pneumatic system to provide control and safety features.

Abstract: A cable safety apparatus for use in a cable feeding system, comprising a pulley rotatably mounted on a frame, the pulley supporting the cable in a manner to provide a back pressure thereon. A locking member is slidably connected to the frame with a spring interposed therebetween, and the apparatus is suspended to a non-moving support structure by attaching the support end of the locking member to an external structure. The locking member and spring form a spring assembly that has locking engagement with a pivotable cutter blade that is biased to be in cutting engagement with the cable when the spring assembly is moved into clearing relationship with the cutter blade.

Abstract: A device for eliminating filamentary winders from the surface of a rotating working roller of the type commonly utilized in the textile industry. A runner carrying a cutting means is provided which moves traversely over the surface of the working roller and parallel to its axis. The runner may be driven by either a guide groove formed in the surface of the working roller or a separate reverse-winding roller which is linked to the working roller. The cutting means may comprise a wedge-shaped blade edge facing the running direction of the working roller which has a blunted projecting portion which extends slightly below the surface of the working roller and which initially engages any winder encountered thereon. In addition an electrical means for detecting, counting and/or allocating winders to discrete length sections of the working roller may be provided which is operated by the cutting means.