Including Plural, Laterally Spaced Tools Patents (Class 83/425.2)
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Patent number: 11497220Abstract: An apparatus for fixing and transporting crabs during slaughter has a rotationally driven conveying element guided about deflection and/or drive elements to form an upper and lower run, and at least one holding apparatus for fixing the crabs. Each holding apparatus is attached to the conveying element for transporting the fixed crabs in a transport plane along a transport path in a transport direction from a loading station to at least one processing station. Each holding apparatus has a supporting plate for receiving a crab and at least two holding means arranged transversely to the transport direction at a distance from each other. The holding means are pivotable relative to the supporting plate about an axis AH, lying substantially in or parallel to the transport plane and directed transversely to the transport direction, from a receiving position into a clamping position and back. A corresponding method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Baader North America CorporationInventors: Clinton R. Smith, Tyler Santoro
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Patent number: 11472057Abstract: A manual food processor includes a base, a plurality of blades coupled to the base and extending from the base in a vertical direction, a rod coupled to the base and oriented at an acute angle relative to the vertical direction of the blade, and a carriage slidable along the rod from a top end of the rod to a bottom end of the rod. The carriage is configured to support a food item from below the food item and to push the food item from above the food item. The carriage is positioned entirely on a first side of the plurality of blades when at the top end of the rod and is intersected by the plurality of blades at the bottom end of the rod.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.Inventors: Peter Roever, Jeff Fritz, Jill Hundley
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Patent number: 10532480Abstract: An blade assembly for use with a produce slicer includes a first blade set having a first pair of opposing frame bars and a plurality of blades extending between the first pair of opposing frame bars, a blade cover positioned relative to the first blade set, and a blade support extending from the first target ring to support the plurality of blades. The blade cover includes a planar top portion having a first target ring that defines a first target area through which a piece of produce passes during slicing.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Prince Castle LLCInventors: Mark Fastabend, Eugene S. Maslana, Eric Larson, Scott R. Hammac
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Patent number: 9550306Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for single transfer insert placement. The apparatus receives continuous web material and cuts a discrete section or pad from the web. The pad is then supported on a single transfer surface. The single transfer surface then may spin the supported pad to a desired angle and provide the pad to a receiving surface at a desired interval. The web material can be cut to different insert lengths and the placement location varied.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2013Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.Inventors: John A. McCabe, Chris Nelson, Robert E. Andrews
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Patent number: 8943934Abstract: A waste strip-removing apparatus for use with a ripsaw that saws an incoming board into one or more usable boards and removes the opposite side edges, which become two waste strips that must be removed and transported to a different destination from that to which the usable board(s) is (are) transported. The apparatus includes two air-blasting units each having one or more air nozzles assigned to each waste strip. The air-blasting units are positioned with respect to a lateral direction by a positioning mechanism so that air directed from the nozzles impinges on the waste strips and moves them laterally away from the usable board(s). The positioning mechanism can include a linear motor having two forcers movable along a platen and respectively attached to air-blasting units.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Hasko MachinesInventors: Louis R. Brooks, Dan V. Stocke
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Patent number: 8701535Abstract: An automatic card-cutting apparatus provided with plural transfer rollers to transfer paper, plural slitter heads to cut the paper in a transferring direction, and a lateral cutter portion to cut the paper in a lateral direction at right angles with the transferring direction to conduct divisional cutting of the paper into plural cards. Each of the plural slitter heads is provided with a side head disposed as to be freely position-adjusted in the lateral direction to cut a side edge portion of the paper into belt shape, and a middle head having an upper blade of disc and a pair of lower blades each of which contacts each of left and right side edge portions of the upper blade, disposed as to be freely position-adjusted in the lateral direction to cut a longitudinal middle waste portion of the paper into belt shape.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignees: Uchida Yoko Co., Ltd., Sakura Seiki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshimasa Endo, Tomoki Takada, Kazuya Monno
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Publication number: 20130192439Abstract: An automatic card-cutting apparatus provided with plural transfer rollers to transfer paper, plural slitter heads to cut the paper in a transferring direction, and a lateral cutter portion to cut the paper in a lateral direction at right angles with the transferring direction to conduct divisional cutting of the paper into plural cards. Each of the plural slitter heads is provided with a side head disposed as to be freely position-adjusted in the lateral direction to cut a side edge portion of the paper into belt shape, and a middle head having an upper blade of disc and a pair of lower blades each of which contacts each of left and right side edge portions of the upper blade, disposed as to be freely position-adjusted in the lateral direction to cut a longitudinal middle waste portion of the paper into belt shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicants: SAKURA SEIKI CO., LTD., UCHIDA YOKO CO., LTDInventors: Toshimasa ENDO, Tomoki TAKADA, Kazuya MONNO
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Publication number: 20120234148Abstract: The disclosure concerns a feeding device for throwing long and possibly irregular shaped agricultural products such as carrots in moving adjacent slots wherein the feeding device comprises a rotating ring that can transport the products in a circular aligned path at the ring speed. In accordance with the invention the feeding device comprises a first set of feeder belts that can grip the product from the rotating ring while moving the product at a first speed and a second set of feeder belts can grip the product from between the first set of feeder belts and throw the product at a second speed in a slot, wherein the first speed is higher than the ring speed and the second speed is higher than the first speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: FELTRACON B.V.Inventor: Jan van Felius
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Publication number: 20110209439Abstract: A bale cutter assembly and associated method for automatically cutting a bale of fibrous material to allow for the taking of a sample at a single point from one or two sides of the bale after the bale has been conveyed from the bale press with the bale retention straps in place. An elevator mechanism lifts the bale from a lower level to an upper level, while the plurality of cutter assemblies cut a section of the bale for obtaining the sample when the bale is being lifted between the lower level and the upper level.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: September 1, 2011Inventor: BRADLEY P. ACTIS
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Patent number: 7853349Abstract: The geometric characteristics for a plurality of boards that have been completely sawn by a gangsaw are determined. A sawn surface of one of the plurality of boards is then logically associated with one of the plurality of saw blades in the gangsaw.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: EB Associates, Inc.Inventor: Earl Barker
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Patent number: 7484444Abstract: A cutting device having a holding element for holding a workpiece, a pair of cutting blades for cutting the workpiece held by the holding element, the cutting blades being adapted to be rotated, a wear amount detecting element for detecting the amount of wear of each of the pair of cutting blades, and a control element. The control element is arranged to selectively cut the workpiece by both of the pair of cutting blades, or cut the workpiece by one of the pair of cutting blades. When the workpiece is to be cut by one of the pair of cutting blades, the control element compares the amounts of wear of the pair of cutting blades detected by the wear amount detecting element, and allows the cutting blade having a smaller amount of wear to cut the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2005Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Disco CorporationInventor: Naoya Tokumitsu
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Patent number: 7444912Abstract: A portable sawmill with bi-directional cutting circular saws includes a saw support pivotally mounted to a primary support structure for pivotal movement about a pivot axis which is transverse to the direction of movement. Two circular saws are rotatably mounted one above the other on the saw support. A first one of the two circular saws rotates in a first rotational direction and a second one of the two circular saws rotates in a second rotational direction. The teeth on both of the two circular saws are always moving toward a log resting on the log support as the log is being cut. An actuator is provided for selectively pivoting the saw support to invert the positioning of the two circular saws so that the teeth on both of the two circular saws continue to move toward the log being cut upon a change in direction occurring.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Inventors: David S. Fenton, Lester D. Oilund
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Patent number: 7444911Abstract: A disk-shaped rotary blade of a slitter blade assembly has a cutting edge and a first beveled surface facing a drum-shaped rotary blade of the slitter blade assembly and progressively spaced from the drum-shaped rotary blade toward the cutting edge. The disk-shaped rotary blade also has a second beveled surface facing a workpiece to be cut off and progressively spaced from the cutting edge away from the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Akihiro Sanda, Sampei Iida, Kenji Watanabe, Fujio Kuwabara
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Patent number: 7377201Abstract: A food processing apparatus comprises a first and second shaft and first, second, third and fourth subsets of blades. The first and second subsets of blades are mounted to the first shaft. The blades of the first subset of blades are separated by a first displacement. The blades of the second subset of blades are separated by a second displacement differing from the first displacement. The third and fourth subsets of blades are mounted to the second shaft. The blades of the third subset of blades are separated by the first displacement. The blades of the fourth subset of blades are separated by the second displacement. The first and third subset of blades form a first cutting region for cutting food to a first dimension and the second and fourth subset of blades form a second cutting region for cutting food to a second dimension.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Inventor: Zhui Chen
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Patent number: 6802663Abstract: A printer for creating specialty-sized prints where media is advanced through the printer along a media advancement path, the printer including a housing, a printing mechanism disposed in the housing and configured to place a desired print on the media, a cutter mechanism disposed in the housing adjacent the printing mechanism and configured to cut the media transverse to a media advancement direction through the cutter mechanism, and a slicing mechanism disposed in the housing adjacent the printing mechanism and configured to cut the media parallel to a media advancement direction through the slicing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: David M Kwasny, Melissa D. Boyd, Lawrence R Plotkin, George C Ross, Emily B. Winston
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Patent number: 6729218Abstract: A device (1) for cutting potatoes (5) or other vegetables into slices or sticks, comprising a cutting member (2) with a supply tube (3) and a discharge tube (4) connected thereto. The device is designed for moving potatoes (5), by a water stream supplied by the supply tube (3), through the cutting member (2) and discharging them again via the discharge tube (4). In the cutting member (2), a number of knives (9) are arranged. The cutting member comprises a number of segments (6) held together by a casing (11), each segment having an opening (20) which together form a passage for the water stream, while in each opening (20) one or more knives (9, 10) may be provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Aviko B. V.Inventor: Dirk Johan Somsen
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Patent number: 6705190Abstract: A lumber trimming device for trimming elongate workpieces conveyed on an infeed conveyor in a laterally disposed orientation relative to an infeed direction. The lumber trimming device includes a gang of laterally spaced apart drop saws wherein the drop saws are independently actuable according to generally optimized trimming instructions from an optimizer. At least on end-trimming saw is mounted adjacent the gang. The end-trimming saw or saws is or are selectively laterally translatable according to optimized end-trimming instructions from the optimizer so as to cooperate with the gang. The end-trimming saw or saws cooperate with the optimizer and the drop saws so that a first drop saw of the drop saws is actuated simultaneously with optimized lateral positioning of a first end-trimming saw so as to trim a first workpiece of the workpieces on the infeed conveyor simultaneously by both the first drop saw in a first trim cut and the first end-trimming saw in a second trim cut.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Coe Newnes McGehee ULCInventors: William R. Newnes, Deane R. Henderson, Paul L. Halper
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Patent number: 6612209Abstract: A food processing apparatus for conveying food items such as carrots and the like to a cutter comprises a conveyor having a plurality of pockets for receiving the food items. The conveyor moves in a conveyor direction to the cutter for topping, tailing, or cutting the food items. A stationary feed chute is disposed adjacent a side of the conveyor for transferring the food items to the conveyor. The apparatus is disposed at a compound angle measured from the horizontal plane such that the food items are transferred from the feed chute to the conveyor by gravity. Food items which are not received into the pockets of the conveyor are carried by their momentum of feed to fall off from the conveyor by gravity in a direction away from the cutter, and are collected for return to the feed chute. This decreases the amount of misfed food items from reaching the cutter and the amount of uncut or improperly cut food items at the output of the cutter.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1999Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Grimmway Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Shem D. Oesch
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Patent number: 6606985Abstract: Disclosed is a dual-cutting method devoid of useless strokes of cutting blades across a workpiece. The work piece has cross lines drawn in the form of lattice, and it is divided into the intermediate and opposite side zones. Two lines of substantially equal length are selected in the intermediate zone to be cut simultaneously every time the two cutting blades have been moved line-to-line distance for indexing. One of the two cutting blades is allotted to one of the opposite side zones, and the other cutting blade is allotted to the other side zone. As is the case with the cutting in the intermediate zone, two lines of substantially equal length are selected in the opposite side zones to be cut simultaneously every time the two cutting blades have been moved line-to-line distance for indexing.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2002Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Disco CorporationInventor: Katsuharu Negishi
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Publication number: 20030110912Abstract: The present invention is a tire cutting machine comprising of a base, a body member, a drive assembly means and a cutting assembly means. The drive assembly means includes a drive power means simultaneously engaged to a pair of front drive wheels and to a pair of rear drive wheels to provide rotation thereof. The front drive wheels are coaxially mounted in close relation to one another on a front drive wheel shaft extending between a first drive assembly arm and a second drive assembly arm. The rear drive wheels are coaxially mounted in close relation to one another and to a guide wheel which is directly engaged to the drive power means. The cutting assembly means includes a cutting power means simultaneously engaged to a front cutting wheel and to a rear cutting wheel to provide rotation thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2001Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventors: Mark Edward English, Don Maguire
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Publication number: 20030066400Abstract: Sensors of the longitudinal edges and/or the width of hot roll metal strip are located immediately ahead of the trimming blades and are used to transversely adjust the trimming heads and/or the centerline position for the strip so that in subsequent trimming operations, the trim widths are identical at both sides. The cutting heads can be positioned in indentations at junctions between the successive segments of the strip.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Applicant: BWG Bergwerk- und Walzwerk-Maschinenbau GmbHInventors: Andreas Noe, Rolf Noe, Dieter Baukloh
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Publication number: 20030056628Abstract: A novel cutting saw assembly is provided with coaxial spindles each of which supports a cutting saw blade. One of the coaxial spindles or spindle shafts is moveable in an axial direction relative to each other so as to position two or more cutting saw blades accurately spaced apart from each other. The two cutting saw blades are dressed to the same diameter and are moveable close together when in operation so that both saw blades can make complete cuts simultaneously on the same wafer, thus increasing the throughput of the cutting saw by almost 100 percent.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2001Publication date: March 27, 2003Inventor: Eli Razon
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Publication number: 20030037645Abstract: A food processing apparatus for conveying food items such as carrots and the like to a cutter comprises a conveyor having a plurality of pockets for receiving the food items. The conveyor moves in a conveyor direction to the cutter for topping, tailing, or cutting the food items. A stationary feed chute is disposed adjacent a side of the conveyor for transferring the food items to the conveyor. The apparatus is disposed at a compound angle measured from the horizontal plane such that the food items are transferred from the feed chute to the conveyor by gravity. Food items which are not received into the pockets of the conveyor are carried by their momentum of feed to fall off from the conveyor by gravity in a direction away from the cutter, and are collected for return to the feed chute. This decreases the amount of misfed food items from reaching the cutter and the amount of uncut or improperly cut food items at the output of the cutter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 1999Publication date: February 27, 2003Inventor: SHEM D. OESCH
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Patent number: 6415698Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a wafer sandwich into a plurality of rectangular pieces has a support surface defining a transport path extending longitudinally through a longitudinal-cutting station and a transverse-cutting station. A plurality of stationary and transversely spaced longitudinal blades extend across the path in the longitudinal-cutting station. The surface is formed in the transverse-cutting station with a plurality of transversely extending and longitudinally spaced slots. An abutment is displaceable immediately downstream of the transverse-cutting station between a blocking position in the path and a retracted position clear of the path. A plurality of transverse blades are displaceable transversely in the slots of the transverse-cutting station across the path.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2000Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: Franz Haas Waffelmaschinen-Industrie AktiengesellschaftInventors: Franz Haas, Johann Haas, Gerhard Liebermann
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Patent number: 6382067Abstract: An apparatus for positioning lumber pieces for end trimming, by means of a succession of gates mounted on traveling chains set at a converging angle with the even end line of uniformly spaced lumber pieces carried transversely on parallel chains towards a multiple saw trimmer. The positioning is accomplished by any one gate pushing against the end of a lumber piece and then retracting when the lumber piece has reached the appropriate position for cutting by stationary trimming saws. The positioning process and the saw selection for each cut are scanner/computer controlled.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2000Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Denis Compact Chicoutimi Inc.Inventor: André Gagnon
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Publication number: 20020038588Abstract: A lumber trimming device for trimming elongate workpieces conveyed on an infeed conveyor in a laterally disposed orientation relative to an infeed direction. The lumber trimming device includes a gang of laterally spaced apart drop saws wherein the drop saws are independently actuable according to generally optimized trimming instructions from an optimizer. At least on end-trimming saw is mounted adjacent the gang. The end-trimming saw or saws is or are selectively laterally translatable according to optimized end-trimming instructions from the optimizer so as to cooperate with the gang. The end-trimming saw or saws cooperate with the optimizer and the drop saws so that a first drop saw of the drop saws is actuated simultaneously with optimized lateral positioning of a first end-trimming saw so as to trim a first workpiece of the workpieces on the infeed conveyor simultaneously by both the first drop saw in a first trim cut and the first end-trimming saw in a second trim cut.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2001Publication date: April 4, 2002Inventors: William R. Newnes, Deane R. Henderson, Paul L. Halper
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Publication number: 20020029673Abstract: A machine for cutting a food product includes a stationary structure with a food product guide surface for guiding a food product along a path of travel. A knife wheel support which rotatably supports the knife wheel and is pivotally attached to the stationary structure so as to pivot about a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to the knife wheel axis, such that the knife wheel axis is movable along an arcuate path about the pivot axis. A plurality of adjustable stripper plates extends between adjacent circular knives which slice the food product into a plurality of strips prior to the food product being cut by a cross-cut knife, the stripper plates having an adjustable attaching mechanism connecting them to the stationary structure to facilitate the adjustment of the distance between the stripper plates and the food guide surface so as to readily accommodate a food product having a variety of thicknesses.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Paul Earl Arrasmith
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Patent number: 6345616Abstract: A cutting machine comprising cassette supporting means, disposed in a cassette bearing area, for supporting a cassette accommodating a plurality of workpieces; a chuck table disposed substantially horizontally movably between a chucking area and a cutting area; cleaning means disposed in a cleaning area; cutting means for cutting the workpiece chucked on the chuck table located in the cutting area; and workpiece transport means. The cassette bearing area, the chucking area, and the cleaning area are placed in this order on a first straight line extending in a predetermined direction. The chucking area and the cutting area are placed on a second straight line extending substantially perpendicularly to the first straight line.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2000Date of Patent: February 12, 2002Assignee: Disco CorporationInventor: Takayuki Umahashi
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Publication number: 20020007710Abstract: A board trimmer having pre-trimmer saws includes a selectively translatable upstream first pre-trimmer saw mounted on a near-side of a board flow path of a board transfer, upstream of a downstream multi-saw board trimmer. The pre-trimmer saw is selectively translatable by an actuator for translation linearly parallel to a near-side ended board on the board transfer. The pre-trimmer saw is perpendicular to the board when on the board transfer. A board elevator may be mounted below the board flow path and the pre-trimmer saw for elevating the board from a sequence of single boards from the board transfer into sawing engagement with the pre-trimmer saw once the pre-trimmer saw has been prepositioned by the actuator into an optimized cutting path. Trimming of the board in the flow path is done according to an optimized solution for trimming the board.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2001Publication date: January 24, 2002Inventor: William R. Newnes
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Publication number: 20010047704Abstract: The device comprises a plurality of lengthwise cutting tools (25; 25B), a transverse trimmer (100) and, downstream of said lengthwise cutting tools, at least two separate paths (PA, PB) for the strips cut from the weblike material. An auxiliary lengthwise cutting tool (51) is provided to generate, on the occasion of a job change, an auxiliary lengthwise cut in a transition zone (J0) to join central cutting lines of two successive jobs. (FIG.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2001Publication date: December 6, 2001Inventor: Mauro Adami
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Publication number: 20010037711Abstract: A bread cutting machine provided with a safety device comprising mechanical linking means arranged between the adjacent edges of the entry and exit tables. The mechanical linking means has a first state when the two tables are in position and a second state when one of the tables is removed. When the mechanical linking means is in its second state, it acts on means actuating a position switch so as to prevent the machine from operating.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2001Publication date: November 8, 2001Inventor: Baudouin Van Cauwenberghe
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Patent number: 6311828Abstract: A board positioning device selectively positions in a lateral direction in a generally horizontal plane a board translating in a longitudinal direction in the horizontal plane, wherein the board is aligned along its length in the lateral direction. The device includes a stepped fence, which may be selectively positionable, lying generally in the horizontal plane. A fence positioner cylinder may selectively position the stepped fence in the lateral direction in the horizontal plane so as to position one step of a plurality of steps on the fence to correspond to a desired transition path so as to position the end of the board at a board optimizing position as determined by an optimizer, whereby the board may be laterally, selectively positioned into an optimized position relative to trimmer saws located downstream from the stepped fence in the longitudinal direction when the board is urged laterally against the stepped fence by ending rolls.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: CAE Inc.Inventors: William R. Newnes, Geoff Wight
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Patent number: 6276250Abstract: A method of separating a pipe (1) from an elongate flexible element (2) used to pull the pipe (1) from the ground comprises drawing the flexible element (2) past or through separating means which splits the pipe (1) along its length as it passes to thereby strip the pipe (1) from the flexible clement (2).Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1999Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: United Utilities PLCInventors: John David Kenneth Ayling, Jeremy Nathaniel Nieto Raphael
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Patent number: 6227091Abstract: A hook conveyor moves a succession of coils having outer turns through a trimming station in a transport direction with each coil lying at the station in a plane generally parallel to the direction. A trimming apparatus has a pair of supports flanking the conveyor at the station and each movable between outer and inner positions, respective guides on the supports defining respective vertical guide planes generally parallel to the direction, and respective shears movable on the guides long the respective guide planes. Respective actuators displace the shears along the respective planes and, in the inner positions of the respective supports, cut the outer turns from a coil in the station. Respective separating wedges are displaceable on the guides generally radially of the coil in the station to separate the respective outer turns from the coil.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag AGInventors: Erich Grossmann, Henning Schneider
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Patent number: RE39018Abstract: Two imaging equipment are provided at a pair of cutting blade units, and the two imaging equipment image patterns at first positions in proximity to the center of a wafer at the same time. A controller drives drive mechanisms to align the wafer in such a way that current image patterns at the first positions can match with a reference pattern at the first positions. Then, the two imaging equipment are moved to positions for imaging patterns at second positions at the outer circumference of the wafer to image the patterns at the second positions. The controller drives the drive mecha- nisms to align the wafer in such a way that current image patterns at the second positions can match with a reference pattern at the second positions.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2002Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignees: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd., Kulicke & Soffa Investments, Inc.Inventors: Masayuki Azuma, Hirofumi Shimoda, Mani Fischer