Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a foam block into a predetermined shape and comprising a frame having a table supported therein at a lower position of the frame. The table is driven in a horizontal plane at a controlled speed and there is provided at least one cutting hot wire. This hot wire is supported from the frame at a position over the table. A drive system is employed for driving the hot wire support means in a vertical direction at a controlled speed.

Abstract: A geological core sample is slabbed by advancing the sample against a horizontally oriented bandsaw blade. A receiving tray positioned immediately adjacent and to the rear of the bandsaw blade provides continuous support to the upper portion of the slab as it is cut from the sample and maintains the integrity of friable and unconsolidated materials.

Abstract: Method and alignment tube apparatus for the production of onion rings in an hydraulic food cutting system. Onions are pre-cut at top and bottom to provide an onion having a predetermined thickness. The onions so cut are then propelled through a flow tube which aligns the onion into a preselected position relative to cutting knives. The onion is then forced by hydraulic pressure through the cutting knives, which are horizontally oriented and vertically stacked, to cut the concentric layers of onion into onion rings. The alignment tube of the present invention includes a pair of oppositely disposed converging ramps which define an outlet port having an height substantially the same as the thickness of the precut onion. The onion is thereby precisely oriented for proper cutting.

Abstract: A scarfing method and apparatus are disclosed for making a longitudinally and transversely contoured batt on a moving fibrous web. The apparatus comprises a scarfing roll disposed on one side of a foraminous belt and a contouring roll, having a nonuniform surface, disposed on the opposite side of the belt. As the contouring roll is rotated, it raises the belt and the fibrous web towards the scarfing roll, according to the shape of the nonuniform surface. Hence, a contour is provided in the direction of movement of the web. The transverse contour can be provided by the shape of the scarfing roll itself.

Abstract: An arrangement for manufacturing curved wall portions of a heat insulating wall, and particularly for cutting a block of heat-insulating synthetic foam material over a contour embracing a section of a container surface to be insulated, has a chain saw with a cutting tool which slides along an outer edge of a flexible web and has a turning axes in which it is driven for running, a drive for running the cutting tool along the outer edge of the flexible web and including two rotary elements, upright guiding elements each located at a respective end of the chain saw and arranged to guide the latter for upward and downward movements between a plurality of upright positions, a drive for displacing the chain saw in an upright direction and including two displacing elements arranged to act upon a respective end of the chain saw in synchronism with one another, a drive for inclining the turning axes of the cutting tool of the chain saw relative to one another and about a horizontal axis extending in a cutting directio

Abstract: Platform for introducing sheet materials, particularly in leather splitting machines and the like, consisting of a plate suitable to slide in a reciprocating manner on a fixed level disposed at the top of a bearing structure. Balls are interposed between said plate and the fixed level for the purpose of assisting the sliding of the plate itself which is also provided with a guide block that engages into a rectilinear guide obtained on said fixed level, two rows of balls being interposed therebetween. In addition, said plate is provided with means causing the automatic return of the same to its starting position.

Abstract: A portable hand operated bagel slicing machine which slices or preslices bagels quickly, evenly and safely. Eliminating the hazards of slicing bagels in Bagel Bakerys, Restaurant, and Homes. It's light weight and will fit most kitchen work areas. It preslices a bagel by leaving a space in the center of the two blades. This leaves a small strip of dough through the middle of the bagel. The bagel halves stay together and can easily be separated later. Blades in the device are adjustable so one can achieve any degree of horizontal slicing. Jamming of the pusher from residue is prevented by a recess under the pusher. Slicing a bagel with the device is achieved by placing the device on the edge of a convenient table, counter, or cutting board. Insert a bagel in the top opening. Push the handle forward. The bagel exits the front of the device sliced.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for extracting gel from aloe vera leaves without contaminating the gel with toxic juices indigenous to the husks of the leaves. Further, this mechanized extraction is uniquely suited to permit frequent cleaning of the machinery. The leaves are washed, trimmed, and introduced into means for feeding the aloe vera leaves to and through a blade which longitudinally bisects the leaves. The split leaves are then passed through pressing rollers which advance the husks but retain the gel which falls from the pressing rollers into a collection pan. The pressed husks shed additional gel as they are carried over a further expanse of the collection pan and are then transferred to a husk collection conveyor which carries the husks back under the machinery. The pressing rollers are mounted to the frame of the apparatus by a hinged block which permits the pressing rollers to be swung open to permit cleaning of the pressing rollers and the blade.

Abstract: A cutter to halve citrus fruit in an automatic citrus fruit juicing machine is described. The advance is the sloping of cutting knife (2) and its supporting cam pedestal (3) at an angle of 45.degree. to 80.degree. to the horizontal. Fruit is fed to the knife (2) via a sloped chute (1) and the cut fruit, after passing over the cam pedestal (3), where the fruit gradually and fully opens, is placed on a mechanism for expressing the juice. Other portions of the automatic juicer are, generally, as described in the prior art.

Abstract: Disclosed is a traversing microtome having a base (10) and a movable carriage (13). A blade holder (12) with a blade (16) is mounted on the base (10), and an object holder (14) is mounted on the carriage (13). To carry out the cutting process, the carriage (13), together with the object holder (14) and the object (15), is moved against the stationary blade (16). Between the guide rails (18,18') of the base (10) and the carriage (13) a bearing gap (30) with a width of a few microns is created by means of air bearing elements (21,21'), and consequently only a minimal force is required to move the slide (13). Between the air bearing elements (21,21'), magnets (22,22') are arranged so that their attracting forces act against the air pressure of the air bearing elements. In this manner, the force needed to arrest the motion of the carriage (13) at any given location of the guide rails (18,18') is extremely low. The carriage (13) cannot be moved when the supply of air is interrupted.

Abstract: A shake resaw machine for converting a generally rectilinear wooden blank into a pair of oppositely tapered shingles, each having a tip and a butt end, is comprised of a support table hingedly disposed for cooperative engagement with a saw for lateral movement with respect to a longitudinal feed axis along which the wooden blank progresses during a resaw sequence through the saw, including a first tip-cutting stage, an intermediate diagonal-cutting stage, and a second tip-cutting stage, a table control member for moving the support table at a predetermined rate in a lateral path relative to the feed axis during the resaw sequence, first and second blank guide members having variable lateral stiffness, one of each disposed on either side of the feed axis forwardly proximate a saw blade location thereon, for cooperatively routing the blank along a variable, predetermined resaw path, and first and second guide control members for regulating, respectively, the lateral stiffness of the first and second guide membe

Abstract: A rounded food article, such as a tomato is quickly sliced into a number of slices by a manual device with a rack of parallel spaced tensioned blades mounted to the base at an acute angle. A transversing carrier assembly slides along guide rods in the base. The carrier assembly has a carrier plate and carrier fingers which are a parallel array of planor segments mounted above and parallel with the carrier plate and intermesh with the blade rack. The food article is placed on the carrier plate and carried through the blade rack by the movement of the carrier plate and fingers, thereby slicing the tomato into a number of slices. A guard mounted on the base shields the sharp edge of the blades. With the carrier in the open position the rack of blades in combination with the carrier fingers and guard creates a vertical cavity in which the food article to be sliced is inserted.

Abstract: A floating knife assembly with positive blade positioning for use with a meat defatting machine to trim a portion of a layer of fat from a piece of meat while leaving a desired thickness of fat layer thereon.The knife assembly includes a gauge plate which engages the piece of meat, riding on an upper surface thereof as the meat is urged toward the knife. The gauge plate and knife are interconnected by a linkage system comprising a gauge plate position sensor and a power ram which urges the knife to a desired position relative to the piece of meat dependent upon the position of the gauge plate. The knife is securely locked into position as an individual piece of meat is urged therepast assuring that a constant thickness of fat is retained on the meat.

Abstract: Apparatus for slicing or skinning bacon, fish or like products has a frame which supports an adjustable knife downstream of an endless belt conveyor serving to deliver successive products along a horizontal path into the range of a rotary traction wheel which is driven to advance the products past the knife. A rotary hold-down device with a row of elastic discs is installed in a shroud which normally overlies the knife and the traction wheel as well as at least a portion of the conveyor and is mounted on two pairs of levers which enable the hold-down device to move in parallelism with as well as at right angles to the upper reach of the conveyor so that the discs can conform to the configuration of the upper side of a product approaching and moving past the knife. The shroud is biased to maintain the hold-down device in a starting position close to the cutting edge of the knife in the absence of products in the path.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding an aloe vera plant leaf to a cutting knife. The apparatus is designed to transport the leaf on a first endless belt conveyor on which the leaf is laid lengthwise and flat on the conveyor belt. A second endless belt conveyor travels in the same direction and at the same speed as the first endless belt conveyor but is disposed at a right angle to the first endless belt conveyor at the feed end of the apparatus. The first endless belt conveyor in its travel is slowly twisted towards the second endless belt conveyor and by the time the first endless belt conveyor has reached the end of its travel, the leaf has been turned from a flat condition to a now vertical position and is sandwiched between the two sets of endless conveyor belts.

Abstract: A floating knife assembly is provided to be used in conjunction with a meat defatting machine to trim a portion of a layer of fat from a piece of meat while leaving a desired thickness of fat layer thereon.The knife assembly includes a gauge plate which engages the piece of meat, riding on an upper surface thereof as the meat is urged toward the knife. The gauge plate and knife are mounted on a linkage system which allows the gauge plate and knife to float upwardly or downwardly. The distance between the knife and gauge plate is selectively adjustable to accommodate pieces of meat of different thickness.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting bread is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor which conveys bread through a positioner to a circular, vertically disposed, rotatably mounted cutting blade. The positioner positions the bread with respect to the cutting blade to control the size and configuration of the pieces of bread cut by the cutting blade. A displacement member separates the upper portions of the cut pieces of bread, thus causing the pieces to separate and drop downwardly with the cut face of each piece of bread facing upwardly.

Abstract: A board or workpiece is received broad side down on an endless belt which feeds the board into a circular saw blade extending transversely above and across the endless belt. The belt is horizontal and the circular saw blade is generally horizontal for cutting the board dimensionally with respect to the surface of the conveyor belt as a "fence" or reference level. Although the board is positioned with respect to the reference level of the conveyor primarily by gravity, a hold-down wheel may be utilized for insuring the forward feed of the board toward the saw by the conveyor. The saw mount is tiltable with respect to the conveyor whereby angular sawing may also be accomplished, and the saw is also slidably adjustable with respect to its mount for setting the depth of cut. A plurality of downwardly extending dogs engage the board on the conveyor and prevent kickback by the saw.

Abstract: A guarded tomato slicer has a sharp rack of blades mounted substantially diagonally across a table with a loading area disposed between a retracted pusher and the sharp edges of the blades. A swinging vertical gate is mounted in front of the loading area on a vertical pivot adjacent the rack of blades. The gate is resiliently poised in front of the loading area. The gate and pusher are short enough to clear each other when a tomato is pushed into the loading area against and through the swinging gate, which covers the sharp edges of the rack of blades to guard them. The swinging gate has an apertured roof to shield the top of the loading area. As deflectable outer segment of the roof has a projection which provides an outward limit of travel for the swinging gate and is deflectable to permit removal of the swinging gate. The pusher is mounted on a pair of horizontal slide rods connected to the top of the rack having lower extensions which extend downwardly together to provide a support foot.

Abstract: A device for perforating the edges of individual bakery products to facilitate the separation of the products into portions.

Abstract: A flexible meat slicing blade and support therefor is provided for utilization in apparatus such as pizza forming machines to provide accurately and uniformly sliced meat products of specified thickness for deposit on a surface of a pizza shell. An elongated flexible meat slicing blade of this invention, which may be a continuous band, is supported for longitudinal movement in a cutting plane with the blade disposed at an angle with respect to that cutting plane. A cutting edge of the blade is beveled at an angle which is slightly less than the angle of inclination of the blade to the cutting plane. A support is provided for the portion of the blade passing through the cutting plane to maintain the flexible blade in precise position with respect to the cutting plane. This support includes a structurally rigid bar having a longitudinal groove in which the effective cutting portion of the blade is disposed for relative sliding movement.

Abstract: A machine for cutting grooves in foam workpieces includes a plurality of vertically spaced U-shaped cutting wires mounted on pairs of mounting posts. One leg of each U-shaped wire is mounted on one post, while the other leg is mounted on the other post. The posts are mounted on a frame so as to be adjustable in spacing and vertical position with respect to each other, so the widths of the grooves can thereby be adjusted. Horizontal slice-cutting wires are provided behind the groove-cutting wires so that grooves and slices can be cut simultaneously. The slice-cutting wires are aligned at an angle with the vertical so that each slice-cutting wire exits the workpiece before all those beneath it. One version produces tongue-and-groove sheet, while ship-lap sheets are produced by the other version.

Abstract: A device for slicing tomatoes and other soft food objects has a hollow triangular enclosure frame with three vertical sides disposed about an open interior into which tomatoes are inserted. The longest vertical side or hypotenuse side of the vertical frame enclosure carries a tensioned rack of parallel blades with sharp cutting edges facing inwardly. The opposite intermediate length side of the frame has a pusher sliding back and forth along it with spaced fingers inserted between the opposite cutting blades. Insertion of tomatoes is facilitated by a vertically movable loading platform mounted within the frame which can be manually raised by a push rod at the top to receive a tomato and then lowered below the path of movement of the pusher to permit the pusher to traverse the tomato along and through the cutting edges of the blades to slice it. The loading platform has a table rotatably mounted at the top of a lifting lever which is rotatably mounted at the bottom of the frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing round logs in which substantially the entire log is utilized to produce a relatively high value wood stock. The outer area of the log is peeled in sheets to square the central area for the formation of planks, beams, boards or the like while the peeled sheets may be dried, graded, cut to size and joined together and glued to form strips of any desired length and width which, in turn, may be glued in layers to form panels or other high value components. A plurality of powered, adjustable peeling knives are arranged in opposed sets to machine the log as it is caused to pass thereby on a conveyor. In one form of the invention the knives are driven to undergo a circular oscillatory motion while a second embodiment discloses a knife drive in which the knives are guided in vibratory movement. A third form of drive permits a drawcut in that the peeling knives are drive in a longitudinal direction relative to their cutting edges.

Abstract: A bacon slicing machine wherein the product is placed onto the exposed horizontal supporting surface of a table which is movable between an extended and a retracted position. The front portion of the table overlies the cutting edge of the knife and the apex of a rotary feeding wheel in the extended position of the table to thus prevent injury to the hands of an attendant. A spring biases the table to the extended position, and a bar is provided at the rear end of the table to be depressed by the hips of an attendant standing behind the table in order to move the table to the retracted position in which the product can be pushed along the supporting surface, along an upwardly or downwardly inclined platform which forms part of the front portion of the table, and into the range of the feeding wheel. The supporting surface of the table and the cutting plane of the knife make an acute angle of between 15.degree. and 50.degree..

Abstract: A machine for cutting grooves in foam workpieces includes a plurality of vertically spaced U-shaped cutting wires mounted on pairs of mounting posts. One leg of each U-shaped wire is mounted on one post, while the other leg is mounted on the other post. The posts are mounted on a frame so as to be adjustable in spacing and vertical position with respect to each other, so the widths of the grooves can thereby be adjusted. Horizontal slice-cutting wires are provided behind the groove-cutting wires so that grooves and slices can be cut simultaneously. The slice-cutting wires are aligned at an angle with the vertical so that each slice-cutting wire exits the workpiece before all those beneath it. One version produces tongue-and-groove sheet, while ship-lap sheets are produced by the other version.