Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating cutting of unit dose blisters from a blister card is provided. The apparatus may include a platform, a clamp, a blade and a sensor. The blister card may be positionable on the platform for cutting. The clamp may be positionable to hold a portion of the blister card in contact with the platform for cutting when the clamp is seated. The clamp may be operatively coupled to a guillotine head. The blade may also be operatively coupled to the guillotine head. The guillotine head may be configured to move the blade through a range of motion that intersects a plane of the platform. The sensor may be positioned to detect a seating status of the clamp to enable control of movement of the guillotine head based on the seating status.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microtome (10) including a sample holder (12) a cutting unit (16), and a drive unit (22) capable of producing a relative movement between the sample holder (12) and the cutting unit (16) for cutting the sample. In addition, the microtome (10) has a handwheel (32) and an encoder (38). A control unit (40) controls the drive unit (22) as a function of the rotational movement of the handhweel (32) detected by the encoder (38) and in such a way that, in a first operating mode, the relative movement produced between the sample holder (12) and the cutting element (16) by the drive unit (22) when the handwheel (32) is rotated through a full revolution has a maximum first stroke length and that, in a second operating mode, the relative movement has a preset second stroke length shorter than the maximum first stroke length.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating cutting of unit dose blisters from a blister card is provided. The apparatus may include a platform, a clamp, a blade and a sensor. The blister card may be positionable on the platform for cutting. The clamp may be positionable to hold a portion of the blister card in contact with the platform for cutting when the clamp is seated. The clamp may be operatively coupled to a guillotine head. The blade may also be operatively coupled to the guillotine head. The guillotine head may be configured to move the blade through a range of motion that intersects a plane of the platform. The sensor may be positioned to detect a seating status of the clamp to enable control of movement of the guillotine head based on the seating status.

Abstract: A food product cutting apparatus that makes a substantially horizontal cut through food product being delivered in a substantially vertical direction. The food product is delivered to a cutting device through an internal passage of at least one feed member above the cutting device. A force is applied to the food product traveling downward through the internal passage so as to push the food product against a first wall of the feed member. The apparatus is configured to improve product flow by configuring the passage of the feed member to have a cross-sectional shape defined by two offset, overlapping diameters. The apparatus is also configured for improved safety by ensuring that the cutting device is properly secured before electrical power is available for driving the cutting device.

Abstract: A portable trimmer in which the power generated by an internal combustion engine is transmitted to a cutter via a centrifugal clutch and the output power of the internal combustion engine is controlled by operating a manual throttle lever, thereby adjusting the throttle opening of a throttle valve via a throttle wire. The portable trimmer includes a friction member arranged to face the clutch drum of the centrifugal clutch, a moving member which is connected to the friction member and moves the friction member between a braking position where the friction member is pressed against the clutch drum and a non-braking position where the friction member is kept away from the clutch drum so as to release the braking, a manual release device for moving the moving member from the braking position to the non-braking position, and a release restricting device for controlling the behavior of the manual release device.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a sealing tape dispenser, includes a retracting tape guide which is mechanically linked to an access cover so as to be automatically retracted upon cover opening to allow larger tape rolls to be loaded and to enhance unobstructed access to the machine. In a second preferred embodiment, a sealing tape dispenser, includes a cutting blade lift and interlock mechanism as to assist in clearing tape jams by mechanically lifting the cutting blade to a raised position whereby unobstructed access is gained to the tape path and an interlock is disabled so as to prevent further tape dispenser operations while the cutting blade is in a raised position.

Abstract: A dough divider including a hopper with a lid, a latch assembly and a press plate. The lid has an open position and a closed position. The latch assembly is adapted to maintain the lid in the closed position when activated and to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position when deactivated. The press plate is vertically slidable within the hopper; with the hopper being adapted to accept dough between the lid and the press plate. The press plate is adapted to be driven towards the lid in order to compress the dough between the press plate and the lid within the hopper. The latch assembly is automatically activated to maintain the lid in the closed position while the press plate is being driven towards the lid. The latch assembly is also automatically deactivated to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position after the dough has been compressed and divided within the hopper.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing sections of cotton candy, and synchronously presenting them to the packaging machinery. The apparatus includes an extruder for melting and extruding sugar. The resulting sugar strands are moved onto a belt conveyor, forming a continuous bundle. A cutting blade is slidable, by an actuator, in a direction transverse to the belt conveyor, for cutting the bundle into sections of predetermined length. A paddle conveyor is positioned to receive the cut sections from the first conveyor. A control switch, activated by the passage of the paddles, is provided for controlling the actuation of the cutting blade. The switch is movable to various positions with respect to the paddle conveyor. The position of the switch with respect to the paddle conveyor determines the position of the sections on the paddle conveyor, thus aiding in the synchronization of the cut sections with the packaging machine.

Abstract: A slicing machine has a housing, a rotatable blade on the housing having an edge defining a blade plane, and an input table on the housing displaceable parallel to the plane past the blade edge and having a holder adapted to hold a foodstuff to be sliced by the blade. The foodstuff is movable from a starting position by the table and holder toward the blade to slice the foodstuff. An abutment plate on the housing is displaceable between a shield position lying generally on the blade plane and a retracted position offset away from the table from the blade plane. An actuator connected between the housing and the plate sets the plate in its positions. A sensor generates an output when the foodstuff is moved out of the starting position. A control unit connected between the sensor and the actuator displaces the plate out of the shield position when the output is generated.

Abstract: A sheet or plate metal machining tool featuring a clamp for gripping the edge of the metal sheet and recognizing the said clamp is in a position to be struck by the tool's machining section. Upon such recognition, the clamp is capable of releasing the sheet and rotating out of the way of the machine tools.

Abstract: A household slicing machine wherein a rotary disc-shaped knife is mounted in a housing in a vertical plane to slice foodstuffs which abut against the front side of a stop. The front side of the stop is located in a second vertical plane which is parallel to the plane of the knife and the machine has an adjusting device which can move the stop relative to the knife so as to shift the plane of the front side of the stop nearer to or further away from the plane of the knife and to thereby select the thickness of the slices which are severed from the selected foodstuff. The adjusting device has a stationary component having a follower whose carrier is removably mounted in a working platform which forms part of the housing and is located in front of the stop. The carrier extends through a window of the stop into a helical path which is defined by two confronting cylindrical walls respectively forming part of an inner and an outer sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing bread products or the like, provided with an oscillated driven cutting frame having parallel cutting strips, a supporting surface for the product to be cut leading to the frame, a propelling member movable across the surface and a housing enveloping the frame and propelling member, provided with a feed-in and a feed-off opening which, can be used by untrained operators or customers without any danger, in that the feed-off opening is located in the housing above the cutting frame.

Abstract: The apparatus for supplying chewing gum along a path to the driven feeder of a packaging machine includes a magazine, a scoring device, a pushing device for advancing chewing gum slabs from the magazine to the scoring device and a transfer device for advancing the scored gum slabs from the scoring device to the driven feeder. The pushing device and feeder are driven in relation to one another; however the scoring device and transfer device are driven at a constant speed which is independent of the operating rate of the pushing device and feeder. As a result, the chewing gum slabs are delivered to the feeder at the same speed under all operating conditions and will not become caught, deformed or piled-up in the apparatus due to changes in the operating rate of the feeder.

Abstract: A worktable for use in association with machine tools is illustrated which has a section including a side edge of the worktable hingedly connected to the table supporting member whereby the section is tiltable under power to automatically unload a workpiece from the table. The invention is shown in connection with a workpiece gripping and moving carriage which moves the workpiece relative to the machine tool and, after completion of machining, moves the workpiece to a position on the tip table section. Control members prevent actuation of the tip table until after the workpiece gripper has deposited the workpiece on the tip table clear of the machine tool and then withdrawn to a position fully out of contact with the workpiece.

Abstract: A punching apparatus includes a press frame having upper and lower portions forming a recess to receive a workpiece that is supported by a worktable mounted on the frame lower portion. A tool support arm having a tool holder releasably connected thereto is pivotally connected to the frame upper portion for movement into and out of vertical alignment with a ram punch and die. A fluid actuated piston cylinder assembly is connected to the press frame in the recess with an extensible rod of the assembly connected to the rear end portion of the tool support arm. Actuation of the assembly by an actuator valve laterally swings the tool support arm between a tool punching position and a tool changing position displaced from alignment with the ram punch and die. A fluid actuated extensible device in the frame upper portion secures the tool support arm to the press frame in the tool punching position.

Abstract: A press comprising a base, a lower bolster mounted on the press, an upper bolster mounted on the press for movement with respect to the lower bolster, power means for moving the upper bolster vertically, a substantially horizontal track mounted on the base, a die set comprising a pair of die plates having post means guiding the plates for movement with respect to each other, means for guiding the die set on the track, and power means for causing the die set to travel back and forth along the track between a press position intermediate the upper and lower bolsters, and a loading and unloading position at a point remote from the press position. The apparatus may be used for molding metal or plastic material, blanking, stamping and piercing.

Abstract: A press frame includes upper and lower arm portions forming a recess therebetween for receiving a workpiece that is supported by a worktable mounted on the lower arm portion. A ram housing is supported at the front of the upper arm portion and is provided with a ram punch connected to a power source for reciprocating the ram toward and away from the worktable. A swing arm is connected to the upper arm portion in the recess of the press frame by a vertical shaft and is arranged to pivot in a horizontal plane with respect to the upper arm portion with the shaft. A tool holder is releasably engaged to the end of the swing arm by a locking device and is provided with a vertical bore for receiving a punch tool.

Abstract: Slabs of gum stacked in a top-loaded magazine and successively fed from the bottom of the magazine by a reciprocable pusher mechanism are advanced by line pressure along a generally predetermined first path to a rotary trimming and scoring mechanism which trims, scores and further advances each successive slab. Another pusher mechanism receives each slab advanced by the trimming and scoring mechanism and transfers it to a conveyor which carries it along another path generally normal to the first path and to a breaker and an associated wrapping machine. Each mechanism which advances the slab is driven in timed relation with the wrapping machine. The magazine is supported to pivot to an inactive position to facilitate access to the trimming and scoring mechanism.