巴西专利BR102014030366B1 MOTORIZED ROTARY KNIFE

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专利摘要:
motorized rotary knife and rotary knife blade annular motorized rotary knife including: a handle set and a vacuum connection set. the grip assembly includes an elongated cylindrical grip housing defining a grip assembly longitudinal axis extending through a through hole of the grip housing. the head assembly includes a rotatably supported rotary knife blade for rotation about an axis of rotation in a blade housing at a position offset from the handle housing, the axis of rotation of the rotary knife blade being separate from and parallel to the head assembly. longitudinal geometric axis of the handle. the vacuum connection assembly includes an adapter extending at an angle away from the handle housing such that a central axis of the adapter is transverse to the rotary knife blade axis of rotation and the longitudinal axis of the assembly. of grip.
公开号:BR102014030366B1
申请号:R102014030366-9
申请日:2014-12-04
公开日:2021-07-27
发明作者:Nicholas A. Mascari；Kevin V. Stump；Edson Bernardelli De Bittencourt
申请人:Bettcher Industries, Inc.；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

technical field
[001] The present disclosure relates to a motorized rotary knife and, more specifically, to a motorized rotary knife with a vacuum connection assembly. prior technique
[002] Motorized rotary knives are widely used in meat processing facilities for meat trimming and cutting operations where it is desired to remove material, eg a layer of fat, from a product, eg an untrimmed piece of meat . Motorized rotary knives also find application in a variety of other industries where cutting and/or trimming operations need to be carried out quickly and with less effort than would be the case if traditional hand-cutting or trimming tools were used, eg, long knives, scissors, cutters, etc. By way of example, motorized rotary knives can be used effectively for such diverse tasks as taxidermy and cutting and trimming elastomeric or urethane foam for a variety of applications including vehicle seats.
[003] Motorized rotary knives typically include a grip assembly and a head assembly attachable to the grip assembly. The head assembly includes an annular blade housing of an annular rotary knife blade supported for rotation by the blade housing. The annular rotary knife blade of a conventional motorized rotary knife defines a closed-loop cutting surface for cutting or trimming material from a product where the rotary blade contacts and cuts the material, thereby removing material from the product. Cut or trimmed material moves away from a cut edge on one end of the rotary knife blade. An inner wall of the rotary knife blade defines an open, central region of the blade. Cut or trimmed material moves away from the cut edge, travels or crosses along the inside wall and through the open, center region of the blade before exiting the blade at an end opposite the cut edge.
[004] The rotary knife blade is typically rotated by a drive assembly that may include a pneumatic or electric motor disposed in an opening or through hole defined by the handle assembly. The pneumatic or electric motor may include a drive shaft that engages and rotates a pinion supported by the handle assembly. The pinion, in turn, engages and rotationally drives the annular rotary knife blade. Pinion gear teeth mesh with matching gear teeth formed on an upper surface of the rotary knife blade to rotate the blade. Alternatively, the drive assembly may include a flexible shaft drive assembly extending through an opening in the handle assembly. The drive shaft assembly engages and rotates a pinion supported by the head assembly. The flexible shaft drive assembly includes a stationary outer shell and a swiveling inner drive shaft. The drive shaft assembly is coupled to and driven by a pneumatic or electric motor that is remote from the handle assembly.
[005] With the rotation of the pinion by the drive shaft of the flexible shaft drive assembly, the rotating annular blade rotates within the blade housing at high RPM, on the order of 900-1,900 RPM, depending on the structure and characteristics of the assembly. drive including motor, shaft drive assembly, and a diameter and number of gear teeth formed on the rotary knife blade. Conventional motorized rotary knives are disclosed in US Patent Nos. 6,354,949 for Baris et al., 6,751,872 for Whited et al., 6,769,184 for Whited et al., and 6,978,548 for Whited et al., all of which are assigned to the assignee of present disclosure and all of which are incorporated herein in their respective entireties by reference.
[006] When material is cut or trimmed by a rotary knife blade, the removed material (i.e., the cut or trimmed material) moves or travels away from a cutting edge of the blade and through the open, central region, defined by the inner wall of knife blade and exits by the opposite end of the rotating knife blade. Upon exiting the rotating knife, the material removed, depending on the position of the motorized rotating knife and the product, will fall back onto a trimmed portion or an untrimmed portion of the product being cut or trimmed or will fall to a work station surface where cutting or trimming operation is being performed. For certain applications, it may be desirable to have a vacuum connection for a motorized rotary knife to remove, via suction, the removed material such that the removed material does not fall onto the product or fall to the surface of the workstation, but instead is routed away from the trimmed product after being cut or trimmed from the product. In certain cutting or trimming operations, the material removed is undesirable and it is desired to immediately physically separate the material removed from the product, for example, if the material removed is unwanted fatty tissue to be removed from an ox carcass during a removal process. hot fat or a contaminated/injured tissue region of a poultry or pig carcass, it would be desirable to use suction to route removed/unwanted tissue from the carcass immediately after cutting or trimming the unwanted tissue to a collection receptacle for disposal purposes and/or to prevent contamination of the carcass by the removed tissue. On the other hand, in certain cutting or trimming operations, the material removed is highly desirable or valuable, for example, the removal of oyster meat from a poultry carcass. Again, the suction of a vacuum connection will route the removed desirable tissue (oyster meat) to a collection receptacle for collection of the desired removed tissue.
[007] Motorized rotary knives including vacuum connections are disclosed in, for example, US Patent No. 6,857,191 to Whited et al. and published US Patent Application No. US2004/0211067 to Whited et al., both of which are assigned. to the assignee of this disclosure. summary
[008] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a motorized rotary knife comprising: a grip assembly including an elongated cylindrical grip housing defining a grip assembly longitudinal axis extending through a through hole in the grip housing. handle; a head assembly coupled to and extending from a distal end of the handle assembly, the head assembly including a rotary knife blade supported by a blade housing for rotation about a central axis of rotation, the knife blade rotatable including an annular body having an inner wall and a radially spaced outer wall, the inner wall defining a central open region extending from a first end to a second distal end of the annular body and a drive section adjacent to a first end of the annular body, the drive section defining a driven gear including a set of gear teeth formed in the outer wall of the annular body, and a blade section adjacent to a second end of the annular body, the head assembly further including a frame securing the blade housing to the distal end of the handle assembly in a position. not radially offset from the handle housing such that the central axis of rotation of the rotary knife blade is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle; and a vacuum connector assembly including a vacuum adapter and a vacuum hose, the vacuum adapter including an adapter body having an inner wall defining a central open region extending from a first end to a second distal end. of the adapter body, the first end of the vacuum adapter secured to the vacuum hose and the second end of the vacuum adapter including a housing clamp secured to the blade housing, the adapter body defining an adapter central axis extending through the central open region and the central open region extending in fluid communication with the central open region of the annular body of the rotary knife blade, the adapter body extending at an angle away from the handle housing such that the central axis of adapter is transverse to the central axis of rotation of the rotary knife blade and the geometric axis length of handle assembly.
[009] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an annular rotary knife blade for rotation about a central geometric axis of rotation in a motorized rotary knife, the rotary knife blade comprising: an annular body having an inner wall and a radially spaced outer wall, the inner wall defining a central open region extending from a first end to a second distal end of the annular body and a drive section adjacent a first end of the annular body, the drive section defining a driven gear including a set of gear teeth formed in the outer wall of the annular body and a support race extending radially inwardly spaced axially from the driven gear, the support race defining axially spaced apart first and second support faces, a blade section adjacent to a second end of the annular body, and a spacer section intermediate to the actuation section. adjacent to the first end of the annular body and the blade section adjacent to the second end of the annular body, a maximum outside diameter of the rotary knife blade spacer section being less than a minimum outside diameter of the drive section and an outside diameter maximum blade section is less than the minimum outside diameter of the drive section. Description of drawings
[0010] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure relates upon consideration of the following description of the disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals, unless otherwise described refer to equal parts throughout all drawings and in which:
[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic front perspective view of an exemplary configuration of a motorized rotary knife of the present disclosure including a handle assembly, a head assembly, and a vacuum connection assembly;
[0012] Figure 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the motorized rotary knife of Figure 1;
[0013] Figure 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the motorized rotary knife of Figure 1 taken along a longitudinal geometric axis of the handle assembly;
[0014] Figure 4 is a schematic top plan view of the motorized rotary knife of Figure 1;
[0015] Figure 5 is a schematic enlarged sectional view of portions of the motorized rotary knife of Figure 1 that are within a dashed circle labeled fig. 5 in figure 3;
[0016] Figure 6 is a schematic enlarged sectional view of portions of the motorized rotary knife of Figure 1 that are within a dashed circle labeled fig. 6 in Figure 3;
[0017] Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view of an annular rotary knife blade of a motorized rotary knife head assembly of Figure 1;
[0018] Figure 8 is a schematic front perspective view of an annular blade housing of a motorized rotary knife blade head assembly of Figure 1;
[0019] Figure 9 is a schematic side elevation view of a frame body of a motorized rotary knife head assembly of Figure 1;
[0020] Figure 10 is a schematic front perspective view of the frame body of Figure 9;
[0021] Figure 11 is a schematic side elevation view of a vacuum adapter of a vacuum connection assembly of the motorized rotary knife of Figure 1; and
[0022] Figure 12 is a schematic front elevation view of a vacuum adapter of Figure 10. Detailed Description
[0023] MOTORIZED ROTARY KNIFE 100
[0024] OVERVIEW
[0025] The present disclosure relates to a motorized rotary knife comprising a head assembly including an annular rotary knife blade, a handle assembly, and a vacuum connection assembly for routing removed material, i.e. cut material or trimmed by the rotating knife blade from a product cutting region, via vacuum pressure, away from the product cutting region and away from the rotating knife blade such that removed material does not have to be collected or removed manually from the cutting region by the operator. The vacuum connection assembly includes a vacuum hose and a vacuum adapter that couples a vacuum hose to the motorized rotary knife head assembly.
[0026] Advantageously, the elongated annular rotary knife blade of the motorized rotary knife includes a cylindrical spacer section disposed between a drive section and a knife blade section that substantially elongates the rotary knife blade. The elongated configuration of the rotary knife blade makes it easy for the operator to extend a cutting edge of the rotary knife blade into a narrow internal region of a product (eg, an abdominal cavity of a carcass) for the purpose of trimming or cutting product material that would otherwise be difficult to access with a conventional motorized rotary knife and/or conventional hand-held cutting instruments such as long knives, scissors, cutters, etc. Advantageously, due to the extended length or reach of the rotary knife blade with respect to the grip portion of the handle assembly, the operator does not have to reach far into the abdominal cavity of the carcass.
[0027] Additionally, as the spacer and blade sections of the rotary knife blade are of reduced diameter compared to the drive section, a distally extending region of the rotary knife blade has a reduced diameter compared to the driving section. drive. The reduced diameter distally extending region and a longitudinal extension of the spacer section further facilitate ease of inserting the blade into a narrow internal region of the product and manipulating the cutting edge to cut or trim material from the product. Additionally, the distally extending reduced diameter region of the rotary knife blade reduces drag of the rotary knife blade due to the smaller diameter while maintaining the mechanical advantage resulting from having a larger diameter driven gear in the knife blade drive section. rotating.
[0028] For example, it is desirable in hot grease removal operations involving carcasses of larger animals such as oxen or pigs to remove certain fat tissue cavities that are located between the rib cage and the respective front legs of the carcass. Presently, an operator removes these fat tissue cavities when the carcass is hung vertically with the open abdominal cavity cut. The operator, while holding a cutting instrument in his hand, reaches his hand into the open abdominal cavity, and appropriately moves his hand and the cutting instrument while trying to locate the fat tissue cavity, since the fat tissue cavity is located, the operator manipulates the cutting instrument to repeatedly cut portions of the fat tissue cavity away from the carcass, the trimmed portions of the fat tissue falling down into the abdominal cavity and/or onto the floor of the workstation. When the fat tissue cavity has been substantially completely cut from the carcass, the operator repeats the process for the second fat tissue cavity located between the rib cage and the other front leg. Finally, the removed portions of the pitted fat tissue cavities should be removed from the abdominal cavity and/or workstation floor. This is a difficult, time-consuming, labor-intensive operation or task for the operator. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that the operator cannot readily see where or what he or she is cutting within recesses far from the open abdominal cavity and the operator's arm must be extended sufficiently so that the cutting instrument can reach and cut into the fat tissue cavity.
[0029] With the motorized rotary knife of the present disclosure, this labor intensive task is greatly simplified leading to less time consumed and reduced operator fatigue. The extended length or reach of the resulting rotary knife blade from the spacer portion, relative to the grip portion of the handle assembly, means that the operator does not have to reach that far into the abdominal cavity of the carcass. Furthermore, in the motorized rotary knife of the present disclosure, a longitudinal axis of a generally cylindrical grip assembly is parallel to, but spaced apart from, a geometric axis of rotation of the annular rotary knife blade. This configuration of the motorized rotary knife blade advantageously allows the operator to more easily reach deeper into the abdominal cavity of a carcass and make a dip-type or forward-reach cut to remove tissue to be removed. Additionally, the high rotational speed of the rotary knife blade makes the actual cutting of the fatty tissue cavity away from the carcass much easier.
[0030] Additionally, the motorized rotary knife vacuum connection assembly of the present disclosure includes a vacuum adapter that couples a vacuum hose to a lower end of an annular blade housing. The vacuum adapter is configured so as to space the vacuum hose from the operator's fingers once the operator is gripping the grip portion of the handle assembly. This advantageously provides clearance for the operator's finger and increases the operator's ease of handling the motorized rotary knife for making forward reach or diving type cutting. Additionally, the vacuum connection assembly is configured such that the vacuum hose extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hose assembly. In this way, the handle assembly, rotary knife blade and vacuum hose provide a smaller front profile when the motorized rotary knife is being extended within a narrow passage defined by, for example, an abdominal cavity. Stated another way, if the vacuum hose were to extend orthogonally from the handle assembly, such a configuration would provide a much larger front profile. Therefore, this would make it more difficult for the operator to move the motorized rotary knife forward deep into a narrow portion of the abdominal cavity because the orthogonally extending hose would bump against the sides of the abdominal cavity as the motorized rotary knife was being moved. forward. Finally, the suction provided by the vacuum hose of the vacuum connection assembly facilitates the intermediate collection of removed material (removed tissue) from a product (animal carcass). That is, the removed tissue is prevented from falling onto the carcass or onto a surface of a workstation where the carcass is in position. This alleviates contamination of the removed material, contamination of the trimmed product and also frees the operator from the task of collecting and/or moving the material removed from the trimmed product.
[0031] Returning to the drawings, a first exemplary configuration of a motorized rotary knife of the present invention is generally shown at 100 in Figures 1-4. Motorized rotary knife 100 includes an elongated grip assembly 110, a head assembly 200 releasably attached to and extending from a distal end 118 of the grip assembly 110, and a vacuum release assembly 600 releasably attached to one end. proximal 306 of a blade housing 300 of head assembly 200. Motorized rotary knife 100 further includes a head mechanism 500 that is coupled to an annular rotary knife blade 210 of head assembly 200 and provides motive power to rotate the blade. of rotary knife 210 with respect to blade housing 300 about a central geometric axis of rotation blade R. In an exemplary configuration, drive mechanism 500 includes a pneumatic motor 510 and a drive train 550 to couple the rotational force of an axis. rotary output 512 of air motor 510 to rotate rotary knife blade 210.
[0032] As best seen in Figure 3, the handle assembly 110 includes an elongated generally cylindrical handle housing 112 defining a central longitudinally extending through hole 114 extending from a first proximal or rear end 116 from the handle assembly 110 to the second distal or front end 118 of the handle assembly 110. In an exemplary configuration, the drive mechanism pneumatic motor 510 is disposed within the through hole 114 of the handle housing 112. A central longitudinal axis LA of the grip assembly 110 extends through the through hole of the grip assembly 114.
[0033] The head assembly 200 includes the annular rotary knife blade 210 (figure 7) rotatably supported by the blade housing 300 (figure 8). The head assembly 200 additionally includes a frame or frame body 400 (FIG. 9) that supports the rotary knife blade 210 and the blade housing 300 and, in turn, is releasably coupled to the handle assembly 110. The frame 400 includes a proximal cylindrical base 410 and an enlarged distal head 114 along the longitudinal axis LA of the grip assembly. The enlarged head 420 of the frame includes a curved mounting region 430 that provides a seating region for a mounting region 315 of the blade housing 300. The curved mounting region 430 includes a slotted recess 432 that receives a radially extending tongue. 632 of a housing bracket 630 of a vacuum adapter 510 of the vacuum connector assembly 600 for releasably securing the adapter 610 and blade housing 300 to frame 400.
[0034] The vacuum connection assembly 600 includes a vacuum hose 680 and a vacuum adapter 610 that couples the vacuum hose 680 to the proximal end 306 of the blade housing 300. An inner region 686 defined by the vacuum hose 680 is in fluid communication with respective inner regions 228, 301 of the rotary knife blade 210 and the blade housing 300. The inner rotary knife blade region 228 and the inner blade housing region 301 are defined by aligned through holes 229, 370 of knife blade 210 and blade housing 300. Vacuum pressure drawn in the inner region of vacuum hose 686 is communicated through the inner knife blade region 228 and the inner blade housing region 301 such that removed material cut by the blade of rotary knife blade 210 flows, that is, routed from a distal cutting edge 218 of the rotary knife blade 210 through the inner regions 228, 301 of the rotary knife blade and housing. blade point 210, 300 and into the inner region of vacuum hose 686. The removed material accumulates in a container (not shown) at a proximal end of vacuum hose 680. GRIP SET 110
[0035] As can best be seen in Figures 1-3 and 6, the grip assembly 110 includes the cylindrical grip housing 112. The grip housing includes an inner wall 120 defining the central longitudinally extending through hole 114 and a radially spaced outer wall 122. The grip housing 112 also defines the central longitudinal axis LA of the grip assembly 110 which extends centrally through the through hole 114. The outer wall 122, in a region extending backwards from The distal end 118 of the grip assembly 110 includes a ribbed contoured grip handle 124 that is gripped by the operator to manipulate the motorized rotary knife 100 during cutting or trimming operations. Extending forward from the proximal end 116 of the grip housing 112 is a coupling collar 130 that receives an air supply coupling (not shown) for releasably connecting an air hose supplying compressed air to drive the air motor 510 Coupling collar 130 includes a pair of grooves 132 in outer wall 122 for locking in matched projections of the air supply coupling.
The grip housing 112 includes a frame connecting collar 140 at the distal end 118 of the grip assembly 110. The collar 140 includes a recessed opening 142 with a longitudinally radially inwardly extending rib 144. The recessed opening 142 collar 140, which defines a portion of through hole 114 of grip assembly 110 and inner wall 120 of grip housing 120, receive a splined proximal region 412 of cylindrical base 410 of frame 400, when head assembly 200 e, specifically, frame 400 is mounted or releasably coupled to grip assembly 110. Rib 144 fits with a selected of a plurality of splines 414 from splined proximal region 412 to allow the operator to select a desired angular or circumferential orientation between frame 400 and the contoured grip handle 124 which is most comfortable for the operator. Once the desired orientation between frame 400 and grip handle 124 is selected, grip assembly collar 140 is pushed in a distal direction D (figures 1 and 3) over the splined proximal region 412 of frame 400 and the engagement or engagement between rib 144 and the spline selected from the plurality of splines 414 prevents relative rotation between frame 400 and grip assembly 110.
[0037] Proximal to recessed opening 142 of collar 140 is a threaded region 146 defining an inner wall portion 120 of handle housing 112. A threaded cylindrical fastener 150 includes a through passage 152 with a threaded outer wall portion 154 and a shoulder exterior 156. Fastener 150 is inserted through through hole 402 of frame 400 and threaded outer wall portion 154 threads into threaded region 146 of grip housing collar 140 to secure frame 400 to grip assembly 100. Outer shoulder 156 of fastener 150 engages and rests against an interior shoulder 406 formed on inner wall 404 of frame 400 when fastener 150 is fully squeezed into collar 140 to secure frame 400 to handle assembly 110. Additionally, a surface annular top 148 (best seen in figure 6) of collar 140 rests against and rests against a combined annular shoulder 407 of a cylindrical base 410 of the frame 400 surrounding the splined proximal region 412 when fastener 150 is fully tightened within collar 140 to secure structure 400 to grip assembly 110. Through passage 152 of fastener 150 is aligned with the longitudinal axis LA of grip assembly and a drive adapter 570 of the drive train 550 of the drive mechanism extends through the through passage 152 to provide a rotary coupling between the output shaft 512 of the pneumatic motor 510 and a pinion 552 supported in the through hole 402 of the frame 400. DRIVE MECHANISM 500
Drive mechanism 500 rotates rotary knife blade 210 with respect to blade housing 300 at a high rotational speed (on the order of 900-1,900 RPM) about the central axis of rotation R. Drive mechanism 500 , in an exemplary configuration, includes pneumatic or air motor 510 disposed within through hole 114 of grip housing 112 and drive train 550 that is partially disposed within central opening or through hole 402 of frame 400. Through hole 402 of frame 400 is defined by an inner wall 404 of frame 400 and is longitudinally aligned with grip assembly through hole 114 and longitudinal axis LA.
[0039] In an exemplary configuration, drive train 550 includes pinion 552, supported for rotation on a pinion bushing 560 positioned in frame through hole 402 and drive adapter 570. As best seen in figures 3 and 6, drive adapter 570 extends from motor output shaft 512 to pinion 552 through handle assembly through hole 114 and through through passage 152 of handle assembly fastener 150 and into through hole 402 of the structure 400.
[0040] Pinion 552 is driven by drive adapter 570 extending distally from output shaft 512 of air motor 510. A distal end of drive adapter 570 is received in a pinion drive coupling 558 defined by a tubular rod extending rearwardly 556 of pinion 552. Pinion 552 includes an enlarged distal head 551 defining a drive gear 553 comprising a set of involute gear spurs 554. The gear spur teeth 554 mesh with the matching set. involute gear spurs 222 of driven gear 221 of drive section 220 of rotary knife blade 210 to rotate blade 210 about geometric axis of rotation R.
[0041] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, it should be understood that other drive mechanisms can be used to drive the rotary knife blade 210, for example, a DC motor disposed in the through hole 114 of the handle assembly 110 can be used in place of air motor 510. Alternatively, a flexible shaft drive assembly extending through through hole 114 of handle assembly 110 can be used to drive the rotary knife blade. The flexible shaft drive assembly may, for example, include a stationary outer shell and a rotatable inner drive shaft that is driven by a remote pneumatic or electric motor. Such alternative trigger mechanisms are contemplated by this disclosure. 200 HEAD ASSEMBLY
[0042] The head assembly 200 includes the annular rotary knife blade 210 (figure 7) rotatably supported for rotation about the central axis of rotation R by the blade housing 300 (figure 8). Head assembly 200 also includes frame or frame body 400 (Figure 9) which supports rotary knife blade 210 and blade housing 300 and, in turn, is releasably coupled to handle assembly 110. curved assembly 420 of the enlarged head 420 of the frame 400 also supports the vacuum adapter 610 of the vacuum connection assembly 600 via a fastener interconnect between the housing bracket 630 of the adapter 610 and the enlarged head of the frame 420. The frame also supports a pinion 522 of drive train 550 of drive mechanism 500. 210 ANNULAR ROTARY KNIFE BLADE
[0043] As can best be seen in Figure 7, the annular rotary knife blade 210 includes a generally cylindrical annular body 211. The annular body 211 of the rotary knife blade 210 includes an inner wall 212 and a radially spaced outer wall 213 and extends from a first proximal end 214 and a second distal end 216, which defines the cutting edge 218 of the blade. The annular body 211 of the rotary knife blade 210 includes an annular drive section 220 adjacent the proximal end 214 of the blade 210, an intermediate elongated spacer section 240, and a blade section 260 adjacent the distal end 216 of the blade 210. A tapered transition section 235 extends between the drive section 220 and the spacer section 240. The tapered transition section 235 defines a tapered neck-down region 237 that transitions a larger diameter to the annular drive section 220 to a smaller diameter of a spacer section 240 and a smaller diameter blade section 260. The spacer section 240 and the blade section 210 define a distally extending region 219 of the rotary knife blade 210.
[0044] Advantageously, the annular blade section 260 and the annular spacer section 240 have a reduced inside diameter compared to an outside diameter of the drive section 220. The reduced outside diameter of the blade and spacer sections 260, 240 allows for reduced drag and ease of handling and positioning of a distally extending region 219 of rotary knife blade 210 that is likely to contact product during cutting and trimming operations. For example, the reduced outside diameter of the distally extending region 219 (blade and spacer sections 260, 240) of rotary knife blade 210 is advantageous for reduced drag and ease of handling, for example, when motorized rotary knife 100 is inserted into an abdominal cavity of a carcass and the distally extending region 219 of blade 210 is moved forward into a narrow portion of the abdominal cavity to remove a fatty tissue cavity disposed between the rib cage and a front leg of the carcass. Additionally, the larger outer diameter of the drive section 220, which allows a diameter of a driven gear 221 formed on the outer wall 213 of the annular body 211 to be larger compared to the distally extending region 219, thereby providing a mechanical advantage with respect to rotating blade 210 VERSUS a smaller driven gear diameter.
[0045] The drive section 220 of the rotary knife blade 210 defines the driven gear 221 comprising a set of involute gear spurs 222 extending from the outer wall 213 to rotationally drive the blade 210 about its central geometric axis of rotation R. Drive section 220 additionally includes a generally V-shaped support groove extending radially inwardly or support track 230, also formed by outer wall 213 of rotary knife blade 210, which is axially spaced from and distal to gear teeth 222. Support groove 230 engages with a support head 320 of blade housing 300 defining a support structure 299 for rotationally supporting blade 210 for rotation about the geometric axis of rotation R. Support structure 299 defines a rotational plane RP of rotary knife blade 210 which is substantially orthogonal to the central geometric axis of rotation R of blade 210 and substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal geometric axis LA of the handle assembly 110.
[0046] The annular rotary knife blade 210 is an annular structure defining the annular body 211 which is generally cylindrical and tapered from the proximal drive section 220 to the distal blade section 260. The rotary knife blade 210 extends from the end proximal 214 to the axially spaced distal end 216 and includes inner wall 212 and radially spaced outer wall 213. Inner wall 212 of rotary knife blade 210 defines an inner region 228 and a through hole 229 extending through blade 280 and longitudinally centered about the geometric axis of rotation R. Except for the blade cutting edge 218 adjacent the distal end 216 of the annular body 211 where the outer wall 213 tapers towards the inner wall 212; the inner and outer walls 212, 213 are generally parallel. As previously described, drive section 220 includes, adjacent to proximal end 214, drive gear 221 which, in an exemplary configuration is an involute spur gear comprising the plurality of involute gear teeth 222. The outer wall 213 of the section drive 220 further includes radially inwardly extending support groove 230 which is axially spaced from driven gear 221 along the blade axis of rotation R. Support groove 230 defines axially spaced apart upper and lower frusto-conical surfaces 232a, 232b. The frusto-conical surfaces 232a, 232b define the support faces 230a, 230b of the support groove 230 of the rotary knife blade 210 which contact and abut against the axially spaced upper and lower support surfaces 322a, 322b of the support surface 322 of the head. of blade housing 320 when rotary knife blade 210 is supported in blade housing 300. Blade support structure 299 of motorized rotary knife 100 comprises the support interface described above for rotationally supporting blade 210 for rotation.
[0047] In an exemplary configuration, an IDDS inside diameter of drive section 220 is approximately 1.81 inches, while a maximum outside diameter ODDS of drive section 220, which is the outside diameter in the region of driven gear 221, is approximately 2.16 inches. In an exemplary configuration, an ODBS outside diameter of drive section 220 adjacent to support slot 230 is approximately 2.00 inches, while an outside diameter ODBG of drive section 220 within support slot 230 is approximately 1.93 inches. The ODBG outside diameter also defines a minimum outside diameter of the drive section 220. In an exemplary configuration, an axial length LDS of the drive section 220 is approximately 0.39 inch and extends from the proximal end 214 of the rotary knife blade 210 to transition section 235. In an exemplary configuration, an axial length LDER of the distally extending region 219, which includes spacer section 240 and blade section 260, is approximately 4.55 inches, while an outer diameter ODDER of region extending distally 219 is approximately 1.52 inches. The ODDER outer diameter of the distally extending region 219 also defines the maximum outer diameter of the spacer section 240 and the maximum outer diameter of the blade section 260. Therefore, in the rotary knife blade 210 of the present disclosure, a maximum outer diameter ODDER of the spacer section 240 is less than a minimum outside diameter ODBG of drive section 220 and a maximum outside diameter ODDER of blade section 260 is less than minimum outside diameter ODBG of drive section 220. In an exemplary configuration, the maximum outside diameter of the spacer section 240 and the maximum outer diameter of the blade section 260 are equal and equal to the maximum ODDER outer diameter of the distally extending region 219. In an exemplary configuration, the maximum ODDER outer diameter of the distally extending region 219 is less than or equal to 70% of the minimum outside diameter of the drive section. Advantageously, this reduced diameter configuration of the rotary knife blade 210 maintains the mechanical advantage of having a larger diameter drive gear 221 for purposes of more easily rotating the rotary knife blade 210 with the air motor 510, while at the same time , the smaller outer diameter of the distally extending region 219 provides reduced drag and increases the ease of handling the blade 210 when the blade is used, for example, for trimming or cutting operations in a narrow region of the abdominal cavity of a carcass to be trimmed.
[0048] The tapered transition section 235 and the cylindrical spacer section 240 of the rotary knife blade 210 extend between the drive section 220 and the blade section 260. The transition section 235 is adjacent to the drive section 220, while the spacer section 240 defines a distal cylindrical region 250 extending between the tapered transition section 235 and the blade section 260. An outer wall of the tapered transition region tapers between a larger outer diameter ODBS at a distal end of the section. drive 240 and a smaller ODDER outside diameter at a proximal end of spacer section 240. In an exemplary configuration, an IDCR inside diameter of spacer section 240 is approximately 1.44 inches, while an axial length of spacer section 240 is approximately 4.29 inches. In an exemplary configuration, rotary knife blade 210 has an overall axial length AL of approximately 5.17 inches and a minimum inside diameter of ODMIN at cutting edge 218 of approximately 1.04 inches. As noted above, in an exemplary rotary knife blade 210 configuration, the axial length LDER of the distally extending region 219, comprising the spacer section 240 and the blade section 260, is approximately 4.55 inches, while the axial length Overall AL of the 210 rotary knife blade is 5.17 inches. Consequently, in an exemplary configuration, the distally extending or forward-extending, distally-extending reduced outer diameter region 219 comprises or accounts for approximately 88% of the overall axial length AL of the rotary knife blade 210. Advantageously , this rotary knife blade configuration, which has the region extending forward of reduced outside diameter 219 taking into account approximately 88% of the total axial extension AL of the blade 210, increases the ease of insertion and manipulation of the blade edge 218 inside narrow openings in a product. For example, the reduced outer diameter coupled with the large axial length (compared to the overall blade length) of the distally extending region 219 of the rotating knife 210 facilitates an operator of the motorized rotating knife 100 to manipulate the knife such that the extending region if distally 219 the blade 210 can be moved forward and inserted into a narrow portion or region of an abdominal cavity of a carcass for the purpose of trimming an internal cavity of deep fat tissue within the abdominal cavity, while the connection assembly of Vacuum 600 advantageously provides vacuum removal and collection of the trimmed fat tissue pieces as they are trimmed without the need for the operator to pick up or otherwise collect the trimmed fat tissue pieces.
[0049] One skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that the dimensions and configuration of the rotary knife blade 210 may vary depending on the cutting/trimming applications that the rotary knife blade 210 is contemplated for use in connection therewith. The foregoing dimensions and specific configuration of rotary knife blade 210 are by way of example without limitation, and the present disclosure contemplates other dimensions and configurations of rotary knife blade 210 depending on specific cutting and trimming applications. TWO-PART ROTARY KNIFE BLADE 270
[0050] In an exemplary configuration, the annular rotary knife blade 210 of the present disclosure is a two-part annular rotary knife blade 270 including a proximal carrier component or portion 280 and a blade component or portion 290 that are releasably connected via a threaded coupling. Drive section 220 and spacer section 240 comprise a carrier member 280, while blade section 260 comprises blade member 290. Blade member 290 includes a proximal connecting region 292 that includes an externally threaded outer wall 294. The threaded outer wall 294 threads into a matching threaded inner wall 282 of the carrier portion 280, specifically a threaded distal portion 252 of the cylindrical region 250 of the spacer section 240. In an exemplary configuration, the threaded outer wall 294 of the proximal connection region 292 of blade member 290 includes right hand threads for threaded engagement between blade member 290 and carrier member 280. Blade member 290 includes a radially extending shoulder 296 that rests against an upper or distal surface 254 of spacer section 240 bridging inner and outer walls 212, 213 when blade member 290 is fully threaded. connected to the carrier component 280.
[0051] A distal tapered region 298 of blade component 290 extends from shoulder 296 to cutting edge 218 of blade section 260. Outer wall 213 of blade 210 at distal tapered region 298 defines a generally stem-like surface of cone 256 that converges in a direction away from the drive section 220 and against the geometric axis of rotation R, ending at the cutting edge 218. The inner wall 212 of the blade 210 at the distal tapered region 298 defines a proximal cylindrical surface 258 and a distal frustoconical surface 259. The distal frustoconical surface 259 converges in a direction away from the drive section 220 and against the geometric axis of rotation R, also ending at the cutting edge 218. One skilled in the art will recognize that the configuration of the blade component 290 may be changed depending on the specific cutting trimming application, for example, the blade component 290 defines a "knife hook" configuration. Depending on the cutting/trimming applications the rotary knife blade 210 is contemplated for use in connection therewith, the blade component 290 may be configured as a “flat blade” configuration or a “straight blade” configuration. U.S. Patent No. 8,745,881 to Thompson et al., issued June 10, 2014 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses various annular rotary knife blade configurations and two-part annular rotary knife blades and is incorporated herein in its totality by reference.
[0052] Again, one skilled in the art will understand that the dimensions and configurations of an exemplary configuration of the rotary knife blade 210, as noted above and as shown in the figures, may vary depending on the cutting/trimming applications for which the 100 rotary knife will be used. Additionally, rotary knife blade 210 can be manufactured as a one-piece or one-piece blade.
Advantageously, the central axis of rotation R of the rotary knife blade 210 is radially displaced by a radial displacement distance RO from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the grip assembly 110. The radially displaced configuration is e parallel between the rotary knife blade 210 and the handle assembly 110 allows the adapter 610 of the vacuum connection assembly 600 to be connected directly to the lower end 306 of the blade housing 300 and additionally allows for a general extension or longitudinal axis VHA of a vacuum hose 680 of vacuum connection assembly 610 in a region of a hose holder 60 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of handle assembly LA and the axis of rotation R of rotary knife blade 210 for efficient material extraction cut or trimmed (material removed) by vacuum connection assembly 600. Additionally , adapter 610 of vacuum connection assembly 610 is angled away from handle assembly 110 to provide clearance for the operator's fingers as he or she grips handle grip 124 and manipulates motorized rotary knife 100. 610 defines an ACA adapter central axis that substantially intersects both the handle assembly longitudinal axis LA and the rotary knife blade rotation axis R. In an exemplary configuration, the displacement angle OA1 between the central axis ACA and the longitudinal axis of the handle assembly LA is approximately 45° and, similarly, the displacement angle OA2 between the central axis of the ACA adapter and the axis blade rotation geometry R has 45°. 300 BLADE HOUSING
[0054] As best seen in Figure 8, the blade housing 300 is generally a cylindrical blade housing having an inner wall 302 defining the inner region 301 and a radially spaced outer wall 304 and the proximal end 306 and an end distally distal end 208. Through hole 370 extends through blade housing 300 from proximal end 306 to distal end 308. Blade housing 300 includes a partition 310 extending longitudinally through inner and outer walls 302, 304 to allow expansion of an inside diameter of the blade housing for removal of a rotary knife blade 210 at end of life and insertion of a new rotary knife blade in its place. Typically, the expected service lives of the other components of the motorized rotary knife 100, including the blade housing 300 and the vacuum adapter 610, are much longer than the service life of the rotary knife blade 210, therefore, it is expected that the rotary knife blade. rotary knife 210 is replaced many times during the life of motorized rotary knife 100. The longitudinally extending partition 310 of blade housing 300 is defined between adjacent side walls 312, 314. Division 310 is generally centered in the mounting region 315 of blade housing 300.
[0055] Near the distal end 308 of the blade housing 300, the inner wall defines an inwardly protruding support lip 320. The lip 320 defines a support surface 322 on which the rotary knife blade 210 is supported for rotation about a rotational plane RP (figure 6). Because the rotary knife blade 210 includes the generally V-shaped support groove extending radially inwardly or support track 230 in its outer wall 213, the support surface 322 of the shoulder 320 comprises axially spaced upper and lower support surfaces 322a, 322b which contact and rest against matching support faces 230a, 230b of support groove 230 of rotary knife blade 210.
[0056] Support flange 320 may be continuous around all 360° of inner wall 302 of blade housing 300 or may be interrupted at one or more points along its circumference to allow easier expansion of blade housing 300 when changing rotary knife blades 210. The support interaction of the annular support groove 230 of the rotary knife blade 210 and the support rim 320 of the blade housing 300 results in two axially spaced curved lines of support contact 231a, 231b between the blade of rotary knife 210 and the blade housing 300.
[0057] Mounting region 315 of blade housing 300 includes a generally upper circumferentially extending rectangular first slot 330 that is centered over longitudinal split 310. Upper or distal slot 330 extending through the blade housing walls 302, 304 provides clearance for the gear teeth set 554 of the pinion 552 to extend into the inner region 301 of the blade housing 300 and engage the gear teeth set 222 of the rotary knife blade 210 such that the pinion 554 can rotating the rotary knife blade 210 about its central geometric axis R. A second generally oval shaped slit extending circumferentially lower 340 also centered on the longitudinal division 310 extends through the blade housing walls 302, 304. The lower slit or proximal 340 provides clearance such that the radially or horizontally extending tongue 632 of the upwardly extending housing bracket 6 30 of the vacuum adapter 610 can extend from the inner region 301 of the blade housing 300 through the inner and outer walls 302, 304 and fit into the matching slotted recess 432 formed in the curved mounting region 430 of the enlarged head 420 of the frame 400 A pair of threaded fasteners 440 extending horizontally through the enlarged head 420 of the frame 400 on opposite sides of the frame through hole 402, extending through the lower blade housing slot 340, and threaded into the respective threaded openings 634 of the adapter housing clamp tongue 632. This threaded fastener connection between frame 400 and adapter 610 sandwiches mounting region 315 of blade housing 300 between frame 400 and adapter 610 and secures blade housing 300 and vacuum adapter 610 to frame 400. The pair of threaded fasteners 440 are configured such that they are captured in their respective openings in the enlarged head. to 420 of frame 400. That is, the fasteners 420 configured such that the fasteners 420 do not fall out when the fasteners are unscrewed or unthreaded from their respective threaded openings 634 of the adapter housing clamp tongue 632.
[0058] The outer blade housing wall 304 includes a single radially outward protruding region 350 on a horizontal side 342 of the lower slot 340 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart raised regions 352 on an opposite horizontal side 344 of the lower slot 340. When frame 400 and vacuum adapter 610 are secured by threaded fasteners 400, as described above, unique region 350 fits into a horizontally extending recess 434a formed on one side 432a of slotted recess 432 of the enlarged head mounting region 430 and the plurality of regions 352 fit within a horizontally extending recess 434b formed on the opposite side of the slotted recess 432. To replace the rotary knife blade 210, both threaded fasteners 440 are loosened such that they are unthreaded from their respective openings. threads 634 of adapter housing clamp tongue 632. Blade housing 300 and rotary knife blade 210 are then removed from curved mounting region 430 of frame 400. An expansion tool such as pliers (not shown) is used to increase the circumference of blade housing 300 such that worn rotary knife blade 210 can be removed. The expansion tool is also used to expand the blade housing 300 such that a new rotary knife blade 210 can be inserted into the blade housing 300 such that the support rim 320 of the blade housing 300 fits within the annular support groove 230 of the rotary knife blade 210 to support the blade 210 for rotation with respect to the blade housing 300 about the central axis of rotation R. The blade housing 300, with the new rotary knife blade 210 installed, is then positioned such that blade housing mounting region 315 is seated against mounting region 430 of frame 400 and vacuum adapter 610 is positioned such that housing clamp tongue 632 extends through lower blade housing slit 340 and stops. within the matching slotted recess 432 formed in the curved mounting region 420 of an enlarged head 420 of frame 400. The two fasteners 440 are then inserted into of threaded openings 634 of tongue 632 of vacuum adapter housing clamp 630 and bolted into or tightened to secure vacuum adapter 610 and blade housing 300 to frame 400. Blade housing 300 is sufficiently rigid and resilient such that the housing 300 will return to its closed or unexpanded diameter condition as soon as the lifting force of the expansion tool is released.
[0059] The inner wall 302 of blade housing 300 at its proximal end 306 includes a radially inwardly extending circumferential lip 360 that extends over all 360° of the blade housing periphery. As best seen in Figure 6, lip 360 extends inwardly, but does not contact, a matching curved groove 618 formed in an outer wall 616 of a distal annular protrusion 614 of adapter 610 in a region of the housing clamp extending 630 of adapter 610 is upwards. Blade housing 300 is secured to frame 400 and restricted from axial movement relative to frame 400 and threaded openings 634 of tongue 632 of vacuum adapter housing clamp 630, as explained above. . The presence of lip 360 of blade housing 300 in curved groove 618 in outer wall 616 of vacuum adapter 610 works to reduce vacuum pressure lost through blade housing slit 310. The goal is to have as much vacuum as possible drawn through the assembly. of vacuum connection 600 to be communicated within the inner region 228 of the rotary knife blade 210 and through the through hole 229 of the rotary knife blade 210 to the cutting edge 218 such that removed product is readily extracted by a strong vacuum through the open regions 228, 301 of rotary knife blade 201 and blade housing 300 and into vacuum connection assembly 600.
[0060] When the blade housing 300 is in an expanded diameter condition (when, for example, the rotary knife blade 210 is being changed), as described above, the circumferential clearance between the side walls 312, 314 is increased to allow the change of blade 210. At the same time, an effective diameter of lip 360 is increased due to the clearance between the side walls 312, 314. When the circumferential clearance between the side walls 312 is sufficiently large, an effective diameter of the lip 360 will be large enough that the annular protrusion 614 of the adapter 610 can be pushed axially down and out of the blade housing 300. Thus, in the expanded diameter condition of the blade housing 300, the vacuum connection assembly 600 can be detached from blade housing 300. STRUCTURE 400
[0061] As best seen in Figures 6, 9 and 10, the frame or frame body 400 includes the proximal cylindrical base 410, and the augmented head 420. The augmented head 420 includes the curved mounting region 430. through hole 402 of frame 400 is aligned with grip assembly through hole 114 and therefore is aligned with the longitudinal axis of grip axis LA. Inner wall 404 of frame 400 defining through hole 402 includes inner shoulder 406 which provides a stop for outer shoulder 156 of grip assembly fastener 150 when fastener 150 is fully tightened on collar 140 to secure frame 400 to the assembly. of handle 110. The enlarged head 420 of frame 400 also includes a generally flat top surface 444 that provides a seating surface for a pinion cap 480. A raised central portion 445 of the top surface 444 surrounding the through hole 402 defines a recessed region keyway 408 which receives and supports an enlarged head 562 of the pinion bushing 560. To inhibit relative rotation between the pinion bushing 560 and the enlarged head 420 of the frame 400, a flat side wall section 564 of the enlarged pinion bushing head 420 fits against a flat wall 409 of the keyed recessed region 408. A cylindrical body extending behind 566 of the pinion bushing 560 extends into a portion of through hole 402 proximal to recessed region 408.
[0062] In addition to supporting the pair of threaded fasteners 440 that extend horizontally through the enlarged head 420 and exit through the slotted recess 4432 of the curved mounting region 430, the enlarged head 420 also defines a lubricant passage for routing lubricant to from a connection 460 to a support interface between pinion 552 and pinion bushing 560. Mounting region 430 is defined by a curved portion of a sidewall 422 of augmented head 420. Curved mounting region 430 conforms to the outer diameter of blade housing 300 when blade housing 300 is in an unexpanded condition.
[0063] The enlarged head 420 of frame 400 also includes the generally flat surface 444 that provides a seating surface for a pinion cover 480. The pinion head 551 supported by the pinion bushing 560 extends axially above the top flat surface 444. of the augmented head 420. The flat top surface 444 of the augmented head 420 includes a pair of axially extending threaded openings 446. The pinion cap 480 attaches to the augmented head 420 to cover and protect the pinion head 551. pinion 480 includes a pair of threaded openings 484 in line with threaded openings 446. A pair of threaded fasteners 486 extend through openings 484 of pinion cap 480 and thread into threaded openings 446 to secure pinion cap 480 to the enlarged head 420 of structure 400.
The pinion cap 480 includes a bottom wall 481 defining a central recessed region 482. The central recessed region 482 provides clearance for the pinion head 551. A side wall 490 of the pinion cap 480 defines the curved cutout 492 that intersects the central recessed region 482. The cutout 492 conforms to the curved shape of the curved mounting region 430 of the enlarged head 420 such that the set of involute gear teeth 554 of the pinion 552 can extend radially outwardly beyond the cap sidewall. pinion 490 (and sidewall 422 of enlarged head 420 in the area of curved mounting region 430) to allow gear teeth 554 operatively to mesh and drive driven gear 221 of rotary knife blade 210. 600 VACUUM CONNECTION ASSEMBLY
[0065] As can best be seen in figures 1, 3, 11 and 12, the vacuum connection assembly 600 includes the vacuum adapter 610, the hose holder 650 and the vacuum hose 680. The vacuum adapter 610 includes a proximal body 612 and larger diameter annular upper protrusion 614. A through hole 610 extends between a first proximal end 620 and a second distal end 622 of adapter 610 and defines an inner region 639 of adapter 610. Through hole 611 defines the central axis ACA of adapter 610, as described above. Proximal body 612 which has the general shape of a truncated cylinder. At the truncated upper end of the body 612 is the axially upwardly and radially outwardly extending annular protrusion 614. The outer wall 616 of the annular protrusion 614 includes the curved groove 618 that receives the radially inwardly extending lip 360 of the inner wall 302 of blade housing 300 in the region of blade housing division 310.
[0066] As described above, the annular protrusion 614 includes the upwardly or axially extending blade housing clamp 630 which, in turn, includes the horizontally extending tongue 632. The radially extending tongue 632 extends through bottom slot 340 of blade housing 300 and into slotted recess 432 of enlarged head 420 of frame 400. The pair of fasteners 440 on each side of frame through hole 402 threads into threaded openings 634 in tongue 632 to secure together the vacuum adapter 610, the blade housing 300 and the frame 400. Recorded otherwise, when the pair of fasteners 440 of the frame 400 threadedly engage the respective threaded openings 634 of the housing clamp 630 of the vacuum adapter 610, the adapter vacuum cup 610 rests against blade housing 300 in a region of blade housing split 310 to releasably secure blade housing 300 to frame 400 and to release reliably secure vacuum connection assembly 600 to frame 400. Blade housing 300 is sandwiched between vacuum adapter 610 and frame 400 as pair of fasteners 440 are tightened into threaded openings 634 of tongue 632 of housing clamp 630.
[0067] The proximal body 612 of the adapter 610 defines a sleeve that receives an end portion 682 of the flexible vacuum hose 680. An outer hose clamp 640 secures the end portion 682 of the vacuum hose 680 to the proximal body of the adapter 612. In an exemplary configuration, an inside diameter of the 680 vacuum hose is approximately 1.5 inches. Vacuum hose 680 defines a central opening or through hole 681 which in turn defines an inner region 686 of vacuum hose 680.
[0068] As noted above, the central axis ACA of the vacuum adapter 610 is angled away from the longitudinal axis of the handle assembly LA and the rotating blade axis R to provide clearance between the vacuum hose 680 and the operator's hand, while at the same time resolving the need to keep the front profile of the motorized rotary knife 100 as small as possible given the need for the knife 100 to be inserted into and manipulated in narrow body cavities, such as abdominal carcasses cavities, and similar. The front profile of the rotating knife 100, the limits of which are shown schematically by dimensions FP1, FP2 in Figure 4, can be seen as an approximate total frontal area or area effectively occupied by the motorized rotating knife 100 when looking in a proximal direction P ( Figure 3) in the direction of a distal end 101 of knife 100 along a line of the geometric axis of rotation R.
[0069] The hose holder 650 functions to secure the position of the vacuum hose 680 a fixed distance away from the grip assembly 100 such that the hose 680 does not interfere with the operator's hand as the operator manipulates the grip handle 124 , while at the same time maintaining a portion 683 of vacuum hose 680 that is proximal to end portion 682 coupled to adapter 610 in a generally parallel direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of grip assembly LA and the blade axis. of rotating rotary knife R. In this way, the vacuum hose 680 does not prevent manipulation of the motorized rotary knife 100 by the operator and, at the same time, provides as small a front profile as possible FP for the knife 100.
[0070] The hose holder includes a cylindrical sleeve 652 and a collar 644 which are connected by a clamp 656. The clamp 656 functions to separate and displace the cylindrical sleeve from the collar 654 radially and axially. Vacuum hose 680 extends through sleeve 652 and collar 654 fits over outer wall 122 of grip housing 112 in a region of coupling collar 130. Collar 130 engages a stepped shoulder 160 on outer wall 122 between collar 130 and the grip handle 124.
[0071] The through hole 681 and inner region 686 of the vacuum hose 680 are in fluid communication with the through hole 611 and the inner region 639 of the vacuum adapter 610 which are in fluid communication with the through hole 370 and the inner region 301 of the blade housing 300 which are in fluid communication with the through hole 229 and the inner region 228 of the rotary knife blade 210. Consequently, when the vacuum connection assembly 600 is mounted on the blade housing 300 and the rotary knife blade 210 is mounted in blade housing 300 and a vacuum pump (not shown) is actuated to draw a vacuum pressure in vacuum hose 680 due to fluid communication between vacuum connection assembly 600, blade housing 300 and rotary knife blade 210 of head assembly 200, vacuum pressure will be present in the inner region 22 and through hole 229 of rotary knife blade 210. Thus, cut or trimmed product (material removed), cut by cutting edge 218 of blade 210 will be pulled or routed by vacuum pressure in a proximal or backward direction through aligned through holes 229, 370, 611, 681 and ultimately routed through vacuum hose 680 where the material removed is collected in a container (not shown) for further processing, inspection, sorting, packaging, or disposal, depending on the nature of the material removed.
[0072] In an exemplary configuration of the motorized rotary knife 100, the handle housing 112 can be fabricated from stainless steel, while the handle grip 124 can be fabricated from plastic or other material or materials known to have comparable properties and can be formed by molding and/or machining, for example, the grip handle can be manufactured from two overmolded plastic layers, an inner layer comprising a hard plastic material and an outer layer or grip surface comprised of a softer, resilient plastic material, that is more flexible and easier for the operator to grip. Structure 400 of head assembly 200 may be fabricated from aluminum or stainless steel or other material or materials known to have comparable properties and may be formed/formed by casting and/or machining. Blade and blade housing 400 may be fabricated from a hardenable grade of alloy steel or a hardenable grade of stainless steel, or other material or materials known to have comparable properties and can be formed/formed by machining, forming, casting, forging, extrusion, metal injection molding, and/or electrical discharge machining or other suitable process or combination of processes. Vacuum Adapter 610 of Vacuum Connection Assembly 600 can be manufactured from aluminum or steel.
[0073] As used herein, orientation and/or direction terms such as front, rear, forward, backward, distal, proximal, distally, proximally, superior, inferior, inward, outward, horizontal, horizontally, vertical , vertically, axially, radially, longitudinally, axially, radially, longitudinally, etc., are provided for convenience purposes and generally relate to the orientation shown in the figures and/or discussed in the Detailed Description. Such guidance/direction terms are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, this patent application, and/or the invention or inventions described herein, and/or any of the claims appended herein. Additionally, as used herein, the terms comprise, understand, and comprising are taken to specify the presence of recorded features, elements, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, numbers integers, steps or components.
[0074] The above are examples of the present disclosure/invention. It is not, of course, possible to describe every conceivable combination of components, assemblies, or methodologies for purposes of describing the present disclosure/invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many additional combinations and permutations of the present disclosure/invention are possible. Accordingly, the present disclosure/invention is intended to cover all such changes, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

权利要求:
Claims (10)
[0001]
1. Motorized rotary knife, characterized in that it comprises: - a grip assembly (110) including an elongated cylindrical grip housing (112) defining a grip assembly longitudinal geometric axis (110); - a head assembly (200) coupled to the handle assembly (110), the head assembly (200) including a rotary knife blade (100) supported by a blade housing (300) for rotation about a central geometric axis ( R) of rotation, the rotary knife blade (100) including an annular body having an inner wall (120) and an outer wall (122) radially spaced apart, the inner wall (120) defining a central opening region extending thereto. from a first end to a second end remote from the annular body (211), the annular body including a drive section defining a driven gear (221) including a set of gear teeth (222) and a blade section adjacent to a second end of the annular body, the blade housing (300) positioned radially offset from the handle housing (110) such that the central axis of rotation of the rotary knife blade (100) is separate from and parallel to and longitudinal geometric axis of the grip assembly; and - a vacuum connection assembly (600) having an inner region in fluid communication with the central open region (228, 301) of the annular body (211) of the rotary knife blade (100).
[0002]
2. Motorized rotary knife according to claim 1, characterized in that the head assembly (200) additionally includes a frame (400) coupling the blade housing (300) to a distal end of the handle assembly (110) .
[0003]
3. Motorized rotary knife according to claim 1, characterized in that the set of gear teeth (222) of the driven gear (221) is formed on the outer wall (122) of the annular body (211).
[0004]
4. Motorized rotary knife according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal geometric axis of the grip assembly (110) extends through a through hole (114) in the grip housing (110).
[0005]
5. Motorized rotary knife according to claim 1, characterized in that the head assembly (200) is coupled to and extends from a distal end (118) of the handle assembly (110).
[0006]
6. Motorized rotary knife according to claim 1, characterized in that the blade housing (300) includes a partition extending longitudinally through the blade housing (210).
[0007]
7. Motorized rotary knife according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum connection assembly (600) includes a vacuum adapter (610) and a vacuum hose (680) having a central open region and including a end portion secured to the vacuum adapter (610), the central open region of the vacuum hose (680) being in fluid communication with the central open region (228, 301) of the annular body (211) of the rotary knife blade (100) .
[0008]
8. Motorized rotary knife according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary knife blade (100) includes a spacer section (240) intermediate the drive section (220) of the annular body (211) and the section of blade (260) adjacent to the second end of the annular body (211).
[0009]
9. Motorized rotary knife according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary knife blade (100) comprises a two-part structure (400) including a blade component releasably attached to a carrier component, the blade component including a blade section (260) and the carrier component including the drive section (220).
[0010]
10. Motorized rotary knife according to claim 1, characterized in that the blade housing includes a partition extending longitudinally through the blade housing (300), the frame (400) including a curved mounting region (430 ) and the vacuum adapter (610) including a housing clamp (630), the housing clamp (630) of the vacuum adapter (610) bearing against the blade housing (300) in a region of the split to secure releasably attach the blade housing (300) to the frame (400) and releasably secure the vacuum connection assembly (600) to the frame (400).

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法律状态:
2016-05-31| B03A| Publication of a patent application or of a certificate of addition of invention [chapter 3.1 patent gazette]|

2018-11-06| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|

2020-10-20| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|

2021-02-09| B06A| Notification to applicant to reply to the report for non-patentability or inadequacy of the application [chapter 6.1 patent gazette]|

2021-05-18| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|

2021-07-27| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 04/12/2014, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |

优先权:

申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

US14/446,005|US9452541B2|2014-07-29|2014-07-29|Power operated rotary knife with vacuum attachment assembly|

US14/446,005|2014-07-29|

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