Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
Rotary cutting apparatus for use in a tobacco cutting machine adapted to compensate for knife wear, comprising at least one knife which is mounted on and is movable with respect to a rotary holder, a transmission mounted on said holder and having input means comprising a rotary crankshaft, means for rotating said crankshaft to response to rotation of said holder, output means including a rotary element, and motion transmitting means for intermittently moving said output means in response to movement of said input means, said motion transmitting means including a pivotable member, means for pivoting said member in first and second directions in response to rotation of said crankshaft and means for driving said rotary element in response to the pivoting of said member in said first direction; and displacing means for moving said knife in response to intermittent movements of said output means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
Rotary cutting apparatus for use in a tobacco cutting machine adapted to compensate for knife wear, comprising at least one knife which is mounted on and is movable with respect to a rotary holder, a transmission mounted on said holder and having input means comprising a rotary crankshaft, means for rotating said crankshaft to response to rotation of said holder, output means including a rotary element, and motion transmitting means for intermittently moving said output means in response to movement of said input means, said motion transmitting means including a pivotable member, means for pivoting said member in first and second directions in response to rotation of said crankshaft and means for driving said rotary element in response to the pivoting of said member in said first direction; and displacing means for moving said knife in response to intermittent movements of said output means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmission is a step-down transmission.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises a one-way clutch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising adjusting means for varying the extent of pivotal movement of said member in said first and second directions in response to rotation of said crankshaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said adjusting means comprises means for varying the effective length of said pivotable member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said member is pivotable about a predetermined axis and said adjusting means includes means for coupling said crankshaft with said member at any one of a plurality of selected distances from said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said member has an elongated slot extending substantially radially of said axis and said motion transmitting means comprises a connector having a first end portion articulately connected with said crankshaft and a second end portion, said coupling means including means for attaching said second end portion to said member including a pin extending into and movable lengthwise of said slot and means for releasably locking said pin in a selected portion of said slot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rotary element is a gear and said driving means includes a freewheel arranged to rotate said gear in response to pivoting of said member in said first direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said holder carries a plurality of knives and said gear is coaxial with said holder, said displacing means including means for simultaneously moving all of said knives with reference to said holder in response to rotation of said gear.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said gear is a ring gear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein means for rotating said crankshaft in response to rotation of said holder, includes a stationary worm coaxial with said holder and a worm wheel rotatably mounted in said holder for orbital movement about and meshing with said worm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said crankshaft is coaxial with and is driven by said worm wheel.