A printer configured to cut recording paper with a fixed blade and a movable blade has a blade unit including the movable blade and a slider to which the movable blade is attachable, and the slider includes: a contact part configured to contact the movable blade; a flexible part formed thinner than the contact part; and a first protrusion provided on the flexible part and configured to engage with a first opening provided in the movable blade.

A method for the cutting of material is to be cut by means of a cutting machine which includes a horizontal cutting support for material to be cut, a horizontal cutting blade displaceable in height above the cutting support for cutting the material to be cut supported on the cutting support, a drive motor for the height displacement of the cutting blade, a manual control for the drive motor, and a protection device safeguarding the working region of the cutting machine. The method has the steps of: lowering the cutting blade, when the protection device is not interrupted, by actuating the manual control; and stopping the cutting blade which is being lowered when the protection device is interrupted. Immediately after stopping the cutting blade which is being lowered, the drive motor is operated to reverse the cutting blade under safety monitoring into a nondangerous upper safety location.

In a cutting device, a cutting blade is reciprocally movable within a movable range including a first retracted position away from a target to be cut and a cut complete position at which cutting of the target is to be completed. A memory is configured to store cutting data indicating the first retracted position. A controller is configured to perform controlling, in response to determining that the cutting blade has stopped at an intervening position between a cut start position at which cutting of the target is started and the cut complete position, a drive portion to move the cutting blade from the intervening position to a second retracted position positioned within the movable range and away from the target. The controller is configured to further perform updating the cutting data stored in the memory so as to indicate the second retracted position in place of the first retracted position.

A controller of a cutting apparatus obtains cutting data and specifies a pressure value corresponding to pressure to be applied to an attaching portion by a pressure changer during cutting processing for cutting a workpiece using a cutting blade based on the cutting data and a target range defining target positions of the attaching portion in a fifth direction. While causing the pressure changer to apply, to the attaching portion, the pressure corresponding to the specified pressure value, the controller executes the cutting processing by controlling a first moving mechanism and obtains the position of the attaching portion in the fifth direction. If the obtained position of the attaching portion is out of the target range, the controller changes the pressure value to another value and executes the cutting processing while causing the pressure changer to apply, to the attaching portion, the pressure corresponding to the other value.

A food processing attachment for a food processing device includes a rotational adapter configured to be selectively coupled with a drive system of the food processing device. A food holder is coupled to the rotational adapter and having a base, wherein the food holder is selectively rotated by the rotational adapter. A central spear extends perpendicularly from a center of the base. A plurality of radial flanges extend perpendicularly from the base, wherein each radial flange of the plurality of flanges is discontinuous with the other radial flanges, wherein the central spear and the plurality of radial flanges are adapted to secure a food item in a processing space and in communication with the rotational adapter. A blade is coupled to an operable carriage and is adapted to selectively engage the food item within the processing space to remove at least a portion of the food item.

An automated food processing machine includes a receptacle, a slitter assembly, and a controller. The slitter assembly is coupled to a first motion actuator and includes a third motion actuator coupled to a slitter blade. In response to an input signal, the controller is configured to (1) actuate the first motion actuator to translate the slitter assembly along a first axis until the slitter blade has penetrated into a whole fruit or vegetable, and (2) actuate the third motion actuator to move the slitter blade relative to the slitter assembly with a component along an axis that is not parallel to the first axis.

An automated food processing machine includes a receptacle, a slitter assembly, and a controller. The slitter assembly is coupled to a first motion actuator and includes a third motion actuator coupled to a slitter blade. In response to an input signal, the controller is configured to (1) actuate the first motion actuator to translate the slitter assembly along a first axis until the slitter blade has penetrated into a whole fruit or vegetable, and (2) actuate the third motion actuator to move the slitter blade relative to the slitter assembly with a component along an axis that is not parallel to the first axis.

A mechanism is described herein to drive slitter and cutter waste in a direction that allows for a more advantageous use of the waste collection bin's volume. The waste drive mechanism allows for at least one armature that drives the waste in a desired direction. The armature is made from a material that is flexible, with a curved shape to allow a pre-loaded force against a contact surface of the waste collection bin. The pre-loaded flexible armature against a contact surface of the collection bin provides sufficient force to drive the waste it in a desired direction, allowing for a more consistent use of the waste collection bin spatial volume.

A controller of a cutting apparatus specifies a target position of an attaching portion in a fifth direction and controls a second moving mechanism to move the attaching portion in a third direction. If the controller determines that the attaching portion has reached the target position, the controller executes cutting processing based on the obtained cutting data by controlling the second moving mechanism based on a pressure corresponding value achieved when the attaching portion is located at the target portion. If the controller determines that the pressure corresponding value has reached a pressure threshold, the controller executes the cutting processing by controlling the second moving mechanism based on the pressure corresponding value achieved when the attaching portion is located at a first particular position where the pressure corresponding value is equal to or lower than the pressure threshold value. The controller restarts controlling the second moving mechanism.

A microtome blade guard including a first arm operable to be coupled to a first side of a cutting mechanism of a microtome; a second arm operable to be coupled to a second side of a cutting mechanism; a lateral support member disposed between the first arm and the second arm; and a staff coupled to the lateral support member and operable to extend therefrom to engage a blade positioned in the blade slot. A microtome including a blade guard and a method including placing a blade in a blade slot of a blade block of a microtome; engaging the blade with a staff coupled to a blade guard that is coupled to the blade block; and moving the blade with the staff.