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 blade guard assembly for a circular saw blade of a saw house includes a blade cover with a face panel and an edge portion that extends from the face panel. An actuator is mountable the blade cover and the structure of the saw house. When the blade guard assembly is mounted in saw house, the blade cover is movable with the actuator between a covered position and an exposed position. In the covered position, the face panel and edge portion at least partially surround the saw blade. In the exposed position, the face panel is spaced from the saw blade.

A blade guard assembly for a circular saw blade of a saw house includes a blade cover with a face panel and an edge portion that extends from the face panel. An actuator is mountable the blade cover and the structure of the saw house. When the blade guard assembly is mounted in saw house, the blade cover is movable with the actuator between a covered position and an exposed position. In the covered position, the face panel and edge portion at least partially surround the saw blade. In the exposed position, the face panel is spaced from the saw blade.

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.

A bulk roll cutting apparatus with a safety linkage is used to prevent inadvertent gravitational falls of a blade. The apparatus has a frame holding the blade, the blade is movable between a cutting position and a retracted position. In the cutting position, the blade is positioned proximate to an arbor. At least one link arm is movably connected to the frame. An actuator connects between the at least one link arm and the blade. An adjustment device connects between the at least one link arm and the frame. The adjustment device controls a cutting depth of the blade relative to the arbor. A safety linkage connects between the at least one link arm and the frame, and the safety linkage prevents an inadvertent gravitational fall of the blade.

A bulk roll cutting apparatus with a safety linkage is used to prevent inadvertent gravitational falls of a blade. The apparatus has a frame holding the blade, the blade is movable between a cutting position and a retracted position. In the cutting position, the blade is positioned proximate to an arbor. At least one link arm is movably connected to the frame. An actuator connects between the at least one link arm and the blade. An adjustment device connects between the at least one link arm and the frame. The adjustment device controls a cutting depth of the blade relative to the arbor. A safety linkage connects between the at least one link arm and the frame, and the safety linkage prevents an inadvertent gravitational fall of the blade.

Disclosed are a control device for a power tool and a power tool provided with the control device. The control device includes an operation control interface which is provided with a manually operated controller; an impedance-measuring safety interface, wherein the impedance-measuring interface includes a first manual contact electrode and a second manual contact electrode which are electrically isolated from each other, and wherein the manual contact electrodes are provided on the controller and extend over a manual bearing surface of the controller. The device is suitable for controlling and ensuring the safe use of power tools, especially electrical tools, such as pruning shears.

Power tools with conductive couplings used with active injury mitigation technology are disclosed. Conductive couplings are particularly relevant to table saws, hand-held circular saws, track saws, miter saws, and band saws with active injury mitigation technology. Conductive couplings provide a mechanism through which an electrical signal can be coupled or imparted to a blade, and then monitored for changes indicative of human contact with the blade. An exemplary conductive coupling includes a brush that establishes an electrical connection with a moving part of a power tool, and the brush maintains contact with the moving part of the power tool during at least 40 hours of cumulative time when the motor is spinning the arbor and blade without an interruption in the electrical connection sufficient to trigger the reaction system. A conductive coupling may be two-sided compliant. A conductive coupling may connect to a motor shaft to minimize electrical noise.

Power tools with conductive couplings used with active injury mitigation technology are disclosed. Conductive couplings are particularly relevant to table saws, hand-held circular saws, track saws, miter saws, and band saws with active injury mitigation technology. Conductive couplings provide a mechanism through which an electrical signal can be coupled or imparted to a blade, and then monitored for changes indicative of human contact with the blade. An exemplary conductive coupling includes a brush that establishes an electrical connection with a moving part of a power tool, and the brush maintains contact with the moving part of the power tool during at least 40 hours of cumulative time when the motor is spinning the arbor and blade without an interruption in the electrical connection sufficient to trigger the reaction system. A conductive coupling may be two-sided compliant. A conductive coupling may connect to a motor shaft to minimize electrical noise.

There is provided a method for executing processing for a workpiece. The method includes a table imaging step of imaging a foreign object of a transparent part of a holding table having the transparent part composed of a transparent member at least in part of a holding surface and forming a foreign object taken image, a holding step of holding the workpiece by the holding table after executing the table imaging step, a workpiece imaging step of imaging the workpiece held by the holding table through the transparent part and forming a workpiece taken image, and a processing step of executing cutting for the workpiece held by the holding table by a cutting unit.