An apparatus includes channel assemblies in a rotatable section, a cutting assembly, a discharge assembly, and a cleanout assembly. The channel assembly holds a bulk instance of compressible material extending through upper and lower channels of a continuous channel. The cutting assembly moves in relation to the channel assembly to isolate the upper and lower channels, severing upper and lower material portions of the bulk instance. The discharge assembly directs gas into the lower channel of a channel assembly to discharge the lower material portion from the lower channel, based on radial alignment of a conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the discharge assembly. The cleanout assembly supplies a fluid through the conduit assembly of the channel assembly, based on radially alignment of the conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the cleanout assembly.

A cutting apparatus is provided. The cutting apparatus includes a cutter disposed in a conveying path for conveying a plate-shaped object and configured to cut the object, a downstream conveyor disposed downstream of the cutter in the conveying path and configured to convey the object, and a foreign-matter adhesion preventer disposed between the cutter and the downstream conveyor and configured to prevent foreign matter scattered by the cutter from adhering to the downstream conveyor.

A dust-proof circular saw includes a base placed on a workpiece, a circular saw main body supported on an upper surface side of the base and equipped with an electric motor, and a saw blade driven by the electric motor extending downwardly from the base. The dust-proof circular saw further includes a cooling fan driven by the electric motor to guide air to the electric motor for cooling the electric motor, as well as to a blower mechanism. The blower mechanism blows the cutting chips away by blowing the air generated by the fan out of the circular saw main body in a user-adjustable direction. The blower mechanism has an air outlet configured to blow out the air, and an orientation change mechanism capable of changing the orientation of the air outlet.

A perforating apparatus and method includes a longitudinal cylinder axis about which a cylinder rotates. At least one shaped anvil bead is disposed on the cylinder. The cylinder including an anvil block and an anvil bead form a cavity. The cavity may be used to control the debris produced during the perforating process. A blade is disposed on a support to cooperate in contacting relationship with the anvil bead. A web is perforated as the web passes between the rotating cylinder and the support and the blade operatively engages with the anvil bead. The debris may be controlled by being drawn into the cavity prior to the point where the blade engages the anvil and, subsequently, being expelled after the point where the blade engages the anvil bead.

A perforating apparatus and method includes a longitudinal cylinder axis about which a cylinder rotates. At least one shaped anvil bead is disposed on the cylinder. The cylinder including an anvil block and an anvil bead form a cavity. The cavity may be used to control the debris produced during the perforating process. A blade is disposed on a support to cooperate in contacting relationship with the anvil bead. A web is perforated as the web passes between the rotating cylinder and the support and the blade operatively engages with the anvil bead. The debris may be controlled by being drawn into the cavity prior to the point where the blade engages the anvil and, subsequently, being expelled after the point where the blade engages the anvil bead.

Disclosed is a method for cutting chewing gum, the method including providing a chewing gum sheet to at least one cutting device; applying oil to said at least one cutting device; and cutting said chewing gum sheet via said at least one cutting device. Further disclosed is a method for cutting chewing gum, the method including providing a chewing gum sheet to at least one cutting device; cutting said chewing gum sheet via said at least one cutting device; and separating chewing gum from said at least one cutting device via a directing of compressed air onto said at least one cutting device.

A front end conveyor includes a frame having a first side and a second side, a lower deck and an upper deck. The lower deck includes a plurality of sheet supports, and upper portions of the sheet supports lie in a first plane. The upper deck includes a plurality of sheet guides that define with the sheet supports a sheet transport path through the front end conveyor. A chad wall extends transversely to the sheet transport direction and has a top edge located below the sheet transport path and a front surface facing in the upstream direction and a plurality of fingers projecting from the front surface in the upstream direction. The top edge of the chad wall is positioned relative to the sheet transport path such that hanging chads depending from the sheets will impact the chad wall.

A front end conveyor includes a frame having a first side and a second side, a lower deck and an upper deck. The lower deck includes a plurality of sheet supports, and upper portions of the sheet supports lie in a first plane. The upper deck includes a plurality of sheet guides, and the plurality of sheet supports and the plurality of sheet guides define therebetween a sheet transport path for moving sheets in a sheet transport direction toward the downstream end of the front end conveyor. A transverse scrap conveyor is mounted below the lower deck to carry scrap in a direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction. The transverse scrap conveyor is secured to and supported by the frame such that the transverse scrap conveyor is movable with the frame as a unit.

A front end conveyor include a lower deck having a plurality of lower sheet supports, an upstream upper deck having an upstream end at the upstream end of the front end conveyor, a downstream end and a plurality of first upper sheet guides and a downstream upper deck having an upstream end, a downstream end at the downstream end of the front end conveyor, and a plurality of second upper sheet guides. The lower sheet supports and the upper sheet guides define a sheet transport path for moving sheets of material though the conveyor. The downstream end of the upstream upper deck and the upstream end of the downstream upper deck are independently pivotably mounted to the frame such that the upstream end of the upstream upper deck and the downstream end of the downstream upper deck shiftable toward and away from the lower deck.

A front end conveyor includes a frame having a first side and a second side, a lower deck including a plurality of sheet supports and an upper deck including a plurality of sheet guides. Upper portions of the sheet supports lie in a first plane, and the plurality of sheet supports and the plurality of sheet guides define therebetween a sheet transport path for moving sheets in a sheet transport direction toward the downstream end of the front end conveyor. At least one helical brush is positioned at the sheet transport path and is configured to engage scrap material on the plurality of sheets. The conveyor also includes a drive configured to rotate the helical brush.