A rotary shear for subdividing a product moving longitudinally along a path comprises a parallel pair of shafts having cutting blades connected thereto. The shafts are on opposite sides of and arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line of the shear. Driven gears on each of the shafts are spaced one from the other. A first pinion gear is in meshed relationship with one of the driven gears, and a second pinion gear in meshed relationship with the other of the driven gears. The first pinion gear has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second pinion gear. The first and second pinion gears are in an intermeshed relationship at a location spaced laterally from the center line of the shear.
1. A rotary shear for subdividing a product moving longitudinally along a path, said shear comprising:
a parallel pair of shafts having cutting blades connected thereto, said shafts being on opposite sides of and arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line of said shear;
a driven gear on each of said shafts, said driven gears being spaced one from the other;
a first pinion gear in direct meshed relationship with one of said driven gears, and a second pinion gear in direct meshed relationship with the other of said driven gears, said first pinion gear having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said second pinion gear, with said first and second pinion gears being in an intermeshed relationship at a location spaced laterally from the center line of said shear; and
drive means for rotatably driving said first pinion gear.
2. The rotary shear of claim 1 wherein said driven gears have equal diameters.
3. The rotary shear of claim 2 wherein said first pinion gear has a diameter smaller than the diameters of said driven gears.
4. The rotary shear of claim 2 or 3 wherein said second pinion gear has a diameter larger than the diameter of said driven gears.
5. The rotary shear of claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises an input shaft, at least one flywheel rotatably mounted on said input shaft, and a dutch mechanism for selectively fixing said flywheel on said input shaft for rotation therewith.
6. A rotary shear for subdividing a product moving longitudinally along a path lying in a plane containing a shear center line, said shear comprising:
a parallel pair of first shafts having cutting blades connected thereto, said first shafts being on opposite sides of and arranged symmetrically with respect to said shear center line;
driven gears on each of said first shafts, said driven gears having equal diameters and being spaced one from the other;
a pair of intermeshed pinion gears of unequal diameter, each pinion gear being in direct meshed relationship with a respective one of said driven gears, said pinion gears being rotatable about axes on opposite sides of and arranged asymmetrically with respect to said shear center line; and
drive means for rotatable driving the pinion gear having the smaller diameter.
7. A rotary shear for subdividing a product moving longitudinally along a path, said shear comprising:
a parallel pair of shafts having cutting blades connected thereto, said shafts being on opposite sides of and arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line of said shear;
a driven gear on each of said shafts, said driven gears having equal diameters and being spaced one from the other;
a first pinion gear in direct meshed relationship with one of said driven gears, and a second pinion gear in direct meshed relationship with the other of said driven gears, said first pinion gear having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said driven gears and said second pinion gear having a diameter larger than the diameter of said driven gears, said first and second pinion gears being in an intermeshed relationship at a location spaced laterally from the center line of said shear; and
drive means for rotatably driving said first pinion gear, said drive means comprising an input shaft, at least one flywheel rotatably mounted on said input shaft, and a clutch mechanism for selectively fixing said flywheel on said input shaft for rotation therewith.