Cutting apparatus including a visual tension indicator mechanism

A cutting apparatus comprising:

• a feed tower assembly including a guide plate and a saddle connected to the guide plate, the saddle configured to be attached to an object to be cut;
• a frame base plate and a driven drive wheel mounted on the frame base plate;
• a first arm assembly comprising a first arm plate pivotally coupled to the frame base plate and having an arm wheel rotatably mounted thereon, the first arm assembly being pivotable relative to the saddle;
• a second arm wheel coupled to the frame base plate;
• a rod attached to the guide plate and rotatable relative thereto, and attached to the frame base plate, wherein rotation of the rod causes translation of the frame base plate, the first arm assembly and the second arm wheel upwardly and downwardly relative to the saddle;
• a cutting member partially wrapped around the first and second arm wheels and the drive wheel;
• a tensioning assembly operably connected to the frame base plate and the first arm assembly and configured to visually indicate an amount of tension applied to the cutting member;
• a wire tensioning base plate and a wire tensioning height adjustment mechanism, the wire tensioning height adjustment mechanism coupled to the frame base plate and to the wire tensioning base plate and configured to move the wire tensioning base plate upwardly and downwardly relative to the frame base plate, wherein the first arm assembly is pivotally mounted on the wire tensioning base plate;
• and
• a latch attached to the first arm assembly and configured to be attached to the wire tensioning base plate.

A cutting apparatus comprising:

• a feed tower assembly including a guide plate and a saddle connected to the guide plate, the saddle configured to be attached to an object to be cut;
• a frame base plate and a driven drive wheel mounted on the frame base plate;
• a first arm assembly comprising a first arm plate pivotally coupled to the frame base plate and having an arm wheel rotatably mounted thereon, the first arm assembly being pivotable relative to the saddle;
• a second arm wheel coupled to the frame base plate;
• a rod attached to the guide plate and rotatable relative thereto, and attached to the frame base plate, wherein rotation of the rod causes translation of the frame base plate, the first arm assembly and the second arm wheel upwardly and downwardly relative to the saddle;
• a cutting member partially wrapped around the first and second arm wheels and the drive wheel;
• a tensioning assembly operably connected to the frame base plate and the first arm assembly and configured to visually indicate an amount of tension applied to the cutting member;
• and
• a wire tensioning base plate and a wire tensioning height adjustment mechanism, the wire tensioning height adjustment mechanism coupled to the frame base plate and to the wire tensioning base plate and configured to move the wire tensioning base plate upwardly and downwardly relative to the frame base plate, wherein the first arm assembly is pivotally mounted on the wire tensioning base plate, the wire tensioning height adjustment mechanism including a block extending from the frame base plate, and a rod engaged with the block and engaged with the wire tensioning base plate, wherein rotation of the rod causes vertical movement of the wire tensioning base plate and the first arm assembly relative to the frame base plate and the feed tower assembly.

A cutting apparatus comprising:

• a feed tower assembly configured to be attached to an object to be cut;
• a frame base plate assembly comprising a frame base plate and a driven drive wheel mounted on the frame base plate;
• a frame base plate adjustment mechanism coupled to the frame base plate and to the feed tower assembly and configured to move the frame base plate assembly upwardly and downwardly relative to the feed tower assembly;
• a wire tensioning assembly comprising a wire tensioning base plate and a wire tensioning height adjustment mechanism, the wire tensioning height adjustment mechanism coupled to the frame base plate and to the wire tensioning base plate and configured to move the wire tensioning base plate upwardly and downwardly relative to the frame base plate;
• a first arm assembly pivotally mounted on the wire tensioning base plate such that the first arm assembly can be positioned in an operating position or a storage position, the first arm assembly comprising a first arm plate having an arm wheel rotatably mounted thereon;
• a first arm adjustment mechanism coupled to the wire tensioning base plate and to the first arm plate and configured to pivot the first arm assembly relative to the wire tensioning base plate;
• a second arm assembly mounted on the frame base plate, the second arm assembly comprising a second arm plate having an arm wheel rotatably mounted thereon;
• and
• a cutting member partially wrapped around the arm wheels and the drive wheel.