Low friction rotary knife

A rotary knife blade comprising:

• a rotatable annular body defining first and second axial ends, said body disposed about a central axis;
• and,
• an annular blade section rotatable with the annular body and projecting axially from the first axial end of said body;
• said rotatable annular body comprised of a wall defining a radially outer surface disposed between said first and second axial ends, and an annular bearing race in said surface and extending radially into said wall, said bearing race spaced axially from said blade section and comprising a first surface that converges proceeding away from said second axial end, and a second surface that converges proceeding toward said first surface, said first and second surfaces defining first and second bearing faces spaced axially apart.

A rotary knife blade comprising:

• a rotatable annular body defining first and second axial ends, the annular body disposed about a central axis;
• an annular blade section rotatable with the annular body and projecting axially from the first axial end of the annular body;
• and
• wherein said annular body comprises a wall defining a radially outer surface disposed between the first and second axial ends, and a groove in the outer surface extending radially into said wall, the groove spaced axially from said blade section and comprising a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface spaced axially apart from the first bearing surface, the first and second bearing surfaces converging proceeding toward each other.

A rotary knife blade comprising:

• a rotatable annular body defining first and second axial ends, said body disposed about a central axis;
• and,
• an annular blade section rotatable with the annular body and projecting axially from the first axial end of said body;
• said rotatable annular body comprised of a wall defining a radially outer surface disposed between said first and second axial ends, the radially outer surface including a bearing structure adapted to engage a blade housing bearing structure, said annular body bearing structure spaced axially from said blade section and comprising a first bearing surface, a second bearing surface spaced axially apart from the first bearing surface and a third surface extending between adjacent ends of the first and second bearing surfaces, the first and second bearing surfaces engaging the blade housing bearing structure and the third surface spaced from the blade housing bearing structure.