Cam mechanism for split blade housing of power operated rotary knife

A blade housing assembly for supporting an annular rotary knife blade of a power operated rotary knife for rotation about a knife blade central axis of rotation, the blade housing assembly comprising:

• a) a split blade housing including an annular blade support section having an inner wall and a mounting section extending from the annular blade support section, the mounting section including a split extending through the mounting section and the inner wall of the blade support section, the mounting section including a first cam slot in a first portion of the mounting section on one side of the split and a second cam slot in a second portion of the mounting section on an opposite side of the split, the split blade housing being movable between a first, blade holding position and a second, blade changing position, the inner wall of the blade support section having a greater diameter in the second, blade changing position than in the first, blade supporting position;
• and
• b) a cam mechanism engaging the split blade housing for moving the split blade housing between the first, blade supporting position and the second blade changing position, the earn mechanism including:
• 1) a cam plate bridging the first and second portions of the mounting section of the split blade housing and including a first surface and a second surface spaced apart by a side wall extending between the first and second surfaces, the cam plate including an opening extending through the first and second surfaces;
• and
• 2) a cam member supported by the cam plate for rotation about a cam member axis of rotation, the cam member rotating between a first, closed position and a second, open position, the cam member including a first surface and a second surface spaced apart by a side wall, the cam member first surface including a first cam pin extending from the first surface and received in the first cam slot of the first portion of the split blade housing mounting section and a second cam pin extending from the first surface and received in the second cam slot in the second portion of the split blade housing mounting section, the cam member second surface including a boss extending from the second surface and received in the opening of the cam plate, the side wall of the cam member being symmetric with respect to a diagonal plane which intersects the first and second cam pins and which extends substantially parallel to the cam member axis of rotation.

A power operated rotary knife comprising:

• a) an annular rotary knife blade rotating about a knife blade central axis of rotation;
• b) a blade housing assembly including:
• 1) a split blade housing supporting the annular rotary knife blade for rotation about the knife blade central axis of rotation, the split blade housing including an annular blade support section having an inner wall and a mounting section extending from the annular blade support section, the mounting section including a split extending through the mounting section and the inner wall of the blade support section, the mounting section including a first cam slot in a first portion of the mounting section on one side of the split and a second cam slot in a second portion of the mounting section on an opposite side of the split, the split blade housing being movable between a first, blade holding position and a second, blade changing position, the inner wall of the blade support section having a greater diameter in the second, blade changing position than in the first, blade supporting position;
• and
• 2) a cam mechanism engaging the split blade housing for moving the split blade housing between the first, blade supporting position and the second blade changing position, the cam mechanism including:
• i) a cam plate bridging the first and second portions of the mounting section of the split blade housing and including a first surface and a second surface spaced apart by a side wall extending between the first and second surfaces, the cam plate including an opening extending through the first and second surfaces;
• and
• ii) a cam member supported by the cam plate for rotation about a cam member axis of rotation, the cam member rotating between a first, closed position and a second, open position, the cam member including a first surface and a second surface spaced apart by a side wall, the can member first surface including a first cam pin extending from the first surface and received in the first cam slot of the first portion of the split blade housing mounting section and a second cam pin extending from the first surface and received in the second cam slot in the second portion of the split blade housing mounting section, the cam member second surface including a boss extending from the second surface and received in the opening of the cam plate, the side wall of the cam member being symmetric with respect to a diagonal plane which intersects the first and second cam pins and which extends substantially parallel to the cam member axis of rotation.