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US 4,303,605 AGranted
Production of layered toothpicks
OwnerWilliam H. Lichfieldinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and tool for making tapered, layered plastic toothpicks from a solid plastic slab wherein a rapidly rotating tool having a single cutting edge configured to simultaneously cut and roll a thin film of plastic into a toothpick of the desired shape with each complete revolution is brought into contact with the plastic slab at a predetermined angle.
Claims9
A method of producing a rolled and layered toothpick having a forwardly tapered front portion and hollow central cavity from a thin plastic film which comprises the step of:
- (a) orienting a block of plastic of a predetermined thickness in a movable position along a fixed plane
- (b) positioning a cutting tool comprising a generally rotatable cylindrical shaft containing a single cutting lip on the shaft wherein the cutting lip has a single cutting edge and a recess immediately adjacent said cutting edge, said tool being attached to means for rapidly rotating said tool in a fixed plane relative to said plastic block
- (c) causing said tool to rotate rapidly, and
- (d) moving said plastic block along said predetermined plane into contact with said rapidly rotating tool at a fixed rate of speed wherein for each complete revolution of said tool the cutting edge on said cutting lip severs from said block a plastic film having a thickness of from about 0.5 to 5.0 mils causing said severed film to enter into said cutting lip recess and be rolled therein by the rotation of said tool into a toothpick which is ejected from said tool as the cutting lip rotates out of contact with said plastic block.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.