Cutting apparatus with automatic feed

An apparatus for operating on a workpiece, comprising:

• moveable carriage means for holding the workpiece in an horizontal position, said carriage means operable to move the workpiece back and forth along a set direction;
• working means for contacting the workpiece and operating on the workpiece in a predetermined manner;
• platform means attached to said working means, said platform means operable to move said working means towards and away from the workpiece disposed on said carriage means;
• a first chain interacting with said carriage means such that said workpiece moves along its travel path in response to movement of said first chain;
• and
• ratchet means operable between first and second points said ratchet means moved from said first point to said second point as said platform means moves said working means away from said workpiece, said ratchet having a tooth means engageble with said first chain when moving from said first point to said second point, and and said tooth means retractable from said first chain when moving from said second point to said first point.

A slot cutting apparatus for cutting a plurality of transverse slots in a length of flexible tubing, comprising:

• carriage means for holding the tubing, said carriage means operable to move the tubing along the longitudinal axis of the tubing;
• cutting means for engaging with the tubing and producing a plurality of slots therein;
• platform means attached to said cutting means for moving said cutting means towards the tubing and away from the tubing in a predetermined path, such that said cutting means can be positioned to contact or to not contact the tubing;
• a chain for incrementally advancing the tubing along its path of travel for a predetermined distance such that movement of the chain causes movement of the tubing;
• ratchet means operable between first and second points, said ratchet means engageable with said chain when moving from said first point to said second point, and said ratchet means retractable from said chain when moving from said second point to said first point for controlling said chain to incrementally advance the tubing in response to said platform means moving from said cutting position to said non-cutting position, said ratchet means activated after said platform reaches a position such that the tubing can advance along its path without contacting said cutting means;
• first stopping means for preventing said ratchet means from moving beyond said first point in a direction away from said second point;
• second stopping means for preventing said ratchet means from moving beyond said second point in a direction away from said first point;
• and
• third stopping means disposed upon said second stopping means for preventing said tooth means from retracting from said first chain while said ratchet is at said second point.