Apparatus for supporting product during cutting

An apparatus for guiding an elongated product having a generally circular cross section and an axially extending centerline during cutting comprising:

• a lower support frame,
• an upper support frame movably mounted with respect to the lower support frame,
• right and left bottom support links, each of the bottom support links having a lower and pivotally connected to the lower support frame, an upper end, and a guide surface adapted to guide the product,
• right and left side support links, each of the side support links having a lower end slidably supported by the lower support frame, an intermediate pivot point which is pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the bottom support links, an upper end, and a guide surface between the intermediate pivot point and the upper end of the support link adapted to guide the product,
• a top product guide mounted on the upper support frame, the top product guide having a guide surface adapted to guide the product, a right lower end engaging the right side support link, and a left lower end engaging the left side support link, the top product guide being movable with the upper support frame between a raised position in which the upper end of each of the side support links is spaced a first distance from the centerline of the product and a lowered position in which the upper end of each of the side support links is moved by the lower ends of the top product guide to a second distance from the centerline of the product which is less than said first distance.