# US 9,873,207 B2 · Power operated rotary knife > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,873,207 B2 - Document ID: US9873207B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/959,602 - Filed: 2015-12-04 - Published: 2016-03-24 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-25 - Assignees: Bettcher Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Bettcher Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Nicholas A. Mascari; Jeffrey A. Whited - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9873207B2 ## CPC - B26B 25/002: {Motor-driven knives with a rotating annular blade} - A22B 5/165: {Ring knives specially adapted for skinning (motor driven tools with annular blades B26B25/002)} - A22C 17/12: Apparatus for cutting-off rind {(skinning instruments A22B5/16)} - F16C 33/3825: {formed as a flexible belt, e.g. spacers connected by a thin film} - F16C 33/422: {made from sheet metal} - F16C 33/425: {from a single part, e.g. ribbon cages with one corrugated annular part} - F16C 33/543: {from a single part} - F16C 33/767: {integral with the race} - F16C 43/06: Placing rolling bodies in cages or bearings - F16C 19/06: with a single row or balls - F16C 2226/76: with tongue and groove or key and slot - F16C 2226/78: of jigsaw-puzzle type - B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H) - A22B: SLAUGHTERING - A22C: PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH (preserving A23B; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs A23J1/00; fish, meat or poultry preparations A23L; disintegrating, e.g. chopping meat, B02C18/00; preparation of proteins C07K1/00) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A rolling bearing strip for a power operated rotary knife providing bearing support for rotation of a rotary knife blade with respect to a blade housing. The rolling bearing strip includes: a plurality of rolling bearings disposed in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for positioning the plurality of spaced apart rolling bearings, the flexible separator cage including interlocking first and second ends, the first end of the separator cage including a wall defining a projecting member and the second end of the separator cage including a wall defining a receiving member, the first end projecting member and the second end receiving member being in opposed facing relationship and the first end projecting member extending into the second end receiving member to secure the first end to the second end and form an annular, continuous rolling bearing ring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rolling bearing strip for a power operated rotary knife providing rolling bearing support between a rotary knife blade rotating with respect to a blade housing, the rolling bearing strip comprising: a plurality of rolling bearings positioned in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for positioning the plurality of rolling bearings, the flexible separator cage including first and second end portions, the rolling bearing strip including a longitudinally extending center line that extends through a center of the separator cage, the first end portion of the separator cage including a wall extending along the center line of the rolling bearing strip and a projecting member extending transversely from a first side of the wall and the second end portion of the separator cage including a receiving member, the projecting member of the first end portion and the receiving member of the second end portion being in opposed facing relationship and the projecting member of the first end portion extending into the receiving member of the second end portion, the first and second end portions interconnected to form a continuous ring, the wall of the first end portion of the separator cage including a raised, circumferentially extending projection extending from a second side of the wall in a direction away from the projecting member, at least a portion of an outer surface of the projection being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rolling bearing strip of claim 1 wherein the projecting member of the first end portion interfits into the receiving member of the second end portion to interconnect the first and second end portions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rolling bearing strip of claim 1 wherein the second end portion includes a wall defining the receiving member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rolling bearing strip of claim 3 wherein the projecting member of the first end portion comprises a projecting tab extending transversely from the first side of the wall of the first end portion and the receiving member of the second end portion comprises a slot extending radially into the wall of the second end portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rolling bearing strip of claim 4 wherein the projecting tab of the first end portion extends substantially orthogonally from a planar portion of the first side of the wall of the first end portion and the slot of the second end portion extends substantially orthogonally into a planar portion of the wall of the second end portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The rolling bearing strip of claim 5 wherein the projecting tab of the first end portion when viewed in longitudinal section along the planar portion of the wall of the first end portion is substantially oval-shaped and the slot of the second end portion when viewed in longitudinal section along the planar portion of the wall of the second end portion is substantially oval-shaped. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The rolling bearing strip of claim 4 wherein the second end portion includes a bead extending from the wall of the second end portion to define a portion of the slot of the second end portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The rolling bearing strip of claim 7 wherein the bead of the second end portion is substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The rolling bearing strip of claim 3 wherein respective facing, overlapping portions of the wall of the first end portion and the wall of the second end portion are substantially planar. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The rolling bearing strip of claim 4 wherein a circumferential length of the projecting tab of the wall of the first end portion is smaller than a circumferential length extent of slot of the wall of the second end portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The rolling bearing strip of claim 1 wherein the wall of the first end portion of the separator cage includes an upper end and a lower end, the projecting member of the first end portion being spaced from the upper end of the wall and spaced from the lower end of the wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The rolling bearing strip of claim 1 wherein the projection of the first end portion of the separator cage includes a circumferentially extending bead extending radially outwardly from the second side of the wall of the first end portion, an outer surface of the bead being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The rolling bearing strip of claim 12 wherein a radial outer surface of the bead of the first end portion defines a diameter with respect to the center line of the rolling bearing strip that is less than an outer diameter of each of the rolling bearings of the plurality of rolling bearings with respect to the center line of the rolling bearing strip. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The rolling bearing strip of claim 1 wherein the projecting member of the first end portion extends from a planar portion of the first side of the wall and the projection of the first end portion extends from a planar portion of the second side of the wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The rolling bearing strip of claim 1 wherein the second end portion of the separator cage further includes a raised, circumferentially extending projection extending in a direction away from the wall of the first end portion, an outer surface of the projection being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The rolling bearing strip of claim 1 wherein the first and second end portions are circumferentially separable. ### Claim 17 A rolling bearing strip for a power operated rotary knife providing rolling bearing between a rotary knife blade rotating with respect to a blade housing support for rotation of a rotary knife blade with respect to a blade housing, the rolling bearing strip comprising: a plurality of rolling bearings positioned in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for supporting and positioning the plurality of rolling bearings in spaced apart relation, the flexible separator cage including interlocking first and second end portions, the rolling bearing strip including a longitudinally extending center line that extends through a center of the separator cage, the first end portion of the separator cage including a wall extending along the center line of the rolling bearing strip and defining a projecting member extending transversely from a first side of the wall and the second end portion of the separator cage including a receiving member, the projecting member of the first end portion and the receiving member of the second end portion being in opposed facing relationship and the projecting member of the first end portion extending into the receiving member of the second end portion to interconnect the first end portion to the second end portion and form a continuous ring, the wall of the first end portion of the separator cage including a raised, circumferentially extending projection extending from a second side of the wall of the first end portion in a direction away from the projecting member, at least a portion of an outer surface of the projection being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The rolling bearing strip of claim 17 wherein the projecting member of the first end portion comprises a projecting tab extending transversely from the first side of the wall of the first end portion and the receiving member of the second end portion comprises a slot extending radially into a wall of the second end portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The rolling bearing strip of claim 18 wherein respective facing, overlapping portions of the wall of the first end portion and the wall of the second end portion are substantially planar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The rolling bearing strip of claim 18 wherein the projecting tab of the wall of the first end portion extends substantially orthogonally from a planar portion of the first side of the wall of the first end portion and the slot of the wall of the second end portion extends substantially orthogonally into a planar portion of the wall of the second end portion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The rolling bearing strip of claim 20 wherein the projecting tab of the wall of the first end portion when viewed in longitudinal section along the planar portion of the first side of the wall of the first end portion is substantially oval-shaped and the slot of the wall of the second end portion when viewed in longitudinal section along the planar portion of the wall of the second end portion is substantially oval-shaped. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The rolling bearing strip of claim 18 wherein a circumferential length of the projecting tab of the wall of the first end portion is smaller than a circumferential length extent of slot of the wall of the second end portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The rolling bearing strip of claim 18 wherein the second end portion includes a bead extending from the second side of the wall of the second end portion to define a portion of the slot of the second end portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The rolling bearing strip of claim 17 wherein the wall of the first end portion of the separator cage includes an upper end and a lower end, the projecting member being spaced from the upper end of the wall and spaced from the lower end of the wall. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The rolling bearing strip of claim 17 wherein the projection of the first end portion of the separator cage includes a circumferentially extending bead extending radially outwardly from the second side of the wall of the first end portion, an outer surface of the bead being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The rolling bearing strip of claim 25 wherein the projection of the first end portion extends from a planar portion of the second side of the wall. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The rolling bearing strip of claim 25 wherein a radial outer surface of the bead of the first end portion defines a diameter with respect to the center line of the rolling bearing strip that is less than an outer diameter of each of the rolling bearings of the plurality of rolling bearings with respect to the center line of the rolling bearing strip. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The rolling bearing strip of claim 17 wherein the second end portion of the separator cage further includes a raised, circumferentially extending projection extending in a direction away from the wall of the first end portion, an outer surface of the projection being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The rolling bearing strip of claim 17 wherein the first and second end portions are circumferentially separable. ### Claim 30 A rolling bearing strip for a power operated rotary knife providing rolling bearing support between a rotary knife blade rotating with respect to a blade housing, the rolling bearing strip comprising: a plurality of rolling bearings positioned in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for positioning the plurality of rolling bearings, the flexible separator cage including first and second end portions, the rolling bearing strip including a longitudinally extending center line that extends through a center of the separator cage, the first end portion of the separator cage including a wall and a projecting member extending transversely from the wall and the second end portion of the separator cage including a wall extending along the center line of the rolling bearing strip and a receiving member extending into a first side of the wall, the projecting member of the first end portion and the receiving member of the second end portion being in opposed facing relationship and the projecting member of the first end portion extending into the receiving member of the second end portion, the first and second end portions interconnected to form a continuous ring, the wall of the second end portion of the separator cage further including a raised, circumferentially extending projection extending from a second side of the wall of the second end portion in a direction away from the wall of the first end portion, at least a portion of an outer surface of the projection being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The rolling bearing strip of claim 30 wherein the projection of the second end portion of the separator cage includes a raised, circumferentially extending bead extending radially outwardly from the second side of the wall of the second end portion, an outer surface of the bead being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The rolling bearing strip of claim 30 wherein the wall of the first end portion of the separator cage includes a raised, circumferentially extending projection extending from the wall in a direction away from the projecting member, an outer surface of the projection being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The rolling bearing strip of claim 30 wherein the projecting member of the first end portion comprises a projecting tab extending transversely from the wall of the first end portion and the receiving member of the second end portion comprises a slot extending radially into a wall of the second end portion. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The rolling bearing strip of claim 30 wherein the wall of the second end portion of the separator cage includes an upper end and a lower end, the receiving member of the second end portion being spaced from the upper end of the wall and spaced from the lower end of the wall of the second end portion. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The rolling bearing strip of claim 30 wherein the first and second end portions are circumferentially separable. ### Claim 36 A rolling bearing strip in combination with an annular rotary knife blade for a power operated rotary knife, the combination comprising: the rolling bearing strip including: a plurality of rolling bearings positioned in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for positioning the plurality of rolling bearings, the flexible separator cage including first and second end portions, the rolling bearing strip including a longitudinally extending center line that extends through a center of the separator cage, the first end portion of the separator cage including a wall extending along the center line of the rolling bearing strip and a projecting member extending transversely from the wall and the second end portion of the separator cage including a receiving member, the projecting member of the first end portion and the receiving member of the second end portion being in opposed facing relationship and the projecting member of the first end portion extending into the receiving member of the second end portion, the first and second end portions interconnected to form a continuous ring, the wall of the first end portion of the separator cage including a raised, circumferentially extending projection extending from the wall in a direction away from the projecting member, at least a portion of an outer surface of the projection being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section; and the annular rotary knife blade including a wall defining a knife blade bearing surface, the plurality of rolling bearings in rolling bearing contact with the knife blade bearing surface. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The rolling bearing strip in combination with the annular rotary knife blade of claim 36 wherein the projecting member extends transversely from a first side of the wall of the first end portion and the raised, circumferentially extending projection extends from a second side of the wall of the first end portion. ### Claim 38 A rolling bearing strip in combination with an annular rotary knife blade for a power operated rotary knife, the combination comprising: the rolling bearing strip including: a plurality of rolling bearings positioned in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for positioning the plurality of rolling bearings, the flexible separator cage including first and second end portions, the rolling bearing strip including a longitudinally extending center line that extends through a center of the separator cage, the first end portion of the separator cage including a wall and a projecting member extending transversely from the wall and the second end portion of the separator cage including a wall extending along the center line of the rolling bearing strip and a receiving member extending into the wall, the projecting member of the first end portion and the receiving member of the second end portion being in opposed facing relationship and the projecting member of the first end portion extending into the receiving member of the second end portion, the first and second end portions interconnected to form a continuous ring, the wall of the second end portion of the separator cage further including a raised, circumferentially extending projection extending in a direction away from the wall of the first end portion, at least a portion of an outer surface of the projection being substantially arcuate-shaped in radial cross section; and the annular rotary knife blade including a wall defining a knife blade bearing surface, the plurality of rolling bearings in rolling bearing contact with the knife blade bearing surface. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The rolling bearing strip in combination with the annular rotary knife blade of claim 38 wherein the receiving member extends into a first side of the wall of the second end portion and the raised, circumferentially extending projection extends from a second side of the wall of the second end portion.