Patent ID: 7963142
Filing Date: 2011-06-21
Classification: A61F,B21J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. Radial compression mechanism comprising: a plurality of dies each including an elongated arcuate body having an outer end pivotally attached to a hinge plate to form a single pivot point about which the elongated arcuate body rotates and an inner working tip, the plurality of dies being mounted on the hinge plate in an inwardly spiraling orientation with the outer ends being positioned in a circle and the working tips cooperating to define a central product-receiving cylindrically-shaped cavity having a transitional diameter coaxial with the circle, the product-receiving cavity being transitional between an open and a closed orientation; the working tip of each die in the plurality of die having a sliding surface and a working surface, the sliding surface of each die of the plurality of dies being positioned in substantially parallel juxtaposition to the working surface of an adjacent die, a constant width gap being defined between the sliding surface of each die of the plurality of dies and the working surface of each adjacent die of the plurality of dies; and driving mechanism coupled to each die of the plurality of dies to rotatably drive all of the die of the plurality of dies in unison to transition between the open and closed orientations, the width of the gap remaining constant in the open and closed orientations and during the transition between the open and closed orientations.