Patent ID: 6415698
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: A21C,B26D,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for cutting a wafer sandwich into a plurality of rectangular pieces, the apparatus comprising:a support surface defining a straight and horizontal transport path extending longitudinally through a longitudinal-cutting station and a transverse-cutting station, the surface being formed in the transverse-cutting station with a plurality of transversely extending and longitudinally spaced slots; a plurality of stationary and transversely spaced longitudinal blades extending across the path in the longitudinal-cutting station; an abutment displaceable immediately downstream of the transverse-cutting station between a blocking position in the path and a retracted position clear of the path; a plurality of transverse blades projecting upward from below through the slots and displaceable transversely in the slots of the transverse-cutting station across the path; and conveyor means including pusher elements above the surface engageable with the wafer sandwich for pushing the sandwich longitudinally in a transport direction along the path through the longitudinal-cutting station, for pushing the sandwich into the transverse-cutting station and against the abutment in the blocking position thereof, and for pushing the wafer sandwich out of the transverse-cutting station in the retracted position of the abutment.