Patent ID: 8171834

Claim:
A three-side trimmer for cutting a block of material, comprising: a common support frame; a first cutting station, the first cutting station including a block head cutting unit and a block foot cutting unit; a second cutting station, the second cutting station including a block front cutting unit, wherein each of the block head cutting unit, the block foot cutting unit, and the block front cutting unit includes a respective unit frame arranged on the common support frame, and each unit frame includes: a cutting strip, a knife for making an oblique swing cut against the cutting strip to cut a respective edge of the block of material, a pressing strip to press the block of material during the swing cut, and a pressing drive to operate the pressing strip, wherein the block head pressing drive, the block foot pressing drive, and the block front pressing drive are all separate from each other; wherein at least the unit frames of the block head cutting unit and block foot cutting unit each include first and second adjustable adapters coupled to the cutting strip and to the pressing strip, respectively; and wherein the block head cutting unit and the block foot cutting unit are adjustable toward and away from each other to cut blocks of material having different heights, wherein the adapters are expandable in a direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of the knife during cutting, based on a format height of the block of material to press and hold down the block of material during cutting; and a common conveyor to convey the blocks of material being cut to the first cutting station and the second cutting station.