Patent ID: 8464432

Claim:
A centerless cutting assembly comprising: a frame; a first drive roller mounted to said frame for rotation about a first rotation axis; a second drive roller mounted to a pivoting housing, said roller rotating about a second rotation axis; an annular blade mounted between said first and second drive rollers frictionally engaged thereby, the annular blade defining frontward and backward hemispheres; guide wheels mounted to said frame and operatively engaging an inner circular edge of said annular blade; and a drive assembly mounted to said frame for urging rotation of said first and second drive rollers, thereby urging rotation of said annular blade; said drive assembly comprising: a motor and a transmission operatively coupled to said motor, said transmission comprising a spur gear assembly operatively connecting said first drive roller and said second drive roller to said motor, said spur gear assembly comprising: a housing; a first spur gear operatively connected to said motor and to said first drive roller for rotation about said first rotation axis; a second spur gear operatively connected to said second drive roller; said second spur gear operatively engaging said first spur gear so that rotation of said first spur gear drives opposite rotation of said second spur gear about said second rotation axis; said spur gear assembly being pivotally mounted to said frame for pivoting upwardly and downwardly between an upper position and a lower position; a spring mounted to the housing and to the frame to help maintain the spur gear assembly in the lower position, ensuring contact between the first and second drive rollers and the blade.