Patent ID: 6857191

Claim:
A rotary knife comprising: a) a ring blade comprising a closed loop cutting surface for cutting material which the ring blade contacts during rotation of the ring blade; b) a blade housing that supports the ring blade and includes a housing body having a wall that defines a housing interior into which material separated by the cutting surface of the ring blade moves as it is cut, said housing body including: i) a bearing surface that is defined by a wall portion of the housing body for engaging the ring blade thereby allowing the ring blade to rotate with respect to the blade housing; ii) a notch in a body wall in a region of the bearing surface that allows the bearing surface to move for separating the ring blade from the blade housing; and iii) a coupling wall portion spaced from the bearing surface that defines a coupling for securing a suction tube that withdraws material from the blade housing interior; c) a drive assembly for providing motive power to rotate the ring blade during operation of the rotary knife; and d) a handle assembly including a head member extending outwardly from the handle assembly for supporting the blade housing.