Shearing apparatus with means to detect clearance between cutting blades

Claim 1

A shearing apparatus comprising support means and a unitized structure operatively connected to said support means and adapted to be removed and handled as a unit, said unitized structure comprising a base member operatively cOnnected to said support means, first cutting means operatively connected to said base member, second cutting means operatively connected to said base member and positioned thereon in cutting relationship relative to said first cutting means, one of said cutting means being rotatable relative to the other of said cutting means during the operation of said shearing apparatus, means mounting said one of said cutting means for movement along said base member in a given direction toward and away from the other cutting means thereby to vary the clearance space between said cutting means, said mounting means comprising a supporting member supporting said one cutting means, track means on said base member mounting said supporting member for movement in said given direction and adapted to prevent lateral movement of said supporting member in the direction of the rotary axis of said one cutting means, means for moving said supporting member along said track means, adjustable locking means operatively connected between said track means and said supporting member and adpated to drive said supporting member toward said track means on said base to positively lock same against relative movement in said given direction, means accessible from the outside of said unitized structure for adjusting said locking means and means operatively connected to said first and second cutting means and effective to measure the clearance spaced therebetween while said one of said cutting means is rotating.