CAM MECHANISM FOR SPLIT BLADE HOUSING OF POWER OPERATED ROTARY KNIFE

A cam mechanism bridging a split through a mounting section of a split blade housing of a power operated rotary knife for moving the split blade housing between the first, blade supporting position and the second blade changing position. The cam mechanism includes a cam plate including an opening and a cam member supported for rotation by the cam plate. The cam member includes first and second surfaces spaced apart by a side wall, the cam member first surface including first and second cam pins extending from the first surface. The cam member second surface includes a boss extending from the second surface. The boss of the cam member being received in the cam plate opening. The side wall of the cam member is symmetric with respect to a diagonal plane intersecting the first and second cam pins and extending substantially parallel to the cam member axis of rotation.