Abstract: A combined on/off and reversing switch, particularly for an electric screwdriver having a reversible motor, has a switch plate which can be rotatably mounted on an end of the motor. Terminals of the motor extend through the switch plate and are selectively contacted by ends of two resiliently flexible contact strips carried by the switch plate. An actuating member is moved along a selected path to rotate the switch plate to select "forward" and "reverse", and then depressed inwardly to flex an end of the appropriate contact strip to complete energization of the motor. The contact strips resiliently bias the actuating member outwardly to switch the motor "off" when the actuating member is released. Switching the motor "on" from a neutral "off" position of the switch involves a two part movement of the actuating member. The switch is of simple and compact construction.

Abstract: A fixing in a wall is made by drilling a hole, inserting the pin of a nozzle mounted on a hot melt gun into the hole and injecting molten polypropylene into the space between the pin and the hole. The polypropylene is allowed to solidify and the nozzle is removed leaving a wall plug ready for the insertion of a screw. Three embodiments of a nozzle especially adapted for use in this process are described. nozzle has a hollow screw-threaded base with a pin extending forwardly therefrom. Passageways in the base each communicate at one end with the interior of the base and at another end externally of the base and the pin in the vicinity of the junction between the pin and the base. A flexible seal is slidably mounted on the base and resiliently biased towards the pin.

Abstract: A hand-held power file has an abrasive belt trained around spaced apart drive and idler pulleys. The drive pulley is located in a chamber and mounted upon an armature shaft of an electric motor. Also mounted upon the armature shaft is a fan that, in use, creates an air flow through the chamber to remove dust debris from the belt. The abrasive belt extends through an opening at the front of the tool's housing and which also serves as an inlet for the air flow. A bag, for receiving dust entrained in the air flow, is supported by outer and inner supports and fits over an outlet nozzle extending from the chamber.

Abstract: In a portable motorized screwdriver, in order to provide for manual use of the screwdriver, to finish screwing in a screw, for example, or to start unscrewing a screw, a mechanism is provided for locking the spindle. This mechanism is coupled to the switch used to start and stop rotation of the spindle. This coupling is arranged so that operation of the switch to start rotation of the spindle is accompanied by unlocking of the spindle and so that returning the switch to the position to stop rotation of the spindle locks the spindle. The locking mechanism is arranged so that when the spindle is locked the screwdriver may be used as a ratchet type manual screwdriver.

Abstract: High speed container placement method and apparatus are provided, particularly for check weighing or for use in combination with high speed filling equipment for consumer products, such as instant coffee. A container separating device introduces groups of containers to a container placement and removal device for sequencing therethrough. The individual containers are transferred from an annular turntable to separate stationary work positions on a deck plate where they undergo a processing step. Following this processing step, the containers are removed from their respective stationary positions and returned to the annular turntable to be ultimately discharged from the container placement apparatus. The containers are placed at and removed from the work positions respectively by feeder and discharge guides which oscillate as they travel about the deck plate along an epicycloidal type path.

Abstract: A rotary hammer has a reciprocating piston of a pneumatic impact mechanism driven from a rotatable drive shaft. A coupling element is fixed on, and a drive element slidably mounted on, the drive shaft. These elements have interengageble tapered coupling surfaces and are biased apart by a spring therebetween. The drive element is disposed forwardly of the coupling element and is slidable rearwardly to drivingly engage the coupling surfaces for transmitting drive to the piston. The relative disposition of the drive and coupling elements causes reaction force on the piston, consequential in use upon generation of percussive blows, to urge the drive element into intensified engagement with the coupling element.

Abstract: An electric string instrument, e.g. an electric guitar, has one or more resistive elements associated with each fret whereby sideways deflection of a string while in contact with a fret creates a change in the effective resistive value of that fret. This may be used to provide "blending" of a note. Each such fret has one conductor, thus enabling a 144 wire harness in the neck of a guitar to be reduced to 24 conductive paths, which may be provided on a printed circuit board. Preferably both the strings and the frets are electrically scanned. The instrument may be employed as a MIDI guitar controller or an audio guitar or simultaneously as a combination of both. A guitarist can use a normal playing style, without special adaptation, to obtain a full range of expression, including pick velocity.

Abstract: A cutterhead for a power planer has an elongated core with threaded holes for releasably mounting a pressure plate with a cutting blade being clamped between the pressure plate and the core. The core has a support surface contacted by the cover portion, a contact surface contacted by the pressure plate, and a transition surface therebetween. The support surface is inclined to the contact surface at a angle of more than 180 degrees and less than 270 degrees. This arrangement helps compensate for tolerances associated with the securing screws, and reduces any tendency for imbalance in the cutterhead when rotating. A pair of cover portions may support opposite sides of the cutting blade adjacent its cutting edge. The cutting blade may be a profile blade.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a flexible printing plate comprises a printing cylinder having a surface upon which the printing plate is mountable, and a connection for applying subatmospheric pressure inside the cylinder. A plurality of valves selectively apply the subatmospheric pressure to the surface from inside the cylinder. These valves have depressable actuating members protrudable above the cylinder surface. Those actuating members contacted by the printing plate when applied to the cylinder surface are depressed thereby to effect application of subatmospheric pressure to beneath the printing plate to draw the plate against the cylinder. Preferably, grooves are provided in the cylinder surface for distribution of the subatmospheric pressure beneath the plate. Advantageously, the printing plate may have a thin, highly flexible and deformable fringe along its trailing edge to seal the surface grooves, at that location.

Abstract: A rotary die-cut apparatus, in which a die roll cooperates with a resiliently covered anvil roll for die-cutting carton blanks passed therebetween, incorporates a constant mesh gear train between the die roll and the anvil roll for providing an infinite hunting ratio between the rolls. This provides more uniform wear of the anvil roll cover and prolongs its effective life. Preferably, this gear train includes a harmonic drive having a wave generator cam rotatable by a trim motor. An arrangement for sensing changes in diameter of the anvil roll due to wear of its cover may provide an input for determining the speed of the trim motor. A resurfacing mechanism for removing the outer surface of the cover when worn may provide this input. A pulse generator is preferably incorporated in a controller of the trim motor for periodically making random changes in the speed of the trim motor.

Abstract: A worktable has a table top with a slot for reception of a saw blade of a hand-held circular saw when mounted below the table top. Two rip fences mounted on the table top are separately slidable in parallel adjusting slots for adjusting independently the position of each fence. A hole in the table top adjacent the middle of the saw blade slot accommodates a cutting tool of a portable router when mounted below the table top. A router guard may be pivotally attached to a raised support structure between the rip fences. A riving knife is adjustably mounted in alignment with the saw blade slot. A saw blade guard is pivotally mounted on the riving knife.

Abstract: A hand-held powered file has an arm assembly carrying a pulley around which passes an abrasive belt. The arm assembly is urged into a position tensioning the belt by a spring. A control knob has a cam track which cooperates with a follower to relieve the tension exerted on the belt by the spring by moving the assembly rearwardly against the spring.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cutting an end portion of a carton blank, e.g. to form a stitch flap, employs a rotatably driven male cutting head cooperating with a rotatably driven female cutting head. The female cutting head has a peripheral cutting groove therein and an anvil surface adjacent one side of the groove. The male cutting head has a two edged slot cutting blade of predetermined arcuate length which enters the groove each revolution, and a knife which extends transversely away from the blade and engages the anvil surface each revolution. The blade has a scallop-like cut-out in the side adjacent the anvil surface. The cut-out modifies the blade to a single edged cutting blade for a small part of its length. Scrap portions produced from the carton blank by a slotting cut of the blade and a transverse cut of the knife are integrally connected together by a bridging piece enabled by this cut-out.

Abstract: An air cooled bearing assembly for the armature shaft of an electric motor comprises a heat sink with an axial bore and spaced outwardly extending fins along its external surface. The fins are of a greater depth over part of their length and the junction between the parts of different fin depth is round to form a seating for a resilient mounting member. Located in the bore is a bearing sleeve which is an interference fit in the bore.

Abstract: A two-speed gear box for handheld electric drills and the like has the movable parts associated with gear changing on or associated with a lay shaft. Gear changing is preferably effected by moving a pair of dogs, slidably mounted in holes through a lay shaft gear, to drivingly engage in either of two dog clutch members on the lay shaft. A thin flexible arm, preferably including a ring around the lay shaft, mounted in cantilever fashion from a movable base effects movement of the dogs. Should the dogs not be in proper register with a respective dog clutch member when changing speed, then the arm flexes and urges the dogs into driving engagement when proper register occurs. A family of two-speed drills having different specialized functions, e.g. a drill, a hammer drill, a screwdriver/drill, a screwdriver, etc., can be produced with the maximum parts in common enabling greater manufacturing flexibility and lower cost of manufacturing the family.

Abstract: A laminated core of a stator of a universal motor consists of two core parts each of which bounds a portion of a central opening through the stator. The stator has at least one field winding, and at least one longitudinal part of this field winding, running in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the stator, is located through the central opening. The core parts are separated from one another at junction planes which run substantially parallel to the plane in which the two longitudinal parts of the field winding are located. The two core parts of the stator, the field winding or windings, and the armature are all assembled by relative movement along a single direction, thus facilitating automation of this assembly.