Abstract: An apparatus for handling a circular saw blade for performing operations on the blade at a work station includes a mechanism for carrying the blade between a supply stack of blades, the work station, and a blade off-loading location. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for supporting the supply stack of blades. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for transferring the blade between a second blade support mechanism carried by the carrying mechanism and a third blade support mechanism provided at the work station. The third blade support mechanism enables indexing of the blade through the work station.

Abstract: A radio frequency heating apparatus incorporating a radio frequency generater valve (5), a radio frequency impedance matching transformer (7) and a heating coil/element arrangement (14) which is arranged to be selectively displaceable with respect to a working zone, wherein the heating coil or heating element (14) is integrally associated with the radio frequency impedance matching transformer (7) and is so physically separated from the radio frequency generator valve (5) that on displacement of the heating coil/element arrangement the transformer is constrained to move therewith without mechanically displacing the generator valve (5).

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for mounting hard material tips to a cutter tool such as a saw blade body (6), wherein a gripper/pick-up member/element (4) for handling the tips (8) to be mounted or other material required in the tip mounting operation is moveable about an axis (1) in order to transfer the tips or other material from a supply(ies) thereof to a location (9) at which the tips can be mounted or said other material can be utilized in the mounting of the tips.