Abstract: A manually operated hammer-type stapler for attaching a material to a surface with a tabbed staple includes a staple driver having a staple drive blade moveable along a blade pathway between a raised position to a lowered position; a striker at the distal end of the stapler; an elongated handle extending rearwardly from the staple driver; an elongated staple magazine beneath and parallel to the handle, the staple magazine having a discharge end adjacent the blade pathway to position a staple beneath the driver blade; and an elongated tab magazine parallel to and beneath the staple magazine, the tab magazine having a discharge end adjacent the blade pathway to position a tab beneath the driver blade, whereby the driver blade moves from its raised position to its lowered position when the striker is impacted against the surface to drive a staple through a tab and into the surface.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of forming a bag having a bottom seal from a web of sealable sheet material which is formed into a tube (12) by sealing opposite longitudinal edge portions of the sheet material one to another.

Abstract: Device for filling cartons (11) by inserting a group—filler group (19)—of small packs, pouches (10), into the carton (11), which is open at the top. The filler group (19) of pouches (10) corresponds to one layer (20) in the carton (11). A special filling conveyor (25) conveys the filler group (19) into the carton (11) and lays the pouches down one after another, forming a layer (20).

Abstract: An automatic fastening scheduler apparatus is described for scheduling the placement of fasteners such as nails, staples or screws for joining materials along a preselected path on the material. The apparatus spaces the fasteners by sequentially operating the safety mechanism of a standard power fastener at a rate determined by the distance the apparatus is rolled along the surface of the material. The apparatus does not modify the operation of the safety mechanism of the power fastener and the power fastener can be easily removed from the apparatus for manual operation. The apparatus provides for varying the spacing between adjacent fasteners and can be operated from either an upright or a crouched position.

Abstract: A power actuated tool for driving a fastener such as a pin into a substrate such as steel or concrete comprises a driving piston (6) which is driven forwardly within the barrel (4) of the tool upon firing and is automatically reset in response to cocking of the tool prior to the subsequent firing. Resetting of the piston takes place by thrusting the piston (6) rearwardly during cocking by means of a spring-loaded gripper device (14) energized during cocking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a powered screw driver having a spindle 20 that is caused to rotate by an electric motor 10 within a range of about 5000 rpm (revolutions per minute) to about 7000 rpm (revolution per minute) when the spindle 20 idles. Because the spindle 20 rotates at a high revolution speed, the screw-fastening operation can more quickly be completed when the user of the screw driver 1 fastens the screw in a normal posture. The screw driver 1 may used to fasten screws having a pitch within a range of about 1.3 mm to 2.0 mm (i.e. about {fraction (1/32)} inch to {fraction (3/32)} inch).

Abstract: An automatic machine for the preparation of half-packages starting from corresponding blanks preferably made of cardboard, the automatic machine comprising: a frame; at least one mould designed to receive a blank; a feed device for feeding the mould along a pre-defined path; and a plurality of devices set along the path for folding respective portions of the blank on the mould so as to form a corresponding half-package; the automatic machine being characterized in that at least one part of the plurality of devices is fixed with respect to the frame and to the feed device and in that a device is provided which is designed to maintain the faces of the mould constantly parallel to themselves at any point of the path.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing composite filter stock is provided that includes several steps. In a first step, a paper carrier strip feeds along a conveyor. Along one edge of the carrier strip, the paper is folded back against itself. Fibrous filter segments are then deposited on the carrying strip in spaced apart intervals. The spacing defines cavities between adjacent filter segments. The carrier strip with the deposited filter segments is fed along a path of travel into an elongated guide or support chamber that substantially surrounds the circumference of the paper-enveloped segments and which leaves a narrow fill opening opposite an elongated particulate filling opening that is elongated in the direction of motion of the carrying strip. Suction or a vacuum is concurrently applied adjacent the narrow opening, the suction increasing a downward momentum of a gravity feed stream of particulate matter and concurrently vacuums away loose particulate matter.

Abstract: A fluidic connector comprises an independent adjunct to a pneumatic tool and is adapted to be fluidically interposed between an air supply hose and a fitting of the pneumatic tool. The connector comprises a piston-type valve member. Exhaust generated from each fastener firing operation or cycle maintains the piston-type valve member at a first position so as to permit the incoming air supply to reach the tool, however, if the tool is not fired within a predetermined period of time, the piston-type valve member is automatically moved to a second position which prevents the air supply from reaching the tool thereby disabling the same.

Abstract: A pneumatic percussion power tool has a percussion tool housing in which a drive piston and a percussion piston are movable in an axial direction. The motion of the drive piston, which is generated by a crank mechanism, is transmitted to the percussion piston through a pneumatic spring in a first chamber so that the percussion piston cyclically strikes a ram or a tool. The backward motion of the percussion piston rebounding from the ram is supported by increasing air pressure in a third chamber that is supplied with air by the drive piston through a second chamber and a communicating channel.

Abstract: A method and machine for wrapping a product in a sheet of heat-seal wrapping material, whereby the product is wrapped in the sheet of wrapping material to form a product having an outer wrapping in turn having three distinct overlap portions, i.e. portions having at least two superimposed layers of the sheet of wrapping material; and the outer wrapping is stabilized, as the product is conveyed continuously inside a respective same pocket, by a seal formed at each of the three overlap portions.

Abstract: An improved bushing for a heavy duty hydraulic hammer provides increased bushing life and provides cooler operation for the hammer. A Polymeric bushing is positioned near the lower end of the tool holder of a hammer surrounding the tool. The polymeric bushing is protected by a steel ring below the polymeric bushing preventing foreign objects from impacting upon the polymeric bushing.

Abstract: An electrically powered impact tool has a removably mountable battery pack which includes an acoustic detection circuit for detecting sounds generated by the impact mechanism in use and, in response to such detection, starts an adjustable time period, at the end of which a relay is actuated for disconnecting the battery of the battery pack from the tool motor for a predetermined time period. This serves as a torque-limiting mechanism where the tool is a torque-applying tool. The time period is adjustable by a dial on the battery pack housing and the control circuitry may be selectively powered through a switch on the battery pack housing.

Abstract: An automated positive count rotary slat packaging apparatus and related methods include independently rotatable rotary slats. In one embodiment, the apparatus also includes a positive count mechanism disposed in the pill delivery path adjacent the containers and a controller which is capable of generating an alarm or determining when a bottle is filled incorrectly. Accordingly, underfilled containers can be independently filled by further rotating only the respective rotary slat. A drive device for each rotary slat is also provided having frustoconical drive wheels connected to the ends of counterrotating drive shafts. The drive wheels, which are driven by a motor, engage corresponding frustoconical drive surfaces of the rotary slats to thereby rotate the slats.

Abstract: An adjustment mechanism for a clutch. The adjustment mechanism includes an annular adjustment structure having an adjustment profile with a ramp section, a first adjustment segment, a last adjustment segment and a plurality of intermediate adjustment segments. The first adjustment segment is configured to correspond to a first clutch setting and the last adjustment segment is configured to correspond to a last clutch setting. The ramp section is positioned between the first and last adjustment segments such that the adjustment structure is rotatable between the first and last adjustment segments and between the last and first adjustment segments without engaging any of the intermediate adjustment segments.

Abstract: A coin wrapping machine includes a discriminator for discriminating whether or not a coin is acceptable, a denomination of the coin when the coin is acceptable and whether or not the denomination of the coin coincides with that specified and counting coins of the specified denomination, a coin stacking device for stacking coins of the denomination to be wrapped, a reference stacked coin height data memory for storing reference stacked coin height data for each denomination of coins stacked by the coin stacking device, and a coin number discrepancy detecting device including a comparator for comparing a height of stacked coins and the reference stacked coin height data for each denomination stored in the reference stacked coin height data memory, the discriminator being made responsive to inclusion in coins of the specified denomination of new issue coins and past issue circulating coins for discriminating whether each coin is a new issue coin or a past issue circulating coin, determined based on a count made

Abstract: The invention relates to a trayless close packed array of cans locked together in a heat shrunk sleeve. The packaging machine includes a marshalling station for marshalling the cans in arrays in which there are unequal numbers of cans in each row and a collation station in which the array of cans in rows and columns are collated into close packed formation. A wrapping machine wraps a plastic sleeve around the close packed array and a sealing station seals and heat shrinks the sleeve around the array to lock the array into its formation.

Abstract: A vibratory impact tool for loosening downhole stuck objects in oil or gas wells, utilizing an internal piston spring which is repeatedly compressed by hydraulic pressure, and repeatedly released by lifting a dart valve from a valve seat on a flow-through piston. When the dart valve is lifted from the valve seat by a tripping spring, flow resumes through the piston, quickly lowering hydraulic pressure above the piston, allowing the piston spring to sharply drive the piston against the housing. The dart valve is then reseated on the valve seat, causing the piston to again be driven against the piston spring, rapidly repeating the process.

Abstract: An improved end effector for use with a robot includes a pair of carriages. Each carriage supports a pair of fingers and at least one actuator. Each actuator is interconnected with the associated pair of fingers to counter-rotate the fingers. One or both of the carriages is movable toward the other carriage to engage trays on a conveyor system with the fingers. The robot moves the end effector between the conveyor system and shipping containers for shipping the trays. Because the pairs of fingers counter-rotate, the friction forces between each finger and the tray is offset by the friction forces between the other finger in the pair and the tray. The improved end effector thereby maintains trays substantially in the desired stacking orientation within the shipping container. Preferably, an actuator is provided for each finger. A change-out mechanism may also be provided to facilitate replacing the fingers.

Abstract: The conventional rapper design is improved to provide longer service without maintenance and easier access at less cost when service is required by, among other things, redesign of the hammer assembly, hammer shaft and lever assemblies, and the hammer assembly housings. Design improvements include the provision of access panels on the housings, a guide and lock mechanism for removing and inserting the hammer assembly out of and into the hammer assembly housing, providing the hammer with a removal, and keyed engagements of hammer shaft assembly components.