Abstract: A collet assembly is provided that securely holds tool bit shafts therein while allowing them to be readily and easily interchanged. The collet assembly herein has a very few number of parts and is easily assembled without the need for any special tools or machines therefor. In a preferred form, the collet assembly provides for release of the tool shaft by a forward sliding action of a collet sleeve. In this manner, rearward forces acting on the sleeve in an axial direction such as can occur during tool operations will not cause the tool shaft to be accidentally released. Another advantage is the use of a retaining member for releasably holding the shaft. The retaining member avoids the use of detent balls as in prior collets which can require ramp surfaces formed to very precise tolerances to engage and shift the balls into and out of a holding position on the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that allows a working element to undergo either rotary or reciprocation motion in a transmission system that is very compact in terms of the amount of space it requires to convert the rotary output of the motor into either rotary or reciprocating output of an output shaft operably connected to the working element. The transmission includes input and output members between which a clutch and cam mechanism are disposed for providing a rotary/reciprocating transmission system with a compact design. When the clutch is disengaged, the cam mechanism is operable to provide the output member and thus the output shaft connected thereto with reciprocating motion. Preferably, the output member is cylindrical with the input member, clutch and cam mechanism all disposed therein to provide the rotary/reciprocating tool with a so-called “barrel cam” transmission that is small to provide significant space saving in the tool housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for counting discrete objects of various sizes and shapes as they travel through the apparatus in a disorderly flow. The apparatus includes a sensor array which comprises a plurality of photodetectors arranged in a linear fashion. The discrete objects are passed over the sensor array. By utilizing the sensor array as a means for obtaining information about the discrete objects, the apparatus samples the sensor array at predetermined time intervals, examines the various contours of the images produced through the sampling and based upon predetermined criteria determines whether an image represents one or more objects.