Abstract: An inverter apparatus for strips of sheet material which are affected by a magnetic field. The apparatus includes a pair of parallel drums which rotate in opposite directions immediately adjacent each other. Mounted within the drums in prescribed and fixed relationship are permanent magnets. A strip adheres to the first drum under the effects of the magnets within and rotates with that drum until it comes between the two drums. At that point the strip enters the field of the magnets in the second drum and departs the field of those in the first whereby it adheres to the second drum. The strip rotates with the second drum until it departs the field of the magnets therein, whereupon the strip drops off the drum in inverted relationship.

Abstract: An improvement in a strip feeder for feeding a continuous strip of sheet material to a punch press, for example. The feeder includes a drive roller segment and an idler roller. The drive roller segment is driven in oscillating fashion by the punch press through a cam oscillator drive. A lever assembly connects the cam drive with the drive roller segment shaft. The lever assembly includes a lever which pivots about a point adjustable along the length of the lever. This adjustment, which can be made while the feeder is in operation, is effective to vary the oscillating travel of the feed roller segment and, accordingly, the length of strip which is fed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of rolling tire rim blanks from flat metal strips obtained by unwinding strip material from a coil which is cut into strips of desired lengths which are then rolled into a circular shape by anvil rolls cooperating with bodily moveable bending rolls producing a controlled flat portion on the leading end of the strip prior to rolling and another controlled flat portion on the trailing end of the strip following the rolling.

Abstract: The rotary drive unit for forming or punch presses and the like has an interposed relation between the drive shaft of the press and the face plate to which the reciprocating rack is pivotally secured. One end of a link member is pivotally connected to an eccentric crank pin carried by a drive ring fixed to the drive shaft and rotated thereby, and the other end of the link member is pivotally connected to a second eccentric crank pin carried by a circular disc member mounted for rotation in a housing provided by the press, the disc member having a center of rotation spaced a distance from the axis of rotation of the drive shaft. With the drive shaft rotating at uniform speed, the disc member functions as a driven member and rotates at a speed which is non-uniform. More specifically the face plate will rotate to impart a complete feeding stroke of 180.degree. to the rack for a minor portion of each revolution of the press drive shaft followed by a complete return stroke of the rack of 180.degree.

Abstract: As heretofore manufactured, straightening machines have incorporated chain and sprocket drives and the straightening rolls have been geared together so as to rotate in unison. At high speeds the problems of lubrication on the plain roll bearings and as regards the chains and sprockets become increasingly more difficult. By using flexible belts and more particularly timing belts for driving the rolls of the straightening machine, the belt drive system of the invention eliminates the gears and also the speed reducing units as previously employed. Countershafts are driven from the drive motor by one or more flexible belts and other flexible belts are employed for driving the pinch rolls and the lower straightening rolls from the said countershafts.