Abstract: An abrasive particle metering device has a supply of fluid abrasive material; a feed tube through which the abrasive material flows; a metering wheel located very near to the feed tube, onto which the feed tube dispenses the abrasive material, and off of which a metered amount of abrasive material is ejected; a funnel to redirect and transport the metered amount of abrasive material; and a motor to drive the metering wheel. The abrasive material is supplied from a storage hopper or some external source. The amount of abrasive material ejected from the metering wheel depends on the rotational rate of the metering wheel. The motor controls the rotational rate of the metering wheel. The flow tube can have a contoured tip to conform to the perimeter of the metering wheel, and the flow tube can be raised or lowered relative to the metering wheel to accommodate various abrasive materials.

Abstract: Apparatus for mass producing one or more individual stacks of expandable, secured together tubular strips which includes a stacking station having an inlet and a conveyor system for sequentially delivering tubular strips having a flat face sequentially to a point opposite said inlet. The stacking station includes pushing apparatus opposite said inlet for pushing the strip delivered opposite said inlet into said chamber. The pushing apparatus has a strip-holding face lying in a given plane and having suction apertures for holding said flat face of each strip delivered thereto in said plane. The pushing member is moved back and forth into and out of said stacking chamber at said inlet with said strip-holding face presented parallel to the flat face of the previous strip delivered to said stacking chamber to push the opposite side of the strip against the flat face of the adjacent strip in said chamber to secure the strips together and form a substantially unwrinkled stack of aligned strips.

Abstract: Apparatus for mass producing one or more individual stacks of expandable, secured together tubular strips which includes a stacking station having an inlet and a conveyor system for sequentially delivering tubular strips having a flat face sequentially to a point opposite said inlet. The stacking station includes pushing apparatus opposite said inlet for pushing the strip delivered opposite said inlet into said chamber. The pushing apparatus has a strip-holding face lying in a given plane and having suction apertures for holding said flat face of each strip delivered thereto in said plane. The pushing member is moved back and forth into and out of said stacking chamber at said inlet with said strip-holding face presented parallel to the flat face of the previous strip delivered to said stacking chamber to push the opposite side of the strip against the flat face of the adjacent strip in said chamber to secure the strips together and form a substantially unwrinkled stack of aligned strips.

Abstract: A robot gripper for grasping objects. The gripper has a pair of fingers slidably mounted on a hand so the fingers may be moved in opposite directions along parallel axes. Each finger has a rack attached, and each rack is, in turn, drivingly engaged by a pinion. The pinions are rotatably mounted in the hand, and each has a link pivotally connected to the outer perimeter of the pinion. The other ends of the links are attached together and to the piston rod of a fluid cylinder. As the piston rod is moved, the links rotate the pinions in opposite directions, driving the racks and fingers together or apart, to selectively grasp or release objects.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for installing and removing a tool on a chuck connected to a robot arm. The chuck has a mandrel with two parallel flat sides and two protruding flanges. The tool has a tool coupling member which is supported and held against rotation by a support plate. The tool coupling member is cylindrical and has two lugs spaced apart to allow the flat sides of the mandrel to pass, but to lock over the flanges of the mandrel when the mandrel is rotated relative to the tool coupling member. A cam follower on the chuck follows a guide slot in the support plate to cause the mandrel to rotate relative to the tool coupling member. The cam follower also causes a key on the chuck to mate or disengage a key slot on the tool coupling member.