Abstract: In a shear a workpiece is pressed by a holddown against a stationary blade so as to leave a piece to be cut off projecting past the blade, a movable blade is displaced forward past the stationary blade to cut off the piece, and a cut-off holder is pressed in back against the piece by a fluid-powered holding cylinder and moves back in the direction as the piece is cut off. Pressure is substantially completely relieved in the cylinder as soon as the movable blade starts to cut through the workpiece so that the cut-off holder does not substantially resist forward movement in the cutting direction. The movable blade is pressed forward in the direction against the workpiece by a main cylinder so that pressure in the main cylinder reaches a maximum level just before the movable blade starts to cut through the workpiece. The pressure in the main cylinder is monitored to trigger relief of pressure in the holding cylinder when the monitored pressure starts to decrease from the maximum level.

Abstract: A punch press has a vertically reciprocating plunger, and a die punch exchangeably secured at the plunger by means of a tool exchange device. The die punch has a die head, and the tool exchange device has an exchange insert with guide elements, and a retainer for the die head. The exchange insert is mountable in a holding annulus having guide elements which correspond complementary to the guide elements of the exchange insert. The die punch can be clamped by way of a clamping device against an abutment bearing. The abutment bearing is formed at the bottom side of a piston which is positively connected to the plunger. The piston forms part of the clamping device and has a shoulder surrounded at least over the extent thereof by the cylinder of a cylinder chamber of the clamping device and formed by a holding annulus. The holding annulus, in turn, is vertically adjustably connectable to the plunger by at least one reset spring and at least one guide rod.

Abstract: A shear for cutting a stock between a feed conveyor and a discharge conveyor has a pair of rollers which can engage the stock when the movable blade is in its upper position, the slide having a stroke equal to the distance by which the discharge conveyor is located below the feed conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the accurate volumetric subdivision of conveyed bar-shaped material such as bar steel or billets, using measurements of the bar's cross-sectional area.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for damping a billet shears assembly and includes a damping cylinder and piston mounted to the stationary portion of the assembly opposite the moving shear blade. The damping piston defines a control cylinder and the base of the damping cylinder carries a control piston adjustably fixed in the control cylinder in axial alignment with the damping piston over the entire stroke distance. A pneumatic fluid supply line in the control piston connects the damping cylinder with the control cylinder and is provided with a non-return valve.