Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring sheet separation of a single sheet workpiece from a stack of workpiece sheets which consists of a lifting assembly having at least three spaced sets of sheet workpiece holding suction members with at least a poriton of one set being reciprocatable in a vertical movement to cause flexure of a sheet being raised by the lifting device to cause separation of an underlying sheet which may have adhered to the sheet being lifted.

Abstract: A ball screw brake and stop assembly having an elastomeric compression pad or elastomer member circumferentially surrounding the ball screw and received in a counter bore of a non-rotating assembly having a bore receiving the ball screw with the pad confined on its outer diameter and at one axial end. A striker member, dimensioned to be receivable within an open axial end of the counter bore, functions as a stop member limiting axial movement of the ball nut. Upon projection of the striker member into the counter bore, further movement of the ball nut causes axial compression of the elastomer member providing resistance to further axial movement of the ball nut. At the same time, radial expansion of the elastomer member, caused by compression in the axial direction, causes the inner diameter of the elastomer member to frictionally engage the outer diameter of the ball screw to break rotation of the ball screw.

Abstract: A turret indexing system for a turret punching machine having a plurality of equally spaced tool punching stations carried on the turrets which may be rotatably positioned to place selected punching tools in register with a punching ram. Turret indexing is accomplished with a pneumatic cylinder driven reciprocating drive arrangement utilizing a pneumatically actuated clutch to drive the turrets through a one direction, incremental indexing rotation which is equivalent to one tool punching station spacing. A shot pin arrangement is effective to lock the turrets in an operating position and provide small corrective repositioning of the turrets, when required, to precisely position the turrets relative to the punching ram. A control system provides an automatic sequenced cycling of the indexing system to position each required punching tool in an accurate punching position.