Abstract: A stagger feeder for a downstream machine such as a power press and the like is disclosed having a structure particularly suited to provide an actual linear path of movement of an activated feed head identical to the effective feed stroke of the material being moved by that feed head. Two movable feed heads are linked together mechanically, and the motion of these feed heads is controlled by a crank mechanism actuated by an indexing mechanism to trigger a pre-pressurized drive cylinder to effect feed stroking. Simplified adjustment of the effective length of the feed stroke is provided by the direct action stagger feeder of this invention to readily accommodate different size blanks in the downstream machine.

Abstract: A stock feeder for repetitively feeding uniform segments of a continuous web of stock material from a roll to a production machine. The feeder comprises a frame, a pair of hold clamps located on the front portion of the frame, and a movable feed block which carries a pair of feed clamps that grips and pulls the stock material to a position which is held by the hold clamps. To obviate the necessity to reposition the clamps when changing the width of stock material, the frame includes first and second pairs of laterally adjustable stock roller guides located, respectively, on its front and rear portions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gripper or clamp feed advance mechanism for sheet metal bands or profiled forms on presses, having two feed advance clamps or grippers on the feed-side of the press and having a spacing therebetween in the direction of adjustment, whereby the feed advance and return stroke may be carried out between two press strokes. The purpose of the invention is a feed advance mechanism which makes possible the easiest adjustment of the feed advance path and the direction as well as of the spacing between the feed advance clamps or grippers, with a minimal feed advance force and practically any desired material dimension. It is intended that the spacing between the feed advance clamps or grippers (5) which determines the advance and return stroke, is achieved synchroneously through the adjustment of the crank radii (13) of the crank drive (10, 21, 23) by a common adjustment member (12).

Abstract: A robotic end effector adapted to grip a fabric ply at a point remote from a free edge portion of the ply and a fabric edge influencing element resiliently supported from the end effector is provided to minimize distortion of the free edge portion of the fabric ply.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for moving material such as metal sheets or strip in production machines. The apparatus includes two spaced-apart, double-acting jacks disposed in parallel relation to the direction of movement for the strip. Each jack comprises two piston rods extending out of opposite ends of the cylinders from a common piston. The piston rods are secured at their free ends to standing columns arranged at the four corners of a rectangular base. A cross member rigidly interconnects the cylinders of the jacks and is provided with two transport grippers having jaws, one of which is moved by a jack to grip the strip at opposite sides thereof. The grippers are disposed in a plane containing the strip and longitudinal axes of the piston rods so that applied forces to the strip coincide with the driving plane of the cylinders.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gripping feeder for an intermittent feeding of strip or wire stock in presses, stamping machines or similar machines. It is an object of the invention to provide such gripping feeder which permits a change of the stroke length to be effected from the outside while the machine is in operation and permits such change to be effected manually or by means of an adjusting motor and also permits an automatic adaptation of the feeding and retaining grippers to the thickness of the strip or wire stock to be fed. This is accomplished in that the carriage carrying the feeding gripper is adapted to be driven from the main drive of the machine via a feed rocker, which extends transversely to the direction of travel of the carriage and is fulcrumed on a slider, which is slidable along a rail that extends transversely to the direction of travel of the carriage so that an adjustment of the slider along said rail will result in a change of the stroke length of the carriage.

Abstract: A roll feed apparatus for feeding a sheet material successively to different working stations. The apparatus includes an oscillation driving device, a main sector roll integrally carried by a main roll shaft and adapted to be oscillatorily driven by the oscillation driving device, and a sub-sector roll integrally carried by a sub-roll shaft extending in parallel with the main roll shaft. The sub-sector roll is adapted to cooperate with the main sector roll in clamping a sheet material therebetween and feeding the same.

Abstract: A layup of sheet material clamped to a conveyor by a conveyor loading apparatus is pulled by and onto the conveyor from an adjacent supply table. The loading apparatus includes a clamping carriage assembly straddling the conveyor and supported for free rolling movement relative to the conveyor. Fluid motors mounted on the clamping carriage move a clamping bar from a released position into clamping engagement with the layup to clamp it between the conveyor surface and the clamping bar and couple the clamping carriage to the conveyor to move with the conveyor. A flexible hose wound on a pay-off reel mounted on the clamping carriage and spring biased toward wound position supplies pressure fluid to the fluid motors and biases the clamping carriage toward a retracted position near the supply table end of the conveyor when the clamping bar is in its released position.

Abstract: A duplex feeder having two separate complementary stock feeding units each having its own independent semi-automatic control circuit, these two separate control circuits being alternately operated by a demand feed signal generating means that is adapted to be responsive to the successive operative cycles of the press with which the feeder is to be used whereby a first operative cycle of the press causes just a first one of said feed units to move through a feed-index cycle of movement so as to advance the stock through a first incremental feed step and whereby the next operative cycle of the press causes just the second one of said feed units to move through a feed-index cycle of movement so as to advance the stock through its next incremental feed step.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for feeding elongated products, such as feeding large sausage chubs or loafs to a slicer, which apparatus includes a transport for engaging such elongated products during the feed mode. At the end of the feeding mode, the transport is disengaged from its feed mechanism and is rapidly retracted by a drive assembly to a location for re-engagement with the transport feed assembly. The transport drive assembly may include dual drive members such as ball screws and ball screw nuts which are synchronized such that as one ball screw nut moves toward the front of the apparatus, the other moves toward the rear of the apparatus.

Abstract: A stock feeder for repetitively feeding uniform segments of a continuous web of stock material from a roll to a production machine. The feeder comprises a frame, a pair of hold clamps located on the front portion of the frame, and a movable feed block which carries a pair of feed clamps that grips and pulls the stock material to a position which is held by the hold clamps. To obviate the necessity to reposition the clamps when changing the width of stock material, the frame includes first and second pairs of laterally adjustable stock roller guides located, respectively, on its front and rear portions.

Abstract: In a plotter, an elongated strip of plotting paper extends between rolls at opposite ends of a plotting table to receive graphic information from a plotting instrument that is carried over the table by means of a motor controlled carriage. Different segments of the elongated strip are shifted onto the work surface of the table to receive the graphic information by coupling the strip to the plotting carriage and moving the carriage together with the strip across the table in an indexing operation. To prevent distortion of the material and associated positioning errors during the step of indexing, the material being pulled onto the table by the carriage is placed in tension and the material being discharged from the table is maintained substantially tension-free.

Abstract: An improved sheet forming machine and method of making same are provided wherein such machine employs a first set of clamp assemblies and associated moving devices for serially moving the sheet or sheet material along fixed parallel rails through a succession of working stations and a second set of clamp assemblies which cooperate with the first set of clamp assemblies in a non-interfering manner and grasp and hold opposite side edge portions of the sheet material the full extent of the stations along the rails, and the second set of clamp assemblies are adapted to provide precise grasping and holding of such opposite side edge portions of the sheet material along such full extent to enable modification of the sheet material at each successive station with optimum precision. The machine also has improved apparatus for adjusting and holding the distance between the parallel rails.

Abstract: A high speed article feeding apparatus for successively feeding articles in sheet or strip form to a work station for the performance thereon of a shaping or forming operation. A reciprocable shuttle includes a pneumatic feed clamp for clamping the work during a feed stroke and a pneumatic hold clamp for holding the work at the work station. The shuttle is operated by a pneumatic cylinder. A pneumatic circuit includes two interconnected pneumatic values to control the operation and sequencing of the elements of the feeder for fast operation without misfeeds.

Abstract: A mechanism, for intermittently feeding a tape-like article along a longitudinal path, comprises a slide having a first clamping jaw and reciprocably movable parallel to the longitudinal path, and a second clamping jaw carried by the slide and movable relatively thereto toward and away from the first jaw to clamp and release the tape-like article. At the end of the slide's forward movement, the second jaw is moved away from the first jaw and is locked in such "releasing" position. At the end of the slide's backward movement, the second jaw is unlocked and thereby returned to its "clamping" position.

Abstract: For converting a web of wrapping material from a U-shaped cross section into a tubular shape, an edge guiding mechanism is used having two edge engaging means which may be performed as suction means. Each of the suction means is supported by a pair of guiding rods converging from a forming means and towards a longitudinal welding means. When the suction means are moved along the rods, the suction means are moved towards one another. The suction means provide an engagement with the outer surface of the edges of the web of material and ensure the movement of the edges towards one another and towards the longitudinal welding means so that a web even of a thin and flexible material is securely engaged with the longitudinal welding means.

Abstract: A labeling mechanism (10) for sequentially dispensing labels (49) from a backing strip (51) onto articles includes a pair of pinch bars (74) each having a knife edge (76) which bears against the rear edges of the labels (49) and downwardly against the backing strip (51) to move the labels along a pressure plate (66). The pinch bars (74) move in a linear reciprocating manner so as to push the labels (49) and backing strip (51) toward a labeling head (104) which also moves in a reciprocating manner and transfers the labels (49) from the backing strip (51) by means of air suction as the labels are stripped from the backing strip (51) by a knife edge (70). When the articles to be labeled are sensed as being in proper position, a positive air stream is pneumatically directed through the labeling head (104), thereby blowing the labels (49) onto the articles.

Abstract: In methods of and apparatus (28) for indexing a repetitively patterned strip (12) past a plurality of work stations, such as, for example, a bonding station (33) and a dewebbing station (65) of a lead frame bonder, a cyclical, automated adjustment of the strip (12) with respect to the bonding station (33) eliminates repeated meticulous manual fine adjustments of the strip. An adjustment of the position of the strip (12) is achieved by adjusting the positions of travel limit stops (109 and 111) of an incremental feed mechanism (46). Simultaneously with the adjustment of the travel limit stops (109 and 111), an adjustment is made in the same magnitude and in the same direction as the adjustment to the limit stops in the position of the dewebbing station (65). Similar adjustments may be made to any other station, an accurate position of which with respect to the position of the strip (12) is desirable.

Abstract: A traction device for causing stepwise relative displacement between the device and an elongate member in the form of a cable (6) comprises a stationary clamp (5) and a movable clamp (3) which is displaced by a cylinder and piston unit (1, 2). Both clamps (3, 5) are self-closing, but are provided with pressure-operated opening devices (8, 9). The opening devices (8, 9) are controlled by a first control valve (12) which is changed over at the stroke ends of the piston (2) by dogs (13, 14). A second control valve (15) which controls the travel direction of the piston (2) is governed by the pressure medium fed to the opening devices (8, 9).To lift a load suspended from the cable (6), the piston (2) is raised, with the movable clamp (3) closed to grip the cable and the stationary clamp (5) open. At the top of the piston stroke, the stationary clamp (5) closes, the movable clamp (3) opens, and the piston (2) falls to enable the movable clamp (3) to grip the cable (6) again at a lower position.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated stock feeder for intermittently advancing stock into the work station of a punch press or the like and having an improved pneumatic control arrangement which incorporates three interconnected valves, namely a main three-way valve, an inlet pressure responsive valve means and a fluid pressure controlled exhaust valve means, for controlling the proper sequencing of the fluid motors that respectively produce the stock gripping, clamping and feeding actions of the feeder. The combination of the two pressure responsive sequence valve means control the operation of the main feed motor and are in turn controlled by the output of the main control valve; this control arrangement affording a high level of feed accuracy yet tolerating a relatively wide range of operator set-up inaccuracies and speed changes without significantly adversely affecting such feed accuracy.

Abstract: This invention includes apparatus providing for continuous motion and constant velocity to a traveling web usually including at least one film. A pair of grippers are arranged to grasp the film and are alternately actuated to advance the web. Each of the grippers are carried on the distal end of a reciprocated member. A motor is connected to a first shaft to turn four sprockets carried thereon. Each sprocket engages a roller chain assembly arranged in an endless manner and disposed to be moved in an oblong path. The roller chains are moved in a reciprocable path by one of a pair of crank arms driving and moving Pitman arms connected thereto. The oblong roller chains are operatively connected to and move lever arms pivotally connected to drag links which in turn move the reciprocated members. The apparatus includes a crank arm, a Pitman arm, drag links and reciprocable member with each as an assembly moved one hundred eighty degrees out-of-phase with a like assembly.

Abstract: An improved high speed pneumatic feeder for a punch press or the like wherein a novel combination of a pair of feed slides and a stock guide means extending longitudinally between said feed slides serves to prevent very thin strip stock from buckling while being rapidly pushed by the feed slides through the feeder.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for imparting stepwise movement to a strip (10) having pilot holes (12) comprising, a frame (27), a carriage (26) mounted by said frame to be longitudinally movable in relation thereto, a pin (22) coupled with said carriage movable therewith and laterally movable in relation to said path between positions at which pin is adapted to enter into and to be retracted from a pilot hole in said strip. A link (30) is adapted to undergo alternate forward and reverse strokes and is coupled to said carriage by a lost motion coupling (46, 57, 56, 57) so that, during a first interval of each such stroke, the carriage and link are uncoupled with the carriage remaining stationary and, during a second interval of each of such strokes, the carriage and link are coupled to move together.

Abstract: A wiring machine wire placing head comprises a housing with wire guides, a wire gripper unit, a wire feed mechanism, and a wire break pickup. The wire feed mechanism is constructed as two electromagnetic drives connected to a source of controllable voltage. One of the electromagnetic drives is mechanically connected with the wire gripper unit which is constructed as two jaws installed with a clearance therebetween and spring-loaded against each other. One of the jaws is rigidly secured to a pivoted lever mounted in the housing and the other jaw is connected to the armature of one of the electromagnetic drives. The wire break pickup is constructed as a set of contacts arranged to be operated by an abutment provided on the pivoted lever.

Abstract: A feeder assembly for advancing strip material from a material source along a guide. The assembly comprises a clamp reciprocally movable on the guide and an air cylinder actuator for initially closing the clamp on the material and thereafter advancing the clamp with the material clamped therein along the guide and, after advancement, for opening said clamp and thereafter retracting the clamp while the material slides through the open clamp.

Abstract: A gripping arrangement for removing laminated circuit boards from the lamination region of an automatic laminating apparatus includes a gripping element which grasps the board after a predetermined portion has emerged from the apparatus. A carriage is simultaneously actuated to impose a displacement force on the laminate to assist in withdrawing it from the apparatus.

Abstract: In apparatus for feeding stock including a feeding slide driven for reciprocal motion within a linear path between two terminal positions by a crank mechanism, an auxiliary device is provided which periodically superimposes motion characteristics on the movement of the feeding slide caused by revolution of the crank mechanism at least in the regions of the terminal positions of the linear path of the feeding slide.

Abstract: An improved semi-automatic control system for a punch press feeder, having a novel combination of three control components including a new main sequencing valve arrangement, a trigger valve and a reverser valve.

Abstract: A small printer is provided which comprises a housing, a rolled printing paper mounted in the housing, a platen along which a paper runs, a motor, and a carriage having a printing head for mosaic printing on a paper on the platen. The carriage travels along the whole width of the paper and is driven by the motor, and a paper transfer mechanism transfers the paper by one line for every traverse of the carriage. The paper transfer mechanism comprises an idler positioned beneath the path of the paper, the idler being swingable in the moving direction of the paper, and the idler having a first projection parallel to the path of the carriage at the left half of the idler and a second projection inclined to the path of the carriage at the right half thereof. The projections are engaged with the corresponding slots provided at the bottom of the carriage to ensure the swing movement of the idler is synchronized with the movement of the carriage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for forming laminar sheet materials comprising a base material having overlay strap material dielectrically sealed thereto at spaced locations along the length of the base material. In accordance with the method, the strap material is positioned under tension adjacent an electrode bar for dielectric sealing to the base material and the lateral edges of the strap material are confined between retractable guides extending along the sides of the electrode bar. The strap material is tensioned and laterally confined until it is fixed to the base material by dielectric sealing. A dielectric sealing press including a strap feeder for tensioning and confining the strap material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A reinforced plastic product is molded from a bundle of resin impregnated strands with the bundle being sequentially advanced from a supply station to a molding station by two pairs of clamping assemblies simultaneously reciprocating in opposite directions with the forward moving pair gripping the bundle and pulling it to the molding station as the rearward moving pair is shuttled back past the forward moving pair toward the supply station to grip the bundle prior to molding of the forward gripped bundle.

Abstract: There is provided a measuring apparatus for successively and intermittently feeding one or more elongate workpieces (A) to a working machine. Between an attachment means (2) and a fixed clamping element (4) there is arranged a further clamping element (7) which is reciprocatingly movable along a pair of guides (6). As the movable clamping element (7) makes a working stroke, the workpiece (A) is able to pass freely through the fixed clamping element (4). Upon return movement of the movable clamping element (7), however, the workpiece is held by the fixed clamping element, with the movable clamping element (7) returning to its rearward limit position out of engagement with the workpiece. The movable clamping element (7) is connected, via a piston rod (10), to the piston (9) of a pneumatic cylinder (8) of variable volume, said cylinder having an end plate (11) which is displaceable therein.

Abstract: A pneumatic control arrangement for a high speed dual slide feeder for punch presses and the like; the feeder comprising two reciprocating feed slides which are respectively reciprocated by two main fluid motors and which respectively carry two gripper fluid motors. These four fluid motors are adapted to be sequentially controlled by only two control lines which arranged in a cross over type circuit and which have opposite pressure-exhaust conditions existing therein. This arrangement permits a substantial simplification in the valving and in the associated control lines over that normally required to produce the rapid successive alternate stock feed strokes of said feed slides; such thereby substantially reducing the cost of the feeder while increasing the reliability and durability thereof.

Abstract: The ticket dispenser includes lower and upper overlying support plates which define a ticket material passageway therebetween. A reel support is mounted on one end and cutting apparatus are mounted on the other end of the support plates. A feed slot is formed in the upper support plate and a feed pawl reciprocates in the feed slot. A feed pawl cam urges the feed pawl downwardly into engagement with the ticket material in the passageway as the feed pawl moves toward the cutting apparatus, and urges the feed pawl upwardly away from the ticket material as the feed pawl moves away from the cutting apparatus. As the feed pawl reaches the end of its feeding stroke, the cutting apparatus cuts off the portion of the ticket material that has been pushed beyond the cutting means, and feed out apparatus pulls additional ticket material from the reel.

Abstract: A feed apparatus for feeding material to a metalworking machine comprises two alternately operating gripping units; the first unit comprising a reciprocating transport gripper element which moves the material forward by steps; the second unit comprises a stationary non-return gripper element which retains the material during the return stroke of the transport gripper element. At least one of the elements can be operated in opposition to spring force by means of a pressure medium which can be displaced by a displacing means acting as an operating mechanism. At least one of the gripper elements is connected to a displacing means by a closed container which stores the pressure medium, the container having extensible wall sections to which the gripper element and the displacing means is connected.

Abstract: A pneumatic control system for a semi-automatically operating feeder for punch presses and the like. A pair of interconnected main three-way valves control the operation of the fluid motors that respectively actuate the reciprocally mounted feed slide and the stock gripping means carried by the feed slide. These two three-way valves are adapted to be controlled by a trigger means that includes a pair of serially coupled two-way valves that are sequentially mechanically actuated by a control plunger, and by a stroke reverse means that includes a safety valve feature that will operationally accommodate small leaks that may be present in the associated portions of the control circuit so as to prevent the inadvertent initiation of an undesired feed-index cycle of movement of the feed slide.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming tube components from a length of tube includes a transport clamp (34) mounted for controlled movement in a first and a second direction along a predetermined path (30). The tube is clamped within the transport clamp (34) when the transport clamp is moved in the first direction thereby drawing the tube along the predetermined path (30). Adjustable switches (42, 44) cooperate with the transport clamp (34) for controlling the forward and rearward movement of the transport clamp (34). A forming clamp (90) is mounted in the predetermined path for selectively clamping the tube when the transport clamp (34) is moving in the second direction. A cutoff assembly (96) operates to cut the tube into severed tube pieces. A tube forming assembly (92) is selectively positionable within the predetermined path for forming the end of the tube. Intermediate switch structure (56) is adjustable relative to the adjustable switches (42, 44) for controlling the operation of the forming assembly (92).

Abstract: An improved multi-stroke control system for a pneumatically operated feeder for punch presses and the like; such system including means to charge and discharge a pneumatic capacitance. The pneumatic capacitance is adapted to be charged in response to the initiation of a first operative cycle of the feeder and to be discharged in response to the completion of said first cycle; said discharge being adapted to initiate a second operative cycle of said feeder. Once triggered the feeder may execute a number of successive operative cycles, the particular number being dependent on the effective volume of said pneumatic capacitance.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for engaging and moving leading edges of coils of sheet steel from one position to another along a steel processing line. For example, in a slitting line, the leading edge of a new coil of steel is moved by the apparatus from a slitter to a recoiler mandrel or drum. The engaging apparatus includes two elongate clamping members extending transversely of the steel sheet and having lengths exceeding the width of the slit sheet. Jack-screws are used to move the upper member toward and away from the lower one to engage the leading edge of the sheet and to release it. The clamping members and moving means are mounted on a carriage carried by overhead supports or by supports at one side of the line which support the carriage for movement from one position on the processing line to another. A roller extends the length of the lower clamping member and is positioned at the discharge or downstream side thereof to support the steel sheet as it moves beyond the clamping members.

Abstract: A low cost pneumatic stock feeder for punch presses and the like wherein a one-piece U-shaped main frame is provided for supporting and guiding a reciprocating feed slide. One end of a stock gripper bar is pivotally secured to the feed slide while the other end thereof is adapted to be actuated by a fluid motor carried by said feed slide whereby an efficient mechanical advantage is afforded for the stock gripping action. A continuously acting friction braking means is provided for engaging just the longitudinal side corners of the stock material so that the latter may be yieldably held during the time when the gripper bar is released and so that there is a minimum of marring or scratching of that portion of the stock material from which parts are to be stamped.

Abstract: A wire stringing apparatus interconnects terminals of electronic components mounted upon a circuit board. A wire stringing head, which is transported on an x-y mechanism driven by a controller, wraps an insulated wire about terminals and guide pins mounted on the circuit board. The insulated wire is connected throughout the circuitry to form all of the necessary interconnections. After the wire is installed an automatic solder feeding mechanism and a heating element are transported over the circuit board to selectively solder the interconnecting wire to the appropriate component terminals. The heat generated for the soldering procedure additionally removes the insulation from the interconnecting wire at the connection terminal. A cutting tool transported over the circuit board severs the interconnecting wire at selected points to form individual conduction paths between circuit terminals.

Abstract: A manual stock feeder apparatus for feeding stock to a machine for processing said stock, said manual stock feeder having a moveable carriage capable of engaging a length of linear stock and capable of sliding along a plurality of parallel linear guide members toward said machine while engaging such length of linear stock and thereby feeding such linear stock into the machine for processing said stock. The apparatus further includes a second stock engagement means for engaging and securing the stock while the carriage 4 is being repositioned to its initial starting place to resume the feeding of stock to the machine for processing said stock.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated feeder for punch presses and the like and having a feed slide that is adapted to be moved automatically through successive feed and index strokes. Instead of using a limit switch type device for sensing for the physical presence of the feed slide when the latter has reached the end of an operative stroke thereof, an improved control means is provided to identify the completion of such an operative stroke and to thereby cause said feed slide automatically to initiate its next operative stroke. When pressure fluid is applied to the main fluid motor of the feeder in order to produce say an index stroke of the feed slide the effective fluid pressure in said motor will not normally reach line pressure until after completion of said index stroke.

Abstract: A telephone central office main frame system is disclosed in which jumper wire terminations are placed by an automatic mechanism in response to control signals. The terminals are laid out in vertical lines having troughs therebetween in which the jumper wires lie. By alternating rows of input and output terminals, a large degree of flexibility of interconnection is obtained. In particular, a rotating pick-up head secures a twisted jumper wire pair from a reel source, automatically terminates one end of the wire pair in one set of preselected terminals, runs the jumper wires through the trough to the vicinity of the other terminals and, finally, automatically terminates the other ends in the preselected terminals.

Abstract: Device for infeeding a strip of flexible material for use in a machine for binding articles in particular for edging parts for boots and shoes. The infeed device has a quadrant mounted in advance of a cutting mechanism on the machine.

Abstract: A press-feed unit is operative to feed a length of stock material to a press. The unit comprises a body for fixing adjacent the press and a transport section reciprocable relative to the body by a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly, the stock being clamped to the transport section during forward feed strokes of the latter. The unit further comprises a control valve, and a transport feed valve which is controlled by a pilot pressure signal from the control valve and operable to feed the transport cylinder. A pilot signal connection is provided which can be blanked off to enable the unit to operate independently, or connected through a pilot pressure pipe to a basically similar unit to provide a duplex arrangement of two units, one of which is directly controlled in dependence on press ram position and provides a pilot signal through said pipe to operate the transport feed valve of the other unit.

Abstract: An improved control circuit for the pneumatically operated punch press feeder illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,038,645; the use of which circuit permits a simplification of the construction of the feeder by enabling the stock clamping as well as the stock gripping motors of feeder to be single acting. This improved circuit and the resultant simplification of structure will allow benefits of the sequencing action of the dual valve system to be retained while reducing the cost of manufacture and maintenance of such a feeder.

Abstract: A contacting device for making a wire connection on a microcircuit by applying ultrasonics or thermocompression. A contacting horn is provided with a capillary which, in turn, is associated with a wire clamping device for feeding or clamping the wire during movement of the contacting horn. The wire clamping device has two clamping members for grasping the wire. The clamping members are movable relative to each other for clamping the wire, and both are arranged to pivot jointly to move the clamped wire in its lengthwise direction. A controllable actuation unit is each associated with the second clamping member which moves relative to the first, and the two clamping members jointly. The clamping members may be formed as a strip for grasping the wire between outer end regions. The second clamping member is mounted on a support of the first clamping member, and its outer end is pressed by a leaf spring fastened to the first clamping member.

Abstract: A bonding head of the type having a bonding tool mounted in the bonding tool holder is provided with a pivotable wire clamp which is movable toward and away from the rear of the bonding tool. The wire clamp is pivotally movable to three distinct positions by a single solenoid. The wire clamp is opened and closed by a second solenoid. The solenoids are mounted on the pivot axis of the bonding tool holder in a manner which substantially prevents the shock force of actuation of the solenoid from being imparted into the bonding tool holder or the bonding tool during a bonding operation.

Abstract: A dual slide pneumatic feeder for intermittently advancing stock into the work station of a punch press or the like wherein the fluid motors of the feeder are controlled by a fluid valve means that is adapted to be intermittently driven by a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism is adapted to be actuated from two different control points; first from a trigger means that is operable in response to the movement of the press ram, and secondly from a means operable in response to the completion of a feed stroke of one or both of the two feed slides. In this control environment the two feed slides may be made to execute a plurality of consecutive feed strokes in response to each cycle of operation of said press.