Abstract: A component supply device for supplying a component mounting device with electronic components at a supply position, which includes at least three supply tables each having a plurality of supply units mounted thereon such that the supply units have respective supply portions which are spaced from each other along a predetermined line, the supply units holding respective groups of electronic components of respective different kinds, a guiding device for guiding the supply tables such that the supply tables are movable in a moving direction parallel to the predetermined line, and a table positioning device for positioning the supply tables in the moving direction so that the supply portions of the supply units are selectively brought to the supply position.

Abstract: The device comprises a frame (1 to 6) on which a carriage (7) is mounted so as to slide horizontally and carrying three vices (8, 9, 10) which can move vertically in order to grip the second, minute and hour hands, respectively. The device also comprises apparatus for positioning and locking the carriage in a first position in which the vices are situated above the hands to be gripped, and in three other successive positions in which the vices are respectively opposite the sroddles of the movement (36).

Abstract: A device for locating a datum reference on a partially assembled structural object, such as an automobile body frame. The device has a base structure for rigid mounting to a floor member, a transfer platform is attached to the base structure so that the transfer platform has freedom of movement in a first horizontal direction, a support structure is attached to the transfer platform so that it has freedom of movement therewith in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, a vertical slide support mechanism attached to the support structure and moveable therewith in a vertical direction, fluid actuated stop members for locking the horizontal and vertical movements of the device when a certain location in space, as dictated by the automobile body, has been attained. A work performing tool attached to the vertical slide support mechanism so that the tool can move into and out of engagement with the automobile body.

Abstract: A mechanized conveyor for the manual formation of wire harnesses includes, near its upstream end, a trough along one or both sides to permit the embryonic harness to be arranged transversely of the conveyor with portions hanging and/or supported in the trough(s). The harness may be carried by fingers on the conveyor and in which the harness is placed.

Abstract: A door assembling apparatus for use in automobile assembly having a door transport unit for conveying a door and for maintaining a hinge member of a vehicle body and a corresponding hinge member of a door loosely engaged with each other, a hinge-pin attaching unit for inserting a gib-headed hinge pin through the engaged hinge members, and a stopper for receiving a leading end of the hinge pin as being projected from and through the engaged hinge members. The leading end of the hinge pin increases in diameter through plastic deformation thereof by the contact with the stopper, and this increased diameter effectively prevents disengagement of the pin from the hinge members. With these features, the anti-disengagement operation can be effected very efficiently and conveniently through the plastic deformation of the leading end of the pin which is realized by effectively utilizing the original function of the hinge-pin attaching means, i.e. the function for causing the hinge pin to enter the hinge members.

Abstract: A positioning system for installing body side moldings on cars or trucks is disclosed. The system automatically positions first and second spaced apart portions of a side molding platen in precise positions with respect to widely spaced locations on assembly line cars or trucks where successive vehicles have slightly differing pitch, yaw and roll orientations with respect to the positioning system.

Abstract: A permanently installed manufacturing system, to join together loose part sub-assemblies with quick change workstations and exchange tool transporters. The flexible manufacturing process involves the automatic, or manual, joining of loose components, regardless of the assembly technology used, the model mix required, or the type of product to be assembled. The system allows the utilization of interchangeable flex-tools, supported on various types of power and free transporters, that can be programmably controlled and automatically changes over. The system will accommodate batch runs, random runs, prototype runs, as well as synchronous and asynchronous operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting device for the automatic assembly of prefabricated parts or such as aggregates to a car body from below. For this purpose the aggregates 14 are arranged centeredly, but removably on installation plates 12, which are mounted liftably and in the lifted position floatingly yielding on a mounting frame 9. The aggregates 14 are penetrated by vertical centering journals of the installation plates 12. The protruding part 24 of the centering journal 17 is tapered in its face region and serves to enter an assigned centering bore of the car body 1 while the mounting frame is lifted. As the installation plate 12 is mounted floatingly on the mounting frame 9 in this phase, the aggregate arranged on it moves automatically into an assembly position in which an automatic process can take place.

Abstract: A system for assembling bottom parts for vehicles, in which the bottom parts are transported to a position below a vehicle body positioned and fixed and are assembled to the vehicle body. The system includes a transporter for circulating a pallet member holding thereon bottom parts and a plurality of threaded parts for fastening the bottom parts to the vehicle body, so that the pallet member is stopped below the vehicle body. A first feeder is disposed in the vicinity of the transporter to feed the threaded parts to the pallet member. A second feeder is also disposed in the vicinity of the transporter to feed the bottom parts to the pallet member. A lifter is disposed below the vehicle body to raise the lower the pallet member relative to the vehicle body. A turning machine is also disposed below the vehicle body for turning the threaded part to fasten the bottom part to the vehicle body when the pallet member is in its raised position.

Abstract: An automatic assembly system for assembly of transformer laminated cores of the type having three parallel legs and two yokes. The laminations are stacked in a simple or complex configuration on a movable support frame on tracks, which receives the core laminations at a lamination loading station from four movable platforms on independent tracks. The platforms are grouped circumferentially about the support frame at four lamination feed positions while it is at the lamination loading station and have thereon stacked corresponding core laminations that are to be stacked on the support frame in a proper sequence and position order for forming a transformer laminated core. The system has four travelling gantry cranes that are on independent tracks and are each provided with a pick-up frame having suction cups arranged thereon for lifting the laminations individually from corresponding platforms at the four lamination feed positions and depositing them on the support frame in a properly stacked relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking up, transferring and placing components by means of a transfer mechanism and a disk-shaped carrier (14), which is rotatably journalled on a carriage (8) and is provided on the lower side with a helical guide track (24) with a cam profile (25). The components (V) to be processed are arranged on the carrier (14) according to a helical line equal to the guide track (24). A supporting carriage (10) is provided with a follower element (16) and an arresting pin (18) which cooperate with the guide track (24) and the cam profile (25), respectively. By a periodical indexing movement of the supporting carriage (10), the carrier (14) is displaced stepwise in the direction of rotation and the direction of translation, as a result of which the components are taken one by one to a given pick-up position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fitting, by a manipulator, a cylinder head to an engine block in proper registry relative to each other through engageable locating pins and recesses prior to assembling rigidly with a plurality of coupling bolts into one whole integral body in an automatic assembling line. The engine block is formed with bolt engaging bores and is placed on the main assembly line. Coupling bolts are inserted through bolt receiving bores formed in the cylinder head with the bolts protruding. The cylinder head is brought from an auxiliary assembly line and set on the engine block while inserting the protruding coupling bolts into the bolt engaging bores and thereby the cylinder head is securely, albeit temporarily, held on the engine block pending tightening of the coupling bolts even if the locating pins and recesses are not perfectly aligned.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are described for removing and reinserting a fireplace insert into a hearth cavity for purposes of cleaning the cavity and its associated chimney, and for initially installing a fireplace insert. The apparatus includes a pair of parallel rails with a track disposed along the inward sides, a tray with wheels for moving along the track, and rollers for conveying an insert onto the tray, and support means for adjusting the height of the rails.

Abstract: A device for positioning tentering frames into association with a workpiece which is being assembled along a transfer line which has a working station includes a movable guiding section which extends substantially perpendicular to the transfer line at the working station on each side of the transfer line at the working station on each side of the transfer line. The movable guiding section includes a sliding platform which is movable therealong on each side of the transfer line and which has a portion facing the assembly line with means for engaging respective tentering frames. At least two guide members or guidings are arranged on each side of the transfer line and in spaced relationship to each other so that they extend substantially parallel to the transfer line. Each guiding carries at least three tentering frames which are movable therealong into association with the platforms.

Abstract: A parts installing system installs a plurality of parts on a workpiece substantially simultaneously. The system includes a parts stocker for stocking a cluster of substantially closely arranged parts thereon, and a parts transfer device for transferring the parts from the parts stocker to a prescribed position over the workpiece and setting the transferred parts over the workpiece. The parts transfer device includes a parts spreading mechanism unit which picks up the clustered parts from the parts stocker and spreads them into respective relative positions corresponding respectively to relative positions which will be taken by the parts set on the workpiece. The system also includes a pressing device for pressing the parts set over the workpiece onto the workpiece, and a bolt fastening device for fastening the pressed parts to the workpiece with bolts. The parts installing system is suitable for use on various automated production lines to achieve a high rate of production.

Abstract: The invention provides an automatic machine for closing flip-top caps of a type which is used on toothpaste tubes, for example. The machine has a pair of superimposed turntables separated by a star wheel, the turntables and star wheel turning as a unit about a common axis. The star wheel has a plurality of pockets distributed around the periphery thereof to receive the flip-top caps after they are molded and while the covers are still in the open position in which they were molded. Each of the turntables has an actuator positioned over a corresponding pocket on the star wheel. Cams surround the turntables to raise and lower the actuators at selected locations. As they raise and lower, the covers are flipped over to close the caps.

Abstract: A programmable or flexible fixture for holding a plurality of details comprising an assembly during assembly processes thereon comprising an elongated base supported in a predetermined position, a plurality of positioning units located at spaced locations along the base, each of the positioning units having a clamp adapted to engage the details, the positioning units being located to allow access to the details from two directions of movement of tools of assembly apparatus moving with respect to the workpiece during assembly processes thereon, a robot operatively associated with the positioning units for moving the positioning units relative to the base for accepting the various members of a family of details which all have the same configuration and differ by increments in size and for holding the details together as an assembly and holding the assembly in the proper detail location and assembly position for assembling, and an actuator for moving the clamp into and out of engagement with the details.

Abstract: Conveyer for wires comprises first and second endless belts which are in side by side coplanar relationship. The conveyer has a feeding stretch which comprises portions of the belts which are in opposed confronting relationship. The feeding stretch portion of the first belt is longer than the feeding stretch portion of the second belt so that there is an overlappingn portion of the first belt. The second belt is shiftable between a loading position and an unloading position. In the loading position, the overlapping portion of the first belt is located at the loading end of the conveyer so that a wire can be placed on the overlapping portion. In the unloading position, the overlapping portion of the first belt is at the discharge end of the conveyer. The wire on the overlapping portion can thus be removed.

Abstract: A device for the attachment of spacer frames (18) to glass panes (5) during the course of the manufacture of insulating glass panes comprises a frame-like holder (8) for the spacer frames (18), the upper, horizontal leg (11) of the frame-like holder (8) being displaceable upwards and downwards. At least two grippers (30) equipped with hooks (50) are mounted to the upper, horizontal leg (11) of the frame-like holder, these grippers being movable to and fro, for the insertion of spacer frames (18) in the device, between a take-over position associated with the end of an overhead conveyor (19) for spacer frames (18) and a delivery position wherein the spacer frames (18) are set into the frame-like holder (8). The hooks (50) are pivotably mounted to the grippers (30) so that they can be moved out of the range of the spacer frame (18) during the return movement of the grippers (30) into the take-over position. Furthermore, lifting members (55) are provided at the lower leg (10) of the frame-like holder.

Abstract: A rectangular guide way having side and end segments carry a plurality of pucks in each segment. The pucks have side edges parallel to the side segments and end edges parallel to the end segments so that the pucks ride smoothly along the guide way. The side and end segments are connected at corners where the pucks are transferred from guiding along the side edges in the side segments to guiding along the end edges in the end segments. A walking beam with a plurality of upwardly extending pins is moveable alone each of the segments. In an upper engagement position, the pins of the walking beam engage holes in each of the pucks in its segment. In this way all pucks are indexed an exact amount along each segment. A locking beam which is moveable only upwardly and downwardly may also be provided for firmly holding the pucks when the walking beams are disengaged therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a part of a body secured to a mount in a vehicle body assembly line is provided wherein a swingable platform is supported for swing motion at one end of a slide base which is moved back and forth by programmable high precision positioning mechanism, such as servo or pulse motor, and a jig pallet designed for a particular vehicle model and having a locator for locating and holding the part in a predeterined attitude is removably engaged by clamps at a free end of the platform, whereby the platform having the jig pallet clamped thereto is rotated such that the part held by the pallet may take an assembly attitude and the slide base is moved to transfer the part to a position for assembly to the body.

Abstract: In an apparatus for securing parts to an assembly body, a part conveyor means receives a plurality of parts arranged on a lot basis from a part storage. The part conveyor means is moved by the arm of the apparatus for driving parts up to the proximity of the assembly body. Since the arm of the apparatus for securing parts is equipped with a part securing means, the part securing means receives the parts from the part conveyor means individually a plurality of times and secures the parts to the assembly body.

Abstract: A pair of working lines for side panels are provided in parallel on the right and left sides of a main transfer line. Each working line includes, in the following order, a charging station, plural working stations, and a discharging station. A shuttle hanger conveyor extends from the charging to the discharging stations and has plural hangers movable on a conveying rail. Each hanger includes at least one vertically adjustable hook and a suppressing member for engaging the side panel and keep it from swinging. Each working station includes a jig movable to take the side panel from the hanger and hold it in a preferred position. A transfer station is located adjacent the assembly station of the main transfer line. A discharging hanger conveyor is provided for moving the worked-on side panels from the discharging stations to the transfer station.

Abstract: An automatic tension spring mounting device used for spreading a pad receive member onto a seat frame in a seat for a vehicle such as an automobile is disclosed. In the device, there are provided a plurality of guide means respectively located so as to correspond to engagement portions in the seat frame and adapted to be able to restrict tension springs each having end hooks in the two ends thereof in the peripheral and longitudinal directions thereof. When mounting the tension springs, the end hooks of the tension springs can be guided into the seat frame engagement portions by the guide means.

Abstract: An apparatus for joining and folding container sections to form a hinged container. Two container sections are transported in end-to-end relation on a conveyor and the downstream section is engaged with a stop while a pusher member is pivoted into engagement with the trailing edge of the upstream section to force the sections together and engage snap fitted hinge elements on the two sections. The hinged container is then discharged from the first conveyor onto a second conveyor located at a level beneath the first conveyor and operating at a slower speed than the first conveyor. As the leading section of the hinged container falls from the upper conveyor onto the lower conveyor the increased speed of the upper conveyor will fold the trailing section over the leading section to provide a closed hinged container. The closed container then passes under a spring loaded pressure member which ensures that locking elements on the two container sections are fully engaged.

Abstract: A method of taking an electronic component or chip out of each of plural pockets which are formed at regular intervals along a longitudinal direction of a carrier tape and which have openings in the upper surface of the tape, through vacuum suction of a suction member, while the tape is intermittently fed in a feeding direction parallel to its longitudinal direction, including the steps of: (a) bringing the pockets having the chips, into a position where their openings are covered with a covering device having a notch with a width narrower than that of the chip and wider than that of the suction member; (b) feeding the tape by the regular interval in the feeding direction, and permitting a leading chip of the chips covered with the covering device to be brought into a suction position where the leading chip is right below the suction member and the notch; (c) lowering the suction member through the notch so as to allow the suction member to suck and hold the leading chip; (d) retracting the covering device wh

Abstract: A weighty object mounting system includes a mounting table provided in a mounting station established in an assembly line for supporting a weighty object placed thereon to be mounted on a transportable object transported into the mounting station, a lifting device for lifting the mounting table to move the weighty object thereon into a mounting position provided on the transportable object, a position adjusting device for shifting the position of the mounting table so as to compensate for misalignments arising between the transportable object and the weighty object, a mounting table releasing device operative to cause the position adjusting device to make the mounting table movable in a plane along the direction of transportation of the transportable object in the mounting station, and a positioning device attached to the mounting table and having a tapered portion provided for engaging with a receiving portion provided on the transportable object when the mounting table ascends.

Abstract: A machine for removing the closure or cap and the plastic base cup from a soft plastic bottle includes a conveyor which advances bottles sidewise along a horizontal path. During such advance, the bottles move along a stationary bar which holds the bottles against turning while the caps are engaged by a plurality of stationary serrated blade assemblies so that, due to the advance of the bottles, these assemblies turn the caps and unthread them from the bodies of the bottles. At the same time, stationary cams engage the base cups and the advance of the bottles causes the cams to pull the cups endwise off the bottoms of the bottle bodies. Subsequently, a sensor detects and is effective to separate clear bodies from colored bodies. As a result, the caps, the cups, clear bodies and colored bodies are separated for individual recycling.

Abstract: A production facility is provided for automatic assembly and testing of electronic card modules. Heretofore it has only been possible to manufacture card modules in batches without a quick conversion to another type of production, as required, being economically possible. This disadvantage is avoided by the present invention in that all required operating elements (component parts, tools, automatic assembly and testing units) are controlled in direct access with set-up time approaching zero for the production line via an extensive computer hierarchy in which the assembly and test line are available. A master computer administers the cell computers assigned to the individual processing stations which, in turn, control the machine computers. The conveying system has its own control available.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk cartridge comprises a magnetic disk unit rotatably accommodated in a casing.

Abstract: Printed circuit boards to be soldered are placed in a magazine and automatically fed, one by one, to a printed circuit board-processing line. The processed boards are automatically collected in another, empty magazine. Lifting means is provided for vertically displacing the boards-carrying magazine to position respective boards at a predetermined feed location where an air cylinder feeds each board to the processing line. Another lifting means is provided for vertically displacing the empty magazine to position respective holding members of the magazine at a delivery location and to receive therein the processed board displaced by an air cylinder.

Abstract: A material handling truck utilizing a transverse frame plate on which a plurality of operating components are sub-assembled, which sub-assembly is transported to a selected assembly station on the main assembly line at which it is secured, as by bolting, transversely of the frame of the truck and functions as a structural member thereof. In the example of a sit-down rider electric truck the sub-assembled frame plate may also be mounted for pivoting when the connections, such as bolts, are removed, thereby facilitating truck servicing, as well as functioning when in rigid connection with the frame as a battery retainer plate.

Abstract: A working apparatus provided along a workpiece conveyor which includes a carrier for carrying a workpiece. The apparatus includes a carriage supporting a working robot. A gripper is provided on the carriage for gripping the carrier moving on the conveyor. The gripper is movable on the carriage in the direction of movement of the conveyor. The carriage is also movable in the direction of movement of the conveyor. A clamping device is provided between the carriage and the gripper.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing various heat exchangers is disclosed in which a plurality of heat exchangers disposed side by side are formed at once. A series of manufacturing stations for working heat exchanger components such as fins and tubes and for opening the tubes are arranged in an endless manner to thereby automatically carry out the production steps with a high productivity while meeting various requirements of the specifications of the heat exchangers with a high flexibility.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling vehicle bodies which is provided in a vehicle body production line and operative to mount various parts on vehicle bodies conveyed thereinto after passing through a coating process, comprises first door conveying means for transporting doors detached from the vehicle bodies having passed through the coating process, door storing means for temporarily storing the doors transported by the first door conveying means, door assembly line means for mounting the door parts on each of the doors forwarded from the door storing means after being temporarily stored therein, and second door conveying means for transporting the doors each provided with the door parts from the door assembly line means to a door mounting station provided in the vehicle body production line to which the vehicle bodies each provided with the body parts are conveyed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique as well as a system whereby through the use of industrial automation, windshields and the like can be inserted into a vehicle which is on a continuously moving conveyor line without stopping the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle is in motion on the conveyor during the insertion. The windshield can be automatically centered for robot acquisition through a unique mechanical device; and, multi-sensor information is converted into real-time path modification signals for robot guidance.

Abstract: A gear train is assembled by vibratory feeding each of its gears into a nest in overlapping meshed aligned spaced relation. A fastening nut is vibratory fed in alignment with the journal for the gear which is distal the bracket to which the gear train is to be secured. The bracket includes a plurality of journals each mating with the journal bearing of a corresponding gear located in the nest. A robotic arm carries the bracket and inserts the journals into the gears in an axial direction, passing the journal for the distal gear through that gear bearing and into the nut for capturing the overlapped nested gears between the nut and the bracket.

Abstract: An assembly tray is injection molded with an open bottom to provide access to articles supported by the tray during manufacturing. Gear teeth are included on the bottom of the tray in the shape of a timing belt for indexing the tray during manufacturing. Stacking ledges are provided in the rim on top of the tray so that one tray can be stacked on top of another without sticking. A torsion box is provided on the sides of the tray to provide torsional stability. The assembly tray can be selected from a stack of other trays, used in automated manufacturing and stacked in another stack. The assembly tray is particularly suited for assemblying components of tape cassettes.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically assembling a heat exchanger core assembly comprised of a pair of inserts and a plurality of tubes and corrugated fins arranged in an alternate manner. The assembled core elements are guided along a guide rail means while being fed by a pair of chain attachments. The core elements are then unloaded by elevatable guide rail means and removing means including compressible clamping jaws.

Abstract: A machine is shown which assembles a barrel, spring, piece of lead, lead plunger, barrel tip and eraser into an automatic pencil. The steps of assembly include: Pressing the lead plunger onto the lead. Placing the plunger and lead into the spring and tapping the plunger to turn its extending tabs into the coils of the spring. Placing the plunger, lead and spring into the barrel. Extending the spring from the barrel and pressing the barrel tip onto the spring and then pressing the tip into the barrel. Pressing the eraser into the barrel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for constructing and disassembling a triangular prism-form truss structure in spaced are disclosed. The apparatus includes a triangular prism-form construction fixture and three feed units disposed about the fixture for feeding the triangular frame elements that form the basic unit of the structure, or for removing the elements from the structure. The construction method, essentially automatic, comprises feeding frame elements to the fixture from the feed units in sequence. Fixture forward and backward movement along the fixture longitudinal axis, before and after element feeding, effects fastening of the frame elements to one another. Shifting of completed truss structure sections relative to the fixture is accomplished by periodic axial movement of the fixture. The disassembly method essentially comprises the reverse sequence of the steps of the construction method.

Abstract: The pieces to be palletized are conveyed by a roller table to bar elements which reciprocally turn the pieces so that they face each other. Grippers then grip the facing pieces which originally lie flat, so as to move them into a vertical parallel position on a conveyor belt. An upper conveyor belt engages the top of the vertical parallel pieces to hold them in correct orientation. An automatic strapping mechanism them applies this strap around the pieces. A roller table is provided for lateral movement of the strapped packages. The roller table which initially receives the pieces pass in a horizontal flat position on the roller table. A section of the roller table has portions of its rollers removed so that undersized pieces fall through the opening thus formed. Only pieces with correct size, that is, unbroken pieces, are conveyed along the parallel passages of the roller table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic assembly of electronic components and, in particular, relates to a programmable substrate transport mechanism for conveying variously sized substrates to a robotic electronic component assembly machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling different size parts in a vertical assembly is provided which includes a pair of fingers attached to and extending from the gripper of a manipulator in parallel relationship and moveable toward and away from one another under control of the gripper. Different diameter curved outer sections extend around the periphery of and are stepped along the length of the fingers. The smallest diameter curved section is located at the outer end of the fingers and successively wider diameter sections are located along the fingers as the inner end is approached. One of the predetermined diameter sections has a predetermined slope, each part to be assembled has an opening therein of a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of a section of the fingers along the length thereof.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing rigid computer memory disc substrates is disclosed wherein the apparatus comprises a circular base plate, the base plate being mounted horizontally for rotation about a vertical axis; a plurality of spindles rotatably mounted on motors mounted on the base plate, the spindles extending radially outwardly from the base plate, in equally spaced relationship therearound, the outwardly extending end of each spindle including a fastening means for mounting a rigid disc to be processed thereon; a plurality of work stations spaced around the circular base plate for performing work operations on the discs; and a motor for rotating the base plate so as to convey each of the discs consecutively to each of the work stations.

Abstract: An improvement in a door fastening apparatus wherein a bolt receiving and supply device is provided alongside of a fastening head unit. It includes a bolt supplying head connected to a parts feeder and a laterally movable transferring head receiving bolts from the supply head and moving over to in front of the nut runner to deliver the bolts. The supply head can be fed through a bolt pressure feeding tube. The transferring head has a clamping cylinder therein for clamping the bolt in the receiving opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for presenting fasteners seriatim at a predetermined position in a predetermined orientation for subsequent transfer or fastening. The invention includes a container for jumbled similar fasteners, reciprocating or other lifting means having an arm extending to a distal end within the container, and passive pickup means on the distal end configured to receive a fastener from among the jumbled fasteners and hold it by cradling as the pickup element moves upwardly through the jumbled fasteners to a position thereabove. The method and apparatus can repetitively present one type of fastener to one position, an array of one type of fastener to several positions, or an array of plural types of fasteners to plural positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically processing the wire ends of cores includes a forming die for bending the axially projecting wire ends back to project parallel to one another generally away from the core. Cores are received in a receiving station aligned with the forming die and orientated so that the wire ends are spaced as far as possible from the die. When the wire ends are sensed to be in the correct orientation, an actuator is operated to push the core through the forming die. The core with its wire ends bent back is then preferably stepped through a series of processing stations to trim and tin the wire ends and then ejected from the machine. A series of cores can be stepped continuously one after the other through the machine.

Abstract: A device wherein pharmaceutical capsules, each consisting of a separable bottom for receiving the said pharmaceutical product and a separable top for closing the said bottom, are fed in bulk into an input feedbox and sent, through a number of withdrawal and positioning ducts, to a rotary conveying device having two parts, one over the other, the first having a number of upper recesses for the tops and the second having a number of lower recesses for the respective bottoms, the rotary conveying device cooperating with a suction opening device designed to hold the tops inside the upper recesses and to suck the bottoms into the lower recesses, so as to separate the latter from the respective tops.

Abstract: Phase controlled apparatus for a processing operation including an article conveyor, processing means driven by the conveyor for operating upon the articles being conveyed, and a phase control device operatively interposed between said conveyor and said operating means for adjusting the alignment of the operating means and the articles being conveyed.