Abstract: A mold system for forming a multilevel block is disclosed which comprises a multilevel mold box insert for forming a multilevel block, a mold box frame adapted for receiving therein the multilevel mold box insert, a multilevel plunger assembly, and a press head plate adapted for receiving thereon the multilevel plunger assembly.

Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a stage, a head, a movement mechanism, and a control unit. The head supplies a process liquid that is one of a solution and a dispersion liquid onto the stage to cause a material that constitutes a three-dimensional object to be precipitated out of the process liquid by evaporating one of a solvent and a dispersion medium therefrom. The movement mechanism relatively moves the head and the stage. The control unit controls a drive of the movement mechanism to form the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A mold system for forming a multilevel block is disclosed which comprises a multilevel mold box insert for forming a multilevel block, a mold box frame adapted for receiving therein the multilevel mold box insert, a multilevel plunger assembly, and a press head plate adapted for receiving thereon the multilevel plunger assembly.

Abstract: A soap remnant molding assembly is provided for combining, heating and re-forming small soap remnants into full size soap bars. The assembly includes a housing having a bottom and an exterior wall defining an interior space of the housing. A tray is positioned in the interior space. A plurality of heating elements is positioned in the interior space around the tray. A power source is operationally coupled to the heating elements and a switch is operationally coupled between the heating elements and the power source. The switch selectively activates and deactivates the heating elements to heat and then cool the tray such that the soap remnants convert to a liquid and the liquid in the tray subsequently hardens into a single soap bar.

Abstract: A molding station and method comprising a hopper having a mouth closable with at least a lower door and a mold to be filled, the hopper and the mold being movable to a filling position in which the hopper is closed by the lower door; the lower door then opening to allow an amount of moldable material to be released into the mold; the mold being made in a deformable material, so that an interior volume of the mold is temporarily reduced when releasing the moldable material into the mold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a material supply for a tablet pressing machine with a rotor which comprises a matrix disc. A plurality of matrices is arranged within the matrix disc. The material supply is provided to supply material which is to be tabletted to the matrices formed in the matrix disc. A further subject of the invention is a tablet pressing machine which comprises a material supply according to the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming desired patterns on ceramic tile from a slurry comprising: a means for preparing a slurry; at least one slurry holding tank for holding at least one type of slurry; at least one pattern forming tray; at least one means for connecting said at least one tank to at least one pattern forming tray and a filter pressing unit; wherein the pattern forming unit dispenses a predetermined type, amount, colors of slurry at a predetermined order into the pattern forming tray to form a desired pattern, said slurry with desired pattern is pressed with the filter pressing unit to form ceramic tiles or slabs with a desired pattern running though its entire thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus for highly controlled color composition and distribution within the face mix of semi-dry concrete mix paving stones.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1; 1?) and a method for casting an edible product from a castable mass (M), particularly a fat mass such as chocolate. The casting device (1; 1?) comprises a mass container (2; 2?) for receiving the castable mass (M) and a metering unit (3, 4; 3?, 4?) having nozzles (32; 32?) in a fluid connection with the interior of the mass container. The metering unit (3, 4; 3?, 4?) has a nozzle block (3; 3) having nozzles (32; 32?) on the side facing away from the mass container (2; 2?) and a valve block (4; 4?) having at least one valve (42; 42?) on the side facing the mass container (2; 2?), a metering chamber (7; 7?) being delimited between the nozzle block (3; 3?) and the valve block (4; 4?) and having a metering chamber volume (V) that can be changed by a relative motion between the nozzle block (3; 3) and the valve block (4; 4?).

Abstract: Sweet goods product having a base body consisting of a first sweet goods material, which base body exhibits at least one depression, and at least one insert arranged in the at least one depression and consisting of a second sweet goods material and visible from the outside.

Abstract: A molding station and method comprising a hopper having a mouth closable with at least a lower door and a mold to be filled, the hopper and the mold being movable to a filling position in which the hopper is closed by the lower door; the lower door then opening to allow an amount of moldable material to be released into the mold; the mold being made in a deformable material, so that an interior volume of the mold is temporarily reduced when releasing the moldable material into the mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for processing an edible product in the form a viscous to pasty mass (1), especially an edible product based on a fat mass, such as chocolate, or based on water, such as ice cream. Said device comprises a dosing unit (2) for the dosed delivery of a specific volume of the mass (1) to shaping units (13). The movement of the displacement element (6) determining the dosage volume is performed via servo drive (9) while an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) are closed and opened via servo drive or pneumatic drive, respectively. Preferably, the displacement element is embodied as a combined lifting/rotating plunger (6) which can perform a linear movement for a suctioning lift and a dosing lift while being able to perform a rotary movement for opening and closing the inlet (4) and the outlet (5), i.e. a valve function.

Abstract: An apparatus for highly controlled color composition and distribution within the face mix of semi-dry concrete mix paving stones is disclosed.

Abstract: A screw feeder is provided for a powder roller compactor machine. The machine includes a hopper for holding powder and a pair of rollers for compacting the powder. A screw feeder transfers powder from the hopper to the rollers. The screw feeder includes an upper tapered section with a tapered shaft and a lower straight section with a straight shaft. Auger flighting is provided on the tapered and straight sections of the screw feeder. The auger flighting preferably has a fixed depth along the length of the screw feeder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a concrete-block-making machine having a part which is displaceable via a linear drive, the linear drive comprising a drive unit and a linear guide for guide rollers, the drive unit comprising at least one linear motor and the linear guide comprising at least one guide rod for the guide rollers, the at least one guide rod and the guide rollers movable relative thereto being hardened, and guide rollers and guide rod being arranged with slight play relative to one another.

Abstract: A device for applying a thin layer of a powder on a support means (14) includes a device (12) for storing the powder, a screed (30) that includes a shoe (36) with a working surface, as well as a device (28) for guiding in translation in a direction of movement F. The shoe (36) is rotatable and includes a device (32, 34) for inclining the to take at least two positions, the first in which the working surface is parallel to the support (14) for the layers to take up a predetermined volume of powder and a second in which this working surface is inclined at an angle ? relative to the support.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a fluidizer including at least one wall forming a conduit for a gas. The at least one wall may include a material having microscopic holes therein with a sufficient porosity to permit the escape of the gas through the microscopic holes to gas a substance. The present invention may also relate to a fluidizer including a non-cylindrical shape for fluidizing a particulate substance. The fluidizer can include a body at least partially positioned within a flow of the particulate substance wherein at least some of the particulate substance flows around the body.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding a polymeric multiform skin membrane is provided. The molding apparatus includes a rotatable heated mold envelope having an opening. Additionally the mold envelope has channel members which generally extend lateral of the opening. A feed-stock bucket is provided for holding polymeric work stock. The bucket is moved by a carriage in a direction generally parallel with the channel members of the mold envelope with a first lateral position for loading and a second position closing the opening of the mold envelope. Selectively actuatable clamps are provided for securing the bucket with the mold envelope.

Abstract: A polymer is plasticized in a plasticizing unit and is thereafter fed into a transfer device which is moved into alignment with a clamping press which is remotely located from the plasticizing unit. The polymer from the transfer device is deposited on a carrier which moves into the forming device. An impress preforming device allows the carrier with the deposited polymer to be shaped in the mold or forming device. Alternatively, the transfer device can be connected with a chamber which is capable of coating continuous or chopped fibers which are deposited on a carrier in a continuous or chopped manner. The carrier with the fiber and polymer composite layer are shaped in the forming device.

Abstract: A fluidizing method transports particulates by gravity flow but passes the particulates through a fluidizer which is partitioned by a porous distributor plate to form first and second chambers and wherein the particulate materials pass through said first chamber which is in gaseous communication with said second chamber via the porous distributor plate. Gas is delivered to the second chamber at a pressure sufficient to generate a gas bearing between the porous distributor plate and the particulate material. The gas is permitted to migrate through the particulate material, but it is then vented to the surrounding atomosphere without causing substantial turbulence in the particulate material and to reduce tendencies for dusting and separation of the particulates into sizes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for preparing frozen ice confectionery articles including a freezer having a freezer pump that cools and transports the frozen confectionery material, a rotative distributor that receives it under pressure and distributes it into flexible pipes, and a slidable filler that includes a motor having a pre-programmable motion pattern to provide a desired pattern of deposition into a plurality of molds while sliding the filler toward and away from the molds, a plurality of nozzle pipes to deposit the material, and a metering device, wherein each mold receives frozen ice confection material from a corresponding nozzle pipe that discharges the same under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure into the mold. Also included are methods of preparing frozen confectionery articles as well as frozen confectionery articles having the smoother texture of extruded products and at least about 50 weight percent water.

Abstract: A machine makes blocks from pressed earth. A feed drawer having an open lower end and filled with loose earth is moved laterally across a planar surface into registration over a breech. A press foot is lowered to a level in the breech to receive loose earth from the feed drawer. The press foot is raised to a third level against a bucking foot to compress the loose earth in the breech into a block. Upon moving the feed drawer laterally into registration over the breech, the block will be pushed out of the path of the bucking foot. The feed drawer, and likewise a screed, having a lower edge notched to pass over a three dimensional surface of the press foot for pushing the block out of registration and for clearing above the three dimensional surface of the press foot.

Abstract: Method for loading ceramic moulds presenting a die plate having at least one forming cavity in which a die is slidingly received, comprising the following operative steps for each complete loading cycle: preparing a powder layer at least the upper part of which has properties conforming to the required aesthetic characteristics of the exposed face of the tile; transferring said layer to above said at least one forming cavity; depositing into said at least one cavity a powder layer having a thickness greater than that necessary to obtain the desired tile thickness, and before pressing removing, by a mechanical cutting action with simultaneous removal of the thus separated material, the surface layer of the powder contained in the mould cavity, without appreciable mixing of the powder present at the interface between the surface layer and the underlying layer.

Abstract: A machine for making building blocks from compactible materials such as earth, in a rapid and facile manner. A mold is provided in which the blocks of desired configuration, typically rectangular, are formed. A hydraulic ram, assisted by a pressure intensifier, is utilized to exert tremendously high pressures on the compactible material in the mold so that the particles of the materials are substantially bonded together to produce a solid block.

Abstract: The device for moulding frozen confectionery articles comprises a metering hopper connected to a volumetric metering device comprising a metering chamber and a metering element dispensing a predetermined volume of ice cream into passing containers by means of a metering nozzle. As the hopper is pressurized, the metering chamber is filled without the formation of air pockets in the aspiration phase, which makes it possible to manufacture moulded articles of hard ice cream.

Abstract: A gas-assisted flow and filling device for transporting particulate material and filling die cavities includes a source of low-pressure gas for delivering gas to a chamber that is separated from a fluidizing chamber by a porous distributor plate which permits the gas to flow through the particulate material and out a vent screen so that the particulate material is permitted to flow out of the fluidizing chamber essentially free of gas and wherein the pressure of the gas delivered to the fluidizing chamber is sufficient to provide a gas bearing to said particulate material adjacent the distributor plate, but not high enough to cause turbulence in said fluidizing chamber.

Abstract: A delivery and filling system for filling a cavity with a particulate material is disclosed. The system in one embodiment includes a hopper; a transport device, and a delivery chute. The hopper, transport device, and delivery chute each may have a porous distributor plate which partitions them into a first chamber and a second chamber. The system is hooked to a compressed gas source connected to the porous distributor plate and a fluidizer. A gas-control unit is provided including a pressure regulator, pressure sensor, and flow metering solenoid valve to independently regulate the flow of gas to the porous distributor plate and the fluidizer of the system independently.

Abstract: An apparatus for color blending an agglomerating flowable material from a differently colored individual batches, to mold a mottled heterogeneous product with material from at least two batches so that mottled products (i.e. with irregular arrangement of spots or confluent blotches of color) are produced from a relatively dry concrete mixture (zero slump concrete), which agglomerates into clumps that tumble randomly from individual hoppers containing individually colored concrete batches. By controlling positioning of a filling tray relative to a hopper outlet, the time sequencing and quantity of material released from each hopper outlet, it is possible to fill the filling tray in a large number of seemingly random mottled patterns where clumps of each of the individual colors remain visible in the molded product.

Abstract: A makes blocks from pressed earth. A press foot is raised to a first level even with an open upper end of a breech. A feed drawer having an open lower end and filled with loose earth is moved laterally across a planar surface into registration over the breech. The press foot is lowered to a second level in the breech to receive loose earth from the feed drawer. The feed drawer is withdrawn laterally across the planar surface out of registration with the breech to screed excess loose earth from the breech. A bucking foot is lowered to close the upper end of the breech. The press foot is raised to a third level to compress the loose earth in the breech into a block. The bucking foot is raised to a level higher than the top of the feed drawer to permit vertical ejection of the block from the open upper end of the breech into the lateral path of the feed drawer. Upon raising the press foot to the first level, a previously-made block will be raised into the lateral path of the feed drawer.

Abstract: A polymer is plasticized in a plasticizing unit and is thereafter fed into a transfer device which is moved into alignment with a clamping press which is remotely located from the plasticizing unit. The polymer from the transfer device is deposited directly into a mold attached to the clamping press or is deposited on a carrier which moves into the mold. An impress preforming device allows the carrier deposited polymer to be shaped prior to entering the mold. Alternatively, the transfer device can be connected with a chamber which is capable of coating continuous or chopped fibers which are deposited on a carrier in a continuous or chopped manner. The carrier moves the fiber composite into the mold.

Abstract: A cementitious composition for the molding of ultra-lightweight, durable, large structural units comprising Portland cement, coal combustion byproducts, expanded or extruded polystyrene and water, and a modified block machine used in the manufacture of such structural units.

Abstract: A press for compacting raw material into compacted elements is disclosed. The press has a vertically movable platen and a feed shoe on the platen. The feed shoe is urged against the platen by a pair of force-transmitting devices and lever arms. The lever arms are also connected to a frame. The frame is vertically fixed, and the lever arms pivot on the frame as the feed shoe and platen move vertically. The feed shoe is movable horizontally on the platen between a feed position overlying a bore and die in the platen and a press position horizontally spaced from the bore and die. The frame, force-transmitting devices and lever arms all move horizontally with the feed shoe. The assembly is moved horizontally by a linear drive mechanism. A pair of supplemental support rods are connected to the frame to relieve stress on the linear drive mechanism and to stabilize the frame.

Abstract: A raw material delivery system is disclosed. It is used with a press of the type used to compact raw material in a die. The press has a horizontal table with an opening in which the die is held. A feed shoe is movable across the table between an extended position where a central bore of the feed shoe overlies the die and a retracted position. In one embodiment, a vertically movable feed tube is carried on a bridge, and has a passage through which raw material may pass. The vertically movable feed tube receives raw material from a vertically fixed feed tube received telescopically within the vertically movable feed tube. A valve is between the two feed tubes. A valve may be provided between the bridge and the feed shoe so that the raw material passes through this interface without being exposed to cross-ventilation.

Abstract: A mold box is flexibly mounted to a product forming machine having upper and lower vertically displaceable beams. A feed drawer dispenses concrete material into the mold box while a vibration system vertically vibrates the mold box while dampening horizontal vibration. The vibration system is driven by a single drive shaft that actuates first and second vibrator rods while at the same rotating a counter-weight in a counter-rotating direction. A set of alignment brackets lock the mold box into a predetermined aligned relationship while being mounted in the product forming machine. The bottom side of each mold box is mounted to the product forming machine in the same relative position to reduce machine readjustments. A set of telescoping legs hold the feed drawer assembly variable distances above the mold box. A unitized pallet feeder quickly moves pallets one at a time from an “on-deck” position to a “receiving” position underneath the mold box.

Abstract: A pressurized feed shoe for delivering particulate materials to fill a die cavity is provided. The feed shoe includes a feed shoe body comprising a vessel for receiving a quantity of particulate material. The feed shoe body has at least one bottom egress opening for registering with the die cavity and a top ingress opening for receiving particulate material. A pressure generator for generating supra-atmospheric pressures within the vessel and the die cavity is also provided. The pressure generator communicates with the vessel via a conduit sealingly engaged thereto. A shuttle selectively moves the feed shoe body to and from a position whereby the bottom egress opening registers with the die cavity.

Abstract: A dough divider is operable within a mixer bowl to divide the dough into preset weights (e.g., for bread, loaves, buns). A pendulum assembly has a retractable divider to cut a charge of dough, which is compressed by a piston. The charge of dough is expelled into a scaling die cylinder and causes a scaling die piston to be retracted until a preset weight of dough is in the scaling die cylinder. As the divider moves out of alignment with the scaling die cylinder, any excess dough is cut off and the preset weight of dough is then expelled by the scaling die piston.

Abstract: An improved die retaining element has a highly efficient, durable and wear and abrasion resistant flange portion surrounding an opening for securing a die mold therein. The flange portion may have practically any geometric configuration, such as round, but is most effective when in a continuous plane with the powder feed box in sliding contact with a feed box. In particular, the flange portion may selectively have either a high precision tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (TZP) ceramic or zirconia-alumina ceramic composite, depending on the surface material of the feeder box in sliding contact therewith. In one embodiment, the flange portion has tetragonal zirconia polycrystal ceramic and the feeder box has zirconia-alumina ceramic composite sliding surface. In another embodiment, flange portion has a zirconium-alumina ceramic composite sliding portion and the feeder box has a tetragonal zirconia polycrystal ceramic sliding portion.

Abstract: A pressurized feed shoe for delivering particulate materials to fill a die cavity is provided. The feed shoe includes a feed shoe body including a vessel for receiving a quantity of particulate material. The feed shoe body has at least one bottom egress opening for registering with the die cavity and a top ingress opening for receiving particulate material. A pressure generator for generating supra-atmospheric pressures within the vessel and the die cavity is also provided. The pressure generator communicates with the vessel via a conduit sealingly engaged thereto. A shuttle selectively moves the feed shoe body to and from a position whereby the bottom egress opening registers with the die cavity.

Abstract: A moulding system for moulding a mass with a pasty or dough-like composition, such as a mass of meat, for example for moulding hamburgers, includes a housing having a chamber which is delimited by internal walls of the housing. The chamber emerges on the outside of the housing. A displaceable mould plate, which is formed in a manner corresponding to the chamber, fits with a small degree of play into the chamber and has at least one mould cavity. The housing has a feed opening, which opens into the chamber, for the mass to be moulded, such that, in the position in which the mould plate has been slid into the housing, the mould cavity is in communication with the feed opening and, in the position in which the mould plate has been slid out of the housing, the mould cavity is situated outside the housing.

Abstract: In a powder feed apparatus and a control method thereof, a powder molding press feeds powder from a hopper of the powder feed apparatus to a feeder slidably disposed on a die plate of the press proper. Powder is charged into a die in the die plate. The feeder is electronically controlled to a correct position on the die. Powder is fed from a powder feed apparatus into a feeder slidably disposed on a die plate of a press proper and a feeder drive motor is servo-controlled by an output obtained by comparing detection outputs from a position detector for detecting the vertical position of the die plate of the press proper and a position detector for detecting the position of the feeder in its sliding direction. As a result, it is possible to avoid the trouble of changing cams or inserting insert cams every time the shape of the compact being molded changes. It is also possible to easily make changes to the movement speed of the feeder in correspondence with changes to the compact.

Abstract: A raw material delivery system is disclosed. It is used with a press of the type used to compact raw material in a die. The press has a horizontal table with an opening in which the die is held. A feed shoe is movable across the table between an extended position where a central bore of the feed shoe overlies the die and a retracted position where the central bore is aligned with a bore in a bridge. A vertically movable feed tube is carried on the bridge, and has a passage through which raw material may pass. The vertically movable feed tube receives raw material from a vertically fixed feed tube received telescopically within the vertically movable feed tube. A valve is between the two feed tubes. A valve may be provided between the bridge and the feed shoe so that the raw material passes through this interface without being exposed to cross-ventilation.

Abstract: The present invention is a plastic container coated with a multi-layer barrier coating. The multi-layer barrier coating is useful for providing an effective barrier against gas permeability in containers and for extending shelf-life of containers, especially plastic evacuated blood collection devices.

Abstract: An improved molding equipment includes highly efficient, durable, and wear and abrasion resistant sliding elements. In particular, the equipment has a feeder box and a ware plate arranged for sliding contact each comprising high precision tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (TZP) ceramic or alternatively zirconia-alumina ceramic composite. Moreover, a die cavity arranged along the ware plate has a ceramic die retaining element to enable high efficiency as well as wear and abrasion resistant sliding contact with the feeder box.

Abstract: A powder press with mechanical-hydraulic shuttle control including a main press shaft, a control unit mounted on the powder press for converting rotational motion into translational motion, including a first actuator assembly; a second actuator assembly in fluid communication with the first actuator assembly; a shuttle assembly disposed at one end of the second actuator assembly; and a cardan shaft for transferring rotational motion of the main press shaft to the control unit. The control unit includes first and second shafts disposed in spaced relationship to each other; first and second wheels, each mounted on a respective one of the first and second shafts; a member interconnecting the first and second wheels in rotational engagement; and an adjustable cam member mounted on the second shaft and operatively engaging the first actuator assembly such that rotation of the main press shaft rotates the cardan shaft which, in turn, is coupled to the first shaft in the control unit.

Abstract: A machine for pressing earth into blocks has a rectangular breech and a press foot vertically reciprocally drivable in the breech. A bucking block is horizontally reciprocally drivable into and out of registration with an open upper end of the breech. Portions of the upper surface of the bucking block are tapered upwardly from front to rear and a horizontal bucking bar extends across the breech and bears downwardly against the tapered upper portions of the bucking block when the bucking block is in registration with the breech. The bucking bar can be supported at selectively variable levels above the breech and assures a firm positioning of the block against the force of the earth being compacted by the press foot. A rod extending vertically from and movable with the press foot cooperates with a sight line device fixed to the machine to facilitate visual determination of the elevation of the press foot within the breech.

Abstract: An improved dough divider is provided which has a measuring cup assembly for dividing a mass of dough into uniform smaller slugs. The apparatus is adjustable so that size of the dough slugs can be increased or decreased. The dough divider has a piston-cylinder arrangement for supplying a flow of dough. The measuring cup assembly has a cylindrical housing which has a central axis. A plunger aligned on the axis so that it can reciprocate axially within the housing. An elongated stud is threaded through the housing so that the stud is aligned axially with a stem of the plunger. The plunger slides in said housing when dough is pressed against the plunger face, such that the plunger stem can contact the stud to limit the sliding of the plunger.

Abstract: Dough (10) should, in a volumetric sense, be measured in dough pieces, which during extended use, must very precisely take place. The improved measuring device can be built in dough dividers and gives, through the specific piston construction (3) with connected parts, an amazing result. In the sidewall of the piston an annular-shaped recess (20) is provided and in which a filter (21) is fitted. To the recess (20) a crosswise channel system (15) with a bore (16) is fitted, which is connected to a flexible suction/press hose (17).

Abstract: A system for heating and feeding polymer coated powder to a heated die cavity of a compacting press. The system includes at least one heated vertical pipe for heating the polymer coated powder and for delivering the polymer coated powder by gravity from source thereof to the entry end of at least one horizontally oriented auger conveyor. The at least one auger conveyor is heated and imparts heat to the individual powder particles through a mixing action. The at least one auger conveyor delivers the polymer coated powder to the heated hopper of a shuttle assembly. The shuttle assembly is shiftable between a retracted position wherein the polymer coated powder is discharged from the shuttle hopper to a heated powder ring, to an extended position wherein the polymer coated powder is discharged from the powder ring to the heated die cavity of the compacting press. The system heats the individual particles of the polymer coated powder to a temperature just below the coagulation point thereof.

Abstract: A device for dosing a plastic, perishable mass into moulds has a pressing chamber for receiving a dose of the mass from a feed vessel and a piston operable in the chamber to push and compress the dose into a mould. The device includes a valve for shutting off feed of the mass from the feed vessel and is particularly constructed to avoid spaces into which the mass can collect and spoil, while preventing reentry of the mass from the pressing chamber into the feed vessel.

Abstract: A material supplying apparatus for a powder molding machine including a press table, a charger frame movable to reciprocate on the press table, a device for reciprocating the charger frame, a material inputting device provided on the charger frame into which a powder material is supplied, a scaling device for previously scaling the powder material to a predetermined weight, the device for scaling including a load cell, and rotary blades attached to a vertical shaft positioned in order to stir the material supplied to the material inputting device. The reciprocating device for the charger frame coupled to the material inputting device comprises a first cylinder which is reciprocated on the press table. A shutter plate is arranged between the material inputting device and the table in slide contact with both the material inputting device and the table through dust seals for opening and closing openings of the material inputting device.