Abstract: A device is disclosed for supplying swageable collars from a magazine to a swaging tool such that the collars may be affixed to the shanks of lockbolts in a series of application steps. The feeder device can be mounted on the nose assembly of a swaging tool so that collar feeding and swaging can be accomplished in a single-handed operation. The feeder device responds to contact pressure against a work surface during a collar placement maneuver to release a collar from a presentation position for normal swaging. Releasing pressure on the workpiece allows a lower assembly of the feeder device to lift the next collar available from a magazine into the presentation position for application to the next lockbolt shank in a series of lockbolts to be finished.

Abstract: A terminal crimping process includes using a plurality of terminal holders to respectively hold various types of the terminal fittings and arranging the terminal holders in a terminal magazine. The terminal magazine is detachably installed on the terminal feeding mechanism. The terminal feeding process further includes moving the terminal magazine to convey the terminal fittings held on the terminal holders to the crimping position, and subsequently crimping the terminal fitting with a wire disposed therein.

Abstract: A case orientation device may include an input chute coupled to a discharge chute via a funnel. The input chute may have a width dimension which may be greater than the length dimension of the ammunition case. The discharge chute may have a width dimension which may be less than the less than the length dimension of the case. The funnel may transition from the width dimension of the input chute to the width dimension of the discharge chute. A splitter may be disposed in the funnel, and the splitter may have a tipping surface which may be oriented towards the input chute. A case may enter the input chute in a horizontal orientation, may be rotated out of the horizontal orientation via contact with the tipping surface, and may be forced into a vertical orientation to enter the discharge chute in the vertical orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for feeding a connecting element into a processing position of a joining apparatus. The apparatus includes a singulation slide for separating and feeding a connecting element. The singulation slide has a through-hole running in an axial direction for accommodating the connecting element, and the through-hole is partially defined by two leg segments. The singulation slide includes a base segment and the transition from the base segment to each of the leg segments is designed so that the leg segments are flexible in a radial direction.

Abstract: A hog ring fastening device is disclosed. The hog ring fastening device includes a body, a magazine attached to the body, jaws pivotally supported on the body, a main pneumatic cylinder for turning the jaws, a teed pneumatic cylinder fixed to the body and adapted to be retracted when the jaws are turned away from each other, a moving plate attached to a piston rod of the feed pneumatic cylinder, a push spring for pushing the moving plate in a feed direction with respect to a body of the feed pneumatic cylinder, a feed member provided at the moving plate, and a stopper attached to the body of the hog ring fastening device for preventing a hog ring assembly loaded on the magazine from moving in a direction opposite to the feed direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a billet-rearranging device which receives billets fed in a row and rearranges two billets in tandem. The billet-rearranging device “A” is disposed between a chute “S” with an outlet to feed billets “b” in a row to the device “A” and a charger “Cg” with a holder unit “B” with two holders “B1” and “B2” to hold two billets “b” in tandem and has a billet-rearranging mechanism to rearrange two billets “b” in tandem and feed them to the holder unit “B” of the charger “Cg.” The billet-rearranging mechanism comprising (i) an upper slide plate 1 positioned below the outlet of the chute “S”, (ii) a lower slide plate 2 positioned below the upper slide plate 1, and (iii) a fixed plate 3 positioned below the lower slide plate 2, above the holder unit “B” of the charger “Cg.” The upper slide plate 1 has the function of rearranging two billets “b” in tandem. The lower slide plate 2 has the function of feeding two billets “b” in tandem one by one to the fixed plate 3.

Abstract: A contact magazine loader for guiding the insertion of individual electrical contacts into a crimping section of a crimping tool. A magazine is adapted to be placed in removable and rotatable engagement with a hand-held crimping tool. The magazine is approximately cylindrical, has a plurality of channels evenly dispersed around the radial periphery of the magazine, and is preloadable with electrical contacts. Each preloaded electrical contact is positioned within an individual insert casing. Each insert casing is adapted to being linearly slideably received into one of the channels. As a shuttle assembly is moved into compressed configuration, an insert casing guides the preloaded electrical contact into the crimping section of the hand-held crimper. A trigger assembly allows a user, with a single movement, to cause the shuttle assembly to return to its released configuration, and to rotate the magazine to axially align a subsequent casing with the crimping section of the hand held crimper.

Abstract: A hog ring fastening device includes a body member, a main pneumatic cylinder attached to the body member, a first swing member supported for turning on the body member, a push means supported on the first swing member, a feed pneumatic cylinder fixed to the first swing member and connected to a port of the main pneumatic cylinder, a second swing member supported for turning on the body member so as to be in contact with the free end of the piston rod included in the feed pneumatic cylinder, a feed means supported on the second swing member, a spring seat fixed to the body member, a compression spring extended between the spring seat and the first swing member, and an extension spring extended between the first and the second swing member.

Abstract: A robotic bending apparatus for bending archwires and other types of elongate, bendable medical devices into a desired configuration includes a first gripping tool and a moveable gripping tool. The first gripping tool can be either fixed with respect to a base or table for the robot or positioned at the end of robot am. The moveable gripping tool is mounted to the end of a moveable robot arm having a proximal portion also mounted to the base. The robot preferably comprises a six axis bending robot, in which the distal end of the moveable arm can move relative to the fixed gripping tool about three translational axes and three rotational axes. The gripping tools preferably incorporate force sensors which are used to determine overbends needed to get the desired final shape of the archwire. The robot may also include a resistive heating system in which current flows through the wire while the wire is held in a bent condition to heat the wire and thereby retain the bent shape of the wire.

Abstract: A system for drawing an outer cylinder of a rubber bush comprising an inner cylinder serving as a shaft member, the outer cylinder disposed around the inner cylinder and a rubber elastic body interposed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, comprising first and second turning tables each having at least two piling portions on which the rubber bushes to be drawn are piled up in a vertical direction; first and driving apparatuses for bringing up the rubber bushes piled up on the piling portion of the first and second turning tables to a predetermined robot grasping position; a drawing apparatus having a die for drawing the outer cylinder of the rubber bush; a robot apparatus for grasping and transferring the rubber bush located at the robot grasping position to set the same to a predetermined position of the die; a control apparatus for controlling the robot apparatus such that the rubber bushes from the piling portion of one of the first and second turning tables are sequentially transferred to th

Abstract: A system for drawing an outer cylinder of a rubber bush comprising an inner cylinder serving as a shaft member, the outer cylinder disposed around the inner cylinder and a rubber elastic body interposed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, comprising first and second turning tables each having at least two piling portions on which the rubber bushes to be drawn are piled up in a vertical direction; first and driving apparatuses f or bringing up the rubber bushes piled up on the piling portion of the first and second turning tables to a predetermined robot grasping position; a drawing apparatus having a die for drawing the outer cylinder of the rubber bush; a robot apparatus for grasping and transferring the rubber bush located at the robot grasping position to set the same to a predetermined position of the die; a control apparatus for controlling the robot apparatus such that the rubber bushes from the piling portion of one of the first and second turning tables are sequentially transferred to t

Abstract: A wire bending device includes an upright frame and a wire feed hopper for dispensing wire rods. A wire bending section is mounted on the frame, and at least one transport arm is pivotally mounted on the frame, the transport arm operative to transport wire rods from the hopper to the wire bending section. The wire bending section includes a wire securement device mounted on the frame, the rotatable wire securement device operative to secure one end of a wire rod and rotate the wire rod about its longitudinal central axis and a wire bending unit movably mounted on the frame. The wire bending unit includes a wire bend head aligned with the center longitudinal axis of the rotatable wire securement device, the wire bending unit adapted to move on the frame such that the wire bend head remains aligned with the center longitudinal axis of the rotatable wire securement device.

Abstract: An automatic stamping machine, which includes a material feed unit controlled to feed metal sheet materials one after another, a locating unit controlled to position metal sheet materials carried from the material feed unit one after another, a conveyer unit controlled to convey metal sheet materials from the locating unit to a material dispensing unit, a material dispensing unit controlled to dispense metal sheet materials from the conveyer unit to a stamping unit one after another at a predetermined time interval, and a stamping unit controlled to stamp metal sheet materials into shape one after another.

Abstract: The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.

Abstract: A coin feed for a souvenir coin elongation machine having a housing, a coin slot formed in the top of the housing, a pair of embossing rolls having a predetermined number (N) of embossing plates spaced equally around the outer circumferential surface of at least one embossing roll, and a gravity fed coin chute connecting the coin slot to the embossing rolls. The coin feed has a coin feed housing and a pair of stops. Each of the stops is movable between a first limit position traversing the coin chute and a second limit position retracted out of said coin chute. Each stop is mechanically linked to said embossing rolls by a cam and a gear train. The mechanical coin feed is located intermediate the coin chute and advancees only one coin at a time to the embossing rolls each time the embossing rolls are rotated 1/N revolutions.

Abstract: A bending machine (1) for bending wire-like material, such as pipes, rods or section members, comprises a machine bed (2) supporting a carriage provided with a gripper (10) for controllably turning and translating a workpiece, and a curving head (50) which is supported by a translating slide (20) operatively coupled with controllable driving means, the translating slide (20) being supported by a table (25) having a supporting shaft (35) which is rotatably housed in the machine bed, and is operatively coupled to controllable driving means.

Abstract: The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.

Abstract: The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.

Abstract: A crimping station of a motor-driven portable crimper (A) has a movable head driven by a motor (M) to reciprocate straight towards and away from a fixed anvil. An automatic switch will automatically stop the motor upon detection of the movable head retracted from or having approached the anvil, so that the head and other members stand still for a while relative to the fixed anvil to allow the wire end to be inserted readily into the contact and then the contact thus crimped can easily be withdrawn from the crimping station. A manual switch is operable to restart the motor and resume the crimping process. A blind plate attached to and outside the frame is disposed near the crimping station so as to inhibit a user from erroneously inserting wire ends to the contacts which have not arrived at the station.

Abstract: A wheel spoke extrusion stretcher including a main shaft turned by a motor through a belt transmission mechanism, two driven shafts turned by said main shaft through helical gears, a main sliding block coupled to the driven shafts by a crank and holding an eye block die and a tool block, two transmission shafts coupled to the driven shafts by bevel gears and mounted with cam wheels, two sets of chucks respectively mounted on respective transverse sliding blocks and moved by the cam wheels to seize workpiece, a swing link turned to pick up workpiece from a feed plate by jaw chucks, and a swing arm turned about an axle by one cam wheel and having a hammer bit at one end, wherein when workpiece is picked up and gripped by the chucks, the main sliding block is moved forwards to force the eye block die onto workpiece, and then the chucks are opened in proper order as the eye block die is moved forwards, and then the hammer bit of the swing arm is moved downwards to hit the tool block, causing it to cut off workpie

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hog ring clamping device such as a C ring clamping device. In the hog ring clamping device of the invention, a hog ring magazine and jaws are provided to a hog ring clamping device body. A main pneumatic cylinder for moving the jaws pivotally is installed. A feed pneumatic cylinder is attached to the hog ring clamping device body. At least one feed member is mounted to a piston rod of the feed pneumatic cylinder with a unidirectional rotating device therebetween. The feed member is placed in a position for contact with hog rings engaged with the hog ring magazine. A bracket is mounted on the hog ring clamping device body. An arm is mounted pivotally to the bracket and a unidirectional rotating device is mounted to the arm. A presser wheel is mounted on the unidirectional rotating device, and a rod is attached to the arm. A coil spring is used to connect the arm with the bracket resiliently.

Abstract: An applicator for installing pre-insulated crimp connectors on the bare ends of electrical wires has a body with a straight-through passageway which permits loading a single connector in the applicator with a pulse of pressurized air. The connector is propelled by the air pulse from a supply station through a flexible hose into and almost all the way through the applicator. A flexible retainer prevents the connector from exiting the applicator under the influence of the air pulse. After the connector is stopped by the retainer a pair of indentors close on the connector and hold it in a ready position, waiting for a user to insert the wires to be connected and issue a command to crimp the connector. Upon receipt of such command the indentors apply a crimping force to the connector and advance it past the retainer.

Abstract: A press assembly for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form lift-tab can ends. A tab press is mounted on a frame for forming at least one lane of lift-tabs in a strip of metal stock material wherein the strip of metal stock material with the formed lift-tabs loosely attached thereto exits the tab press and is passed through a half twist to an inverted condition before entering a tab punching station. The tab punching station punches the formed tabs from the strip of metal stock material into a lane of formed tabs. A conveying moves the lane of formed tabs from the tab punching station to a conversion press wherein the conversion press attaches the lift-tabs to the can end.

Abstract: An installation for cutting a knife material which accurately cuts and produces an intermediate knife material to be supplied to a bending device for bending and forming a knife for working a sheet body. The installation is provided with a repository member horizontally stocking different kinds of assorted and piled knife materials, a conveyance conveying the knife materials at the repository member to a predetermined spot one by one from the uppermost material, a receiving mechanism horizontally receiving the knife material dropped from the conveyance, an inductive guidance mechanism adjusting the knife material to a proper position and guiding the longitudinal traveling of the knife material, a feeding mechanism feeding the knife material to the longitudinal direction, and a cutter cutting the knife material fed by the feeding mechanism to a predetermined length and produce an intermediate knife material.

Abstract: A flat die thread rolling machine provides a cam drive for the reciprocating slide which operates through a linkage to cause reciprocation of the slide. The cam provides a dwell which holds the reciprocating die stationary before the commencement of the working stroke to allow insertion of a workpiece into the dies while the dies are stationary relative to each other. The cam produces slow acceleration of the reciprocating die during the initial portion of the rolling operation to prevent workpiece slippage. The working stroke exceeds one-half of the machine cycle. Die match can be adjusted while the machine is running. Separate adjustment means are provided to adjust the tilt, parallelism, and pitch of the dies, with the pitch adjustment permitting pitch adjustment while the machine is running and without affecting tilt and parallelism adjustment. A hydraulic drive is provided to power the machine and provide high torque during jog operations and speed control during normal running operation.

Abstract: The present invention is a crimping tool that utilizes a die member having a die opening for receiving a terminal therein to be crimped. The tool includes a crimping station that is within the die opening. The terminals are arranged on a carrier strip and are automatically fed into crimping position within the opening of the die while the terminal remains in position on the carrier strip. The feeding mechanism pivots the strip of terminals away from the crimping dies, feeds the strip of terminals one position, and then pivots the strip back into position so that the next terminal is moved into crimping position within the crimping die opening. A single cam member is provided that is moved by a linear actuator, such as an air cylinder, and effects and controls all functional operating motions for the mechanisms of the tool, including actuating the crimping dies and operating the terminal feed mechanism.

Abstract: A semifinished part feed unit having an indexing table for transferring a stack of semifinished parts from a loading station to a pickoff station; a robot handling fixture for transferring one part at a time from the pickoff station to a press; a detecting device for detecting the characteristics and the position assumed by the stack in the pickoff station; and a control and processing system for generating control signals for the handling fixture in response to input signals from the detecting device.

Abstract: An automatic reinforced bar bending apparatus comprising a dispensing machine, a feeding machine, and a bending machine is provided. The apparatus is operated in such a manner that the dispensing machine dispenses from a large number of reinforced bars a predetermined quantity and delivers the same to conveying arms of the feeding machine in sequence. A number of toothed wheels and driving chains of the feeding machine smooth and transfer the reinforced bars to the bending machine for bending, whereby multiple reinforced bars are continuously bent into square frames with reduced time and labor. Before the reinforced bars are conveyed to the bending machine, they are also accurately counted.

Abstract: A multiple lane ironing and doming apparatus for ironing and doming cup-shaped blanks into can bodies by pushing them through ironing dies by reciprocations of punches. The apparatus comprises: a plurality of punches vertically held and retained at their upper ends for vertical reciprocations; at least one ironing die unit arranged below and coaxially with each of said punches for ironing cup-shaped blanks into ironed can bodies; one doming unit arranged below the ironing die for doming the bottoms of the ironed can bodies into a predetermined configuration; stripping means for stripping the ironed and domed can bodies from the punches; and conveying means for discharging the stripped can bodies from below the punches.

Abstract: A forging method for making a forged product from an elongate steel bar material. The forging comprises a heating step in which the elongate bar material is heated, a cutting step in which the heated bar material is cut into billet materials each having a predetermined length, and a forging step in which the billet materials are successively forged. In this forging method, when an abnormality arises in the forging step, the cutting in the cutting step is interrupted and the bar material in the heating step is maintained in the heating step without being transferred toward the cutting step. Additionally, unless the abnormality is normalized within a predetermined limit time, the cutting in the cutting step is restarted and the billet materials formed after the restarting of the cutting are transferred to a storing apparatus which is outside of a normal forging line.

Abstract: Plant and method to select and bend bars for building work, which is suitable to select and bend simultaneously in a substantially identical manner a plurality of bars, starting with substantially identical bars, the plant comprising at least one store, a first traversing roller conveyor, a shears for shearing to size, at least one movable arm to engage and position bars lengthwise and a supporting bench:the first traversing roller conveyor (17) comprising means to butt a bundle of bars (14) by means of an abutment face (18),fork means (20) for the positioning and vertical alignment of the bundle of bars (14) being included between the first traversing roller conveyor (17) and the shears (39),the movable engagement and positioning arm (31) including in its lower portion a movable engagement gripper (34) and cooperating with the abutment face (18), a relative vertical movement taking place between the movable engagement arm (31) and the shears (39) during the transient time of the arm (31) passing the shears (

Abstract: A dedimpler apparatus is provided in which tubes are serially introduced into a dedimpler machine which removes constrictions or dimples from the tube wall at the cut ends thereof to form cylindrically true ends, and then the tubes are automatically transferred to a deburring machine for the removal of burrs from such cut ends. In the dedimpler machine, the tubes are advanced to a dedimpler station where a pair of dedimpler plugs are moved by a cam arrangement into opposite ends of the tube in a precisely timed, synchronized motion to force the tube wall against cooperating press rollers and thus remove constrictions or dimples from the tube ends. The dedimpled tubes are then automatically conveyed to the deburring machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hog ring clamping device such as a C ring clamping device. In the hog ring clamping device of the invention, a knock pin is mounted to a movable member of a jaw driving unit, a pivotable member is mounted to a hog ring clamping device body, the pivotable member is pushed against the knock pin by means of spring, a feed member is mounted to the pivotable member so that it can come into contact with hog rings engaged with a magazine, and a presser wheel is mounted to the hog ring clamping device body through a unidirectional rotating unit so as to be in contact with the hog rings engaged with the magazine.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically forming pointed ends for raw metal pipes such as aluminum pipes subject to a drawing process, the pointed end of the pipes being of a reduced diameter convenient for the drawing process. A transporting device moves each raw pipe, which is in alignment with an axis of a pipe inlet of a swaging machine for producing the pointed ends, to a position below the inlet. Each pipe is raised by a lifting device to a height of the pipe inlet so as to be chucked by a gripping device which moves forward to insert a leading end of the pipe into the inlet. The lifting device and the raw pipe are kept out of contact with each other while the leading end is being processed to form the pointed end at the inserted end in the swaging machine whereby efficiency and productivity are improved for the process.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming elongated metal cans from relatively short cups by utilizing a reciprocating ram to drive the cups one at a time through a die pack, is provided with a continuously rotating feeder that transfers the cups from the exit of a gravity feed chute to a receiving station where each cup is indexed for engagement by the ram as it moves forward in its working stroke. The feeder rotates through one complete revolution for each forward-return cycle of the ram and during each revolution thereof a pocket in the feeder receives a cup from the chute, which cup then moves along a curved guideway to a receiving station. Prior to being engaged by a registry formation at the receiving station the cup is engaged by a stripper that removes the cup from the feeder pocket. The feeder continues to drive the cup toward the registry formation while the cup is being stripped from the feeder pocket.

Abstract: A continuous process for bending long metal rods comprises separating and feeding a bundle of rods and advancing the rods one by one to a rod cutting station downstream, cutting the rods and feeding them to a rod bending station downstream of the cutting station, and subsequently bending the rods and removing them from the machine.

Abstract: A continuous processing machine for bending long metal rods includes a rod bundle handling machine for separating a bundle of rods and advancing the rods one after the other, a rod cutting station and a rod bending station provided downstream of the handling machine for cutting and subsequently bending the rods. Transfer means are provided for transferring the rods from station to station.

Abstract: A tool for mounting cable end sleeves on the ends of cables, the tool having two profiled clamping jaws which can be pressed against a cable end sleeve by means of two pliers arms via a toggle joint. The sleeves to be mounted form an end sleeve magazine together with a carrier which, at the time of the opening of the tool, is transported along by means of a jump feed device.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding, locating and ejecting tubular workpieces to and from a horizontal recess in a vertical die face wherein the workpiece projects beyond the opposite sides of the die includes a horizontally reciprocable feed means mounted for reciprocatory movement between a forward and rearward movement relative to the fixed die. The feed means includes a horizontal pusher plate which upon movement from its rearward end to its forward end limit pushes a horizontally disposed workpiece forwardly across the top of the die and over the front edge of the die. Horizontal locator bars stop the falling workpiece in front of the recess and fingers carried on spaced side plates of the feed means guide the workpiece downwardly along the die face. Upon rearward movement of the feed means from its forward end limit, the fingers pivot against biassing means to ride upwardly over the workpiece which at this time is clamped in the recess by a movable die.

Abstract: The stationary die of a flat die thread rolling machine is supported on a series of stacked members which may be automatically unclamped, automatically adjusted and then automatically re-clamped to hold the stationary die in a precisely adjusted position relative to a reciprocating die. Fastener blanks from a supply hopper are fed to the dies along a set of parallel rails and are captivated by an upper hold-down rail, there being means for automatically and simultaneously adjusting the elevation of the hopper and the parallel rails and there further being means for independently adjusting the angle and elevation of the hold-down rail. Adjacent blanks in the parallel rails are separated from one another by a catcher which enables a pusher to insert the blanks between the dies in a smooth and trouble-free manner.

Abstract: Tube dedimpler apparatus is provided with a walking-beam conveyor in which parallel disposed walking-beams are directed through closed, congruent, vertical, workpiece-transfer paths using paired crank arms which are driven in unison by means including respective stepping motors operated in the full-step mode.

Abstract: A blind-riveting machine comprises a transfer device having suction means to hold a mandrel stem and carry it into vertical alignment with a bore in a nosepiece of a rivet-setting device. With the blind-riveting assembly thus poised, the suction is released and the mandrel stem drops into the nosepiece, which holds the assembly when the transfer device retracts.

Abstract: Apparatus for the transfer of mandrels from a lube conveyor to a parallel mandrel pre-insertion line comprises a plurality of transfer devices each of which has an arm for the direct transfer of the mandrels which is disappearingly movable transversely between the said conveyor and the said line and a further pair of arms, one fixed and one movable, having upper saw-tooth profiles cooperating to effect a stepwise displacement of the mandrels between the said conveyor and the said line.

Abstract: An apparatus for straightening a rail spike or the like includes a pair of said facing support arms mounted for pivotal movement about spaced axes on a frame, male die blocks mounted on the arms for movement therewith toward confronting angularly related surfaces of a female die member. A plurality of such female die members may be mounted on a rotatable support table such that the support surfaces of the female dies define radially extending angular grooves. The support table may be incrementally rotated for sequentially effecting a spike straightening operation, the table being locked at the spike straightening station and thereafter automatically ejected.

Abstract: A machine for compressing compression coil springs to length. A crank-operated plunger reciprocates within a chamber receiving springs to be compressed, and from a magazine springs are automatically fed into the compression chamber and released therefrom. Transfer of the springs from the magazine to the chamber and retaining and release of the springs relative to the chamber is controlled by cam operated plates.

Abstract: A cup feeding mechanism for a bodymaker includes a guide chute defining a vertical path with a stop located at the lower end of the path defining a transfer area. The stop has a specifically configured area for receiving each cup and defining a fixed position for the cup in the transfer area. A drive member is reciprocated transversely of the path and picks up cups from the transfer area and positively drives them into alignment with a ram that extends perpendicular to the axis of the path so that the cups are maintained in accurate alignment with the ram prior to being transferred through the bodymaker.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus for downsetting lead frame strips includes a die set mounted in a punch press, two parallel guide rails for guiding the lead frame strips into the die set, a placing mechanism for placing lead frame strips onto the guide rails one at a time, a slide mechanism for advancing a lead frame strip along the guide rails and into the die set and for unloading a downset lead frame strip from the die set, a retractable stop and a slot in the die set for positioning the lead frame strip within the die set, and a stacker mechanism for neatly stacking downset lead frame strips on an output stack as they are unloaded from the die set.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying wire joints, of the type having a crimpable metallic ferrule, to the ends of wires. The apparatus includes a feeder for holding a supply of the joints, a tool for applying the joints to be crimped, and a conveyor interconnecting the feeder and the tool for conveying the joints in series. The tool has a crimping station and first and second crimping members which are movable between an open position and a crimping position for applying a joint held at the crimping station. The tool also includes a wire joint advance mechanism responsive to the crimping members moving toward their open position to advance the next upstream wire joint to the crimping station thereby ejecting the wire joint applied to the wires.As a method, the present invention includes the steps of moving a wire joint from a loading station to the crimping station as the crimping members move to their open position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a new mechanism for making screws. It consists of two stationary segmented dies and an intermediate rotary die and by means of rotation, the rotary die threads working pieces which become screws. It includes a pneumatic feeding holder so that working pieces can be fed into the rotary die accurately and quickly and with the action of double die dual path, a high speed mass production is achieved.

Abstract: A pair of feeder bowls are placed one above the other to simultaneously feed two different types of wire contacts onto two different tracks, and into separate alignment openings in a guide block. A pivotally mounted crimper is selectively moved to position the crimper head over the selected alignment opening. A rod extending from the crimper automatically positions a selector bar to actuate a plunger rod to move the selected contact into position to be crimped.