Abstract: A three-side trimmer according to the present invention comprises a bound material feed unit (2) for feeding the bound material (1) one by one; a rotating table unit (3) for receiving the bound material (1) from the bound material feed unit (2) at a predetermined position and rotating the bound material at every predetermined angle in such a manner that the bound material is arranged at three positions of a top edge cutting position, a front edge cutting position and a bottom edge cutting position; a trimming unit (4) arranged for movement in a direction close to or away from the rotating table unit (3) between two positions of a cutting position at which the trimming unit (4) becomes close to the rotating table unit (3) so as to cut a top edge section (1a), a bottom edge section (1b) and a front edge section (1c) of the bound material (1), respectively, and a standby position at which the trimming unit (4) is away from the rotating table unit (3); trimming unit guide means (5) arranged between the rotating t

Abstract: A loaf end trimming station for a high speed food loaf slicing machine, includes a frame, a first knife and a second knife spaced apart along the frame and oriented in positions corresponding to a lead end trimming location and a trailing end trimming location of a food loaf. The trimming station includes a loaf cutting support for receiving the loaf, and a motive mechanism to move the loaf cutting support toward the knives to trim ends off of the loaf. The trimming station includes a loaf staging support, wherein the loaf cutting support deposits the loaves on the loaf staging support after being trimmed by the knives. The loaf staging support is tiltable between a staging position to collect trimmed loaves and a loading position to deliver trimmed loaves to the high speed food loaf slicing machine.

Abstract: A singulation saw for sawing either substrate or wafers includes a pair of counter-rotating saw blades mounted for independent movement in a vertical direction for alternatively engaging with a substrate to be singulated. The singulation saw further includes a transport system including a pair of substrate carriers reciprocates the substrates. While the first substrate is being cut, the second substrate or other substrate carrier sequentially unloads a cut substrate, loads a new uncut substrate and then moves the uncut substrate to a vision system for determining the position of the substrate relative to the second carrier and then positions the second carrier and its substrate in a standby position ready to be cut by the pair of saw blades that are cutting the first substrate. As the first cut substrate is moved to an unload position, the new uncut substrate is moved into a cutting position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a workpiece-transfer device that has functions for both loading and unloading workpieces, without requiring a workpiece-storage device to enable a function for replacing material and product workpieces with each other, and that requires only a simple configuration and low costs. A workpiece-transfer device loads a material workpiece W1 in a workpiece-machining device 1 and unloads a product workpiece W2 from the workpiece-machining device 1. A movement means with a rectangular coordinate system 30 is provided to move a traveling body 27 in a first direction along the direction in which the workpiece-machining device 1 and a workpiece-storage device 2 stand in a line (direction X) as well as in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first direction (direction Y). The traveling body 27 includes a gripping means 28 for gripping a material or product workpiece W1 and W2.

Abstract: A sawing system (200) incorporates a vision zone (220) between a loading/unloading zone (115) and a sawing zone (210). This arrangement allows a dual spindle counter rotating saw assembly (230) to be more rigidly mounted, which reduces the displacement of the saw assembly during the sawing process. This, advantageously reduces the variation in the cut made by the saw blades of the saw assembly to comply with a predetermined required tolerance. In addition, with the vision zone (220) located between the loading/unloading zone (115) and the sawing zone (210), a semiconductor wafer or substrate is transported from the loading/unloading zone (115) to the vision zone (220) without passing the sawing zone (210). Consequently, exposure of a semiconductor wafer or substrate to water or debris from the sawing process is avoided, and imaging can be performed at the vision zone (220) without water or debris adversely affecting the imaging.

Abstract: A sawing system (200) incorporates a vision zone (220) between a loading/unloading zone (115) and a sawing zone (210). This arrangement allows a dual spindle counter rotating saw assembly (230) to be more rigidly mounted, which reduces the displacement of the saw assembly during the sawing process. This, advantageously reduces the variation in the cut made by the saw blades of the saw assembly to comply with a predetermined required tolerance. In addition, with the vision zone (220) located between the loading/unloading zone (115) and the sawing zone (210), a semiconductor wafer or substrate is transported from the loading/unloading zone (115) to the vision zone (220) without passing the sawing zone (210). Consequently, exposure of a semiconductor wafer or substrate to water or debris from the sawing process is avoided, and imaging can be performed at the vision zone (220) without water or debris adversely affecting the imaging.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting an indefinite length suture strand to uniform lengths for subsequent threading and swaging to a surgical needle includes a drawing tower having at least one guide member defining a drawing axis parallel thereto. First and second gripping devices are provided to grip the indefinite length suture strand and draw it along the drawing axis; each gripping device mounted for reciprocal movement on at least one guide member. A retractable cutter for cutting the indefinite length suture strand is also provided for cutting the strand at a start position along the drawing axis. The indefinite length suture strand is fed to the drawing axis and drawn a predetermined distance beyond the location of the retractable cutter for positioning within a suture receiving opening formed in the surgical needle, while the second gripping device reciprocates to a start position along the drawing axis.

Abstract: A document trimming apparatus includes a document trimming mechanism and a document positioning mechanism. The document trimming mechanism includes a trimmer clamp for holding a document made up of a stack of sheets while being trimmed and a knife for trimming an edge of the stack of sheets. The document positioning mechanism includes a transport holder for securely holding the stack of sheets during transport and further includes a carrier movably supporting the transport holder for translational and rotational movement relative to the document trimming mechanism. The document positioning mechanism is adapted to position successive edges of the stack of sheets proximate the knife for trimming. The document positioning mechanism includes a first actuator to control rotational movement, a second actuator to control translational movement, and a third actuator to control a side block for initial positioning of the stack on the document positioning mechanism.

Abstract: A dough processing machine includes a first conveyor having an inlet end and an outlet end. The first conveyor is disposed to convey dough along a dough travel path in a direction downwardly offset from a generally horizontal line. A cutter is disposed at the outlet end of the first conveyor to cut the dough. First and second, generally opposed, movable supports are disposed relative to the dough travel path to support the dough along the dough travel path.

Abstract: A retractable cutter for cutting an indefinite length strand of suture material to a definite length while the strand is suspended under tension along a first axis, comprises a cutting blade mounted for at least reciprocal movement transverse to the first axis, from a first retracted position to a second cutting position. A support block is actuated to position the indefinite length strand for cutting thereof, and to support the strand as the cutting blade traverses the first axis as it reciprocates from the retracted position to the cutting position. The cutting blade is angled with respect to its reciprocating motion to effect a slice ratio of at least 1:1 as the blade cuts the supported suture strand at the cutting position to obtain a clean, broom-free cut.

Abstract: Paper stock is unwound, printed, folded, laminated and cut to form inserts. The laminated inserts are applied to an overwrap at an appropriately spaced interval. The resultant overwrap can then be wrapped around cigarette packs to provide each pack with an insert without slowing down production.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically spooling output media from a printer including a web supply of recording medium, a generally circular baffle arrangement for directing the recording medium into a tubular form, a drive roller for bidirectionally driving the recording medium into an out of the generally circular baffle arrangement, and means for applying a tensioning force on the recording medium between the baffle arrangement and the drive roller. The tensioning force is substantially the same whether the recording medium is being driven into or being driven out of the baffle arrangment and the surface speed of the recording medium is determined by the drive roller.

Abstract: A media transport apparatus including a supply of recording medium, collecting means for the recording medium, a drive roller for moving the recording medium from the supply to the collecting means along a transport path, and a cutter for severing the recording medium into sections. The cutter is located between the drive roller and the collecting means and is moved in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the recording medium during severing. Deflectable fingers define a portion of the transport path in interference relationship with the cutter and are readily displaced by the cutter while continuing to provide a rigid guide for the recording medium.

Abstract: A selective wire feed for feeding any one of a plurality of wires which are arranged in pairs, each pair having a first wire and a second wire. Each wire pair has a feeding unit associated therewith which comprises a driven belt and two idler belts. The idler belts are movable between a feeding position and a non-feeding position. A specific wire is fed by moving its associated feeding belt to its feeding position and actuating the driven belt so that the wire is fed by the two belts. A wire guide is provided and has convergent passageways which extend to a wire outlet. A cutter is provided adjacent to the outlet so that a wire which has been fed can be cut. Thereafter, the wire which has been fed can be retracted by reversing the direction of the driven belt.

Abstract: A material magazine for automatically feeding material such as long steel bars to a metal working machine including at least two parallel chain-conveyers, material guide rollers, a material arrival detecting means, and a material feed roller. The chain-conveyers are driven by a hydraulic motor which runs with a predetermined rotating force continuously produced when overloaded and have material push rollers with the axes vertically upward of the carrying faces of the chain-conveyers. The material push rollers are not only spaced in the direction of the conveyers but also arranged to form straiaght rows in the direction perpendicular to the conveyers, forming material holding spaces between them in the direction perpendicular to the conveyors. The material guide rollers are provided at or near one end of each of the conveyers with the axes kept vertical so that the material guide rollers may be arranged straight and parallel to the rows of the material push rollers.

Abstract: A sheet metal workpiece is held by holders as the workpiece is cut and moved relative to a device such as a shearing machine or punch press. An improved apparatus and method is provided to precisely position the sheet metal workpiece relative to the holders. This apparatus includes a first gripper assembly which is disposed at an opening in a support structure for the sheet metal workpiece. The first gripper assembly moves the workpiece to position it along a first axis. A second gripper assembly is disposed at another opening in the support structure and moves the workpiece to position it along a second axis which extends transversely to the first axis. The two gripper assemblies can be moved between extended positions projecting upwardly from the support structure and retracted positions in which the gripper assemblies are disposed within the support structure.

Abstract: A machine for the crosscutting of a multi-ply web includes a crosscutter, a guide preceding the crosscutter in the direction of web travel and a feed section disposed between the web guide and the crosscutter preceding the web to the crosscutter which includes a pair of rolls. Differences in sheet lengths of the various plies cut by the crosscutter is compensated by mounting the web guide for pivotable movement as a unit about the axis of one of the two rolls of the feed section and for fixing the web guide in a selected position in the path of motion thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for deflashing a plastic article is disclosed. In operation, an operator places the article having flash in a nest which positions the article so that the flash is in a horizontal plane. A powered shuttle assembly picks the article up from the nest and places it upon an anvil. The anvil has striking edges which follow the line of juncture between the article and the flash. A punch apparatus is lowered onto the article and strikes the flash at the line of juncture disjoining the flash from the article. The power shuttle then removes the article without the flash to a discharge point. Optionally, at the discharge point, there may be provided an orientation assembly wich orients the deflashed article so that it may be placed upon a conveyor belt which carries the article to a collection point.