Abstract: A semi automated hole punch translates a punch and die assembly across the end of an H beam or the like to punch each of a plurality of holes in accordance with an interchangeable template. The punch and die assembly travel across the H beam in response to operation of a power source until a manually operated pivotable arm supporting a pin is brought into engagement with a hole in a template. Upon engagement, the translatory movement of the punch and die assembly ceases and an operator can actuate the punch. Upon lifting the handle to disengage the pin, translatory movement of the punch and die assembly will continue until the pin becomes engaged with a succeeding hole in the template.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an angular initialization method for orientating a direction of a cutting edge portion in a cutting plotter which cuts out a cutting medium into a desired shape sheet, in which a cutter member is continuously shifted to cut out the cutting medium along two line segments from a first line segment to a second line segment which intersect with each other at a predetermined angle, and it is possible, when the cutter member is shifting on the second line segment, to change the direction of the cutting edge portion and to securely locate the direction of the cutting edge portion to coincide with the second line segment shortly before a cutting operation is commenced, even if the cutter member is not turned to a desired cutting direction while the cutter member has been shifting on the first line segment.

Abstract: In the registration of artwork panels for the manufacture of printed circuit boards, each panel is located, in turn, above two target location areas. Targets are provided upon the panel and these targets are positioned over the target location areas. With light projected from the target location areas and through the panel around the targets, the positions of the location areas and targets are monitored, and the artwork panel is moved to dispose the targets in specific locations relative to datums. The panel is then registered in position prior to a processing step, e.g. the punching-out of registration holes.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for regulating the parallelism of two beams of a cutting press designed for converting sheet or weblike matter into a package. The press comprises a frame made of a lower crossbar and an upper crossbar, connected to one another by means of lateral posts. An upper beam is fitted on the upper crossbar. A lower movable beam is raised and lowered with each operating cycle by means of a drive system supported by the lower crossbar by means of bearings. The bearings can be shifted vertically when the drive system is situated in a lower dead center position in such a way as to regulate the parallelism of the lower beam with regard to the upper beam. When the press accomplishes its operating cycle, a deviation e from parallelism is measured when the drive system is situated in an upper dead center position.

Abstract: In the case of the cutting of a line in a quantity of sheet type work material where the cutting is interrupted before the line is completely cut, with the cutting tool being removed from the material at the point of interruption and later brought back into cutting engagement with the material at that point, complete and clean cutting along the desired line of cut is assured despite the interruption by ending the first cut which ends at the interruption point so that is continues slightly beyond that point along an end path and by starting the second cut along a start path which starts behind the interruption point so that the end path and start path overlap one another along a region of the desired line and by crossing each of the end and start paths with a line of cut to assure complete separation from one another of the portions of the material located on opposite sides of the desired line.

Abstract: The belt-shaped member supplying method and apparatus are used for cutting a long material paid out of a winding roll into a belt-shaped member of a predetermined length and supplying the belt-shaped member onto a winding drum by means of a transfer device.

Abstract: A cutting device for layered or unlayered foil lengths, having good cut quality and an extended period of use before re-grinding of the cutter is required, consists of cylindrically shaped keyway cutter bars with distance rings lying between them, which are mounted on a blade shaft, and of roller blades of right-angles cross-section, which are equally mounted on a blade shaft and wherein each roller blade is pressed by a spring washer against the corresponding keyway cutter bar. The advantage according to the invention consists in that first each roller blade is supported on one of the cutting blades of the keyway cutter bar and that after these cutting shoulders wear off the whole roller blade shaft is turned around and in each case the other cutting shoulder is used for cutting. After these cutting shoulders too have worn off the cutting device is made usuable for further cutting operation by grinding off the cylindrical outer surface of the keyway cutter bars (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A punch assembly which may be provided at a punching station in a turret punch press. The punch assembly includes a striker body having a solid portion, and a punch carrier which carries a plurality of individual punches. A selectively actuable stop holds the striker body stationary, allowing the punch holder to be rotated so that a predetermined one of the plurality of punches will underlie the solid portion of the striker body. Afterwards, the entire punch assembly may be rotated to a variety of angular orientations. At any of these orientations, the ram may be actuated to cause the punch to extend downwardly below the punch assembly and through a sheet of material. The rotation of the punch assembly to different orientations allows a single punch to be used to punch holes of the shape but with differing angular orientations. The die holder receives a plurality of corresponding dies having openings therein corresponding to the punches.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for cutting a slit notch in a pattern piece during the cutting of the pattern piece from work material consisting of a single sheet or a lay-up of sheets of sheet material the slit notch is cut when a notch point is reached by the cutting tool in its cutting along the line defining the pattern piece periphery. After the slit notch is cut the tool is withdrawn from cutting engagement with the work material and returned to a point associated with a previously cut portion of the peripheral line and spaced rearwardly from the point of furthermost previous advance of the tool along the peripheral line before the cutting of the slit notch to assure the cutting of material which may shift in the vicinity of the point of furtherest advance between the tool's first and later appearance of at that point, thereby obtaining clean cutting of the pattern piece from the work material allowing it to be easily separated from the waste material.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed, in which a shear and die set is adapted to be used in a numerically-controlled turret punch press for separating adjacent portions of a workpiece along predetermined parting lines, the shear and die set having a lower shearing or cutting edge on a vertical side of the shear portion of said set which is reciprocated vertically in shearing proximity to an upper cutting or shearing edge of a vertical wall of the die portion of said set, so that only a partial shear is effected for any reciprocation, and advancing the workpiece during the reciprocation so that a stepwise cut is effected along the entire length of said predetermined parting line and separation of the workpiece along said predetermined parting line is obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strand cutter, more particularly for granulating plastic materials. It has for its object the provision of a strand cutter in which the fixed bed knife can be replaced with a new bed knife without interrupting the granulating process. This is to prevent the deterioration of the cutting quality, and thereby the shape of the granules, due to the progressive wear of the bed knife or to prevent down-times during the changing of the knife. This object is achieved according to the invention by keeping the bed knife (2) in a guide free from play at right angles to the delivery direction of the strands (3) and moving the bed knife (2) forward at a low feed rate or replacing it with a new bed knife (2') during the granulating process.

Abstract: So that the path (BB, V1 to V7) for a rotable polygonal punching tool (WZ) can be determined easily, the workpiece contour (K), the dimension of the tool (x, y), the position of the axis of rotation (x/2, y/2) and the sense of direction of the machining are set by the operator into a numerical control (ST). An equidistant track (BB) is therefrom determined by the control (ST), such as is customary for milling operations. This track (BB), however, is corrected in the vicinity of corner of the workpiece contour (K) by the control (ST) in such a manner that punching optimized with respect to distance and time and with high contour fidelity is made possible.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for trimming signatures moving in a continuous stream and in an arcuate path as controlled by a conveyor. A trimming knife is stationarily disposed adjacent the arcuate path for engaging the marginal edges of the signatures and trimming those edges. Input and output conveyors are in signature-flow communication with the conveyor of the arcuate path, and either input or output conveyor can be reversed for the input and output function, and also the conveyor having the arcuate path can accordingly be reversed so that the signatures can move in either continuous arcuate path of movement for the trimming process.

Abstract: An apparatus for punching a plurality of predetermined spaced mounting holes in a building roof panel support member includes an elongated housing having an oil sump therewithin, a hydraulic pump together with an electric motor for actuation thereof mounted on the housing, guide structure which can be opened and closed for temporarily mounting the housing upon a roof panel support member, an adjustable gauge pin mounted on the housing near one end thereof, the gauge pin being supported on a mount which is adjustable along both the length and the width of the housing, and a hydraulic punch adjustably mounted near the other end of the housing from the gauge pin for punching holes in the support member.The method of punching holes in a roof panel support member as disclosed herein is also part of this invention.

Abstract: A method for shearing a plate-like workpiece using a punch press includes providing a punch having two adjacent blades disposed at a specified angle with respect to one another and a die having two blades corresponding to the blades of the punch. The punch and die are adjusted so that one of the blades on one of the punch and die will not mate with the corresponding blade on the other of the punch and die, and the other blade on one of the punch and die will mate with the corresponding blade of the other of the punch and die. The punch and die are brought together to shear the workpiece between the mating, corresponding blades of the punch and die. In one embodiment the blades of the punch are fixed on the base of the punch so as to be fixed with respect to one another. In a second embodiment, the punch is divided into two parts by a sliding surface which bisects the specified angle between the blades of the punch, so that the blades of the punch are longitudinally slidable with respect to one another.

Abstract: A table saw guide or fence for maintaining a workpiece in position parallel to the plane of a saw blade, in which the guiding edge is capable of initial adjustment in direct contact with a planar surface of the blade, and is maintained in such condition until a parallelogram linkage is secured to the saw table, following which the guiding edge may be released and moved over the surface of the saw table without loss of parallel relation relative to the saw blade, and selectively fixed in position at a location corresponding to the desired width of the cut workpiece.

Abstract: A die cutting press for processing web material has a registration system which is operable to provide precise alignment of a shiftable die cutting unit along two axes during the time that the web material is advanced along a third axis toward the die unit, so that as soon as a defined area of the web reaches the die unit, the press can be immediately actuated to subject the web to the die cutting operation. In preferred forms of the invention, an indicator strip is printed on the length of the web and is detected by two spaced photo optical sensors movable with the die unit. A first control means, coupled to the sensors, selectively actuates in stepwise fashion either of two servomotors as may be necessary to bring the die unit into registration with defined web areas in a direction laterally of the web length (which may be defined as a Y axis) as well as a rotative orientation with respect to the defined web areas about an upright axis (which may be termed the .theta. axis).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for accurately cutting documents from a web of transparent material carrying one or more opaque documents, which machine comprises a punch-type cutter which is mounted for pivotal and lateral movement and capable of automatic positioning for accurately cutting a well-defined portion of the web so as to provide series of individual documents of predetermined size. The machine is provided with a first detector for detecting the arrival of an opaque document on the web at the cutting zone, a control responsive to the detector for arresting the movement of the web, other detectors for determining the relative lateral and angular position of the document on the web with respect to the cutter and a control responsive to the other detectors for displacing the cuttering laterally and angularly to bring the same into a predetermined position with respect to the document.

Abstract: A device for making miter cuts in workpieces includes a saw guide pivoted to either a bottom surface B or a top surface A of a board. The saw guide includes two plates spaced above the board surfaces by a pivot assembly and a swing assembly. Almost any commercially available circular power saw may be accommodated by placing the saw base on the plates, positioning the saw blade within alignment slots in the assemblies, and adjusting rails on the plates against the saw base. A keeper on one of the rails prevents the saw from jumping out of the saw guide. When the rails are properly adjusted, the circular saw blade will travel along a saw line between the plates from alignment slot to alignment slot. The top surface A of the board has a straight edged backup adjacent a planar work area. 90.degree. and 45.degree. stops on the top surface reliably and accurately position the saw line normal to or at a 45.degree. angle to the straight edge and aligned with 90.degree. and 45.degree. slots in the backup.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine for cutting sheet material employs a cutting wheel and a hard, smooth and continuous surface on which the sheet material is spread for cutting. To prevent shifting during cutting, the material is releasably attached to the support surface by adhesives, freezing, electrostatics and other securing means. The cutting wheel is forced downwardly against the hard support surface by a number of means to insure severing of the sheet material and may be ultrasonically vibrated to facilitate the severing process.

Abstract: A remotely operable device for cutting sample pieces from the walls of an irradiated component while the component is submerged in a pool of water to shield the operator from radiation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically severing individual towels from a length of material comprising a plurality of terry towels. The method includes the steps of measuring slightly less than the supposed length of a towel, then activating a sensor that detects the edge of a cutting space by the change in thickness of the material. The sensor causes feeding of the material to stop with a cut-line at a cutting blade. The first edge of the material is held while a second sensor located the same edge at the opposite side of the material, and the cutting blade is moved with the sensor. The material is stretched to straighten the cut-line, and the cutting blade is caused to cut the material. The apparatus includes feed rolls to move the material, and an encoder measures the length. A roller at one edge of the material detects the change in thickness at one edge, and similar rollers detect the change in thickness at the opposite edge.

Abstract: A method for cutting and maintaining in separate segments a gummous comestible, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a disk-like template above the comestible, the template having a plurality of radiating extending slots; (b) positioning a cutting tool above one of the slots; (c) folding a sheet of wax-like material over the cutting edge of said tool and about both sides thereof; (d) simultaneously holding each side of said wax-like sheet against the sides of the tool and pressing said closely held sheet and tool into the gummous comestible; (e) withdrawing the cutting tool while permitting the material, as a result of the friction and surface tension of said gummous comestible thereagainst, to remain in the gummous comestible; and (f) repeating each of the above steps for each of the radiating extending slots of the template through which a corresponding cut and placement of the wax-like sheet material is desired, whereby a separation into segments, in accordance with the relative position of each of the

Abstract: A blanking machine for blanking holes in a sheet of metal in a zigzag fashion comprising a bolster, a pair of rails, fixedly secured to the bolster extending in a direction right angles to the feeding direction of the sheet of metal to be blanked, a lower die set slidably mounted on the rails, a die fixedly secured to the lower die set, an upper die set having a punch mounted thereon opposite the die, the upper and the lower die sets being coupled together, a hydraulic cylinder having a plurality of pressure chambers formed therein, a transmission mechanism connected to a piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder, and a connecting rod for connecting the transmission mechanism to the upper or lower die set.

Abstract: A cutting board attachment is disclosed. The attachment has a plurality of cutting fulcrums which facilitate the ease with which a conventional knife may be used for cutting frozen foods and the like.

Abstract: A rotary cutting blade control system which automatically varies the feed rate to maintain a constant material removal rate. The system senses the current in an electric motor driving the cutting blade and automatically adjusts the feed rate to maintain the motor current constant. The system adjusts a hydraulic valve in the hydraulic system operating the blade support to move the blade in or out whenever the current deviates from a standard which is set by the operator. The control system also includes a circuit for detecting when the load on the blade has dropped below a preset level indicating that the blade has completed the cut and automatically commands the hydraulic system to return the blade to a start position. An additional control circuit operating in conjunction with the no-load sensing circuit automatically produces a command to stop the blade close to the work piece to save time and motion when multiple cuts are being performed.

Abstract: Transformer core sheets are cut out by selectively intermittently advancing a metal strip and cutting off the ends at various angles by changing the cutting angle of a swivel-type cutting shear. Trapezoidal or parallelogram pieces are cut by cutting off the lengths of strip along shear lines alternately at 90.degree. to each other. Hexagonal pieces are formed by severing the strip with one oblique cut, spacing the stock and the cut-off piece lengthwise from each other, and then cutting off a tip on each piece by a single cut that bridges the gap between the pieces, at 90.degree. to the previous cut. For this purpose, the cut-off piece may be advanced or the stock retracted, or both, to space apart the stock and the cut-off piece. A further cutter, at right angles to strip travel, may be provided for cutting off tips of the workpieces previously obliquely cut, at right angles to the direction of strip movement.

Abstract: A wire feeding unit and an associated wire length measuring unit advance supply wire through a cutting zone and at the same time the advanced supply wire is guided by a wire transfer system across transversely spaced endless conveyor chains of a wire propelling conveyor. The feeding unit is automatically stopped when it has advanced a measured length of the supply wire and the transfer system tensions the advanced supply wire while it is held against lengthwise displacement by the stopped feeding unit. The wire transfer system then engages the stopped and tensioned wire length with gripping jaws on the conveyor chains, the gripping jaws are closed, and the supply wire is severed in the cutting zone. Tensioning of the advanced supply wire prevents it from sagging between the transversely spaced conveyor gripping jaws and thereby avoids undesirable length variations of the cut off portion of the supply wire.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing from a plurality of windings in a dynamoelectric machine stator a generally annular grouping of winding end turns extending from an end face of the stator. The apparatus has means movable generally in a predetermined plane for severing at least a portion of the winding end turns from the stator windings. Means for mounting the stator includes means for positioning the end face generally adjacent the predetermined plane and also means for supporting the winding end turns portion adjacent the end face and the plane upon the severance of the winding end turns portion in response to the movement of the severing means into severing engagement therewith.A method for severing the end turns from the stator winding, a method of mounting the stator having end turns adapted to be severed, and means for mounting a stator in apparatus for severing end turns from windings of the stator are also disclosed.

Abstract: Retarding markings are provided alongside a linear pattern to be cut out by an automatic device guided by a photoelectric scanner. The markings are disposed a short distance ahead of the changes in direction of the pattern line, which is greater than the resultant decelerating path of the advance motors from the original faster advance speed to the resultant slower advance speed. A timing circuit initiates the change in advance speed after the retarding mark is detected and a second timing circuit changes the overhang of the line-scanning photocells from an initial greater magnitude to the lesser required magnitude correspond to the slower advance speed. Acceleration marks may also be provided after directional changes in the pattern to accelerate the advance speed back to the original advance speed after the changes in directions are accomplished.