Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly severing a decoy towline extending from an aircraft by a mechanical spring actuated cutting blade and a thermal fuse type of release mechanism eliminating a pyrotechnic actuation device. The cutting blade is biased toward cutting engagement with the towline by a preloaded coil compression spring retained in the loaded position by a length of a polymer cord. The polymer cord has a heater wire wrapped about a portion of the cord which is connected to a DC voltage supply. The heater wire melts the cords when electrically connected to the DC power supply which releases the restraint on the spring which then drives the cutting blade into severing engagement with the towline.

Abstract: A power cutter tool for applying drywall tape or plastic drywall trim product that contains a powered blade that can cut the tape or trim material by simply pressing a trigger. The cutter can be powered by a spring or springs, a motor, hydraulically or by any other means. The trigger can be a button, lever, valve or any other means for releasing a powered blade.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly severing a decoy towline extending from an aircraft by a mechanical spring actuated cutting blade and a thermal fuse type of release mechanism eliminating a pyrotechnic actuation device. The cutting blade is biased toward cutting engagement with the towline by a preloaded coil compression spring retained in the loaded position by a length of a polymer cord. The polymer cord has a heater wire wrapped about a portion of the cord which is connected to a DC voltage supply. The heater wire melts the cords when electrically connected to the DC power supply which releases the restraint on the spring which then drives the cutting blade into severing engagement with the towline.

Abstract: The present invention provides a single-use surgical cutting device for cutting a planar piece of tissue into a predetermined shape. The cutting device comprises a housing having one or more side walls, a top, a base, and a hollow interior portion. A blade retaining member is disposed within the housing between and substantially parallel to the top and base such that the blade retaining member can move vertically between the top and base. A blade defining a predetermined tissue shape is disposed on the bottom surface of the blade retaining member. A pressure mechanism creates potential energy for exerting a downward force on the top surface of the blade retaining member, such that when the blade retaining member is released, the pressure mechanism forces the blade retaining member downward with sufficient force to cut the piece of tissue. An actuator is configured to release the blade retaining member only once without disassembling the housing and resetting the pressure mechanism.

Abstract: A safety cable cutter used for cutting a cable used in servicing an oil and gas well. A centrifugal arm roller and a guide roller are mounted on top of a frame. The cable is received on the rollers as the cable is lowered down a well bore. Mounted on ends of the centrifugal arm roller is a centrifugal arm attached to an arm coil spring. The coil spring holds the centrifugal arm next to the end of the roller. Opposite ends of a clamp attached to a cutter bar are slidably received in a pair of cutter bar guides. When the centrifugal arm roller exceeds a certain speed indicating a free fall of the cable, the bias force of the arm coil springs is overcome and the arms move outwardly. Contact ends of the arms engage the opposite ends of the clamp. The clamp and cutter bar are then moved outwardly and the cutter bar cuts the cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pitting olives (or other fruit) and slicing the pitted fruit. In preferred embodiments, a pitting knife and a coring knife horizontally translate each olive to be pitted while the pitting knife, coring knife, and olive revolve together about a horizontal axis, the pitting knife pushes out the pit horizontally as the olive and cup translate along a segment of a circular first path around the axis, the apparatus includes slicing pockets (in positions horizontally separated from the first path) which translate along a circular second path parallel to the first path, after pitting, a pitting knife pulls the pitted olive horizontally away from the first path and into one of the pockets, and the pitted olive in the pocket is sliced by slicing knives as the pitted olive and pocket translate around the axis along a segment of the second path into engagement with the slicing knives.

Abstract: Improvements are provided to improve an apparatus and method for processing a substantially constant velocity flow of a web of material, including a cutting mechanism and a web accumulator upstream of the cutter. The improvements include stopping the web by a side surface of the movable blade and configuring the accumulator dimensions and cutting speed to cause an appropriate level of force between the upstream severed end of the web and the blade. Several features achieve a low cutting time and modify cutting force to cut web regions with different characteristics, such as for cutting through splices. A low inertia rotary solenoid accelerates a blade through the web and against a resilient stop. The blade bounces off of the stop to its spring-biased home position. A permanent magnet or electromagnet holds the blade in the home position as solenoid current develops. These features result in reduced noise and shorter cutting time, thereby allowing an increase in web speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to thread trimming devices for eyelet buttonhole machines. The invention comprises a thread trimming device having a snap action spring arm knife. As the thread hook positions the thread and gimp, a cam lifts up the end of the spring arm. The cam then releases the knife whose torque snaps down and cuts the thread and gimp against a second knife edge. The thread and gimp are also held together at this point for the next buttonhole by a thread retainer which is built into the knife.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting at least one end of a surgical suture is described. The apparatus comprises a first pair of feed rollers which advance the surgical suture through a hole (or opening) in a cutting assembly. The first pair of feed rollers is driven by a stepper motor. A second pair of friction rollers take up the slack (i.e., provide tension) to the surgical suture beyond the cutting assembly. The second pair of friction rollers is driven by an electric or stepper motor. The cutting assembly comprises an anvil plate in which the hole is positioned, and a razor blade which is placed in a movable bracket against the anvil plate. The cutting edge of the razor blade is driven by a spring across the hole and cuts the surgical suture. The spring is activated (and can be reactivated for repetitive steps) by an electric motor.

Abstract: Rapid cut-off apparatus for high speed moving yarn whereupon any excessive force exerted upon the yarn causes the apparatus to be triggered into a yarn cut-off operation with the apparatus being accelerated to the speed of the moving yarn upon frictional engagement of the cut-off blade of the apparatus with the yarn.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaving an optical fibre (115) under axial tension, is provided with a cleaver blade (116) which is mounted as part of a rotatable cleaver assembly. The assembly is balanced about its axis of rotation and, as described, comprises a wheel (117) mounted on an axle (138). The cleaver blade (116) is attached to an arm which extends radially from the wheel (117). A hair spring (304) drives the assembly. The cleaving apparatus finds particular application in cleaving monomode fibres under normal working, rather than laboratory, conditions.

Abstract: Wrapping apparatus for use with a baling machine of the type having a forming chamber in which a round bale is formed and into which a wrapping material is fed to wrap the bale, includes a housing, a feeding device mounted on the housing for feeding a wrapping material from a source of wrapping material to the forming chamber, and a drive on the housing having a drive position for driving the feeding device, the drive being biased into a non-drive position so that the drive is disengaged from driving the feeding device. A cutter is provided for cutting the wrapping material after the wrapping material exits the feeding device, the cutter being movable between a first and a second position. A pivotal lever is operable between an initial position and a first operable position, the pivotal lever being movable from the initial position to the first operable position to actuate the drive from its non-drive to its drive position to thereby drive the feeding device to feed the wrapping material.

Abstract: A container is positioned on an electrically insulated support and pierced by a spring actuated piercing device while a stream of gas flows adjacent the support.

Abstract: A device for cutting roll tape, including a frame, a serrated rotary blade pivotably mounted in the frame, the rotary blade having a plurality of cutting teeth formed by grooves running perpendicular to the axis of the rotary blade and a flat surface cut across the rotary blade, and at least one continuous groove at each end of the serrated rotary blade adjacent the plurality of cutting teeth, a serrated stationary blade pivotably mounted on the frame, the stationary blade having a plurality of cutting teeth, the stationary blade cutting teeth being meshable with the cutting teeth on the rotary blade, the stationary blade also having at least one long tooth at each end of the stationary blade adjacent the plurality of short cutting teeth, the long teeth reaching the tangency of the continuous grooves and riding therein, and wherein the cutting teeth are sufficiently shortened to provide the desired clearance at the cutting interface, and a biasing element for biasing the long teeth of the stationary blade int

Abstract: A press and press method wherein an article is shaped by displacing a tool thereagainst in a plurality of time-spaced main strokes separated by intervals in which the energy for the main strokes is stored in a force-storing element such as a rod under tension and during these intervals, the tool continues to be advanced against the article by an auxiliary motor. The apparatus utilizes a lever pivotally connected to a support, to the force-storing element and to the tool. The main drive motor acts on this lever.

Abstract: A power press in which low inertia motors with speed control circuitry are connected to a cam which acts upon a lever or cam follower which, in turn, cooperates with a force-storing element which has a spring action and is coupled, e.g. by the same lever, to the tool of the press. Accordingly, in the rotation of the cam, the force-storing means stores potential energy which is transformed into kinetic energy of the ram in another region of the cam at which part of the energy can be delivered to the low inertia motors. Hence the speed control of the motor will, in part, regulate the rate at which the stored force is delivered to the workpiece.

Abstract: A trim press employs a hammer assembly to deliver a hammer blow to the punch of the press at the moment the punch begins to apply shearing pressure to material being trimmed. A spring system applies a steadily increasing spring loading to the hammer as the punch carrying platen moves downwardly in its operating stroke toward the die. A latch assembly, triggered by an abutment on the die, unlatches the hammer at the time the punch engages the material so that the downward velocity of the punch due to the downward movement of the platen is increased by a hammer blow as the punch moves through the material being trimmed. The spring system is operable to restore the hammer to its latched position during the upward stroke of the platen.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting straps wound on a bale of material in which the bale of material is brought into contact with a cutter blade which is forcibly retracted against the action of a spring whereafter the cutter element is released under the pressure of the compressed spring and is thrust forwardly against the bale to cut the straps on the bale.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a device for repeatably scribing a V-shaped scratch having sharply defined dimensions on the interior surface of a nuclear reactor fuel rod tube. A cutting tool having a V-shaped cutting tip is supported within the fuel rod tube so that the V-shaped cutting tip can be pivoted about an axis and scribe a scratch on the interior surface of the fuel rod tube. Lengthwise the scratch runs parallel to a line drawn through the axis of the fuel rod tube and is in the shape of an arc, and widthwise the scratch is V-shaped. This shape is used because the dimensions of the scratch can be plugged into appropriate formulas to calculate stress intensity of cracks in fuel rod tubes. Since the fuel rod tubes which are to be scribed may be radioactive, the scratching assembly is designed for use in a fixture which allows it to be operated in a cave by remote control handling devices.

Abstract: A knife assembly capable of cutting photographic strip material with high accuracy at extremely high speeds includes a base, a stationary blade, a source of rotary power, a crank shaft, a spring-wrap clutch mechanism, first and second linear drive shafts, first and second adjustable linear bearings, and a movable blade. The spring-wrap clutch is mounted on the crank shaft for selectively imparting rotary power to the crank shaft, and the first and second linear drive shafts are connected to the drive shaft. The movable blade is connected between the ends of the first and second linear drive shafts.

Abstract: A tube perforating device for forming outlet openings in a tube, such as a plastic tube, having discharge openings for passage of air, or the like, where it is desired to diminish the sound of the discharge to a minimum, and the method of accomplishing such opening formations by multiple perforations with perforating members spaced as desired and having ovoid heads to permit perforations of the walls of the tube and withdrawing the head of the perforating means through the perforations, drawing the peripheral margins of the opening outwardly, leaving the inside wall of the tube smooth, thus diminishing turbulance therein, and said device having an adjustment permitting a selective penetration of both walls of the tubing, transversely, with just the point of the penetrating means perforating the bottom wall, forcing said peripheral margin outwardly on the bottom perforation, and withdrawing the said head through the upper wall penetration, again moving the peripheral margin outwardly, providing pairs of openin

Abstract: Apparatus for repairing portions of damaged material such as clothing fabric is described. A piece of mending cloth identical to the damaged material is placed over the damaged area of a fabric to be repaired, aligned and further placed upon a flat cutting die of metal having several different sized round holes therein. The proper hole is selected, the top edge about the parimeter acting as the cutting die. A cooperating punch assembly containing a cylindrical holder which can contain one metal sphere or two such spheres. If the punch assembly contains two such spheres, one may be swiveled or turned end for end so as to cut with the desired sphere. The spherical ball partically protrudes from the one end of a holder through a hole about which surrounds a shoulder area for cooperating with the die plate. The spherical ball is held loosely within the holder by retaining means opposite to the shoulder region.

Abstract: A roll fed copier is provided with mechanism responsive to depression of a copy button to start or turn on power to the machine and thereby initiate the feed of copy paper from a supply roll and to cock a sprng-powered knife which is tripped by linkage operated by an adjustable copy length control on the movable original carrying platen. Additional mechanism is also provided to break the power lines to the machines if the copy button is not actuated for a predetermined interval.