Abstract: An article handling apparatus for a trim press includes a die and a cooperating punch configured to sever articles from a web, a treadle configured to move relative to the die, and a drive wheel assembly configured to move the web and the articles. The drive wheel assembly includes a pair of roller feed assemblies. Each of the roller feed assemblies include a knock-lever mechanism having a lever arm and a follower wheel, the lever arm being configured to contact the die as the treadle is moved towards the die. The the follower wheel is configured to retract from the respective drive wheel in response to contact of the lever arm with the die.

Abstract: An article conveying, guiding, and locating device includes a treadle including a web guide plate, a knock lever mechanism having a knock lever arm configured to co-act with a stationary platen as the treadle is moved relative to the stationary platen during a severing operation so as to retract the follower wheel away from the drive wheel to release a web carried therebetween to enable lateral centering of articles carried in the web. The device also includes a web conveyor having a servo pick assembly and a servo helper assembly driven by a servo motor. The web conveyor is configured to move a web of articles. The servo pick assembly is carried by the treadle.

Abstract: A method for delivering web-supported articles between dies and punches of a trim press. The method includes providing a treadle having an article detector, while moving the web and the articles, guiding the web and the articles along the web and between a pair of the articles each provided in one of a pair of adjacent rows that extend along a travel path direction, detecting location of an article in the web using the article detector, and in response to detecting the location of the article, controllably moving the web to position the article between a corresponding punch and die of the trim press.

Abstract: A compensating blister die cutter apparatus is disclosed which has the purpose of cutting a sheet of blisters which have been formed on a sheet of plastic material in individual blisters which are generally symmetrical in configuration. The apparatus includes at least first and second blister die cutter units supported by a base member. Each of the blister die cutter units comprises a supporting member which includes a bottom board, a backup plate positioned on the bottom board, and a top board positioned on the backup plate. A rule slot is provided in the top board and a steel rule is located in the rule slot and has a cutting edge. A cavity is formed in the central portion of the bottom board, backup plate and top board as assembled to accommodate the blister shape during the cutting operation. A threaded member connects the bottom board, backup plate and top board together to move as a unit.

Abstract: The cutting assembly functions to sever the urethane bed bonding a windshield to a vehicle. The assembly comprises a reciprocating air gun connected with a cutting blade by a shaft. The blade has a straight front cutting edge about 4 inches in width. The blade is reciprocated in and out of the bed to sever it.

Abstract: A trim press article handling apparatus includes a frame, a punch, a die, and a treadle. The punch is carried by the frame. The die is carried by the frame and cooperates in relative movement with the punch to sever articles from a web. The treadle is carried for movement relative to the die. The treadle includes a web guide member, a primary guide strip spaced from the guide member slightly greater than a thickness of the web, a secondary guide strip spaced from the guide member at least four thicknesses of the web and spaced apart from the primary guide strip, and an article detector carried by at least one of the primary guide strip and the secondary guide strip. The article detector is operative to detect position of an article in the web by detecting the position of a protuberance in the web as the protuberance is conveyed between the primary guide strip and the secondary guide strip. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A trim press article handling apparatus includes a punch plate, a die plate, a plunger, and a receiver. The punch plate has a punch, and the die plate has a die cooperating in relative movement with the punch plate to sever articles from a thermoformable web. The plunger is carried by one of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered advancing head. The receiver is carried by the other of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered recess configured to receive the plunger. A tapered article locator provided within a thermoformed web also having articles therein is captured between the plunger and the receiver as the punch plate and die plate are brought together there about, thereby imparting alignment of an article in the web between the punch and the die. A method for aligning and severing articles from a web is also provided.

Abstract: A chamfer cutting device for cutting packaging materials (9) comprises a die (1) and a knife part which has a plurality of knives (2). The die (1) can be moved toward the knife part in order to carry out a cut. The knives (2) are arranged individually in the knife part in a force-dependent manner in such a way that their position with respect to the tool plate (4) varies in a defined way as a function of the force produced by contact with the packaging material (9) or the die (1). In the event of contact between the knife (2) and the die (1), a force acts on the knife (2) which does not exceed a predefined maximum force. The chamfer cutting device has the advantage that the die (1) can be guided right up to the knives (2).

Abstract: A trim press article handling apparatus includes a punch plate, a die plate, a plunger, and a receiver. The punch plate has a punch, and the die plate has a die cooperating in relative movement with the punch plate to sever articles from a thermoformable web. The plunger is carried by one of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered advancing head. The receiver is carried by the other of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered recess configured to receive the plunger. A tapered article locator provided within a thermoformed web also having articles therein is captured between the plunger and the receiver as the punch plate and die plate are brought together there about, thereby imparting alignment of an article in the web between the punch and the die. A method for aligning and severing articles from a web is also provided.

Abstract: A trim press article handling apparatus includes a punch plate, a die plate, a plunger, and a receiver. The punch plate has a punch, and the die plate has a die cooperating in relative movement with the punch plate to sever articles from a thermoformable web. The plunger is carried by one of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered advancing head. The receiver is carried by the other of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered recess configured to receive the plunger. A tapered article locator provided within a thermoformed web also having articles therein is captured between the plunger and the receiver as the punch plate and die plate are brought together there about, thereby imparting alignment of an article in the web between the punch and the die. A method for aligning and severing articles from a web is also provided.

Abstract: A method for dicing small devices including MEMS, ink jet printheads, lasers etc. The method comprises making a first pass cut into a substrate with a blade of narrow kerf and having long wear characteristics. This first pass cut is then followed with a polishing blade of wider kerf having desirable smooth cutting qualities.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for separating packages from a line of interconnected packages. The technical problem is to simplify the cutting apparatus and shorten the set-up times and the work cycles. This problem is achieved with a lower knife (4) capable of being moved in between the packages in the vertical direction from below and with an upper roll (12) capable of being moved, together with a discharge gripper (11) for the separated packages, parallel to the conveying section while being pressed against the lower knife.

Abstract: A non-contact rotary knife apparatus which perforates a seal area between two adjacent pouches in a continuous web by using perforating blades, preferably on the minor hub, and anvils on the major hub with the anvils having elongated, spaced apart recesses for receiving but not touching the teeth of the perforating blade. Thus, a major knife hub is mounted for rotation and has perforating anvils spaced about the exterior of the major knife hub. Each of the perforating anvils has elongated, spaced-apart recesses. A minor knife hub is also mounted for rotation proximate to the major knife hub and has perforating blades spaced about the exterior of the minor knife hub. Each of the perforating blades has an edge with spaced perforating teeth disposed along the edge.

Abstract: A device for the mechanical separation of work pieces having plastic material in the area of separation, in particular, packages for flowable media joined together in pairs in the top wall is provided with feed and discharge means with guide rails and drivers and with separating blades arranged on a conveyor belt, with a first linear cutter with cutters arranged in pairs symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry, each with straight cutting blades followed by a round cutter with rotatable circular cutters arranged in pairs symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry, the cutters with the straight cutting blade being located in the cutting plane perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, and the straight cutting blades being disposed at an angle to the plane of symmetry such that the straight cutting blades get closer together in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A package is provided with a lid and container that are heat sealed together. A multi-ply sheet material is provided for being thermoformed to define the container which has a tapering wall and bulge-resistant bottom end. Prior to thermoforming the container from the sheet, the sheet is heated with oval pads on a plurality of plates which are arranged in a configuration to facilitate control of the sheet temperature. A plug is used in the thermoforming process to contact the sheet and position the sheet within a die. A lid sheet is heat sealed to the container sheet over the thermoformed containers so as to produce a pair of spaced-apart, annular bead heat seals. The package is completed by severing the sealed-together sheets at the periphery of the container with a punch and die set that produces and clean, smooth cut surface.

Abstract: Rotary knife apparatus used in connection with a pouch form, fill and seal machine capable of handling a substantially wide range of pouch sizes or variations in pouch fills. The apparatus includes major and minor knife hubs cantilevered on respective shafts and driven by a continuous backwrapped chain or timing belt. Rigid knife blades are mounted to interchangeable knife blocks on the major knife hub having varying radial dimensions to accommodate varying pouch chordal distances. The minor knife hub is laterally adjustable relative to the major knife hub along a fixed path to accommodate the substantial changeover.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating individual items from a bandolier of adjacent items have a seam between the items. A pair of upper jaws and a pair of lower jaws open and close horizontally to clamp and release the respective seam. The pair of lower jaws pull the bandolier downwardly through the opened pair of upper jaws. The seam is cut while the pair of upper jaws close to grasp an adjacent seam. The pair of lower jaws open to release the separated item to a delivery system and the pair of lower jaws move upwardly to be adjacent to, and below, the pair of upper jaws. The pair of lower jaws close and the sequence is repeated. At least one sensor identifies an identification feature on the items and transmits signals to a control unit to actuate movement of the pair of upper jaws and the pair of lower jaws. Preferably, a second sensor system assures that separation is only at the respective seams. A method of use is disclosed.

Abstract: A pallet for supporting strip material on which encapsulated circuit devices of the ball-grid array type are supported is delivered to a first cutter assembly. Rotary hardened steel cutter discs having radially extended cutting teeth separate the circuit devices as the cutter assembly is traversed to move the cutter blades in paths extended transversely of the strip material between adjacent circuit devices. Thereafter, the pallet is moved to a second cutter station at which a second cutter assembly trims strip material along paths extending transversely of the first paths. Pallet positioning means for precise positioning of pallets carrying the strip material include elevators having resilient supports which allow for limited lateral motion of the pallets as they are moved into positions of alignment with the cutter assemblies.

Abstract: A rotary knife apparatus for depositing filled pouches in preselected count stacks along a travelling product conveyor. The rotary knife apparatus includes a rotating disc valve intermediate negative and positive pressure sources on one side and a rotary knife hub on the other side. The rotating disc valve includes a plurality of arcuate slots and apertures which communicate with the negative and positive pressure sources and axial ports in the knife hub such that the knife hub holds and expels the filled pouches along defined segments of rotation of the knife hub. The rotating disc valve has a dynamically variable rotational speed relative to a rotational speed of the knife hub for changing a predetermined number of different angular drop-off points during a period of rotation of the knife hub to correspondingly change the preselected count of pouches in a stack.

Abstract: A rotary knife apparatus for depositing filled pouches in preselected count stacks along a travelling product conveyor. The rotary knife apparatus includes a rotating disc valve intermediate negative and positive pressure sources on one side and a rotary knife hub on the other side. The rotating disc valve includes a plurality of arcuate slots and apertures which communicate with the negative and positive pressure sources and axial ports in the knife hub such that the knife hub holds and expels the filled pouches along defined segments of rotation of the knife hub. The rotating disc valve has a dynamically variable rotational speed relative to a rotational speed of the knife hub for changing a predetermined number of different angular drop-off points during a period of rotation of the knife hub to correspondingly change the preselected count of pouches in a stack.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 applies segments of adhesive tape 14 to workpieces 20. A supply station 24 provides the continuous strip of tape 14. An application station 28 forces the continuous strip of adhesive tape 14 against successive workpieces 20 as each workpiece 20 and the continuous strip of adhesive tape 14 are moved relative to the application station 28. Two stop mechanisms 120 and 166 are provided. A mover 102 moves first and second workpieces 20a and 20b which are interconnected by a portion of the continuous strip of tape 14 until and end of the second workpiece 20b engages the first stop mechanism 120. A first sever mechanism 124 severs the continuous strip of tape 14. A second mover 214 moves the first workpiece 20a until the end of the first workpiece 20a engages the second stop mechanism 166. A second sever mechanism 170 severs a segment of tape associated with the first workpiece 20a from a trailing segment of tape.

Abstract: A workpiece finishing machine feeds a plurality of interconnected workpieces, in the form of a feedstock bandolier, to a cutting cylinder wherein individual workpieces are separated from the bandolier by a cutting punch. The separated workpiece is subsequently moved into engagement with a reciprocating presentation carriage which removes the workpiece from the cutting cylinder and presents it in a predetermined position to a robotic loader or assembly device. The machine includes a plurality of sensors which detect various aspects of the feedstock and workpiece.

Abstract: A reciprocating cutting tool includes a shank for mounting in a pneumatic hammer, a blade holder assembly connected to the shank and a blade clamped in the blade holder assembly. The blade holder assembly includes a base member and a retainer member which are clamped together. A blade receiver is formed between the base and retainer members. The base member includes a recess and the retainer member includes a shoulder which is received in the base member recess for abutment by a fixed end of the blade.

Abstract: A method and system for assorting a number of small product pieces (G) cut off from a large work sheet (W) which is processed by a cutting machine (1) to form small product parts (G). The system includes a cutting-off device (71) for cutting off the small product parts (G) in turn from the large work sheet (W), transportation device (9) for transporting the small product pieces (G) cut off from the sheet (W) in a direction (X) and positioning the pieces (G) in desired places in the transportation device (9), and an assorting device (11) for collecting the pieces (G) at the desired places and positioning the pieces in predetermined places by every kind of the pieces (G).

Abstract: A device which trims off the perforated margin strips of printer paper and cuts the paper transversely to separate it into individual pages. The paper which discharges from the printer is drawn around a tension bar and is applied to a toothed belt driven by feed wheels. Cutter wheels act against a grooved roller to cut along the tear lines of the margin strips. A photocell based counting system counts the perforations which pass the photocell to indicate each time the paper is advanced to position one of the transverse fold lines at a cutting station. Then, the paper is stopped and a cutter wire is pulled through the fold line to separate the leading page from the rest of the paper sheet. Each time a new sheet of paper is loaded, a special control circuit assures that the initial advance of the sheet stops with the leading edge of the paper at the cutting station.

Abstract: A cutting assembly for cutting a continuous sheet of material covering containers which are continuously conveyed in spaced apart container carriers in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed. The cutting assembly includes a support assembly and a mechanism coupled to the support assembly for rotating the support assembly in an orbital path so that the support assembly passes above the container carriers at substantially the predetermined speed and direction during a first portion of the orbital path. The cutting assembly also includes a blade assembly pivotably coupled to the support assembly for cutting the continuous sheet of material as the support assembly moves above the container carriers during the first portion of the orbital path. The cutting assembly further includes an alignment pin for aligning the blade assembly with respect to the container carriers as the blade assembly cuts the sheet of material.

Abstract: An apparatus has a base plate having a plurality of penetrating holes, a vertically movable plate slidably mounted on guide posts, and a stripper plate slidably mounted on the guide posts and hung from the movable plate. A plurality of stripper pins are vertically slidably mounted in the stripper plate. Each stripper pin is arranged to be inserted in corresponding one of the penetrating holes of the base plate. A sheet holding plate for mounting a product sheet is provided to be detachably mounted on the base plate. The stripper pins are arranged to push each molded rubber product on the product sheet in the corresponding penetrating hole so as to strip it from the product sheet.

Abstract: A dispenser for a continuous strip of articles has two grippers with cantilevered gripping arms, one gripper positioned at each side of the strip. One of the grippers grips the end article in the continuous strip of articles and moves the end article downstream to a dispensing station through the open arms of the other gripper which moves upstream to a gripping position whereas it grips the article adjacent the end article. A cutter severs the article at the dispensing station from the continuous strip and the downstream gripper opens to dispense the article. The upstream gripper now grips the end article and may move downstream through the open gripping arms of the other gripper for dispensing this next article and this process may be repeated.