Abstract: Two elongated gripping members (12,12) cooperate to form a closed pressure chamber about a waxed billet (61). The gripping members are reciprocated relative to an extrusion station (13), such reciprocation first moving the pressure chamber toward and past the extrusion station so as to extrude the billet through a die (66) at the extrusion station, and then returning the gripping members, in separated condition, to their initial positions to permit the immediate loading of another billet between the gripping members. Also disclosed are various additional systems, e.g.

Abstract: Molten material is fed into an elongated outwardly open mold, moving in a predetermined path, and is thereafter conveyed by the mold movement at least partway through a region of such path over which a closure for the outward opening of the mold moves along therewith, the material concurrently being cooled to become solidified. The movements of such mold and closure cause the solidified material to be extruded through stationary die means disposed in such region. Such material may solder metal formed into a tube into which is inserted rosin, the same heat exchange medium being used both to cool the metal prior to its extrusion and to keep the rosin molten prior to such insertion thereof.

Abstract: Techniques for terminating one or more flat flexible cables (38A,38B) are disclosed. A floor plate (21) used in such terminating is adapted to receive one or more insulation-piercing connectors (28) in one or more recesses (27) in an upstanding wall (26) along an edge of the floor plate. Each connector may alternatively receive, in independent manner and in electrical isolation from one another, either one or two flat flexible cables at the option of a user. Suitable, temporary protective cover (61) and final housing (71) facilities are also disclosed.

Abstract: Two elongated gripping members (12,12) cooperate to form a closed pressure chamber about a waxed billet (61). The gripping members are reciprocated relative to an extrusion station (13), such reciprocation first moving the pressure chamber toward and past the extrusion station so as to extrude the billet through a die (66) at the extrusion station, and then returning the gripping members, in separated condition, to their initial positions to permit the immediate loading of another billet between the gripping members. Also disclosed are various additional systems, e.g.

Abstract: A floor plate assembly (11), for terminating flat flexible cables (22,22) at two bracket members (14,14) on the plate, is disclosed. The floor plate has adequate area to assure firm adhesive bonding to a floor (73), with flat flexible cables being laid over the plate. Protective flanges (29,29) are provided on a pair of complementary, temporary cover sections (26,26) and an optionally pivotable bracket member (44) to protect substantial lengths of cable from accidental cutting during carpet-laying operations. The plate and a permanent housing (72) cooperate to clamp the carpet (74) about the bracket members, without creating undue stresses on an adhesive bond between the plate and the floor during threaded attachment of the housing to the bracket.

Abstract: An annular groove (35) is located in an outer surface of an inner toroid (31), and is partly covered by an inner surface of an outer toroid (32). Alternatively, an annular groove (25) is located in an inner surface of an outer toroid (22), and is partly covered by an outer surface of an inner toroid (21). As the toroids are rotated together about different, intersecting axes, an elongated workpiece (W) is introduced into an open portion of the annular groove, advances into the closed portion of the annular groove, and is extruded through a die (48) upon again approaching the open portion of the annular groove, thereby forming an elongated product (P).

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for terminating a number of substantially flat conductors in a flat flexible cable, e.g., by soldering. The connector includes a number of contact members, each of which has a generally U-shaped portion with a substantially flat base. The contact members are so positioned within the recesses in a housing of the connector that the substantially flat bases of the generally U-shaped channel portions extend outwardmost from the interiors of the recesses, forming an outwardly-oriented, substantially planar surface to which the substantially flat conductors may readily be interconnected. By interchanging certain existing male and female contact members and inverting them from their previous attitudes within recesses in the housings of prior art connectors, such existing male and female contact members may be employed, with little or no change in their structures, in the new connector.

Abstract: A selected portion of a nonferrous, metallic workpiece, such as a copper or copper alloy workpiece, is annealed to a controlled degree of temper by irradiating the selected portion of the workpiece with a pulsed laser beam, while so regulating a parameter of the pulsed laser beam as to effect the desired, controlled degree of temper. The regulated parameter may be the intensity and/or duration of a laser pulse.

Abstract: Axial alignment of a pair of articles such as the ends of a pair of optical components is effected by an alignment device, which serves also as a connector. The alignment device employs a pair of sleeves, for holding the pair of articles, the sleeves being slidably and rotatably mounted in a pair of hingeably connected members. A pair of adjustment means disposed between the hinged members are used to move one of the members about the other member until the pair of articles are in axial alignment. An additional means is also included for locking the adjacent surfaces of the axially aligned pair of articles in a fixed position. Two embodiments of the device are disclosed.

Abstract: An ion source is described in which a compound of the material of a desired ion is dissociated in a plasma discharge process to provide a beam of charged particles including the desired ions. The proportion of the desired ion in the particle beam is selected by adjustment of the temperature of the plasma, and, for increasing the range of selection of obtainable proportions, various means are described for increasing the plasma temperature beyond that which was previously attainable in ion sources of this type.

Abstract: A robot arm, comprising a pair of arm elements interconnected by a pivotal joint, includes a hand for supporting an article. Two additional linking elements of known lengths, interconnected by a free-floating pivotal joint, are pivotally coupled, at the free end of one linking element to the hand of the robot arm, and at the free end of the other linking element to a known position. Sensing devices at the free-floating pivotal joint and at the known position monitor, respectively, the angle between the linking elements and the attitude of such other linking element at the known position, in order to determine the location of the hand and, thus, of an article supported therein. Since the linking elements are not load-bearing, the determination is independent of any load on the hand such as may deform the arm elements.

Abstract: A power-operated tool functions to remove wire leads and solder from terminals e.g., terminals which include two bent lugs, without any application of heat to the leads or terminals. The tool includes a number of scrapers, each having a scraping edge. With the scraping edges initially maintained forced apart, the scrapers are positioned axially forwardly along a terminal, so as to locate the scraping edges beneath one or more soldered wire leads. The tool is then energized, causing the scrapers to be moved axially rearwardly along the terminal, and simultaneously causing the scraping edges to be moved generally radially inwardly toward one another so as to engage firmly a plurality of surfaces of the terminal. The axially moving scraping edges serve to scrape the wire lead and solder axially off the terminal. Two embodiments of the tool are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns methods and apparatus for forming an elongated product, having a high quality surface appearance and finish, from an elongated workpiece with a wax coating. The wax-coated, elongated workpiece is advanced toward, and then through, an aperture which extends longitudinally through a die, by an application of frictional drag forces, in the direction of the die, to the wax coating. The wax, however, does not pass through the die aperture, but rather is substantially completely removed from each successive element of the elongated workpiece, substantially as such element reaches the die.

Abstract: Two rotors cooperate to advance a rod of indefinite length continuously into an extrusion die. Portions of radially extending surfaces of the two rotors are utilized to grip the rod therebetween, in order to effect such advance of the workpiece rod upon the simultaneous rotation of the two rotors. An annular groove extends along the appropriate radially extending surface of one of the rotors. Such annular groove serves to retain the rod therein while guiding the rod along a path leading to the die. The face-to-face arrangement of the two rotors along their respective radially extending surfaces permits a very high extrusion pressure to be supported, while also allowing effective sealing of the annular groove at such very high extrusion pressure.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns apparatus which automatically performs screen-changing functions associated with the use of screen devices for filtering extruded plastic materials. The apparatus includes a slide assembly with two apertured recesses for receiving screen devices, and mechanisms for aligning the recesses alternatingly with a direction of advance of the extruded plastic material. A screen device is replaced within one recess, as a screen device within the other recess filters the extruded plastic material. Such screen device replacement is provided through the automatic, sequential operations of screen device ejection, screen device carrier, screen device introducing and screen device reloading mechanisms.

Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing arrangement includes a supporting member and a supported member, with the supported member borne by a pressurized hydraulic fluid located in a space between the two members. The hydrostatic bearing arrangement includes neither any provision for recirculating the fluid nor any seals for containing the fluid, but relies, instead, upon a particular property of the fluid, i.e., a high intrinsic shear strength, in order to prevent leakage of the fluid past the outer periphery of the space between the two members.

Abstract: A plurality of separate, elongated, metallic members, such as wires, are formed simultaneously, e.g., through the application of hydrostatic extrusion techniques, by passing a single metallic workpiece through a die with a plurality of apertures. The apertures extend longitudinally through the die from an entry wall of the die, and are so arrayed, and the die entry wall includes surfaces which are so configured, as to cooperate to create cross-shear stresses in the material of the workpiece in the vicinity of the apertures. These cross-shear stresses separate, or assist in separating, the workpiece into a plurality of elongated members, so that the forming process may take place at reduced operating pressures.

Abstract: Multiple elongated products are formed simultaneously from a single workpiece, coated with a lubricant or other fluent material, by forcing the workpiece against and through a die having multiple apertures. The apertures are so arrayed as to permit a relatively free flow of the coating material to each of the die apertures, including one or more generally central apertures. Preferred aperture configurations include straight line arrays and shallow curves, such as shallow "S"-shaped curves. The workpiece may advantageously correspond in general shape to that of the configuration of apertures in the die through which it is to be forced.

Abstract: A tape, which includes a number of parallel-extending, elongated wires of substantially circular cross-section, is formed by subjecting an elongated workpiece to two stages of deformation. In a first stage, the workpiece acquires an intermediate structure, in the form of a tape composed of a number of parallel-extending elongated elements, each having a cross-section which preferably includes a pair of diametrically opposed, substantially circular, arcuate portions. The cross-section of each elongated element also includes a non-circular, junction region converging toward the adjacent lateral edge of each adjacent elongated element. Each pair of adjacent elongated elements in the intermediate structure is joined together along the adjacent lateral edges, by two such junction regions, one included in each of the elongated elements of the pair. The contacting junction regions preferably meet one another along flat surfaces at approximately ninety degree angles.

Abstract: A bundle of hexagonal billets, each billet being coated with a shear transmitting medium, is extruded through one form of die having a plurality of hexagonal die apertures, to produce simultaneously a plurality of individual hexagonal wires. The bundle may be extruded through another form of die having a single die aperture with a transverse cross-section registering with the transverse cross-section of the bundle, to produce simultaneously a plurality of individual hexagonal wires. In each case, the billet material is advanced against and through the die by means of frictional or viscous drag force exerted along the surface of the billet material toward the die. The foregoing operations may also be applied to drawing.