Abstract: Intermediate a component inserting machine and its lead clinching mechanism, a turret-type work support carries one or more detachable circuit boards and is rotatable about a vertical axis as well as movable in their general plane under the control of programmed power means. The latter is effective to cause a pivot means on the support and a cooperative surface or stop means to shift the support and its boards angularly at predetermined times and to a predetermined extent. Accordingly, without need to angularly reposition the inserter or clinching means, the automatically positioned work support enables the boards to receive components in various predetermined angular relations (most commonly at right angles), and boards may be loaded and unloaded on the turret while other boards thereon are concurrently having components mounted therein.The arrangement avoids the hazard present when boards are manually repositioned, and generally enhances productivity.

Abstract: A pad box for conforming the bottom of a shoe to that of a last comprises shoe bottom engaging material, a forepart supporting member and a waist supporting member both engageable with the material, the members being pivotally interconnected, means for adjusting the angle between the members, and a further adjusting means by which both members may be jointly tilted without altering a selected angle of adjustment between the members. Additionally, the pad box preferably includes a means for varying the effective length of the waist engaging member.

Abstract: Mechanism is provided whereby, at the option of an operator, a cementing machine may conveniently be converted from an edge folding arrangement to an edge binding arrangement, or vice versa. Instead of requiring services of a mechanic for the purpose, the operator simply mounts the appropriate finger and gauge block and positions a locking lever for the desired mode of operation.The invention is particularly suitable for operating on uppers of shoes but its utility is applicable to other flexible sheet workpieces.

Abstract: A blind riveting tool of the type including a reuseable mandrel carrying a plurality of rivets to be successively set thereby. The rivets are advanced along the mandrel by causing air to flow through a sleeve to urge a leading one of the rivets beyond abutment members at the end of the tool. A catch having a finger is provided for urging the next to leading rivet and those behind it rearwardly so that the abutment members can close to embrace the mandrel behind the leading rivet without interference from the next one. The arrangement also facilitates reloading of the tool with another or the same reuseable mandrel when a new group of rivets is to be installed.

Abstract: Electronic components, such as DIP's, which have at least one row of generally right angular or generally linear leads projecting from their bodies, are dispensed from their respective columns in a magazine of the machine, one by one, and as predeterminedly selected by a picker controlled by computer means. Due to occasional obstructive slight irregularities in the formation of the bodies and/or their leads, means is provided to insure exact registration of each selected component with a component inserting mechanism. Improved means for rapid, reliable release and transfer of the successive selected components from the magazine, and between the delivery ends of its respective columns and, a lead conditioning means at the locality of such registration, enable efficient coordination with the inserting mechanism whereby continuous output at a higher rate is attainable.

Abstract: An improved machine and method for stiffening a selected portion of a sheet-like member generally flattens that portion, next deposits on a chill plate matrix an adhesive hot melt deposit of mostly uniform thickness except for a margin of added thickness for slower hardening, and then causes the matrix with impact to press all of the adhesive, while the added thickness margin is still softer than the uniform adhesive thickness, against the flattened portion of the member, thus transferring the adhesive to that portion, the added thickness margin being exuded laterally and hence taperingly reduced to provide diminishing stiffness toward an edge merging with the member.The machine and method have particular advantage in stiffening a toe portion of a shoe upper, rendering the instep margin of the vamp or a toe piece free of irregularity, and assuring ultimate comfort for wearing in an assembled shoe.

Abstract: A pull-to-set mandrel riveting tool is provided with mandrel-pulling jaws releasable from mandrel gripping relation, and a pivoted nosepiece assembly including openable rivet abutting means is thereupon movable to carry the mandrel to an out-of-the-way position wherein a rivet to be set can be loaded on the stem of the reusable mandrel. The tool is preferably operable by fluid pressure means, and a stop means is provided for insuring proper longitudinal re-positioning of the mandrel relative to mandrel pulling means. The construction facilitates manual or automatic loading of successive rivets on the mandrel.

Abstract: In a hot melt adhesive dispensing gun, an electronic circuit is constructed to enable the operator to set a desired temperature to which the glue is heated. This set point is automatically raised a predetermined amount when the glue is flowing in order to compensate for the drop in temperature caused by the loss of heat to the glue and atmosphere.

Abstract: A heel attaching machine is provided with a shoe support particularly well suited for attaching stilletto-type heels by means of a plurality of nails and a staple driven into the rear portion of a heel seat and inclined toward the center of the heel.

Abstract: A hot melt body for an applicator or dispenser of thermoplastic adhesive first received in solid form, either as a progressively fed rod or in another mode, is provided having especial advantage in a light-weight hand-type device. The main melt chamber and its auxiliary channels as well as their interconnecting passageways are of configuration and spacing to effect maximum efficiency in transfering melting heat from a heating means to the adhesive being liquefied. To this end, also, complemental portions of the body include passageways designed to provide minimum, substantially uniform resistance to advance of the solid adhesive along the length of the melt body.

Abstract: An edge folding machine having edge snipping means, and means for adjustably determining maximum and minimum feed length settings for workpieces having different edge configurations, is also provided with mechanism whereby an operator can adjust the amount or spacing of margin splitting by the snipping means as considered appropriate for "inside", i.e. concave edge portions of the work.

Abstract: For use in pull-through blind riveting a plurality of tubular rivets is received on a reusable mandrel having a head and a stem, each rivet having a recess in its tail end which can accommodate a ring of metal separated by the mandrel head from the internal wall of the rivet set in a previous rivet-setting operation. Dimensions of the mandrel and its rivets insure that a complete ring rather than a crescent-shaped fragment is removed from the rivet being set, and this ring is caused to be retained in the recess of the next rivet to be set by the mandrel. In practicing the novel method, the separated ring of rivet metal is retained on the mandrel stem until the mandrel head is pulled through the ring in setting the next rivet.

Abstract: A new sequence of steps provides more control in the formation in sheet metal of weakening lines of the type characterized by an integral yet fractured section. Basically, the method employs, in making so-called easy-open can ends, for example:1. peripherally forming a closure in the sheet metal;2. coining or scoring a profile surface of the closure, not to the depth required for fracture, but to establish residuum thickness along the desired line;3. next, overforming the closure at least in part to controllably fracture the residuum along that coined line; and4. lastly, swaging to seal or tighten edges of the fractured section.

Abstract: For uniformly positioning and closely spacing in a row electrical lead-bearing components of different types, including those having disc-shaped bodies to be disposed in overlapping relation, lead controlling means and component body positioning means coact with a conveyor conducting the components to be secured as by tape in selected sequence.

Abstract: In a punch press for making metal can tops with closures, respectively, especially those closures of easy-open construction involving an integral but fractured section, cooperative dies are caused in each cycle to perform at a single station first a forming operation, then a peripheral coining step, preferably during the last phase of the forming, and lastly a primary and a secondary swaging or "fracture sealing" operation, the latter occurring as the dies separate. The invention, though not so limited, is applicable to production of can tops of the type disclosed in U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,881,630, for example, and has particular merit in enabling can top production to occur largely at a single station. It thus conserves manufacturing space as well as lowers cost.

Abstract: In a hot melt glue dispensing gun, apparatus is constructed to feed a flexible rod of glue to a heated melt chamber. This apparatus includes two motor driven gears which engage the glue rod and feed the glue to the melt chamber. This feed mechanism is mounted on a sliding frame which is spring biased to retract when the appliance is idling, thereby partially withdrawing the glue rod from the melt chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to nailing apparatus for use in making cable reel flanges or the like. Apparatus according to the invention comprises a rotatable element housed in a work support table of the apparatus and movable to cause a work-engaging surface of the element to raise a workpiece from a support surface of the work support table into a position in which the work-engaging surface supports the workpiece and provides a turning center so that the workpiece can be easily turned relative to nailing means of the apparatus.

Abstract: In a dispenser or applicator of heat softenable material, a melt body has a generally conical melting chamber extending between an inlet and a relatively smaller outlet passage, at least one by-pass interconnected to the melting chamber by a plurality of spaced, radial bores arranged to conduct hot melt from successive outer "layers" of the material as it is being progressively softened, reduced and liquefied in the chamber for flowing to the outlet, and at least one axial auxiliary channel extending between the outlet and the smaller end of the melting chamber for conducting the central core of the last-to-be melted end portion of the material. Preferably the body has a pair of by-passes, a pair of auxiliary channels, encloses a heater, and is of configuration facilitating its economical construction in one piece.

Abstract: The present method of creating a tear line in metal, of particular advantage when such a weakening line is to be uniformly reproduced in tougher sheet metal, involves combining the initial steps of (a) bending the largely unrestrained sheet material to form the closure periphery with tension inherent therein, and (b) concurrently coining longitudinally that portion of the periphery which is in tension thus to induce exactly to the required degree the fracture at the desired weakening line. Final steps of swaging and coating with sealant may then follow as hitherto taught to provide lids with easy-open closures capable of retaining fluid pressure.

Abstract: A sheet metal can end or cover comprises a largely or wholly removable panel bounded by a peripheral tear line, and an integral closure within the panel, the closure being defined by a generally arcuate groove or depression formed at one side thereof with a coterminous, rupturable weakening line having a mid-locality extending nearer to but spaced from the panel tear line to provide a lifting lip therefor and a deflectable tongue portion extending toward the center of the panel. The weakening line and the tear line are preferably of the fractured but integral type fully disclosed in our U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,630 and extend on opposite sides of the panel. On depressing the locality of the mentioned weakening line with a tool, such as the tip of a spoon, the closure opens then permitting the tip to bear upwardly on the inside of the lifting lip as the bowl of the spoon is pivoted upon the tongue portion.