Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a die, particularly a rigid cutting die, on a die cylinder includes having a bubble along a seal on the die to bridge any gaps between the die and the die cylinder when the die is initially positioned on the die cylinder. This bubble seal enables a vacuum to be applied between the initially positioned die and the die cylinder to pull the die down against and into conformity with the surface of the die cylinder, at the same time flattening the bubble seal. A key at a trailing edge of the die locates in an axial keyway in the die cylinder to circumferentially position the die; a bolt is then inserted at a leading edge of the die to establish axial location. During operation the die is held in position by the vacuum. Beam sensors and light reflectors may be incorporated to sense when a wrong die is present and shut down the apparatus.

Abstract: A latching arrangement of latching a battery pack in an electric device. e.g. an electric drill or a battery charger, has at least one shoulder on an outside surface of the battery pack casing. A displaceable limb, preferably a limb of a U-shaped spring is resiliently biased against the casing. A manually actuatable latch release member is movably mounted in the electric device and movable between a latching position and a release position. This limb normally blocks the shoulder in the latching position to latch the battery pack in the electric device. The release member displaces the limb away from the casing and clear of the shoulder in the release position to unlatch the battery pack and allow withdrawal thereof from the electric device. Preferably the release member comprises a yoke straddling the battery pack. Advantageously the shoulder may be steeply inclined to cause the battery pack to be urged tightly into the electric device.

Abstract: Sheet feeding apparatus, particularly for feeding corrugated paperboard sheets to container blank processing machinery, has an indexing transmission for cyclically accelerating and decelerating belts or the like for frictionally engaging and feeding sheets from an end of a stack of sheets. A cam arrangement cyclically shifts the feed belts or the like relative to a stack support surface between an operative position for feeding and an inoperative position. The accelerating and decelerating cycle of the belts occurs twice per machine cycle. The cam arrangement preferably comprises a single lobe cam and a double lobe cam, either of which can be selectively chosen for shifting the belts. When feeding one sheet per machine cycle of the downstream machinery, the single lobe cam is employed to shift the belts into the operative mode only once per machine cycle.

Abstract: An electric musical string instrument, particularly an electric guitar, has a body structure carrying fret assemblies and at least one string extending lengthwise over the fret assemblies. Each fret assembly includes at least one resistive element which is associated with a string contact surface of that fret assembly. The effective resistance of the resistive element changes in dependence upon transverse deflection of the string, when in contact with the string contact surface, to effect bending of the note being played. Preferably the string contact surface is formed by the resistive element.

Abstract: A steam generator having a block of heat conductive material in one face of which is formed a water chamber for the reception of water to be turned into steam by heat from an electric heater located in the block. The one face has also formed in it, first and second elongate passages each leading from the water chamber to an intermediate transfer area. From each intermediate transfer area extends a transfer path that connects the area to a different one of the steam exits. The steam generator may be used in a hand-held wallpaper steamer used for stripping wallpaper or in a hand-held steamer for removing creases from fabrics.

Abstract: A hand-held power tool, for example a reciprocating saw, a chain saw, or a hedge trimmer, has a rear handle and a T-shaped forward handle formed by a forwardly directed strut with a crossbar. Looped side handles are detachably mounted on each side of the tool. Upper legs of the side handles are detachably connected to opposite ends of the forward handle crossbar. Lower legs of the side handles are detachably connected to bosses on opposite sides of the tool's housing adjacent its bottom. The side handles can be mounted with screws, or interlocking elements, or a combination of both. Preferably the forward handle is integrally formed with an upper part of the tool's housing. Both side handles may be omitted and the tool held by the forward and rear handles, this reducing the width of the tool.

Abstract: A hand-held wallpaper steamer for use in wallpaper stripping having a housing of two-part clam shell construction, a base portion with a floor and a peripheral wall to form a chamber open at one face. The clam shells are contoured to receive the base portion at the open end of the housing to close that end. The clam shells are shaped to form a handle spaced from the base portion and extending in a direction generally parallel to the base portion. The clam shells are also shaped to accommodate a removable water tank.

Abstract: A hand-held, wallpaper steamer for use in stripping wallpaper has a housing accommodating a water tank and a steam generator supplied with water from the tank by an electrically powered water pump. Steam from the generator passes into an open faced steam chamber formed in a base portion of the steamer. The chamber has a peripheral wall which is held against wallpaper to be stripped and the base portion has a groove for collecting moisture.

Abstract: A hand-held wallpaper steamer for use in stripping wallpaper including a housing with a handle by which a user manipulates the steamer. The housing accommodates a water tank from which water is pumped by an electrically powered pump in the housing to a water chamber in a steam generator heated electrically. The steam generator has elongate passages joining the water chamber to steam exits in the generator. From the steam exits steam emerges to pass into a steam chamber with a peripheral wall forming part of the housing and having an open face which is held against wallpaper to be stripped.

Abstract: A hand-held wallpaper steamer for use in wallpaper stripping having a housing with a base portion having a peripheral floor and forming an open faced steam chamber. Water is pumped by an electric pump in the housing to an electrically-heated, steam generator also in the housing which generates steam. The steam is supplied to the steam chamber via a first set of apertures located adjacent one end of the steam chamber and via a second set of apertures adjacent the other end of the steam chamber but spaced from that end by a greater distance than that separating the first set of apertures from the one end of the steam chamber. That arrangement improves the distribution of steam in the steam chamber when the steamer is used on a wall with the one end of the chamber lowermost.

Abstract: A hand-held wallpaper steamer for use in stripping wallpaper which includes a housing accommodating a water tank, an electrically heated steam generator and an electric pump for pumping water from the tank to the steam generator. The steamer also has a base portion with a peripheral wall and forming a steam chamber to which steam is supplied by the steam generator. The water tank has a water capacity of substantially 400 cc. The electric heating element has an electrical rating of 1.2 Kw. The pumping rate of the pump is about 25 cc/minute. These values allow a user to use the steamer for about 20 minutes before the water tank needs refilling.

Abstract: A radial arm saw includes a saw assembly pivotally mounted to a support unit which, in turn, is mounted to a wall or other support structure. The saw assembly includes a column that is connectable at one end to a saw table frame or the support unit so as to be affixed in upright operative position during operation and disposed during non-operation in a lateral, storage position. A radial arm and saw unit are supported from the other end of the column. Preferably, the column is pivotal between a lateral stored position and an upright operative position. Also, the saw assembly is pivotal relative to the support unit between a vertical stored position and a horizontal operative position. A leg locking sleeve may be released to deploy the saw assembly from its stored position into its operative position. The support column may be detachable to shift the radial arm saw between operative and stored positions.

Abstract: A whole blood aggregometer of red blood cells (RBC) consists of a transparent tube containing freshly drawn heparinized blood, and a densitometer head which is attached to the tube. The densitometer head consists of a light source and a light detector to monitor changes in optical density of the blood in the tube. The blood in the tube is first subjected to rapid flow with a solenoid, so that the wall shear rate of the blood approximates to 500 s.sup.-1. The shear gives rise to a rapid increase in optical density of the blood due to dispersion of the blood corpuscles. The blood is then brought abruptly to a full stop. After the flow has stopped, the densitometer head reveals a gradual decrease in optical density in association with RBC aggregate formation. The resultant pattern is termed as an "RBC aggregogram". The RBC aggregogram exhibits a quasi-exponential decay in its initial part, which is followed by an asymptotical decrease.

Abstract: Two production lines for the manufacture of armatures or stators for electric motors are separated over at least part of their length by a common partition. The juxtaposed proximity of the two production lines allows operations on articles on both lines to be carried out simultaneously by equipment mounted on a common operating head. Shuttles are provided upstream and downstream of coil winding areas so that armature or stator bodies from one production line can be automatically diverted to a winder on the other production line and returned when wound. The height of the laminations is determined by picking a stack close to the maximum height permissible, measuring this height and, if necessary, removing a lamination via a vacuum line mounted on a measuring head. After winding, the ends of the magnetic wires on the armature are stripped using a laser.

Abstract: A saw blade, for a power saw having two such blades arranged adjacent and parallel to each other and reciprocating in opposite directions, comprises an elongate blade member having teeth along a bottom edge. The teeth comprise at least three types, a first type being at an outer surface of the blade member, a third type being at the inner surface, and the second type being therebetween. The first type are shaped to produce on the blade's bottom edge an outward force away from the inner surface while cutting a workpiece, and the second and third types are shaped to produce on the blade's bottom edge an inward force, the resultant force on the teeth while cutting urging the teeth in an inward direction away from the outer surface towards the inner surface. When the power saw is operating with a pair of these blades, the blades are urged together at their teeth by the cutting action so effectively eliminating penetration of sawdust and cuttings between the pair of blades.

Abstract: A saw blade assembly comprises a laminated structure of three side-by-side parallel strips, one two or all of which may have spaced teeth formed along one edge. Where only one strip has teeth, it is sandwiched between the two other strips and the teeth are of triangular shape when seen in plan and are bevelled on both edges to produce pointed tooth tips. Where two strips have teeth, the strips are arranged one on each side of a center strip. Again, the teeth are of triangular shape when seen in side elevation and are contoured to form pointed tips. The roots of the teeth on one strip are spaced laterally from the roots of the teeth on the other strip because of the presence of the center strip. In another form, each strip has teeth along one edge, the assembly thereby providing three parallel, side-by-side rows of teeth. The teeth are of triangular shape when seen in side elevation and are contoured to form pointed tips.

Abstract: A hand-held power cutting tool has a generally cylindrical casing, which can be grasped in the palm of one hand, and whose rear portion housed an electric driving motor disposed in the casing with its axis of rotation lying along the longitudinal axis of the rear portion. Reciprocated by the motor via a drive transmission system is a cutter carrier mounted for reciprocatory movement in a bearing support structure. The cutter carrier carries a clamp by which a cutter is attached to the carrier. The carrier is reciprocated at a rate of between 4,000 and 12,000 movements per minute and with a stroke of from 4 to 12 mm for rapid cutting of thin material. The cutter may have a generally U-shaped blade.