Abstract: A slender tube (A) having an internal diameter of about 1 mm and a wall thickness of about 0.1 mm is used for the production of the tips of ball-point pens. After a cycle of combined linear and rotation-derived working steps, the tip has a front cross section (A') the internal diameter of which has been reduced to approximately the cross section of the ball (5); a central cross section (A'") the cross section of which corresponds to that of the original tube; and a rear cross section (A") with a cross section larger than the preceding cross section (A'"). The seat (S) against which the ball (5) is supported consists of conical recesses. The seat (S) is traversed by an opening into which penetrates the end (3') of a needle-like part (3), which part effects the ink transfer from a reservoir (2) to the ball.

Abstract: The device permits of grasping, centering automatically and aligning the longitudinal axis of a long body in particular of a pen body according to the working axis (B) or corresponding to the following operation carried out on a machine tool which is preferably automatic. It comprises a toggle lifting mechanism (6, 7, 8, 9) provided with grasping jaws (8', 9') for the long body, jaws made angled by which grasping the long body they determine the movement of translation until they bring the longitudinal axis (A) of the grasped body into the exact position of centering and alignment with the working axis (B) or corresponding to the following operation. A piston operated pneumatically or in another manner permits moving the lever mechanism closing it on the long body opposing a spring (12).

Abstract: A table (1) revolving intermittently and carrying on its periphery piece-holder grips, has central openings (11), which make possible the discharge of working shavings and wastes at the center of the table itself (arrow 12) and not at the periphery (arrows 7, 7') as now is done. This makes possible direct discharge of the working shavings and wastes in the collection container underneath and avoids clogging and stopping of the machine for cleaning which requires the presence of additional labor and limits production. Nozzles (13, 13') direct fluid radially inwardly to assist in this central discharge of shavings and wastes.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for orientating elongated articles, in particular bodies of writing pens. These articles are placed in parallel disposition on a conveyor which is moved in step by step fashion. The articles will either be pointing in the desired direction or in the opposite direction to the desired direction. The first pushers are arranged to push the articles not in the desired direction off the conveyor and into an inverting mechanism, and a second pusher pushes the inverted articles from the inverting mechanism back onto the conveyor in the correct disposition. The first pushers distinguish between the articles which are positioned correctly and those which are not in that the configuration of the respective ends of the articles are different, and the first pushers are adapted to engage only one end of each article.

Abstract: Apparatus for swaging the tips of ballpoint pens comprises three identical working rollers each having a conical running surface and a conical or otherwise rotatively contoured working surface. The conical running surfaces roll on a conical seat whose apex coincides with the axes of the three conical running surfaces of the rollers, thereby to avoid slippage.

Abstract: A collet chuck which can be centered relative to an axis of the workpiece to be machined and suitable for machine tools in general and in particular machine tools having a number of successive positions. An inner prehensile member is capable of gripping the workpiece, and an intermediate member coaxial to the first has a conical seating which slides axially causing the prehensile member to close on the workpiece to be machined. An outer casing is rigidly attached to the prehensile member by means of a pin, and an outer ring is fitted with radial play around the periphery of outer casing. Spring members of variable tension compress the outer casing and outer ring against each other to lock them together by friction, and pusher means operable axially by a thrust member unlock the outer casing and the outer ring.

Abstract: A collet chuck which can be centred relative to an axis of the workpiece to be machined and suitable for machine tools in general and in particular machine tools having a number of successive positions. An inner prehensile member is capable of gripping the workpiece, and an intermediate member coaxial to the first has a conical seating which slides axially causing the prehensile member to close on the workpiece to be machined. An outer casing is rigidly attached to the prehensile member by means of a pin, and an outer ring is fitted with radial play around the periphery of outer casing. Spring members of variable tension compress the outer casing and outer ring against each other to lock them together by friction, and pusher means operable axially by a thrust member unlock the outer casing and the outer ring.