Abstract: An apparatus for collecting strips of metal into stacks and transfering the stacks to a hopper of a press includes a stack accumulating and blocking pocket at an output of a cut-off shear, a stack lift, rotate and turn-over mechanism to reorient the stack prior to input to the hopper, and a gripper head on a transfer gantry to move the stack from the lift, rotate and turn-over mechanism to the hopper. The gripper head is movable to an angle in alignment with the feed angle of the hopper to deposit the stack on the top strip in the hopper in alignment therewith.

Abstract: A robotic case packing system arranges a row of articles entering on a conveyor into an arrangement corresponding to the arrangement of articles to be packaged, where an end effector of a robotic arm engages the individual articles and lifts them for placement into waiting cases. The end effector of a first embodiment includes opposed pairs of stationary and pivoting gripper elements for engaging each of the articles. The pivoting gripper elements are provided through the action of cylinders operating through a linkage connected to a lever for rotating a cam shaft on which is mounted a cam for engaging a cam follower on the pivoting gripper element. A second embodiment includes suction cups for engaging smooth tops of articles.

Abstract: A small bore welding torch for tungsten inert gas welding includes a copper rod which functions as an electrical conductor to the tungsten electrode which is anchored in a cross bore adjacent one end of the rod and as a tie to hold two insulative sleeves in assembly. An annular passage surrounds the copper rod and between the rod and outer sleeve provides an inert gas conduit to the welding electrode which projects into a side port in a refractory sleeve.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a machine tool which is particularly adapted for drilling and tapping holes in electric motor pole pieces with a center drill, drill and tap which are sequentially applied to the same hole. The spindle for each tool is provided with its own feed motor and drive motor, and each spindle moves vertically independently of the other for the successive machining operations. The drill and tap spindle frames are connected to horizontal lead screws so they can be moved laterally with respect to the center drill for variable hole spacing. Proportionate spacing is provided so that the drill is always intermediate and equally spaced from the center drill and tap to easily accommodate different size pole pieces which have different spacing requirements of the mounting holes.

Abstract: Coil winding apparatus includes wire tap pulling needles with the needles for pulling taps on each side of the bobbin mounted on separate mounting plates with a quick change cam mechanism and springs for spacing the plates and thus the needles to accommodate coil bobbins of different sizes with terminals at different spacings. The apparatus also includes wire feed means for clamping the wire between the winding flyers and the wire supply rolls to advance the wire at a rate greater than required by the flyer to make a winding to provide slack in the wire just prior to retraction of the tap pull needles so that the wire does not break or stretch during the tap pulling sequence.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a turret having a plurality of machine tool spindles for carrying individual cutting tools. The turret rotates in a horizontal plane about a vertical column and is supported on the column by a yoke having yoke arms projecting through slots in the column. A ball nut assembly mounted on the yoke and rotated by a motor driven screw provides vertical height adjustment of the turret and the tool spindles. The turret is selectively indexable about the vertical axis of the column to position the appropriate tool spindle in a machining position. A spindle drive motor carried by the yoke and located within the column is moved in the direction of tool feed to engage a coupling on the selected indexed tool spindle and rotate the tool carried by the spindle. Spindles can be employed with their own feed and drive independent of the turret feed and drive. The column and turret are supported on a saddle which is movable on horizontally extending ways by a lead screw for cutting feed.