Abstract: A misgrip sensor cooperates with a support member, the support member being of the type having an arm for supporting a workpiece during a plurality of forming operations. The sensor detects improper engagement of a workpiece by the support arm and includes a support housing, a contact rod journaled in the front and rear walls of the housing for rectilinear movement and having a collar mounted thereon, a proximity switch mounted on the housing adjacent to the rod for generating a signal indicating proper engagement of a workpiece by the arm, a sensor plate slidably mounted on the rod between the front wall of the housing and the proximity switch and first and second springs which act in opposition to urge the sensor plate against the contact rod collar at an equilibrium position coincident with a non-actuation position spaced from the proximity switch.

Abstract: An adjustable shear blade blanking press with an automatically centered blank pusher has a guide over which a strip of sheet material to be cut into blanks can be guided device extending a cross the guide transversely to the guide in a guide direction, at least two side by side shear blade direction and spaced in the guide direciton, the shear blade devices being pivotally mounted for adjustment of the positions thereof between a position perpendicular to the guide direction and a position at an angle to the guide direction and for adjustment toward and away from each other. A pusher is provided for pushing a cut blank laterally of the guide direction and is adjustably mounted on one side of the guide for reciprocal movement parallel to the guide direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying marking holes in an object moving along a conveyor or the like, in which television image signals of the identifying marking holes are classified into signals above and below a threshold level voltage and then made into a monochrome image of the identifying marking holes which is then compared with a pre-memorized image of the marking hole. The invention involves a particular way of selecting the threshold level voltages by using a threshold level voltage from among threshold level voltages used to identify the marking holes in preceding objects according to the frequency of occurrence of the threshold level voltages, and for the threshold level voltage of the second identifying marking hole, initially calculating a target threshold level voltage, and then modifying it if necessary by reference to threshold level voltages used to identify the second marking hole in preceding objects, so as to make the identification of the second hole quicker.

Abstract: An apparatus for degreasing plastic automobile parts has a degreasing tank with a liquid degreasing agent reservoir in the bottom thereof and a degreasing vapor space thereabove, a heater in the reservoir for heating degreasing agent for vaporizing it, and a parts conveyor extending through the tank and having a downwardly inclined portion extending downwardly into the degreasing vapor space from one end to a nadir within the degreasing vapor space and an upwardly inclined portion extending out of the degreasing vapor space. Several cooling coils extend around the inside of the tank with an uppermost cooling coil at a level corresponding to the top of the degreasing vapor space and the remaining coils being spaced downwardly into said degreasing vapor space at intervals.

Abstract: A filling apparatus for filling liquid into a container to either of at least two levels has a liquid pouring gun unit for dispensing a liquid and a sensor thereon for sensing that the distance of a surface of the liquid from the end of the gun unit closest to the liquid is a predetermined distance and producing a signal when this distance is sensed. A liquid supply line is connected to the gun unit and has a valve therein and counter for determining the amount of liquid which is flowing in the liquid supply line. The sensor and the counter are connected to a controller, which in turn is connected to the valve. The controller can be set for actuation at either of at least two levels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sequentially applying adhesive to windshields, conveying each windshield to an inverting apparatus, inverting the windshield, removing the windshield with a transfer device and installing the windshield in automobile bodies. The actual curing time of the adhesive on the windshield is measured and compared to a reference curing time and if the actual curing time exceeds the reference curing time, the apparatus is operated to prevent the windshield from being installed on an automobile body. Instead of being installed by the transfer device, when the actual curing time exceeds the reference curing time, the windshield is either transported by the windshield conveyor to an auxiliary transfer device which transfers the windshield to a removing conveyor or the transfer device delivers the windshield directly to the removing conveyor. A computer and sensors are provided for automating operation of the apparatus.