Abstract: A rotary pallet device for delivering a pallet to an automated machine, such as a CNC vertical machining center. A pallet is mounted to a retractable slide. The retractable slide is movably mounted with respect to a rotatable platform. An operator or worker accesses one or more stations, each with a rotatable door that at least partially houses a receiver for a pallet and/or a workpiece.

Abstract: An automatic machining system having one or more pallets each mounted with respect to a moveable bed, for transporting one or more workpieces to and/or from an automated machine tool, for machining each workpiece. According to this invention, a driver shaft and a driven shaft can be longitudinally aligned with respect to each other, so that there is no need for a gear system and/or a transmission device, for transferring power from a driver shaft to the driven shaft.

Abstract: A pallet changer and a system and a method for using the same attach, secure and/or connect a part and/or pallet assembly to a receiver assembly for machining the part. A groove and/or a pull post of the pallet assembly is insertable between a first wedge arm and a second wedge arm in an interior of the receiver assembly. Springs within the interior of the receiver assembly exert forces against the first wedge arm and the second wedge arm to maintain the first wedge arm and/or the second wedge arm in a first position within the interior of the receiver assembly. A key and/or a cam moves and/or rotates to move the first wedge arm and/or the second wedge arm from the first position to a second position. A first tapering on the pallet assembly engages and/or corresponds to a second tapering on the first wedge arm and/or the second wedge arm to secure and/or to attach the pallet assembly to the receiver assembly in the second position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a screw assembly apparatus and a method of using the same. More specifically, a screw assembly apparatus is provided having a carriage attached to a nut assembly and a dog for engaging a workpiece. The carriage runs along the length of a screw within a carriage guide that may surround the nut assembly thereby protecting the nut assembly from debris and contamination. An opening may be contained within the carriage guide for the carriage to extend therefrom.

Abstract: A rotatable pallet changing apparatus, a system and a method are provided in which the rotatable pallet changing system has a rotatable bed having a first pallet and a second pallet side-by-side and set on tracks. A first and a second workpiece may be set upon a first pallet and a second pallet, respectively. As the first pallet with the first workpiece is drawn into a machining center to be worked upon, the second workpiece may be added to the second pallet. When the first workpiece on the first pallet is finished being worked upon, it is withdrawn from the machining center and placed upon the rotatable bed. The rotatable bed then rotates, allowing the second pallet to be fed into the machining center and further allowing the first workpiece to be off-loaded from the first pallet.

Abstract: An automatic pallet changer system in an automatic machining center has a first track for receiving a first pallet having a first workpiece thereon, and a second track for receiving a second pallet having a second workpiece thereon. The first and second tracks are side-by-side and extend from a region outside the enclosure to a region inside the enclosure adjacent the receiver. A linear drive unit is arranged between the first and second tracks and has a carriage which moves along a longitudinally extending carriage guide. The carriage has a member for engaging with the first or second pallet depending upon whether the linear drive unit is rocked to the left or to the right. A motor is connected to the linear drive unit for causing a movement of the carriage along the carriage guide. A rocker unit is connected to the linear drive unit for rocking the linear carriage unit to the left or to the right.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for automatically loading and unloading pallets holding a workpiece for machining of the workpiece within a machining area. The pallets are loaded into the machining area by transfer of a pallet from the staging area to a machining area. Rails which maintain the pallets within each area are aligned. An arm having pins at each end engages passageways associated with the pallets and the machining area, respectively. As a result, the pallet may be transferred from the staging area to the machining area and back as the arm translates within the passageways.

Abstract: An automatic pallet changing system for an automatic machine that has at least two pallet extenders which can be operated to place and remove pallets on a receiver moved by the carriage of the automatic machine so that the pallets can be changed when machine operators are not present.

Abstract: A pallet system for changing pallets at a work station which has a carousel mounted on a base and has a trolley laterally moveable which supports a turntable that is rotatably moveable. Pallets which hold workpieces are mounted to rails on the turntable. Locking devices for the trolley, the turntable and the pallets are provided. Pivoted rails allow the pallets to be moved between the carousel and the work station.

Abstract: A table extender for a milling machine which includes upper and lower work support members with the lower work support mounted on the table or bed of a milling machine and a pair of shot pins moveably mounted in the lower work support and engageable in openings in the upper work support. The upper work support is moveable on slides relative to the lower work support and a locking handle is provided so as to lock and unlock the shot pins to allow the upper and lower work supports to be moved relative to each other.

Abstract: A fast change set-up device for work on work supports wherein work blanks can be mounted to a number of work supports prior to machining and the upper work support can be quickly attached to a lower work support and locked thereto by rotating a handle so that the next piece can be machined. The shaft carries four cams for driving spring biased bolts which engage in grooves formed in locking pins and the cams have an indentation for locking the bolts in the grooves to hold the upper and lower work supports together so that machining can occur. After machining the upper work support can be removed from the lower work support and a second upper work support can be mounted to machine another workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic pallet centering device so that the pallet can retract into the floor. A pair of centering switches are utilized which engage a bottom portion of the pallet support so as to center the device.

Abstract: A meat cutting machine which comprises a cutting table formed with an endless belt formed of meat supporting flights upon which meat can be placed so that it passes a cutter who cuts the meat and wherein the machine includes a discharge paddle and driving mechanism which ejects the meat at the end of its travel on the table after it has been cut and which is automatically actuated by a sensing means.

Abstract: A platform for supporting paper and/or cardboard which is to be supplied to a printing press wherein the sheets of paper are stacked on a inner table which is mounted in an outer table for adjustable movement and wherein the outer table is driven vertically so as to lift and automatically feed the paper to a printing press or other machine and wherein the paper can be aligned in a first direction by jogging it against bars fixed to the printing press to align first edges and wherein a sensor senses the lateral position of the upper edges of the sheets of paper and controls an adjusting motor which adjusts the position of the inner table so that the lateral position of the upper sheets being fed to the printing press or at the proper position.

Abstract: A stand or pedestal for grinders or other tools which includes a top upon which one or more grinders are mounted and includes an upper storage compartment and an inlet chamber connected to provide suction to the grinders and with a filter mounted in an opening formed in the inlet passage. A blower is mounted in a third compartment below the inlet compartment and has an exhaust opening. A motor is connected to the impeller or fan to drive it and the fan sucks air from the grinder into the inlet compartment through the filter and forces it out the exhaust opening. A sealed door is provided over the inlet compartment and the fan compartment to allow the filter to be changed.

Abstract: A combination and pedestal and vacuum system as, for example, for grinder wheels wherein a pedestal serves as a support for one or more grinder wheels and the pedestal is formed with two enclosures, one of which a blower and motor are mounted so as to create a suction and the other forming a container in which a vacuum bag is mounted and which communicates with the blower so as to suck dust, ground material and other materials from the vicinity of the grinding wheel into the vacuum bag. The two compartments are connected so that the blower creates a suction in the compartment in which the vacuum bag is mounted. The compartment in which the vacuum bag is mounted has a sealed door which allows the vacuum bag to be removed and replaced with a new bag. The suction to the vacuum bag may be provided with a hose that connects to an outlet from the guard of the grinder or it might be attached to a different position on the grinder with a suitable bracket.

Abstract: A guard for a grinder wheel wherein the guard has a base structure upon which the grinder is mounted to affix it to a support and the base has four upright members and cross-structures which support bullet proof clear plastic through which the grinding operations can be observed by the operator. A lighting fixture is mounted through the transparent plastic such that the transparent plastic cannot be removed from the guard without completely disassembling the lighting fixture which prevents the operator from removing the guard from the machine. The lighting switch for the lighting fixture is interconnected with the switch for driving the grinder motor so that the operator will know when the light is turned off that the grinder motor has been turned off.

Abstract: The machine includes a horizontally extending knife blade, a mechanism for reciprocating the knife blade, a toothed roll parallel spaced from the knife blade, a mechanism for rotating the roll, and a manually operated lever mechanism for moving the rotating roll to and away from a position closely adjacent the knife blade. The rotating roll engages the bone of a section of meat to feed the section of meat downwardly past the cutting edge of the knife blade while an operator manually operates the lever mechanism to simultaneously urge the bone toward the knife blade thereby to ensure efficient separation of meat tissue from bone.