Abstract: Presented is a gas operated, semi-automatic rifle having a shortened barrel. For actuating a receiver to provide the semi-automatic feature, the rifle has a gas system including a gas cylinder assembly attached to the barrel at a second angular position relative to the barrel. For linking the gas cylinder assembly with the receiver, an operating rod is provided having a charging arm engaging the receiver and a distal end located at a first angular position relative to the barrel. The gas cylinder assembly and the distal end are hence coextensive to each other, eliminating the length of the barrel otherwise necessary to position the gas cylinder assembly and the distal end in a linear relationship. To provide for interaction between the gas cylinder assembly and the operating rod, an abutment block is attached to the operating rod and positioned at the second angular location.

Abstract: A machine for picking up and placing parts includes an oscillating dial which carries a shuttle, an intermittently rotatable turntable which carries several angularly spaced fixtures, and vertically reciprocable lift platens which carry angularly spaced transfer or working devices, at least one of the devices being a transfer device having a gripper for holding and releasing parts. A part fed into the shuttle is carried to a transfer station by the shuttle and is picked up by the gripper of the transfer device as the latter moves downwardly through a long stroke and between adjacent fixtures. After the transfer device has been retracted upwardly through a long stroke to clear the fixtures, the turntable is indexed through one step to bring a fixture into underlying relation with the transfer device.