Abstract: Each feeder cylinder, in addition to opposite end feeder chambers, had intermediate chambers formed in the piston at opposite sides of the centerline thereof alternately in fluid communication with the feeder chambers of another of the feeder cylinders. Additionally, each feeder cylinder has a monitoring cylinder in flow communication with the feeder chambers thereof arranged such that when lubricant is forced from a feeder chamber of a particular feeder cylinder to the associated bearing, less than one-half of the lubricant received at that bearing is forced by back pressure to one of the monitoring chambers of the associated monitoring cylinder. Thus, for each of the opposite strokes of a feeder cylinder, one associated bearing of a pair receives a major quantity of lubricant and the other bearing of that pair a minor quantity of lubricant while the associated monitoring cylinder is forced through one of its alternate strokes in supplying the minor quantity of lubricant.

Abstract: A press has at least one reciprocal ram securing a die movable to and from an opposing die, the ram normally spacing the dies apart with a predetermined normal clearance. The die is retained in the ram assembly with at least one tensioned longitudinal bolt which bolt also normally compresses a spacer member, the bolt having longitudinal stretching means selectively actionable for longitudinally stretching the bolt without otherwise affecting bolt adjustment to relieve compression on the spacer member and permit selective transverse removal of the spacer member. When greater than normal die access clearance is required, the bolt is stretched, the spacer member removed and the ram longitudinally shortened in length for the increased clearance. Ram relengthening, spacer member replacement and an ultimate relieving of bolt stretching reassembles the ram in exact original normal form with the exact same bolt tensioning.

Abstract: A reciprocal ram at commencement of a forward strokes engages a cup-shaped article carrying it through metal working dies and against a doming die at reversal into a rearward stroke immediately followed by stripping of the article from the ram. The ram has an internal chamber constantly fed pressurized air through a rearward restricted orifice, the chamber opening freely of the ram forward end portion and internally of the article when thereon. By preselecting orifice size, chamber and article volumes matched with air pressure, a predetermined volume of air at predetermined pressure is confined in the ram forwardly against the article immediately prior to stripping and preferably engagement of the article by an external stripper results in an internal stripping assist by the confined pressurized air, the increasing exposed volume of the article increasing the air confinement volume reducing the air pressure progressively to substantially atmospheric at completion of article stripping.

Abstract: A reciprocal ram carries a metallic cup on an end thereof axially through a die pack opening and a die ring thereof in a working metal forming stroke, the cup is stripped therefrom and the ram moves reversely through the die ring in a return stroke. An annular lubricant nozzle surrounding the die pack opening forwardly adjacent the die ring directs an annular flow of lubricant continuously axially along and against an angled die ring entrance surface to a die ring forming surface during presence of the cup therein, and over the die ring forming surface and through natural adherence along a die ring angled exit surface during lack of presence of the cup regardless of the ram position in its strokes.

Abstract: A horizontally reciprocal ram is movably supported on a can bodymaker for forward and rearward movement of a ram forward end through a die assembly by stationary, spaced, hydrostatic oil bearing sleeves located rearwardly of the die assembly thereby isolating at least a major portion of the ram for support and alignment for remainder of the bodymaker. Drive mechanism supplying horizontal ram drive to a ram rearward end may include a movable hydrostatic oil bearing slide connected to the ram through various optional forms of drive connection means supplying varying degrees of relative flexibility between the ram and slide to thereby determine the degree of ram isolation by the bearing sleeves with an optimum of substantially full ram isolation. Included in certain of the drive connection means providing greater flexibility for greater ram isolation are variously located hydrostatic oil bearing pad assemblies.

Abstract: A reciprocal ram at commencement of a forward stroke engages a cup-shaped article carrying it through metal working dies and against a doming die at reversal into a rearward stroke immediately followed by stripping of the article from the ram. The ram has an internal chamber constantly fed pressurized air through a rearward restricted orifice, the chamber opening freely of the ram forward end portion and internally of the article when thereon. By preselecting orifice size, chamber and article volumes matched with air pressure, a predetermined volume of air at predetermined pressure is confined in the ram forwardly against the article immediately prior to stripping and preferably engagement of the article by an external stripper results in an internal stripping assist by the confined pressurized air, the increasing exposed volume of the article increasing the air confinement volume reducing the air pressure progressively to substantially atmospheric at completion of article stripping.

Abstract: A preferably plastic film flower sleeve has side edge heat sealed front and back panels tapering inwardly in downward extension providing upper and lower open ends. Each panel has a centralized nonperforated area which increases progressively in transverse width during its downward progression bordered by transversely opposite perforated groups decreasing correspondingly in transverse width during downward progression, the perforated groups also being defined by nonperforated upper and lower end portions. A flower sleeve may be rearwardly rack suspended and forwardly hand suspended during insertion of a flower bunch downwardly therein, the flower bunch stems being maintained forwardly aligned with the progressively increasing nonperforated areas to avoid snagging and the stems ultimately projecting from the sleeve lower end while the increased size flowers of the bunch automatically transversely expand the sleeve perforated groups.

Abstract: The skeleton discharge mechanism receives the leading edge portion of scrap skeleton sheets one at a time from a press at an entrance portion of a support surface exactly positioned by the press relative to a pick-up station and transversely spaced pairs of engagement members move partially upwardly through the support surface on a timed basis to engage the sheet leading edge through press formed part openings. The engagement members are secured to chains constantly moving over sets of sprockets along closed paths and after engaging the sheet leading edge move longitudinally along the support surface to a surface exit portion pulling or dragging the sheet through the mechanism.

Abstract: A packaging wrapper having a stretchable net-like wrapper member conforming to a hollow, substantially sheath-like configuration having an article receiving opening bounded by an edge of the member to which is secured an elastic cord for yieldably contracting the edge circumferentially in such a way that the wrapper is adapted to be placed about and resiliently grip an article to be packaged. One disclosed embodiment is a cap-like cover for an article container, such as a produce box. Another disclosed embodiment has a tubular configuration with open ends for receiving an article, such as a produce article, to be packaged, and an elastic cord secured to at least one open end of the member for contracting the end about the article.

Abstract: Pressurized operating fluid, such as oil for hydrostatic fluid bearings, is directed into a chamber against a plunger urging the plunger into a first position. A monitoring pressure force slightly less than the force of the operating fluid when the operating fluid is at a minimum working pressure is exerted against the plunger tending to move the plunger from this first to a second position. Thus, when the pressure of the operating fluid drops below the minimum working pressure, the plunger is moved to its second position and such movement is sensed, thereby sensing the malfunction.