Abstract: In a ball screw transfer drive for a transfer machine, first and second carriages are translated by rotation of a ball screw, the ball screw being actuated by a DC electric or other type of variable speed motor through a ball screw drive train. The first carriage is coupled to the ball screw through a first ball nut which is immovably joined to the first carriage and which has threads in engaging relationship with threads of the ball screw. The second carriage is coupled to the ball screw through a second ball nut which is journaled in bearings attached to the second carriage, threads of the second ball nut likewise being in engaging relationship with the ball screw. A power transmission train is mounted between the ball screw and the second ball nut to rotate the second ball nut during a specified rotation of the ball screw to maintain a pre-specified relationship between the speeds of translation of the first and second carriages during the specified ball screw rotation.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning a machine tool saddle for movement along an axis of travel includes a pair of ways rigidly joined to a support structure in parallel relation with the axis of travel, each of the ways being in slideable engagement with a slot formed in the saddle. Each of the ways is provided with a face selectively angled to line on one of the legs of an imaginary "V" positioned so as to be bisected by a plane parallel to the ways and positioned midway between them. A number of keeper blocks are inserted between the saddle and each of the angled way faces to lock the keeper blocks having an angled face in closely spaced parallel relation with one of the angled way faces. Devices are positioned between the angled faces of the keepers and their respective closely spaced angled way faces to transmit forces between the ways and the saddle through the keeper blocks to maintain the saddle in alignment with the axis of travel as the saddle is selectively moved and positioned along the axis.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for mounting a rotatable member such as a machine tool spindle within a bore provided in a housing, the rotatable member being journaled in a number of bearings. A bearing support sleeve disposed within the bore to support the bearings includes a first portion tightly fitted in the bore, a second portion slip-fitted in the bore and positioned to apply a pre-load force to the bearings, and a yieldable member joining the first and second portions. The pressure in a fluid system associated with the yieldable member is increased to deform the yieldable member and to thereby urge the second portion axially to apply a pre-load force to the bearings which corresponds to the pressure increase.

Abstract: A mechanical quill having selective braking capability, achieved by a pneumatic cylinder (110) mounted to one motor (80) for selectively driving a braking member (120) into a braking material (104) coupled to a motor armature (84). This braking member (120) interrupts a clutch-type drive path through the motor as desired, to prevent advance of a quill.

Abstract: An induction heating apparatus particularly adapted for precisely positioning the inductor relative to the workpiece before initiating the heating process. The inductor is mounted on the end of an inductor shaft that is carried by a slide. The end of the shaft opposite the inductor is connected to a coupling that couples the shaft to a stepping motor. The slide moves the inductor into engagement with the workpiece and the stepping motor is then energized to move the inductor away from the workpiece the required amount to obtain the desired spacing.

Abstract: Transfer machine apparatus is provided, which includes a load station for receiving parts during at least some of the part reception periods in a succession of part reception periods, and which further includes a number of selectively located work units for performing prespecified work tasks upon received parts. A transfer mechanism is provided for moving a given one of the received parts from the load station to each of the work units in a prespecified sequence, the given received part being moved from one work unit to another during a part transfer cycle in a succession of part transfer cycles. A digital code storage device receives a digital code during each of the part reception periods, a first digital code being received if a part is received by the load station during a part reception period, and a second digital code otherwise being received.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in a fountain pen in which the fountain pen is provided with a writing point feed bar and a casing for supporting the writing mechanism, there being a partition located adjacent to the feed bar and having a cylindrical boss extending away therefrom. The cartridge is provided with a double lip interior open end which is adapted to fit over the boss and conduct the ink into the bore that extends through the boss that communicates with the feed bar. The tapered nose end of the cartridge snugly fits into the bore of the casing adjacent the boss that communicates with the feed bar. This not only insures that the lip sealing is forced radially inward and is not disturbed, by also insures that the end of the cartridge engages the partition wall for sealing and the interior wall of the casing for additional sealing.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for automatically loading a cylindrical workpiece into a machining system so that the workpiece is presented to the system in a prespecified orientation, the cylindrical surface of the workpiece containing a number of perforations, indentations or like apertures. The apparatus includes a feeding system for placing the workpiece in an initial position upon an upwardly inclined guideway, and further includes a pin, mounted in an advancement system, for alternatively contacting the cylindrical surface of the workpiece and engaging one of the apertures to urge the workpiece up through the guideway. The pin applies a frist frictional force to the workpiece when it is in contact with the cylindrical surface of the workpiece, and structure included in the guideway applies a second frictional force to the workpiece which interacts with the first frictional force to rotate the workpiece until the pin engages one of the apertures.

Abstract: A tool-head supporting structure having a hollow saddle reciprocally mounted on parallel ways surmounting a bed which is provided with a top portion that structurally directly interconnects the ways and provides a flat surface on which metal chips and the like created by the machining operation can collect ahead of the saddle. The forward feed motion of the saddle is limited by a fixed stop which is mounted on the bed beneath the saddle where, for all practical purposes, it is tamper free. Access is had to the stop for servicing or replacement when necessary through an opening in the front of the saddle, and the access opening normally is closed by a removable plate on which is mounted a wiper that pushes chips ahead of the saddle into a suitable chip trough and disposal system, whereby to prevent the chips from inadvertently lodging and accumulating around the stop and interfering with proper forward positioning of the saddle which in most if not all instances must be precise.

Abstract: A boring bar for machining an internal spherical surface. The bar has a cutting element and a holder therefor both of which rotate bodily with the bar and are simultaneously pivotable in a cutting operation about an axis transverse to the rotational axis. At the same time, the portion of the holder carrying the cutting element can be adjusted radially to the transverse axis for precise positioning of the cutting element. Remotely operable actuator mechanisms are provided, one for pivoting the holder to make the cut and the other for making the radial adjustment to set the cutting element initially to the desired radius dimension and subsequently to compensate for wear, the latter mechanism being uniquely constructed and arranged to make the adjustment while the boring bar is still rotating so as not to affect the normal cycle time of the machine and to provide solid support for the cutting element in all adjusted positions thereof.

Abstract: A writing instrument in which a marking element is removably mounted in a casing and held in the casing by resilient means acting lengthwise of the writing instrument. A removable plug at one end of the casing holds the removable marking element under compression in the casing.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein improved pallet locating and clamping mechanisms for use in conjunction with the work transfer device in a transfer machine. The pallet locating and clamping means comprise a plurality of inverted V-blocks accurately positioned in the work stations of the machine which are adapted to cooperate with complementary V-grooves provided in the undersides of the pallets for automatically positioning and supporting such pallets precisely in the work stations perparatory to machining or other work operations to be performed on workpieces carried by the pallets. The clamping means for the pallets preferably are mechanically actuated and correlated with the pallet transfer device to clamp the pallets securely on the locating and supporting V-blocks.

Abstract: A control system for adjusting the cutter of a boring machine or the like to compensate for cutter wear and other cutting dimensional changes such as those due to temperature variations which is specially adapted for use with a gage for measuring a dimension of a part machined by the tool and which is responsive to a signal from the gage indicating the magnitude and the sense of the variation of the dimension of the machined part relative to a nominal dimension for adjusting the tool the entire amount needed to compensate for the variation in a single adjusting operation.

Abstract: A machining center having an endless track with movable tool heads, and one or more machining stations at which the tool heads may be successively stopped. Each station has means for driving the tool head and a workpiece saddle which may be advanced during the machining operation. The arrangement has high flexibility for automatically machining different types of workpieces and may be adapted to varying production requirements without unnecessary equipment.

Abstract: A drive-dynamometer system particularly adapted for automated testing of parts such as vehicle engines. The dynamometer is a hydrostatic system having a fixed displacement motor connected to, and a variable displacement pump spaced from the part being tested, the pump having motor means for driving it. The system has a closed hydraulic loop connecting the motor and the pump whereby the engine may be selectively cold-tested or hot-tested, the motor during hot-testing acting as a pump and the pump acting as a motor which therefore drives its motor means. Preferably, this comprises a synchronous electric motor, which, when acting as a generator, creates useful electric power for the plant in which the unit is installed. Means are provided for adjusting the displacement of the pump, and a control loop system is provided for the pump adjusting means to simulate different load or inertia conditions.