Abstract: Framing apparatus for the assembly of the body parts of a truck cab including a bottom panel, a back panel, and right and left side panels. A framing station has a base adapted to support the bottom panel. Side framers on opposite sides of the base are adapted to support the right and left side panels. The side framers are moved to positions adjacent to the base in which the lower edge portions of the side panels contact the side edge portions of the bottom panel so that they can be connected together. A rear framer is adapted to support the rear panel at the rear of the base. The rear framer is moved to a position adjacent to the base in which the lower edge portion of the rear panel contacts the rear edge portion of the bottom panel so that they can be connected together and the side edge portions of the rear panel contact the rear edge portions of the side panels so that they can be connected together. The several body parts are then permanently connected together utilizing suitable tooling.

Abstract: A machine tool module has a platen supported on a track above a metal-removing tool. A workpiece is placed on the platen at a loading station at one end of the track. A drive is provided to move the platen from the loading station to the metal-removing station where the tool removes material from the workpiece and then to an unloading station at the opposite end of the track. After the workpiece is unloaded, the platen is moved back to the loading station. A workpiece loading elevator is provided at the loading station and a workpiece unloading elevator is provided at the unloading station. Two such machine tool modules may be placed end-to-end so that a workpiece on the platen of one module may be transferred to the platen on the other module for machining by both modules in sequence.

Abstract: A grinding machine utilizing multiple, parallel, endless, abrasive belts for simultaneously grinding several surfaces on a workpiece, such as cam lobes on a cam shaft. The grinding machine includes a contouring head assembly comprising a plurality of contour feed units, each contour unit including a curved back-up shoe, a back-up shoe holder, an adaptor for mounting the shoe holder, and a ball-spline mechanism is secured to the adaptor for transmitting power from a drive motor to the back-up shoe to press an abrasive belt, associated with the back-up shoe against a workpiece. A locating lip is defined on each adaptor, and a reference pad is established on the contouring head assembly.The adapters are divided into an upper and lower row, and the locating lips are formed oversized. One row of lips is ground to a desired distance from the reference pad, and the other row of lips is then ground relative to the previously ground row of locating lips.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a panel to a predetermined cross dimension by flangers which form flanges on the opposite side edges of the panel. The flangers are movable toward and away from advanced positions in which to form the flanges. The advanced positions can be adjusted depending on the cross dimension desired. The flangers can be retracted to permit loading and unloading of panels. Forming units are also provided to form tabs on an end of the panel.

Abstract: An endless accumulating conveyor has upper and lower guide rails for supporting pallets. An endless roller chain has an upper run extending along the upper guide rails and a lower run extending along the lower guide rails. A dogging device on each pallet is engageable between the rollers of the chain to move the pallet with the chain along the upper and lower runs. A friction clutch for the dogging device of each pallet causes the dogging device to release and slip past the rollers of the chain when the pallet encounters a predetermined resistance to movement, as when it is desired to accumulate pallets. Mechanism is provided for positively propelling each pallet over the curved section at both ends of the conveyor from one run to the other without slipping.

Abstract: An arbor mill machine which performs multiple machining operations on a workpiece in one work station. A rotatable tool turret carries a plurality of arbor cutting tools each of which can be indexed into the work station for performing a machining operation on a workpiece carried by a slide which advances the workpiece into the arbor tool and retracts the workpiece from it. A single drive spindle carried by a slide is advanced to releasably engage and drive the arbor tool in the work station to machine the workpiece and is retracted to release and disengage the arbor tool so that it can be removed from the work station when the turret is indexed to advance another arbor tool into the work station to perform another machining operation on the workpiece. The turret is releasably locked to prevent it from rotating while an arbor tool is machining a workpiece and is released between machining operations to permit indexing of the turret to position another arbor tool in the work station.

Abstract: A threaded ball screw is stationarily non-rotatably mounted in a machine tool to extend parallel to the line of action traversed by a carriage. A pair of threaded ball nuts are laterally restrained in and mounted for free rotation thereof in a drive mechanism of the carriage and threadably and concentrically engage the ball screw in laterally spaced apart co-axial relationship therealong. A pair of digitally controlled electric drive motors are mounted in the carriage for individually imparting rotational torque to the nuts. A conventional programmably CNC controller is programmed to synchronously control both motors for causing the ball nuts to conjointly produce computer controlled linear motion and positioning of the carriage along the stationary ball screw, and to develop anti-backlash pre-load forces between the ball nuts relative to the ball screw.

Abstract: A spindle, comprised of a spindle body and an indexing fixture, is configured to retain, and rotatingly drive, a crankshaft relative to a grinding tool, so that each pin on the crankshaft is ground with a high degree of precision. A locking mechanism, such as a pair of jaws with complementarily shaped teeth, is interposed between the spindle body and the indexing fixture. Pressure is applied to one side of the locking mechanism so that the jaws are normally engaged and the spindle body and the indexing fixture rotate as a unit. Motive power for such fixture is supplied by a single servomotor secured to a primary drive shaft, which is joined to a secondary drive shaft, through an offset coupling, to define a motorized spindle.The indexing fixture is bolted, or otherwise secured, to the free end of the secondary drive shaft. A bearing block in the indexing fixture receives and retains, the main shaft of the crankshaft; clamping arms with clamp shoes press the shaft downwardly into the bearing block.

Abstract: Magnesium oxychloride cement bonds are improved by incorporation of graphite. The graphite not only contributes to cooler dry grinding with abrasive tools based on the magnesium oxychloride bond, but unexpectedly also improves heat strength of the bond.

Abstract: A sortation conveyor includes elongated slats, of rectangular configuration, travelling in pairs along an endless path. The conveyor is characterized by unique diverters, and mounting assemblies therefor. The diverters are formed of a durable plastic, with an additive for lubricity. The additional lubricity allows the bearing surfaces of the diverter to slide laterally along the adjacent pair of slats, with reduced friction. A metal I-beam insert strengthens the web of the diverter, while reducing the thickness thereof; the reduced thickness allows the web of the diverter to pass easily between adjacent pairs of slats. The diverter pin has flat sides, in horizontal cross-section, for cooperation with pin guides and switches. Two urethane blocks fill the hollow shell at the upper end of the diverter, and the protruding edges of the blocks are angled to impart a downward force to a package striking same.

Abstract: A coolant delivery method and apparatus comprising a high and low pressure pump for providing high and low pressure coolant flow through a common conduit to a coolant orifice of a cutting tool of a machine tool or a nozzle of a workpiece flushing station. The high pressure pump has a cylinder with a reciprocable piston operably coupled to a drive for moving the piston to discharge coolant under high pressure to the cutting tool while a workpiece is machined by the tool. A one-way flow valve in the conduit permits coolant flow from the low pressure pump to reach the cutting tool as well as the high pressure pump cylinder to recharge the cylinder with coolant while the high pressure pump is not discharging coolant. Cutting tool failure as well as an orifice obstruction is detected by monitoring coolant flow from the high pressure pump during each machining cycle of machine tool operation.

Abstract: A slat sorter includes a plurality of platens each supported by two slats. The slats are driven by hollow pin chain and are fastened to the chain by a ball detent pin which passes through the hollow pin of the chain into the slat end. The head of each ball detent pin acts as a bearing surface against a wear strip which confines lateral motion of the slats. The divert switches in the sorter use a switch arm driven by a motor. The arm is configured to allow rapid switching and a brake on the motor prevents rotation of the motor in the event of power failure to prevent the arm from drifting into an intermediate, potential crash, position.

Abstract: A zero-pressure accumulating conveyor including a bed defined by rotatable rollers mounted in parallel sidewalls and powered by an endless drive chain. Pneumatic actuators lift the drive chain into engagement with the rollers to empower same. Sensor rollers divide the bed into distinct zones. Sensor rollers are retained in operative position relative to the conveyor bed by unique sensor brackets. A primary sensor roller bracket includes a bore with a piston movable there within; the cooperating secondary sensor roller bracket is spring biased in a first direction. Valves, and pneumatic circuitry controlled by such valves, extend along the length of the conveyor. Such valves are operated by the primary sensor roller brackets to regulate the flow of air pressure into the bores of the brackets and into the actuators. The actuators, when the pressure therein is bled-off, allow the chain in a particular zone to drop out of contact with the rotatable rollers.

Abstract: Magnesite bonds reinforced with selected fibers have improved resistance to cracking and disintegration in use. Particular embodiments include fiber-reinforced abrasive tools based on magnesite bonds which have improved bond integrity in dry-grinding applications.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for rapidly conveying workpieces successively through multiple stations by providing an integrated dual shuttle transfer mechanism conveyor operable in an intermittent repetitive lift and carry workpiece travel cycle mode. The dual shuttles cooperate to alternately advance an in-line array of workpieces at twice the rate of a conventional single shuttle by successively alternately handing off the workpiece array from the workpiece loaded shuttle to the companion empty shuttle for the next array advance thereon while the other shuttle as so unloaded retracts to reload a workpiece on its upstream end. Workpiece carrier rails of each shuttle reciprocable vertically adjacent and past one another between upper and lower elevational limits and horizontally between advance and retract stroke end limits. A shuttle drive causes the dual sets of carrier rails to move through identical closed loop lift and carry travel paths disposed in laterally adjacent vertical planes and in a 180.

Abstract: A framing system having upright stands on opposite sides of a vehicle body support. Welding fixtures are mounted on the stands having welding tools for performing welding operations on a vehicle body. The stands are supported for linear movement toward and away from an operative position adjacent the vehicle body support. Loaders are provided for transferring fixtures to and from the stands.

Abstract: A chip buildup detection and control apparatus having a flow transducer and flow monitor to measure and monitor coolant flow to a cutter of a machine tool for detecting excessive chip buildup on the cutter and removing the buildup on the cutter which decreases machining cycle time while increasing cutter life and machine tool production. Excessive chip buildup on the cutter is detected when coolant flow to the cutter drops below a minimum flow rate limit. Buildup is removed upon detection by initiating a "pecking" cycle where the cutter is retracted from its position of engagement with the workpiece being machined for a predetermined dwell period of time. The machining cycle is aborted if coolant flow does not rise above the minimum limit by the end of the dwell period. If coolant flow rises above the minimum flow limit, the cutter is advanced almost to its previous position of engagement with the workpiece and machining is resumed.

Abstract: A workpiece holding press tool with an elongated body having an annular collar extending from an end face and a plug member secured to the collar by a fastener. The plug forms an annular groove with the body that receives a retainer clip which frictionally engages the inside surface of a workpiece to retain the workpiece on the press tool. The retainer clip is a circular spring steel wire having opposed ends with a relieved portion formed on the outside surface thereof to prevent scratching, marring or otherwise damaging the inside surface of the workpiece. In another embodiment, a second plug is added to provide a second annular groove to receive a second retainer clip for holding elongated workpieces having a cylindrical inside diameter.

Abstract: A press for press-fitting an axle tube into a differential housing having a locator and accurately locating a flange on the tube relative the locator by offsetting flange mislocation, deflection of the tube and press and deflection and/or shifting of the tube and housing fixtures during press-fitting. The press has a ram in operable communication with a drive and a computer in communication with the ram and drive to accurately control movement of the ram and depth of insertion of each tube. Carried by the ram is a probe that senses flange location relative on the tube for determining deviation in flange location and offsetting depth of insertion to compensate for any such deviation. Another sensor communicates to the computer the insertion force the ram is applying to the tube to determine tube and press deflection.

Abstract: A method and multiple station flexible boring machine for transferring and locating a pallet carrying a workpiece to be machined. The machine has at least two machining stations and a part loading and unloading station adjacent a transfer table carried by a base for carrying, generally locating and transferring a pallet and a workpiece to each station. The pallet has a curvic coupling locator ring with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth for complementary mating engagement with a locator ring on an independent base of each station to accurately radially, axially and circumferentially locate the pallet on the station base. At the load station, the locator ring on the pallet is received in complementary mating engagement with the locator ring on the load base accurately locating the pallet with respect to the base and a workpiece is loaded, accurately located with respect to the load base and clamped to the pallet.