Abstract: A cutting device angularly and removably attached to a heat-sealed edge of a food-contained polybag. The cutting device includes two integrally molded first and second parts. The first part is so formed that it has a tongue portion with two fixing pins raised from two outer comers of the tongue portion. A razor having a slant edge is clamped in locating grooves formed on top of the two fixing pins. The second part is formed with pin holes and a razor receiving groove corresponding to the fixing pins and the clamped razor. In use the cutting device is first positioned on the heat-sealed edge by folding the first part to the second part. Depressing the tongue portion of the first part will cause the razor to cut into the razor receiving groove on the second part and the polybag. Moving the cutting device sidewardly causes the razor to cut open the heat-sealed edge of the polybag.

Abstract: An inventive surgical handpiece comprises a handle unit and structure carried by the handle unit for engaging a patient. A hand actuable element is mounted for rotation on the handle unit, about first and second mutually transverse axes. A first mechanism is responsive to rotation of the hand actuable element about its first axis for imparting first degree of freedom movement to the patient engaging structure. A second mechanism is responsive to rotation of the same hand actuable element about its second axis for imparting second degree of freedom movement to the patient engaging structure.

Abstract: A work piece guide and retention device for use with a power saw or similar power tool. The guide attaches to the power saw table and has one or more vacuum chambers having orifices. When a vacuum from a source such as a shop vacuum is applied to the chamber, a suction force is generated at the orifices which will serve to secure a work piece snugly against the guide to assist the operator.

Abstract: Device for cutting sheets of material, with a counter (12) for the material to rest on, a blade to cut the material, and a holdfast (11) that can be lowered onto the material by a mechanism (10) and raised off it by a spring (6). When the spring in such a device breaks, the holdfast can drop and injure the operator. The object is to prevent such injuries. An interceptor (7, 8, & 9) accordingly brakes the holdfast when the spring that raises it is broken.

Abstract: A surgical stapler having a supporting frame, replaceable staple cartridge, an anvil, a mechanism for approximating the cartridge relative to the anvil, and a mechanism for firing the device so as to crimp the staples against the anvil in a manner to enable the surgeon to substantially simultaneously place one or more rows of surgical staples in organs or tissue. The device, while at all times permitting approximation of the cartridge relative to the anvil, provides a novel lockout feature for positively preventing retiring if the staple cartridge is spent. In this way, unlike the prior art devices, the device of the present invention can be used as a clamping mechanism even after the staples have been fired.

Abstract: A method for cutting sheet material allows multiple layups of sheet material to be cut in side-by-side or stacked relationship on the cutting table of a computer controlled cutting machine. A different marker or array of pattern pieces can be cut from each of the stacked layups. Also, for certain layups, whether stacked or not, markers are located with reference to the centerline of the layup to insure that the pattern pieces of the marker are cut symmetrically or in alignment with ornamentation or designs in the material.

Abstract: Dimpling of a workpiece by rebounding of a magnetic repulsion punch mechanism, when operated at high punching rates, is avoided by application of a damping pulse at a point at or subsequent to a mid-point of a return stroke of the punch from the workpiece and preferably within the last 10% of the return stroke. This damping pulse is preferably a fraction of the pulse width and of approximately the same amplitude as a driving pulse applying kinetic energy to the punch for causing punching of the workpiece. At high punching rates the kinetic energy of the return portion of a punching stroke is substantially determined by elastic rebounding of the punch from a guide bushing. The removal of kinetic energy during the return portion of the stroke allows the return of the punch to a position close to a rest position during a very short interval with small overshoot under control of mechanical damping.

Abstract: A method to produce a composite blank for a knife blade and, to produce knife blades from it. Each half of a pair of substrate halves has a groove filled with a powdered titanium carbide based metal matrix composite (Fe/TiC). It is placed in a metal container which is sealed, evacuated, and subjected to hot isostatic pressing (HIP) to cause the powder to sinter and bond to the halves. The container is cooled and removed from the contents. The metal halves are separated, and sliced to form the blanks, and the blanks are sharpened to form the knife blades.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing wires from a bale of waste cardboard and paper material that is compacted in vertical layers with wires running at right angles to the layers and in vertical planes, sawing downwardly through the wires and bale to separate a forward portion of the bale from the remainder of the bale and from the cut wires, gathering the cut wires ahead of and beneath the bale into a bundle with opposed pairs of hook blades moved toward one another to interdigitate in overlapping relation, grasping the bundle in a wire-receiving recess with a rotating fork to coil the cut wires and pull them free from the bale, and clearing the recess by withdrawing the fork and pushing the coiled wire with a pushing finger clear of the recess.

Abstract: A staple assembly 10 for use in a stapling tool (not shown) for fixing an elongate member such as a cable C onto a substrate such as a wooden beam. The staple assembly 10 comprises a staple 12 having a back 14 and legs 16 depending from opposite ends of the back 14. Also included is a saddle 18 for receiving the staple 12. The saddle comprises a body 20 and two posts 22 which depend from opposite ends of the body 20 in a parallel manner. The body 20 end posts 22 define a receptacle 24 for receiving the cable C. A groove 26 is formed along the outer surface of posts 22 and body 20 for seating the staple 18. A protuberance 28 is formed on the body 20 and extends into the receptacle 24 for engaging the cable C.In one embodiment, the staple 12 is provided with barbs 36 on the inside of legs 16 for engaging an under surface 38 of the posts 22. This prevents the staple 12 from separating from the saddle 18 during transportation and use.

Abstract: A detachable anvil rod for use with an apparatus for circular fastening of hollow organs is provided. An elongated rod member has a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an irregular surface portion intermediate the proximal and distal end portions. The irregular surface portion includes a plurality of grooves which define a plurality of raised ridges. The ridges are adapted to engage grasping surfaces of a grasping tool so as to minimize potential of slippage, thus enhancing the maneuvering procedure of the anvil rod about the operative site. The anvil rod also includes a narrowly configured mounting portion which enables the rod to be applied to and mounted within the distal end of the stapling apparatus from a variety of angular positions. An apparatus which incorporates the improved detachable anvil rod is also described.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an apparatus for the precise adjustment of a longitudinally movable component on a spatial axis, especially for the adjustment of the lateral position of the pre-scoring saw blade of a circular saw. This apparatus distinguishes itself by a threaded bolt that is movable around its longitudinal axis, which is parallel to the spatial axis, and has two coaxial thread sections of identical thread orientation and unequal thread pitch. A first thread section engages in a first threaded hole that is immovable in the longitudinal direction of the spatial axis, while the other threaded section engages in a second threaded hole on the longitudinally movable component.

Abstract: Described is a process and an apparatus (10) for the production of thin sections which are cut off a specimen (16), by the use of a cutting blade (20) of a microtome (12), and then transferred to a liquid bath (40). In order to prevent undesired compression of thin sections (98) during the cutting operation, the thin sections (98) are transfer from the cutting blade (20) to the liquid bath (40) by flowing fluid from the cutting blade (20) to the liquid bath, wherein the liquid bath is disposed at a spacing from the cutting blade by a flow passage. The flowing fluid is selectively guided, by a change-over switching device (56), to the liquid bath (40) or to a waste container (52) so that good thin sections (98) are separated from unsatisfactory thin sections (98).

Abstract: A housing for a microtome which is capable of being employed in a cryostat. The microtome housing includes a waterproof microtome chamber having an elongate slot formed in the wall thereof through which an object holding device extends. The elongate slot has a seal disposed about its periphery and the slot is covered by a coverplate which is provided adjacent to the seal. The coverplate is rotatable about the axis of a pin which is provided on the interior of the chamber wall. The chamber further includes magnets which are arranged on the wall of the chamber adjacent to the elongate slot such that the magnets retain the coverplate over the elongate slot. This arrangement allows the object holding device to be easily inserted into and removed from the chamber, while at the same time maintaining substantially moisture free conditions within the chamber.

Abstract: A self contained gas powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided for placing lateral lines of surgical fasteners into body tissue. The apparatus includes a frame portion, an elongated portion extending from the frame portion, and an articulating fastener applying assembly associated with a distal end of the elongated portion. The fastener applying assembly includes a base portion, a staple cartridge housing, and an anvil member which has a forming surface thereon against which surgical fasteners are driven as they are ejected from the cartridge housing. A self contained pneumatic system is associated with the frame portion and is actuable to eject the surgical fasteners from the cartridge assembly.

Abstract: Wallboard having a skin outer surface is attached to wall and ceiling framing by nails having heads with a convex bottom surface and a concave top surface. A driver blade is used having an outer end with a shape complimentary to the concave nail top surface and a diameter which is larger than the nail head such that no sharp edges are presented to the wallboard skin around the nail head, thereby avoiding cutting the paper skin.

Abstract: A control apparatus which increases a hit rate, stabilizes a punch process, and makes use of a small motor. Such control apparatus is applicable to a punch drive apparatus that drives a punch tool by a servomotor via a ram and a toggle system. Such a structural arrangement includes a memory that memorizes a ram speed curve line from when the servomotor starts rotating to when the ram achieves a fixed speed; another memory that memorizes a surface height position of a sheet metal; and calculating device that calculates the lowest height of the ram at the aforementioned fixed speed when the punch tool reaches the surface of the sheet metal, and then sets a raised stand-by position of the ram. Such raised stand-by position is set in a ram shaft control device having the servo-controller.

Abstract: According to the invention, parting of the cap of the connecting rod is achieved by engaging the eye of the big end of the connecting rod with two semicylindrical fixtures, respectively a fixed fixture and a movable fixture, which are actuated by a hydraulic actuator which is interposed between them and is adapted to expand the fixtures in a diametrical direction against the inner surface of the eye of the big end of the connecting rod, subjecting the piston of the actuator to the action of a hydraulic fluid fed into the respective actuation cylinder at an optional pre-loading pressure that is in any case lower than the pressure required to reach the yield point of the material of the connecting rod, and producing an instantaneous peak in the pressure of the fluid fed to the hydraulic actuator by means of an auxiliary piston that is subjected to the momentary action of a striking mass.

Abstract: A shape cutting apparatus is provided having a lower mold body that can cut characteristic openings within the outer shape of sticker whose outer contour is cut by an upper mold body. When the outer shape of the sticker is cut, the inner characteristic openings are also cut at the same time. A protrude-out device that pushes out the finished sticker has a contour that is the same as the finished sticker.

Abstract: A duct insulation board grooving apparatus cuts a plurality of parallel grooves into duct boards with a plurality of rotary saw blades which are spaced on 1.57 inch or 3.14 inch centers. The saw blades have peripheral teeth which project outwardly on both sides of the saw blades to form grooves in a first major surface of a duct board which are wider than the saw blades. The grooves have sidewalls which extend perpendicular to the first major surface of the duct board and have a depth from 70% to 90% of the thickness of the duct board. The first major surface is typically coated and a second major surface of the duct board normally has a facing adhered thereto. After the duct board is grooved, the duct board can be curved to conform to the curvature of a tubular metal shell, with the parallel grooves of the duct board extending parallel to the axis of curvature, and placed in the tubular metal shell as a liner to form an insulated air duct.