Abstract: A process and apparatus for fracturing, into a bearing cap and a connecting rod, an integral preform which defines a cylindrical aperture and two spaced-apart bolt seat shoulders. A guide member defines a first guideway along which moves a first slide member, the latter in turn defining a second guideway parallel to the first, along which a second slide member moves. A split mandrel has an upper part fixed with respect to the first slide member and a lower part fixed with respect to the guide member. The split mandrel halves define an internal tapered passageway for receiving a wedge capable of forcing the mandrel halves apart. Projections on the second slide member contact the bolt seat shoulders when the cylindrical aperture of the preform receives the split mandrel, and means are provided for urging the second slide member toward the mandrel.

Abstract: A slicing device using yarn includes at least two yard-guide cylinders on which the yarn is wound and by which the yarn can be moved with a reciprocating or continuous motion pressed against a piece to be sliced fixed on a supporting table. The yarn is wound on the yarn-guide so as to form at least two layers of yarn intersecting with one or several non-null intersecting angles (&bgr;) and so as to pass in a straight line from one cylinder to the other. The angle of inclination between the moving direction of the piece to be sliced and a line perpendicular to the plane of the yarn cylinder axes is adjustable so as to obtain strictly parallel slices. The intersection of the yarn layers improves the quality of slices obtained by facilitating the subsequent mechanical treatment operations of surfaces with crossed faults. Moreover, the angle of the yarn layers reduces the shearing and torsional stresses on the support of the piece to be sliced when the slices are being cut.

Abstract: A reciprocating tool includes a rotatable drive gear. A pin connected to the drive gear is eccentric with respect to an axis of rotation of the drive gear. A plunger extending perpendicular to the pin is movable upward and downward. A connector fixed to the plunger engages the pin. A cam is provided with the pin at an eccentric position. A cam holding member has an eccentric recess accommodating at least part of the cam. The cam holding member is connected to the drive gear for rotation responsive to rotation of the drive gear. A first engagement portion is provided on the cam. A second engagement portion is provided on the cam holding member. The second engagement portion is engageable with the first engagement portion. Engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion can be canceled to allow rotation of the cam relative to the cam holding member.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for trimming a blow molding (12) includes a rotary trimming assembly (16) rotatively mounted and driven on a trimmer head (14). The trimming assembly (16) includes a tube (18) of a rotary member (46) aligned with the blow molding such that operation of an actuating mechanism (20) provides cam actuated movement of a knife holder (48) to perform the trimming which allows the trimmed off blow molding portion to move through the tube (18) away from the trimmed blow molding in preparation for the next trimming cycle. A vacuum source (36) draws a vacuum within a conduit (34) connected to the tube (18) to provide the movement of the trimmed off blow molding portion away from the trimmer head.

Abstract: Embodiments of an punch machine and a quick-change die assembly are shown and described. The die assembly may be quickly installed and removed from the punch machine, without bolting or unbolting of either machine housing or the die assembly itself. The die assembly is slid into the machine through a hole in the machine housing and into a position which mates part of the die assembly with the push-bar. A clamp, with a handle outside the machine, is then pivoted against the die assembly. The push-bar is adapted to be self-supporting without being bolted to the die assembly, keeping the push-bar in place without manual adjustment and alignment. The die assembly preferably includes a die, pin retainer, and punch pins, and preferably includes a flexible, pivotal, or hinged pin strap to secure the pins to the retainer.

Abstract: A reciprocating knife cutter for performing a cutting operation on sheet material is provided wherein the knife is not limited to reciprocation along a vertical axis. The cutter includes a guide which engages the knife, whereby the knife and guide are constrained to slide relative to one another along the longitudinal axis of the knife. The knife is reciprocated by an eccentric drive mechanism in a plane perpendicular to the drive axis of the mechanism, and the guide is pivotally mounted on the cutter so that the knife and guide remain in engagement as the knife is reciprocated. A sheet material cutting apparatus including such a reciprocating cutter is also provided. The invention also provides a knife sharpener for a cutting apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic tortilla cutter (10) able to cut stacked tortillas utilizing an openable housing (12) having a left housing (12L) and a right housing (12R) pivotally mounted on a housing bracket (12F) therebetween. The cutter (14) is positioned over the housing (12). Both the openable housing (12) and cutter (14) are preferably powered by a piston.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing paper toweling includes a rotatable toweling support roller and a cutter blade pivotally mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the roller. The blade is movable between a first position in which the cutting edge of the blade is positioned closely adjacent to the outer peripheral portion and a second position in which the blade is disposed at an angle relative to the outer peripheral portion with the cutting edge of the blade spaced from the toweling support roller. The cutter blade when in the second position projects in a direction generally opposed to the direction of rotation of the toweling support roller so that pulling force exerted on the toweling by a user will bear against the cutting edge of the cutter blade to sever the toweling.

Abstract: A punch and die set is provided for use in a stamping press having a punch assembly and a die assembly reciprocated by a driving mechanism. The punch and die assemblies are aligned to a common center and are structured to slidably engage one another for positive guidance of the punch and die tools without the need for other guidance by shafts, bars or the like. One of the punch assembly and die assembly can be non-fixedly carried by the drive mechanism, allowing the guidance of the engaged punch and die assemblies to define the relative positions of the tools. This arrangement eliminates any stack-up of tolerances between the assemblies and substantially reduces misalignment during stamping, including any misalignment that may be introduced by the press driving mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for slitting a sheet of web material has an at least one first fixed blade member and axially displaceable at least one second blade member. The axially displaceable second blade member is biased by an elastomeric biasing member that provides a continuous and uniform contact force with a face of the second blade member. The elastomeric biasing member is restrained from axial movement by a bonded ring member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting pattern pieces from a continuous marker are disclosed. According to the invention, pattern pieces comprising made to order garments are cut from successive bites of limp sheet material. Means are provided for creating the continuous marker, labeling the pattern pieces and cutting the pattern pieces for subsequent processing.

Abstract: The present invention is a lightweight collapsible hand saw for use when camping, hiking or otherwise. The saw breaks down and can be consolidated into a single tubular shape, with all of the components fitting inside the tube. In the functional configuration, a triangular saw may be constructed out of two tubular members having different diameters, a saw blade and a tightening element. Alternatively, both a triangular saw and a buck saw may be constructed out of three tubular members having different diameters, a saw blade and a tightening element. The tubular members form the frame of the saw and contain slots for inserting the saw blade. The tightening element is provided to give the saw the necessary rigidity and impart the necessary tension on the blade. In addition, the apparatus can be used to form a campfire cooking utensil with a number of accessorising elements.

Abstract: Ultrasonic techniques are applied to the measurement of wooden members to detect splitting during sawing operations and thereby allow modification of sawing technique or change in saw cut placement.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for cutting metal sheet having two rotatable drums, wherein the metal sheet passes between the drums for cutting. Each of the drums has a cutting blade moved into and out of cutting position by an axial actuator rod. The cutting blade includes two sets of rollers bearing against one of a pair of profiled side surfaces of the axial actuator rod.

Abstract: A table saw for use in dismantling wood pallets is provided with a table and band saw blade having course over table to cut nails between face boards and stringers as pallet is moved through blade. Table has convex, arcuate fence about which pallet may be twisted to facilitate cutting of nails. Table is shiftable horizontally relative to the saw blade to adjust position for use by single operator with short pallets or two operators with long pallets.

Abstract: A link cutting apparatus for cutting a twist between two links. The apparatus includes a link aligning device and a trimming device. The link aligning device is movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position where the device will engage a link and align the twist with the cutting device. In one embodiment, the link aligning device includes a link aligning member pivotable between the engaged and disengaged positions. Preferably, the apparatus further includes a second link aligning device that will engage a second link and align a second twist with a cutting device. The trimming device includes at least two cutting edges that will remove at least a portion of the twist from both of the links. In one embodiment, the cutting edges comprise at least two knives and at least one blade sized to fit between the knives. Preferably, the apparatus further includes a second trimming device having at least two cutting edges that will remove at least a portion of a second twist from a second pair of links.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a one-way clutch cage allows slits of the cage to be formed with a short punching distance, wherein the slits are narrow in width and the cage is less prone to deformation. In this method for manufacturing a one-way clutch cage, after slits 8, 10, 11, 12 have been formed, windows 17 are formed and then an outer annular part 18 is cut. Therefore, since the slits can be formed in a cylindrical member 2 that has not yet been subjected to the window formation process of the outer annular part cut-out process, and that is sufficiently strong, a radially diagonal punching operation can be performed to form the slits. During this radially diagonal punching operation, a boundary portion between a cylindrical portion 3 and an outer flange 5 is punched out from an inside of the cylindrical member toward an outside of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A slicing machine that deposits foodstuff slices in a stack atop a support in a stacking station has a sheet-interposing device provided with a supply roll of sheet material and a feed roller for feeding a leading end of the sheet material in a direction to the stacking station. a guide between the station and the roller imparts to the sheet leading end an upwardly concave U-shape to stiffen the sheet leading end so it projects horizontally stiffly from the guide above the station. A cutter movable between the guide and the station cuts off the sheet leading end so that the cut-off end drops down in the station.

Abstract: A dispenser is disclosed for retaining and dispensing plastic bags which are wound on a core. The dispenser is made of heavy metal wire configured to provide curved tracks in which a core can ride. The dispenser includes a separating tongue which enables a customer to dispense the bags one by one by pulling on the free end of the outermost bag. In order to prevent freewheeling, a braking surface is provided which engages the roll and retards rotation. A supplemental braking force is provided by spring elements mounted within the tracks which apply a frictional force to the ends of core. The spring elements are oriented such that the force applied to the core by the springs as the roll rotates when the bags are dispensed, causes the roll to tend to move downwardly into engagement with the braking surface. The spring elements are attached to the dispenser at a point below the braking surface. As a result, the braking force applied by the springs increases as the size of the roll decreases.

Abstract: A punched slug removal system for punching a slug from a workpiece and removing the punched slug. The system includes a punch having a reciprocating travel path with a transition point where the punch changes direction. A die plate has an aperture into which a die bushing may be disposed. The die bushing provides support for the workpiece and has an opening through which the punch and a slug pass. A manifold supports the die plate and (if present) the die bushing and has a distribution channel and an orifice which direct a gas flow onto a slug attached to the punch in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating travel path of the punch to remove the slug from the punch. The distribution channel is tapered to increase the velocity of the gas flow. The orifice is positioned at the top of the manifold adjacent the transition point of the reciprocating travel path of the punch.