Abstract: A pipe gripping device is taught which is useful for moving pipe into and/or out of a well. The pipe gripping device includes a first set of slips for holding a pipe in a pipe light condition and a second set of slips for holding a pipe in a pipe heavy condition. The second set of slips are actuatable independently from the first set of slips. The pipe gripping device can include a slip moving system which prevents the slip carrier blocks from being driven outwardly against the housing, to thereby prevent the carrier blocks from locking, by being driven against the housing.

Abstract: A dual action indexing system and method for relatively rotating a lamina and a partial lamina stack in a progressive die assembly. The dual action indexing system includes a mechanical indexer which provides a large indexed rotational movement to correct for thickness inconsistencies in the laminas and a relatively small and fast servo motor to provide a small indexed rotational movement to provide a desired skew angle. The rotational movements of the mechanical indexer and servo motor are combined by a differential such as a zero velocity gear mesh differential or a step-up differential. The combined rotational movement is used to rotate a choke barrel into which the laminas are punched to form a lamina stack. The operation of the servo motor is regulated by a controller and may thereby be conveniently and rapidly adjusted.

Abstract: A carrier (300) for loading medical items in the helix (74) of a dispenser module (28) includes a plurality of chambers (314) formed by side walls (316) attached to a rear wall (310). Cover (322) seals the medical items within the chambers (314). A plurality of tapered projections (312) meshes with the turns of the helix (74) to align chambers (314) with the spaces between the turns of the helix. Cover (322) is then slidably released from channels (318, 320) in side walls (316) for releasing the medical items within the helix (74). An alternate embodiment includes a support member (342) with a plurality of apertures (346) spaced to correspond to the spaces of the helix (74). The plurality of holders (348) with medical items contained therein are secured to support member (342) through the apertures (346) with a strap (354). By removing strap (354), the medical items are released within the helix (74) in the selected locations.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for forming a double face paperboard web are disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention includes a heating section upstream from a drawing section. The heating section includes at least one heating plate having an upper surface facing a paperboard web and heated by a plurality of primary channels supplied with steam. A plurality of secondary channels extend through the heating plate intermediate the primary channels and a lower surface of the plate. A plurality of outlet ports communicate with each secondary channel and the upper surface of the heating plate. Steam supplied to the secondary channels exits through the outlet ports thereby producing a steam film between the upper surface of the heating plate and the lower surface of the paperboard web. The steam film substantially reduces frictional forces opposing movement of the web while also dramatically increasing the heat transfer to the paperboard web and accelerating the gelatinization of the glue therein.

Abstract: A surgical device is described herein that can be used to fire different types and sizes of disposable loading units. In a preferred embodiment, the device applies parallel rows of surgical fasteners to body tissue and concomitantly forms an incision between the rows of staples during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device can be utilized with disposable loading units configured to apply linear rows of staples measuring from about 15 mm in length to about 60 mm in length and can be used to fire disposable loading units containing surgical clips and individual staples. A lockout mechanism is provided to disable the disposable loading units after firing.

Abstract: A pneumatic screwdriver incorporates a torque limiter for cutting off the supply of compressed air when the torque reaches a particular threshold. The invention includes a first positive clutch connected to a drive shaft and a second positive clutch connected to the tool. These components have three teeth offset by 120.degree. facing each other with a groove in the teeth in which there is a boss. Balls are inserted between the positive clutches in order to separate them when the torque is reached to shut off the admission of compressed air and then escape from the bosses so that the teeth rub on each other to brake the drive shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnically operated bolt-setting tool having a barrel (11, 12) which is guided in a barrel-guiding sleeve (1) and can be brought into operative engagement with a locking part (18), the barrel-guiding bore (26) of which accommodates a piston (21), which has a piston shank (23) and a piston head (22), and which has a cartridge store (16) on that side which is remote from the mouth, in which tool the rear side of the piston head (22) is connected through the piston (21) to its front side in such a manner that some of the combustion gases are guided to the front side of the piston head (22), and in which the barrel (11, 12), on its side which faces the cartridge store (16), has ventilation slots (31) which are released by the piston head (22) as the bolt is being fired, before the piston (21) reaches its end position on the mouth side, in which position a gas cushion is compressed between the piston head (22) and the barrel (11, 12), which gas cushion subsequently presses the pisto

Abstract: Two movable members, one on either side of a pre-folded continuous form entering a paper stacking area, are driven according to a determined position of the pre-folded form to push a leading edge of the form to one or another side of the stacking area so that the folds in the form will develop correctly in a stack. Only one of the members is permitted to contact the form at any time, and the members are separated by a sufficient angle so that no position of the members permits both members to contact the form. After directing the first and second sheets of the form, the members return to a home position in which neither member obstructs or interferes with subsequent stacking of the form. The position of the pre-folded form may be determined by a leading edge sensor, by a sheet feed rate sensor, by a fold position sensor, by a fold orientation sensor, by timing from a predetermined position, or by manual input.

Abstract: In a method for producing a predetermined sequence of printed products with varying contents and varying numbers of pages, the pages of a printed product of the sequence are printed onto both sides of a quasi-endless paper web [P] in the form of at least one row of juxtaposed printed pages. The pages of the next printed product in the sequence are then printed in the same manner. The paper web is folded perpendicular to its length in alternating directions between the pages to be printed, or the printed pages, before or after printing. The web is then separated or brought into an easily separable condition along lines perpendicular to its length between groups of printed pages forming successive printed products. A sequence of Leporello-shaped printed products [5] is produced which can be further processed into differently shaped products.

Abstract: A box or carton sealer is disclosed having a frame with a conveyor for moving boxes therethrough. First and second longitudinal, laterally spaced-apart, independent gravity operated centering bars move inwardly and outwardly to center the boxes in the sealer. The centering force produced by the centering bars is proportional to the distance the box is off center in the sealer. A shiftable weight assists the respective centering bars to move laterally as required. A floating head has an inclined entry ramp for riding up over the box and lifting the floating head to a desired height as the box passes thereunder. The floating head has a sealing device for attaching the box flaps at whatever height the flaps happen to be at under the floating head.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved medical suturing apparatus comprises a main body that consists of an operating member and an insertion member extending therefrom and an anvil head that is provided at the distal end of the main body for clinching a plurality of staples, said apparatus further including a staple head that has an array of staples and which is provided in a position opposed to the anvil head.

Abstract: A machine to make up doses of semen in a container comprising welded thermoplastics films that can be opened by hand without using instruments in order to insert therein an insemination probe includes a tubular needle having a nozzle over which is threaded a cleaning ring to prevent coating of a region to be sealed by welding with semen and to keep the walls of the thermoplastics films dry after filling the dose with semen. The sealing weld is made by a device having inverted U-shape jaws. An incision perpendicular to the branches of the U-shape is made at the same level as the latter by an incision device including an orientable blade.

Abstract: A percussion blow added manually operable drilling tool, such as a hammerdrill, has a housing (2) containing an electric motor for rotating a tool bit chuck (9) about its axis, a control device (C) for controlling the rpm of the chuck (9) operated by the electric motor (3) which is activated by a switch (5) located on the exterior of the housing (2), and a percussion blow mechanism for periodically applying axially directed blows to a bit (10) secured in the chuck (9). The electric motor (3) is coupled to a device (12) for measuring the reaction torque. The control device (C) is connected to an evaluation unit (E) which is connected to the device (12) for measuring the reaction torque so that the rpm of the chuck can be regulated from maintaining the measured reaction torque at a maximum.

Abstract: In an inserting apparatus an envelope holder comprises a first envelope support connecting to a document feed path, for holding an envelope in a filling position in or against a first surface, and a second envelope support connecting to an envelope discharge path, for carrying another envelope in or against a second surface and in an overlapping relation with an envelope simultaneously held in the filling position. Also described is a method in which an envelope to be filled is brought into the filling position before the preceding, filled envelope has left a feed-through path and this envelope brought into the filling position temporarily overlaps the filled envelope. The proposed apparatus and method enable an increased processing capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved forcible entry tool for opening locked or jammed doors by emergency personnel for the purpose of apprehending criminal suspects, gathering evidence, and preserving lives of people who become trapped by fire, earthquake, tornadoes, or by other circumstances beyond their control. The tool of the present invention comprises an elongated frame with a piercing pivot blade on the front end of the tool. The pivot blade is configured to pivot perpendicular to the frame upon penetration through a door, thereby enabling the tool operator to effectively pull back on the tool to break open an outwardly swinging door. A detachable ram head may be mounted over the front end of the frame for purposes of breaking through a door that swings inward (i.e. away from the tool operating personnel).

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an explosively-actuated tool for use in setting fasteners into a substrate, comprising a barrel (2), a driving piston (6) mount within the barrel for driving the fastener into a substrate upon detonation of an explosive charge positioned at or adjacent the rear of the barrel, a firing chamber (8) defined in the barrel rearwardly of the piston, and a system capable of controlling the power of the tool by controlled venting of combustion gases from the firing chamber. The power control system comprises an exhaust port arrangement (14) leading from the firing chamber through the wall of the barrel, and a control member (16) for controlling the effective open area of the exhaust port arrangement. Particularly advantageously, the end of the control rod is provided with a concave arcuate control edge (16b) which provides a relatively uniform relationship between displacement of the control rod and the degree of opening of the exhaust port arrangement.

Abstract: A setting tool for driving fastening elements (12) includes a transport device (7) for strip-shaped magazines (11) containing the fastening elements (12) each spaced apart at a dimension (A) from one another. Pivotal transport levers (13, 22) are arranged within the transport device (7) for moving the magazines (11). One of the transport levers (22) is displaceable by a distance corresponding at least to the transporting path of the other transport lever (13). With the transport device (7) it is possible to insure different transport paths.

Abstract: A vibration tamper for soil compacting has a guide handle proceeding from the tamper head, which is pivoted elastically on the tamper. At the same time, the handle has a special mass distribution with regard to its pivot point.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a barrel holder (2), a barrel (1) and an arm (4; 33) provided with a retractable holding finger (5) mounted on the barrel holder (2) to pivot about an axis (7) parallel to the axis (8) of the barrel holder by a ring (6) mounted to rotate on the barrel holder (2) about the axis (8) of the barrel holder (2), the arm (4; 33) provided with the retractable holding finger (5) allowing the barrel (1) to slide between a propellant charge loading position and a firing position.