Abstract: The present disclosure relates to self-piercing fasteners, such as studs, bolts or nuts, the method of attaching such fasteners to a panel and fastener installation apparatus, including the installation head and die button. The fastener includes a self-piercing and riveting annular wall which is driven into a panel supported against a die member by the installation head. The die member includes an annular die cavity surrounding a central projecting die portion which is telescopically receivable in the free open end of the fastener annular wall. The free end of the fastener annular wall includes a piercing surface which mates with a piercing surface at the outer edge of the projecting die portion to pierce a slug from the panel.

Abstract: A method of producing curved slide fastener chains or a curved slide fasteners is disclosed. Fastener elements are planted along respective one side edges of a pair of fastener tapes, at least one of which tapes is made of solvent-swelling fibers. The fastener elements planted on the respective tapes are inter-engaged with each other to form a fastener chain. A solvent or its aqueous solution, or a solution containing a solvent and dissolving a soluble adhesive, is applied onto either one of the fastener tapes made of solvent-swelling fibers. Subsequently, the fastener chain is shaped into a desired curved configuration. The shaped fastener chain has its curved configuration fixed by being served on a texture, by solidification of the adhesive dissolved in the solvent after evaporation of the solvent or by applying an adhesive onto the shaped fastener chain and solidifying the adhesive.

Abstract: A method of assembling a steering assembly having a socket connected to a steering shaft via a steering joint which socket is to be serration-fitted to an input shaft of a gearbox which is mounted on a suspension assembly. The phase of the socket is measured at the time when a steering wheel is aligned in a neutral posture while the steering assembly is maintained in the same articulated condition as when the steering assembly is assembled to a car body and while the steering wheel is serration-fitted to the steering shaft of the steering assembly. The phase of the input shaft is adjusted such that the input shaft can be serration-fitted into the socket in the phase measured in the preceding step. The adjustment is performed by rotating the input shaft within an angular range corresponding to one half pitch of the serrations of the input shaft in either direction from a neutral posture in which the steering angles to the right and to the left are equal.

Abstract: A method for controlling the wire loop height of wires installed during the manufacture of an electronic module with a wire bond machine provides for making adjustments based on the wire loop height adjustment resolution of the wire bond machine itself, rather than on an electrical performance specification tolerance for the module.

Abstract: A straight axial length of round metal tube is deformed such that the tube cross-section is D-shaped and coiled into a helix, a coil mandrel and wheel mandrel simultaneously drawing and deforming the tube cross-section without kinking. The interiorly facing flat faces of the helix define a substantially continuous cylindrical surface which allows the helix to be rapidly mountable onto a cylindrical heat transfer evaporator tank of a flaker ice making assembly. To provide enhanced heat transfer capabilities the helix could be undersized to tightly grip the evaporator tank and the tube convolutions could be brazed or soldered either together or adjacent the corner portions and tank.

Abstract: A food processor includes a hollow shredder member having food cutting elements, an open mouth container removably insertable within the shredder member for collecting food processed by the cutting elements and a hollow handle member for guiding food into engagement with the cutting elements. The shredder and handle members are releasably rotatably connected for purposes of placing the food cutting elements one at a time in an operative food cutting position relative to the handle member. The processor has a stored configuration wherein the container is placed within the confines of the shredder member and the latter is placed within the confines of the handle member.

Abstract: A method of replastifying thermoplastic foil strips comprising the steps of: rotating a worm within a cylinder baffel having a chamber, an inlet end, outlet end, and a widened area in the region of the inlet end; winding at least one continuous thermoplastic foil strip in multiple layers completely around the worm in the widened area; compressing the layers of the at least one strip on the worm; snagging the at least one strip wound on the worm on edges of at least one longitudinal groove formed on a wall of the chamber, thereby causing the at least one strip to be cut into pieces; and advancing the pieces from the chamber by rotation of the worm.