Abstract: A lottery ticket dispensing machine includes a ticket dispensing mechanism for advancing a continuous strip of lottery tickets therethrough and subsequent separation of the selected number of tickets from the continuous strip. The machine includes a framing assembly for housing the dispensing mechanism which is controlled by a computer driven printed circuit board for determining the distance that the continuous strip of tickets will travel. The dispensing mechanism is powered by a motor for rotation of a set of pinch rollers and forward feed advancement of the continuous strip of lottery tickets therethrough.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispensing machine includes a ticket dispensing mechanism for advancing a continuous strip of lottery tickets therethrough and subsequent separation of the selected number of tickets from the continuous strip. The machine includes a framing assembly for housing the dispensing mechanism which is controlled by a computer driven printed circuit board for determining the distance that the continuous strip of tickets will travel. The dispensing mechanism is powered by a motor for rotation of a set of pinch rollers and forward feed advancement of the continuous strip of lottery tickets therethrough.

Abstract: An improved device or tool is provided for cleaving angled ends on to at least one optical fiber (1) (FIG. 1) in which spring means (6) and co-operating pivotally mounted clamping blocks (7a, 7b) are employed to clamp and tension the optical fiber (1) with tension (T). A sharp corner edge (11) of an anvil (10) is used to locally deflect or displace the fiber (1) and bend it about the opposing sharp corner edge (12) of the clamping surface (5) of one of the clamping blocks (viz 7b) so that the fiber experiences a localized shear force. The resultant stress is a superposition of tension and shear and is directed away from the axis of the fiber (1). An acutely angled blade (13) is operable to score the fiber (1) at a point between the two opposing corners (11, 12). The fiber (1) cleaves with ends which are consistently angled at between 1° and 20° (preferably 5° to 10°) away from the perpendicular to the fiber axis.

Abstract: To automatically retract the blade after cutting, a flat serpentine spring is integrally formed with a thumb piece which is slidably received in a slot formed along the upper edge of a housing/handle. The housing has a finger rest projection on the lower edge to facilitate cutting while the blade is projected with the thumb. The two halves of the housing snap together using a block-like projection formed on one half, and a pair of tabs formed on the other. The tabs, which are resilient, slide along the sides of the projection until recesses on each of the side of the projection are reached. Inwardly extending ridges on the ends of the tabs enter the recesses to provide a click lock. An aperture between the tabs allows pressure to be applied to the top of the projection to separate the two halves for blade reset/re-adjustment. The blade carrier, which is adapted to support two different types of blades, is slidably mounted in the housing so that it and the thumb piece are free of detents or click-locks.

Abstract: A mechanism for cutting an elongated material, such as insulated wire or fiber optic cabling. The cutting mechanism includes a stationary blade housing that includes a recessed blade receptacle. The blade receptacle receives an insert blade that is biased outward by a bias element. A cutting blade having a pair of guide legs is movable relative to the stationary blade housing and insert blade such that a cutting edge of the cutting blade interacts with a cutting edge of the insert blade to sever the elongated material. The cutting blade is received within a blade guideway formed between the blade housing and an attached guide block. The blade guideway guides the movement of the cutting blade between its retracted position and its extended position. As the cutting blade moves to the extended position, the guide legs of the cutting blade contact an outer face surface of the insert blade such that the insert blade and the cutting blade retain the desired orientation.

Abstract: A knife-and-sheath combination includes a knife with a blade having two opposing broad faces and an opening through the blade extending between the broad faces, and a handle extending from the blade. The combination also includes a sheath including a sheath body having a receptacle sized to receive the blade therein, and a positive lock operable to lock the knife to the sheath. The positive lock includes a locking element engagable to the opening in the blade of the knife, and a lock release accessible to a user of the knife-and-sheath combination, the lock release being operable to disengage the locking element from the opening in the blade of the knife.

Abstract: Circular tool (10) for cutting rolls of paper and similar, the tool (10) including a central axial hole (11), two lateral surfaces (10a) and an outer cutting edge (12) defined by two chamfers or bevels (13a, 13b) inclined at respective angles “&agr;,&bgr;” with respect to the lateral surfaces (10a), one chamfer (13a) defining a cutting side of the tool (10) and the other chamfer (13b) defining a side not directly involved in the cutting action of the tool (10), the tool (10) being able to be associated by means of the central hole (11) with a rotation shaft, the lateral surfaces (10a) having a thickness “s” of between 2 and 4 mm and being parallel to each other, the surface defined by the chamfer (13b) not directly involved in the cutting action being covered with a protective layer (14) of material of great hardness.

Abstract: A degater for degating a member from a runner is provided, the degater having a platform. The platform includes a first platform member and a second platform member. The first platform member is positioned adjacent the second platform member along a pivot axis, the first platform member and the second platform member being pivotable about the pivot axis from a respective first position, through an angle to a second position, and through a second angle to a third position. The first position is between the second position and third position. A hold-down member holds the member to the platform as at least one of the first platform member and second platform member move between the first, second and third positions.

Abstract: A method and device for preventing or reducing formation of magnetism in two adjacently located saw blades rotating in opposed rotary directions in relation to each other. Each saw blade is arranged having a number of substantially radially extending through grooves having an extension within the area of the rotary center for each saw blade and the surrounding saw teeth area. The grooves are arranged, when rotating, to remove air existing between adjacent planes of the saw blades. The through grooves are arranged having a substantially curved extension, but may also have a substantially linear extension. The grooves are arranged having a chamfer by the edge portions, arranged to increase removal of air from the space between the interacting saw blades.

Abstract: A method of combining the grading and trimming operation of a board to thereby eliminate the position of a trimmer, includes feeding a board having two sides to a turn assembly with a first side of its two sides upright, grading the first side of the board, moving the board longitudinally using belt, chain, or rollers, turning the board such that the second side of the board is upright and grading the second side of the board, moving the board in a longitudinal direction using a roll case, to position the board in a position for trimming, and feeding the board to a trimmer to be cut. A sloped turn assembly or flat transfer assembly can be used to turn the board for inspection.

Abstract: A drive system for rotating rollers advancing a board through a board cutting machine. Sprockets and chains in the drive system are positioned such that adjustment of a set of rollers on one side of the board to accommodate varying board thicknesses will not require adjustment of a tension sprocket manually or by a spring.

Abstract: A machine for cutting stacked sheets of stock. The machine has a counter for accommodating the stock. The rear of the counter accommodates the stock to be cut and the front of the counter the cut stock. The rear of the counter also accommodates a mechanism for advancing the stack and a baffle for one side of the stack to rest against. A bent is positioned above the counter and accommodates a blade for cutting the stock and a holdfast that can be lowered onto the top of the stack. A control panel and a display panel are positioned on the front side. The machine in accordance with the present invention is characterized by at least one camera (22) at the rear (9) of the counter. The camera monitors the position of the stock in relation to the stack-advancing mechanism (10) or the lateral baffle (12) and displays on the display panel (17) a real-time image (26) of what it can discern.

Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.

Abstract: An improved tool holder for a fiber board cutting machine wherein the cutting machine includes at least one tool holder bar disposed transverse to the direction of feed of the board. The improved tool holder comprises a first member having a bottom and at least one upstanding wall, the upstanding wall terminates in an outwardly turned flange that is received on the tool holder bar. The first member has at least one downwardly disposed bracket for receiving an adjustment mechanism. A blade assembly is removably attached to the adjustment mechanism; the blade assembly may be adjustably moved in a transverse direction to the feed direction of the board. At least one non-rotating blade is mounted on the attachment member.

Abstract: A press for forming a workpiece with a tooling set includes an actuator assembly carrying a movable half or punch of the tooling set and having a two phase operation. In the first phase the actuator provides relatively low force in moving the punch to an intermediate position in close proximity to the workpiece. A sensor detects the position of the punch, and when the punch reaches the intermediate position provides a continue signal. The second phase of actuator operation is conditioned on occurrence of the continue signal, and uses normal high force to press the movable tooling half against the workpiece to complete the operation. The low force first phase allows obstructions of any kind to stop movement of the punch during the first phase before high force applied to the actuator may cause damage or injury to the obstruction. In a preferred embodiment the actuator assembly has hydraulic operation.

Abstract: A cutting/scoring method for at least one row of adjacent flat elements (3a, 5n) in a material in strip form (1), of which at least one cutting edge (3′-5′) or scoring line, transversely of said strip material (1), is straight and extends from one edge of said strip material (1) to the other, consisting in passing said strip material (1) between cutting/scoring cylinders (R1, R2) of a rotary cutting machine. There is created along said cutting edge (3′-5′) or said scoring line respectively, extending from one edge of said strip material (1) to the other, at least one offset (k, &agr;) in the direction of transit of said strip material (1) so that said cutting edge (3′-5′) or said scoring line respectively does not coincide with the generatrices of said cylinders.

Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.

Abstract: A printer mechanism includes a single motor turning a system drive gear in a paper feeding direction, and in a cam driving direction, opposite the paper feeding direction. When the system drive gear is turned in the paper feeding direction, a paper feeding spring clutch drives a paper feed roll with the system drive gear. When the system drive gear is turned in the cam driving direction, a drive cam is driven by a cam driving spring clutch. The drive cam has a first surface driving a moving knife blade across a stationary knife blade in a cutting direction, and in a return direction opposite the cutting direction. With this movement in the cutting direction, the moving knife is held against the stationary knife blade, and, with movement in the return direction, the moving knife is moved away from the stationary knife blade, by means of a second surface of the drive cam.

Abstract: The present invention is a workpiece support apparatus and method of making of using the same. A holding fixture frame supports the workpiece about the perimeter and also locates the workpiece. A series of support wires keep the workpiece from sagging inside the holding fixture frame. The support wires provide support while allowing top and bottom access to the workpiece. The workpiece remains flat at the point of the machining operation.

Abstract: A hand held hole punching device having a shaft and a main body with a device for axially moving the shaft in a reciprocating motion. The tool head is connected to the shaft and includes a fixed portion fixed to the main body to slidably engage the shaft so that the shaft is permitted to slide axially relative to the fixed portion. Also, a movable portion is fixed to the shaft so that the movable portion moves axially with the shaft and the movable portion and the fixed portion cooperatively define at least two hole punchers. Each hole puncher has a punch pin that is different from a punch pin of any other hole puncher on the tool head.