Abstract: An improved stop mechanism for use with machinery wherein a workpiece is advanced through one or more tooling stations comprises an arm supported for limited pivotal movement about orthogonal axes. The arm is constrained for movement within a grooved block and mounted on a pin extending through coaxial conical bores formed in opposite sides of the arm. The arm is biased in a direction opposite to travel of the workpiece to a ready position in sliding contact with the workpiece until the forward end of the arm engages a predetermined notch or locating surface on the workpiece and pivotally moves therewith to a stop position. The rear end of the arm simultaneously actuates a valve, switch or other control device to initiate the desired operation on the workpiece. After completion of the desired operation, the arm is disengaged from the notch or locating surface to release the workpiece and returned to the ready position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a padded jaw animal trap with a shock absorber means built into the padding on each jaw in order to reduce the peak loads encountered when the jaw closes on an animal's leg. A cavity is provided between the padding face and the jaw of the animal trap such that the cavity separates the animal's leg from the steel jaw. The cavity may be filled with a gas, liquid or foamed elastomer in order to perform its function of reducing the initial shock loads when the trap closes about an animal. Preferred embodiments include an apparatus to retain the padding on the jaw of an animal trap along with a U-shaped jaw construction which facilitates mounting of padding material on an animal trap jaw.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable, fluid-driven orbital wet sander or the like comprising a fluid-driven, nutating action motor including a rod-like output element and a sanding or scrubbing device directly linked to a projecting end of the output element. The nutating action motor is mounted on a plate which includes a gripping element mounted on one side thereof to permit the sander to be easily held by the user. The sanding or scrubbing device is mounted in a spaced relation to the mounting plate by a transversely yieldable support means attached to and projecting from the side of the mounting plate opposite the handle side. The projecting end of the output element extends from the nutating motor through the spacing between the mounting plate and utilization device to a universal joint connection with the utilization device. The motor includes a housing confining a wobble plate which is driven with a nutating action by a controlled flow of fluid (typically water) through the housing.

Abstract: A strip cutting device for wood or the like having a plurality of parallel slots of different depths with a cutter disposed above the slots and means for holding the cutter across a plurality of the slots and at an angle to said slots and intermediate the ends of the slots so that work slid along a selected slot will be severed by the cutter and the work will be guided both in its approach to the cutter and after it has passed the cutter for discharge. There will be holding means for the cutter on either side of each of the slots and also on either side of the cutter to maintain the cutter fixedly in place.

Abstract: A tree with a harvester head includes a frame having a cutting area defined thereon and an accumulator area adjacent the cutter area with accumulator arms on the frame for holding the trees in the accumulator area and grapple arms for gripping a growing tree between the accumulator arms and the grapple arms. The arms are arranged such that the growing tree can be gripped between the closed accumulator arms and grapple arms during the cutting operation and then the accumulator arms can be opened to allow the grapple arms to automatically move the severed tree into the accumulator area in which it is then retained by the accumulator arms.

Abstract: A fish lure is formed of an elongated strip. A central section of the strip is twisted so that the flat leading and trailing end portions are rotated 90.degree. with respect to each other. The combined spinning and zig-zag action of the lure is both obtained and controlled by the location of the twisted portions in the strip, the relative sizing of the twisted and flat portions, and the size of the end portions with respect to each other. The length of the twisted section which provides the action, approximates that of the trailing end portion, which acts as a stabilizing rudder. The length of the leading end portion is about one fourth that of the trailing end portion to improve the balance between the end portions and the twisted central portion.

Abstract: The device for making a groove in the edge of a panel or a stack of panels consists of a grooving saw supported by a structure which is movable from a rest position above the panel and remote from the edge to be grooved, to a starting position below the panel, to a subsequent working stroke directed upwardly, during which the groove is made, and again to the rest position. In order to exactly follow the contour of the edge, which may be rounded, the grooving saw is guided in its working stroke by a feeler roller which feels the outer contour of the edge.

Abstract: A sharpening device for an orbital saw involving a pair of circular grinding stones freely journalled in a sub-assembly which in turn is slidably and pivotally mounted on the frame of the saw while being pivotally supported on the member providing the orbital motion for the saw.

Abstract: An improved trimmer section is provided for use in a sawmill, together with method and means for automatically selecting timbers and the like to be trimmed, and for automatically routing trimmed timbers to a preselected one of a plurality of different storage and loading points in the sawmill. In particular, the operator is required to select which of several stations is to receive each timber after it has been cut to a designated length. Thereupon, the timber is automatically transferred through several stages of mechanical manipulation to the designated station while, simultaneously therewith, another un-trimmed timber is promptly conducted to the trimming saws. Actuation of the entire operation is effected by merely selecting the station to receive the trimmed timber, since the cycle will repeat as long as there are timbers to be trimmed.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for loading sausages into trays, which includes a conveyor for the sausages and another for the trays. The sausages and trays are carried in the same direction laterally adjacent each other, and the trays are arrested one by one at a loading station. A low-friction table surface is located immediately above the tray and sausages are placed in side-by-side relation on the table. When the requisite number of sausages are accumulated on the table, a pusher blade shoves the sausages past the forward end of the table surface and into the forward end of the tray. The tray is then moved forward one-half its length, so that the next batch of sausages is inserted in the rearward end.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a log into firewood including a remotely controlled log carrier bed, a log cutter and a log splitter and log conveying systems that allow the log to be converted into firewood in one continuous operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting reeds for single reed musical instruments. The apparatus comprises a support member having a pair of guide strips adjustably secured thereto for receiving and aligning a reed with the said support member center line, said support member having a plurality of slots formed in a lip at one end thereof for receiving a sharp cutting instrument for cutting the reed tip.The method comprises seating a reed to be adjusted having a thin tapered tip on said support member and forming at least one cut in said tip parallel to the reed longitudinal axis without removal of tip material whereby adjacent portions of the tip are free to independently vibrate.

Abstract: A protective sleeve for protecting the handle of a percussion head tool such as a sledge hammer, axe or the like. A protective oversized rigid sleeve, e.g., of a metal, is positioned around the tool handle in a location adjacent to that head. The annular cavity defined between the oversized rigid sleeve and the handle is filled with a resilient energy absorbing material, e.g., with a rubber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in tree felling for causing a tree to tip under the influence of a force acting on the cutting surfaces of a saw notch in the tree trunk. The tipping force is produced by means of an inflatable cushion which is inserted in a flattened state into the saw notch and connected to the combustion chamber of the cylinder of the power saw motor to be inflated with compressed gas from said combustion chamber.

Abstract: The flail device comprises a rotatable drum, a series of circumferentially spaced channels extending lengthwise of the drum, support means in each channels, a rod received in each support means, and flexible flails attached to each support means at longitudinally spaced intervals thereon; each flail consists of a length of chain links and the rod in each support means passes through the end link of the flails which are extendible under centrifugal force when the drum is rotating.

Abstract: A drilling and driving device provides, in combination, a drilling tool for drilling a borehole and a percussion attachment for driving fastening elements into the borehole. The drilling device includes a housing into which a drilling tool can be inserted. The percussion attachment is pivotally mounted on the housing so that it can be positioned over the drilling tool for driving the fastening element or it can be pivotally displaced so that the drilling tool can be used. In its displaced position, the percussion attachment can be loaded with a fastening element from a magazine located on the housing.

Abstract: A knife accommodating interchangeable blades. The knife includes a blade having a tang extending from its base, and an elongate handle having a front, blade-receiving region and an opposed back region. An elongate lever having opposed pivot and locking points is attached at its pivot point in the back region of the handle for swinging toward and away from a locked position in which the lever is axially aligned with the handle. The lever provides, adjacent its pivot point, a cammed surface dimensioned to engage a spring arm within the handle, thus to lock the lever in its locked position. The blade tang is securely held within a cavity defined in part by the locking point of the lever, with the latter in locked position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tool set for forming dovetail joints including elongated dovetail and pin template plates and dovetail and pin bits. The dovetail plate has a plurality of laterally-extending slots opening through a long edge of the plate, the slots having opposed parallel edges. The dovetail and pin bits are each provided with a bearing about their respective shanks. The elongated pin template plate has a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings each having opposed edges angled to converge toward one another at the same angle as the angle of the cutter of the dovetail bit. To form a dovetail joint using the kit, the dovetail template is disposed over the end edge of a joint member and the dovetail bit is passed through each slot with its bearing engaging the opposed edges of the slot to guide the bit whereby through dovetails are cut in the end of the joint member. The dovetailed member is then disposed over the end edge of the adjoining member and the pin locations are scribed onto its end edge.

Abstract: In combination with automatic shaping equipment, a feed device for feeding material to the equipment is described wherein a feed member is mounted for engagement with means to feed a workpiece to the shaping equipment. A cam follower assembly for cooperating with the feed member is also provided, the cam follower assembly being movable in horizontal and vertical directions independent of the feed member.

Abstract: A machine for planing and grooving a workpiece, such as a log, in a single pass, comprising a frame, a top grooving cutter adjacent one end of the frame, a top planing cutter and a bottom planing cutter in the frame, and a bottom grooving cutter adjacent the other end of the frame, with feed rolls ahead of the planing cutters, guide vanes in back of each grooving cutter and a back-up roll opposite each planing cutter. Suitable feed and delivery tables are provided, together with preliminary alignment guidance devices including guide pins in the feed table.