Abstract: A system is provided for cutting and finishing muntins. The system comprises a device for cutting muntins, a device for pinning muntins, and at least one device for punching muntins. The device for cutting muntins comprises a pair of cutting blades that are independently rotatable, translatable and positionable, and indexable, and further comprises means for precisely measuring muntins fed into the apparatus. The device for pinning muntins comprises means for stabilizing a muntin during punching; a guide, which is preferably magnetic; a pin or a blade, which is preferably made of metal; means for punching the pin or blade into a muntin; and means for precisely measuring the location at which a pin or blade is to be punched into a muntin. The at least one device for punching muntins comprises means for stabilizing a muntin strip; means for cutting the muntin strip; and means for translating the means for cutting. Power for the at least one punching apparatus is preferably pneumatic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shear blade assembly for a shearing system. The shear blade assembly includes an upper shear blade and a lower shear blade. The top surface of the lower shear blade is inclined downwardly at an angle of between 0.2 and 0.5 degrees to the horizontal. The bottom surface of the upper shear blade is raked relative to the horizontal, longitudinally of the blades.

Abstract: A bladeless shear for bar stock and tubing comprising axially adjacent stationary and moving dies which receive the stock and produce a shearing action by relative lateral displacement. A linear actuator or an electric motor produces the mechanical movement to rotate the drive wheel in alternatingly opposite directions. A mandrel for insertion into the tube is disclosed as well as an hydraulic tube clamp and an adjustable in-feed table.

Abstract: A knife with ceramic blade including a body portion having a lower end. The lower end has a generally triangular lower portion extending downwardly therefrom. The lower portion has a lower end forming an apex. The apex has a channel formed therein extending a length of the body portion. A plurality of ceramic blades are provided that each have an elongated vertical upper segment and a lower cutting edge. The elongated vertical upper segment of each ceramic blade is received within the channel formed in the apex of the lower portion of the elongated body portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer saw and method of using the same for dicing semiconductor wafers are disclosed comprising a wafer saw including variable lateral indexing capabilities and multiple blades. The wafer saw, because of its variable indexing capabilities, can dice wafers having a plurality of differently sized semiconductor devices thereon into their elective discrete components. In addition, the wafer saw with its multiple blades, some of which may be independently laterally or vertically movable relative to other blades, can more efficiently dice silicon wafers into individual semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A hole cutter adapted for cutting holes through the sidewalls of medical catheters is fashioned from a hollow tube having a distal cutting end, a proximal ejection end and a lumen of smaller diameter near the cutting end. Slugs formed at the cutting end are extracted by suction applied to the ejection end, and are captured by a filter.

Abstract: A graduated blade knife, and a method of use thereof for cutting a selected quantity of solid soft-bodied foodstuff, the knife of the type comprising a handle, a blade integrally attached to and aligned with said handle, the blade defining an outer free tip, and graduated marks along said blade, said method comprising the steps of: a) flatly applying the knife blade against a flat surface of the soft foodstuff; b) sliding the knife along the soft-bodies foodstuff so as to align the blade graduated marks on the soft foodstuff according to the selected quantity of foodstuff to be cut; c) pivoting the knife around the blade tip so that the blade becomes transversely positioned relative to the soft foodstuff; d) transversely driving the knife blade into the soft foodstuff until the blade extends completely through the soft foodstuff; e) pivoting the knife around the knife blade tip so as to cut the soft foodstuff along a cutting line; and f) cutting the selected quantity out of the soft foodstuff according to the

Abstract: A punch press, adapted to receive a punch tool having a passage for discharging a fluid for ejecting slugs punched out during the punching process, includes a movable ram means for striking the punch, the ram means having a bottom dead position and including a passage connectable to the passage of the punch when the ram means strikes the punch. The press further includes a valve for controlling the supply of the slug-ejecting fluid to the ram means, the valve comprising a movable member responsive to the vertical motion of the ram means and a stationary member relative to which the movable member slides, the valve being adapted to control the flow of the fluid to the ram means, the valve being open while the ram means is positioned within a predetermined positional range including but not limited to, the dead bottom position of the ram means.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a power tool that generates dust includes a housing surrounding a portion of the power tool, an outlet section of the housing for accommodating the flow of dust away from the power tool and a conduit that is coupled with the outlet section to direct the flow of dust from the housing. During operation of the power tool, the conduit is rigidly coupled with the outlet section in an advanced position in which rotational movement of the conduit relative to the outlet section is impeded. The direction of dust flow out of the conduit may be selectively adjusted by transferring the assembly to a retracted position in which rotational movement of the conduit relative to the outlet section is substantially unimpeded. The outlet section and conduit may be tapered so that the advanced position is obtained through a friction fit.

Abstract: A rotary die cutter for cutting a series of irregular-shaped blanks from a continuous web. The rotary die cutter includes a male die cylinder that has a series of die cavities formed along its outer circumference. Each of the die cavities includes a surrounding cutting edge that defines the shape of the blank to be cut. The male die cylinder is pressed into engagement with either an anvil cylinder or a female die cylinder to form either crush-cutting or shear-cutting nips therebetween. The continuous web is fed into the cutting nip such that the cutting edges of the die cavities contact the web to cut the blanks from the web. A plurality of vacuum ports positioned in the die cavities along the outer circumference of the male die cylinder are connected to a source of vacuum contained in the male die cylinder to remove the die-cut blanks from the web. The die-cut blanks are vacuum-transferred to a stacking unit, while the scrap web is continuously discarded by air-conveying removal.

Abstract: Image data representing an image to be printed is captured, and a cutting pattern for cutting the outer form of an image printed on recording paper is selected from a plurality of different cutting patterns. In accordance with the captured image data, one or more images are printed on the recording paper in sizes and layout proper for the selected cutting pattern. Then, the outer forms of one or more images are cut on the recording paper in the selected cutting pattern. This eliminates the necessity of entering the size and layout of the image to be printed on the recording paper and editing a cutting method. Moreover, one or more images can be printed on the recording paper in a desired size and layout, and the outer forms of one or more images are cut on the recording paper in a desired cutting pattern.

Abstract: The microtome has a sample carrier movable along a first linear guide and a hand drive movable along a substantially linear path of motion that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the sample carrier. A deflecting device is provided to deflect the motion of the hand drive into a motion in the direction of the linear guide of the sample carrier. By deflection of the paths of motion between the hand drive and the sample holder, the motion of the hand drive can take place substantially horizontally forward and backward and convert the motion of the hand drive into a motion of the sample carrier which is substantially perpendicular to the motion of the hand drive. The cutting motion takes place in a substantially vertical direction, so that the sections can be removed or washed away from the inclined back surface of the cutting knife or knife carrier.

Abstract: A magnetically latching butterfly knife 10 having a magnetic latch 20 coupled thereto. The magnetic latch 20 is coupled to the magnetically latching butterfly knife 10. The magnetic latch 20 is coupled to at least one of the handle components 14 and/or 15. The magnetic latch 20 has at least one magnetic component 19 and at least one magnetic attracting surface 10A (i.e. magnet or metal surface) that are able to couple to at least one of the handle components 14 and 15. At least one magnetic component 19 and at least one magnetic attracting surface 10A magnetically attract and couple to each other to be able to provide open and closed latching operations for the butterfly knife 10. The magnetic latch 20 secures the first handle component 14 and the second handle component 15 in an open latched position and also in a closed latched position. The magnetic latch 20 may be configured and coupled to the butterfly knife 10 in many ways in order to provide the open latched and closed latched positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing sheets of polymeric surfacing, the sheets produced thereby, and the apparatus used to produce the sheets. The method includes providing a solid polymeric slab, and slicing the slab into sheets of surfacing. The sheets may include polymeric particles contained in a polymeric matrix. The particles may have a maximum linear dimension that is greater than the final thickness of the sheets, thereby resulting in an aesthetically pleasing “chunky” appearance. The apparatus used to slice the sheets produces a relatively smooth, uniform surface, and is capable of dramatically limiting the amount of variation in thickness within a finished sheet.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer saw and method of using the same for dicing semiconductor wafers comprising a wafer saw including variable lateral indexing capabilities and multiple blades. The wafer saw, because of its variable indexing capabilities, can dice wafers having a plurality of differently sized semiconductor devices thereon into their respective discrete components. In addition, the wafer saw with its multiple blades, some of which may be independently laterally or vertically movable relative to other blades, can more efficiently dice silicon wafers into individual semiconductor devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lubrication device in a vertically functioning bread slicer having several blade bands (3), next to each other and a predetermined width of bread slice apart, continuously circulating crosswise around blade band rollers (2). Both sides of the blade bands (3) have a horizontal lubricating roller (6, 7) with an oil-impregnated felt envelope (63, 73) which lubricates the cutting surfaces (30) of the blade bands (3). At least one of the two lubricating rollers (6, 7) can pivot around a horizontal pivoting axis (6S) to a position (P1) a distance apart from the blade bands (3), the two lubrication rollers (6, 7) can each be displaced by a given length (A) lengthwise along the rollers (L) in relation to the band blades (3).

Abstract: A punch includes a socket disposed on a plate, a barrel supported above the plate, a shaft slidably received in the barrel and a mold piece detachably secured to the shaft. One or more levers have one end pivotally secured to the barrel and have a middle portion coupled to the shaft for moving the shaft and the mold piece downward to actuate on the socket. The mold piece is detachably secured to the shaft with a threaded ferrule. The punch includes one or more mold pieces and sockets of various shapes which may be replaced with each other.

Abstract: A hand-held power saw (10) having a housing (112) which includes a blade storage chamber (124) and a retaining member (130) for holding at least one spare saw blade (26) within the storage chamber. In one embodiment the retaining member comprises a rubber component having a pair of arms (136). Each arm has a groove (138) formed therein which holds a ball bearing (140). The ball bearings are biased into contact with one another once the retaining member is assembled into a housing portion of the tool within the storage chamber. When a spare saw blade is inserted into the storage chamber a portion thereof is urged between the ball bearings. The resiliency of the rubber arms causes the ball bearings to grasp the spare saw blade and retain it within the storage chamber. The opposite end of the blade engages a foam-like member (150) held within a recess (124c) at the opposite end of the storage chamber which prevents the blade from rattling within the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting single or multiple semiconductor packages from a multilayer substrate wherein the semiconductor packages are partially encapsulated by an elastomer sealant layer disposed on a polymer film layer of the substrate. The apparatus includes upper and lower die assemblies mounted for movement relative to each other on a support base. The upper die assembly includes an actuator and a die block supporting plural sets of cutter blades arranged in patterns to cut rectangular shaped semiconductor packages out of the substrate in a single cutting operation at a single station. The lower die assembly includes plural punch members movable relative to a die block, which includes a support surface for supporting the substrate in a predetermined position as determined by spaced apart locator pins on the lower die assembly registerable with corresponding locator holes in a carrier frame for the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting and removing chaff from an internal drum imaging system. The chaff collection apparatus includes a chaff tray coupled to the internal drum below the side punches. The chaff tray includes a cover comprising a plurality of evenly spaced frangible fingers. A specific set of the fingers is removed from the cover according to the locations of the side punches on the internal drum. In this manner, only the portions of the cover below the side punches are open to the interior of the chaff tray. The chaff produced by each punch passes into the chaff tray through a respective opening in the cover, and is captured within the chaff tray. The areas of the cover of the chaff tray that are not located below the side punches remain covered by the remaining frangible fingers, thereby preventing chaff from escaping the chaff tray.