Abstract: A work holding device is disclosed which has a fixed jaw and a movable jaw mounted on a pair of parallel guide rods for guiding the movable jaw toward and away from the fixed jaw. For moving and actuating the movable jaw, the guide rods are engaged by a handle operated cam member with a self-energizing frictional locking action responsive to handle movement.

Abstract: A pneumatic feeder is disclosed having twin feed slides axially reciprocable in side by side relation along parallel axes for intermittently advancing strip stock to a downstream machine for further processing. Each feed slide has clamps which serve to advance the stock with the traveling slide clamps activated and the clamps of the other slide being deactivated during its idle return movement. Each feed slide additionally has a rotatable crank mechanism and a single acting power cylinder associated therewith for providing a primary motive force in a stock advancing direction in cooperation with the associated crank mechanism. The crank mechanism serves both to trigger actuation of the driving force of the power cylinder to advance its feed slide and additionally provide harmonic deceleration of its feed slide under high rates of feed to ensure precision termination of the advancing feed slide to positively limit its feed stroke.

Abstract: A stagger feeder for a downstream machine such as a power press and the like is disclosed having a structure particularly suited to provide an actual linear path of movement of an activated feed head identical to the effective feed stroke of the material being moved by that feed head. Two movable feed heads are linked together mechanically, and the motion of these feed heads is controlled by a crank mechanism actuated by an indexing mechanism to trigger a pre-pressurized drive cylinder to effect feed stroking. Simplified adjustment of the effective length of the feed stroke is provided by the direct action stagger feeder of this invention to readily accommodate different size blanks in the downstream machine.

Abstract: A movable barrier apparatus for a power press and the like and having a fluid circuit for controlling operation of a machine tripping device responsive to a predetermined sequence of rotary cam mechanism movements for positively locking the barrier in an operative position precluding operator access to the machine work area, the rotary cam mechanism cooperating with the circuit to render machine tripping valve means of the fluid circuit inoperative when the barrier is in a position other than its operative position.

Abstract: A hollow clearance indicator is mounted for reciprocable movement toward and away from a fixed machine work area. A movable work-forming element is received in an aperture of the clearance indicator to effect an operation on a workpiece in the machine work area upon actuating a drive output of the machine to drive the movable element into engagement with the workpiece. The clearance indicator is drivingly connected to a safety device which monitors the work area to ensure it is clear of any obstacles, particularly an operator's fingers. The safety device features a rotary cam control drivingly connected between the clearance indicator and a manually-controlled drive input for selectively controlling operation of the drive output in relation to clearance indicator movement.