Abstract: An adjustment mechanism for a wire stripper that sets the initial minimum opening between cutter jaws so that the jaws close snugly around a wire, and then adjusts the opening to provide a clearance distance so that the wire is not damaged when the jaws cut through the insulation.

Abstract: In a method of cutting plant tissue for micropropagation, a container (42) containing plantlets (43) Is rotated on a turntable (19). A laser beam (35) is focused on a side wall (36) of the container below the level of a nutrient medium (45). The container (42) is rotated while the laser (35) cuts free an upper portion (36) of the container (12). After cutting, plant material is cut in a subsequent step by the same laser. Preferably the container is inverted during cutting of container and plantlets.

Abstract: Shear-type cutters for hard and/or large thickness workpieces having a pair of shearing-action cutting jaws, laterally abutting each of which jaws is a hold-down clamp member having a hold-down surface positioned opposite the other of said jaws. Each hold-down surface is moveable with respect to its associated jaw away from the jaw it opposed through a wide range of distances, normally is in alignment with the cutting surface of the jaw to which it as affixed, and is resiliently biased against being so moved. Thereby, when the jaws close on a workpiece of any of a wide range of thicknesses, the hold-down surfaces of the clamps come into contact with and yieldingly remain pressed against the outer surfaces of the work piece to hold it in place as the cutting jaws impinge upon and cut through it.

Abstract: A metering and dibbing assembly for use in a dibber drill comprises a rotary feed section, inlet means for introducing seed at successive seed-retaining locations in the rotary feed section, a rotary dibber section having a plurality of dibber elements at least in part housed in radially disposed bores in the dibber section, and cam means operative to withdraw successive dibber elements to allow the transfer of seed from the feed section into the associated bores for these elements and thereafter to move the dibber elements in a radially outward movement so as to press the seed into the ground.

Abstract: A spring, particularly adapted for use with hand tools, comprising springy material formed into a flat, V-shaped configuration wherein the end region of one of the arms is adapted for removeable affixation to one of the elements to which the spring is to provide bias, and the other is adapted to impart bias to another of such elements, upon its outermost end being impinged upon by said other element as the two elements are moved pivotally toward each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for applying liquids to objects under vacuum, and in one embodiment, particularly suitable for injecting potting compounds into electronic components, comprises a portable, bell-shaped housing, preferably made from transparent material and having a bottom, circular aperture surrounded by a vacuum gasket, conduit means for introducing vacuum into the interior chamber of the bell-shaped housing, regulator means for regulating the degree of vacuum so introduced into said housing, gauge means for monitoring the degree of vacuum within said housing, container means for holding the potting compound in liquid form, liquid conduit means for transferring liquid potting compound from said container means to a desired location within said housing, and a liquid flow regulation valve for controlling the rate of flow of liquid potting compound through said liquid conduit means.