Abstract: The system includes a protective sleeve that is lowered over a flag under the weight of a carrier ring. An arrangement of cables and control means effects raising and lowering of the protective sleeve, and positions the lowered carrier in a tilted orientation to effectively close the lower end of the sleeve and thereby to afford enhanced protection for the contained flag.

Abstract: A fast-acting die head that is particularly well-suited for use with small-size workpieces employs a set of chasers, each formed as a single piece and having a nose portion that provides two force-receiving surface elements. One of the surface elements is disposed to coact with a camming ring, which is moved axially thereover to close the chasers radially upon the workpiece; the other, underlying surface element receives the force of a spring-loaded plunger, which acts to thrust the associated chaser to an open position when the closing force of the camming ring is removed.

Abstract: A filter unit of an automatic screw machine employs a filter element that rotates relative to, and in contact with, a brush element. Foreign matter is thereby automatically dislodged and ejected from the filter element.