Abstract: A card injecting apparatus in which an air gun directs a jet of air underneath a stack of articles for lifting the articles above a supporting surface to form a space between the lowermost article and supporting surface. Additional jets of air are directed by the air gun for injecting a card into the space. The air gun is formed of two portions, one portion defined by a stationary member and the other portion defined by a slider member which is movable relative to the stationary member between two positions for successively feeding cards from spaced apart hoppers to the air gun.

Abstract: A shuttle mechanism movable between initial and final positions for accurately, intermittently advancing a stretchable web containing spaced apart, encapsulated articles such as dental packets under a punch for cutting individual articles from the web. Front and rear claw tips enter succeeding sealed joints or grooves in the web in the initial position of the shuttle mechanism. While in this position, the rear claw is moved toward the front claw so that the pitch of the grooves is equal to the normal groove pitch of the web in its unstretched condition.

Abstract: A banding apparatus with a ball-type, reciprocally movable web gripping mechanism cooperable with a web transfer mechanism for gripping one end of a web. The web gripping mechanism extends the web across the open end of a banding chute. A stack handling member is mounted for reciprocal movement in the chute between a normal upper position and a lower position. When the member is moved to its lower position, it acts as a support for the stack and a guide for the web. When the member is moved to its upper position, it elevates a completed bundle into position for transfer from the banding apparatus. With regard to the method steps involved to form a completed bundle, a stack of articles is moved into engagement with the web and support member, and then inserted into the banding chute through the open end thereof for moving the member to its lower position. The member is provided with guides which during downward movement of the member extend upwardly for guiding the web around the stack of articles.

Abstract: An overload safety device having a housing reciprocally movable through forward and reverse strokes of a set length. The housing has a cylinder and a piston mounted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder between a normal extended position and a retracted position. Fluid pressure is directed against one side of the piston for releasably holding the piston in its normal extended position. The piston has a rod to which a tool is attached at one end for performing an operation on a work piece upon reciprocal movement of the housing. If the tool should strike an obstruction, a slight displacement of the piston relative to the housing away from its normal extended position discontinues the fluid pressure directed against one side of the piston and directs it against the opposite side of the piston for rapidly moving the piston to its retracted position. The overload safety device may further be operated as a double acting cylinder.

Abstract: A crank mechanism for imparting reciprocal lineal movement to a member through forward and reverse strokes, and providing dwell periods for the member at each end of its stroke. The crank mechanism comprises a rotatable crank shaft for rotatably driving an eccentrically mounted crank pin which imparts reciprocal movement to a member via a connecting rod. A cam is provided for altering the throw between the axes of the crank pin and crank shaft at each end of the stroke of the member to provide dwell periods for the member in such positions.