Abstract: A linearly movable tool or work piece handling unit capable of operation in an abrasive particle atmosphere includes a carriage supported on parallel ways by an air bearing structure.

Abstract: A rectangular sagger structure particularly suited for firing cylindrical articles loaded in parallel touching rows. A scalloped fixture extends inwardly from one of the side walls with the scalloped notches so spaced that the articles placed in the notches constituting a first row of articles form pockets for the second row of articles to nest between adjacent first row articles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring elongated parts, such as spark plug insulator bodies, travelling in a single row, end to end, on a first conveyor to a receptacle travelling on a second conveyor, the parts being placed each in a part-holding cavity in an insert in the receptacle, the part-holding cavity being disposed in consecutive rows. A part pick-up member picks up parts one at a time at the end of the first conveyor and transfers each part to the receptacle in which the part is placed substantially vertically with its end in a part-holding cavity in the insert. Sensors distinguish between good and defective parts at the location where the parts are picked up at the end of the first conveyor such that defective parts are rejected and the part pick-up member picks up only non-defective parts. Sensors detect fallen-over parts in the receptacle and stop loading in the event that parts are not properly placed in the holding cavities in the receptacle insert.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring parts travelling in a single row on a first conveyor to a receptacle travelling on a second conveyor, the parts being placed in the receptacle in consecutive rows of a plurality of the parts. A part loader, comprising an elbow-joint arm having a pivotable first arm and a second arm mounted on the end of the first arm pivotable relative to the first arm, supports a part pick-up member mounted on the end of the second arm which picks up at least one part from the end of the first conveyor and transfers the part to the receptacle on the second conveyor. Alternatively, the part pick-up member is adapted to pick up a row of parts from the first conveyor and to place one row of parts in the part receptacle, or to rotate a part during transfer from the first conveyor to the part receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring parts travelling in a single row on a first conveyor to a receptacle travelling on a second conveyor, the parts being placed in the receptacle in consecutive rows of a plurality of the parts. A part loader, comprising an elbow-joint arm having a pivotable first arm and a second arm mounted on the end of the first arm pivotable relative to the first arm, supports a part pick-up member mounted on the end of the second arm which picks up a row of parts from the end of the first conveyor and transfers the parts to the receptacle on the second conveyor. The part pick-up member is adapted to pick up a row of parts from the first conveyor and to place the row of parts in the part receptacle in the same position, or to rotate the parts about 90.degree. or 270.degree. during transfer from the first conveyor to the part receptacle on the second conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for compensating uneven gravity filling with powder material of a die cavity formed on the top of a punch reciprocable in a bore in a die plate, the punch having an end face normally parallel to the surface of the die plate. The punch is mounted on an adjustable support member split into portions having each an end face disposed parallel to the end face of the other portion. The two portions have a common surface of junction disposed in a plane at an angle to the parallel end faces. The two portions are rotated together to orient the surface of junction in the direction of inclination of the punch, and the two portions are independently rotated the same amount in opposite directions as a function of the desired angle of inclination of the punch.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring elongated parts travelling on a first conveyor to a receptacle travelling on a second conveyor, the parts being placed singly in consecutive rows in the receptacle in a substantially vertical position. The apparatus comprises a part pick-up unit having a part pick-up member mounted on a slide. The part pick-up unit is positioned such as to enable the part pick-up member to pick up a part at the end of the first conveyor, and the part pick-up member, mounted on the output shaft of a rotary actuator, is rotated such as to rotate the part from a horizontal position to a vertical position during travel of the part pick-up unit and of the slide from the part pick-up position to the part-loading position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading parts from the end of a first conveyor to holding cavities in an insert in a receptacle travelling on a second conveyor and being indexed by the second conveyor to locate each row relative to a part-loading unit. The insert is located within the receptacle and the holding cavities in the insert are located and sized by expandable probes disposed in a row and introduced simultaneously each in a cavity of a row of the insert and held expanded in each cavity, while an already located and sized row of cavities is being loaded with parts, one cavity at a time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring parts travelling in a single row on a first conveyor to a receptacle travelling on a second conveyor, the parts being placed in the receptacle in consecutive rows of a plurality of the parts. A part loader, comprising an elbow-joint arm having a pivotable first arm and a second arm mounted on the end of the first arm pivotable relative to the first arm, supports a part pick-up member mounted on the end of the second arm which picks up at least one part from the end of the first conveyor and transfers the part to the receptacle on the second conveyor. Alternatively, the part pick-up member is adapted to pick up a row of parts from the first conveyor and to place one row of parts in the part receptacle, or to rotate a part during transfer from the first conveyor to the part receptacle.

Abstract: In a die, punch and core rod assembly for a powder compacting press wherein the core rod or rods remain stationary while the punch or punches are reciprocable relative to the die, the invention provides individual longitudinal position adjustment for the core rods by clamping the end of the core rods in a collet-like threaded member such as a slotted set screw threading in a threaded bore in a core rod support member. The core rod support member is preferably in the form of a pair of plates one bolted below the other. The end of each core rod is immobilized in its adjusted position by being disposed in an axial bore in the collet-like threaded member and by being clamped between the sidewalls of a longitudinal slot extending part of the length of the set screw, as a result of the tendency of the slot to close when the set screw is driven through the lower plate with its tapered end engaged with a tapered surface at the end of an aligned bore in the upper plate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for compensating uneven gravity filling with powder material of a die cavity formed on the top of a punch reciprocable in a bore in a die plate, the punch having an end face normally parallel to the surface of the die plate. The punch is mounted on an adjustable support member split into portions having each an end face disposed parallel to the end face of the other portion. The two portions have a common surface of junction disposed in a plane at an angle to the parallel end faces. The two portions are rotated together to orient the surface of junction in the direction of inclination of the punch, and the two portions are independently rotated the same amount in opposite directions as a function of the desired angle of inclination of the punch.

Abstract: In a die, punch and core rod assembly for a powder compacting press wherein the core rod or rods remain stationary while the punch or punches are reciprocable relative to the die, the invention provides individual longitudinal position adjustment for the core rods by fitting the end of the core rods in a threaded member such as a set screw threading in a threaded bore in a core rod support member. The core rod support member is in the form of a pair of plates one defining a core rod support plate and the other a retainer plate, sandwiching a plastic locking plate. The core rods are immobilized in their adjusted position by the plastic locking plate, sandwiched between the core rod support plate and the retainer plate, being provided with a threaded bore aligned with the threaded bore in the support plate and having a slight screwthread mismatch with the threaded bore in the support plate.

Abstract: A part pick-up head for transferring a part from the ejection station of an apparatus, such as a powder compacting apparatus, to a discharge station. The pick-up head is internally provided with a pair of reciprocating jaws, actuated by pressurized fluid such as compressed air, and arranged to clamp the part at the ejection station with enough pressure to hold the part securely for transfer to the discharge station. At the discharge station, the clamping jaws are spread apart by a return spring when fluid pressure is released. Auxiliary holding means in the form of suction ports above the part may be disposed in the pick-up head, and the pick-up head may also incorporate suction orifices sweeping clean the surface of the die plate over which the pick-up head travels from the ejection station to the discharge station.

Abstract: A lapping method and apparatus providing accurate lapping of a workpiece surface and substantially even wear of the lap surface in the course of a lapping operation cycle. The workpiece having a surface to be lapped is held in an oscillating plate reciprocated along a first axis, and displaced at a much lower rate along a second axis. The plate is reciprocated along the first axis by means of a rigid link pivotally attached at one end to the plate and at another end to a rotating eccentric. The plate is displaced along the second axis by means of a pair of rigid parallel links pivotally attached to the plate at one end and pivotally attached each to a rotating eccentric at their other end.

Abstract: A method for compacting articles made of powder material at a constant density, or at a density within a range. An example of apparatus for practicing the method of the invention takes the form of a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly, defining a chamber which is filled with an uncompressible hydraulic fluid, disposed in the coupling between the actuating member of a mechanical press ram and the ram. The hydraulic fluid is pressurized by a compressed compressible fluid, such as air, acting on a large area piston directly coupled to a small area piston disposed in a small diameter cylinder filled with the uncompressible hydraulic fluid and in communication with the chamber, the ratio in the areas of the pistons determining the pressure amplification rate or gain.

Abstract: In an anvil assembly for powder-compacting press wherein an article is compacted of powder material against the face of the anvil clamped in position over a die cavity filled with powdered material, a reciprocable punch being disposed at the bottom of the die cavity for compacting the powdered material against the anvil face, the anvil is provided with a movable face portion which, during compaction of the powder material, is displaced away from the die cavity, compressing an elastomeric return spring.

Abstract: A die, punch and core rod assembly for a powder compacting press wherein the core rod or rods remain stationary while the punch or punches are reciprocable relative to the die. The invention provides individual longitudinal position adjustment for the core rods by fitting the end of the core rods in a threaded member such as a set screw threading in a bore in the core rod support plate. Alternatively, the invention provides for position adjustment of the core rod support plate by supporting the support plate below the die plate by spacer sleeves having a threaded peripheral portion threading in a bore in the core rod support plate. By combining an adjustable core rod support plate with individually adjustable core rods, the core rods can be adjusted longitudinally relative to each other, and in unison by way of the position adjustment provided for their support plate.

Abstract: A powder compacting press provided with a mechanical toggle mechanism for reciprocating a ram disposed above the die supporting the table of the press, the pivotable support for the ram toggle upper connecting rod being connected to the movable member of a fluid cylinder. Fluid pressure in the cylinder urges the movable member to an extent limited by abutments, thus tending to displace the ram in a direction toward the table. The full force exerted on the ram by the toggle mechanism causes retraction of the fluid cylinder movable member until engagement of a second pair of abutment means cause the full force developed by the toggle mechanism to be exerted on the ram. The same cam is used for actuating the ram irrespective of whether the ram is used for clamping an anvil in position over a die cavity when the press is used in an anvil pressing mode, or for reciprocating upper punches, when the press is used in an opposed punch operating mode.

Abstract: An impact cushioning and shock absorbing device disposed in the coupling between the actuating member of a press ram and the ram. The device is in the form of a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly defining a chamber which is filled with an uncompressible hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid is pressurized by a compressed compressible fluid, such as air, acting on a large area piston directly coupled to a small area piston disposed in a small diameter cylinder filled with the incompressible hydraulic fluid and in communication with the chamber, the ratio in the areas of the pistons determining the pressure amplification rate or gain.

Abstract: A unitary punch and die assembly for tooling a powder material compacting apparatus, or press, the assembly comprising a die plate mounted in the press table, which removably holds a die bushing clamped in position by a retainer collet provided with a peripheral thread and an internal thread. The retainer collet has an internal shoulder engaging a shoulder at the base of the die bushing, and a clamping ring threads on the internal thread of the collet for holding the die bushing in position within the collet. The peripheral thread of the collet engages the corresponding internal thread of a die spacer on which the die plate is mounted. By means of the retainer collet and the clamping ring, the die bushing surface may be adjusted flush with the surface of the die plate, without requiring grinding or lapping of the die bushing after assembly of the die bushing in the die plate.