Abstract: An alarm system and method is provided for preventing injuries as may occur within a manufacturing plant using lathes, milling equipment, metal shears and other machinery. The alarm system is so positioned to allow safe operation of the machinery while tracking the operator's movement. A transmitter attached to the operator's hand allows monitoring of the operator and prevents unsafe actuation of the machinery. The alarm system can also be programmed to prevent operation by unauthorized personnel and includes a trio of X, Y and Z spatially positioned receivers which are connected to a programmed system controller to activate alarms or to terminate power to the machinery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring sheet separation of a single sheet workpiece from a stack of workpiece sheets which consists of a lifting assembly having at least three spaced sets of sheet workpiece holding suction members with at least a poriton of one set being reciprocatable in a vertical movement to cause flexure of a sheet being raised by the lifting device to cause separation of an underlying sheet which may have adhered to the sheet being lifted.

Abstract: A punch and ram assembly for a punch press which clamps a workpiece prior to punching with the same mechanism used to strip the workpiece from the punch as the punch is retracted. The elements of the clamping and stripping mechanism are carried and actuated by the ram and its motion. The invention allows for adjusting the clamping and stripping force.