Abstract: An apparatus for creating perforations in wrapping film uses a component that contains a plurality of needle points (or other piercing features) formed along a free-wheeling support bar. The bar is positioned to contact the wrapping film while it is being unrolled and is in a ‘tensioned’ state (in some embodiments, immediately prior to contacting the element to be wrapped). The free-wheeling perforation apparatus contacts a mechanized (driven) film roller such that the exposed needle points rotate against the driven roller and make the perforations in the film as it travels over the film roller. As long as the film roller is formed of a pliable material, the needles will pierce the film and create the desired perforations. The size and placement of needles can be adjusted to provide the required pattern of perforations, as well as dictate the size of the actual perforations.

Abstract: A method of creating perforations in wrapping film uses an apparatus that contains a plurality of needle points (or other piercing features) formed along a free-wheeling support bar. The bar is positioned to contact the film while it is being unrolled and is in a ‘tensioned ’ state (in some embodiments, immediately prior to contacting the element to be wrapped). In performing the method, the free-wheeling perforation apparatus contacts a mechanized film roller such that the exposed needle points rotate against the mechanized roller and make the perforations in the film as it travels over the film roller. As long as the film roller is formed of a pliable material, the needles will pierce the film and create the desired perforations. The size and placement of needles can be adjusted to provide the required pattern of perforations, as well as dictate the size of the actual perforations.

Abstract: A method of creating perforations in wrapping film uses an apparatus that contains a plurality of needle points (or other piercing features) formed along a free-wheeling support bar. The bar is positioned to contact the film while it is being unrolled and is in a ‘tensioned’ state (in some embodiments, immediately prior to contacting the element to be wrapped). In performing the method, the free-wheeling perforation apparatus contacts a mechanized film roller such that the exposed needle points rotate against the mechanized roller and make the perforations in the film as it travels over the film roller. As long as the film roller is formed of a pliable material, the needles will pierce the film and create the desired perforations. The size and placement of needles can be adjusted to provide the required pattern of perforations, as well as dictate the size of the actual perforations.

Abstract: A rotating perforation apparatus contains a plurality of needle points (or other piercing features) formed along a free-wheeling support bar, where the bar is positioned to contact the film while it is being unrolled and is in a ‘tensioned’ state (in some embodiments, immediately prior to contacting the element to be wrapped). In particular, the free-wheeling perforation apparatus contacts a mechanized film roller such that the exposed needle points will rotate against the mechanized roller and make the perforations in the film as it travels over the film roller. As long as the film roller is formed of a pliable material, the needles will pierce the film and create the desired perforations. The size and placement of needles can be adjusted to provide the required pattern of perforations, as well as dictate the size of the actual perforations.

Abstract: A rotating perforation apparatus contains a plurality of needle points (or other piercing features) formed along a free-wheeling support bar, where the bar is positioned to contact the film while it is being unrolled and is in a ‘tensioned’ state (in some embodiments, immediately prior to contacting the element to be wrapped). In particular, the free-wheeling perforation apparatus contacts a mechanized film roller such that the exposed needle points will rotate against the mechanized roller and make the perforations in the film as it travels over the film roller. As long as the film roller is formed of a pliable material, the needles will pierce the film and create the desired perforations. The size and placement of needles can be adjusted to provide the required pattern of perforations, as well as dictate the size of the actual perforations.

Abstract: A protective cover for a saw blade is formed of a plurality of interlocking members, linked together to form a chain of a length sufficient to completely surround a given blade, where the sharp edge of the blade is then encases within the interior region of the linked members. A specially-designed “master link” is used to join the two ends of the chain together and “lock” the cover in place around the blade edge. Links may be added to, or removed from, a chain to properly size the cover with respect to the blade. The links are preferably formed of a hard plastic material and are injection molded.

Abstract: A semi-automated packaging apparatus allows for an operator to fill a presented container without contaminating the container rim. The presentation of an empty container and subsequent removal of a filled container are performed automatically under control of the operator. The apparatus comprises a plurality of separate, removable modules including: a de-nester module for separating the containers from a stack; a container-presenting module for moving the currently de-nested container into position to be filled by an operator and subsequently removing a filled container; a removable tray with a central opening to allow an operator to place foodstuffs in the presented container; and a user interface module, coupled to each of the other modules for allowing the selection of the proper container opening dimensions (associated with the proper tray selection) and depth dimension (associated with the proper movement of the container-presenting module), as well as to control the “pace” of the packaging operation.

Abstract: A rotating perforation apparatus contains a plurality of needle points (or other piercing features) formed along a free-wheeling support bar, where the bar is positioned to contact the film while it is being unrolled and is in a ‘tensioned’ state (in some embodiments, immediately prior to contacting the element to be wrapped). In particular, the free-wheeling perforation apparatus contacts a mechanized film roller such that the exposed needle points will rotate against the mechanized roller and make the perforations in the film as it travels over the film roller. As long as the film roller is formed of a pliable material, the needles will pierce the film and create the desired perforations. The size and placement of needles can be adjusted to provide the required pattern of perforations, as well as dictate the size of the actual perforations.

Abstract: A holder for a graphite electrodes of varying sizes is used in an electric discharge machine with a pair of jaws, one jaw being fixed and the other being movable relative to a support. A screw passes through threaded holes in both jaws. In a second, more preferred embodiment, the holder includes a pair of jaws mounted on a support, the jaws being threadedly engaged with a dual setscrew having threaded portions of mutually opposite orientations. A positioning setscrew anchors the dual setscrew, and prevents the dual setscrew from moving longitudinally. The electrode is centered because the jaws are maintained equally distant from the center of the support.