Abstract: Mechanical amplifying means for valves and other devices which may be used to replace heretofore employed hydraulic jacks capable of transforming a small force traveling a great distance into a large force being motivated over a small distance, and where such amplifying ratios exceed 30 to 1; the mechanical amplifying means consisting of two upper ball bearings wedged tangentially apart by a profiled pushrod which in turn causes a co-sinusoidal, small-distance displacement of a lower pair of ball bearings.

Abstract: A press having a pre-stressed frame, to reduce the energy required in each pressing cycle, and in which oppositely acting wedges provide the clamping force. The mold or other structure to be pressed is assembled outside the press and then is slid on guide rails into the press with very small clearances. The press can also be used for molds or dies fixed to stationary or movable platens.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for flattening a sealed pouch containing a solid flowable product, the pouch is inclined upwardly with the end thereof having a disproportionately larger amount of product located uppermost. A bucket device supports the pouch and opposes a plate, resiliently exerting a pressure against the pouch, creating an air pocket at the lower most end of the pouch, after which the product flows downwardly to that end. A car assembly movable along a conveyor has a lower part mounted on the conveyor and an upper part pivotally connected to the lower part which is raised by a cam, and which includes the bucket device.

Abstract: A press and press method wherein an article is shaped by displacing a tool thereagainst in a plurality of time-spaced main strokes separated by intervals in which the energy for the main strokes is stored in a force-storing element such as a rod under tension and during these intervals, the tool continues to be advanced against the article by an auxiliary motor. The apparatus utilizes a lever pivotally connected to a support, to the force-storing element and to the tool. The main drive motor acts on this lever.

Abstract: A power press in which low inertia motors with speed control circuitry are connected to a cam which acts upon a lever or cam follower which, in turn, cooperates with a force-storing element which has a spring action and is coupled, e.g. by the same lever, to the tool of the press. Accordingly, in the rotation of the cam, the force-storing means stores potential energy which is transformed into kinetic energy of the ram in another region of the cam at which part of the energy can be delivered to the low inertia motors. Hence the speed control of the motor will, in part, regulate the rate at which the stored force is delivered to the workpiece.

Abstract: A food packing machine employing a piston for compressing and preparing a cake of food for canning. The piston rides reciprocally in a carrier which is cam driven toward and away from a cake-forming cavity, wherein the piston acts against food particles. Operation of the carrier and piston, as the latter moves initially into the cavity's entrance, is characterized by nonyieldable biasing, or driving, of the piston into the cavity. Immediately thereafter, a spring which is interposed between the carrier and piston promotes continued, but now yieldable, drive of the piston into the cavity.

Abstract: A wedge press is provided with a press frame; a reciprocatingly displaceable ram; a reciprocatingly displaceable wedge for acting on the ram; and means for effecting displacement of the wedge to cause the wedge to act upon the ram and thereby to effect displacement of the ram, with the wedge and the press frame having a pair of mutually engaging contact surfaces and the wedge and the ram having a pair of mutually engaging contact surfaces, and at least one said pair of mutually engaging contact surfaces having a special configuration to provide improved guiding of the wedge.

Abstract: A wedge actuated cutting and/or forming tool comprises a frame including spaced guide portions. A fixed platen is mounted on the frame and a movable platen is mounted on the guide portions of the frame for reciprocation toward and away from the fixed platen. A wedge is supported for lateral reciprocation with respect to a backup and thereby effects reciprocation of the movable platen. The wedge is driven by a hydraulic cylinder and switch means are provided for regulating both the separation between the movable platen and the fixed platen at the closest point and the total stroke of the movable platen. The frame further includes a hydraulic reservoir which receives a substantial quantity of hydraulic fluid. By this means the structure of the reservoir and the hydraulic fluid therein tend to stabalize the tool and dampen vibrations caused by the operation thereof.

Abstract: A wedge actuated cutting and/or forming tool comprises a frame including spaced guide portions. A fixed platen is mounted on the frame and a movable platen is mounted on the guide portions of the frame for reciprocation toward and away from the fixed platen. A wedge is supported for lateral reciprocation with respect to a backup and thereby effects reciprocation of the movable platen. The wedge is driven by a hydraulic cylinder and switch means are provided for regulating both the separation between the movable platen and the fixed platen at the closest point and the total stroke of the movable platen. The frame further includes a hydraulic reservoir which receives a substantial quantity of hydraulic fluid. By this means the structure of the reservoir and the hydraulic fluid therein tend to stabilize the tool and dampen vibrations caused by the operation thereof.

Abstract: A wrapping machine having a lifting table for presenting articles to the folding channel. Pressure plates are mechanically coupled to the vertical motion of the lifting table. As the table is elevated, cam surfaces on the machine act to bring the plates toward one another in order to compress articles which were previously deposited on the table.