Abstract: Apparatus for handling a bandolier comprising detachment means for detaching an end block-embracing portion of the bandolier and feed means for intermittently feeding the bandolier to the detachment means so that each successive operation of the detachment means detaches a single end block-embracing portion from the remainder of the bandolier. These blocks are fed to a transplanter machine on which the bandolier handling assembly is mounted.

Abstract: In a manufacturing operation, a stretched diaphragm is used to support a quantity of small parts which are individually secured to the diaphragm in predetermined spaced relation. An individual part is elevated relative to the remainder of the array, for purpose of inspection or test, by displacing and even further stretching the associated portion of the diaphragm; then it is permitted to return to its original place in the array. When the parts are to be incorporated into manufactured assemblies each selected part is again elevated by displacing and stretching the associated portion of the diaphragm. The method is applied to the manufacture of microminiature electric circuits in which a flat wafer is first formed, and the wafer is then cut into a number of chips which must be individually tested and then they are incorporated into circuit assemblies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous cold cutting or slitting of a flat material wherein the flat material is subjected to a first step of partial-shearing or penetration in a zigzag state to a controlled depth of penetration, and subsequently to a second step of flattening, thus forcing the penetration formed in the material back to substantially the original thickness of the material, thereby to perform complete severing or slitting the material having no burrs formed during the operation. The first working action is obtained from feeding of the flat material into the controlled spacing of opposing pairs of cutter discs so that there occurs partially shearing or penetration in the flat material under an optimally predetermined interfering action by the opposing pairs of cutter discs into the material when it engages therewith.

Abstract: A method and tool are disclosed for use in cleaving fiber optic elements preparatory to a splice for joining of two such fiber optic elements. The method comprises the steps of first moving a grooving tool about the entire circumference of a fiber optic element to form a circumferential groove therein, and then stressing the fiber optic element in the vicinity of the groove to provide a clean, mirror type end surface of the element which is suitable for subsequent splicing thereof with another suitably prepared element. The tool which is useful in cleaving a fiber optic element comprises support means having a longitudinal axis for supporting the fiber optic element therealong, grooving means for forming a groove in the surface of the fiber optic element, and mounting means for mounting the grooving means to revolve about the longitudinal axis of the support means to circumferentially groove a fiber optic element about its entire circumference.

Abstract: Polycrystalline alumina tubing is scribed by means of laser pulses which are reiteratively focused on the same spots at spaced time intervals. By drilling small holes, the laser need be on for a very short period of time only, and only the surface layers are vaporized, thereby minimizing heat shock. The holes are deepened by repeating the series of pulses and directing them sequentially into the same holes. For tubing, an encoder is used which senses the angular position of the tubing as it is rotated and causes the laser to deliver pulses at the same angles at every revolution. When the holes have been sufficiently deepened, the tubing is snapped and breaks clean in the plane of the holes.

Abstract: A two-piece tool for circumferentially scoring an optical fiber (11). Retaining member (21) has a substantially flat end surface (26) beyond which a portion (13) of the optical fiber protrudes perpendicularly. The scoring ring holder (28) floatably mounts a scoring ring (30). When the retaining member is inserted into the scoring ring holder, the portion (13) of the optical fiber extends into the scoring ring. A preselected relative orbital motion between the retaining member and scoring ring holder causes the scoring ring to revolve about the optical fiber scoring a line about the fiber circumference.

Abstract: Electrical apparatus includes an outer enclosure, an electrode within the enclosure, and an insulating gas electrically insulating the electrode from the enclosure. A support plate is secured to the outer enclosure, and the support plate has an opening therein. A housing, containing valve means, is secured to the support plate adjacent the support plate opening. An end plate is secured to the end of the housing. The valve means in the housing are capable of being in two positions, a first position preventing the flow of gas past said valve means, and a second position wherein an opening which is through the valve means is aligned with the support plate opening.An opening is formed through the enclosure in the wall portion thereof which is in alignment with the support plate opening. The opening through the enclosure is formed without generating contamination particles within the enclosure and in a manner which minimizes escape of gas from the enclosure.

Abstract: A glass scoring head has pressure rollers which engage the glass on either side of the scoring wheel to compensate for variations of flatness in the glass, and the scoring wheel is pendulously supported so that it can score in one and an opposite direction without moving the head on the associated bridge structure. The means for so supporting the scoring wheel also includes novel means for rotating the pendulum support itself to permit scoring in mutually perpendicular directions, both of which directions are also reversible as a result of the pendulous mount.

Abstract: A glass scoring head which compensates for variation in the flatness of the glass to provide a score of uniform depth as it traverses the glass has an outer body adapted to be mounted in four possible positions to a bridge or the like to score glass in four different directions. This support body defines an air cylinder with an elongated annular piston means movably mounted therein. A pair of pressure rollers are journalled on the lower end of the piston means to bear on the glass with a force proportional to the air pressure in this cylinder. An elongated support tube is slidably mounted inside the annular piston means, and a second air cylinder urges the tube downwardly to supplement a spring acting between the second air cylinder piston and the tube.

Abstract: Drilling through a wall of a molten material containing vessel, such as a glass melting tank, for the purpose of inserting an electrode or the like, is facilitated by employing a drill rig in which the drill bit is carried on the end of the electrode, which in turn is mounted on reciprocating means. The reciprocating means preferably includes a fast-travel mechanism and a high-powered hydraulic cylinder acting in tandem.

Abstract: A dispenser for flexible sheet material having a reserve roll that automatically moves into the dispensing position when the dispensing roll is almost exhausted. The sides of the reserve roll guide tracks are angled inwardly to engage the reserve roll spool at an off center point, so the spool is pushed downwardly into contact with a driving roller during rotation. The leading edge of the reserve roll towel engages the remaining portion of the almost exhausted dispensing roll and is moved therewith to be threaded through the dispensing mechanism. The perforating mechanism is assisted through the perforating stroke by a spring mechanism. The sensing roll is halted by a roll stop mechanism including a pivoted stop link and an anti-reverse pawl.

Abstract: The specification discloses a system and process for producing discrete chilled products having preselected weights from a semi-fluid mixture. The semi-fluid mixture is pumped along a distribution path to an extruding manifold which extrudes a plurality of parallel continuous lengths of the mixture. The continuous lengths are directed through a chilling station in a parallel relationship in order to chill and firm the lengths such that the lengths maintain their extruded cross-sectional configuration. A cutter periodically severs the continuous lengths at predetermined intervals to provide a plurality of discrete products having predetermined weights. The pumping rate, rate of travel through the freezer and periodic severing of the continuous lengths may be selectively varied in order to maintain any desired weight of the discrete products.

Abstract: A glass cutter having a cutting wheel rotatably mounted at one end thereof. A cutting fluid reservoir is situated within the tool housing at the end remote from the cutting wheel. The cutting wheel is mounted on a support member which is spring biased to provide a constant cutting pressure. A part of the wheel supporting member cooperates with the interior of the housing to form a valve which allows cutting fluid to flow through the wheel when the wheel is displaced against the action of the spring toward the housing during a cutting operation. A wheel cover pivotably mounted to the housing adjacent the cutting wheel has a closed position in which it protects the cutting wheel, and an open position in which the cover acts as a cutting guide.

Abstract: A ticket dispenser automatically advances a continuous web of lottery tickets, one ticket length, halts the advance, and severs the end most ticket to drop into a delivery chute upon actuation. The dispenser is capable of handling ticket webs which are difficult to tear or have poor perforations, by pre-breaking the web along its transverse lines of perforation, in opposite angular directions by means of a set of three cylindrical rolls, and by moving a breaker bar upwardly into a slot between an inclined bed plate and a horizontal bed plate to slice each successive, prebroken perforated line. The printed indicia can thus be on the upper surface of the web and the tickets delivered face-up.

Abstract: A labeling machine has a plurality of successive stations whereby a rotating pickup member on a revolving carrier picks up a label at one station, carries the label to a glue applicator station and transfers it to a gripping cylinder at another station. The invention provides a drum at the label supply station which rotates with the carrier and contacts the pickup member. A strip of labels passes about the drum into the nip between drum and pickup member and means, such as a steep helical thread and follower, are provided to speed up the pickup member so as to tear off the foremost label from the rest of the strip. Knives can be positioned inside the drum and cams and/or stops provided to project the knives out through slits in the drum so as to pre-score or perforate the label strip to facilitate tearing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for cutting elongated tubular material into short individual sections. The apparatus comprises a plurality of circular knives fixedly mounted in spaced relationship to each other along the axis of a non-rotating shaft. Rotatable spacing discs having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the knives are mounted one on each end of the knife-carrying shaft and are adapted to engage the bare end portions of a rotatable mandrel having a tube to be cut thereon when the knives are moved into cutting engagement with the tube. The rotatable spacing discs riding on the rotatable tube-carrying mandrel prevent the knives from cutting completely through the tube wall and make possible the retention of very thin, frangible, residual tube wall sections of precise constant thickness at the locations of the cuts. This allows the tube to be removed from the mandrel in one piece and then broken later, if desired, into individual short sections by hand or machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for laying down a strip of flexible tape from a roll supply including an elongated dispensing portion adapted to dispense the tape from a distal end thereof so as to lay down the tape on a subjacent surface by a rearward movement of the apparatus with the dispensed portion of the tape being held to the surface.

Abstract: A device for feeding wrapping material of flaccid type for use in a wrapping machine. Initially an elongate strip of the flaccid material is moved forward, and is only partly transversely cut to define sheets which can thereafter be torn from the strip. The sheets are left under control, as to their exact positions, until they are taken by the wrapping mechanism, along with the product to be wrapped. For this purpose the partly cut strip of flaccid wrapping material is guided and moved forward by rolls and guides which impress longitudinal strengthening ribs in the material. The strip is then engaged by sheet tearing and flattening rolls which have aligned, cylindrical surface portions rotating at a speed greater than that of the moving strip itself to detach successive sheets from the partly cut strip and to control each detached sheet as to its position until it is engaged with the product to be wrapped in it.

Abstract: An apparatus for severing a flexible reinforced elastomeric conduit supported on a plurality of elongated rigid mandrels is provided so that each mandrel has a length of conduit therearound which is approximately equal to the length of the mandrel.

Abstract: A method for breaking a steel rod into billets for forging, rolling, etc., by cutting a circumferential notch in the surface of the steel rod, locally heating the surface areas of the rod adjacent the notch so that the temperature at the notch bottom is less than a transformation temperature of the steel of the rod, quenching the rod thereby to develop a crack extending from the notch bottom toward the center of the rod, and applying a mechanical load to break the rod along its notched portion.

Abstract: Glass ampules are individual hermetically sealed units containing liquid medication. Some United States manufactured ampules and a large proportion of foreign ampules are available as unscored. In order to open and withdraw the contents of such ampules they have to be scored. This is generally done with a small steel file.The proposed invention consists of a guillotine type device wherein a small steel file is held in a slit arrangement in the lower and upper portion of the guillotine on which the ampule neck is rotated thereby scoring the ampule neck which is subsequently snapped off. The lower and upper parts of the guillotine have two (2) guide posts which permit the top portion thereof to move up and down to accomodate and score all size ampules from 1cc to 50cc inclusive.

Abstract: A mechanism for perforating a web of flexible sheet material which is adapted to be used in a flexible sheet material dispenser, said mechanism comprising; a rotatably mounted roller, a rotatably mounted knife positioned adjacent the roller and having a radially outward portion defining a cutting edge for perforating the web as the web passes between the roller and the knife, the roller being operatively connected to the knife for synchronous rotation therewith and having a slot therein for receiving the radially outward knife portion as the knife rotates past the roller, and means associated with the knife for orienting the cutting edge substantially in the direction in which the radially outward knife portion moves with respect to the web during the entrance of the portion into the slot so that when the portion enters the slot the cutting edge will effectively perforate the web.