Abstract: Described is a novel "bevel tool" and associated technique for holding prescribed magnetic head workpieces and placing them in prescribed constant angular relation with a rotary lapping means; this tool preferably including a workpiece-receiving pocket adapted to be spread apart and to resiliently grip the work, with one or more guide-faces surrounding this pocket and adapted to indicate a prescribed orientation of the work against a prescribed "lapping plane".

Abstract: A releasable tool holder (75) for quickly interchanging tools usable by a conventional robot (50) having one or more articulatable arms (60, 65, 70). The tool holder (75) is mounted to an arm (70) of the robot (50) and is provided with a plurality of variable fulcrum clamping levers (110) capable of engaging a surface (215) of a ring (205) mounting a preselected tool. A fluid motor (95) is connected to a translatable center link (105) that is pivotably attached to the variable fulcrum clamping levers (110) whereby when the motor (95) causes the link (105) to translate, the variable fulcrum clamping levers (110) engage the surface (215) of the tool mounting ring (205). A novel tool mounting ring (205) and a releasable fluid coupling (125) are also provided.

Abstract: A machine for working workpieces with a round outer contour by cutting has a coordinate table arranged to displace a workpiece in x-direction and y-direction and having a clamping guide extending in x-direction, a cutting device acting substantially in z-direction, and moving in a predetermined movement region, and clamping arrangement arranged to releasably hold the workpiece on the coordinate table and including a central clamping device arranged on the clamping guide, aligned with the axis of symmetry extending through the center axis of the workpiece, and having clamping elements mounted displaceable in the direction of the axis of symmetry, also including two lateral clamping devices displaceably arranged on the clamping guide, located at opposite sides of the central clamping device, and each having clamping elements which are mounted pivotally about at least one pivot axis extending substantially normal to the workpiece plane and parallel to the z-axis so that the clamping elements can move from a rele

Abstract: A clamping assembly is operated by a piston and cylinder assembly rotatably mounted on a support. A mounting bracket rotatably mounted on the support is provided with a pair of pivotally mounted plates each having a clamping arm and a cam track. The mounting bracket includes an annular shoulder engaging the support; a flange draws the shoulder against the support, thereby selectively locking the bracket and the piston and cylinder against rotation in any of a plurality of rotational positions. A drive rod connected to the piston extends through the support and into an elongate slot in the bracket. A pair of rollers secured to the outer end of the rod are disposed in the cam slots and drive the plates to pivot. The cam slots are specially configured to lock the clamp in a locking position in the event that fluid pressure is lost in the piston.

Abstract: The jig of this invention holds a radial array of separate materials together so that they can be glued, welded, or otherwise secured together. The jig is then removed. A plurality of fingers are pivoted to a common support, and elastic means are used to urge the fingers together to tightly grip the radial array of materials to be held. The finger surfaces are angular to correspond to the angle of the materials to be held and for a cross shaped array of materials, the finger surfaces are at 90.degree. to each other. The fingers have shanks that project beyond the hinge or pivot point and these projecting shanks may be used to open up the fingers by manually grasping the projecting shanks and thereby overcoming the elastic means which normally urges the fingers together.

Abstract: An engineers' or carpenters' vise comprises a tubular outer member (12) having a plurality of apertures (13) aligned along one side of the member. A jaw is fixed to one end of the member. A second tubular inner member (18) is telescoped within the first member and has a plurality of apertures 19 which cooperate with the apertures (13) in the outer member. A movable vise jaw 20 is attached to the end of the inner member. A tapered lever 24 is provided for insertion into apertures which are not in line, so as to forcibly pry or move the inner member (18) in either one of two alternative directions. A tapered locking pin 22 is provided to securely lock the inner member (18) to the outer member (12), so as to prevent any return movement. The pin is inserted into apertures which are not in line. The inner member (18) can be removed from the outer member (12) and re-inserted into the opposite end of the outer member, so as to arrange the vise to have an even greater jaw opening.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for automatically positioning a piece on a worktable. A worktable (4) supports a reference system (3) constituted by three rollers (G1, G2, G3). The piece such as a substrate (2) is placed on the table (4) in the neighborhood of the rollers. A first pivoting arm (21) comes into contact with a side (C3) of the substrate (2) to bring the opposed side (C1) in contact with the rollers (G1, G2). A second pivoting arm (20) comes into contact with the side (C4) of the substrate (2) to bring the opposed side (C2) in contact with the roller (G3). The arms (20, 21) are controlled by a single means such as a jack (22) of which the body (23) and the rod (24) are floatingly mounted and are respectively associated with the two arms (20, 21). The invention is primarily useful for positioning of a support for integrated circuits in a serigraphic machine.

Abstract: Fixturing for repair of automobile radiators is disclosed, usable for recoring of either brass or plastic tank radiators, including clamping gates providing parallel rails adjustably spaced to receive the radiator header with an air cylinder exerting clamping pressure on the tank top. The radiator sits atop the rails of a first set of clamping gates when resoldering conventional tanks and is recessed between the rails of a second set of clamping gates which are alternatively installed for decrimping and crimping of the header tabs of plastic tank radiators. Decrimping and crimping hand tools of special configuration are also disclosed, cooperating with the rails during use.

Abstract: A fly tying device including relatively heavy resilient steel bars which are provided with a supportive means and also concave edges which face each other to space the bars for a major portion of the length thereof together with a cam to temporarily spread the free ends of the bars apart to accept the hook.

Abstract: For mechanism for releasably locking or braking an elongate element and associated structure comprises mechanism including a member adapted to be mounted on the associated structure and providing clutching surface means engageable with one side of the elongate element. A locking lever has one end pivotally mounted on the member and has intermediate its ends a gripping clamping clutch area thrustable into locking, gripping, clamping engagement toward the clutching surface means for thereby locking the element and the associated structure against relative movement. For rocking the lever in its locking mode a force multiplication device comprises a roller driven as by means of an actuator plunger into force multiplying engagement between a fixed shoulder and a roller on a free end portion of the lever.

Abstract: A plurality of serially-disposed and pivotally-connected elements comprise the object-spacing tool of the present invention. The tool can be compactly folded to a size approximately the length of one element or expanded to a length approximately the total length of all the elements. Each element has two members projecting therefrom; typically, each projecting member is at or near an end of the element. Each projecting member is constructed to cooperate with a projecting member from an adjacent element for clamping an object therebetween. These cooperating pairs of projecting elements are spaced a fixed distance from each other, thereby spacing the objects clamped therebetween a predetermined distance from each other.

Abstract: A clamping device is provided having a pair of outwardly curved arms with pivotally mounted clamping jaws at one end thereof. A rotatable leverage screw threadedly engages pivot members which are pivotally mounted at the other end of the arms. A rotatable fulcrum screw threadedly engages pivot members which are pivotally mounted on the arms intermediate the ends thereof, so that rotation of the fulcrum screw causes the arms to rotate about the pivot members associated with the leverage screw to open and close the jaws at a suitably high speed and rotation of the leverage screw causes the arms to rotate about the pivot members associated with the fulcrum screw to open and close the jaws with the force required to obtain a good clamping action.

Abstract: A self-alignable holder holds a row of coupling elements mounted on a slide fastener stringer tape in alignment with a slot cutter regardless of the size of the coupling elements. The holder includes a base having a slot receptive of the stringer tape, a pair of parallel holding plates movably disposed on the base for laterally sandwiching the row of coupling elements therebetween, a pair of parallel-motion links pivotally connecting the holding plates together, and a pair of supports mounted on the base and pivotally supporting the links so that the gripping edges of the holding plates are equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the slot. Spring means in the base urge the holding plates laterally toward each other for holding the row of coupling elements in longitudinal alignment with the slot axis resiliently with equalized lateral forces.

Abstract: A guide body having angularly related support surfaces applied to substantially parallel surfaces of a workpiece, supports a pair of pressure distributing jaw elements connected by pin and slot connectors to a handle operated actuating linkage. A plurality of work engaging pins projecting from the pressure pads associated with the jaw elements resist slidable displacement thereof along the work surface as normal clamping pressure is exerted through the pads. The pads are angularly adjusted to the work surfaces to relieve high concentrations of clamping pressure.

Abstract: Control apparatus for controlling or adjusting the position of a control member is disclosed. The control apparatus includes first and second members, pivotally connected together to pivot about a point. A control member is mounted on the first member and is disposed at a first distance from the pivot point. Coarse control means operatively associated with the control member are provided for coarsely adjusting the position of the control member relative to the second member. Further, fine control means are provided for finely adjusting the position of the control member relative to the second member. The fine control means acts at an action point on one of the first and second members to pivot the first and second members relative to each other about the pivot point.

Abstract: An adjustable clamping frame for clamping the peripheral edges of a sheet of plastic material during the plasticizing and vacuum forming thereof, such frame including a first pair of parallel side elements having clamping elements mounted thereon and being selectively adjustable toward and away from one another to vary the spacing therebetween, and a second pair of side elements selectively mountable in any of a plurality of facing slots spaced along the length of the first pair of side elements.

Abstract: Device for supporting a crystalline rod during crucible-free zone melting ich comprises a zone-drawing apparatus, a rotating shaft in said apparatus, means for fastening the shaft in the apparatus, a screw bolt mounted for rotation with the shaft, the top end of the screw bolt having a bore for receiving a seed crystal, two or more swivel arms mounted adjacent to the bore and capable of being opened and closed, a ring coaxially surrounding the bolt and means for vertically moving the ring.

Abstract: In an apparatus for crucible-free zone melting, a device for supporting a lower end of the crystalline rod of semiconductor which has a junction with a seed crystal characterized by the support device being formed by a plurality of sections or parts which are moveable relative to each other from a first position spaced or retracted from the seed crystal and the lower end of the rod to enable melting the rod adjacent to the junction and a second position forming a container surrounding the seed crystal and the lower end of the rod for receiving a supporting or stabilizing medium which dampens or prevents vibrations from being applied to the lower end of the rod and the junction. The sections are held in the second position by a holding means which may either be electromagnetic or mechanical.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator for handling pipe with enlarged ends by gripping the end of the pipe with the enlargement between two hinged arm pieces. In the specific embodiment shown, one arm piece fits into the end of the pipe with enlarged end in the form of a collar, and cooperates with a C-shaped receptacle which is fixed to the end of the other arm piece, and which fits around the pipe and catches the pipe collar to prevent the pipe from separating from the first arm inserted into the pipe end. A spring-actuated lock prevents the arms from opening and releasing the pipe.

Abstract: A positioning clamp for holding a workpiece properly oriented with respect to a work station adjacent the clamp. The clamp disclosed releasably holds saw chain during an operation such as grinding of a cutter in the chain. The clamp is releasable to permit the saw chain to be advanced in steps along a channel defined between jaw margins in the clamp. These jaw margins include portions which face each other, and that come against opposite sides of the saw chain when clamping it, which are shaped to complement the shape of the rivet ends usually provided in saw chain to hold it together. One jaw member is mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the other to effect clamping and release positioning through a ball pivot. The jaw members are biased toward each other to exert a clamping pressure, and selectively operable means is provided for swinging the jaw members away from each other to produce release.