Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for adjoining the two ends of a length of impact printer ribbon to form a continuous loop of ribbon within a ribbon cartridge. A welding fixture includes a plate, alignment guide bars defining crisscrossed alignment paths for the ribbon ends, clamps for securing the ribbon ends within the alignment paths, and a cutter mechanism for precisely cutting the ribbon. The fixture further includes mechanical means for manipulating the ribbon during the welding process. The apparatus and method of the present invention enables the ribbon welding process to be streamlined and the precision to be greatly improved.

Abstract: A fixture for the adjustable mounting of board-like furniture parts on the work table of a drilling machine. Underneath the drilling head of the machine, backstop rails which project slightly above the supporting surface of the work table are disposed in alignment with one another and longitudinally displaceably at equal distances on opposite sides of a longitudinal central plane. The ends of a threaded spindle are threaded into the ends of the backstop rails adjacent the drilling head, the threaded spindle being provided on each half with contrary threads of equal pitch. The threaded spindle is mounted rotatably but in a longitudinally undisplaceable manner on the work table. Cursors are longitudinally displaceable on the upper sides of the backstop rails and can be fixed at given uniform distances on the associated backstop rail, and each bears a stop which is biased to a position projecting toward the surface of the work table, and which can be retracted into the cursor against the bias.

Abstract: An edging optimizer apparatus is described including scanner means for scanning lumber with light beams to determine a reference axis which may be the optimum yield axis for cutting boards therefrom and improved clamp means for clamping the lumber after scanning, skewing the lumber in response to the output of the scanner means until its reference axis is parallel with the cutting axis of the edger, and transferring the clamped and skewed lumber to an aligned position where its reference axis is in alignment with such cutting axis. The lumber is discharged from the clamp means at the aligned position and is fed to the edger cutting means longitudinally along the cutting axis to cut the opposite side edges of the lumber and produce boards of the proper size for optimum yield in volume or selling price.

Abstract: A workpiece holding vise (10) uses a pair of jaw assemblies (12, 14) simultaneously driven in opposed reciprocation by a single shaft (26) having oppositely threaded sections to automatically center a workpiece (60) beneath a tool. Both jaw assemblies (12, 14) are suspended above the vise bed (20) by a pair of parallel guide shafts (56, 58) attached to the vise bed. Linear rolling bearings (54) fitted around the guide shafts and firmly held by opposite ends of the jaw assemblies (12, 14) provide rolling friction between the guide shafts (56, 58) and the jaw assemblies (12, 14). A bellville washer (46) at one end of the drive shaft (26) and thrust bearings at both drive shaft ends hold the shaft in compression between the vise bed (20), thereby preventing wobble of the jaw assemblies due to wear between the shaft and vise bed.

Abstract: A satellite retrieval system (10) wherein first and second pairs of coacting parallel bars (40), and (94) are separately mounted in spaced parallel planes on the front of a spacecraft (14). The bars of one pair are at right angles to bars of the other pair, and together the two pairs of bars effect a variable aperture adapted to close around a rod (26) extending from a second spacecraft (22) to thereby effect the capture of the latter.

Abstract: A clamping device has a first and a second clamp for holding several workpieces together in a predetermined configuration and guides for allowing fasteners to be accurately positioned for holding the workpieces together once the clamping device is removed from the workpieces. The clamping device includes a body and the first clamp includes first and second arms and a device which selectively and positionably mounting the arms relative to the body and the second clamp includes a member and a device for mounting the member relative to the body and for selectively positioning the member relative to the first and second arms. Further the guides means includes first and second guides secured to the first and second arms.

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 pressure assembly comprises a base plate, a ram and a wedge located between the base plate and the ram, the wedge having an inclined face facing the base plate or ram, the facing surface of the base plate or ram being inclined at the same angle and a screw adapted to move the wedge at right angles to the separation of the ram and base plate to alter the separation of the ram and base plate. Preferably a pair of wedges are provided, and preferably their inclined faces are oppositely-inclined. The pressure assembly may be used in conjunction with a support member adapted to be secured to a firm foundation, for example by bolts passing through bores. The assembly can be used to clamp a workpiece between the ram and a fixed member by engagement of the base plate with the fixed member and by increasing the separation of the ram from the base plate by rotating the screw.

Abstract: A 4-jaw work holding chuck the jaws of which are adjustable in oppositely disposed pairs, each pair of jaws being adjustable towards or away from each other simultaneously by a respective one of a pair of adjusting screws.

Abstract: An engine mount wherein the engine carries two oppositely-moving jaws adad to clamp against opposite side surfaces of a hold-down element carried by the vehicle. The jaws are actuated for opening or closing movements by means of a single screw extending through both jaws. The screw threads engaged with one jaw are right-handed, and the screw threads engaged with the other jaw are left-handed, for producing the desired jaw motions. The jaws and actuator screw are freely adjustable as a unit whereby the jaws apply equal pressures on the hold-down element.

Abstract: A multi-face clamp for wood working which comprises a clamping unit including a plurality of corner pieces. Each of the corner pieces defines at least two pressure faces which are adapted to engage complementary faces of a work piece. Two threaded bolts extend from and are operatively connected with the corner pieces. One of the threaded bolts has threads formed in an opposite direction from those of the other of the threaded bolts. A turn-buckle is disposed between each pair of adjacent corner pieces and receives in its inner threads the respective free end portions of the threaded bolts, so that upon turning of the turn-buckle the pressure faces of the corner piece exert pressure upon the complementary faces of the work piece.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and positioning of a work-piece during welding. A base plate has a transverse drive means and slidably carries a secondary plate. The secondary plate has drive elements engaged by the transverse drive means and carries a vertically and horizontally adjustable mechanism which provides means for engaging a work-piece during welding.