Abstract: An apparatus for producing various heat exchangers is disclosed in which a plurality of heat exchangers disposed side by side are formed at once. A series of manufacturing stations for working heat exchanger components such as fins and tubes and for opening the tubes are arranged in an endless manner to thereby automatically carry out the production steps with a high productivity while meeting various requirements of the specifications of the heat exchangers with a high flexibility.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a front guard panel having two inwardly projecting shafts on rearwardly facing end pieces into two corresponding holes of a half case. The farther hole is open. The guard panel is placed on table which moves linearly with respect to the half case and is inclined with respect to the front of the half case. The linear movement places the near shaft adjacent the near hole. Then the guard panel is rotated about an axis near the near hole so as to insert the near shaft into the near hole and to move the far shaft into the far hole.

Abstract: A drilling and mounting machine for furniture production suitable for the drilling of holes as well as for the insertion of dowels or hinge casings into drilled holes is operable by hand or by means of a lever, as well as by means of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. A fastening plate is screwable to a housing of the machine and a pneumatic or hydraulic piston-cylinder unit may be fastened to such fastening plate to actuate the feed of the machine.

Abstract: The old split-pin assemblies of the lower guide tube of a nuclear reactor are replaced by new split-pin assemblies in a robotic work station under a pool of water. The work station includes a plurality of robotic tools which are remotely actuable from a robotic command center outside of the pool to position the guide tube precisely for a replacement operation, to fragment the old split-pin assemblies and dispose of the fragments under water, and to install a new split-pin assembly. The lower-guide-tube positioning means has a hydraulic cylinder, also remotely actuable externally to the pool, for rotating the guide tube so that it may be oriented properly to be processed by different tools in succession and also so that both split-pin assemblies in each guide tube may be replaced by the same set of tools.

Abstract: A working/assembling system including a dosed loop endless track, moving units adapted to travel on the endless track, at least one robot supported on one of the moving units for a working or assembling operation, and a control unit mounted on the other moving unit connected to the one moving unit having stored therein operations to be performed by the robot and causing the robot to perform the operations. The robot moves on the moving units as the latter travel on the endless track, and performs the operations for working on workpieces or assembling parts as it is controlled by the control unit.

Abstract: Process for assembling bodies, particularly for vehicle production lines, of the type adapted to a plurality of models of vehicles and their variants, in which a perfect geometry of a body at a work station is assured by means of a machine module and a structure module; a complete work cycle incorporates a feeding of a body, a distribution and a presentation of geometry tools, an intervention of robots or operators, and an evacuation of the assembled body.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for filling spacer frames for insulating glass with hygroscopic granulated material wherein the conduit connecting a storage tank with the discharge opening for the granulated material exhibits a section having a relatively large cross section and a section having a relatively small cross section, which latter section is turned in the upward direction and the axis of which is offset in the upward direction with respect to the axis of the section having a relatively large cross section. This apparatus is utilized, for example, in a machine for filling spacer frames for insulating glass including two processing arrangements with which holes can be produced in legs of the spacer frame, granulated material can be introduced, and the holes can be resealed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic device for processing a product. The device provides an industrial robot with angular movements that drives at the end of its wrist (24) along a programmed rough path a working system (1), a guiding device (11) which provides the exact course desired for the working system (1), a damping system (25) placed between the wrist (24) of the robot and the working system (1), this damping system (25) compensating for the course deviations between the programmed course and the exact desired course. The device can be used for the marking of various products and particularly for the marking of paper reels.

Abstract: An assembly tray is injection molded with an open bottom to provide access to articles supported by the tray during manufacturing. Gear teeth are included on the bottom of the tray in the shape of a timing belt for indexing the tray during manufacturing. Stacking ledges are provided in the rim on top of the tray so that one tray can be stacked on top of another without sticking. A torsion box is provided on the sides of the tray to provide torsional stability. The assembly tray can be selected from a stack of other trays, used in automated manufacturing and stacked in another stack. The assembly tray is particularly suited for assemblying components of tape cassettes.

Abstract: Apparatus for making flexible plastic bags with integral pressure interlocking rib and groove elements on the confronting top edges, comprises an extruder for extruding a continuous tube with pairs of closely spaced interlocking elements on the surface of the tube, the total pairs being a multiple of 2 with at least 4 pairs on the tube, a slitter for slitting the tube lengthwise between profiles of alternate pairs, and a folder for folding the tube between each adjacent pair and for bringing the profile adjacent the slit over onto the closest profile of the pair which has not been slit.

Abstract: Apparatus has means operable generally between a pair of positions for receiving a magnet material element in one of the positions thereof, and the receiving means includes arcuate means for locating engagement with an arcuate surface of the magnet material element when it is received in the receiving means. Means is operable generally in response to the operation of the receiving means from the one position toward the other of the positions thereof for caging in engagement a pair of opposite marginal edges of the magnet material element thereby to adjustably move the magnet material element generally about the locating engagement between the arcuate surface of the magnet material element and the arcuate means of the receiving means so as to at least generally center the arcuate length of the magnet material element with respect to that of the arcuate means.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding a web of plastic film at predetermined locations and in a Z-shaped manner. The apparatus, by use of a mechanism for supplying the web material, has a pair of film feeding arms supplying the web material to the folded end portions in such a manner that the web material is pressed from front and rear surfaces different from each other, guided and supplied to the folded end portions, the web material is alternately guided around folded end holding members linearly movable at least from one side in the widthwise direction of the web material out of and into the respective folded end portions.

Abstract: A high performance machine for selecting electronic components from magazines containing a variety of configured components, each magazine having means indicative of the particular configured components contained in the magazine for providing signals for controlling the setting of component conditioning and inserting devices for operating on each component according to its particular configuration.

Abstract: A drilling and mounting machine for drilling fastening holes for furniture fittings and for inserting the furniture fittings includes a frame, a driving motor (7) for a drill, a feed device and an inserting unit for inserting the furniture fittings. The feed device includes an operating lever and thrust members. The thrust members are linked to a housing for the drilling gear, and the inserting unit is mounted at the point of linkage so that a feed force is transmitted directly onto the housing or onto the inserting unit.

Abstract: An integrated and automated multistation machine is provided for placement and attachment of electrically conductive interconnectors onto solar cells and the like. The machine comprises a rotatable turntable for supporting a plurality of solar cells in respective association with a corresponding plurality of operating stations and then for indexing the solar cells to the next operating stations in sequence. More particularly, the machine includes a cell loading station for transfer of a solar cell from a loading magazine and for precision placement onto one of a plurality of cell-supporting fixtures carried by the turntable. The turntable indexes the solar cells one at a time on the fixtures from the cell loading station first to a flux station whereat a liquid flux material is applied to predetermined points on the cell.

Abstract: A system for automatically inserting the leads of electrical components into circuit boards is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, an electrical component is acquired by the robot. The leads of the component have been trimmed and preformed such that they are substantially parallel with respect to each other with the leads differing in length. The robot positions the component at a fixed location relative to the axis of the robot and within the view of an optical sensor such as a TV camera. The sensor determines the location of each of the leads relative to a fixed location. A first rotary motion rotates the component about a selected axis of the robot through a predetermined angle and a second measurement is made. A second rotation positions the component 180.degree. from the original position and a third measurement is made.

Abstract: An elongated work support comprising a table is provided and includes three side-by-side work stations extending longitudinally thereof. A first work station extends centrally along the table and includes a rotary support at one end of the table from which cutting structure is supported for adjustable shifting generally radially of the axis of rotation of the rotary support. The cutting station further includes support structure for stationary mounting a drive shaft tube in position concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotary support and with one end portion of the tube positioned relative to the cutting structure for cutting of an end member from the tube. The other end of the table includes drive shaft end member and tube end engaging structure relatively shiftable lengthwise of the table whereby an end member may be separated from an associated tube end.

Abstract: A parts assembly method and a device which utilizes this method, in which the structure for receiving parts member for assembly is set in prescribed attitudes, and the parts are automatically assembled in that member by assembly from a fixed direction, so that an automatic device having simple movements can be mainly used. The structure member being assembled can be set in an optional direction in which conditions are more suitable for the assembly. There is no increase in cost, and the parts are reliably and automatically assembled into the receiving member.

Abstract: A method of mounting parts to both sides of a main body characterized by moving a carriage at a predetermined speed along a specified path of transport with the main body placed on the carriage; moving a pair of movable tables in synchronism with the carriage in the same direction as the movement thereof, the movable tables being disposed at opposite sides of the transport path and each carrying at least one robot and an assembling device; causing the movable tables to support the main body during the synchronized movement; setting a part held by the robot in a specified position on the main body; attaching the part to the main body by the assembling device; and thereafter delivering the main body from the movable tables onto the carriage. Since the carriage is moved during the assembly of parts, this method assures the assembly line of a high-speed operation.

Abstract: An apparatus including a set jig for setting and positioning a door into a door opening portion of a vehicle body which jig is movable to advance and retreat in the direction of the door opening portion and movable in the vehicle length and height directions from a predetermined original point position (corresponding to a normal set position of the door opening) and a position detecting mechanism for detecting deviation in position of the door opening from the normal set position and for adjusting the alignment of the set jig in accordance with the deviation to have it correspond with the actual position of the door opening portion prior to the set jig advancing to set the door.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting electronic elements comprises: a board positioning means having a pair of rails disposed on an X-Y table, the board positioning means being adapted to fix and position a board which is fed thereto along the rails; an element supply means having a plurality of element supply units each adapted to feed to its element supply position an electronic element to be inserted in the board, the element supply units being arranged such that their element supply positions are placed in one or a plurality of rows; a plurality of chucks each formed such as to correspond to the configuration and size of the associated electronic elements to be inserted; an inserting head having a holder mechanism and adapted to detachably support one of the chucks by the holder mechanism and to reciprocatively move between a chuck exchanging position and element supply and insertion positions; and a chuck exchanging means including a chuck unit in which the chucks are arranged on an index-movable plate and a chuck

Abstract: Air spring components and the completed air spring are carried by an air spring unloader, an end cap holder and a tubular member loader of a shuttle mechanism along a track member adjacent an air spring assembly apparatus. The shuttle mechanism is movable to three positions controlled by stop members so that the air spring can be transferred to the unloader, the end cap can be inserted in a recess of the assembly apparatus and the tubular member positioned for processing by the assembly apparatus. Simultaneously with some of these operations the air spring is transferred to a conveyor and the end cap is transferred from a loading support to the end cap holder. The loader and unloader each have a vertically movable cradle with an overarm clamp for supporting and releasing the tubular member and air spring. The end cap holder has a resiliently mounted chuck on a sliding support for transferring an end cap from a recess in the loading support and inserting the end cap in a recess of the assembly apparatus.

Abstract: An assembly machine is disclosed in which a slug of one metal is inserted and staked in a cup formed of another metal. During the staking operation, the shape of the slug and the cup is altered by forming loads thereon. Cups are fed to an assembly position through a plurality of feed chutes which supply the cups to a shuttle. The shuttle operates to alternately receive cups from one feed chute and then the other and to position such cups at an assembly position. A cutter cuts slugs from wire stock and delivers the slugs to the assembly position, where the slugs are inserted in the cups and staked in place. The shuttle operates at a cyclic speed equal to one-half the cyclic speed of the cutter so that the total output of the apparatus is substantially higher than the cyclic operating speed of the shuttle. A combined stock gauge and staking tool is carried by the cutter and the cutter forcibly removes the assembled cup and slug from the assembly position.

Abstract: A machine (1) for the application of marker sleeves (17) from a web (10) in which strips (A-D) of the marker sleeves are fed to an indexing head (62) and then to an application station (90) at which an endmost sleeve is removed from a strip and opened to enable an operator to insert a wire (6) through an opened sleeve.

Abstract: The machine comprises a transport chain wherealong a plurality of brackets are distributed for supporting the razor square central areas, horizontal fixed upper and lower abutment profiles wherealong the razors are caused to slide, a magazine for the razor blades packed in stacked relationship, below which a chest is mounted slidably which can be driven horizontally into a discharge position overlying the chain, a slider carried for vertical movement at the chest discharge position and adapted to be lowered onto the chest to pick up a blade therefrom by suction, and then to be further lowered, with the chest in its retracted position, and deposit the blade onto the blade holder strip of a razor, fixed contoured detents adapted to cause, as the brackets are being advanced, the blade covering strip to be bent around the tabs onto the blade holder strip, and a heater headpiece for securing the blade between the blade holder strip and blade covering strip.

Abstract: Partially formed metal straps are fed to a pick up point where a carriage assembly grips a strap and transports it across the path of a previously severed and loaded measured length of C-shape cushion material. The movement is coordinated with that of a clamping bar for the cushion to provide for automatic assembly of the length of cushion over and about the strap. Continued movement of the carriage assembly transports the now cushion covered strap to a forming station where a rotatable arm and toggle finger bends the strap into a circular form about a mandrel. The toggle finger is withdrawn, the mandrel is retracted, and the grip on the strap is released to deposit a completed line support into a waiting receptacle.

Abstract: An optical fiber with a bare end portion is faced-off precisely at 90 degrees. With an unsecured ferrule loosely located on the fiber, the fiber is passed through oversize openings in a fiber holder and a crimping station. The bare fiber portion is located in the interstice of three rods having identical diameters and the assembly is releasably held by jaws in a holding station. The faced-off fiber end is positioned slightly inwardly from the end faces of the rods by a limit pin. The fiber holder is tightened onto the fiber to maintain it in straightened condition and the ferrule is then slid into place over the three rods and included fiber. The crimping station is moved along a track toward the holding station until crimping jaws are positioned about the ferrule, three rods and fiber. Crimping jaws deform the ferrule at several different places firmly securing it in place on the rods.

Abstract: An apparatus particularly useful for securing a deformable nut having a hole to carrier material, such as a sheet-metal panel, is disclosed. Securement of the nut to the panel is made employing essentially a one-step procedure to form a hole in the panel and to secure the nut to the panel at the panel hole. The securement procedure generates essentially no panel-material waste. Various elements of the apparatus cooperate to secure the nut to the panel. On the apparatus, a ram initially causes a nut guide to secure the panel to the apparatus, and eventually causes a piercing punch to be advanced along a path toward a receiving punch. The latter action causes the panel to be pierced. Further advancement of the ram toward a base of the apparatus causes portions of the panel adjacent the pierced portion to be urged or otherwise drawn into the nut hole, and eventually causes the nut to deform. The latter action causes the nut to be secured to the panel.

Abstract: This invention relates to automatic lattice fabrication apparatus for automatically forming sections of lattice from strips of wood of a predetermined length and width. The apparatus includes an elongated horizontal conveyor that conveys lattice strips from a lay-up section through an automatic adhesive dispenser, under an automatic stapling bridge where the lattice is stapled, through rip saws that trim the sides of the lattice and, when desired, cut the lattice in half, and through an automatic cross-cut saw mechanism that periodically stops the conveyor, lowers a saw and cuts off a section of lattice when it reaches a predetermined length, and then lifts the saw out of the way and resumes conveyor movement.

Abstract: A connector fitting in the form of a sleeve for use on synthetic resin pipes has heating wire let into its inner face for heating the sleeve material and the ends of the pipes to be joined so that a fusion weld is produced. In order to have the wire so fixed in place that on the one hand there is no danger is its being pushed out of place when the pipes are slipped into the fitting, while on the other hand taking care of inaccuracies in the size of the pipes, the wire is let into a cut or groove, that has been opened up, in the fitting and the edges of the cut are overlapped onto the wire so that it is well locked in place.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring workpieces to successive work devices. The apparatus comprises concentric turntables mounted for rotation about a common central axis. A series of work devices are mounted on the inner turntable and a series of workpiece holder devices are mounted on the outer turntable. The turntables are rotated in the same direction and in synchronism while the various work devices respectively perform work operations on the various workpieces held in the various workpiece holder devices, whereafter the inner turntable is accelerated and the outer turntable is decelerated until the various workpieces reach a position midway between successive work devices, whereafter the inner turntable is decelerated and the outer turntable is accelerated until the workpieces arrive at positions of alignment with the next successive work devices.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying gasket material to the skirt of a gasket for the mounting cup of an aerosol container, wherein the gasket material is mechanically applied to the mounting cup through the use of a novel mandrel and cutting arrangement. A mounting cup, having a uniquely placed gasket, said gasket extending from the skirt into the channel of the mounting cup.

Abstract: A shutter link (1) for a multi-link overhead shutter or roller blind comprises two sheet metal sheets (7, 8) formed with a cavity (3) between them. The cavity is filled with a heat insulative compound (4) and hinge formations (5, 6) are provided along the longitudinal side of the sheets. Slots (9) are formed along the length of each shutter link on one wide side thereof. The slots are bridged by narrow webs (11) defined by slot interruptions and flanges are provided along the slots on their side facing the cavity with notches (15) formed adjacent to the bending lines and extending parallel to the slots.

Abstract: A process for inserting points (38) in a mandrel (36) and a machine for performing this process. A working head (40) simultaneously ensures the insertion of a point and the making of a perforation (112) in the mandrel by means of a punch (94). The perforation is made in the same longitudinal row as the inserted point and towards the front with respect to the latter, in such a way that it is subsequently possible to guide a point following a rotation of one or more turns of the mandrel. The invention is applicable to the production of members or bodies of revolution made from three-dimensional material.

Abstract: A belt cutting apparatus and method of making same are provided for cutting a non-contoured and cured polymeric belt sleeve to define an endless power transmission belt construction having at least one pair of opposed non-parallel side portions wherein such apparatus utilizes a rotatable cutting instrument comprised of a rotatable support body having a central axis, at least one rake-like cutting bar having an elongate axis and having cutting means provided thereon as an integral part thereof with the cutting means providing the belt construction, and means supporting the bar on the body with its elongate axis parallel to and radially spaced from the central axis and wherein the cutting means extends perpendicular to the elongate axis.

Abstract: A web punched by a fin press and continuously fed therefrom is intermittently fed by increments equal to a desired number of tiers of punched holes in the web into a space below a pressure plate. The web is then held under suction by the pressure plate and cut off by a cutter into a plate fin. The pressure plate with the cut-off plate fin held thereby is horizontally fed along an interval in the direction in which the web is fed. The plate fin then is released from the pressure plate so as to drop onto a mobile carriage below the pressure plate until hairpin pipes carried by the mobile carriage in upstanding disposition are inserted through the punched holes in the plate fin. The pressure plate moves back to its original position. The above cycle of operation is repeated until a prescribed number of plate fins are fitted over the hairpin pipes. Thereafter, the pressure plate is lowered to depress the plate fins for thereby stacking the plate fins on the hairpin pipes.

Abstract: A device for filling spacing mounting frames of insulating glass with hygroscopic material. Spacing mounting frames have corners that are formed integrally by bending from a single hollow profiled bar. A mounting support (8,18) is provided for the spacing mounting frame (1) to be filled and at least one multi-purpose tool (10) which preferably rotates like a turret head, is provided with three sequentially usable tools, namely: a drill (12) for forming an opening in the outer wall of the spacing mounting frame, a nozzle (13) for feeding the hygroscopic material into the spacing mounting frame (1) and a nozzle (14) for sealing the inlet opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for severing a lead nut from a linear arrangement of attached nuts and for securing such a lead nut to carrier material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a punch operated by a ram and disposed within a stripper, and a die disposed within a nut guide and secured to a fixed base. The punch is spring biased within the stripper and is oriented towards the die in such a manner that advancement of the punch toward the die also advances the punch tip towards the die cavity. The nut guide is spring biased away from the base. The nut guide includes two interconnecting passageways, one passageway being laterally disposed toward the other. An arrangement of attached nuts is advanceable, within the first nut guide passageway, toward the die surface. The carrier material is supported upon an upper surface of the nut guide, being interposed between the punch and the die.

Abstract: An insulation filled building plank having two spaced apart boards held together and separated by webs having dovetail connections with the boards and being at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the plank so that any transverse cut of the plank will cut a web is produced on apparatus which first cuts matching dovetail grooves on surfaces of the boards arranged face to face after which the boards are turned to have the dovetail surfaces facing each other and the apparatus pulls dovetails of webs into the grooves in the boards from a magazine and then the apparatus fills the spaces between the webs and boards with an in situ foamable insulation.

Abstract: A carrier for supplying to an automatic assembling machine at least one chassis and several parts to be assembled on each chassis includes a first portion for receiving each chassis and a second portion associated with the first portion for storing the parts to be assembled on the chassis. According to the method, the chassis are loaded on the first portions of the carrier and sets of corresponding parts are loaded on the second portions in a predetermined relationship, whereupon, corresponding parts of the sets are simultaneously transferred to the respective chassis.

Abstract: For their protection against corrosion, cables of high-strength steel wires, principally for use as tension members for post-stressable earth anchors or rock anchors, are treated with a corrosion protection material and furnished with a tubular sheathing member. In order to be able to surround completely all wires (3, 4) of the cable (2) with corrosion protection material, according to the invention the interior open spaces between the individual wires of the cable are in a first work operation filled with corrosion protection material, and in a second work operation immediately thereafter, when the strand is inserted into the tubular sheathing member, the annular interior open space between the cable and the tubular sheathing member is filled with corrosion protection material.

Abstract: A variable insertion rate control system for a component insertion machine is disclosed. An insertion rate is read and retained by the control system which thereafter authorizes insertion of components at the indicated insertion rate. In order to achieve relatively high insertion rates, the downward stroke of the component insertion head is commanded before the receiving medium is registered in position for receiving the component.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a technique and machine for completing the assembly of a turbine-rotor stage by precision-peening blade tenons to secure shroud segments to successive blades. In the machine, a turbine-rotor assembly of multiple stages of blades on a rotor shaft is mounted on a horizontal axis, with provision for indexing successive blade tenons of a given-stage into precise horizontal confrontation with tool elements successively presented to the tenon, the tool elements being independently mounted to a compound-axis slide system. A presser foot carried by the slide system locally holds the shroud segment to a seated position against the blade to be secured, while first an induction-heating element and then a riveting tool perform in programmed sequence upon the exposed end of the involved tenon.

Abstract: A process for inserting points (38) on a mandrel (36) and a machine for performing this process. A working head (40) simultaneously ensures the insertion of a point and the making of a perforation (112) in the mandrel by means of a punch (94). The perforation is made in the same longitudinal row as the inserted point and towards the front with respect to the latter, in such a way that it is subsequently possible to guide a point following a rotation of one or more turns of the mandrel. The invention is applicable to the production of members or bodies of revolution made from three-dimensional material.

Abstract: A shutter link (1) for a multi-link overhead shutter or roller blind comprises two sheet metal sheets (7, 8) formed with a cavity (3) between them. The cavity is filled with a heat insulative compound (4) and hinge formations (5, 6) are provided along the longitudinal side of the sheets. Slots (9) are formed along the length of each shutter length on one wide side thereof. The slots are bridged by narrow webs (9) defined by slot interruptions and flanges are provided along the slots are provided on their side facing the cavity with notches (15) formed adjacent to the bending lines and extending parallel to the slots.

Abstract: A pre-closed slide mount has two sides secured together defining an internal pocket to retain a film transparency T inserted edgewise through an entranceway in one edge of the slide mount, which has a window for viewing. A retraction clearance slot at one end of the entranceway may provide clearance for the bowed filmstrip pusher S to be retracted while lateral movement 38 of the slide mount commences. The transparency T is cut from the leading end of the filmstrip S while said end is entirely outside of the entranceway into the slide mount. A reciprocatable pawl and its associated reciprocating drive means produces a forward stroke F of the filmstrip S equal to the length of the transparency T plus an additional extent of forward travel sufficient for pushing the transparency T completely into said pocket. Then, the filmstrip is retracted R by a distance sufficient for completely removing the film strip from the loaded slide mount.

Abstract: A data printing apparatus for printing alphanumeric information on photographic slide mounts includes a slide track along which the photographic slide mounts are advanced. When the slide mount is positioned at a printing station along the slide track, a movable print head prints alphanumeric characters on the slide mount. The print head is carried on a carriage, which in turn is movable on a carriage track. The carriage track is aligned in a plane parallel to a plane defined by the slide track and runs in a generally transverse direction to the slide track, so that the print head moves transversely to the longitudinal direction of the slide track as a carriage drive moves the carriage on the carriage track.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for assembling, on a mass production basis, shade devices for insulating a building area against heat transmission. Each shade device includes a roller, a plurality of shade sheets attached to the roller to be retracted thereon and detracted therefrom and a plurality of spacer devices mounted with one sheet of each pair of adjacent sheets to space them apart when detracted from the roller. The assembling apparatus comprises a sheet feeding section for ultimately feeding and assembling all of the sheets in generally mutually parallel relation. Other mechanisms place spacer devices in close proximity to each of the sheets on which spacer devices are to be mounted and attachment apparatus associated with the sheet feeding section and spacer device placing mechanisms attach each of the spacer devices to its respective closely proximate sheet.

Abstract: A machine is provided for cutting to length and joining two lengths of strand material at their ends to produce a band. A method of producing a band from two lengths of strand material is also provided.

Abstract: An improved pre-closed slide mount is described having two sides or masks which are secured together for defining an internal pocket to retain a film transparency which is inserted edgewise through an opening or entranceway in one edge of the mount and defining a window for viewing the transparency in the mount. An elevated border region formed in one mask of the mount extends transversely across the entranceway and has a sloping outer surface to provide a funnel for directing a transparency into the entranceway, and this border region has laterally sloping ends which define two spaced valleys for receiving the outer edges of a longitudinally bowed film strip serving as pusher for the inserted transparency. The outer edges of the valleys are defined by lateral transparency guides. The border region of the other mask forms an elevated roof over the elevated border region with inverted steps over the laterally sloping end portions of the border region.