Abstract: An apron forming apparatus and method for bending and joining the ends of a pair of apron half segments includes a series of four apron support surfaces lying in a common plane. A clamping arrangement is mounted on each of the apron support surfaces for selectively clamping an apron half segment. A bending arrangement is secured to each of the apron support surfaces for selectively bending an apron half segment. Each of the apron half segments is disposed between a clamping arrangement and a bending arrangement on a pair of apron support surfaces such that the apron half segments lie substantially parallel to each other. Each of the bending arrangements is movable into engagement with an apron half segment to bend the apron half segment such that the ends of one bent apron half segment are placed in overlapping relationship with the ends of the other bent apron half segment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing high purity chromium suitable for deposition onto a semiconductor wafer or other substrate by sputtering. The process increases productivity, expands melting capability and provides consistent high purity chromium by reducing contamination by the dissolution of crucible material. The present invention provides for the addition of chromium oxide (Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3) to control oxygen content in chromium thereby producing high purity chromium ingots and protecting the ceramic crucibles from chemical attack by the liquid chromium.

Abstract: An insertion die for the installation of an internally-threaded flange into a drum head by means of a single stroke cycle of a cooperating press includes components arranged for piercing a hole in the drum head and crimping a raised embossment which is formed in the drum head over and around the flange for securely anchoring the flange into the drum head embossment. The insertion die is configured with two workstations, one for a two inch inside diameter flange and the other for a 3/4 inch inside diameter vent closure. The insertion die includes a moveable die center at each workstation which is initially positioned in a blocking configuration to prevent crimping jaws from closing. The die center is moveable to a lower position below the crimping jaws which allows the jaws to act on the drum head embossment for crimping the embossment onto the flange.

Abstract: In order to simplify the production of a nigh-resistance bobbin body made of an aluminum alloy, the following process steps are performed: (a) extruding or flow extruding an essentially cylindrical bobbin blank; (b) cutting the bobbin blank to a length including the desired bobbin body length plus an overlength sufficient to form end flanges on the bobbin body; (c) shaping end flanges at both ends of the bobbin body from the overlength portion; hardening the bobbin body; and age-hardening (aging) the bobbin body. Various process parameters are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making non-circular piston rings which will precisely sealably conform to the cylinder wall of an internal combustion engine. In accordance with the method of the invention a metal strip of special cross-sectional configuration is coiled about a specially configured mandrel which is non-circular in cross section. Preferably the coiling mandrel is provided with a circumferentially interrupted thread form that has a zero helix angle along most of its circumference. During the coiling operation, using this type of mandrel, the metal strip is preformed at specific locations along its length into an angled configuration to form a coil body having a plurality of coils that have a zero helix angle along most of their circumference and a relatively steep helix angle for a short distance. After the coil is formed, the helix angle portions are cut therefrom to provide a plurality of generally planer, interrupted rings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a plurality of parts, such as spade-type boring bits, from a continuous stock material. Thus, the various steps of the forming method of the present invention can be performed to predetermined portions of the continuous stock material, prior to separating the continuous stock material into a number of discrete parts. The efficiency of the forming process is enhanced since individual parts need not be individually transported and oriented during the forming operations. By not requiring that the individual parts be separately transported and oriented during the forming operations, the quality of the parts formed by the forming method and apparatus of the present invention will also be enhanced since such separate transportation and orientation of individual parts generally increases the opportunities for misalignment and contributes to poor tolerance control during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A machine tool system includes a machine tool and a marking apparatus. The marking apparatus can mark parts-data on workpiece parts at high speed, without occupying any tool mounting station and without having any limitation in the number, the sequence direction, the size and the type font of characters to be marked. A mount base (33) is fixedly attached to a frame (1) of the machine tool. A marking head (51) is mounted on the mount base (37) so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The marking head (51) is provided with a pneumatic stylus (77) movable horizontally both in the X- and Y-axis direction. A parts-data of dot matrix type can be engraved on the workpiece parts by moving the stylus (77) in the X- and Y-axis directions.

Abstract: Connectors having multiple posts upstanding from a common cross-connection bus are produced by a method that includes the steps of making an extrusion that encompasses the end projection of the connector including the bus and the posts, and then using hollow end-milling cutters to form the posts.

Abstract: An improved installation apparatus and method of attaching a female fastener element, such as a self-riveting nut fastener, to a metal panel, wherein a small hole is first formed in the panel and the annular riveting portion of the fastener is driven through the hole and locked to the panel. The improved method of this invention includes locating the fastener on the panel, then driving a tapered punch through the fastener board to pierce a small hole in the panel, then driving a conical exterior surface of the punch through the hole, to enlarge the hole, and substantially simultaneously driving the fastener riveting portion against the panel and through the panel opening into a die member to lock the fastener on the panel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to prepare battery plate lugs for use with automated machines for cast on operations. The apparatus comprises an anvil having top and opposite side walls for receiving a battery cell including a plurality of plates with lugs attached thereto. The tops of the plates are placed over the top of the anvil with the lugs positioned along the sides of the anvil and in contact therewith. A pair of rams on opposite sides of the anvil are moved inward to engage and partially flatten the lugs to render the lugs thinner and to remove whatever oxides have been formed on the surfaces of the lugs. A pair of knives on opposite sides of the anvil are moved inwardly to cut the lengths of the lugs to a uniform size.

Abstract: An index-feed machining system comprising a plurality of machining units, each having a cassettes having a plurality of machining means and detachably fitted to a machining unit proper, disposed at intervals of mP (m being a given positive integer, and P being a feeding pitch of a workpiece) in a direction in which the workpiece is fed to sequentially machining the workpiece that is index-fed at the feeding pitch of mP, in which a ram is vertically movably provided on an upper end of the machining unit proper constituting the machining unit, a hydraulic cylinder is provided in the machining unit or the ram, a piston is vertically movably provided in the hydraulic cylinder, an actuating unit comprising an eccentrically rotating shaft and the piston that can be engaged with each other via a connecting rod or via a connecting rod and the ram, is provided above the machining unit, and a hydraulic circuit is provided so that operating fluid can be selectively introduced from the hydraulic circuit to an upper part

Abstract: Elongated generally rectangular in-section conductive metal bar stock is formed by extrusion to form a post type electrical bus connector. The shorter dimension is approximately the diameter of the posts to be formed, while the longer dimension is approximately the height of the posts plus the thickness of the bus or bar from which the posts will project. The narrow end forming the bus has a triangular ridge. The bar stock is cut-to-length dictated by the number of posts to form blocks which are then loaded into specialized pallets of a machining center. The machining center is the type having at lest two pallets, one being loaded while the other is indexed with respect to the tool spindle. The machining center also includes an automatic tool changer. The machining center mills the posts with a hollow center flush mill, drills the hole in the posts and forms tapped holes followed by deburring. The bar stock may have extruded L-shape flats, one of which forms a pad for a compression type connector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming sheet metal parts of complex configuration and/or sheet metal parts including inherent joints. The part is formed in a continuous run through a stamping press wherein a strip of sheet metal is moved incrementally and continuously through a plurality of successive stations where a plurality of hits are made on the sheet to successively cut and form the sheet to gradually form the individual stamped parts. A special compound die is disclosed for forming a complete loop in each part during the run through the stamping press and for forming a doubled over portion of the part including upper and lower layers, and a clinching station is provided as a station within the stamping press for mechanically joining the doubled over layers of the part together to form a successive plurality of separate parts each having a doubled over portion clinched together.

Abstract: Method for aiding sheet metal forming tool design, for use with a computer including memory, and forming tools including a draw die, punch and binder having surfaces designed to form the sheet metal into a part, the sheet metal being represented as a mesh including a plurality of nodes. The method includes evaluating an initial binder-set associated with an initial binder surface design during a first stage of forming the sheet metal in which at least one of the plurality of sheet metal mesh nodes is forced against the binder surface, and detecting an area of unacceptable deformation on the sheet metal mesh. The method also includes identifying the at least one of the plurality nodes forced against the binder surface associated with the unacceptable sheet metal deformation and releasing the at least one of the plurality of nodes identified, so as to allow the identified nodes to move as the sheet metal assumes a relaxed state.

Abstract: Method for predicting post-buckling deformation of a sheet of metal during a draw forming process, for use with a computer including memory, by introducing a set of springs to stabilize the sheet metal close to the onset of buckling, thereby enhancing convergence of numerical solutions. The method is for use with sheet metal forming tools including a draw die, a punch and binder having surfaces designed to form the sheet metal into a part, the sheet metal being represented as a mesh including a plurality of nodes. The method includes applying a displacement increment to the sheet metal nodes and identifying a singularity in a tangent stiffness matrix associated with the sheet metal close to the onset of buckling. The method also includes introducing a plurality of springs at the sheet metal nodes so as to eliminate the singularity and enhance convergence of the numerical solution of the displacement increment.

Abstract: Method and system for evaluating sheet metal forming tooling design, for use with a draw die including a punch and binder designed to form the sheet metal into a part, utilizing improved implicit time integration methods that reduce numerical instability, thereby enhancing convergence of numerical solutions. The sheet metal and tool surface of the punch are each represented as a mesh having a plurality of nodes. Contact nodes between the sheet metal mesh nodes and the tool surface mesh can be identified. A first embodiment includes minimizing discontinuities generated by unloading by determining a stress increment of a sampling point in the sheet metal mesh according to an incremental deformation theory of plasticity. A second embodiment includes modelling a draw-bead as a plurality of nonlinear elastic springs to minimize discontinuities in the spring force during unloading.

Abstract: The rotary piston (6) with rotation axis C performs a relative rotation in an annular cylinder (1) with rotation axis O which is displaced with respect to said piston axis (C) by an eccentricity e. The cylinder (1) comprises three chambers (2) having cylindrical surfaces (3) which engage the piston (6). The piston (6) has two semi-cylindrical surfaces connected by connecting surfaces (8). Each connecting surface (8) has a shape generated by replacing one of the three rollers with a machine tool (5') and displacing the piston with the other two rollers (5). The surface of said piston (6) is continually supported on three rollers (5) of said cylinder (1). The relative position, i.e. the relative movement of said piston (6) and said cylinder (1), is rigidly determined by the support of the piston on rollers (5) and by the eccentricity (e) between the piston and the cylinder axes. The machine can be used as a combustion engine, a volumetric pump, or as a hydraulic motor.

Abstract: A setting apparatus directs a reinforcing tape in a perpendicular direction to the path of movement of the fabric. It comprises a machine frame, a support plate, a setting punch and die, a reinforcing tape supply under the plate and tape feeding belt for feeding the tape which is automatically activated by the punch.

Abstract: A forging method for making a forged product from an elongate steel bar material. The forging comprises a heating step in which the elongate bar material is heated, a cutting step in which the heated bar material is cut into billet materials each having a predetermined length, and a forging step in which the billet materials are successively forged. In this forging method, when an abnormality arises in the forging step, the cutting in the cutting step is interrupted and the bar material in the heating step is maintained in the heating step without being transferred toward the cutting step. Additionally, unless the abnormality is normalized within a predetermined limit time, the cutting in the cutting step is restarted and the billet materials formed after the restarting of the cutting are transferred to a storing apparatus which is outside of a normal forging line.

Abstract: A device for assembly of an STN liquid crystal module has a Y axis variable rail which is disposed at a crossing direction to an X axis rail and can ride on and slide down the X axis rail installed on the upper side of a table. A Y axis fixed rail is disposed opposite and parallel to the Y axis variable rail. A plurality of lug mounts are slidably disposed on the two Y axis rails. Vacuum pads are positioned at the outside of the two Y axis rails and parallel to each other and move toward or retract from the rails. The pads are at a height corresponding to the height of the upper side of the lug mount plus the thickness of the electromagnetic circuit element and the pads are supported and moved by a first double-acting cylinder. A pair of bars are disposed at a lower position than that of the vacuum pads and move toward or retract from the Y axis rails by using a second double-acting cylinder. A plurality of bending elements are slidably disposed on each bar.

Abstract: Method of rapidly determining a binder wrap for a nonsymmetrical polygonal panel to be drawn formed, comprising: (a) forming a coordinate-based model of the blank outline of said panel; (b) specifying the displacement boundary condition of the binder wrap by nonlinear theory of mechanics, including: (i) defining arc sets to fit projections of opposite sides of the blank outline, having the greatest curvature, onto arc planes while incrementally bending the panel from a known flat condition to a binder surface condition and controlling each arc set to pass through a fixed point as it is changed in radius, (ii) interpolating from said arc sets to generate points on the unprojected opposite sides having such greatest curvature and thus defining the binder surface for the blank outline along such sides, (iii) defining the binder surface for the blank outline along sides having the least curvature by forcing such sides to lie on the binder surface through the act of proportionally reducing the gap or interference

Abstract: A machine in which butterfly clips are prebent and then punched out of steel strip and simultaneously finally bent, such that they fasten together a spring and the frame of a spring core. Thus, both the punching out of the clip and the final bending process, i.e. the connecting process between the frame and spring parts, are carried out in a single tool. The machine therefore operates particularly cost-effectively, because, in comparison with the prior art, the separately punched butterfly clips do not have to be inserted into a separate bending machine.

Abstract: A substrate including a disk having a pair of opposed faces and being coined to provide a sub-micron flatness and smoothness for the disk faces. The coined disk can then be coated with a layer of storage material and used as a storage medium. Apparatus and a method for forming the coined substrate includes means for moving a plurality of disks along a predetermined path after the disks have been formed by blanking or stamping. The disks are cleaned before being coined and then stacked into containers which can be closed for transit to a point of use. The coining of the disks and the placement of the disks in containers is done under clean room conditions and the resulting coined substrates are free of flaws and defects encountered with the practice of conventional substrate forming techniques.

Abstract: A bar-code label has a combination of a plurality of narrower slots and a plurality of wider slots encoded to represent specific binary data containing information and/or instructions. The slotted bar-code is encoded on a rigid label member, such as a metal sheet. A bar-code encoding device used to encode the slotted bar-code has a pair of punches, one of which is adapted to form the narrower slots and the other of which is adapted to form the wider slots. Both of the punches are operated simultaneously whenever one of the narrower or wider slots is formed. The blank label is fed past one of the punches to form all of the narrower or wider slots before forming the rest of the wider or narrower slots with the other punch. The encoded label thus formed in suitable for use in painting or coating processes which would obscure a conventionally printed bar-code label.

Abstract: A small-sized gas pressure welding machine for rails comprises a pressure application unit and an excess metal punching unit. The pressure application unit includes a positioning bed disposed along the rail feet of rails to be welded together, a movable pressure application clamp mechanism provided at one end of the positioning bed and a stationary pressure application clamp mechanism provided at the other end of the positioning bed. The movable clamp mechanism clamps the rail foot of one of the rails and provides an abutting pressure. The stationary clamp mechanism clamps the rail foot of the other rail and receives the abutting pressure.

Abstract: An improved clutch shoe of the type that is mounted on the rotor of a centrifugal clutch for coupling engagement with an outer clutch housing. The shoe is formed by two similar L-shaped shoe half sections which are stamped of sheet metal. Each shoe half section has an arcuate-shaped configuration comprising a web and an integral outer shoe table portion with an annular boss formed on each of the webs. A plurality of annular projections are formed on one of the shoe half webs and extend outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite from the annular boss formed on the web. The other shoe half web is formed with a plurality of holes into which the annular projections are press fitted to connect the two shoe halves together with the webs being placed in abutting relationship. The shoe half table portions lie in juxtaposition with respect to each other and form an outer shoe table on which a strip of friction material is attached.

Abstract: An automatic clip mounting device for automating a punching step and a clip mounting step at a same working position in working an elongated work without relocating the work. The device comprising a support bed for holding the elongated work, a clamp device for fixing the work held by the support bed, a punching device for punching the work fixed by the clamp device, a clip setting device for gripping a clip and mounting the clip at a position where the clip is punched by the punching device, a clip supplying device for supplying the clip to the clip setting device, and a sequential moving device for moving a moving base, where the punching device and the clip setting device are mounted, to a working position of the work fixed by the clamp device and the support bed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiple processing machine having a punch press for punching a sheet-like workpiece and a ram-operated forming press for performing a variety of forming operations such as bending, shearing, and drawing on the workpiece. The punch press and forming press are interconnected with each other along a central partition. A feeding device is also provided adjacent the punching and forming press on a central worktable. In addition, a tool changing device is provided to change the tools in either or both of the punching and forming presses.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of hot-forging in a forging press a cylindrical powdered metal preform to substantially full theoretical density to thereby produce a powdered metal part having a small inner bore wherein the core rod defining such bore is constructed so as to allow a continuous flow of a highly vaporizable liquid coolant such as nitrogen to the metal forming portion of the core rod and to thermally insulate the incoming coolant to assure its being maintained substantially unvaporized until being expelled to the core rod cooling chamber.

Abstract: A machine for attaching wire leads to cans for housing electrical components. The machine includes a plurality of split dies mounted on the spokes of a rotatable spindle for receiving and holding wire leads, and an index drive for rotatably indexing the spindle and split dies to a plurality of work stations, including a wire feed station, a wire upsetting station, a can staking station and a discharge station. At the wire feed station, a plurality of reciprocating plungers feed wire leads of predetermined length to the split dies so that one end of the wires project from the face of the split dies. At the wire upsetting station, a plurality of reciprocating punches upset and head the wire leads at a location spaced from their ends while at the can staking station a plurality of reciprocating punches feed cans having bottom holes over the headed ends of the wire leads as far as the heads and stake the ends of the wire leads to attach the leads to the cans.

Abstract: A sheet metal working device comprising a movable carrier supported between two side panels of C-shaped form. The carrier has the form of a bar which may be mechanically moved by a drive means and which at its top portion is connected to a sharpened piece which serves as a movable blade and acts together with a replaceable stationary blade as shears. A holding device is disposed on the lower portion of the carrier which holds the top tool of a stamping device or a folding press. The sheet metal working device may operate as a stamping device or folding press.

Abstract: A method of forging a bifurcated member having closely spaced parallel portions including the steps of forging the member to form diverging bifurcated portions, and coining the diverging bifurcated portions inwardly toward each other into substantially parallel relation having a narrow slot therebetween.

Abstract: An automatic unit for hot molding, e.g., forging or stamping, and subsequent trimming of metal parts. A molding press and a trimming press are served by two robot pairs. One robot of one pair delivers hot ingots to the molding press, the other pair of robots moves the part being molded step-by-step through successive stampings, and the other robot of the first pair delivers the fully molded part to the trimming press. The robots of the second pair move in mirror-image relation. The ends of the robot arms of the second pair are accommodated by depressions in the molds during the various stamping operations.

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.