Abstract: An assembly apparatus, kit and method of making roller chain of different pitch are disclosed. The apparatus and kit include a main drive mechanism rotatable about its central longitudinal axis and a plurality of assembly stations. Each assembly station has a movable assembly mechanism to act on a workpiece and a drive train to move the assembly mechanism in response to rotation of the main drive mechanism. Each assembly station has a drive shaft substantially perpendicular to the main drive mechanism axis. One of the assembly stations is movable in a direction parallel to the main drive mechanism axis between a plurality of positions to vary the distance between the assembly stations without disconnecting the connection between the drive train and the main drive mechanism. Each assembly station has a locator unit for moving a workpiece. The locator units have workpiece supports to provide a continuous path between assembly stations.

Abstract: An automotive framing system for positioning a lower body component and at least two upper body components together at precise positions relative to each other prior to fixedly securing the body components together. The framing system includes a conveyor for sequentially moving body preassemblies to a predetermined assembly station. A frame of integral construction is positioned around the body at the assembly station. A lifter at the assembly station lifts the lower body component and upper body components from the conveyor together with the frame to a predetermined elevated position in which the lower body component abuts against the upper body components. With the body preassembly positioned within the assembly station, clamps on the frame engage predetermined location points on the upper and lower body components to hold the upper and lower body components together at preset positions relative to each other whereupon the body components are fixedly secured together.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a reconfigurable gantry tool and a reconfigurable tool system. The reconfigurable tool includes a platform, a reconfigurable holding mechanism, a gantry frame, a multi-axis numerically controlled robotic tool, a multi-movement control device coupled to the mobile multi-axis tool, and a rotatable and translatable sine plate. The reconfigurable gantry tool system comprises a plurality of reconfigurable gantry tools strategically coupled to one another to form a non-matrix assembly line. Other tooling systems can be coupled to and/or within the reconfigurable gantry tool system for performing additional operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically making a laminated electrical or electronic device has a series of processing stations including an inspection station for inspecting the quality of printing at a series of indexed segments on a ceramic coated, continuous tape, a stack and tack station at which sequential segments of the tape are cut and stacked on top of each other to form a stack having a selected number of layers, a lamination station in which the stacked layers are laminated together, and a cutting station at which the stack is cut into a plurality of individual chips, a tape feed mechanism for indexing the tape segments sequentially through the inspection station and stack and tack station, and a drive mechanism for moving a stack from the stack and tack station through the lamination station and cutting station.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing blinds comprises a processor unit, at least one manufacturing facility for carrying out a manufacturing step and a communication device for exchanging data between the processor unit and said at least one manufacturing facility. To arrange for efficient and economical manufacturing, whereby manufacturing time and scrap are relatively low, the processor unit is adapted to generate data for controlling the system taking into account an order portfolio and at least one parameter from said at least one manufacturing facility.

Abstract: A manual pallet exchange system for exchanging a pallet on a work table of a horizontal machining center with another pallet from a storage rack or an optional set-up station. The system comprises a pallet shuttle cart which travels along a guideway that is positioned adjacent to the storage rack, the set-up station and the horizontal machining center. Receiving devices are provided on the horizontal machining center, the shuttle cart, the set-up station and each pallet storage location on the storage rack for receiving and supporting the pallet. A mechanically activated locking device provides for safely securing the pallet to the receiving devices of the storage rack, the set-up station and the shuttle cart.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling photographic film cassettes each comprising a spool assembly and a pair of shell halves. A plurality of pallets are stepwise conveyed on a pallet conveyer. Each pallet has a spool holder, an intermediate holder and a shell holder. Parts of the spool assembly are sequentially fed to the spool holder and are assembled into the spool assembly at the spool holder. The spool assembly is transferred from the spool holder to the intermediate holder to be turned from a vertical into a horizontal orientation. Thereafter, the spool assembly and other parts of the photographic film cassette are sequentially fed to the shell holder and are assembled into the photographic film cassette at the shell holder.

Abstract: A kit is disclosed for use in replacing damaged hose segments of high pressure hydraulic hoses having press-fitted, straight or curved reusable end couplings. The disclosed kit includes at least one pair of support blocks; at least one mandrel having an outside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of each hose segment to be replaced; at least one removal plate having a centrally disposed aperture corresponding to the outside diameter of each hose segment to be replaced, an elongated slot providing access to the aperture from one side of the plate, and a recess defining an annular shoulder around that portion of the aperture not communicating with the elongated slot; an adjustable pressure plate for use with hose assemblies having curved end couplings; and a U-shaped pusher bar for use with the adjustable pressure plate.

Abstract: In a method of and an apparatus for assembling units, incomplete units are moved forward along an assembly line, in progression, to successive stations for the addition of components to the unit until the unit is complete. Each unit, with machined parts, is disassembled at a disassembling station, provided with components including a specific part, and provisionally assembled as a whole at an assembling station. After the provisionally assembled units have been inspected as to a positional relationship of the components relative to one another, they are incorporated into a row of incomplete units so that one provisionally assembled unit is located after every incomplete unit and are disassembled at the disassembling station and, thereafter, reassembled again. During the second assemblage, the specific part is replaced with another specific part according to a result of the inspection so as to provide a predetermined positional relationship among the components, thereby completing the unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encapsulating a payload in a shroud and mounting the resulting assembly on a launch vehicle. An encapsulation cell is provided for containing a payload to be encapsulated in a shroud. That cell is maintained at a "clean room" level of cleanliness. A shroud having a cleaned and sealed interior is placed on the roof in a vertical orientation. A seal arrangement seals between the shroud near its lower end and the roof, creating an airlock. The roof panels below the shroud are opened and the payload is lifted into the shroud through the opening and secured in the shroud. The opening is then closed, the seal retracted and the assembly of payload and shroud moved to a bay where it is mated to a space launch vehicle. This cell and encapsulation system eliminates the need to clean the shroud exterior and any need for a very large clean room cell to house the payload, shroud and lifting device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and assembling a plurality of small parts weighing under five pounds using a robot employing a rotatable pallet for holding an array of small parts. Said rotatable pallet being held in place on the robot wrist head, which moves the pallet through a plurality of stationary work-stations located within the operating envelope of the robot, and rotates the pallet at each work-station to index the pallet and to present it to the work-station for an operation on a specific part or parts. Said robot participates in the work-station tasks by moving the rotatable pallet in the X, Y, and Z directions as needed. Movable data pins are used to indicate conditions of individual parts in nests, and of the pallet taken as a whole.

Abstract: A machine (28) for use in removing first and second mandrels (20) from a stringer assembly (26) that includes a composite I-beam and the mandrels is disclosed. The mandrels are located in channels on opposite sides of the composite I-beam. The machine includes a framework (30) having an elongate platform (36) for supporting the stringer assembly (26). Mounted on the framework are a plurality of stations (32) located long the longitudinal platform (36). Each station includes first and second movable platforms (42) mounted to opposite sides of the longitudinal platform from one another. Each platform includes a clamp (38 and 40) for sequentially clamping the stringer assembly to the framework when the mandrels are being removed. The movable platforms are attached to the mandrels. A jackscrew mechanism moves the movable platforms with respect to one another when the sides of the stringer assembly are clamped to the platform.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatic assembling of a differential gear device, wherein a pair of pinions are introduced by a pinion support device into the chamber of a differential case through respective openings formed through the case, and the pinions are rotatably held between a pair of side gears disposed within the chamber, at respective symmetrical positions which are symmetrical with each other with respect to an axis of rotation of the side gears, so that the pinions are brought into meshing engagement with the side gears by a gear meshing device while one of the side gears is rotated about its axis by a rotating device and while the pinions are held at the respective symmetrical positions.

Abstract: A pair of conveyor lines are provided: one for disassembling a used article sequentially at a plurality of disassembling stations and the other for assembling a new identical article sequentially at a plurality of assembling stations. The disassembling stations are connected to assembling stations in one-to-one relation through a conveyor each. A reusable part of the used article which has been recovered at one of the disassembling stations is transferred by the conveyor to the corresponding assembling station for reuse in the new article, after taking necessary inspection. The conveying directions of these conveyor lines are reverse to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for installing a prefabricated cable harness in the interior of an empty vehicle body of a passenger car at the initial stage of its final assembly. A known cable harness which is suitable for handling by an automatic device is to be moved into the passenger compartment by mechanized handling. The cable harness which is arranged on a cable harness carrier that is prepared in a positionally defined manner, is received by a specially designed gripper. The gripper then guides the cable harness through the windscreen opening into the passenger compartment and sets the cable harness down in an approximate installation position. With this arrangement, the bulky and heavy cable harness can be installed reliably and rationally in the vehicle body. Possible damage to the vehicle body and to the cable harness by chafing is avoided during installation.

Abstract: A modular product assembly platform which includes a multiple number of industrial robots or other similar assembly devices which are removably mounted on a specially designed platform deck. The product assembly platform also includes a programmable controller system housed in a logic control cabinet, a vision control system housed in a vision control cabinet and a set of robot controllers which operate together to control the robots or assembly devices for performing product assembly tasks. The mechanical layout and configuration of the platform and the control equipment provide for convenience and flexibility in configuring and reconfiguring the assembly platform for different assembly procedures associated with different products.

Abstract: A piston ring is assembled into a groove of a piston by pushing the piston ring out of a front end of a guide member. The piston ring is mounted on an outside of the guide member which has a diameter larger than an outside diameter of the piston. The pushing is carried out while maintaining a clearance which allows for the piston ring to undulate. This clearance is formed between a front end of the guide member and a plane including a groove surface which lies away from the front end of the guide member.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing an article that is formed by the incremental buildup of layers on a work surface contains a material deposition station to deposit the layers. In addition, a plurality of processing stations are employed. Each processing station performs a separate function such that when the functions are performed in series, a layer of the article is produced and is prepared for the deposition of the next layer. An article transfer apparatus repetitively moves the work surface and any layers formed thereon selectively among the deposition station and the processing stations. The article transfer apparatus continues to move between the processing stations until each layer is processed and a completely manufactured article is produced.

Abstract: A method and system for the flexible assembly of components into an assembly at an assembly station within an assembly area in an adaptive, programmable fashion. Several programmable locators mounted on a platform work cooperatively to receive and support components or parts having critical positioning features at approximate locations. The programmable locators then move the components so that the critical positioning features and hence the components are at desired locations. Thereafter, part position and orientation are constrained at retaining locations while the components are in their desired locations. Processing equipment at least partially joins the retained components either at the assembly station or at a separate processing station. One of the programmable locators may provide one of the retaining locations.

Abstract: A production installation comprises carriages supporting pallet trays carrying structural components or individual parts for assembly or processing, identical couplings for detachably coupling each one of the pallet trays to a respective carriage, a container for the structural components or individual parts readily exchangeably arranged on each pallet tray, a conveyor track comprised of individual and separable conveyor track sections, each conveyor track section comprising vertical and lateral guideways for the carriages, and a feed device at each conveyor track section operable for conveying the carriages independently of each other along the vertical and lateral guideways of the conveyor track.

Abstract: A fully automated TAB framer includes a pair of vertically-oriented pneumatic rams having vacuum operated pick up heads on the lower ends thereof. A cutting assembly cuts TAB segments from a roll of film having a number of such segments thereon. The rams are laterally shiftable between two positions for picking up TAB segments, placing a segment in a carrier body, picking up a retainer member and inserting the retainer member into the carrier body thereby forming a framed TAB segment.

Abstract: Each board of a multi-board panel is gripped and registration is established by engagement with tooling of the transfer arm of an in-line machine in preparation for a routing process by which the boards are to be liberated from the panel (depaneled). The tooling supports each board and maintains registration therewith during liberation of the board from the multi-board panel and also during transfer of the liberated board to a selected one of several sites of a subsequent station via repositioning of the transfer arm. In one embodiment of the invention, registration is accomplished by inserting lengthwise-bifurcated locator pins into corresponding locator holes in the boards and expanding the bifurcated legs into locking engagement with the panel by longitudinal displacement of a tapered rod which is disposed between the legs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling exterior parts of a motorcar wherein assembling accuracy errors of a motor car body are determined by measuring positions of a plurality of reference points of said motorcar body. Correction data is calculated relating to respective assembling positions of plural kinds of the exterior parts which form an external shape of the motorcar, the calculation being performed on the basis of measured data obtained in the previous step, while maintaining a correlative relationship among said parts, to eliminate correlative misalignment among said parts due to the assembling accuracy errors of said motorcar body. Each of said parts is then assembled by respective assembling robots to respective assembling position which has been corrected in accordance with the calculated correction data.

Abstract: A robotic apparatus for automobile assembly includes a robot which moves in sequence to a plurality of different stations and performs an operation at each station based on information obtained from a video camera. The camera can pivot to form an image of each station. While the robot is performing an operation at one station, the camera is forming an image at a subsequent station. By the time that the robot finishes the operation at one station and moves to the subsequent station, the image formed by the camera at the next station has already been processed by a controller, and the robot can immediately begin to perform an operation at the subsequent station.

Abstract: A permanently installed manufacturing system, to join together loose part sub-assemblies with quick change workstations and exchange tool transporters. The flexible manufacturing process involves the automatic, or manual, joining of loose components, regardless of the assembly technology used, the model mix required, or the type of product to be assembled. The system allows the utilization of interchangeable flex-tools, supported on various types of power and free transporters, that can be programmably controlled and automatically changes over. The system will accommodate batch runs, random runs, prototype runs, as well as synchronous and asynchronous operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for handling multi-board panels in order to liberate therefrom individual circuit boards which may or may not have been prepopulated with the electrical components. Each panel is supported above a receiving tray on a top shuttle and transported from a load/unload station to a routing station at which tabs or webs which retain the circuit boards in the panel are removed. Removal of the boards is facilitated by X-positioning of the panel and Y-positioning of the router according to a programmable controller. The tray receives liberated boards from the top shuttle which is then cycled back to the load/unload station for unloading scrap, acquiring another tray, and reloading the shuttle with another multi-board panel. During subsequent translation of the loaded top shuttle to the routing station, a bottom shuttle transfers the first tray and liberated circuit boards to the load/unload station for unloading thereof.

Abstract: M sets of N component carriers each are placed in and removed from a component placement region one set at a time in a placement period. An empty carrier set is placed in the region as a full carrier set is removed while each set is displaced to a different one of M component placement heads having a fixed position. Each carrier receives M components. There are N sequentially occurring cycles in a placement period. A carrier of each set simultaneously receives a component in a placement cycle from a different one of the placement heads. Each head places one component at a time in a given position on a carrier in a placement cycle, each head corresponding to a given component type. The M sets of carrier are displaced simultaneously in a given cycle in the same direction in an x,y plane to a component receiving position. A given component type has the same position in each carrier.

Abstract: A device is provided for the automatic processing of differently shaped workpieces having a controlled tool-changing capability which permits a quick change of the set of tools in the device. This enables optimum adjustment of the tools to be made economically outside the production line. It also enables several different moveable and interchangeable tool frames to be located and moved on a lower frame into a variety of configurations. One tool frame is used at a time and when it is required to switch, several simple steps enable one tool frame to be moved to one side of the lower frame and a second tool frame to be moved into the operating position.

Abstract: An automotive body and body panels such as an engine hood, a trunk lid, and doors are assembled together along an assembling line. The automotive body with the body panels removably installed thereon and a feed jig on which the body panels can removably be installed thereon, are alternately fed along a first feed path. Then, the body panels are removed from the automotive body while they are being fed along the first feed path and the body panels are installed on the feed jig which is fed upstream of the automotive body along the first feed path. The automotive body from which the body panels have been removed and the body panels which have been installed on the feed jig are thereafter coated. Thereafter, the coated automotive body and the coated body panels are fed along a second feed path. The body panels are removed from the feed jig while they are being fed along the second feed path and the removed body panels are installed on the automotive body which is also fed along the second feed path.

Abstract: An apparatus for affixing conveyor belt fasteners (12) to a conveyor belt (10) comprises locating device (54) for locating a plurality of fasteners at equally-spaced intervals with the legs (14, 16) of the fasteners embracing an edge of the belt. A fastener affixing arrangement (30) is movable stepwise by way of an advancing mechanism (118), and is adapted to deform the arms of a fastener onto the belt, to insert a staple (24) through the arms of the fastener and through the belt and to deform the ends of the staple projecting through the belt and through the arms of the fastener. In contrast to prior art devices, the affixing arrangement (30) and the advancing mechanism (118) are driven by an actuating arrangement having an input which is rotatable continuously in one direction in order to operate the apparatus.

Abstract: The vehicular driving shaft is oriented and conveyed vertically around to plural assembling stations where component parts of a first joint unit are assembled to a lower end of the shaft whereupon the shaft is reversed and the component parts of the second joint unit are thereafter assembled to the now lower other end of the shaft. Plural carriers hold the shaft vertically as they are driven intermittently to plural stations, each station having an appropriate assembling device, the stations being grouped to first assemble the first joint unit and then to assemble the second.

Abstract: An automobile assembling apparatus is provided to provisionally assemble a set of front and rear drive system assemblies, each having at least a suspension system with a damper unit dangling thereon, to a vehicle body prior to rigidly securing, and thereby setting up, the front and rear drive system assemblies and vehicle body into one unit with fasteners in an automobile assembling line and comprises a carrier pallet for carrying the set of front and rear drive system assemblies placed thereon in position, a conveyor for conveying the front and rear drive system assemblies on the carrier pallet to a provisional assembling station wherre front and rear drive system assemblies are provisionally assembled to vehicle bodies, an overhead conveyor for conveying the vehicle body above the provisional assembling station and lowering it on the front and rear drive system assemblies to provisionally assemble the front and rear drive system assemblies to the vehicle body, and a holding device installed at the provision

Abstract: The invention concerns an installation for finishing window frame assemblies starting from a bare opening frame and a bare fixed frame, each frame comprising grooves and shoulders to receive hardware, external seals, glazing unit spacers, glazing units, beading seals and beading. The installation is formed of two continuous lines of modular stations arranged in two parallel reference planes, the first comprising fixed frame finishing stations and the second comprising opening frame finishing stations. The opening frame finishing line is connected at its downstream end to the fixed frame finishing line by means of a storage and transfer station facing a station for assembling opening frames to fixed frames, itself located in the reference plane, together with the glazing unit fitting and fixing station and the beading fitting station.

Abstract: Two embodiments of assembly devices particularly adapted for assembling components such as IC chips on a printed circuit board. The arrangement includes a pair of carriages each of which supports gripping means and the supporting and driving arrangements for the carriages permits a very compact assembly and prevents interference between the carriages during their movement. The carriage has an improved supporting arrangement that prevents binding and embodiments are shown wherein the gripping devices carried by the carriages may either pick up units from one or both sides of the device.

Abstract: A spool around which a roll film is to be wound is carried by a pallet having a spool holding shaft which holds the spool and rotates the spool under a force transmitted thereto from outside the pallet and a pair of film pinch arms which pinch the outer end portion of the roll film wound around the spool and is moved from station to station in a film cassette assembly line.

Abstract: An automatic wheel mounting apparatus provided with a robot for positioning a wheel on a hub of an automobile and for tightening nuts onto hub studs, which has a lifting device for lifting the hub in a direction to cancel the camber angle, a head positioned by the robot, and a measurement and positioning unit disposed on the head and having a hub center measuring device, a hub stud positioning device, and a hub inclination measuring device, whereby an inclination condition of the hub surface due to steering angle or the like is detected by the hub inclination measuring device to cause the measurement and positioning unit to confront the hub, the hub center is measured by the hub center measuring device to align the center of the measurement and positioning unit with the hub center, and then the hub is rotated by the hub stud positioning device to position the hub studs at predetermined positions.

Abstract: An assembly device includes automatic assembly facilities to bring together the different parts of an angle linkage. Such automatic assembly facilities are made up of an assembly machine including, in particular, a conveyer moving forward step-by-step in order to progressively bring the angle linkage adjacent to an assembly position and/or a series of assembly positions. The machine, moreover, includes a device for imparting forward motion, a device for putting the different parts integrally connected with the conveyer in the active position and/or the waiting position, a device for the lateral displacement of riveting, facilities for monitoring, and in combination with these devices, facilities for rotation giving the angle linkage a succession of sequential rotation movements causing certain parts of the angle linkage to face successively upwardly.

Abstract: A permanently installed manufacturing system, to join together loose part sub-assemblies with quick change workstations and exchange tool transporters. The flexible manufacturing process involves the automatic, or manual, joining of loose components, regardless of the assembly technology used, the model mix required, or the type of product to be assembled. The system allows the utilization of interchangeable flex-tools, supported on various types of power and free transporters, that can be programmably controlled and automatically changes over. The system will accommodate batch runs, random runs, prototype runs, as well as synchronous and asynchronous operations.

Abstract: An improved device for processing workpieces is provided having a lower tool which receives a workpiece and which can be moved against an upper tool where the workpiece can be processed. It also has a lifting frame with a lifting table and a separate tool frame which can be mounted on the lifting frame in an easily releasable manner. The present device uses a modular construction to enable the tool frames to be easily interchanged. The tool frame consists of a head plate upon which is mounted the upper tool, a base plate upon which is mounted the lower tool and a plurality of columns there-between. The base plate is detachably connected to the tool frame. When a tool frame is to be moved onto the lifting frame, the base plate must be attached to the tool frame. Then the tool frame can be placed onto the columns of the lifting frame.

Abstract: Workpiece carriers are fed to successive work stations along conveyor tracks at which stations work operations are performed on individual parts on the carrier and in which a defect signal is allocated when appropriate. After a work operation has been performed a coding member is left in a normal switching position corresponding to a defect coding or displaced into a switching position corresponding to an accept coding if the work operations performed were satisfactory. In a coding device displaceable coding elements are supported by a workpiece carrier and traverse a detector device at the work processing station and a switching element for displacing the coding element from a reject coding switch position to an accept coding switch position. Advantageously an accept coding is only secured by a deliberate action when satisfactory work processing has been completed and thus subsequent processing of defective parts is avoided simply and with great reliability.

Abstract: A stairway fabricating apparatus includes a structural machine frame that can support an elongated linear stringer work piece thereupon. A plurality of tread supports include multiple work stations which are movably supported by the frame for simultaneously supporting multiple, selectively pre-spaced stair-step treads in a position against the stringer so that the tread and stringer can be connected to define thereafter horizontal stair-step positions of staircase treads that are of a pre-selected spacing and of a pre-selected angular position with respect to the stringer. Connection of the treads to the stringers can be accomplished by welding, for example, once the correct linear spacing and the correct angular position of the treads are selected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining panels, which panels have bevelled trailing and leading edge faces, the apparatus and method abut the trailing and leading edge faces of adjacent panels and secure them together by means of an adhesive and the application of a force to the scarf joint.

Abstract: A windowpane mounting system for mounting a windowpane on a vehicle body comprises a vehicle body conveyor for intermittently feeding the vehicle body, and a windowpane mounting robot for mounting a windowpane on the vehicle body at a windowpane mounting station. The windowpane mounting robot is arranged to be movable between a first mounting position for mounting one of the windowpanes for the windshield and the rear window and a second mounting position for mounting the other windowpane, the first mounting position being further than the second mounting position from a windowpane supply station at which the windowpane mounting robot receives the windowpanes, and is arranged to perform a mounting operation at the first mounting position in response to the feeding of the vehicle body to said windowpane mounting station by the vehicle body conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for inserting the gerotor oil pump assembly into the housing of an engine. The present invention provides a first jaw and a second jaw which allow the gear assembly to be picked up by the robot or the like while at the same time decreasing the possibility of lock up between the primary outer and secondary inner gears of the gerotor assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming an integral three-dimensional object from laminations of the same or gradually varying shape. The apparatus includes a supply station, a work station for forming a material into a plurality of laminations for the three-dimensional object, a control station for directing the operation of the work station, an assembling station for stacking the laminations in sequence into the three-dimensional object, and bonding the laminations to complete the formation of the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: The jacket blanks punched out from a film web are folded to give jackets and then closed by spot welding with the aid of a wavy resistance belt, the welding temperature being produced for a short time by means of a current pulse in the resistance belt.

Abstract: A continuously operable press for the manufacture of laminates and similar products has a heated press roll, two guide rolls, and at least one tensioning roll. One end of the rolls is journaled in bearings at a fixed support wall and the other end of each roll is removably journaled in bearings of a movable support wall. A pressure belt is passing over the rolls, but a decorating roll sleeve can be slid on and of from the press roll, and this provides a decoration on the adjacent laminate surface. The press has a device for lifting the relaxed pressure belt so as to remove the decorating roll sleeve. The lifter device has at least two transverse lift bars with suction heads, and the lift bars are distributed about the upper circumferential region of the press roll. Compressed air can be introduced between the press roll and the decorating roll sleeve when taking the decorating roll sleeve from the press roll.

Abstract: A machine for removing the closure or cap and the plastic base cup from a soft plastic bottle includes a conveyor which advances bottles sidewise along a horizontal path. During such advance, the bottles move along a stationary bar which holds the bottles against turning while the caps are engaged by a plurality of stationary serrated blade assemblies so that, due to the advance of the bottles, these assemblies turn the caps and unthread them from the bodies of the bottles. At the same time, stationary cams engage the base cups and the advance of the bottles causes the cams to pull the cups endwise off the bottoms of the bottle bodies. Subsequently, a sensor detects and is effective to separate clear bodies from colored bodies. As a result, the caps, the cups, clear bodies and colored bodies are separated for individual recycling.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatic assembling of a differential gear device, wherein a pair of pinions are introduced by a pinion support device into the chamber of a differential case through respective openings formed through the case, and the pinions are rotatably held between a pair of side gears disposed within the chamber, at respective symmetrical positions which are symmetrical with each other with respect to an axis of rotation of the side gears, so that the pinions are brought into meshing engagement with the side gears by a gear meshing device while one of the side gears is rotated about its axis by a rotating device and while the pinions are held at the respective symmetrical positions.