Abstract: Two mating fastener elements are attached to material and each other at a setting station through an electric motor. The motor rotates a cam having its profile cooperate with a cam follower on an upper pivotally mounted arm to move a ram, which supports one of the fastener elements, towards a support, which supports the other of the fastener elements. The support is moved by a lower pivotally mounted arm attached to the cam by a crank arm so that it has a harmonic motion. The ram is stopped and held in its stopped position before a controlled setting force is applied through the support to move the other fastener element into engagement with the one fastener element.

Abstract: A tieing device in the form of a wire element preferably made of spring steel consists of a straight piece of wire with an elbow and two hooks facing in opposite directions. The wire element is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and furthermore simple to apply. An apparatus for fitting the wire elements uses a particular oblique placement of a wire element magazine and two plungers, one of which displaces the wire element sideways and the other subsequently pushes one hook under one of the reinforcing rods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bolt delivery system having a bolt magazine movably attached to a magazine base which in turn is affixed to a rock bolter having a bolt driver. The bolt magazine moves between a work position and a park position. In its work position, a linear incremental bolt advancing mechanism advances the bolts to where they are aligned with the bolt driver, and, in combination with a bolt-embracing arm, maintains the aligned bolt until it is engaged by the bolt driver. After the bolt driver has engaged the bolt and advanced it to engage a bolt centralizer provided to position the bolt in a pre-drilled hole in a rock surface, the bolt magazine is moved to its park position. At which time, the bolt driver is further advanced driving the bolt into the pre-drilled hole. The linear incremental bolt advancing mechanism preferably has a lower and an upper bolt advancing mechanism, and more preferably, provides the bolts a component of motion toward the rock surface.

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 IC package transfer mechanism for transferring molded IC packages to and from a flat tray with a large number of IC holder nests in an array and an IC magazine adapted to accommodate a large number of IC packages in a row within a tubular housing to be turned into a tilted position in loading and unloading operations to let IC packages slide into or out of the cylindrical housing automatically by gravity.

Abstract: A feeding system for feeding blank contacts to a crimping device for crimping the contacts onto ends of lead wires. The contact feed system includes a bowl, and a scoop for removing contacts from the bowl. The scoop is preferably mounted on the end of a rotating arm so that the scoop describes the locus of a circumference of a vertical circle when the arm rotates. Contacts fall, under gravity, from the scoop, when it is near the apogee of travel, onto an angled chute that guides the contacts into a space between two parallel contact orienting rails. The contacts are stacked between the supporting contact orienting rails and a shuttle gate controlledly carries a single contact at a time into a drop tube that feeds the contact to a crimping device for crimping onto an end of a wire lead.

Abstract: A belt of a variator is automatically assembled into a pair of pulleys. The pulleys are held by a pulley holding unit which has a pair of holding members for holding the pulleys such that axial lines of the pulleys become parallel to each other. The pulleys are arranged to be relatively moved such that a sheave half of each of the pulleys is brought into a groove of the other of the pulleys. A belt feeding unit feeds the belt. A belt assembly head pinches the belt to be fed from the belt feeding unit for extending it across the pair of pulleys. The belt assembly head has belt pinching devices and an arrangement for moving the belt pinching devices which pinch an intermediate portion of one side of the belt and an intermediate portion of the other side of the belt.

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: An automated assembly machine for fabricating large mechanical structures including a floor assembly jig for receiving and holding parts in a desired orientation, a pair of carriages, a first drive mechanism for independently driving the carriages longitudinally, a second drive mechanism for moving the carriages vertically, a tool tray mounted on the carriages, and a plurality of tools, including a drill, a hole diameter measurement probe, a nut runner, and an electromagnetic riveter, mounted on the tool tray for lateral movement toward and away from a workpiece clamp-up position. The tools are positioned at the workpiece clamp-up position by moving one of the carriages longitudinally along the floor assembly jig and raising the other carriage to elevate the tool tray to a desired elevation.

Abstract: A press assembly for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form lift-tab can ends. A tab press is mounted on a frame for forming at least one lane of lift-tabs in a strip of metal stock material wherein the strip of metal stock material with the formed lift-tabs loosely attached thereto exits the tab press and is passed through a half twist to an inverted condition before entering a tab punching station. The tab punching station punches the formed tabs from the strip of metal stock material into a lane of formed tabs. A conveying moves the lane of formed tabs from the tab punching station to a conversion press wherein the conversion press attaches the lift-tabs to the can end.

Abstract: A substrate transport path adjustment method allows adjustment of the transport path of a substrate to be completed by placing a magazine between regulating members for regulating the position of the magazine provided roughly in a straight line with respect to guide members which guide a substrate along a prescribed path, positioning the magazine with respect to the prescribed path by moving both regulating members in synchronization and in the same direction after causing the regulating members to engage with the magazine by moving them relatively in the direction in which they approach each other, pushing the substrate out from the magazine to bring it between the guide members, and causing the guide members to approach the substrate.

Abstract: In order to achieve a disturbance-free and accurate supply of elements to be conveyed to a metal sheet and/or panel, with a minimum mounting height, a device is disclosed for a tool mounted in a press for fastening bolt-shaped elements, in particular screws, on a metal sheet or panel. The device has a punching head, a fixed member for supplying the elements arranged in opposite rows to the punching head, and a rigid connection between the tappet channel of the punching head and the concatenating station (loading device). A loading bushing acts as a loading device, taking up the elements individually in a fixed orientation and then concatenating them in the head station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for setting rock bolts. The device employs a common element for affixing the end of a feed shell with respect to a rock surface, stabilizing the feed shell and providing a common centralizer for centering all subsequent bolt setting operations. The device also has a bolt delivery system which stores, advances and positions the bolts in line with a bolt driver. The bolt delivery system has a bolt magazine which, when in a work position, advances bolts along peripheral surfaces into a position where they are engaged by a bolt driver. The bolt so engaged is then advanced into the centralizer at which point the bolt magazine is rotated away from the engaged bolt to a park position where it will not interfere with the bolt driver as it continues to advance the bolt. The bolt magazine preferably also serves as a bolt plate magazine which accommodates bolt plates with which the bolts are engaged.

Abstract: Method for assembling a piston ring in a circumferential groove of a piston wherein a plurality of ring nest members are disposed about a common axis for radial movement toward or away from the axis between radially contracted positions and radially expanded positions, The nest members collectively form a circular opening concentric with the axis and a ring-receiving recess concentric about the opening when they are in the contracted positions. The ring nest members are movable from the radially contracted to the expanded positions when the ring is expanded so as to collectively enlarge the opening for receiving the piston and the recess to maintain the expanded ring substantially concentric with the axis while the fixed axial dimension prevents "oil canning". A plurality of radially and axially movable ring expanding fingers are disposed about the axis and positionable in the opening for radially expanding the ring while it resides in the recess.

Abstract: A rivet inserting device for inserting multiple rivets and the like into a rivet-holding belt or device omprising a hopper containing the rivets, a rotatable rivet-receiving wheel having a plural of flanges installed on both sides of a core portion, and having grooves receiving the rivets one by one displaced in the specified distance on the peripheries of the flanges, a rivet-feeding route installed between the hopper and the rivet-receiving wheel, shaped as a slit having a width lager than the diameter of the stem portions of rivets, and smaller than the diameter of the head portion thereof. A revolving roller is located in the neighborhood of the hopper across the rivet-feeding route and is provided with a groove along the axial direction on the periphery thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing a spring retaining ring into a groove of a workpiece includes a storage unit, a passageway, a groove locator and a pusher. The passageway delivers the ring from the storage unit to the groove and includes interior and exterior portions as well as orientation member for orientation of the ring during its motion through the interior of the passageway. The substantially flat, spring-type groove locator has one of its ends connected to the passageway and another free end adapted for engagement with the groove. The pusher is movable within the passageway for forcible delivery of the spring retaining ring to the groove. In the operation, the free end of the groove locator is positioned within the groove to guide movement of the ring prior to its entry into the groove, whereas the free end of the groove locator is forcibly removed from the groove upon the ring entering the same.

Abstract: The specification discloses a system for producing and distributing index coded hangers to a plurality of locations, wherein the index indicia is correlated to the characteristics of the garment to be hung from the hanger at each of the plurality of locations. A unique hanger and index cap is disclosed, along with a method and means of making the same that is particularly adapted to high volume semi-automated operation. A device for assembling the index cap and hanger at the time the garment is hung is also disclosed.The system contemplates the localized production of the index caps for improved control of batch color and other characteristics, with remote molding and assembly of the hangers at said plurality of remote locations.

Abstract: A machine for attaching handles to pairs of containers. The machine has a handle reservoir fixture for retaining a stack of handles adjacent to a container flow path. A vertically moveable handle insertion fixture is located above the container flow path for receiving a handle from the stack, delivering the handle to a pair of containers and securing the handle about neck of the containers. A pusher delivers the handle from the stack to the handle insertion fixture.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically causing the end face of a self-piercing nut (N) to function as a punch for piercing a metallic panel (P) laid on a caulking die (1) so that the nut is fixed to the panel. The apparatus has a pair of gripping fingers (31, 32) attached to the opposite sides of the lower end of a striking punch (2), and has a workpiece butting leg member (25) extending in parallel with a vertical bore (4) formed through a slide guide (3). The leg member (25) is attached to and depends from the bottom surface of the slide guide (3), so that the punch (2) holding the nut (N) by means of the gripping fingers (31, 32) will penetrate the slide guide (3) and then descend along the leg member (25), until the nut punches and is secured to the metal panel (P). Thus, the self-piecing nut (N) can be fixed to any bent bottom of or any narrow recess in the metal panel (P).

Abstract: The invention is embodied in a tooling jig system, which includes an alignment frame having plural fiducial fastening devices at spaced locations thereon and a conveyor guide extending along a length of the alignment frame a magazine adjacent the alignment frame, including a magazine conveyor guide in alignment with the conveyor guide of the alignment frame, a conveyor frame including guide apparatus for confining movement of the conveyor frame along a line of travel coincident with the conveyor guides of the magazine and alignment frames during travel of the conveyor frame from the magazine to the alignment frame, plural fiducial fastening devices at spaced locations on the conveyor frame, and apparatus for moving the conveyor frame from a starting location in the magazine to an end-of-travel location in the alignment frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically placing a lid on a component package and then securing the lid with a clip. The apparatus includes a programmable robot arm having a gripping assembly, an inspection station, a first conveyor for conveying a boat along a path between a first position and a second position, a pick arm for removing a first lid from a lid feeder station, a second conveyor for reciprocating the pick arm between first and second positions to thereby transfer the first lid from the lid feeder station to the inspection station, and a camera located at the inspection station for inspecting the first lid. The apparatus further includes a rotary actuator arm and a mechanism for reciprocating the rotary actuator arm into contact with a first lid bottom surface following inspection of the first lid and for releasing the pick arm.

Abstract: A long link pin for a vehicle track is extracted cold from interference fit in bosses by means of a high pressure, short stroke hydraulic ram mechanism which includes a guide tube defining a guide enclosure into which short drift blocks may be loaded through a window on successive ram reciprocations. The drift blocks stack to form a drift which displaces the link pin. One drift block is arranged to bridge the side boss and guide tube, providing lateral support for the apparatus. The exposed part of the drift is short, thereby reducing risk of bending, and the ram is always close to the pin irrespective of pin length making a compact length displacement arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus for tagging plants includes a frame attached to a stand, and jaws operably mounted on the frame for receiving a plant branch. The apparatus includes a strip advancing mechanism, a tag advancing mechanism, a fastening mechanism, and a programmable controller for controlling the actuation of each of these mechanisms. The strip advancing mechanism is configured to advance a section of flexible strip onto the jaws in a loop around the plant branch from a continuous supply of strip material, and includes a cutter for cutting the section from the continuous supply of strip material once it is advanced. The tag advancing mechanism is configured to advance a tag to a position proximate the jaws from a continuous supply of interconnected tags, and includes a cutter for cutting the tag from the supply of tags. The fastening mechanism includes a stapler for stapling a staple to the tag to hold the tag to the section of strip and to hold the ends of the section together in the loop around the plant branch.

Abstract: Attaching machine has readily removable upper and lower tool assembly which can be slid out of the machine frame when tools need to be changed. Tool assembly drive means is automatically connected as the new tool assembly is slid into final position.

Abstract: An apparatus for the assembly of grommets on electrical cables for use in an automatic cable-processing machine, which is simple and cost effectively constructed so as to achieve a shorter assembly time, per grommet, and utilizes a step-wise rotatable turning device which includes several mandrels whereby, in a first setting (I), always one grommet is pushed onto a mandrel while in a second setting (II) of the turning device, the grommet is pushed, via a slip-on unit, onto a thicker portion of the mandrel for the purpose of expansion, with an assembly head including a grommet-receiving portion and an expanding portion by means of which, in a further setting (IV) of the turning device, the grommet is pulled from the mandrel, whereby the grommet is held in an expanded state, using the expanding portion and pushed onto the cable.

Abstract: A receptacle having a floor with parallel slots to receive and collate screws in a collating section and to queue them in a queuing section of the slots which has an intersecting escapement for depositing screw individually into receivers. The receptacle reciprocates to tip the slots downwardly in one slot direction and then the other. A retainer overlying the queuing section excludes loose screws and retains the queued screws in the slots during tipping. The retainer moves away from the slots when the receptacle is tipped downward toward the collating section to permit displaced screws to clear to the collating section. A gate at the leading edge of the retainer closes off the margin between the retainer and the floor to entry under the retainer of loose screws outside the slots. Screw conduits leading from the escapement reciprocate with the receptacle and connect with stationary receivers through articulations.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying angle members to a pallet supporting a stack of containers, said apparatus working in conjunction with a known type strapping machine having a fixed vertical support and a mobile horizontal support, and comprising magazines, constrained to the vertical support, for holding angle members, and an angle member moving device, constrained to the mobile horizontal support, for withdrawing the angle members from the magazines and positioning the angle member on the pallet corners.

Abstract: Electronic parts that have axially extending leads are separated from a first strip on which they are supplied for being rearranged and retaped to provide a second strip for supply to an automatic assembly machine. The parts are separated from the first strip by cutting the strip transverse to the strip at locations between adjacent parts. The tape chips remaining on the separated parts are removed by engaging them with movable jigs, located on opposite sides of a body portion of the part, and by moving the jigs along the leads away from the body portion. The jigs are mounted on a rotating rotor and engage grooves in a stationary cam. The jigs move toward and away from each other by the engagement with the grooves as the jigs are moved around the stationary cam. After the parts are separated and the tape chips removed, the parts are transferred to a retaping machine to be attached to the second strip.

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: An improved automatic rivet feed apparatus which can be used as a retrofit to an existing power driven riveting tool or incorporated integrally into a riveting tool. A rivet strip holds each of the plurality of rivets at individual fixed positions on the rivet strip. Included is a rivet strip release hook which stops the rivets, as they are advanced one-by-one, at rivet pick-up point and releases each of the rivets from the rivet strip. A hand mounted on the end of a pneumatic ram grips the rivets at the rivet pick-up point, the hand having a biased latch to prevent slippage of the rivets. The pneumatic ram moves the rivet forward and rotates to place the rivet in alignment with the nose piece of the riveting tool. The pneumatic ram then retracts and inserts the mandrel of the rivet into the nose piece and returns to the rivet pick-up point to repeat the steps. A rivet pick-up mechanism is used to hold the rivet as it is released from the rivet strip and moved to the nose piece of the rivet strip.

Abstract: In a machine for dispensing stackable roofing washers individually and for driving fasteners through such washers, a shuttle is actuatable to displace a lowermost washer of one from a stack, either a small, circular or large, square washer. A gate is biased toward a lowermost position wherein it provides sufficient clearance for the lowermost washer but not any overlying washer to pass beneath it. A pawl mounted pivotally to the gate is biased to a lowermost position wherein the pawl engages a small washer displaced by the shuttle so as to restrain it against backward movement. A stop is adjustable so as to limit movement of a washer of whichever size is being displaced. A measuring bar is mounted via the stop. A screw gun, which provides a primary handle, and a secondary handle are mounted to an upright element so as to be independently adjustable.

Abstract: A cord fastener assembling apparatus includes a first inclined chute for gravity delivery of a succession of female members to a first pocket and a second inclined chute for gravity delivery of a succession of male member to a second pocket which is aligned with the first pocket. An assembling block is reciprocally movable between an assembling position in which an assembling chamber is disposed between AND aligned with the first and second pockets and a discharging position remote from the assembling position. First and second rod-like pushers are reciprocally movable, in timed relation to one another, to force the female member and the male member, respectively, form the first and second pockets into the assembling chamber of the assembling clock. Within the assembling chamber, the female member and the male member are forcibly coupled together into an assembled cord fastener.

Abstract: A tagging apparatus for attaching tags to plants includes a frame member, a holding/clamping member operably connected to the frame member for holding a tag, and a first jaw movably mounted on the frame member. The first jaw is adapted to close against a second jaw on the frame member, with the jaws including surfaces forming an opening adapted to enclose a plant stem/branch when closed. A pneumatically driven mechanism is attached to the frame member and is adapted to grip and advance a strip of flexible material onto the surfaces so that the surfaces direct the strip of flexible material around the opening means to form a loop around the plant stem/branch. The apparatus also includes a pneumatically powered cutter and stapler mechanism attached to the frame member for cutting the strip from a roll of strip material and then for stapling the strip of flexible material in the loop around the stem/branch and to the tag to thus permanently retain the tag to the stem/branch.

Abstract: A machine for attaching hinges to a door having a carriage movable and longtitudinally positionable along a door edge into which the following elements are integrated:1. A receiving block for receiving a hinge and screws and positioning them for application of the hinge to the door edge. The block contains apertures for receiving the screws and, subsequently, screw bits for driving the screws through the block. The block is movable from a hinge and screw receiving position to a hinge applying position.2. A hinge magazine for individually feeding hinges to the hinge block.3. A screw feeder for feeding screws individually to the hinge block.4. A screwdriver unit having individually operated screwdrivers each positioned to have its bit received by an aperture in the receiving block and each having an air motor for rotating its screw bit and an air piston for independently moving its screw bit forward to drive a screw.

Abstract: Tee-nut support assembly to supply Tee-nuts to the driver device of a Tee-nut setting apparatus, and a package of rolled Tee-nuts connected in a strip for such apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for automated replacement of ring travelers on spinning or twisting rings is disclosed comprising generally a housing having two planar support members, parallel to each other. A lift-out device is pivotably supported in a first of the two planar members and a device for the attachment of a new ring traveler is supported in the second plane, parallel to the first plane. The devices function by guide systems, pivotable by eccentric cams, located on a common drive shaft to be able to move the two devices between an operational and an off position. A housing, containing the two devices, is mobile along a ring rail of a spinning machine. The lift-out device lifts out a ring traveler which is to be replaced from the spinning ring on the ring rail. The attachment device subsequently attaches a new ring traveler from a magazine rod onto the spinning ring.

Abstract: A rolled strip of Tee-nuts connected together by flexible means for use in Tee-nut setting machines, and a rotatable table support for such rolled strip of Tee-nuts.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of a device for detaching portions of a planer workpiece of cardboard used in the folding box industry. The workpiece contains at least one blank for a folding box and adjoining waste pieces which are removed from the plane of the workpiece by the device. The device is formed of a plurality of breaking out pins inserted into a breaking out plate, the pins corresponding in position to the positions of the waste pieces of the blank. The apparatus includes a pressing element for pressing each breaking out pin into the breaking out plate and a magazine device for feeding the pins to the pressing element. A guide piece is associated with the magazine device and the pressing element which acts to guide each pin from the magazine. The guide piece is provided in the feed path of the of the magazine and is provided with a recess for receiving each individual breaking out pin.

Abstract: A tape automated bonding feeder apparatus employs a vertical carrier extraction unit to successively supply electronic circuit components to an output station from which a component is seized for placement and attachment to a circuit board. The feeder apparatus, which may be mounted on a rollable cart, includes a generally rectilinear housing on a top plate of which one or more magazines are mounted. A magazine contains a stack of circuit component carriers. The bottom of the magazine has a carrier extraction unit which controllably allows an individual component carrier at the bottom of the stack to drop away onto an underlying carrier shuttle. The carrier shuttle is supported for movement between the magazine and a lead forming unit. The lead forming unit detaches a component from the carrier and forms the leads of the excised component for mounting the component to a circuit board.

Abstract: The specification discloses a system for producing and distributing index coded hangers to a plurality of locations, wherein the index indicia is correlated to the characteristics of the garment to be hung from the hanger at each of the plurality of locations. A unique hanger and index cap is disclosed, along with a method and means of making the same that is particularly adapted to high volume semi-automated operation. A device for assembling the index cap and hanger at the time the garment is hung is also disclosed.The system contemplates the localized production of the index caps for improved control of batch color and other characteristics, with remote molding and assembly of the hangers at said plurality of remote locations.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting an expander ring into an inner circumferential groove of a split piston ring includes a first magazine for storing a stack of piston rings; and a second magazine for storing a stack of expander rings. The second magazine has a discharge end and a longitudinal axis coinciding with a longitudinal axis of the expander ring stack. There are further provided a device for displacing a piston ring from the first magazine into axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the second magazine at the discharge end thereof; a spreader device for radially outwardly spreading the piston ring positioned at the discharge end; and a pusher for pushing an expander ring from the second magazine parallel to the longitudinal axis into the piston ring spread-open by the spreader device.

Abstract: A system for the handling and storage of large capacity collapsible shipping containers particularly adapted for use at major airports handling large volumes of cargo. The system provides a specific location for storing large numbers of collapsed containers in planar juxtaposed vertical relation including a multicompartment rack. The pallet elements of the containers are separated during disassembly and are stored in a horizontal stack in a well adjacent the rack. The rack may be moveable from a point adjacent the well to permit a similar rack to be positioned in its place. Means is also provided for the movement to and from this location of erected containers for use at a remote location or the collapse of erected containers for storage in the rack.

Abstract: A machine for automatically distributing piston rings and spacers into the grooves of a piston is disclosed. The machine comprises magazine tubes onto which stacks of the spacers and rails are threaded. The machine further comprises a widened bore in which the piston is seated as rails or spacers are automatically released from the tubes and threaded into the piston grooves.

Abstract: A neck booklet machine is described which places an elastic band having a booklet connected to the band around a neck of a container. The booklets are vertically stacked in a curved magazine and pulled by a vacuum cup from the curved magazine, which matches the natural curvature of a stack of booklets having an elastic band on one side. The bottom of the curved magazine is open to allow the elastic bands to hang free. The neck booklet is picked up by a carrier pad and held against and transported along a slide plate. A low vacuum nozzle pulls the loose elastic band downwardly to enable a loop of the elastic band to be picked up by a needle point and held precisely below the booklet on the slide plate. The elastic band is pulled down and around an opening horn extending from the needle point as the neck booklet moves along the slide plate by the carrier pad. The opening horn is carried on supports on the bottom and side with a top opening to allow the elastic band to pass over the opening horn.

Abstract: A ring expander and assembly machine, having a loading station, a spreading station and assembly station, is operable to expand a spiral retaining ring in place on a workpiece. Spiral retaining rings with locking tabs and slots are transported on a shuttle from the loading station to the spreading station, at which location, scraper blades and fulcrum cams cooperate to spread the ring and remove the tabs from the slots so that an expansible collar assembly can be used to expand the ring. A transporter moves the collar assembly with the ring to the assembly station where a stripper sleeve removes the ring from the collar assembly to the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing corner protectors having elongate panels meeting at right angles onto vertical corners of pallet loads having vertical sides defining vertical corner comprises a magazine to hold a supply of the corner protectors and mechanisms for removing one corner protector from the magazine, transferring the corner protector to a position where one of its panels is disposed in close proximity to a vertical side of such a load, and displacing the corner protector until its other panel engages another side at the same corner of the load. In the magazine, the corner protectors extend vertically and are nested within one another. Also, the corner protectors are guided forwardly along a supporting chute. A wheeled carriage having an upright member is mounted operatively in the chute and prevents the corner protectors from tipping backwards.

Abstract: A machine for attaching hinges to a door and jamb member in an automatic or semi-automatic manner with the door edge and jamb face positioned in a generally vertical plane. The machine comprises a framework with a movable and longitudinally positionable carriage on which the following elements are integrated.1. An apparatus to hold a magazine of approximately 12 hinges (or butts) with fingers to move one hinge upward and position it on a receiving block, the fingers being retractable and movable downward to a ready position.2. A second apparatus to hopper feed screws from above apparatus number 1, wherein the screws move downward into apertures through the receiving block positioned for alignment with screw holes in the hinge leaves of the hinge positioned on the opposite side of the block.3. The third apparatus has means for rotating the loaded receiving block 90 degrees to a generally vertical plane, moving it against door edge and jamb face and engaging individual screwdriving motors to attach the hinge.

Abstract: A modular punch press station is provided for use with a punch press which has a vertically movable ram. The station is useful for inserting a rivet-like contact into an aperture in a carrier piece and it comprises a mounting plate for carrying components of the modular punch press station including a supply device such as a vibratory feeder. The mounting member also carries an insertion station which positions a single contact below the ram in a vertical orientation in the aperture in the carrier piece. Mechanism is provided for feeding the contacts from the supply device to the insertion station such that only a single contact is presented to the insertion station at a time.

Abstract: An apparatus operable for inserting an arcuate thrust metal insert into an arcuate gap defined by a surface of a crank arm of a crankshaft and an arcuate groove formed on an end face of a bearing portion of a cylinder block, when the crankshaft is positioned on the cylinder block such that a journal formed adjacent to the crank arm of the crankshaft is fitted on an arcuate concave bearing surface of the bearing portion. The apparatus includes a device for holding the insert and positioning the insert at a circumferential position of the journal opposite to the arcuate bearing surface of the bearing portion diametrically of the journal, such that the insert is substantially concentric with the arcuate groove.

Abstract: An electrical component placing apparatus having a rotary head is required to be further accelerated to place an electrical component. In order to accelerate the operation of the placing apparatus, the indexing speed of the rotary head must be accelerated. However, since the rotary head is heavy, its rotating inertial is large. Thus, when the indexing speed of the rotary head is accelerated, a vibration at the time of stopping indexing of the rotary head is increased as well. Therefore, mistakes of picking up the electrical component by the pick and place head and placing the electrical component on the substrate occur. This invention reduces the outer diameter of a rotor for indexing a pick and place head smaller than the diameter of a guide for guiding the indexing of a pick and place head, disposes a bracket for supporting the pick and place head along the wall surface of the rotor and reduces the rotating diameter of the pick and place head smaller than the diameter of the guide.