Abstract: A production system includes a shuttle (2) for moving a work (W) on a predetermined track (1), a storeroom (3) for storing components of a plurality of types to be assembled to the work, and a plurality of assembly stations (4) arranged along the track between the track and the storeroom (3), each assembly station (4) including an assembler (41) for selecting and attaching one of tools of a plurality of types corresponding to the types of components and assembling the components to the work (W) using the applied tool, and a conveyor unit (42) arranged between the assembler (41) and the storeroom (3) to convey the components stored in the storeroom (3) to the assembler (41).

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling multiple automotive body styles on a single assembly line. The apparatus includes a workstation with multiple geometry fixtures, at least one geometry fixture for each automotive body style to be processed at the work station. One geometry fixture is at a ready position of the work station to support an automotive component during a processing operation. The geometry fixtures can be exchanged at the ready position so that a production rate of the assembly line can be maintained. The apparatus also includes a lowerator for transferring an automotive component from an overhead transport system to the geometry fixture at the ready position.

Abstract: An automated fastening apparatus that includes a moveable fastening device. The fastening device is preferred provided on a platform that is moveably mounted to a linearly disposed track. A drive mechanism moves the platform and fastening device along at least a portion of the track. A non-moveable fastening device and/or multiple moveable fastening devices may be provided. Portable and non-portable embodiments are disclosed as well as tilt control, electronic sensors and firing interval selection, amongst related features.

Abstract: An assembly system and method thereof for manufacturing an outdoor unit of a dual-unit type air conditioner employs an assembly system in which the outdoor unit is assembled, a refrigerant charging section in which the assembled outdoor unit is charged with a refrigerant, a testing section in which the outdoor unit charged with the refrigerant is tested, and a packaging section in which the outdoor unit after passing the test in the testing section is packaged and forwarded. The outdoor unit is carried on a mobile cart through the assembly section, the refrigerant charging section, and the testing section.

Abstract: An assembly system and method thereof for manufacturing an outdoor unit of a dual-unit type air conditioner employs an assembly system in which the outdoor unit is assembled, a refrigerant charging section in which the assembled outdoor unit is charged with a refrigerant, a testing section in which the outdoor unit charged with the refrigerant is tested, and a packaging section in which the outdoor unit after passing the test in the testing section is packaged and forwarded. The outdoor unit is carried on a mobile cart through the assembly section, the refrigerant charging section, and the testing section.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a crimping machine having a hopper assembly for receiving loose bulk quantities of elongated components and supplying them aligned end-to-end and in random orientation to a feeder device. The feeder device receives the components in an inlet chute and feeds each of the components one-at-time having a desired orientation to an outlet chute. The feeder device includes a rotatable disk having a central chamber therein adapted to receive each of the components, and includes a releasable gate. The disk and gate function independently, as required, between the inlet chute and the outlet chute, to sequentially release (or invert and release) each of the components one-at-a-time and having a desired orientation for utilization, to a crimping assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle assembly line has a first line for a first mobile conveyor and a second line for a second mobile conveyor and the first line is connected to the second line with two hanger conveyor lines. Two working robots are disposed to the first mobile conveyor, one being positioned within a cabin of an upper body section and the other being positioned in front of the upper body section. The second mobile conveyor has a mechanism for altering a posture of the upper body section and a height position thereof. To the upper body section are mounted various small parts such as grommets with the first working robot during the course of running the first mobile conveyor in the first line. The second line has plural stations for mounting larger parts such as bumpers to the upper body section which is loaded on the second mobile conveyor and whose posture and position are aligned with the working robots disposed in the plural stations before entering the stations.

Abstract: A setting head for the installation of fastener elements having a head and shaft into a pre-apertured workpiece. The setting head has at least three holding fingers, with each holding finger initially centering, aligning, and positioning the element in the setting direction, both at the head and also at a distance from the head along the shaft.

Abstract: In an assembly line system, a self-propelled carrier 51 carrying thereon assembly workpieces is brought to a halt at an assembly station 11. When the assembly of the assembly workpieces is completed at the assembly station 11, the carrier 51 is driven out therefrom. More specifically, three pairs of assembly stations 11 are disposed in serial alignment and each assembly worker A-c is placed between his/her assembly station pair. Arranged on one side of the row of these three assembly station pairs is a guide line 2d. Station guide lines 12 respectively branch off from the guide line 2d so as to establish connections between the guide line 2d and the individual assembly stations 11. A carrier orientation reversing station 15 is connected to the guide line 2d located upstream of the upstreammost assembly station 11 so that carriers 51 enter ones of the assembly station pairs, in the reverse-orientation state.

Abstract: A pickup truck cab and box marrying and decking system for vehicle assembly plants is adapted to newer style pickup trucks in which portions of the box front end extend forwardly to wrap around the back corners of the cab to provide a flowing appearance. The disclosed system lifts the cab and box sections off skids on a first conveyor and transfers them to over a second conveyor bringing in a chassis frame. Measurement devices determine the position of locating fixtures on the frame. The cab and box sections are then brought together, or married, and are precisely aligned with the frame locating fixtures. The cab and box sections are then lowered to deck the married sections on the frame in precise alignment with the locating fixtures.

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 circuit board fabrication apparatus and method having a vibratory feeder tray is disclosed. The feeder tray is preferably of low mass and horizontally-disposed and has multiple grooves which closely fit electronic parts, and hollowed-out bottom portions, generally below the rails separating the grooves. The hollow portions significantly contribute to low mass. Almost 50% of the mass of the tray's top plate may be removed. The parts are picked up one at a time and placed at precise positions on circuit board substrates by the rotating nozzles of a pick-and-place turret. An electromagnetic coil operating below the grooves of the feeder tray smoothly and continuously advances the parts in the grooves to the region in which they are picked up by the nozzles. Additionally, a slider table supporting the vibratory feeder tray positions each groove of the feeder tray in turn at the uptake point of the turret.

Abstract: The invention is to an extractor for removing pins from storage tubes having a plurality of electronic semiconductor devices therein. A movable arm has an extractor pin on one end and is pivotally mounted to a frame on the other end. A head assembly for receiving a storage tube with a pin therein is moved under the extractor pin, actuating a solenoid for causing the movable arm to move the extractor pin toward and forcing the pin to be ejected from the storage tube so that the semiconductor devices can exit the storage tube.

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: Apparatus for making personal computer cards nests side walls with side channels and end walls with end channels to close an enclosure of a personal computer card and then qualifies the dimensions of the closed enclosure by forming the nested walls and channels, preferably by impacting the nested walls and channels within forming dies, to attain the critical length, width and thickness prescribed for the personal computer card.

Abstract: A discrete deck board remover apparatus comprises a pallet pusher assembly for pushing a pallet into a position in which a selected deck board can be removed by a deck board plow assembly. Once the defective deck board is removed, the pallet can be optionally removed from further operation or moved to a second position in which the pallet can be turned over and returned to the position with the opposite side up whereupon further defective deck boards can be removed by the deck board plow assembly.

Abstract: An assembly apparatus for assembling a sub-assembly of a swash plate type fluidic apparatus includes a holder adapted to hold an end of a driving shaft, a horizontal rail, a curved rail connected with the horizontal rail, a plurality of carriers adapted to seat pistons and a pair of hemispherical shoes as well and to move on the horizontal rail and the curved rail, transporting means adapted to move the carriers on the horizontal rail and the curved rail, a first orienting member adapted to positioned the shoes in spherical seats of the pistons with its surfaces, and a second orienting member disposed connectably with the first orienting member and including surfaces which incline gradually to an inclination angle of a swash plate. The carriers are moved continuously on the horizontal rail and the curved rail by the transporting means.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring an instrument panel assembly from a pick-up station to the interior of an automotive vehicle body for installation while the body moves along a path spaced laterally from the pick-up station. A bridge is mounted for movement along a track which is parallel to the path. The bridge extends between the pick-up station and the path. A swing frame assembly is mounted on the bridge for movement between the pick-up station and the path. The swing frame assembly has a pivoted arm which swings about a generally vertical axis. The arm is swingable from a receiving position for picking up an instrument panel assembly at the pick-up station to a transfer position in which the instrument panel assembly may be introduced into the body and installed therein when the carriage moves along the bridge and the bridge moves in unison with the body. A second bridge spaced from the first bridge is in the direction of the vehicle body movement also moves along the track.

Abstract: A pallet system for supporting a workpiece (such as an electric motor stator or rotor) during processing of the workpiece includes a pallet member on which a workpiece holder can be removably placed. The workpiece holder may have multiple workpiece-engaging sites, each of which is adapted to hold a differently configured workpiece, and multiple pallet-engaging sites, each of which is associated with a respective one of the workpiece-engaging sites and any one of which can be used to engage the pallet so that the workpiece holder can hold a workpiece of the appropriate configuration at the associated workpiece-engaging site. Methods and apparatus for storing and manipulating the workpiece holders are also disclosed.

Abstract: In attaching a work to a car body, the work (W) set on a work support unit (9) is positioned relative to the car body (1) in such a way that positioning pins (10) erected on a jig (8) are inserted into gauge holes (1a) formed in a lower surface of the car body (1), whereby an operator can attach the work (W) without carrying it up.

Abstract: A tool positioning assembly for receiving tooling for repairing heater penetrations at the lower end of a pressurizer supported on its end by a support skirt between the pressurizer and a base with the pressurizer having a surge line extending vertically into the apex of the lower spherical end of the pressurizer. A pair of circular tracks are mounted so as to be concentric with the pressurizer. The inner track is mounted to the surge line and the outer track is mounted so as to be below the outer periphery of the pressurizer. A carriage is movably mounted between the tracks so as to be movable therebetween and around the pressurizer. Cross slides mounted on the carriage provide horizontal movement. A vertical slide mounted on the upper cross slide provides vertical movement and is also rotatable around its own vertical axis for clearance purposes when maneuvering around the heater penetration nozzles.

Abstract: A pallet system for supporting a workpiece (such as an electric motor stator or rotor) during processing of the workpiece includes a pallet member on which a workpiece holder can be removably placed. The workpiece holder may have multiple workpiece-engaging sites, each of which is adapted to hold a differently configured workpiece, and multiple pallet-engaging sites, each of which is associated with a respective one of the workpiece-engaging sites and any one of which can be used to engage the pallet so that the workpiece holder can hold a workpiece of the appropriate configuration at the associated workpiece-engaging site. Methods and apparatus for storing and manipulating the workpiece holders are also shown and described.

Abstract: The device comprises a frame (1 to 6) on which a carriage (7) is mounted so as to slide horizontally and carrying three vices (8, 9, 10) which can move vertically in order to grip the second, minute and hour hands, respectively. The device also comprises apparatus for positioning and locking the carriage in a first position in which the vices are situated above the hands to be gripped, and in three other successive positions in which the vices are respectively opposite the sroddles of the movement (36).

Abstract: A door assembling apparatus for use in automobile assembly having a door transport unit for conveying a door and for maintaining a hinge member of a vehicle body and a corresponding hinge member of a door loosely engaged with each other, a hinge-pin attaching unit for inserting a gib-headed hinge pin through the engaged hinge members, and a stopper for receiving a leading end of the hinge pin as being projected from and through the engaged hinge members. The leading end of the hinge pin increases in diameter through plastic deformation thereof by the contact with the stopper, and this increased diameter effectively prevents disengagement of the pin from the hinge members. With these features, the anti-disengagement operation can be effected very efficiently and conveniently through the plastic deformation of the leading end of the pin which is realized by effectively utilizing the original function of the hinge-pin attaching means, i.e. the function for causing the hinge pin to enter the hinge members.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for assembling a seat for use in an automobile. The seat assembling apparatus comprises a rotary table which is horizontally rotatable; first and second setting tables which are mounted on the rotary table and on which a seat slider or a seat is placed in position; a rotation locking mechanism for locking the rotary table at a predetermined rotational position thereof; a locking mechanism for locking the seat cushion frame on the first setting table; a widening/narrowing mechanism for varying the distance between the plates of the first setting table; and an upward/downward pivoting mechanism for pivoting the second setting table according to the height of the seat cushion frame.

Abstract: A positioning system for installing body side moldings on cars or trucks is disclosed. The system automatically positions first and second spaced apart portions of a side molding platen in precise positions with respect to widely spaced locations on assembly line cars or trucks where successive vehicles have slightly differing pitch, yaw and roll orientations with respect to the positioning system.

Abstract: An assembly device for assembling various parts onto an elongate body. A transporter has a plurality of conveyors to deliver the elongate body to a plurality of stations for the attachment of various parts. After all the parts have been attached to the elongate body, the elongate body is removed from the assembly device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting device for the automatic assembly of prefabricated parts or such as aggregates to a car body from below. For this purpose the aggregates 14 are arranged centeredly, but removably on installation plates 12, which are mounted liftably and in the lifted position floatingly yielding on a mounting frame 9. The aggregates 14 are penetrated by vertical centering journals of the installation plates 12. The protruding part 24 of the centering journal 17 is tapered in its face region and serves to enter an assigned centering bore of the car body 1 while the mounting frame is lifted. As the installation plate 12 is mounted floatingly on the mounting frame 9 in this phase, the aggregate arranged on it moves automatically into an assembly position in which an automatic process can take place.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking up, transferring and placing components by means of a transfer mechanism and a disk-shaped carrier (14), which is rotatably journalled on a carriage (8) and is provided on the lower side with a helical guide track (24) with a cam profile (25). The components (V) to be processed are arranged on the carrier (14) according to a helical line equal to the guide track (24). A supporting carriage (10) is provided with a follower element (16) and an arresting pin (18) which cooperate with the guide track (24) and the cam profile (25), respectively. By a periodical indexing movement of the supporting carriage (10), the carrier (14) is displaced stepwise in the direction of rotation and the direction of translation, as a result of which the components are taken one by one to a given pick-up position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvement in a working apparatus, such as an electronic part automatic-mounting apparatus comprising carriers for holding and moving works on a working line and a work head for applying a predetermined operation at a predetermined position on the work moved by the carriers, to a work station. The apparatus also includes: head driving means for moving the work head in directions (for examples, a Y direction) different from the moving direction of the work (for example, an X direction) and carrier driving means for moving the carriers along the working line sequentially from a work feed position to a work station, onto a work discharge position and then moving or restoring the work back to the work feed position (7). The carrier driving means also position the point of operation on the work in the moving direction fo the work at the work station.

Abstract: An automatic wheel attachment apparatus for attaching a wheel to a wheel attachment member of an automotive body. The automatic wheel attachment apparatus includes a reorienting device for reorienting a wheel attachment surface of the wheel attachment member, a phasing device for phasing wheel attachment bolts on the wheel attachment member, the phasing device being movable longitudinally and vertically of the automotive body to bring the wheel attachment member and the phasing device into central alignment with each other, a detecting device for detecting the amount and direction of movement of the phasing device, and a nut runner for fastening the wheel to the wheel attachment member while the center of the wheel attachment member as detected by the detecting device is being held in alignment with the center of the wheel. At least the reorienting device, the phasing device, and the detecting device are combined in a single robot.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding a plurality of rigid steel elongate spacers into each of a plurality of travellers 22, the apparatus including the holding station 16, a retractable holding member 24, 25 which can be used to feed a single traveller into the holding station. A linear guide 30 is provided for guiding the spacers 62 to the holding station in a lengthwise direction and the first feed mechanism 32 is provided for feeding the spacers individually and separately along the guide to position with the leading edge of the spacer adjacent the holding station. A second feed mechanism 40 to 46 pushes a spacer 62 so positioned positively into and through a co-operating slot in the traveller 22 held in the holding station and a discharge member 68 discharges the traveller and its associated spacer from the holding station, when the holding member has been retracted.

Abstract: A working apparatus for applying a working to a work placed on a pallet conveyed by a conveyer by staking a part of the work or fitting an element to work. The apparatus includes a working head vertically moved between a raised working position where the working head applies the working upon the work from beneath and a lowered rest position. A lifting device disposed beside the working head in the lowered rest position moves the working head up and down. An operating device is also disposed beside the working head in the lowered rest position. The operating device is displaced sideways to be brought into cooperation with the working head in the working position and operates the working head to apply the working to the work.

Abstract: A device for the attachment of spacer frames (18) to glass panes (5) during the course of the manufacture of insulating glass panes comprises a frame-like holder (8) for the spacer frames (18), the upper, horizontal leg (11) of the frame-like holder (8) being displaceable upwards and downwards. At least two grippers (30) equipped with hooks (50) are mounted to the upper, horizontal leg (11) of the frame-like holder, these grippers being movable to and fro, for the insertion of spacer frames (18) in the device, between a take-over position associated with the end of an overhead conveyor (19) for spacer frames (18) and a delivery position wherein the spacer frames (18) are set into the frame-like holder (8). The hooks (50) are pivotably mounted to the grippers (30) so that they can be moved out of the range of the spacer frame (18) during the return movement of the grippers (30) into the take-over position. Furthermore, lifting members (55) are provided at the lower leg (10) of the frame-like holder.

Abstract: An automatic assembly apparatus for fastening a part to a workpiece includes a pair of T-shaped legs, each having a horizontal guide thereon, mounted on a base in alignment with and spaced from each other in the direction of the path of the workpiece while the horizontal guide on each of the T-shaped legs extends at right angles to and intersects the path of the workpiece. A horizontal orthogonal coordinate type robot is mounted on the horizontal guides to move in the direction of the path of the workpiece while being simultaneously movable at right angles to and intersecting the path of the workpiece. A conveyor jig is mounted on each of the vertical structures between the base and the T-shaped legs.

Abstract: An automatic assembly apparatus has a first conveyor for transporting trays carrying parts to be assembled, a second conveyor for transporting pallets on which the parts are to be assembled and which extends parallel to the first conveyor, a stocking station positioned between the first and second conveyors and at which a plurality of the trays can be accommodated, a working station adjacent to the second conveyor, a pusher arm for moving trays from the first conveyor to the stocking station, and a root mounted between the first and second conveyors for carrying the trays from the stocking station to parts supplying stations adjacent the working station, and for assembling, on pallets transported to and from the working station by the second conveyor, parts removed by the robot from trays situated at the parts supplying stations, whereby a plurality of parts can be assemled by a single robot and it is possible to automatically and efficiently assemble the parts even in cases of relatively small scale producti

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

Abstract: A method and system for automatically attaching works to respective vehicle bodies carried on a slat conveyor using a robot. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a base on which the robot is mounted and which is movable within a movement range, at least one part of which is alongside of the conveyor; (b) providing work feeders for sequentially feeding plural kinds of the works which are different according to vehicle types (sedan, hardtop, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic assembly of electronic components and, in particular, relates to a programmable substrate transport mechanism for conveying variously sized substrates to a robotic electronic component assembly machine.

Abstract: An arrangement for melt spinning of synthetic high polymers comprising a spinning bar, rails arranged at a height of a nozzle set inserted in the spinning bar, and a device for exchanging the spinning bars and including a carriage with an arm hydraulically moveable from an inclined inwardly directed normal position to a horizontal working position, wherein a free end of the arm is connected with a table serving for receiving of the exchangeable nozzle set and provided with elements for centering and securing of the dismounted nozzle set.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for removing railroad track, comprising an elongated frame arranged to straddle a pair of rails and having elongated skids arranged to sit upon and slide along the ends of ties secured to the rails on the outboard sides of the rails, a rail and tie separating assembly mounted on the frame for separating lengths of rail from the ties to which the lengths of rail are secured, a rail elevating assembly for lifting lengths of rail which has been separated by the rail and tie separating assembly, and a conveyor for receiving a length of rail lifted by the elevating assembly and longitudinally transporting the rail to one end of the frame.

Abstract: A pallet tray for transporting and storing workpieces in an automatic feed system attached to a machine tool includes an elongated metallic base member 1 having a plurality of plastic inserts 2 mounted thereon. Each insert has one or more holding pockets 3 for the individual workpieces. The base member has an inverted U-shaped profile defining a recessed guide groove 7 in the longitudinal direction which cooperates with a guide rail of the workpiece feeding system. With such construction different inserts can be provided to accommodate variously configured workpieces to thereby avoid the separate injection molding of a number of differently dimensioned, complete pallet trays.

Abstract: The magnet insertion apparatus includes a first passageway along which magnets are fed. Arranged in communication with the first passageway, and at right angles to it, is a second passageway. A transport blade, reciprocably mounted in the second passageway, displaces the leading magnet to a position in a third passageway disposed parallel to and offset from the first passageway. A drive rod, reciprocably mounted in the third passageway pushes the magnet into a stylus arm held in alignment with the third passageway. According to a further aspect of the invention, the third passageway is provided with a guideway for accurately guiding the magnets. The insertion machine is additionally equipped with a reciprocably-mounted tucking element to tuck the magnets into the guideway.

Abstract: A pallet changing system for a machine tool in which two pallets are shuttled back and forth over a track to maintain one pallet in a standby position while the other pallet is in a central machining position. A single saddle capable of indexing either pallet during machining is driven on the track. Telescoping covers extend between each track end and the associated pallet and also between the pallets to keep the track and saddle covered while permitting movement of the pallets over the track and relative to each other.

Abstract: A railway car fabrication facility includes cranes for moving right and left hand railway car sides having a bulbous portion and a flat portion. One crane picks up the sides and places them vertically into a below ground transfer pit. A second crane picks up at least the left hand sides from the transfer pit and places them in a below ground storage pit located on an opposite side of a car assembly station. The second crane preferably includes right and left hand cranes for transferring both right and left hand sides into the assembly station to assemble the right and left hand sides with the under frame, bulkheads and/or the roof of the car.

Abstract: An in-line assembly machine is disclosed which is capable of commonly actuating tooling associated with the machine at a plurality of work stations. The machine includes a camshaft with a plurality of cams fixed thereto. Upper and lower elongated tool plates are also included. These elongated tool plates are reciprocated by first and second lifting rods, respectively, which are driven by the cams via followers. The rotation of the camshaft thus causes the upper and lower elongated tool plates to reciprocate, thereby commonly actuating tooling to perform operations on parts to be assembled.

Abstract: An improved assembly table for assembling conductor boards wherein integrated circuits to be inserted on the boards are conveyed by trays automatically and in a synchronized manner from a rotatable magazine to the conductor boards. The integrated circuits are contained in predetermined arrangement in the magazine and are picked up one at a time by a transfer means and each integrated circuit is deposited in an associated tray with a recess shaped to accept the integrated circuit. This arrangement permits safe direct picking up of the integrated circuits with assembly tongs within short reach of the conductor boards.

Abstract: Apparatus for serially feeding and crimping a plurality of electrical contacts of the type having an open-ended, ferrule head portion adapted to receive an uninsulated end of an electrical wire and to be crimped into electrically conductive contact therewith. The contacts are serially discharged from an annular hopper and caused to attain an upright position. First and second tracks, mutually aligned and vertically spaced one from the other, are provided for transporting the electrical contacts, while in the upright position, from the hopper to a mechanism for feeding the contacts into a crimping chamber. The tracks have a downward inclination from the hopper which is insufficient to permit sliding movement of the contacts absent vibratory movement of the tracks, which movement is derived from a vibratory device connected to the hopper.

Abstract: In a quilting machine adapted to drive two mating parts of a quilting button through a work piece and engage these parts, an improved button part holder has spring-loaded pivotally-mounted retainers for holding a male button part and evenly releasing same as the part is very rapidly driven from the holder by the machine.

Abstract: A machine for inserting quilting buttons of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,174 includes a male button drive mechanism and a female button drive mechanism in axial alignment with positive and rapid acting button feed means for very rapidly driving a female button part through a pad or the like and driving the male button part into the female button part so as to secure the quilting button in extension through such a pad. The invention is particularly directed to very rapid quilting operations.