Abstract: A method for moving metal sheets of a working area by an antropomorphous robot comprises a) taking of preselected fixed input data that identify the geometry in the space of components of a working island; b) taking, comprising from a machine tool, preselected variable input data comprising dimensions and shape of a preselected metal sheet to be handled and a sequence of working preselected metal sheets; c) processing the fixed and variable input data on a processing unit in order to generate automatically output data that identify a preselected trajectory of the metal sheet to be handled and d) transfer the output data to a control unit of the robot in order to drive said robot to move the metal sheet along the preselected trajectory so as to handle said metal sheets selected by type.

Abstract: In producing the surgical staple, a cutting edge is moved toward each of the leg portions of the wire from which the staple is formed in inclined relation to the axis of the leg portion to shear the leg portion, the leg portion being set on a receiving surface. A smooth sheared surface and a coarse ruptured surface are formed in order on the distal end portion of the leg portion toward the distal end of the leg portion. A shearing member having the cutting edge above serves to bend and shear the leg portions of the surgical staple.

Abstract: Obliquely cohered fasteners may be formed by adhering wires with an adhesive coating to form a strip. The strip is then shaped so that the wires are formed into fasteners of the desired shape. The adhesive coating is then plasticized and while plasticized, each fastener is offset from the next to obtain the obliquely cohered fasteners. Then, the adhesive coating is rehardened. Instead of applying a single adhesive coating, the wires may be adhered with a first thermoplastic coating and a second coating of a non-self-adhesive resin. The second coating may be applied only to that portion of the first coating covering the fasteners. Alternatively, as the fasteners are offset, the second coating may be cracked between fasteners to weaken the second coating, allowing the fasteners to be more easily separated when desired. The off-setting may be performed by a device which applies a force to one of the ends of the fasteners while the other of the ends of the fasteners are displaced.