Abstract: A punching apparatus includes punching tools and actuators positioned above and aligned with the respective punching tools to actuate the punching tools along an operating direction so as to interact with a piece to be worked. The punching tools and the actuators are arranged side by side along at least one row. The punching apparatus includes at least one barrier optical sensor, suitable to generate a light beam that is put side by side to the row of punching tools and actuators, and reference elements, each of which is associated to a respective punching tool and/or actuator to intercept the light beam. The barrier optical sensor is arranged to detect changes in the light beam produced by one of the reference elements moving along the operating direction so as to measure a position and/or a stroke and/or a speed of a punching tool associated to the reference element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for notching, at an interval of a unit electrode, a continuous electrode sheet in which an electrode active material is applied to one or both surfaces thereof, to form a plurality of unit electrodes from the electrode sheet, the device including a press to press notches on the top and the bottom of the electrode sheet at a set position, and a drawing member arranged at the rear of the press based on a feed direction of the electrode sheet, the drawing member drawing and transporting the electrode sheet by one pitch, a size corresponding to the unit electrode according to operation of the press, wherein, when one of the grippers draws and transports the electrode sheet, the remaining grippers move to a position for drawing.

Abstract: A process is provided for making bulk textured material sheeting. As a continuous supply of flat material sheeting is fed, the sheeting is repeatedly impacted with toothed knives, each knife creating a row of raised and generally pointed structures on the sheeting to texture the sheeting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for the hot dispensing of brass or aluminium plugs of predetermined lengths, obtained by cutting an elongated brass or aluminium bar. The invention is advantageous in that there is no loss of material in the cut pieces and the manufacturing process costs and times are very competitive. The machine can very accurately cut bars made from standard brass, as well as special brass, and can manufacture plugs using a “just in time” production system. The invention consists of a single compact body essentially comprising: means for progressively heating more than one brass or aluminium bar such that the bar closest to the outlet is the hottest bar; means for automatically pushing the bar nearest the outlet towards cutting means; and means for transversally cutting the pre-heated bar, thus forming plugs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a turned blank at a workstation in a progressive forging machine comprising simultaneously monitoring both the force on a tool in the workstation and the crank angle of the machine, determining a reference crank angle when the tool is subjected to a force at the workstation about to deliver a blow and a blank in the workstation is properly angularly aligned, operating the machine to forge blanks in a normal manner when a force on the tool at the workstation occurs substantially at the reference crank angle, and interrupting said normal manner when the force on the tool at the workstation occurs before said reference crankshaft angle to enable the blank being formed at the workstation to be separated from remaining blanks being forged in the machine.

Abstract: Regarding predetermined positioning criteria (M1, M2), ((G1, G2), (N1, or N2), (K1, K2)), there is provided image processing means (40B) for obtaining by image processing, measured values (CD1, CD2) ((GD1, GD2), (ND1, or ND2), (KD1, KD2)) and reference values (CR1, CR2) ((GR1, GR2), (NR1, or NR2), (KR1, KR2)), and for moving a work (W) in a manner that the measured values (CD1, CD2) ((GD1, GD2), (ND1, or ND2), (KD1, KD2)) and the reference values (CR1, CR2) ((GR1, GR2), (NR1, or NR2), (KR1, KR2)) coincide with each other, thereby positioning the work (W) at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing the forging of a workpiece that is moved along a longitudinal axis of a forging press. The method includes detecting the relative positions of the first and second ends of the workpiece along the longitudinal axis and calculating a length of the workpiece therebetween.

Abstract: To improve the speed with which a worksheet is positioned in a press brake, and to further eliminate the need for conventional moving back gauge systems, the present invention replaces the conventional back gauge mechanical system with sensors that non-contactedly determine the positioning of the worksheet, with reference to the bending tools. The thus sensed worksheet position is compared with the desired worksheet location preprogrammed into the CNC controller. Any deviation between the sensed, or the actual worksheet position, with the desired worksheet position for each bend of the worksheet is compensated by further moving the worksheet, until there no longer is any discrepancy between the actual and the preprogrammed desired locations.

Abstract: To improve the speed with which a worksheet is positioned in a press brake, and to further eliminate the need for conventional moving back gauge systems, the present invention replaces the conventional back gauge mechanical system with sensors that non-contactedly determine the positioning of the worksheet, with reference to the bending tools. The thus sensed worksheet position is compared with the desired worksheet location preprogrammed into the CNC controller. Any deviation between the sensed, or the actual worksheet position, with the desired worksheet position for each bend of the worksheet is compensated by further moving the worksheet, until there no longer is any discrepancy between the actual and the preprogrammed desired locations.