Abstract: A suture guide used for inserting a suture into a hole of an eyeless needle positioned between an upper guide and a lower guide. This suture guide comprises a first guide member having a certain plane and the second guide member having a first plane positioned lower than the plane of the first guide member and a second plane crossing the first plane, This suture guide also has fixing means combining the first guide member and the second member together to form a guide having a guiding corner with the plane of the first guide member and the second plane of the second member and the guide disposed next to the lower mold to face the guiding corner to the hole of the eyeless needle. A positioning mechanism of a suture guide for inserting a suture into a hole of an eyeless needle positioned between an upper guide and a lower guide is desirable for the suture guide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for positioning and pressing surgical needle blanks. The apparatus includes a needle blank transferring system which transfers needle blanks between a gripping position and a pressing position. A side press system presses a portion of the needle blank when the blank is in the pressing position, and a gripping member is provided to hold the needle blank at least during the transfer and press operations of the apparatus. The method according to the present invention includes inserting a needle blank into a needle blank gripping member at a gripping position, transferring the needle blank between the gripping position and a pressing position, and pressing a side portion of a body portion of the needle blank with pressing dies.

Abstract: A device (12; 102) for manipulating sheet metal pieces (P) for a sheet metal processing machine (10; 101) is disclosed. The device (12; 102) comprises a plurality of manipulator units (20, 22; 106, 108, 110) with a plurality of gripping elements (32, 50, 52; 118, 126, 134) for gripping and moving the sheet metal pieces (P) so that the units (20, 22; 106, 108, 110) cooperate with one another in receiving a workpiece (P) from the associated processing machine (10; 101) and passing another workpiece (P) to the processing machine as well as such receiving from and passing to an associated device (4) for loading and discharging sheet metal pieces to utilize the processing machine (10; 101) as far as possible reducing its down times.

Abstract: A panel bender which can remarkably improve productivity in a bending process, and can feed in and out works having different widths with a single conveyer without causing interference between a main body and the conveyer has a construction in which a plurality of main bodies (1) are provided at opposite positions across a conveyer (16) for feeding the work (A) to a working position within the panel bender, each of the main bodies being movable in a back and forth direction with respect to the other by a back and force feeding device (13). The conveyer (16) disposed between the main bodies is adapted to expand and contract in the width direction in cooperation with back and forth movement of the main bodies.

Abstract: A universal pull clamp includes multiple attachment points and slots. The clamp may be attached to any of a variety of types of damaged automobile frames and locations during their repair. Once the clamp is attached, straightening is accomplished by pulling on the clamp with an external force to return the frame back to its original shape. In one form, the clamp uses a sliding bar and channel arrangement. In another form, the clamp uses a pivoting arrangement.

Abstract: A wire bending apparatus includes both a robot provided with a device for gripping and rotating a wire, and a suitable number of program-controlled benders. The robot grips a wire and supplies a portion of the wire to be bent to the program-controlled benders. The robot is rotated through a predetermined angle while gripping the wire according to a direction in which a next portion of the wire is to be bent, after which the wire is supplied to the program-controlled bender to bend the wire such that the wire is ultimately bent into a predetermined shape.

Abstract: To perform a simple and rapid preparation of control program, the control device for a robot manipulator for a sheet metal bending installation is provided with a first key for inputting a command signal for actuating a first actuator that is adapted to move a movable element of the metal sheet bending installation through a constant distance or amount, and a second key for inputting a command signal for actuating a second actuator that is adapted to move another movable element of the metal sheet bending installation through a changeable distance or amount.

Abstract: A dual clamp for automotive frame straightening machines includes a first clamp assembly and a second clamp assembly both of which are slidably mounted to an elongated slide bar. The first and second clamp assemblies are identical and comprise respective first and second pivoting jaws pivotally mounted to corresponding first and second sliding jaws. A chain interconnects the lever end of the first pivoting jaw and the lever end of the second pivoting jaw, so that when a pulling force is applied to the chain, the chain simultaneously pulls on both clamps and increases the clamping force of each respective clamp assembly.

Abstract: Compliance apparatus, for gripping and transporting workpiece sheets such as appliance door blanks to be formed to and from a work station having precision locator sheet stop surfaces, is mounted on a carrier for travel in a generally horizontal path toward the work station. The compliance apparatus includes a plurality of generally horizontally spaced apart, workpiece-aligned suction grippers for collectively gripping the top surface of a workpiece sheet. Resilient mechanism connecting each of the grippers to the carrier provides for relative individual lateral movement of the sheet carrying grippers from neutral positions to positions displaced therefrom in any required direction, as dictated by the sheet engaging one of the locator sheet stop surfaces and being forced to a correctly aligned position in engagement with the other locator sheet stop surface as the carrier moves in its said path of travel.

Abstract: An apparatus for making elongated headed workpieces having a conveyor device for successively transporting elongated workpieces such as wire pieces transversely to their longitudinal axes from one treatment station into at least one treatment station and including a guided conveyor belt assembly to which the workpieces may be clamped by their circumferential surfaces. Two sections, running together and side by side, of two conveyor belts are guided in such a manner between the stations that they remain in immovable contact on both sides with the transported workpieces. At least one of the two conveyor belts is a toothed belt in which the gaps between the teeth take up the workpieces singly.

Abstract: Plant and method to select and bend bars for building work, which is suitable to select and bend simultaneously in a substantially identical manner a plurality of bars, starting with substantially identical bars, the plant comprising at least one store, a first traversing roller conveyor, a shears for shearing to size, at least one movable arm to engage and position bars lengthwise and a supporting bench:the first traversing roller conveyor (17) comprising means to butt a bundle of bars (14) by means of an abutment face (18),fork means (20) for the positioning and vertical alignment of the bundle of bars (14) being included between the first traversing roller conveyor (17) and the shears (39),the movable engagement and positioning arm (31) including in its lower portion a movable engagement gripper (34) and cooperating with the abutment face (18), a relative vertical movement taking place between the movable engagement arm (31) and the shears (39) during the transient time of the arm (31) passing the shears (

Abstract: A device for machining workpieces which includes a series of stationary machining stations (2, 42, 65, 81) arranged around a circle and a row of workpiece holders (3, 38, 64, 82) which are clamped temporarily in the machining stations (2, 42, 65, 81) and periodically interchanged. To ensure quasi-continuous operation with stationary machine stations (2, 42, 65, 81), an interchanger (5, 19, 44, 60, 87) rotates concentrically about the circle (41) of the machining stations (2, 42, 65, 81), grips the holders (3, 38, 64, 82) in succession and forms a transfer or interchange path (6, 45, 62, 90) for the holders (3, 38, 64, 82) to be interchanged between one machining station (2, 42, 65, 81) and the next. The interchange path contains a number of workpiece holders (27) which differs from the number of machining stations (2, 42, 65, 81) in the region bridged by the interchange path (6).

Abstract: Assembly to bend bundles of rods consisting of two or more rods, which are positioned and bent, one upon another, substantially in a position normal to a supporting bench (15) and are bent into the same shape at one and the same time, the assembly advantageously having the purpose of bending the bundle of rods (14) in four directions so as to produce any desired closed figure therewith, retaining means (12) with grippers (20) able to move vertically in guides (21) and to be retracted downwards being included upstream and downstream of the bending assembly (10) and substantially on the same axis as the bundle of rods (14).

Abstract: A method of applying various kinds of bending working accurately to a metal tube of a small diameter to be worked, which comprises seizing one end of a metal tube to be worked and setting a working direction, transferring the tube to a working position, applying predetermined bending by paired roller means, transferring the same to the succeeding step and applying the same working. Such operations are repeated as required. The apparatus employed for practicing the method comprises a chuck, a receiving roller and a bending roller and a control means for controlling the operation of them. Various kinds of bending working can be applied efficiently and accurately to a metal tube of a small diameter to be worked by a simple method and with an apparatus of a simple structure.

Abstract: The method is of the type in which the metal sheet (W) is manipulated by means of a movable gripping member (G) of a manipulator robot controlled by a programmer (PC) according to a program for positioning successive lines of working of the metal sheet in correspondence with a pair of linear tools (16, 18).The programmer (PC) starts the working program by transporting the metal sheet to the position which corresponds with the first virtual or imaginary working line (B.sub.o). Sensors (S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.y) detect the position of the virtual working line and signal to the programmer whether and to what extent the position of this virtual working line differs from the correct position. This is equivalent to the entering in the programmer of a datum relating to the displacement of the engagement point (C.sub.o) of the gripping member from its theoretical engagement point (C) on the metal sheet.

Abstract: A press brake for bending plates. A press brake is provided for bending plates, including a pair of dies which act in mutual cooperation to bend a plate, a plate clamping manipulator which grasps and moves a plate which is to be placed in scheduled location with respect to the dies and a plate position detector mounted on the press brake in a specified positional relationship with respect to the dies, for detecting a position of the plate grasped by the manipulator, and a controller for controlling the manipulator in response to a signal from the plate position detector.

Abstract: Apparatus for bending steel bars to form concrete reinforcement elements, having a device (3, 4; 18) for feeding bars to a transfer device (8), by means of which in each case one group of bars can be inserted in two bending frames or stations, (2, 2'), each having members (11, 12) for bending the bars in transverse direction the transfer device having at least one pair of operation-controlled gripper tongs (10) which can be swivelled from a first position, in which they receive a plurality of bars from the bar feed device, and clamp the bars, into a second position, in which they insert the bars into the gap between the bending members.

Abstract: Apparatus for bending hollow profiles 3 into spacer frames for insulating glass panes, the hollow profile 3 being advanced by a gripper 2 displaceable along a conveyor 4. The magnitude of the stepwise advance of the hollow profile 3 corresponds to the lengths of the legs of the spacer frame to be made. A pickup 6 on the gripper 2 measures precisely each stepwise advance.

Abstract: A film magazine forming apparatus forms a sheet having printing on a side thereof into an almost cylindrical shape. The film magazine formed into the almost cylindrical shape has separated lip portions for enabling a film to mvoe therethrough. The lip portions have a soft yarn mounted thereon. Transport apparatus transports the sheet to forming means including a core mold, an upper mold, and first and second side molds which form the sheet into an almost cylindrical shape with the printing on the side of the sheet forming an outer cylindrical surface of the almost cylindrical sheet. Transport apparatus transports the sheet with the printed side of the sheet being out of contact with the transport apparatus to prevent damage to the printing on the sheet. In addition, the core mold is used as a guide for transporting the almost cylindrical shape sheet to another operating position. A claw can be mounted on the core mold for transporting the thus formed almost cylindrical shape to another operational position.

Abstract: A thin-web frame feeding device for intermittently feeding a thin-web frame at a predetermined pitch along a guide rail has first and second shafts supported by bearing stands for synchronized axial sliding motion in the same direction and for rotation in opposite directions. The first and second shafts are provided with feeding claws rotatable in accordance with the rotation of the shafts into and out of positions where spontaneous portions of the thin-web frame are clamped. The feeding claws are axially moved in accordance with the axial sliding movement of the shafts to feed the thin-web frame.

Abstract: A sheet workpiece manipulating apparatus for delivering, supporting, and removing large sheet workpieces to a sheet bending press includes a plurality of rotationally and linearly translatable support arms. A gripping device is disposed on each free end of each support arm. The sheet workpiece is captured and rigidly restrained by the paired gripping devices, such as opposing suction cups operationally connected to a vacuum source, which are detachably attached to the support arms in a magnetically cooperating arrangement. Large gripping forces are developed by the gripping devices, which are separately replacable with alternate gripping devices sized to accommodate workpieces of different sizes, shapes, and materials, as well as a particular manipulation procedure. Perforated as well as imperforated sheets may be manipulated by the apparatus due to the paired, opposing relationships of the suction cups.

Abstract: In order to bend a hollow profile strip (53), especially a hollow profile strip (53) from which a spacer frame for an insulating glass pane is to be produced, the hollow profile strip (53) is conducted continuously for an exactly defined length, held laterally and from the bottom, underneath a roller (70) and, subsequently to the roller (70), is deflected out of the conveying direction. An apparatus suitable for this purpose comprises a gripper (52) for the defined feeding of the hollow profile strip (53), a roller (70) in contact with the wall of the hollow profile strip (53), which is then located on the inside of the curvature, and holding down the hollow profile strip (53), and a lever (59) with a stop surface (62) for the hollow profile strip (53) subsequently to the roller (70).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a clamping apparatus for securing to and pulling upon an enlarged end of a longitudinal member of an automobile or vehicle chassis. The clamping apparatus has a pair of facing jaw members each having a bearing portion, a pulling portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The bearing portions each have a groove that cooperate to substantially surround the periphery of the longitudinal member perpendicular to its longitudinal axis such that the clamping apparatus may not slide off the longitudinal member, while the hearing portions bear upon the enlarged end as an axial pulling force is transferred from the clamping apparatus to the automobile chassis.

Abstract: A workpiece transfer arm for supporting and moving a workpiece from one position to another has a telescopic arm one end of which is secured to a mounting bracket and the opposite end of which carries a workpiece support for engagement by the workpiece. The telescopic arm has a rod accommodated in a sleeve. The rod has a plurality of annular grooves occupied by a thermoplastic adhesive which, when at ambient temperature, is solid and fixes the rod in the sleeve. At elevated temperatures, however, the adhesive liquefies and enables relative movement between the sleeve and the rod to enable the position of the workpiece support to be adjusted.

Abstract: A gripping assembly for a manipulator for plate sheets of the type which comprises a vise having two superimposed jaws disposed around a vertical axis, the jaws being capable of gripping a single plate along its thickness, the plate having borders, the jaws being also adapted to rotate around the axis whereby each border of the plate to be folded is brought in front of the press machine. The assembly has a pair of clamps (5) disposed laterally with respect to the vise. The clamps grip firmly the plate along its thickness and permit the simultaneous displacement from jaws in the area corresponding to the vise towards the folding machine.

Abstract: During the bending of a hollow profile strip (53) into a spacer frame for insulating glass panes, the hollow profile strip (53) is advanced, by a gripper (52) displaceable in the feeding direction of the hollow profile strip (53) by predetermined distances, to such an extent that the location of the hollow profile strip (53) to be bent in a particular case is aligned with respect to a bending abutment (20). During the bending processes, performed with a bending lever (62), the hollow profile strip (53) is retained by the jaws (3, 4) of the bending head, and the gripper (52) moves back into its starting position. After the final advancement of the hollow profile strip (53), the latter is severed from the introduced hollow profile strip (53) and only then is the final bending step executed. The hollow profile strip (53) is constantly retained during the production of the spacer frame, either by the gripper (52) or by the jaws (3, 4) of the bending head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an electric resistance heating coil of desired resistance that involves forming a straight helical coil and centering the formed coil for transfer to a first folding station for holding the straight helical coil into a U-shaped helical coil.

Abstract: A unit (1) for bending sheet metal (38) comprises a bending press (2), a device (4) for manipulating the sheet metal (38), and an auxiliary gripping device (16) for turning the metal sheet through 180.degree. about an axis (D) perpendicular to the bending line (B) of the press (12). The auxiliary gripping device (6) includes a plurality of grippers (36). The grippers (36) are carried by a support (24) fixed to the base structure (8) of the press (12) above the manipulation space (MS) at a height so that, when the grippers are above the manipulation space (MS), the auxiliary device (16) does not obstruct access of operators to the press (2) if the press is used manually. A device (111) for manipulating sheet metal (222) for a bending press (444) includes a main device (100) which is slidable along a guide beam (160) fixed parallel to the bending line (J) of the press (444) and an auxiliary gripping device (240) for turning the metal sheet over about an axis (L) perpendicular to the bending line (J).

Abstract: Vertical guide posts are securely mounted on a base plate, and a cylinder plate is securely mounted on top portions of the guide posts. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted on the cylinder plate and a movable plate is slidably mounted on the guide posts. A piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the movable plate. By vertically moving the movable plate, press work is performed.

Abstract: A punch press includes a driving crankshaft and a plurality of independent punch pressing units. The crankshaft has a plurality of angularly spaced eccentric sections. Each of the punch pressing units includes a slide, a coupler interconnecting the slide and one of the eccentric sections of the crankshaft, a punch carried on the slide, a die set, and a workpiece gripping unit.

Abstract: A press brake for bending plates. A press brake is provided for bending plates, including a pair of dies which act in mutual cooperation to bend a plate, a plate clamping manipulator which grasps and moves a plate which is to be placed in a scheduled location with respect to the dies, and a plate position detector mounted on the press brake in a specified positional relationship with respect to the dies, for detecting a position of the plate grasped by the manipulaator, and controlling the manipulator in response to a signal from the plate position detector.

Abstract: A frame pulling bar and tool system for use in clamping to the body of an automobile or other vehicle as a means of anchoring pulling devices to the frame or body in the pulling and stretching operations necessary to restore and repair damaged automobile or vehicle bodies. The system includes a clamping bar and a plurality of threaded bolts for engagement in threaded holes in the clamping bar. Auxiliary bars may be included to expand the capability of the systenm.

Abstract: A manipulator device for a bending machine includes a pair of elongate die and punch for bending a workpiece. A first manipulator has a first clamping device for clamping the workpiece to be bent, a first support for supporting the first clamping device in a rotatable manner around a rotary axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the punch and die, and a second support for supporting the first support in a movable manner in a X-axis direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the punch and die, in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and in a Z-axis direction parallel to the vertical direction. A second manipulator has a second clamping device for clamping the workpiece, an arm for supporting the second clamping device, and a column for supporting the arm in a rotatable manner around a rotary axis parallel to the Y-axis, the column being so constructed as to be movable toward and away from the first manipulator.

Abstract: A body clamp for an automobile body straightener, consisting of a main body which can be fastened to a straightener frame beam and has a pair of jaws attached to it. One jaw is fixed to the main body and the other jaw is rotatably mounted on a shaft attached to the main body. The body clamp is provided with a cam closing devices to press the rotatable jaw against the fixed jaw. The cam closing device is rotatably mounted on a shaft attached to the movable jaw so that when the cam closing device is pressed with a force (G) against the frame beam, it will generate a clamping force (F) between the jaws, with the result that the body clamp is simultaneously fastened to the straightener frame beam when the jaws are closed.

Abstract: A transfer die system that includes a fixed lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal vertical movement toward and away from the lower die to perform operations on workpieces positioned between the dies, and a conveyor for feeding workpieces in sequence between the upper and lower dies. The upper and lower dies define a plurality of die stations, including a workpiece load station at the upstream end of the conveyor, a workpiece unload station at the downstream end of the conveyor, and at least one intermediate station for performing a desired operation on workpieces passing through the die. An improved conveyor that characterizes the present invention comprises an endless loop conveyor that has a reach vertically positioned between the upper and lower dies.

Abstract: A manipulator is provided for a plate bending machine containing an arm which extends in the vertical direction and a pair of bracket members in which one bracket member can freely approach and withdraw from the other, wherein the bracket members are provided with engaging members which can engage with and be released from an engaging section formed on the jaws for grasping a plate material. A jaw exchanging device which contains in turn a plurality of jaw release structures which can mount and remove the jaws of the manipulator and can retain the jaw before mounting and after removal thereof, and a transfer structure which can transfer the plurality of jaw release structures together between the manipulator and a jaw storage magazine, and selectively transfer any one of the jaw release structures to a jaw changing position on the manipulator in a position on the side of the manipulator are also provided.

Abstract: A car body frame straightening apparatus consisting of a frame jig and a rim clamp having an adjustable attachment to the jig frame and comprising of a pair of jaws clamping to the body rim. One jaw (3) of the rim clamp is permanently fixed to a body piece (5) of the rim clamp (2) while the other, an adjustable clamp (4), is clampable by means of an eccentric clamping member (6) against the other jaw (2) in such a way that the rim clamp is clamped by virtue of an other set of eccentric elements (7, 8), which exert a clamping effect on the jig frame 1, to attach to the beam frame.

Abstract: A vehicle chassis clamp for clamping a selected chassis part (7) which presents a throughpassing bolt joint (13a-c). The clamp comprises a U-shaped stirrup bracket (6a) having two legs so spaced as to straddle the chassis part (7). Each limb has a bush (14, 15) which can be tightened against a respective side surface of the chassis part, and each bush has a cavity (14d, 15e) which embraces a respective end of the bolt joint.

Abstract: A workpiece manipulator assembly for a forging press having a press ram comprises a workpiece rotating mechanism including a rotary drive system for rotating a workpiece in peripheral direction. The rotary drive system is operated by a drive motor running at a preselected constant speed to rotate the workpiece about an axis of rotation. An arresting assembly stops the rotary movement of the workpiece before and during a pressure contact phase for the press ram. The rotary drive system is adapted to rotate a driven worm which produces rotary movement to the workpiece rotating means and is mounted for axial displacement. The arresting assembly includes an axial drive unit for predeterminably controlling axial displacement of the driven worm to effect the arresting of said rotary movement.

Abstract: An extrusion puller which comprises an upper jaw, a lower jaw, and means for mounting the upper and lower jaw relative to each other. The upper jaw comprises a plurality of jaw fingers with radially extending gripping teeth circumferentially spaced around the bottom portion of the tooth wherein the attack angle between teeth and the spacing angle between adjacent teeth is selected so that substantially full penetration of at least one of the gripping teeth into the workpiece is achieved without interference from an adjacent tooth. The lower jaw comprises a serrated upper surface comprising a semi-circular scalloped configuration of a plurality of peaks and valleys. The combination of the upper jaw and lower jaw configuration allows for increased gripping strength to be exerted on the workpiece and thereby avoid defects within the extruded workpiece.

Abstract: An industrial robot, designed for use in a press brake system, has a holding member for holding a plate shaped material, a base arm, and a working arm. The holding member nearly follows the plate shaped material without holding during a pressing process of the press brake by ensuring sufficient reciprocating distance between the holding member and the base arm, and by decreasing the mass of rotary axes and corresponding second arm members of the working arm which is used to control direction, altitude and other aspects of the plate shaped material. The industrial robot preferably ensures a degree of freedom in the width direction of the press brake by rotatably securing a first arm member to the base arm.

Abstract: A press machine includes at least one mobile bolster movable with respect to the press machine, a plurality of die assemblies mounted on the mobile bolster and arranged in a row at equal intervals, a plurality of handling bars for transferring a plurality of workpieces successively through the die assemblies, one or more workpiece holders detachably mounted on each of the handling bars for holding the workpieces, feed bars for moving the handling bars, lifting/lower units for vertically moving the feed bars, and handling bar gripping devices for gripping the handling bars. A method of changing the workpiece holders comprises the steps of gripping the handling bars with the handling bar gripping devices, releasing the feed bars from the handling bars, elevating the feed bars beyond the die assemblies with the lifting/lowering units, moving the mobile bolster out of the press machine, and detaching the workpiece holders from the handling bars and replacing the workpiece holders with new workpiece holders.

Abstract: An extrusion pulling apparatus including an extrusion run-out table and an extrusion puller which is mounted for reciprocal movement along the run-out table. The extrusion puller has an upper jaw mounted for vertical reciprocal movement between clamping and release positions on a support frame and a lower jaw mounted for reciprocal lateral movement between clamping and release positions also on the support frame. The lower jaw is also mounted for vertical movement with respect to the support frame. A stripper finger is mounted on the puller adjacent the upper and lower jaws when the jaws are in the clamping position and is movable laterally to push extrusions toward a cooling table when the lower jaw moves in an opposite direction to strip the extrusions from the lower jaw and to push one end of the extrusions from the extrusion line.

Abstract: Shaped metal parts are produced on a continuous basis from semi-solid metal preforms. Plurality of cans, each containing a metal preform, are sequentially heated in an induction heating zone to bring the preforms to a semi-solid level. The preforms can be transformed without loss of any metal or heat to a press where they are shaped in a semi-solid state into a metal part. The can can then be removed and recycled.

Abstract: Compound press suitable to autonomously perform all operations necessary to mold pieces, including mechanisms to feed the pieces to be molded, and molding of same and to discharge the molded pieces.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of spacer frames (44) by bending hollow moldings comprises two bending heads (12) displaceably arranged along a plate (10); with the aid of these bending heads, a hollow molding fed thereto can be bent into a spacer frame (44). At the rim of the plate (10) of the bending apparatus (1) lying in opposition to the bending heads (12), a conveyor slide (50) is provided which transports the hollow moldings, bent into a spacer frame (44), to a transfer device (60), this transfer device (60) lifting the spacer frames (44) conveyed thereto off the plate (10) and transfer them into a welding unit (5) for welding together the free ends (45) of the hollow molding bent into a spacer frame (44).

Abstract: A peel assembly for a manipulator comprises an outer housing (25) surrounding an inner housing (19) in which a shaft (1) is rotatably mounted. The inner housing (19) is slidable in the direction of its length relative to the outer housing (25) and the shaft (1) is rotatable with respect to the inner housing (19). The shaft (1) carries an enlarged head (3) having a pair of jaws (9) for gripping an ingot.

Abstract: An apparatus for bending hollow moldings into spacer frames (44) for insulating glass comprises two bending heads (12) displaceably arranged along the rim of a plate (10), a clamp (13) being provided between these bending heads for the hollow molding to be bent into the spacer frame (44). In this apparatus, a device (20) is provided for feeding hollow moldings which extends in parallel to the rim of the plate (10) at which the bending heads (12) are arranged. Furthermore, a gripper (30) is provided in the plane of symmetry of the clamp (13) for transferring the hollow moldings from the conveying device (20) into the clamp (13) and the bending heads (12).

Abstract: A one-armed handling device having a single pick-up member designed to secure a metal sheet coplanar to a pick-up plane through the aforementioned pick-up member; which member is supported on a head so as to turn about two perpendicular axes by virtue of a first element designed to turn about a first axis perpendicular to the pick-up plane, and to which the pick-up member is secured directly, and a second element designed to turn about a second axis parallel with the pick-up plane and supporting the first element; the aforementioned head, in turn, being designed to travel along three cartesian axes, by means of an arm, with no variation in the position of the second axis (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Apparatus for the extrusion of metal in the form of billets (4) cut to order from bars (44, 45) previously heated in a furnace (31), comprising an extrusion press (1) associated with a member for transferring each billet (4) to be extruded, parallel to itself, from a stand-by position (A), after cutting, to a loading position (C) in the axis of the press (1). For transfer of the billets the apparatus has a single member (2) moveable transversely to the extrusion axis and equipped with a gripper (5) of variable width, comprising at least two telescopic jaws associated with a device (6) for adjusting the extended lengths of the telescopic parts, such that each jaw covers a width substantially equal to the length of the billet.