Tiltable Or Withdrawable Support Patents (Class 83/157)
  • Patent number: 10173337
    Abstract: A sheet cutting device includes a stage including a placement surface on which a to-be-cut sheet is placed; a strip-shaped fixed blade that is provided in one end portion of the stage; a movable blade that works together with the fixed blade to cut the sheet placed on the placement surface of the stage gradually from one end portion of the sheet to a different one end portion; and a support section that is located between the one end of the fixed blade and the other end in such a way as to be closer to a vertically downward side than the fixed blade and be closer to a vertically upward side than a bottom surface of a waste box placed closer to the vertically downward side than the fixed blade, to temporarily support part of a remnant generated after cutting by the fixed and movable blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamada, Takuma Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9868223
    Abstract: A paper processing apparatus includes a pressing member which approaches and presses a paper bundle inserted into a space formed between the pressing member and a supporting member for supporting a paper, a cutting blade which cuts an end portion of the paper bundle pressed by the pressing member, a removal member having a front end portion which removes cutting waste of the paper bundle, a removal member which has a front end portion which reaches a position at which the paper bundle is pressed by the pressing member, and removes cutting waste of the paper bundle by the front end portion, and a control unit. The control unit controls the removal member such that the front end portion is positioned at a retreat position apart from the pressing member during an approaching operation in which the pressing member is approaching the paper bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Shiokawa
  • Publication number: 20150020662
    Abstract: A sheet cutting device includes a stage including a placement surface on which a to-be-cut sheet is placed; a strip-shaped fixed blade that is provided in one end portion of the stage; a movable blade that works together with the fixed blade to cut the sheet placed on the placement surface of the stage gradually from one end portion of the sheet to a different one end portion; and a support section that is located between the one end of the fixed blade and the other end in such a way as to be closer to a vertically downward side than the fixed blade and be closer to a vertically upward side than a bottom surface of a waste box placed closer to the vertically downward side than the fixed blade, to temporarily support part of a remnant generated after cutting by the fixed and movable blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki YAMADA, Takuma KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8776549
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for severing a marked region of a glass strip (1) produced continuously on a conveyor belt (11), having the following characteristics: a) a line (12) highlighting the severing of the marked region is scored on the continuous glass strip (1), b) once the scored line (12) reaches the crusher roll (6), the two lock rolls (7, 8) following the crusher roll (6) are folded away downward, c) once the scored line (12) is located in the region of the highest area of the crusher roll (6), means for shearing off (5) push onto the glass strip (1) and break it off, d) after the broken-off glass piece (10) has dropped, the lock rolls (7, 8, 9) are folded back in the conveyor belt (11), and to a computer program and a machine-readable carrier with the program code thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Edwin Lang
  • Patent number: 8746136
    Abstract: A banding device includes a frame. A feeding assembly is mounted on the frame for feeding elastic tubing into the frame. A transfer assembly disposed within the frame includes transfer arm and fingers. The fingers receive the rubber tubing as fed. A cutting assembly is disposed between the transfer assembly and the feeding assembly for cutting the tubing into bands. The fingers of the transfer assembly move between a first closed position for receiving the band and a second open position for opening the band. The transfer arm is moveable between a first position for receiving the band and a second position for transferring the band. A banding assembly disposed at the second position receives the band from the transfer assembly. The banding assembly stretches the band and receives an item to be bundled within the band. The banding assembly releases the band about the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ben Clements & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: John Corbin
  • Patent number: 8549968
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus to cut a tow includes a tow support, a first blade, and a tow support deflector. The tow support deflector is disposed in cooperative alignment with the first blade to exert a deflecting force upon the tow support. The deflecting force substantially preventing the first blade from striking the tow support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Russell C. DeVlieg, Kenneth P. Zaballos
  • Patent number: 8205532
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus to cut a tow includes a tow support, first blade, and tow support deflector. The tow support supports the tow. The first blade cuts the tow. The tow support deflector is disposed in cooperative alignment with the first blade to exert a deflecting force upon the tow support. The deflecting force substantially prevents the first blade from striking the tow support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Russell C. DeVlieg, Kenneth P. Zaballos
  • Patent number: 8177213
    Abstract: An image recording device can accumulate discharged paper neatly stacked in a paper tray even when the length of the discharged paper changes. An inkjet printer 1 that records images on and discharges roll paper 100 from a paper exit 25 has a cutter unit 80 that cuts the roll paper 100 after an image is recorded, and a discharge tray unit 30 that receives slips 110, 120 discharged from the paper exit 25 after being cut by the cutter unit 80. The discharge tray unit 30 is connected by a hinge at an incline to the case 10 so that the paper stop 42 disposed at the distal end of the discharge tray unit 30 is down, and is configured so that the length of the discharge tray unit 30 is adjustable, and the inclination angle of the discharge tray unit 30 is changed by the operation of shortening the length of the discharge tray unit 30 to a more horizontal angle than when the length of the discharge tray unit 30 is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20110179923
    Abstract: Blade guards for power tools such as table saws are disclosed. The blade guard may include a shroud that pivots up and down to allow a workpiece to move past the guard, a dust collection channel, and a pivot joint which maintains the dust collection channel in an operable condition as the shroud pivots up or down. The guard may also include a wood stop and anti-kickback pawls. The blade guard may be part of a dust collection system and may be connected to a vacuum system by a conduit such as a flexible hose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Hollan A. Tsuda, John P. Nenadic, Paul H. Stasiewicz
  • Patent number: 7896164
    Abstract: A device for sorting out waste parts of workpieces on saws has a saw having at least one saw blade for cutting workpieces into workpiece parts. At least one feed roller is arranged upstream of the saw in a transport direction of workpieces. At least one feed roller is arranged downstream of the saw in the transport direction. At least one transport device is provided for the workpiece parts cut at the saw. At least one acceleration roller is arranged in the transport direction of the workpieces downstream of the saw so that the cut workpiece parts are transported by being accelerated away from the cutting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: GreCon Dimter Holzoptimierung Süd GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Schmid, Georg Reinbold
  • Patent number: 7856911
    Abstract: A module for automatic scrap wire isolating and removal is used in systems such as wire insulation lines for extricating scrap wires while minimally interfering with the mechanized wire insulation process. One such module includes a knife assembly with a knife, a scrap tray with a tilt plate for catching the scrap wire below the knife assembly, an accumulator with curved hooks oriented for catching and accumulating, one at a time, the wire and the scrap wire and rotatable for letting go, one at a time, of the wire and scrap wire, so as to allow the knife to completely separate the scrap wire from the wire. A lifting linkage in this module is operatively engaged with the tilt plate tilting it at an angle sufficient for the isolated scrap wire to slide off, whereby the scrap wire is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Niehoff Endex North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold James Hattersley, Jr., Richard E. Jakubowski
  • Patent number: 7121130
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an installation for hot-rolling strips using a reversible Steckel rolling frame (8), each side of which is equipped with a respective furnace coiler (9, 10) and a driving mechanism (17,18), provided between the furnace coiler (9, 10) and Steckel rolling frame (8). The aim of the invention is to crop particularly thin, hot strips. To achieve this, the strip is cropped during the reversible rolling process by a single pair of flying cropping shears (20), positioned between one of the driving mechanisms (17) and the Steckel rolling frame (8). The cropping shears comprise in particular a drum blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Hartmut Kirstein, Heiko Reichel
  • Patent number: 6988436
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a turret punch press capable of discharging easily the small article work sheet cut off from the material work sheet, without employing a subhead separately from the punch driving mechanism. The punch press comprises a work sheet outlet 12 for discharging small article work sheet cut off from the material work sheet in the punch processing, employed in the lower turret 4. Moreover, a chute 13 connected to the work sheet outlet 12 is employed in a main body frame 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawai
  • Patent number: 6918280
    Abstract: A workpiece ejector and transfer apparatus adapted to automatically extract a workpiece from a tool after work has been performed, and thereby reduce the cycle time for the operation. The apparatus includes a cylinder, a pair of cam plates adapted to convert the reciprocating motion of the cylinder into a rotational motion, and an engagement portion adapted to engage and unload the workpiece. When the cylinder is actuated, the cam plates are initially translated in an upward direction, and thereafter rotated. The initial upward translation of the cam plates is intended to engage and lift a processed workpiece such that it has sufficient clearance from its tool, whereas the rotation of the cam plates acts to transfer the processed workpiece such that the tool can accommodate a new workpiece. The processed workpiece is preferably transferred to a temporary retaining device while the new workpiece is loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Inventor: Michael F. Poppe
  • Patent number: 6901832
    Abstract: A method to remove pieces (14) cut off from bar-shaped workpiece material (5) by a cutting machine (1) is provided as well as an apparatus to carry out this process, wherein the piece (14) of the material (5) to be cut lies on a machine table (7) during cutting behind the cutting plane (8) in the direction of feed (9) of the material (5), is gripped between gripping jaws (12, 13) from behind the cutting plane (8) only. At the end of the cut, the cut off piece (14) is moved away from the cutting plane (8) by the gripping jaws (12, 13) in the material feed direction (9) and is tilted about an axis perpendicular to the material feed direction (9) such that its most recently cut surface is essentially horizontal and directed downward and that the piece (14) is then discharged by the gripping jaws (12, 13) by an essentially vertical motion downward onto an offload table (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: EURO Besitz GmbH & Co. EDV-Dienstleistungs KG
    Inventor: Armin Stolzer
  • Patent number: 6766721
    Abstract: A bale processor for cutting or dicing a bale or slab of unvulcanized rubber produces small cubes or blocks of a predetermined size and uniform shape for continuous feeding at a predetermined rate into a mixing machine or blender. A bale or slab of feedstock rubber is advanced incrementally along a slider platform and a segment is sliced from the leading end of the bale. After separation, the segment falls onto a receiving panel from which it is transferred by a vacuum pick-up head to a vacuum hold-down table. Multiple slices are then formed through the segment along the X-axis by circular cutting blades of an X-axis cutter head, thereby forming elongated segment strips. Next, multiple slices are formed through the segment strips in the Y-direction by a Y-axis cutter head which includes circular cutter blades that are extendable and retractable along the Y-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventor: Amitkumar N. Dharia
  • Patent number: 6619169
    Abstract: A system for punching metal sheets and for stacking metal sheets in the appropriate punched pattern, particularly for electric machines, has a die for punching the metal sheets, a die plate cooperating with the die, and a guiding device for guiding the punched metal sheets below the die plate. The guiding device has at least two clamping elements. The clamping elements are provided for clamping the punched metal sheets on their circumference and thus forming a stack branch-off which permits an uninterrupted punching during the discharge of the metal sheet stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Schuler Pressen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Konrad Wegener, Alfred Bareis
  • Publication number: 20030106405
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the extraction of signatures (19), or similar, from a folding apparatus (2), whereby the paper is extracted by means of an optionally switchable guide (39) arranged on a cylinder. Furthermore, the folding apparatus (2) is connected to a comminuting device (56).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Manfred Wolfang Hartmann, Horst Bernhard Michalik
  • Patent number: 6557446
    Abstract: Diagnostic strips of the kind which are exposed to biological fluids such as blood or urine to detect or monitor medical conditions are cut sequentially from elongated cards by a reciprocating shear blade. The cards may be ones which exhibit defective areas that should not be included in the finished strips. Blade motion seats each newly cut strip on a movable strip carrier which abuts the blade during the cutting operation. The carrier then travels a nondefective strip to a pickup location where it is precisely positioned and picked off of the carrier for emplacement in a housing. A strip with a defective area is carried further to a discharge location where it is released into a waste receptacle. This enables more economical manufacture of diagnostic strips by efficiently making use of nondefective areas of cards that have defective areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Kinematic Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Carlberg, Ford Garratt, Ted Meigs
  • Patent number: 6487949
    Abstract: A bale processor for cutting or dicing a bale or slab of unvulcanized rubber produces small cubes or blocks of a predetermined size and uniform shape for continuous feeding at a predetermined rate into a mixing machine or blender. A bale or slab of feedstock rubber is advanced incrementally along a slider platform and a segment is sliced from the leading end of the bale. After separation, the segment falls onto a receiving panel from which it is transferred by a vacuum pick-up head to a vacuum hold-down table. Multiple slices are then formed through the segment along the X-axis by circular cutting blades of an X-axis cutter head, thereby forming elongated segment strips. Next, multiple slices are formed through the segment strips in the Y-direction by a Y-axis cutter head which includes circular cutter blades that are extendable and retractable along the Y-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Amitkumar N. Dharia
  • Patent number: 6474205
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cutting off and conveying strips, for a machine. The device is used for producing a continuous web, especially of paper or card, for a threading strip, and has a knife. Finally the device is characterized in that it has it least one (preferably driven) guiding roll (27) which can be brought into engagement with the threading strip (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Halmschlager, Peter Haider, Herbert Haunlieb
  • Patent number: 6311596
    Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet-like stock material into cut sections of a pad-like cushioning dunnage product is provided. The machine includes a frame, conversion assemblies which convert the sheet-like stock material into the cushioning dunnage product, and a cutting assembly (56) which cuts the cushioning dunnage product into cut sections. The frame (46) includes an outlet opening (48) through which the cushioning dunnage product emerges. The cutting assembly (56), which is mounted downstream of the outlet opening (48), comprises a first blade (160) and a second blade (162). The second blade (162) is mounted on the frame (46) in such a manner that it travels between a rest position whereat it is removed from the first blade (160) to a cutting position whereat it coacts with the first blade (160) to cut the cushioning dunnage product into a cut section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Richard O. Ratzel, James A. Simmons
  • Patent number: 6301949
    Abstract: A reciprocating press for forming workpieces includes a tilting table that supports the workpiece and positions it with respect to the press tooling as the press closes, and then is pivoted upward into an inclined orientation as the press opens so that the finished workpiece falls down the table and is automatically discharged from the press. A preferred embodiment has a lifting arm attached to an upper reciprocating press member that carries an upper forming tool such as a punch. The lower end of the lifting arm engages the tilting table such that the table is pivoted about a horizontal axis in concert with the upward and downward movement of the reciprocating press member. The press preferably also includes a safety door that is automatically closed before the press fully closes and is opened again as the press opens such that operator access to the moving press parts is prevented by the door during a press cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew Gregory Beddoe, Ezra Lark Merrill, Trent Robert Wetherbee, Thomas Jacob Hagman
  • Patent number: 6244146
    Abstract: A tablet shearing apparatus includes a support frame comprising a top frame member having an opening, a stationary plate secured to the top frame member. The stationary plate includes apertures extending about substantially the entirety of the opening of the top frame member. A movable plate including apertures is disposed above the stationary plate. A drive cylinder is connected through a linkage arm and an actuator arm to the movable plate. A tablet tray having apertures for receiving tablets can be positioned above the movable plate to transfer tablets to the apertures of the movable plate and the stationary plate so that, when individual tablets are supported in the apertures of both the stationary plate and the movable plate, the drive cylinder moves the movable plate relative to the stationary plate and shears the tablets. The tablet shearing apparatus also includes a tablet release gate having keyhole shaped apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Anne Frances Arthur, Douglas Jay Dehaan, Clifford R. Jepsen, Phillip F. Ni, Donald L. Vermeulen, Edward A. Witkoske
  • Patent number: 6212983
    Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially and automatically cutting a piece of dimension lumber at a number of predetermined angles to produce a building component, such as a rafter or truss web or chord, with composite or compound angles, is disclosed. The apparatus includes infeed and outfeed tables tiltable about a longitudinal axis and equipped with fences along which a workpiece moves longitudinally via moving devices. Clamps hold the workpiece at different positions relative to a cutting station during a cutting operation. A cutter, which for example includes a circular saw blade, is mounted for a positioning movement about a vertical axis at the cutting station, as well as for vertical movement to cut a workpiece at a predetermined composite or compound angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Stoddard H. Pyle
  • Patent number: 6209431
    Abstract: A general purpose molding and casting machine which will run unmanned to receive a casting assemblage and then separate the runners and sprue from the casting. Once the separation has taken place the casting is carried to the finished parts area and runners and sprue remnants are delivered to the scrap area for reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: John L. Wickham
  • Patent number: 6199466
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a palletized container (411), the palletized container (411) including a container (413) affixed to a pallet (415). The apparatus includes a receptacle (412) arranged and configured for receiving the palletized container (411). A shearing mechanism is incorporated within the receptacle (412). The shearing mechanism is constructed and arranged for generating relative movement between the container (413) and the pallet (415) such that the container (413) is sheared from the pallet (415). The shearing mechanism includes support structure (428) for supporting the palletized container (411) within the receptacle (412) by engaging the pallet (415) of the palletized container (411). The shearing mechanism also includes a shearing member (440) having an edge (456) spaced a predetermined distance (D1) from the support structure (428).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignees: Solid Waste Management Systems, Inc., Nelson Technical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Crawford, Michael L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6196097
    Abstract: A bacon slicing system (10) includes a conveying system (20). The conveying system (20) is mounted for sliding between a first and second lateral position. The conveyor belt (65) of the conveying system (20) is rotatable in a longitudinal direction which is generally perpendicular to the lateral movement of the conveying system (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hormel Foods, LLC
    Inventor: Gary A. Handel
  • Patent number: 6152004
    Abstract: An apparatus for the stack formation is described, by means of which a practically continuous individual stack formation is possible from a stream of slices produced by means of a cutting apparatus. For this purpose a partial stack is formed by means of a stack receiver, and is transferred for the further stack formation to a portioning band, so that, during the continuation of the stack formation on the portioning band, a return guidance of the stack receiver can take place into a position from which it can be shot anew into the stream of slices for the formation of a next partial stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Bioforce Anstalt
    Inventor: Thomas Nispel
  • Patent number: 6142050
    Abstract: A cutting machine (A) simultaneously cuts an elongate workpiece (a) into one or more building products, wherein each product is of a predetermined length. The machine includes a frame or foundation (1), which supports an input or carry-in conveyor (2) for conveying the workpiece along a first path of travel. The machine further includes a plurality of cutting mechanisms (3), (5), (6), and (7) and a feed mechanism (12) supported on the frame. At least some of the cutting mechanisms are movably mounted on the frame for selectively adjusting the spacing between adjacent cutting mechanisms for cutting the workpiece into products of predetermined length or lengths. The feed mechanism receives the workpiece from the input conveyor and moves the workpiece along a second path of travel until the workpiece contacts the cutting mechanisms, thereby cutting the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankoh Seisakusho
    Inventor: Tokukazu Miki
  • Patent number: 5983762
    Abstract: A punch catch device for use with a punch machine comprising a mold. The mold of the punch machine has a mechanism to press products and waste materials downwardly until the products and waste materials are released from the mold. The punch catch device is movably positioned on the frame of the punch machine to move during the movement of the punching operation such that the products and waste materials are received in a catch basin of the punch catch device. The punch catch device includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height and angle of the catch basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventors: Jung-Huang Chen, Yu-Chun Chiang
  • Patent number: 5944065
    Abstract: A wire collection apparatus for use with a wire cutting machine. The apparatus comprises a tubular wire channel, a rotating tubular channel closure, and an actuator device. The wire channel contains an axial opening along the entire length of the channel. The channel contains a proximal opened end for receiving a portion of wire from the cutting machine and a distal opened end for allowing the leading terminus of the wire portion to extend therethrough, if necessary. The channel closure is positioned inside of and is substantially concentric with the wire channel. The closure contains an axial opening along the entire length of the closure and contains opened ends in alignment with the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the wire channel. The closure is rotatable inside the channel between opened and closed positions to open and close the axial opening of the channel, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventors: Robert J. Tanoory, Edward H. Majka
  • Patent number: 5921160
    Abstract: A release assembly for wire cutting apparatus. The present invention provides a release assembly for wire cutting apparatus which allows for dynamic alteration of the cut parameters. The release assembly allows for the length of the wire to be cut to be altered, allows for the biasing force to be increased or decreased to thereby reset the release assembly for a wide range of wire gauges, and allows for the stroke length to be altered to thereby either increase or decrease the cut frequency. The release assembly includes a housing having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal chamber. A plunger tube is slidably disposed in the longitudinal chamber and is biased towards the proximal end by a dynamically adjustable spring mechanism. A gauge rod is mounted within the plunger tube at an adjustable axial position. In operation, the wire being pulled from the coil engages the gauge rod and pushes the gauge rod and plunger tube in the distal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Rockford Manufacturing Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Yankaitis, Michael Kern, Irvin Burns, Patrick Robbins
  • Patent number: 5765461
    Abstract: Material feed and placement mechanisms for a steel cutting machine result in a power saving and accurate clamping device. A workpiece is moved into cutting position and clamped in place by the feed mechanism. After being cut by the cutting machine, the cut piece is slowly laid down by the placement mechanism. Not only can noise and vibration be eliminated, but also the safety of workers is improved, and machine life is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: Peter Wang
  • Patent number: 5572926
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for unloading presses with a nonhydraulic press unloader. The apparatus generally includes a support frame, a reciprocating tray, a tray arm, a link arm, an actuating arm, and an attachment arm. The support frame has a pair of support frame members having top surfaces. A tray roller, for supporting the reciprocating tray, is rotatably mounted to each end of the support frame member. The tray arm is slidably engaged with the top surface of one of the support frame members and is pivotally attached to the link arm. The midsection of the tray arm is pinably connected to the reciprocating tray. The actuating arm is pivotally connected to the other end of the link arm and to the support frame. A pickup roller is rotatably attached to the actuating arm near its midsection. A release roller is rotatably attached to the actuating arm also near the midsection and adjacent the pickup roller. As the press ram rises, the arms draw the tray in between the gap presented by the separating die halves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Peter Bachhuber
  • Patent number: 5569146
    Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine, which converts stock material into cut sections of dunnage, includes a cutting/aligning assembly. The cutting/aligning assembly comprises a moving blade unit which is mounted on the frame in such a manner that it travels between a rest position and a cutting position whereat it cuts a dunnage strip (which is emerging from a dunnage outlet opening) into a cut section. The cutting/aligning assembly also includes an automatic alignment device which automatically aligns the cut section with the dunnage outlet opening when the blade unit is moved from the cutting position to the rest position. The automatic alignment device is unattached to the moving blade member but travels therewith during jam-free operation of the cushioning conversion machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventor: James A. Simmons
  • Patent number: 5417796
    Abstract: An automatic dispensing device for masking paper and tape is provided to simultaneously dispense through a slot in a front wall of a cabinet, masking paper from a roll and masking tape from a roll. The masking tape is affixed to the masking paper in a position which overlaps a longitudinal edge of the masking paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Inventors: Randy L. Lovelace, George Spector
  • Patent number: 5352082
    Abstract: A machine for slitting filled bags, incorporates saw and displacement structure to cause relative movement between the saw and a bag to be slit, the saw comprising a blade in which a cutting section of the blade is located orthogonally with respect to the direction of relative movement such that the cutting section penetrates a leading end of the bag and, during continued relative movement, cuts through both the bag contents and the bag sides, towards the trailing end of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Palamatic Handling Systems Limited
    Inventor: Stewart Bennison
  • Patent number: 5287781
    Abstract: A novel dough feeding, cutting and depositing apparatus is provided herein. It includes a pivotally-mounted feed tray. Means are provided on the feed tray for gripping a continuous dough sheet and for advancing it forwardly along the feed tray to the downstream end of the feed tray. Means are provided for cutting a discrete sheet of dough from a continuous dough sheet overlapping the end of the feed tray, and for depositing such discrete sheet of dough on a sheet of dough tray station. Means are provided for moving the upstream end of the feed tray upwardly to its maximum "up" position for the duration of the time the continuous dough sheet is being advanced forwardly along the feed tray. Means are provided for moving the upstream end of the feed tray downwardly to its maximum "down" position for the duration of the time the means for cutting is effecting the cutting of the continuous dough sheet into a discrete sheet of dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Inventors: Amos Fehr, Joseph Chong
  • Patent number: 5218894
    Abstract: A machine for cutting pin headers of a desired length from a standard length of pin header stock is disclosed. A vertically disposed track is provided for receiving the standard lengths of pin header stock. The stock is allowed to fall by gravity to a cutting station where a single cutting blade cuts individual pin headers from the end of the stock. The cut pin headers are deposited into a bin for convenient unloading. Leftover, or residual pieces of stock are directed into another bin for discarding or salvage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: David A. College, Kenneth F. Folk
  • Patent number: 5214992
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for cutting stacked, sheet-like material, having a table (3) for receiving the material to be cut, a cutting blade (7) movable perpendicularly to the plane of the table, a press beam (8) arranged adjacent to this cutting blade (7) and lowerable onto the material to be cut, and also a plate-shaped front pusher (12) for aligning the material at the feed unit, which front pusher (12) can be brought into contact with the front face of the material to be cut, allowing the material to be cut to be aligned at the feed unit without removing or moving the cut material (5); provision is also made for the front pusher to be movable at an angle from above the table towards the front face of the material to be cut and, in its lower end position, to be positioned with its abutting surface (14) essentially in the cutting plane (10) of the cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Inventor: Wolfgang Mohr
  • Patent number: 5209149
    Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for cutting stacked sheet-like material, including:a table having a surface upon which the material may be laid, the table being defined to be within a work zone, a cutting knife and a press bar located above the work zone, an entry zone located behind the work zone for receiving the material to be cut, an advance device for advancing the stack of material into the work zone in the direction of the cutting knife, an element having a surface for receiving the material after it is cut, the element being defined to be within an exit zone, the element being movable relative to the work zone to form a gap therebetween, a first straight guide, tiltable about a horizontal axis in order to support the stack of material during cutting and to subsequently erect the cut stack, a second straight guide which is located behind the first straight guide which is operatively arranged to be brought into its working position after the gap has been opened, to form a transverse channel between
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Inventor: Wolfgang Mohr
  • Patent number: 5201258
    Abstract: A station (10) for cutting sheets of wood (13), and in particular for cutting packages of sheets, includes a first device (12) for positioning a package of sheets under a first cutter (15) so as to separate parts of the package sequentially. A further device (14) takes the cut part and sends it to a second cutter (17) for sequentially cutting the part along a second direction so as to obtain another division in subparts sequentially and selectively conveyed outside the station. Electronic controls are used to manage operation of the cutters and the positioning and taking devices for performing the cuts in accordance with a previously set grid of cuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Angelo Cremona & Figlio S.p.A.
    Inventor: Lorenzo Cremona
  • Patent number: 5179884
    Abstract: Plate shears for flat workpieces, especially sheet metal, comprise a fixed lower blade (4), an upper blade (6) secured to a vertically movable blade beam (8), a cutting bench (2) arranged in front of the blades, a swivel roller bench (11) comprising several parallel rows of rollers (12) arranged behind the blades, the swivel-roller bench can be swivelled about an axis (D) substantially parallel to the cutting region of the blades and can also be moved back and forth in relation to the blades, and an adjustable stop (3) arranged behind the blades for workpieces to be cut to a given width. Swivelling of the swivel-roller bench downwardly simultaneously lowers the front of the swivel-roller bench which is closer to the lower blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Reinhardt Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kutschker, Erwin Pesold
  • Patent number: 5176056
    Abstract: A machine that includes: A transportation system is disclosed for transporting panels such as wood panels between two cutting stations which cut the panels along different axes. The transportation system includes, between the cutting stations, a work surface of parallel bars. The work surface further includes three portions disposed at different levels while maintaining the bars in a parallel and aligned fashion such that a slide, also including parallel bars, may pass horizontally between the three portions. The slide operates vertically as well as horizontally to pick up the panels for transport among the three work surface portions, whose different heights permit a number of different stages of operation for the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Selco S.r.l.
    Inventor: Renzo Tagliaferri
  • Patent number: 5119704
    Abstract: A machine for cutting cloth or similar sheet material for a take-off table permanently connected to it for supporting sheet material after its having been cut by the cutting machine. The table is movable relative to the machine between a deployed and a stowed position, and in the stowed position of the table the combined apparatus has an overall length much shorter than it has with its table deployed, thereby allowing the apparatus to be more easily moved from one spot to another or the cutting room floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Gerber Garment Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence S. Wolfson
  • Patent number: 5062340
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting a continuous web into precise length sheets and precisely stacking the sheets, relative to each other, includes first and second moving endless belt tables for advancing the web, a sheet orientation table and a stacking table. A vacuum holds the web firmly, without tension, against the respective belts. A shearing device is disposed between the first and second endless belts. Web, detectors positioned along the line of travel of the web, detect printed or colored lines on the web to obtain accurately cut sheets. Individually driven and positioned sheet grippers grasp the cut sheet positioning each sheet under dual hole punching devices which punch precisely positioned holes in each sheet. A pair of aligning pins on a sheet stacking bed are used as guides for orienting the sheets in interleave configuration. Each sheet is secured to its adjacent sheet to maintain sheet orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Inventor: Richard Greven
  • Patent number: 5054348
    Abstract: A saddle with two cutting stations, i.e., front and rear openings, moves forward and backward horizontally within a chassis. The rear opening includes a cutting blade. The chassis includes a front counter blade. A magazine holds a tube bundle and includes a rear face clamp and rear counter blade. In a first cutting operation, skirting at the base of the tube bundle is placed in the front opening and is cut by first moving the saddle rearward against the rear face clamp and rear counter blade, and then frontward against the front counter-blade. In a second cutting operation, the tube bundle is placed in the rear opening. As the saddle is moved frontward, the cutting blade in the rear opening cooperates with the front counter-blade on the chassis to cut the tubes. This second cutting operation is continued until the tubes are cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Societe Generale pour les Techniques Nouvelles S.G.N.
    Inventors: Ghislain Anciaux, Rene Guilloteau, Daniel Tucoulat, Pascal Chauvire
  • Patent number: 5040440
    Abstract: A product switching mechanism, located downstream of a rotary shear for rod and bar product, includes first structure defining a horizontally elongate chamber with a top, bottom and one side wall, the chamber being open at the side opposite the one side wall, the chamber having one end remote from the rotary shear and another end adjacent the rotary shear with the one end being open; a second structure defining a substantially flat vertical surface closing the open side of the chamber and providing first and second substantially horizontal passages; the first passage is enclosed above, below and on either side and has a downstream opening and an upstream opening, the second passage having an upstream opening vertically adjacent the upstream opening of the first passage, the second passage opening through the surface of the second structure and having a side wall angling toward the surface as it extends away from the upstream opening of the second passage, so that product entering the upstream opening of the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Stelco, Inc.
    Inventor: George R. Harvey
  • Patent number: 4991479
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for trimming articles molded on a plastic sheet and successively fed from a forming machine. A carriage receives the article to be held thereunder by vacuum and is moved in a trimming zone, where a pair of longitudinal cutter devices, each having a stationary blade and an angularly movable blade, are horizontally moved together from respective retreated positions for longitudinal cutting. Then, a front transverse cutter device having similar pair of blades is raised up from a retreated position for transverse cutting and then a rear transverse cutter device is similarly operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Asano Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Kazuo Asano, Toshihiro Takai, Masayasu Kinoshita