Abstract: A sheet metal strip is directed from a supply coil into a unitized system including a frame supporting a feed roll driven by a variable speed motor. The strip is directed upwardly from the feed roll between vertical guide rods to produce an inverted U-shaped vertical loop detected by sensors connected to control the feed roll motor. A servo driven index roll receives and advances the strip into tooling within a reciprocating press. Vibration insulators support the frame from a base stand mounted on air casters which provide for quickly removing the system from the press. The axial length of each roll is less than the width of the strip and engages only a center portion of the strip. A second index roll driven by a servo motor may be used on the press to provide push/pull advancement of the strip through the press.

Abstract: A continuous motion de-flash machine for removing flash from molded plastic articles. An in-feed section is supported by a frame and adapted to transport articles. A de-flash section is supported by the frame, receives articles from the in-feed section, and includes (a) a de-flash turret with a plurality of cam-actuated punch stations each having a punch adapted to remove flash from an article, the punch stations traveling along an oval track with a pair of long straight portions connecting two curved portions, and (b) a nest turret with a plurality of cam-actuated nest stations, the nest stations traveling along an oval track parallel to the oval track of the punch stations. An out-feed section receives an article from the de-flash section and removes the article from the machine. A method of using the machine to de-flash articles having unwanted flash is also disclosed.

Abstract: A adjustable shuttle stop apparatus for use in controlling feeding of material to a machining operation on a machine tool, such as a band saw. The apparatus comprises a feed conveyor, a band saw adjacent to the feed conveyor, a shuttle vise movably disposed on the feed conveyor, and an adjustable stop on the feed conveyor for adjusting a distance between the stop and the shuttle vise and for stopping the shuttle vise at the cutting position. The adjustable stop compensates for undesired movement of the shuttle vise caused by clamping the workpiece such that the distance between the stop and the shuttle vise remains substantially constant. This allows for a consistent cut length of the workpiece on subsequent cutting cycles. Different embodiments of the adjustable stop are disclosed along with a method of use of the apparatus.

Abstract: Device (1) for feeding pieces of strip material (P) to a picking station (6), including a strip feeding unit (3), a cutting unit (4), and a conveying group (5) of the pieces of strip (P) comprising a duct (13b) extending between the cutting unit (4) and the picking station (6), a system for generating a pneumatic conveying flow (21, 22) in the duct (13b), and a pneumatic braking device (32, 33, 34) of the pieces of strip (P) during their movement produced by the pneumatic conveying flow.

Abstract: A wrapping mechanism for enveloping the surface of a large round bale with a wrapper is mounted to the discharge gate of a baler having a bale-forming chamber formed in part by the gate and side-by-side supported belts carried by the gate. A pair of feed rolls are positioned for directing wrap material into a pinch point defined by a lower run of the bale chamber belts and an upper surface of a plate mounted to the underside of the gate for guiding the wrap material to an inlet at the bottom of the bale-forming chamber. A device for cutting off a desired length of wrap material fed through the feed rolls includes a spring loaded knife which is released from and reset to a cocked position by the action of a hydraulic cylinder which also acts to engage and disengage drive means coupled to the feed rolls in appropriate sequence to the operation of the knife.

Abstract: A device to cut lengths of elongated metal elements, including a shear, an incoming belt for delivering the metal elements to the shear, an outgoing belt for delivering the metal elements from the shear after they are cut, a retractable stop, between the incoming and outgoing belt, for aligning the metal elements and establishing a reference point from which the length to be cut is measured, two motors, one to drive each belt, and a shaft between the motors to ensure that the motion of each belt is synchronous after the elongated metal elements reach the reference point.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for punching spaced binding holes in discrete stacks of bound pages, the apparatus being characterized by a front stop member and a conveyor belt releasing member whose motion is synchronized with the punch strokes. This action together with use of a joined punch and die assembly in the apparatus adapt the resulting structure for rapid, accurate punching of binding holes in pages received in discrete stacks from a high speed automatic stitcher-binder or the like.

Abstract: A machine tool which is operable on a workpiece, particularly a stamping or nibbling machine, comprises a movable electrically conductive work tool which is connected in a circuit along with a workpiece. The circuit includes a relay having a switch which is closable to energize a control device such as a drive motor for the feed of the workpiece. The relay is controlled by a contact which is effected when the tool contacts the workpiece to energize the relay and, for example, to open the contact in the control circuit, to stop the control operation. The relay advantageously includes a spring to return this contact switch to a closed position.