Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus that performs a cutting process on a booklet formed by a bundle of center-folded sheets of paper includes: a conveying member that conveys the booklet; a leading edge stopper capable of reciprocating in a booklet conveying direction and used for setting a cutting position by abutting on a center-folded portion of the booklet; and a supporting member that supports the booklet when the cutting position of the booklet is to be set. When the booklet is being conveyed, the conveying member and the conveyed booklet are located in a contact position, and when the cutting position of the booklet is to be set, each of the conveying member and the conveyed booklet is located in one of separated positions, and the cutting position of the booklet is set by the leading edge stopper while the conveyed booklet is supported by the supporting member.

Abstract: A food product slicer includes a carriage assembly is mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past a cutting edge of a knife. An adjustable gauge plate provides variable slice thickness for food product carried by the carriage assembly. During automatic slicing, when the gauge plate is moved from the open position to the closed position, a slicer controller automatically shuts down the carriage drive in a controlled manner that causes the carriage to stop at its most forward position.

Abstract: A method of trimming printed media comprises selecting printed media to be positioned on a conveyor based on predetermined delivery sequence data, positioning the printed media on the conveyor, receiving size data representative of at least one dimension of the printed media to be trimmed, and electronically controlling a trimmer based on the received size data to adjust a location at which the printed media is to be trimmed.

Abstract: A food product slicer includes a carriage assembly is mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past a cutting edge of a knife. An adjustable gauge plate provides variable slice thickness for food product carried by the carriage assembly. During automatic slicing, when the gauge plate is moved from the open position to the closed position, a slicer controller automatically shuts down the carriage drive in a controlled manner that causes the carriage to stop at its most forward position.

Abstract: A cutting unit for comminuting bulky feedstock and a device into which such a cutting unit is integrated. The cutting unit has a cutting chamber, which is arranged along a conveying direction and is formed by paired opposite cross walls and longitudinal walls. A knife for comminuting the feedstock can be moved transverse to the conveying direction across the entire cross section of the cutting chamber from one cross wall to the opposite cross wall. To also assure the complete cutting through of fiber-containing or film-shaped feedstock, a counter knife is arranged in the cross wall opposite to the blade of the knife which is stationary relative to the cutting chamber and which during the cutting process forms a cutting gap with the blade of the knife. The wall segment of the opposite cross wall is placed movable in the advance direction of the knife.

Abstract: A food slicer is provided having a support member including a base portion and an upstanding portion integrally formed with the base portion. The upstanding portion includes a rotating cutting blade secured thereto for slicing food product and at least one motor positioned within the upstanding portion for rotating the cutting blade. The base portion includes a food product table slidably secured thereto and is movable across the cutting blade for holding product while it is being sliced by the cutting blade. An adjustable gage plate also is provided for determining the thickness of a food product to be sliced by the cutting blade along with an adjustable gage plate alignment mechanism connecting the upstanding portion to the gage plate at an upper portion of the gage plate.

Abstract: An assembly for conveying glass sheets on machines for working sheets, comprising an assembly for feeding the sheets to be worked, which engages the longitudinal edges of the sheets and is arranged upstream of a frame for supporting at least one working head, and an assembly for removing the sheets, which engages the edges of the sheets and is arranged downstream of the frame for supporting a working head.

Abstract: Novel modifications to a standard Pro-lok Blue Punch manual punch press machine have been developed which permit the modified machine to accurately and consistently cut Sargent brand L and R series keys to code. Modifications to the same machine are presented such that both Sargent L and R series keys may be cut to code on the same Pro-lok Blue Punch manual punch press machine. Primary features of the modifications are (1) moving the indexing stops from the lower jaw to the upward facing surface of the die and (2) providing two indexing stops on the die such that each stop is laterally positioned on opposite sides of the punch from the other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for cutting an elastomeric laminate that may include a layer of reinforcement cords, into a desired length without cutting through the cords. The method includes the step of cutting through the gum portion of the elastomeric composite material at a desired skive angle, and then opening up the skived cut. Next, the cord reinforcement layer is cut without severing the reinforcement cords. An elastomeric composite strip cut to the desired length is produced and has cut ends. One of the cut ends has the gum portion cut at a desired skive angle adjacent an overhang portion of the reinforcement layer. The opposite end of the elastomeric composite segment also has a skived portion to mate with the skived portion of the first cut end, and a gap in the cord ply to mate with the cord overhang of the first end, resulting in a splice. An improved anvil having independently controlled vacuum zones is also provided, as well as improved cutting mechanisms.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for punching a hole in a paper with a punching unit in a paper post-processing apparatus. The paper is nipped and transported with a transporting roller system arranged downstream of the punching unit in a paper transport direction to make at least a leading edge of the paper pass through an aligning unit. An actuator is activated to end the nipping of the paper by the transporting roller system, and the aligning unit aligns the paper in a width direction thereof that is perpendicular to the paper transport direction. The activation of the actuator is ended to resume the nipping of the paper, and a stopper member is inserted into a paper transport path upstream of a punch of the punching unit. A trailing edge of the paper is then caused to hit the stopper member, and the paper is punched by the punching unit.

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: A knife-like die for cutting a thermoformed plastic article from a sheet of thermoformable plastic. The die includes a die build up plate that is mounted to a first platen and a striker plate that is mounted to a second platen. The die further includes a die board having a knife element mounted thereto. A heating element heats the knife to a temperature that allows for easy cutting of the thermoformable plastic. The die board also includes a die travel stop which prevents the die from being forced into the striker plate thus damaging the knife element and a die location pilot that engages a feature on the sheet of thermoformable plastic to align the article with the die.

Abstract: A registration device for a sheet material article handler includes a movable backstop which sequentially engages a leading edge portion of a sheet material article as the article moves in a direction of movement along a path of movement in the sheet material article handler, thereby registering the sheet material article relative to the sheet material article handler. A driver is provided, the driver moving the backstop along an arcuate path in the direction of movement of the sheet material article from a first position out of the path of movement to a second position in the path of movement.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a turbine blade retainer using a material cutting device and a material bending device includes steps for suspending a bar stock material between a polyurethane shock absorber and a bore of a cutting jig support, moving the cutting punch downward to press the distal end of the bar stock material into the shock absorber and then cut the bar stock material to thereby generate a blank, clamping the blank between a bending punch and a receiving slide by pressing the bending punch against the receiving slide, bending the distal end of the blank against a chamfered section of a bending support in response to continued downward motion of the bending punch to thereby form a blade retainer precursor, and milling the blade retainer precursor to form the blade retainer. Corresponding devices for performing these steps are also described.

Abstract: A closed-knife rod cutting machine is provided with air ejection apparatus for automatic discharge of cut rods. The gage pin is compliant in the direction of the knife return stroke to permit ejection of a lodged cut rod by the advancing rod stock. The free end of the compliant gage pin is tapered to assist in clearing cut rods loosely lodged in knife, and the gage pin is timed to retract when the knife engages the rod stock at the beginning of the cutting cycle.

Abstract: A glass transporting and locating system for a glass cutting table with a bridge extending across the glass cutting table which is movable along the length of the glass cutting table. A glass workpiece feeding table is positioned adjacent the glass cutting table and adapted to support a glass workpiece to be fed to the glass cutting table. At least one vacuum chuck is carried by the bridge at a position which can overlap a glass workpiece supported on the glass workpiece feeding table when the bridge is at one end of the glass cutting table. The system includes a device for aligning the glass workpiece which is supported on the glass workpiece feeding table. The alignment device may include a retractable stop on the bridge or on the glass workpiece feeding table. The retractable stop on the bridge may also be used for advancing finished workpieces off of the glass cutting table. The glass workpiece transporting and locating system is adapted to be easily retrofitted to existing glass cutting tables.

Abstract: A trim press article handling apparatus includes a punch plate, a die plate, a plunger, and a receiver. The punch plate has a punch, and the die plate has a die cooperating in relative movement with the punch plate to sever articles from a thermoformable web. The plunger is carried by one of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered advancing head. The receiver is carried by the other of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered recess configured to receive the plunger. A tapered article locator provided within a thermoformed web also having articles therein is captured between the plunger and the receiver as the punch plate and die plate are brought together there about, thereby imparting alignment of an article in the web between the punch and the die. A method for aligning and severing articles from a web is also provided.

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: An apparatus for precisely cutting lengths of strip material includes a supply of strip material, a feed mechanism for conveying the strip material from the supply and a reciprocating cutter mounted downstream of the feed mechanism. An adjustable stop is movably mounted adjacent the cutter for engaging an end of the strip material and setting a precise length of the strip material being cut. An adjustment mechanism is coupled to the stop for moving the stop relative to the cutter along a longitudinal axis of the length of the strip material being cut.

Abstract: A trim press article handling apparatus includes a punch plate, a die plate, a plunger, and a receiver. The punch plate has a punch, and the die plate has a die cooperating in relative movement with the punch plate to sever articles from a thermoformable web. The plunger is carried by one of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered advancing head. The receiver is carried by the other of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered recess configured to receive the plunger. A tapered article locator provided within a thermoformed web also having articles therein is captured between the plunger and the receiver as the punch plate and die plate are brought together there about, thereby imparting alignment of an article in the web between the punch and the die. A method for aligning and severing articles from a web is also provided.

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.

Abstract: A trim press article handling apparatus includes a punch plate, a die plate, a plunger, and a receiver. The punch plate has a punch, and the die plate has a die cooperating in relative movement with the punch plate to sever articles from a thermoformable web. The plunger is carried by one of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered advancing head. The receiver is carried by the other of the punch plate and the die plate having a tapered recess configured to receive the plunger. A tapered article locator provided within a thermoformed web also having articles therein is captured between the plunger and the receiver as the punch plate and die plate are brought together there about, thereby imparting alignment of an article in the web between the punch and the die. A method for aligning and severing articles from a web is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a wafer sandwich into a plurality of rectangular pieces has a support surface defining a transport path extending longitudinally through a longitudinal-cutting station and a transverse-cutting station. A plurality of stationary and transversely spaced longitudinal blades extend across the path in the longitudinal-cutting station. The surface is formed in the transverse-cutting station with a plurality of transversely extending and longitudinally spaced slots. An abutment is displaceable immediately downstream of the transverse-cutting station between a blocking position in the path and a retracted position clear of the path. A plurality of transverse blades are displaceable transversely in the slots of the transverse-cutting station across the path.

Abstract: A splitting apparatus includes a splitter member with a plurality of blades, and a splitting guide configured to anchor articles so that an article to be split is anchored on a splitting guide when the splitter member is moved across the splitting guide. The apparatus includes a gate which is controlled by a gate controller that selectively opens and closes the discharge aperture positioned adjacent the splitting guide so that the split article can be discharged from the splitting guide. A staging platform is provided adjacent the splitting guide for aligning the articles to be split with the splitting guide and a staging advancer is provided to move articles from the staging platform to the splitting guide, and to discharge the split articles after splitting.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for precisely, easily and automatically setting and resetting stops on a cutting table. In particular, a hand manipulable pointer slideable along a scale may be moved a desired and equal distance to that desired of the stops, and the stops will automatically move that same distance and direction. The system is accomplished by operatively coupling the stops and the pointer system to a linear actuator. Also disclosed is an electromechanical braking system of superior quality for this 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: The invention provides an electronics board assembly apparatus which includes a base, a slide, an arm, a punch, a bracket, a roller member and at least a first engagement component. The slide is mounted to the base for sliding movement along the base. The arm extends upwardly firm the base and the punch is located on the arm in a position over the slide. The roller member is rotatable mounted to the bracket. Movement of the slide into a first position causes the roller member to come to rest in the engagement surface.

Abstract: A cutting mechanism for accurately cutting a notch in a piece of edging, to permit sharp bending of the piece of edging for a picture or plaque, is disclosed. The cutting mechanism comprises a jig secured to a base member, the jig being dimensioned to receive the piece of edging clamped thereto. A cutting blade is mounted on the base member for reciprocating movement between a first retracted position whereat the cutting blade is remote from the jig and a second fully extended position whereat the cutting edge has passed through the jig. The cutting blade has an inverted "V"-shaped cutting edge comprising two blade portions joined one to the other at a central vertex.

Abstract: A device for feeding and discharging a work in an automatic hollow-pipe cutting apparatus comprises: a cutter device for cutting a hollow pipe; a cam lever driving mechanism for sending the hollow pipe to the cutter device; a fixed chuck device disposed near the cutter device; a movable chuck device disposed away from the cutter device; a movable die core disposed inside the cutter device and inside the hollow pipe; another cam lever driving mechanism for moving the movable chuck device; a stopper and ejector fitted to the fixed die core; whereby when the hollow pipe is fed to the cutter device, the fixed chuck device grasps and release the hollow pipe and the movable chuck device also grasps and release the hollow pipe but at timing different from grasping and releasing by the fixed chuck means and the feeding of the hollow pipe into the cutter device is performed by movement of the movable chuck device by means of the other cam lever driving mechanism, and after the hollow pipe is cut, during lowering of a

Abstract: A sheet machining apparatus has a die for positioning a sheet to be machined. The die is mounted on a lower die base for movement and has a machining pattern for the sheet, a plurality of punches are mounted on an upper punch base for machining the sheet in coaction with the die in a predetermined number of machining cycles according to the individual machining pattern, and a feed mechanism horizontally moves the die to align a machining position on the sheet with the punches each time the sheet is machined by the die and the punches.

Abstract: A device for cutting cheese, vegetables, sausage and like products, into slices, comprising a supporting surface for the product to be cut and a knife, wherein adjacent an end edge of the supporting surface a stop plate for the product to be cut is arranged, extending transversely to the supporting surface, which stop plate is coupled with an upwardly and downwardly movable knife holder comprising an elongate knife, which knife holder is situated near the upper edge of the stop plate, while the distance between the stop plate and the knife in a direction transverse to the stop plate defines the thickness of the slices to be cut, and an electric motor is provided for effecting the up and down movement of the knife holder.

Abstract: A device for severing packing strips having blisters from a continuous film having a transport roller and, at a specific distance therefrom, a stamping device. The stamping device is combined with a stop, against which blisters of the packing strip to be stamped out run. By use of the stop, an always similar position of the blisters within the packing strip is achieved in the case of different expansion behaviors of the continuous film. By use of a buffer zone for a part of the continuous film, matching to different continuous films is achieved.

Abstract: A device for aligning material webs which in a longitudinal direction have alternating regions of differing thickness, has a top and a bottom aligning rail, which are disposed substantially at right angles to the material web and opposite one another with slight clearance. The top aligning rail has a row of aligning elements which are disposed in a longitudinal direction of the aligning rail. They are supported so as to be movable substantially at right angles to the plane of the material web and may be brought to rest on the bottom aligning rail with the material web for alignment lying in between. The aligning elements are supported in a substantially freely movable manner in the top aligning rail such that they may be brought under the action of gravity to rest on the material web. The aligning elements after being brought to rest on the material web are releasably fixable in the top aligning rail.

Abstract: A tab (22) at the edge of a panel (10) may be advantageously sheared by transporting the panel into an in-line shear (30). As the panel is transported into the shear, an adjustable rail (52) engages the tab (22) to guide the panel to maintain its orientation. The rail (52) is adjusted after the tab (22) has been sheared to now engage the panel (10) along its edge formed by the removal of the tab. In this way, the rail (52) can guide the panel upon transport from the shear.

Abstract: A card cutting machine is disclosed herein, which includes a feeder and a cutting unit. A sheet with a mark affixed to an end thereof is conveyed from the feeder to the cutting unit, where it is cut into a desired card size. The machine further includes a mark reading device mounted in a sheet passage between the feeder and the cutting unit for detecting the mark affixed on the sheet, whereby only desired sheets are passed through the cutting unit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing pallets from sheets of substantially the same dimensions as the dimensions of the pallets to be manufactured by the steps of sequentially feeding sheets of a predetermined polygonal shape, cutting substantially at one time a plurality of corner portions of the thus fed sheets to obtain pallets and then discharging the thus obtained pallets. Belt conveyors sequentially feed sheets of a predetermined polygonal shape and cutting dies cut substantially at one time the rear corner portions of the preceding sheet and the front corner portions of the following sheet to obtain pallets and belt conveyors sequentially discharge the thus obtained pallets. When a ruled line, that is, an elongate recess or the like for bending is needed in the resulting pallets, cutting of the corner portions and formation of the ruled line are effected substantially at one time.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus achieve the intermittent feeding of raw material into a shearing station by exerting a drive torque on draw-in rollers in order to effect their rotation in one arcuate direction and hence the movement of the raw material toward the shearing station. A counteracting torque, which is less than the drive torque, is continuously exerted on the draw-in rollers. Thus, during intervals following a shearing operation when the drive torque is terminated, the counteracting torque functions to reverse the rotation of the draw-in rollers and hence retract the sheared end of the raw material away from the shearing station.

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.

Abstract: A metallic pipe-cutting apparatus is constructed to cut elongate metallic pipes such as aluminum pipes into shorter pipes of a predetermined length, and comprises a main body, a chuck disposed rearwardly of the main body so as to hold trailing ends of the elongate metallic pipes, and a supporter disposed forwardly of the main body, with the main body interposed between the chuck and the supporter. The supporter comprises supporting pins which are to be inserted in leading ends of the pipes whose trailing ends are clamped by the chuck, so that the pipes clamped at their both ends are moved intermittently a predetermined distance so as to be successively cut into the predetermined length, with their outer peripheral surfaces not being scratched or flawed due to sliding contact with clampers or other members.

Abstract: A multidirectional sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet loader and a sheet feeder disposed adjacent a press. Both the feeder and loader include carriages movable toward and away from the press and carriages movable laterally with respect to the direction of feed toward and away from the press. The method of operation includes feeding a sheet from the loader to the feeder and from the feeder into the press a predetermined distance. The method further includes feeding the sheet further into the press and/or laterally thereof as required between press cycles. In a variation of the method, the sheet may be moved both further into the press and laterally thereof simultaneously. The method further includes aligning the loader with the feeder prior to the last operation of the press on a sheet.

Abstract: A multidirectional sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet loader and a sheet feeder disposed adjacent a press. Both the feeder and loader include carriages movable toward and away from the press and carriages movable laterally with respect to the direction of feed toward and away from the press. The method of operation includes feeding a sheet from the loader to the feeder and from the feeder into the press a predetermined distance. The method further includes feeding the sheet further into the press and/or laterally thereof as required between press cycles. The method further includes aligning the loader with the feeder prior to the last operation of the press on a sheet.

Abstract: A manual stock stop is diclosed including a track assembly and a sliding stop assembly. A cable-activated electromechanical position transducer sends an electrical signal corresponding to the position of a stop bar mounted on the top assembly to a monitor/control unit which displays the position of the stop bar. A fine adjustment mechanism in the stop assembly allows for precise positioning of the stop bar. An automatic stock stop is also disclosed including a track and sliding carriage assembly. A motorized screw mechanism mounted on the track moves a carriage a limited distance along the track. The ends of flippers mounted on the carriage can be extended beyond an edge of the carriage to actually stop the stock. A guide and a device for performing a machine operation on the stock may also be mounted on the track. A computer control unit activates and coordinates the various functions of the stock stop.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a web of uncut thermoplastic articles from a sheet of material and severing the uncut articles from the web of unseparated articles by precisely locating the unseparated articles with respect to a cutting tool and, once located, cutting the product from the web. Male locating pins included as part of the trimmer and spaced a known distance from the cutting edge move forward to engage web deformations. The forward movement of the male locating pin delivers sufficient force to the deformations to center them on the male locating pin. Continued forward movement forces the other side of the deformation into contact with a female locating pin included as part of the die and spaced the same known distance from the die edge. The female locating pin grabs the deformation to place the sheet in the desired location.

Abstract: A device for shifting packs (P) of panels along the workpiece support table (L) of a sawing machine. The top surface of a stack of panels (P') comprises a pair of levers (1, 2) hingedly mounted on a motorized carriage (C). The first lower lever (1) frontally contacts the side of the pack (P) by its forward end defining a vertical pushing front (13) and has a lower jaw (17) acting on the underside of the edge of the pack (P), while a second, upper lever (2) forms, with its forward end (20, 21), the upper jaw acting on the top side of the edge of the pack (P). The second lever is actuated for gripping the edge of the pack between the two jaws (17, 20, 21).

Abstract: A device to feed bars located upstream of a machine to shear bars to size from a bundle to be sheared, the single bars being withdrawn from a selected bundle of bars, a bundle of aligned and butted bars for shearing being delivered to such shearing machine by at least one support frame holding a bundle of bars to be sheared. A movable carrier advances the support frame. An assemblage to align and abut the bundle of bars prepares the bars for shearing. The assemblage to align and abut the bundle of bars including a movable gripper into which the bundle of bars are introduced and a movable abutment plate for contacting and aligning the bundle of bars.

Abstract: Feeding apparatus for repetitively advancing an elongate workpiece to a saw cyclically operable to cut parts of uniform length from the workpiece includes a power-driven feed wheel frictionally engageable with the workpiece. The feed wheel is movable into and out of engagement with the workpiece so that the workpiece may be clamped in a stationary position while being cut. The feeding apparatus is provided with a manually controlled adjustment which enables the operator to adjust the feeding apparatus to compensate for wear of the feed wheel with little or no interruption of the production cycle.

Abstract: Precut pieces of wood of like configuration are stacked in a hopper from the lower end of which they are advanced one-by-one by a reciprocable pusher onto a horizontally disposed work station. As soon as a workpiece is positioned on the station it is automatically clamped into place, after which two rotary saws, which are mounted adjacent opposite ends of the station, are reciprocated from retracted to advanced positions, during which movement they cut away portions of the workpiece at opposite ends thereof. As soon as the saws have advanced passed the workpiece, they are retracted slightly away from opposite ends of the workpiece, so that they will not reengage the workpiece when they return to their starting positions. When the saws are retracted the now-cut workpiece is automatically released and then ejected from the work station, after which a cycling relay automatically causes another workpiece to be shifted onto the work station so that the above-noted steps are repeated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for apportioning and cutting a loaf of meat into slices of equal thickness. The apparatus includes a frame, a meat compartment in the frame adapted to receive the loaf of meat, a measuring device on the frame for apportioning the loaf into a predetermined number or thickness of slices to be cut, a cutting blade on the frame to cut the loaf into the plurality of slices, an advancement ram connected to the measuring device for advancing the loaf after each slice is cut, and a control system interconnecting the measuring device and cutting blade so that the cutting blade will sequentially cut the loaf into the plurality of slices of equal thickness. The measuring device includes a first elongated member having calibrations of equal increments for substantially simultaneously apportioning the number and thickness of slices into which the loaf is to be cut.