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: An infeed apparatus for a sheet material article trimmer includes a pusher element for moving a sheet material article to be trimmed on a front table of the trimmer and into engagement with a backstop of the front table. The pusher element is moved by a driver which moves the pusher element at the same speed as the front table for a period of time with the pusher element in engagement with a back edge portion of the sheet material article and the backstop in engagement with a front edge portion of the sheet material article. The period of time is at least as long as the time required for a front clamp of the sheet material article trimmer to grip the sheet material article against the front table. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An automatic lens cutting machine (1) includes a body portion, a carrying device (10), a cutting device (20), a take out device (30), a power device and an electrical control portion. The take out device is mounted adjacent to the carrying device, and comprises a shelf (31) mounted on a base (40) of the body portion and a lens receiving device (34) disposed above the shelf. The lens receiving device has a plurality of rows of tubular rings. Each row has a plurality of rings. The rings receive unseparated lenses (90) on a semi-finished lens assembly (9) therein when the automatic lens cutting machine is in operation, and retain the separated lenses therein after the semi-finished lens assembly is subject to a cutting operation.

Abstract: A three-side trimmer according to the present invention comprises a bound material feed unit (2) for feeding the bound material (1) one by one; a rotating table unit (3) for receiving the bound material (1) from the bound material feed unit (2) at a predetermined position and rotating the bound material at every predetermined angle in such a manner that the bound material is arranged at three positions of a top edge cutting position, a front edge cutting position and a bottom edge cutting position; a trimming unit (4) arranged for movement in a direction close to or away from the rotating table unit (3) between two positions of a cutting position at which the trimming unit (4) becomes close to the rotating table unit (3) so as to cut a top edge section (1a), a bottom edge section (1b) and a front edge section (1c) of the bound material (1), respectively, and a standby position at which the trimming unit (4) is away from the rotating table unit (3); trimming unit guide means (5) arranged between the rotating t

Abstract: A sheet finisher for performing preselected processing with a sheet or a sheet stack conveyed thereto of the present invention includes a cutter unit configured to cut the sheet or the sheet stack in a direction perpendicular to a direction of sheet conveyance. A guide member is positioned upstream of the cutter unit in the direction of sheet conveyance for guiding the sheet or the sheet stack being conveyed. A moving device moves the guide member in a direction parallel to the direction of sheet conveyance.

Abstract: A loaf reload mechanism for a slicing machine that includes a loaf-loading position wherein during a loading operation a loaf is placed in the loaf-loading position to be engaged by a gripper and driven into a cutting plane. The loaf reload mechanism includes a loaf-staging position located over the loaf-loading position, the loaf-staging position having a lowering mechanism to position a loaf from the loaf-staging position to the loaf-loading position. The reload mechanism also includes a loaf-ready position located laterally adjacent to the loaf-staging position, and a sweep mechanism configured to laterally move a loaf from the loaf-ready position into the loaf-staging position.

Abstract: A singulation saw for sawing either substrate or wafers includes a pair of counter-rotating saw blades mounted for independent movement in a vertical direction for alternatively engaging with a substrate to be singulated. The singulation saw further includes a transport system including a pair of substrate carriers reciprocates the substrates. While the first substrate is being cut, the second substrate or other substrate carrier sequentially unloads a cut substrate, loads a new uncut substrate and then moves the uncut substrate to a vision system for determining the position of the substrate relative to the second carrier and then positions the second carrier and its substrate in a standby position ready to be cut by the pair of saw blades that are cutting the first substrate. As the first cut substrate is moved to an unload position, the new uncut substrate is moved into a cutting position.

Abstract: An infeed apparatus for a sheet material article trimmer includes a pusher element for moving a sheet material article to be trimmed on a front table of the trimmer and into engagement with a backstop of the front table. The pusher element is moved by a driver which moves the pusher element at the same speed as the front table for a period of time with the pusher element in engagement with a back edge portion of the sheet material article and the backstop in engagement with a front edge portion of the sheet material article. The period of time is at least as long as the time required for the front clamp to move through a distance corresponding to the difference in thickness between the thinnest sheet material article and the thickest sheet material article to grip the sheet material article against the front table.

Abstract: The present invention provides a workpiece-transfer device that has functions for both loading and unloading workpieces, without requiring a workpiece-storage device to enable a function for replacing material and product workpieces with each other, and that requires only a simple configuration and low costs. A workpiece-transfer device loads a material workpiece W1 in a workpiece-machining device 1 and unloads a product workpiece W2 from the workpiece-machining device 1. A movement means with a rectangular coordinate system 30 is provided to move a traveling body 27 in a first direction along the direction in which the workpiece-machining device 1 and a workpiece-storage device 2 stand in a line (direction X) as well as in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first direction (direction Y). The traveling body 27 includes a gripping means 28 for gripping a material or product workpiece W1 and W2.

Abstract: A method for trimming a single book having a front edge and two side edges includes transporting a book in a transport direction so that the front edge is parallel to the transport direction, cutting the front edge of the book using a first reciprocating knife when the front edge is parallel to the transport direction, transporting the book so that the side edges are parallel to the transport direction, and cutting the side edges using second and third reciprocating knives when the side edges are parallel to the transport direction. A single book trimming device is also provided having a conveyor device for conveying a book in a transport direction, a reciprocating front knife for trimming a front edge of the book, the front knife having a first blade edge parallel to the transport direction of the conveyor at the front knife; and at least one reciprocating side knife for trimming side edges of the book, the side knife having a second blade edge parallel to the transport direction at the side knife.

Abstract: An infeed apparatus for a sheet material article trimmer includes a pusher element for moving a sheet material article to be trimmed on a front table of the trimmer and into engagement with a backstop of the front table. The pusher element is moved by a driver which moves the pusher element at the same speed as the front table for a period of time with the pusher element in engagement with a back edge portion of the sheet material article and the backstop in engagement with a front edge portion of the sheet material article. The period of time is at least as long as the time required for a front clamp of the sheet material article trimmer to grip the sheet material article against the front table and/or for the front clamp move through a distance corresponding to the difference in thickness between the thinnest sheet material article and the thickest sheet material article to grip the sheet material article against the front table.

Abstract: A device for trimming multiple streams of printed products including a first trimming unit for trimming at least one side of a first stream of printed products, and a second trimming unit for trimming at least one side of a second stream of printed products, the first stream and the second stream having a similar direction. Also disclosed is a method for trimming multiple streams of printed products comprising moving a first stream of printed products in a first direction, trimming at least one side of the first stream, moving a second stream of printed products separate from the first stream in a direction similar to the first direction, and trimming at least one side of the second stream.

Abstract: A sawing system (200) incorporates a vision zone (220) between a loading/unloading zone (115) and a sawing zone (210). This arrangement allows a dual spindle counter rotating saw assembly (230) to be more rigidly mounted, which reduces the displacement of the saw assembly during the sawing process. This, advantageously reduces the variation in the cut made by the saw blades of the saw assembly to comply with a predetermined required tolerance. In addition, with the vision zone (220) located between the loading/unloading zone (115) and the sawing zone (210), a semiconductor wafer or substrate is transported from the loading/unloading zone (115) to the vision zone (220) without passing the sawing zone (210). Consequently, exposure of a semiconductor wafer or substrate to water or debris from the sawing process is avoided, and imaging can be performed at the vision zone (220) without water or debris adversely affecting the imaging.

Abstract: Previous methods of bucksawing logs slow the throughput of a sawmill in that the conveyor line is stopped while a given log is bucksawed to length. The present invention provides a method for bucksawing a log which improves the throughput speed, comprising the steps of a) advancing the log endwise along an infeed conveyor; b) raising the log above the level of said infeed conveyor while advancing the log; c) measuring the advance of the log while raised; d) stopping the log at the desired length; e) sawing the log to produce a forward log segment; and f) lowering the forward log segment onto an outfeed conveyor while advancing the remaining log segments. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Previous methods of bucksawing logs slow the throughput of a sawmill in that the conveyor line is stopped while a given log is bucksawed to length. The present invention provides an apparatus for bucksawing a log which improves the throughput speed by a) advancing the log endwise along an infeed conveyor; b) raising the log above the level of said infeed conveyor while advancing the log; c) measuring the advance of the log while raised; d) stopping the log at the desired length; e) sawing the log to produce a forward log segment; and f) advancing the forward log segment onto an outfeed conveyor while advancing the remaining log segments.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting elongated workpieces, having a work loading mechanism with a number of inclined, parallel supporting rails for supporting a plurality of elongated workpieces each having a longitudinal axis, the workpieces standing by on the supporting rails parallel to each other and with their longitudinal axes perpendicularly to said supporting rails, said supporting rails each inclining toward a work conveying path for longitudinally carrying workpieces seriatim toward the front end of the work conveying path to a cutting position, a work carrying reciprocating drive including a vise, a carriage and a drive motor for reciprocating along the work conveying path to move the workpieces toward the front end of the work carrying path, the supporting rail closest to the front of the work carrying path being disposed within the range of said reciprocation.

Abstract: A pair of numerically controlled feed devices are successively operated, with the second feed device taking over from the first feed device when two or more punching steps have been performed. A trailing row of punching tools performs the first punching step with respect to a fresh plate at the same time when a leading row of tools performs the last punching step with respect to the preceding plate. There are provided sensors to determine plate length and/or angularity of the late edges in order to enable a numerical control to compute correction data for correcting the feeding of the plate whereby punching through the trailing and leading edges of the lates is avoided.

Abstract: A pair of numerically controlled feed devices are successively operated, with the second feed device taking over from the first feed device when two or more punching steps have been performed. A trailing row of punching tools performs the first punching step with respect to a fresh plate at the same time when a leading row of tools performs the last punching step with respect to the preceding plate. There are provided sensors to determine plate length and/or angularity of the plate edges in order to enable a numerical control to compute correction data for correcting the feeding of the plate whereby punching through the trailing and leading edges of the plates is avoided.

Abstract: A plate positioning system for presses, comprising a feeding slide guided along a first axis which is moved to and from the cutting tool of the press, at least a pair of releasable gripping mechanism (preferably gripping pliers), which are guided by the slide along a second axis to be adjustable relative to the first axis, a serving slide which is adjustable along the first axis, which serving slide includes releasable gripping mechanism (preferably gripping pliers) to advance a plate into a transfer position to be taken by the first gripping mechanism, wherein the gripping mechanism engage opposite sides of a plate at a trailing edge thereof, wherein the transfer position corresponds to the plate position for the first cut and wherein the transfer of the plate to the first gripping mechanism is performed during the first cut, the serving slide bringing the plate into the transfer position only when the gripping mechanism have reached their receiving position along both axes.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for transferring material cut in transverse strips and located on an exit zone of an apparatus for the cutting of stacked sheet-like material, to an entry zone of the apparatus for the purpose of cutting such material into longitudinal strips. The apparatus has a cutting table with a table surface possessing a work zone, above which a cutting knife and a press bar are located. An advance device located in the entry zone is provided for the material to be cut. The material present in transverse strips is brought from the exit in zone onto a thin-walled, plate-shaped transport base. The transport base, together with the material, is fed, via at least one table which is arranged laterally of the apparatus and the table surface of which can be arranged level with that of the cutting table of the apparatus, to the entry zone of the apparatus and there, aligned with the entry zone, is removed from the transport base.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for debagging container ends from a package comprising two superposed continuous webs having a plurality of sealed compartments formed therein by two continuous end sealing strips and a plurality of widthwise extending sealing strips extending between and into the end sealing strips wherein a portion of each end sealing strip is cut away to form a cut compartment having an open end, then holding the cut compartment to prevent widthwise movement thereof, applying a force in one direction to expose an end container end, applying a force in the opposite direction to push the container ends out of the held cut compartment and onto a receiving and transferring unit and transferring the container ends to a conveying apparatus leading to further processing apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for supplying precisely measured lengths of leader ribbon for use in the assembly of printer ribbon cartridges. The apparatus includes a supply of leader ribbon, an accumulator for retaining a length of the ribbon when it is drawn from the ribbon supply and a drive assembly for drawing a measured length into the accumulator. The drive assembly includes a fixed roller and a pivotable roller positioned on opposite sides of the ribbon path for engaging the ribbon therebetween. A stepping motor is provided for rotating the rollers a prescribed number of revolutions and thereby stuffing a measured length of the engaged ribbon into the accumulator. The apparatus also includes a cutter for severing the measured leader length from the supply ribbon.

Abstract: A print cutter suitable for use in an order finishing station or as a stand-alone unit includes a reel mount for accepting a reel of photographic prints formed in a continuous web. An automatic threader threads the leading end of the web through a loop guide into the first set of drive rollers. A leading end sensor senses the leading end of the web as it is automatically threaded through the loop guide to stop the threading process when the leading end of the web reaches the feed rollers. The same sensor is utilized to monitor the size of the loop of the print web present in the loop guide and to feed additional prints from the reel into the loop guide as required to maintain predetermined loop size. An accurate measure of print length is maintained by feeding the prints to the cutter using a roller pair including a nondeformable roller engaged with the undersurface of the prints and a deformable roller engaging the upper surface of the prints. The nondeformable roller is driven by a stepper motor.

Abstract: A material magazine for automatically feeding material such as long steel bars to a metal working machine including at least two parallel chain-conveyers, material guide rollers, a material arrival detecting means, and a material feed roller. The chain-conveyers are driven by a hydraulic motor which runs with a predetermined rotating force continuously produced when overloaded and have material push rollers with the axes vertically upward of the carrying faces of the chain-conveyers. The material push rollers are not only spaced in the direction of the conveyers but also arranged to form straiaght rows in the direction perpendicular to the conveyers, forming material holding spaces between them in the direction perpendicular to the conveyors. The material guide rollers are provided at or near one end of each of the conveyers with the axes kept vertical so that the material guide rollers may be arranged straight and parallel to the rows of the material push rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for the frontal introduction of marking strips (24), which are automatically formed, into a sheet stack (26) comprises a strip feeding device (18, 74-90) for supplying the marking strips (24) from a supply roll (20); a tongue (36) which is moved frontally into the sheet stack profile, lowered onto the stack (26), raised again and then retracted from the stack under the next deposited sheet (100); a guide channel (90) for the strip (22) supplied by the strip feeding device which opens into a gap under the lowered tongue (36); and a severing device (92) for severing the introduced marking strip (24) from the strip supply. The tongue (36) has downwardly bent flanks (40) that form a flat wedge, the guide channel (90) thereby opening into the channel (42) inside the tongue. The tongue is retracted in a loop-like movement while it is being slightly raised. It is then lifted upward before being moved in again while, for the most part, remaining outside the stack profile.

Abstract: A machine for removing book bindings from books so that the paper comprising the pages of the book can be recycled is provided. The machine includes a front and a rear deck, a pusher, a machine frame which extends above the decks and the pusher and a knife assembly (which includes a knife blade) swingably attached to the machine frame and having an up and a down position. The pusher slides back and forth between in and out positions. A book is placed on the front deck and the pusher slides to its in position, positioning the book under the knife assembly. When the book is properly positioned, the knife assembly swings from the up to the down position, cutting off the binding of the book. In some embodiments the invention includes a table frame upon which the front and rear decks are slidably mounted on railings supported by the table frame and have respective in and out positions.

Abstract: An oscillating canopy is employed in the feeding of an elongate sheet of synthetic plastic material having articles, such as cups, for example, formed in the sheet, to a die which trims the articles from the sheet. The canopy has a downwardly concave curved upper portion upon which the sheet is supported by a series of rollers. The canopy is driven in forward and return strokes in pivotal movement about an axis located at a radial distance from the curved upper portion which is a greater distance from the discharge end of the curved upper portion than from the sheet receiving end so that tension is maintained on the sheet during the feeding stroke. The sheet-supporting rollers are mounted for rotation in one direction only, this direction being that in which the rollers can roll relative to the sheet on the return stroke of the canopy.

Abstract: A bar end dropper for forging machines or the like is disclosed which automatically operates to reject blanks cut from the end of the piece of stock which are of unsatisfactory length and to adjust the feed when necessary to ensure that the ends of pieces of stock being fed into the machine are a sufficient distance from the shear plane of the cutter to ensure a clean cutting operation. As sequential pieces of stock are fed to the machine, they are positioned in the measuring position and the measuring carriage moves in to position a sensor a distance from the shear plane determined by the length of the stock. This automatically positions the sensor.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for feeding signatures from a saddle to a trimmer mechanism includes a transfer apparatus which moves each signature in turn from the saddle onto a conveyor assembly at a delivery station. The conveyor assembly includes a plurality of chains having pusher fingers which engage the trailing edges of the signatures. The pusher fingers move the signatures into the trimmer mechanism. The pusher fingers on the conveyor assembly are registered relative to a stop in the trimmer mechanism to at least partially register the signatures before they enter the trimmer mechanism. The transfer assembly, which moves the signatures from the saddle to the conveyor assembly, is effective to positively grip each signature in turn by applying a clamping force to opposite sides of the signature. These clamping forces are continuously applied to the signature from the time it leaves the saddle until it is deposited on the conveyor assembly where it is engaged by the pusher fingers.

Abstract: A device for positioning a metal sheet on a transfer conveyor comprises a support surface for the sheet, guides extending parallel to the conveyor, a carriage slidably supported on the guides, sheet gripping clamps supported on the carriage, reference stops for the longitudinal and transverse positioning of the sheet relative to the conveyor feed direction, jacks for moving the gripping clamps between a position in which they pick up the sheet on the support surface and a position in which they abut against the transverse reference stops, and drive means for the carriage.

Abstract: A charging box for a scrap metal shear is provided with a top opening where a compressed block of scrap metal may be loaded. A first ram is provided to the rear of the scrap metal block so that it may be pushed forward for a short distance in the charging box. A second ram is provided whose rear most position is behind the forward most position of the first ram means. After the first ram is retracted the second ram means is brought into position behind the block of scrap to continue movement of the scrap block into the shear. The two rams are so arranged that while the second ram is feeding a block of scrap metal into the shear a second block may be loaded into the charging box and moved forward by the first ram until the first ram has reached its forward most position where the block of scrap may then be engaged by the second ram when it is returned from feeding the first block of scrap into the shear.