Abstract: Tomatoes are placed on parallel cutter blades (20) in article openings (46) of an article positioning plate (44). Alternate blades are oscillated in arcuate paths in opposite direction as article pushers (24) move downwardly, pushing the tomatoes through the parallel cutter blades (20). The end slices of the tomatoes are gathered separately in the collectors (96) and are later discarded, while the intermediate slices are received in a transfer plate (78). Gathering plates (100) urge the intermediate slices of the several tomatoes together in one accumulation of tomato slices, and the transfer plate (78) is lowered to a position immediately above the shipping containers (80) and opened to deposit the tomatoes in the shipping containers. A fluid spray nozzle (75) may be positioned to emit a spray of gas or liquid between the fins of the pushers and/or toward the cutter blades (20) and toward engagement with the tomatoes for sterilizing, cleaning, or other treatment of the tomatoes and the adjacent surfaces.

Abstract: Tomatoes or other articles are placed over moving cutter blades (20) in article openings of an article locator of an article slicer (10). Article pushers (24) move downwardly and have downwardly extending pusher fins for pushing the tomatoes through the cutter blades. The article pushers are carried by a movable support plate (78) between retracted positions behind the cutter blades and extended positions over the cutter blades. A pick and placer (76) is carried by the same movable support plate (78) and moves simultaneously in the same lateral directions as the article pushers, between positions over the oncoming line of tomatoes on an entrance conveyor (64) and over the cutter blades.

Abstract: Tomatoes (11) or other articles are placed over moving cutter blades (20) in article openings (46) of an article locator (44) of the article slicer (10). Article pushers (24) move downwardly and have downwardly extending pusher fins (26) for pushing the tomatoes though the cutter blades (20). The article pushers (24) have laterally extending front openings (36) for receiving a high pressure fluid spray for cleaning the fins (26) and cutter blades (20) without disassembling the components of the slicer. The article pushers (24) are carried by a movable support plate (78) between retracted positions behind the cutter blades (20) and extended positions over the cutter blades (20). A pick and placer (76) is carried by the same movable support plate (78) and moves simultaneously in the same lateral directions as the article pushers (24), between positions over the on-coming line of tomatoes (11) on an entrance conveyor (64) and over the cutter blades (20).

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: Apparatus for repeatedly cutting stacks of overlapping sheets has a first cutting machine from which large stacks are transferred to a loading station which is adjacent a transfer station where the stacks are loaded upon successive wheel-mounted pallets for transport into the second cutting machine. A feeding unit is provided to shift selected numbers of stacks on the pallet which is located in the second machine onto a working platform beneath the guillotine type knife and the hold-down device of the second cutting machine so that the pallet supports portions of stacks which are being severed. The stacks are oriented on the pallet at the loading station, and additional changes in orientation of the stacks can be carried out on the pallet and/or on the adjacent working platform in the second cutting machine.

Abstract: A three-knife cutting machine for trimming the front side and the head- and foot-side of brochures, books, and the like, in which the products to be trimmed are slidable in stacks with the back side forward from a magazine charged from above downward by carriers adjustable to the desired stack height to the cutting station, and in which there is provided a shutter, likewise adjustable in height, by facing the back of the products to be trimmed, which serves for retaining the products remaining over the stack to be led off.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding mechanism adapted to separate a single sheet from a stack of sheets and transfer the single sheet via airjets to the exposure platen of an exposing apparatus. After airjet positioning and exposure, the single sheet is lifted from the platen and delivered to an exit port also via airjets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for feeding elongated products, especially food products having generally square cross-sections. Included is a transporting assembly that has a surface for receiving the products and moving them in a direction generally transverse to their longitudinal axes. An escapement assembly is provided near the downstream end of the transporting assembly in order to move the products one at a time to a product feed assembly. Typically, the product feed assembly pushes the product to a slicing device to thereby provide stacks of sliced product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting metal rods into shorter lengths comprising a movable cutting line (A) which is made up of a portal bench (1) which can slide transversely on rails (B) to align itself with a stored bundle of rods, the bench (1) having a first extraction device (2) for the partial extraction of a bundle of rods (b) from the store, arranged so as to transfer onto the feed and cutting line (X--X) a sub-bundle of rods (b') to a second extraction device (3) for subsequent extraction consisting of gripper-pincers (3.1) which can be moved alternately backwards and forwards along the line (X--X), placed upstream of shears (4), which operate in conjunction with a similar device (5) for subsequent extraction and feed placed downstream of the shears.

Abstract: A numerically controlled groove-stamping machine which includes an indexing unit rotatable stepwise by means of a positioning drive about a rotational axis as a function of a stroke of a punch of the groove-stamping machine. The indexing unit is adapted to be driven, in a stepwise fashion, in two intersecting directions running at right angles to the rotational axis. A numerically controlled automatic multiple tool set is provided with the set being equipped with, for example, a stator groove and cut-off tool, a rotor groove tool, and vent hole tools. The tools of the multiple tool set, in accordance with the work steps to be executed, are adapted to be brought into engagement in an individually controllable manner.

Abstract: Sheet metal plates are automatically fed for processing to a computerized numerically controlled sheet shear arrangement by means of the feeding apparatus. This feeding apparatus comprises a feeding bar arranged parallel to the cutting blades of the sheet shear arrangement and movable perpendicular thereto. Elevationally displaceable or movable holding elements are arranged on opposite sides of the feeding bar. On the side of the cutting blades the holding elements retain a first sheet metal plate intended to be cut and on the opposite side grip a second sheet metal plate which has been elevated by suction elements. During the cutting operation performed upon the first sheet metal plate the second sheet metal plate is drawn to a working table within an overlapping time interval and placed upon the working table.

Abstract: A device for feeding labels in a strip to a utilizer machine, the device being modifiable to permit the supply of labels stacked in a magazine; the modifications comprise the elimination of a fixed cutting blade and its replacement by a fixed magazine for the labels and an extractor device for extracting these from the magazine; the extractor device is mounted on a reciprocating slide carrying means for incrementally advancing the said strip.

Abstract: The apparatus for supplying chewing gum along a path to the driven feeder of a packaging machine includes a magazine, a scoring device, a pushing device for advancing chewing gum slabs from the magazine to the scoring device and a transfer device for advancing the scored gum slabs from the scoring device to the driven feeder. The pushing device and feeder are driven in relation to one another; however the scoring device and transfer device are driven at a constant speed which is independent of the operating rate of the pushing device and feeder. As a result, the chewing gum slabs are delivered to the feeder at the same speed under all operating conditions and will not become caught, deformed or piled-up in the apparatus due to changes in the operating rate of the feeder.

Abstract: A stack of strips of feed stock are placed on an adjustable height table. The strips are positioned on the table by arms which align the stack to the centerline of punching dies in a punch press. A pneumatic actuated head uses vacuum cups to raise the end of the top strip and insert it into in-feed rolls. The drive means for the in-feed rolls also drive an encoder which signals roll movement as the rolls incrementally feed the stock into the punch press. Drive means for the feed stock switches to the out-feed rolls once the blanked out stock reaches those rolls, and when the end of the strip passes through the punch press, a control unit is signaled and a new strip is fed into the system.

Abstract: A method of grinding glass sheets whose edges are polygons that are not symmetrical about a point is carried out in an apparatus having a supply station for supporting a stack of such sheets with all of the sheets in the stack in vertical registration, a grinding station adjacent the supply station having a grinding table rotatable about an upright grinding axis and adapted to support the sheets during grinding, a template secured to the grinding table, and a pair of grinders in the grinding station radially engageable with the edges of the sheet on its grinding table and radially displaceable by the template. The method of the invention comprises the steps of transporting the sheets one at a time from the stack in the supply station to the grinding station, simultaneously engaging the grinders with the sheet in the grinding station while rotating this grinding table with its template and the sheet on the table through 180.degree.

Abstract: A sheet magazine supports a stack of limp flexible sheets. The magazine has a bottom with a slot formed therethrough and spaced opposite first and second ends with an end feed gateway at the first end. A mechanical sheet separating and segregating device splits off and segregates each successive bottom-most lift of the stack from the remainder thereof and urges same through the gateway. The sheet separating and segregating device includes a stabber-separator movable toward the first end to support the stack at a selected distance above the bottom of the magazine and a pin extender movable toward the first end into the stack at a selected distance above the stabber-separator for segregating a bottom-most lift of the stack by being interposed in the stack above said lift. The stabber-separator is movable toward the second end of the bottom to a position spaced from the stack, thereby permitting the lift to drop to the bottom, and is movable back toward the first end directly under the pin extender.

Abstract: In a shearing device for cutting plates, such as sheet metal plates, a pl feeding apparatus includes a carriage mounted for movement above and between a plate feeder and the shearing device. A rotatable carrier is mounted on the carriage for lifting and holding plates. The rotatable carrier can be turned through 360.degree.. A plurality of vacuum suction members are positioned on the carrier for holding the plates.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting press adapted for the cutting of paper, such as discarded paper money. The cutting device is mounted in a support having the shape of a case with open side walls, a feeding conveyor passing through the case forwarding the paper to be cut to the press.

Abstract: An auxiliary feeder apparatus for a punch press. The feeder picks up blank stock to be punched, transfers it to a work holding collet where the press punches a circular pattern of spaced holes or slots in the blank to form an electric motor lamination or the like. After punching, the feeder apparatus picks up the finished part and transfers it to a storage location while at the same time picking up and transferring a new blank to the collet for punching. The operation of the feeder apparatus is integrated with the operation of the punch press and is fully automatic. Controls in the feeder apparatus and press prevent the punch from operating when malfunctions, such as a part not properly positioned on the collet or two or more parts transferred to the collet, occur.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for acting on angle irons or the like. A vertical stack of angle irons is provided and the angle irons are fed one at a time to a punching position. At the punching position a hole of selected size is punched in the angle iron, and the angle iron is fed from the punching position in a linear direction of movement to a cutting position. The length of the angle iron to be cut is determined by measuring the length of angle iron in the direction of movement past the cutting position, and the angle iron is cut at the cutting position. Each cut angle iron is removed from the cutting position in a direction normal to the linear direction of movement of the angle iron to the cutting position. A computer may be provided for controlling operation of all motors to affect selection of punch sizes and cutting blades, and to affect operation of all the power mechanisms.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a wood sawing machine, characterized by the fact that it mainly consists of the combination of a general framework; of two or four carriages which can move parallel to or slanting with respect to the longitudinal axis of said framework; of control means for the said carriages, on each carriage, a sleigh which can move upon its respective carriage, and such in a transverse sense with respect to the longitudinal axis of the framework; of control means for aforesaid sleighs; of a saw on each of aforesaid sleighs, the sawing sense of which corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the machine; of control means provided on each sleigh and intended for the driving of the corresponding saw; of clamping means for the purpose of fixing the tree trunk, beam or other part to be sawn, in such a manner that this part is sawn over a well determined width during the travel of the two saws, and of means for turning over, around its axis, the tree, beam or any other part to be sawn.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for cutting a bundle of irradiated nuclear fuel tubes so as to cut the fuel into pieces of a suitable length for subsequent operation.According to the invention the fuel tubes are moved from the storage pond by manipulating means to the store of the cutting machine. Means is provided for detecting the position of the bottom end of the bundle with respect to a cutting section in the cutter by means of a movable reference plate so as to enable the bundle to be moved to an operative position in which the first cut can be made in the immediate neighborhood of the base spigot. The arrangement also includes means for moving the bundle forwards while adjusting its position between two cutting operations.

Abstract: A transfer machine for cutting rolled sheet metal comprises a sheet loading arrangement, a feed mechanism for moving a sheet to the blades of guillotine shears, an arrangement for sorting and stacking cut-off blanks, and a program control system. The sheet loading arrangement comprises a receiving table which is fixedly mounted and located on the axis of the transfer machine, and a four-member linkwork with a sheet grip. The linkwork is constructed so as to provide for transferring a sheet from a stack onto the table of the feed mechanism along the axis of the machine, the sheet remaining parallel to the table of the feed mechanism during the transfer. Fitted on the table of the feed mechanism is a sensor responsive to the passage of the rearward sheet edge. This sensor provides for measuring the dimensions of blanks from the rearward sheet edge on the reverse stroke of the feed mechanism.

Abstract: A stack of glass blanks is moved on a support into position beneath a head carrying a cutting tool. The uppermost blank is scored by the cutting tool under quidance of a templet and the tool withdrawn. Pick-up means, advantageously with suction cups, removes the scored blank laterally from the stack and the stack and cutting head are brought closer together by a distance equal to the thickness of a blank, preferably by raising the stack support. The next blank is then scored and the operation repeated until all the blanks in the stack have been scored and removed, whereupon a new stack is brought into position. Means are provided for centering the stack with respect to the cutting head, and centering means adjacent the top of the stack centers the uppermost blank with respect to the cutting head, advantageously by jack means positioned on the sides of the stack.

Abstract: An air powered machine that die cuts tensile test samples of solid propelt. The machine is remotely controlled, as a safety feature, to permit safe cutting of the propellant. The machine includes a feed mechanism for feeding a propellant slab to a cutter which cuts the slab into a "dog bone" shape.