Abstract: A method and apparatus for edge-trimming a board by means of an edger having two cutter heads adjustable in relation to each other in which the cutter heads are arranged to be movable in a direction transverse to the movement of the board while it is passing the edger. The movement of the cutter heads is controlled in such a manner that a trimmed board of optimum width is obtained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting clamps or clips off of the ends of sausages and similar products formed by forcing material into continuous lengths of an outer tubular casing and placing clips intermediately along the length of the outer casing to separate lengths of the sausage or the like. The clips are removed by positioning the clips of a pair of the sausages or the like adjacent a pair of cutters in such a manner that the cutter jaws are positioned between the adjacent ends of sausages. The cutters are then caused to automatically move apart until they engage the ends of the sausages and are positioned between the respective clips and the ends of the sausages. The cutters are then automatically actuated to cut through the outer casing between the clips and the ends of the sausages to thereby effect removal of the clips and separation of the pair of sausages.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described wherein an integrated saw mill includes conveyor means for feeding debarked logs, classifying the logs and storing them according to size, advancing a particular log, scanning and analyzing the log and determining its cut pattern, squaring off the log by chipping heads, collectively cutting the log in line in accordance with the predetermined cut pattern, simultaneously advancing on separate conveyor means each piece of lumber so produced, sorting and storing each piece of lumber in accordance with its size, and further discharging the lumber onto a sticker-stacker for transferring stacks to drying kilns.

Abstract: An adjustable edge trimmer for removing the marginal excess of rubber from a longitudinally moving sheet of elastomeric material. The edge trimmer is biased into contact with the moving fabric and is free to follow the cord edge while maintaining the same cutting pressure in its movement. The cutting angle is independently adjustable irrespective of the transverse slant of the carriage that carries the edge trim cutter.

Abstract: In punching, cutting and forming presses and the like, electronic detecting means and/or sensors are provided so as to trip the press and prevent an operation when a mal-function occurs such as a tear in the strip material or a mis-alignment or a mis-feeding of the strip. When the press is equipped with an elbow arrangement to permit adjustments for feed line height while maintaining feed cycle synchronization, then the arrangement must incorporate the automated locking device of the invention, the same automatically unlocking the swing plate simultaneously with the tripping of the press.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for dadoing cabinet panels. The dados are cut by a plurality of routers selectively extended into the panel. The selection of the number of routers, translatory movement of each of the routers, and positioning of the panel is controlled by air operated mechanisms. A pneumatic control system processes the operation of the routers in response to the inputs from a plurality of manually settable controls and the signals developed by feed back mechanisms. SPThis is a division of application Ser. No. 600,726 filed 7/31/75 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,738.

Abstract: A plurality of scoring assemblies each having a scoring wheel are selectively positioned above and transverse to a glass sheet movement path and in spaced relation to a plurality of support assemblies. Each of the support assemblies are mounted on a common shaft for movement below the sheet movement path and include a laser mounted in predetermined spaced relation to a support wheel. Respective ones of the support wheels are aligned with their respective ones of the scoring wheel when the laser beam is incident on the center of a photodetector spaced from the scoring wheel. The support assemblies are moved into alignment with their respective ones of the scoring assemblies by rotating the shaft to move a selected one of the support assemblies into alignment with a selected one of the scoring assemblies while the remaining support assemblies are held stationary. The above is sequentially repeated to align the remaining ones of the scoring assemblies with their respective one of the support assemblies.

Abstract: In, or for use in, a vehicle inner tube splicing machine, a tube end cutting assembly comprising a cutting knife supporting carriage which is mounted on a pair of spaced parallel guide shafts and is reciprocated by hydraulically powered means. The knife supporting carriage also has mounted thereon scrap removal means which co-acts with cutting knives to remove off-cuts from said tube ends.

Abstract: The winding of tubes of substantially uniform diameter from sheet stock which varies in thickness comprises slitting the stock along one edge as it is unwound from a supply roll to form a web of predetermined width and subsequently cutting the web transversely to form successive blanks of predetermined length and width which are wound upon themselves from one side to the other to form convolutely wound tubes. Should the diameter of the tubes vary due to an increase or decrease in the thickness of the sheet stock, the width of the web is varied inversely with changes in the thickness of the stock.

Abstract: An automatically retractable slitter for cutting thermoplastic sheet as it exits from the sheet die of an extruder comprising a housing, a cutter blade mounted in a holder, a recess in the housing of a length greater than the length of the holder for slidably and retractably receiving the holder and blade, an elongated slot in said housing having detent means, an elongated pin secured to said holder and extending transversely through the elongated slot, spring means between the holder and the housing adapted to be relaxed when the holder is in its retractable position within the recess, the pin being adapted to rest in the detent when a cutting force is applied to the blade and to disengage from the detent when no force is applied to the blade.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting lumber to random or specified clear lengths by removal of sections containing defects and by making single end or intermediate cuts, includes infeed means for transporting a piece of lumber, locating means for locating the piece of lumber longitudinally in the apparatus, a fixed saw for cutting the piece of lumber at a first position, and a sliding saw selectively positionable longitudinally with respect to the fixed saw for cutting the piece of lumber at a second position which is located a spaced distance from the first position co-extensive with the extent of the defect. The fixed saw also is configured for operation independently of the sliding saw for making the single cuts.Saw positioning means positions the sliding saw longitudinally, based on commands from a computer for removal of the defect with the minimum removal of clear lumber.

Abstract: An edging system for machining the opposed rough edges of a workpiece into a parallelogram having the optimum angle of cut has an upstream sensing station to detect the maximum available width in order to remove the least amount of material. At the edging station a pair of laterally adjustable opposed cutter heads are mounted on a rotatable frame so as to have both the lateral distance between cutter heads and the angle the cutter heads make with respect to the top and bottom surfaces of the workpieces variable. Suitable conveying surfaces transport the workpiece into, through, and away from the edging station.

Abstract: In an automatic sawmill, a caliper device measures the diameter of an incoming log and the log is then positioned against a pair of backstands over a log receiving carriage. A plurality of cutting devices are positioned relative to the carriage, and the speed control for the carriage is predetermined, in response to the log diameter. The diameter measurement is supplied to data processing circuitry which provides outputs indicative of "sets" to be taken by the aforementioned backstands and cutting devices for sawing the log into a number of cants, boards, or slabs in a manner making optimum use of the log content.

Abstract: An apparatus for squaring or trimming the edges of the elastomeric (uncured) cover of an industrial belt. An edge sensor is disposed to track each of the edges of a bare or uncovered carcass foward of the calender nip in which the cover is applied. Rotating trim blades for trimming excess gum from the respective edges of the covered belt are moved laterally proportionally to the algebraic sum of the deviations of the edges of the carcass from their respective ideal lines. Thus, an adequate but not excessive amount of the cover gum is provided to cover the respective edges of the carcass of the belt. The respective edge sensors are hydraulically connected with the trim blades for synchronized movement so as to maintain the described thickness of cover gum outwardly from the edges of the carcass.

Abstract: Punch presses are positioned for punching holes at selected vertical locations in the flanges of I-beams, angle irons and channels by apparatus which utilizes a movable probe to determine the initial position of the presses and which further utilizes a reversible counter and a comparator to stop the presses after they have moved a selected distance from their initial position.

Abstract: Control apparatus including first and second hydraulic cylinders hydraulically interconnected in parallel. Cam operated means for reciprocating the piston in the first cylinder, this causing relative movement between the second cylinder and the piston thereof. The second cylinder is connected to a cutter unit of a wood edging machine so that movement of the second cylinder moves the cutter unit. Pneumatic control means is connected to the piston of the second hydraulic cylinder and is operable to cause movement of the second cylinder unaffected by the piston therein. Detecting means is operatively connected to the pneumatic control means. This detecting means is positioned to detect knots in the edges of boards moving in the direction of the cutter unit to cause movement of said unit to avoid the knots.

Abstract: A variable-position die set for trimming metal or other sheet stock to a particular length which is determined by the stock thickness, including upper and lower actuating die plates, a stationary cutting block arrangement positioned between and secured to the die plates, and a movable cutting block arrangement positioned between the die plates in spaced parallel relationship with the stationary cutting block arrangement. Stock thickness-sensing apparatus is also positioned between the lower and upper actuating die plates. Operatively associated with the sensing apparatus is a device for positioning the movable cutting block arrangement in relation to the sensed stock thickness.

Abstract: A punching machine for use in punching holes in the sides of articles incorporating two C-shaped assemblies forming punching tool supports and guided within the machine in such a way that they can be displaced and moved away from each other. Means are provided for placing the assemblies, on the one hand, in a working position, in which the position of a punch tool on one of the tool supports is maintained at a predetermined distance from a guide plane coinciding with a guiding surface on the article to be drilled, and in which the spacing of the tool supports is maintained at a predetermined value, and on the other hand, in a position for rotation of the article to be drilled, such that each assembly is displaced in relation to its working position in the sense of an increase in the distance separating the two assemblies.

Abstract: The apparatus for punching holes in a work member includes a weight-balanced frame member having supported thereon opposed punching die and a matrix. The frame is initially moved vertically to properly position the matrix and die relative to the member to be punched. Located adjacent the matrix are sensing elements that are positioned to be contacted by the member to be punched, which sensing elements, when contacted stop the vertical movement of the frame. This arrangement substantially reduces the pivotal movement of the frame member which occurs during the punching operation and thus greatly minimizes the movement of the balancing weight that is mounted on a lever to maintain the frame in the balanced position free of contact with the member to be punched and thus avoids any substantial acceleration of the weight member which could adversely affect the punching operation.

Abstract: A device for precluding improper operation of a stamping press including a control cylinder the piston of which is impinged on one side by a pressure medium and on the other side by a pressure medium having a variable constant pressure. Electrical switch elements are utilized to prevent the stamping operation from progressing unless preset conditions exist.

Abstract: An automatic tree felling machine is provided. In one embodiment, the machine consists of a self-propelled vehicle having a plurality of automatically operated felling heads, a grapple bunk for skidding felled trees and a plurality of transfer grapples for transferring trees from the felling heads to the bunk. Each felling head is mounted on a transversely extending felling head track that also serves as a sensing means. As the vehicle moves forwardly, the felling head tracks are contacted by trees, causing the tracks to retract towards the machine. As each track retracts, the associated felling head is actuated to travel in a horizontal direction along the track towards the tree engaged with the track while simultaneously travelling downward. Subsequently, the tree contacts a control arm in the felling head which then descends vertically to the stump and fells the tree.

Abstract: A moving web or sheet of material in which an operation is to be performed, such as punching of a hole, is advanced past a pneumatic edge position sensor which is mounted on a carriage for movement transversely toward and away from the edge of the web. The movable carriage also supports the mechanism which is to perform the particular operation (e.g., a hole punching device) and a pneumatic cylinder is connected to the carriage to effect its movement toward or away from the edge of the web to follow any lateral displacement of the web. Operation of the motor is controlled in response to a change in position of the edge of the moving web with respect to the edge position sensor by a pneumatic control system which provides an immediate operation of the motor in response to the sensor and without a hunting tendency.

Abstract: In a coin packaging apparatus of the type comprising a stacking cylinder for stacking a prescribed number of coins of the same denomination, a cutter blade for severing a wrapper strip as the same is unwound from its roll, wrapping rolls for winding the severed piece of wrapper strip around the circumference of the stack of coins, and a pair of crimping hooks for crimping the opposite marginal edges of the wrapper strip over both ends of the coin stack, several wrapper rolls of different widths are used interchangeably in accordance with the denomination of coins to be packaged, and each time a new wrapper roll is installed in position on the apparatus, its width is sensed by a wrapper width sensing member which correspondingly actuates a mechanism for adjustably moving one of the crimping hooks in the direction of the other hook and a mechanism for adjustably changing the position of the cutter blade in the transverse direction of the wrapper strip which will extend therepast from its roll.

Abstract: Retarding markings are provided alongside a linear pattern to be cut out by an automatic device guided by a photoelectric scanner. The markings are disposed a short distance ahead of the changes in direction of the pattern line, which is greater than the resultant decelerating path of the advance motors from the original faster advance speed to the resultant slower advance speed. A timing circuit initiates the change in advance speed after the retarding mark is detected and a second timing circuit changes the overhang of the line-scanning photocells from an initial greater magnitude to the lesser required magnitude correspond to the slower advance speed. Acceleration marks may also be provided after directional changes in the pattern to accelerate the advance speed back to the original advance speed after the changes in directions are accomplished.

Abstract: A support freely pivotal about a fixed vertical axis carries a fixed blade. A lever pivoted on this support carries a pivotal blade crossing the fixed blade. One end of this lever is connected via a spring to the support so as to pivot this lever in one direction and the other end of the lever carries a barrel-shaped roller engageable with the lobes of a continuously rotating cam which open and close the blades. A pair of guides to either side of the blade ride against respective warp filaments between which a cut is to be made so that these warp filaments pivot the entire support about its vertical axis as the blades are continuously and rapidly opened and closed to cut the fabric exactly between these two warp filaments.