Abstract: A head for a bridge processing machine includes a support having a frame loosely connected to a bridge and a shaft extending along a rotation axis and rotatable relative to the frame around the axis, a tool holder assembly supporting a tool to allow processing of an object by the tool and including first constraint means to integrally constrain the tool holder assembly and the shaft, gripping means including a base portion, a gripping device movable relative to the base portion, to define an operating position wherein it engages an object, and an inoperative position, and second constraint means to constrain idly the base portion and the shaft, wherein the gripping means and the tool holder assembly include interface means for blocking reciprocal rotation between the tool holder assembly and the base portion so that the tool holder assembly may drag the gripping means when rotated around the rotation axis.

Abstract: An improved forged wheel trimming die, including a connecting rod, a lower die base lower plate, a bottom plate, a stripper guide pillar, a knockout rod, an ejector block, a lower die base stiffened plate, a lower die base upper plate, a lower die, a stripper plate, follow-up retainer plates, a shearing blade and a trimming rod. The improved forged wheel trimming die has the advantages that by adding two follow-up retainer plates to the stripper plate of the die, burrs of a forged wheel blank are constrained along the radial direction during the cutting, thereby avoiding breakage due to excessive deformation; in this way, the burrs can be protected from damage and knocked out successfully by the knockout rod after being cut off from the blank.

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 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 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 and methodology are presented for automatically infeeding workpieces to a saw. A first workpiece is selected at an input station. A servo-driven friction belt system is connected to the input station, and advances the workpiece under a laser projection system. The laser projection system projects a laser pattern onto the workpiece, the laser pattern corresponding to one of a plurality of patterns corresponding to the blade configuration of a fixed arbor gang rip saw. Finally, there is a pinch roller system for removing the workpiece from the friction belt system and moving the workpiece into the saw, while maintaining the workpiece's orientation under the laser pattern. Also provided is a sensor for measuring the board width while moving on the servo-driven friction belt system, where the width is input to a computer controlling the friction belt system and which determines the optimum laser pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus and methodology are presented for automatically infeeding workpieces to a saw. A first workpiece is selected at an input station. A servo-driven friction belt system is connected to the input station, and advances the workpiece under a laser projection system. The laser projection system projects a laser pattern onto the workpiece, the laser pattern corresponding to one of a plurality of patterns corresponding to the blade configuration of a fixed arbor gang rip saw. Finally, there is a pinch roller system for removing the workpiece from the friction belt system and moving the workpiece into the saw, while maintaining the workpiece's orientation under the laser pattern. Also provided is a sensor for measuring the board width while moving on the servo-driven friction belt system, where the width is input to a computer controlling the friction belt system and which determines the optimum laser pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for automatically infeeding workpieces to a saw includes a first workpiece that is selected at an input station. A servo-driven friction belt system is connected to the input station, and advances the workpiece under a pattern projection system. The pattern projection system causes a pattern to be projected onto the first workpiece. The pattern is one of a plurality of patterns corresponding to the blade configuration of a fixed arbor gang rip saw. An operator may select alternate patterns, and/or may skew the board to select the desired cut. A pinch roller system is provided for removing the workpiece from the friction belt system and moving the workpiece into the saw, while maintaining the desired skew, if any. Also provided is a sensor for measuring the board width while moving on the friction belt system, where the width is input to a computer controlling the infeed system and which determines the optimum pattern.

Abstract: A universal movable upper tool for a waste-stripping station situated within a machine designed for die-cutting sheet or web-like matter to be converted into packages includes a tool with a rectangular lower plate provided with apertures. Push-rods destined to push waste material through corresponding openings of a perforated upper plate forming a lower tool of the station are fitted against a lower side of the upper plate with the help of quick-fitting means situated on the upper plate's upper surface. Sponge rubber pressers are fitted against a lower side of the upper plate by means of strips affording an easily disengageable mechanical engagement such as hook and loop locking strips (such as VELCRO fasteners) or frictionally engaging locking devices (such as LEGO fasteners).

Abstract: A punching device is provided that includes a frame disposed on a base and a pair of wall members, a lever having one end pivotally coupled between the wall members, a block slidably retained between the wall members by two plates and having an upper end linked to the lever a recess formed in the block, and a rod having an upper end fixed to the block and including a bore in communication with the recess of the block. The rod is movable downwardly by the lever to punch holes in paper, and provision is made for the residual of the paper to move through the bore of the rod, through the recess of the block, and into an access with a removable cover. A downwardly biased foot presses against the sheet materials on the base before the rod punches through the sheet materials. The base includes two interconnected support racks which are simultaneously adjustable.

Abstract: A single, fluid pressure-operated cylinder, which has a conventional slitter blade and punch releasably secured to the lower end of its piston rod, is secured to a plastic bag making machine so that the operating ends of the blade and punch project toward a stationary, horizontal support surface across which overlapping plastic webs pass during bag manufacturing. The webs are secured against movement during a slitting and punching operation by a pressure plate, which is also mounted on the piston rod for movement thereby into engagement with the plastic webs to clamp them against the stationary support surface during the initial advance of the rod. As the rod continues to advance it moves the blade and punch through the now-clamped plastic webs, after which the piston rod is retracted and the parts return to their inoperative positions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the accumulation, cutting, and stacking of continuously moving web material such as fabric tape that is to be printed and cut by appropriate processing apparatus into a plurality of discrete labels. The method and apparatus provide for the accumulation of the continuously-supplied web between a base and an overlying resilient spring member while other processing steps such as web cutting are being performed on the web. The spring member engages the tape to temporarily suspend its forward advancement while allowing the tape to accumulate between the spring member and the base. The cut labels are stacked in a bottom-fed stacking assembly having a stacker chute that is angled both rearwardly with respect to the machine front and backwardly in the direction of label advancement to permit the removal of previously processed labels during operation of the processing apparatus.

Abstract: A die press consisting of: a bed on which a workpiece is supported in operating position; a die holder movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a workpiece holder mounted for movement relative to the bed between a holding position and a release position; and cooperating structure on the die holder, bed, and workpiece holder for moving the workpiece holder from its release position to its holding position as an incident of the die holder moving from its retracted position towards its extended position. The workpiece holder in its holding position maintains a workpiece in operating position on the bed.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing tie bars from between the leads of a semiconductor device during the manufacture of said device comprises a punch guide having a plurality of guide slots and a die block aligned with and spaced from the punch guide so as to provide a space therebetween. The die block is provided with a plurality of die slots which are in axial alignment with the plurality of guide slots in the punch guide. A plurality of punches are axially aligned with the guide slots and the die slots. A transmission mechanism is provided for selectively moving the die block toward the punch guide and the plurality of punches toward the die block such that the punches pierce the space between the die block and punch guide for removing the tie bars from between the leads.

Abstract: A flat multiconductor cable has a reworked and sized portion in which the span tolerance (distance between the outside conductors in the cable) is substantially reduced as compared to the unsized portion of the cable. An apparatus is also disclosed for reworking and sizing a flat multiconductor cable in order to reduce the tolerances in the reworked cable. A multi contact electrical connector can be installed on the reworked portion of the cable although the same connector may not be capable of accepting the cable in its original condition because of the relatively wide dimensional tolerances in the cable.

Abstract: An useful method of producing a lot of bearings in the form of a press worked bush is initiated with production of blanks having four corner edges chamfered. In the notch forming and cutting die section comprising upper and lower die halves a strip of metallic material that is called hoop is pressed stepwise to form a plurality of V-shaped notches of which depth increases stepwise toward the outlet of the die section. On completion of forming of notches the hoop is cut off at the center of the last V-shaped notch with the aid of a pair of cutting tools. The die assembly usable for carrying out the method includes an U-bending die section and a circle bending die section which are located in series.

Abstract: A shearing device which uses an in-line design wherein bearings are aligned with the moving blade so that lever arm forces are not produced between the movable blade and a fixed blade. This provides for highly accurate and clean cuts of printed circuit boards. The fixed lower blade is vertically oriented to provide clearance on both front and back portions for placement of tooling means to hold printed circuit boards in the shear to minimize scrap cut from the boards. Additionally, the clearance provided by the vertically oriented lower blade allows for zero space cutting of the printed circuit boards adjacent components mounted on the printed circuit boards. An optical curtain is also used which is directly aligned with the movable upper blade so that obstructions can be detected directly in the path of movement of the upper blade.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain. In the apparatus, a reciprocating punch blade has cutting edges along opposite sides and is relieved at opposite ends along the cutting edges so as to form a pair of wing portions disposed one on each side of the punch blade. An elongated slot formed in a die for receiving the cutting edges has at its opposite ends a pair of lateral branches disposed one on each side of the elongated slot in opposite relation to the sides of the punch blade on which the wing portions are disposed. The wing portions and the lateral branches jointly serve to protect a pair of coupling elements disposed adjacent to the opposite ends of the space section from being cut by the punch blade.

Abstract: In a flying shear wherein strip stock moves lengthwise forward, a lower blade carrier, confined to forward and backward motion, has an upwardly facing clamping surface and carries a lower shearing blade. An upper blade carrier, connected with the lower one for back and forth motion with it and for up and down motion relative to it, carries an upper shearing blade and is biased to a raised position. A gripper, connected to the lower blade carrier to swing about an axis spaced substantially above said clamping surface, has a bottom wedging surface curved eccentrically to said axis. The gripper is biased forward, for engagement of its said surface against strip stock whereby the strip stock is clamped to the clamping surface and pulls the blade carriers forward.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically performing work operations, such as the punching of apertures, on moving web materials. The apparatus includes a chassis that is mounted for limited movement in the direction of web travel. The chassis includes a clamping plate and a base plate which are selectively brought into clamping engagement with the web, which enables the chassis to be moved along with the web. Subsequently, a tool is drawn into engagement with the web to perform the work operation. Upon completion of the work operation, the tool is removed from the vicinity of the web, the web is released by the chassis clamping and base plates, and the chassis is returned to its original position.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously cutting wire segments having acutely angled ends from a plurality of wires including guide apparatus and feeding apparatus for the wires, and a cutting device comprising a base, reciprocable shear plate and clamp plate, each of which has parallel grooves therein, with each also having sliding surfaces that are at an acute angle to the axis of the grooves. A collection plate is also provided to contain cut segments and transfer the segments to a common collection point.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for cutting a web into sheets comprises a web shear. A web stop is disposed downstream of the shear. A web feed is disposed upstream of the web shear. A web stiffening device is disposed between the web shear and the web stop for holding the web in a rigid flat plane whereby the web is repeatedly cut to the same desired length.

Abstract: The invention relates to cutters, and provides a cutter comprising a base and a cutting-blade carrying arm. The base and the arm may be parts of a one-piece plastic molding which incorporates a connection between the base and the arm, which connection permits movement of the arm relative to the base during the cutting action. The arm may carry at least one flexible member which engages the material to be cut prior to engagement of the material by the cutting blade, whereby the material is restrained from movement during the cutting action.

Abstract: An automatic BX cable cutter including a cable guide and clamp, a circular saw carried by a floating pivoted carriage actuated between cutting and inactive positions by a cam, the machine being so electrically coordinated that, when the saw motor is started and the cable end is inserted into its guide to a pre-set stop point, the clamp screw moves to cable-holding position, and the feed motor permits the carriage and saw to be raised to cutting position; after the cut has been made, the saw is retracted, the clamp screw drive is reversed and the cable is released.

Abstract: A modular cutoff die unit features square-ended punch and die steels, which are supported by and sized relative to their respective retaining shoes such as to provide four reversable cutting edges and to allow plural cutoff dies to be arranged in tandem.

Abstract: A hole punching apparatus in which a punch having a center point formed thereon is locked to a punch support by in-line locking pins which can be unlocked to move the punch independently of its support toward the stock to be punched to align the center point of the punch and the location point on the stock, and in which cam means is provided for camming the locking means to release position when the punch is moved toward its original position relative to the punch support, means is provided for automatically restoring the locking pins to locked positions when the punch is restored to its original position and a telescoping connection is provided between the punch and the punch support for maintaining them in alignment when the punch is moved relative to the punch support to bring the center point of the punch into engagement with the stock.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine has a device for cutting and holding elasticized yarns, such as spandex. The device enables the yarn, when detached from the knitting needles, to be cut while holding the free, cut end of the yarn firmly in position so that the yarn later may be easily reattached to the knitting needles when it is desired to reintroduce the spandex yarn into the knit fabric. The device includes a pair of jaws movable in unison, one jaw being effective to grip the yarn and the other jaw thereafter being effective to cut the gripped yarn.