Abstract: A system and method of making a remarkably bright high-gain reflective beam-splitter is presented. Each non-glued together touching layer of the multilayered film of the beam splitter has front and back reflective surfaces that additively increase the brightness. The system can include tables, step-down shelves, cutting bars, gripper units, tension units, a frame, a hoist assembly, and dollies. Constructing the beam-splitter can use grippers that slip slightly, as a function of applied tensioning force, along the trimmed edges of the multilayered film. This slip gripping scheme can result in constructing substantially coplanar sheets of the multilayered film that touch each other face to face and result in removing most of the air between the sheets. The planar integrity of the multilayered film of the high-gain reflective beam-splitter can be maintained at almost any desired display angle even when the high-gain reflective beam-splitter is as large as a standard theatrical stage.

Abstract: A combination slicer and toaster which is particularly suitable for slicing and toasting bagels and other similar food items, which comprises in combination a slicing section and a toasting section, such that a bagel, or other similar food item, is inserted into an opening slot in one end of the slicing section, wherein said bagel or other food item is forced into intimate contact with a slicing means located within the slicing section by the downward action of a plunger means located in rotational contact with the opening slot. Upon passing through the slicing section, the bagel is simultaneously deposited in the toasting section of the device, where the now sliced food item is toasted and, upon completion of the toasting operation, is elevated through an exit slot in the other end of the device.

Abstract: A shear die is axially divided into a pair of die portions 18,19 between which a holding cavity 22 is formed, wherein the holding cavity has a diameter that is less than that of material "a" so that when one of the die portions is forced against the other die portion under a biasing effect of a spring 25, the material will be firmly held in the die cavity ensuring that the material can be cut to a predetermined volume and present a smooth cut surface, and the cutter arbor 4 is provided with a releasing member 34 adapted to release the one die portion 19 from the effect of the spring 25 as the cutter arbor 4 is retracted to facilitate additional material being moved into the die cavity for a subsequent cutting operation.

Abstract: A shearing machine for shearing a plate workpiece includes a frame; a ram having an upper cutting blade and being mounted on the frame in a vertically movable manner; a worktable being fixedly mounted on the frame and having a lower cutting blade to define an opening between the upper cutting blade and the lower cutting blade so that the plate workpiece to be sheared may be fed from the front side of the upper blades into the opening with a portion of the plate workpiece extending to the rear side of the opening; a conveyor being mounted on the frame for supporting the portion of the plate workpiece and for conveying the sheared portion of the plate workpiece to the rear side of the shearing machine, the conveyor being vertically movable in response to the vertical movement of the ram; and a drive shaft means having an eccentric member for driving both the ram and the conveyor reciprocably up and down so that the conveyor descends before, or simultaneously with, the actual cutting into the workpiece by the up

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 shearing machine for shearing a plate workpiece includes a frame; a ram having an upper cutting blade and being mounted on the frame in a vertically movable manner; a worktable being fixedly mounted on the frame and having a lower cutting blade to define an opening between the upper cutting blade and the lower cutting blade so that the plate workpiece to be sheared may be fed from the front side of the upper blades into the opening with a portion of the plate workpiece extending to the rear side of the opening; a conveyor being mounted on the frame for supporting the portion of the plate workpiece and for conveying the sheared portion of the plate workpiece to the rear side of the shearing machine, the conveyor being vertically movable in response to the vertical movement of the ram; and a drive shaft means having an eccentric member for driving both the ram and the conveyor reciprocalby up and down so that the conveyor descends before, or simultaneously with, the actual cutting into the workpiece by the up

Abstract: The invention provides a punch press and shearing tool which operate to provide a series of cuts linked end-to-end for severing a work piece such as a piece of sheet metal. The shearing tool includes first and second elongated, cooperating cutting blades. Each of the blades has a pair of slidably related faces that slide against one another in a plane of reciprocation. The cutting edges are oriented at a small angle, e.g. 2.degree. to 6.degree., relative to one another to sever a piece of sheet stock progressively along a line with a scissor action. An intermittent work piece advancing motor shifts the work piece toward the cutting blades and parallel to the cut when the blades are apart. Gripping members can be yieldably mounted adjacent the cutting blades to grasp and forcefully hold the work piece in place as one blade moves toward the other. Yieldable stripper members on opposite sides of the second blade engage and independently deal with the stock on opposite sides of the cut.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for perforating a metallic piece of elongated shape and with straight generatrix, with a view to obtaining, in several successive passes, a pattern which extends over a considerable part of the length of said generatrix and which is constituted by a large number of adjacent perforations in the lateral wall of this piece, said process consisting in repeating at least one elementary pattern which comprises a part of said perforations and which extends over the whole height of the pattern to be made. According to the invention, this elementary pattern is made in one pass, two adjacent elementary patterns being made during different passes. The invention is more particularly applicable to the precision-production of technical and decorative perforations.

Abstract: A compact notching device comprises a single piston and cylinder assembly including a piston rod, a shaft axially and rotatably mounted within the piston rod, and means for longitudinally coupling the shaft to the piston rod such that when the piston rod reciprocates, the shaft reciprocates, means for attaching an instrument in fixed relation to the shaft, means for rotating the shaft and the instrument, and a presser foot assembly mounted in fixed relation to and carried by the piston rod or the shaft.

Abstract: A slide-fastener assembly comprising a pair of longitudinally extending and parallel tapes having adjacent edges carrying respective coupling coils that form coupling heads and that are interleaved with one another is gapped by advancing the assembly in steps through a punching location, engaging the coils upstream and downstream of the location by respective upstream and downstream grippers and holding the assembly stationary in the station between steps, and punching the heads off the coils between the grippers while the assembly is held stationary in the station. The grippers are displaced apart to longitudinally tension the coils after engaging the grippers with the coils and before punching the heads off the coils. Thus the upstream gripper is displaced upstream and the downstream gripper downstream, slightly stretching and tensioning the tape assembly.

Abstract: An improved film cutter for severing sheets of soft stretch film which is drawn in a plane into a wrapping machine from a continuous source of such film comprises a first elongated knife blade extending laterally across the plane defined by the film and having a serrated cutting edge facing the film. A knife bracket extends laterally across the opposite side of the film plane and forms a channel such that the first knife blade may be moved or inserted into the channel to sever the film. The knife bracket comprises an elongated first member, with a knife mounting bar secured thereto and spaced therefrom to define the channel. The knife mounting bar includes a flange extending away from the channel and toward the film oriented at an acute angle to the knife mounting bar such that the extended edge of the flange forms a thin film contacting edge of the channel.

Abstract: A radius corner forming apparatus and method and which utilizes a plate to receive a metal sheet in which a corner portion is to be removed to form a radius corner. A die block and punch set is removably attachable to a conventional punch press in order to sever the corner portion of the sheet to produce the radius corner thereon. The plate which receives the metal sheet is resiliently mounted to oppose the pressure of the punch when shifted. A plurality of differently sized radius corner die blocks and co-operating punches are provided.

Abstract: A removable cutting tool insert assembly for shears fed with stock, such as bar stock, and including a ram actuatable upper housing closeable downwardly toward and biased upwardly away from a bolster supportable lower housing in a direction transverse to the stock feed direction, with an upper elongated shearing knife mounted on the upper housing and movable for centering adjustment longitudinally of a lower elongated shearing knife mounted on the lower housing upstream of and movable for clearance adjustment laterally of the upper knife, with a hold down movably mounted on the upper housing adjacent the upper knife and biased downwardly toward the opposite lower knife to a location below the recessed top initial stock engaging cutting edge surface portion of the upper knife, but above the lower edge surface of the upper knife, and with a work support movably mounted on the lower housing adjacent the lower knife and biased upwardly toward the opposite upper knife to a location substantially flush with the rec

Abstract: A ram driven tube cutting apparatus of the double cut type in which sections of tubing are successively severed from a continuous length thereof by a notching cut followed by a severing cut, includes improved mechanism for clamping the tubing during the cutting process. A pair of opposed, complemental die jaws are mounted on slides controlled by spaced cam followers carried by the slides. A reciprocating wedge cam engages and forces the cam followers apart to move the slides thereby closing the jaws on the tubing. One of the cam followers comprises a roller mounted on an eccentric shaft which may be selectively rotated to adjust the clearance between the die jaws. The other cam follower is spring loaded toward the cam within a slide mounting provided in its slide and automatically shifts to an overload position to avoid damage to the mechanism when foreign objects become lodged between the die jaws.

Abstract: A unitary punch and die assembly wherein the stripper spring for the punch comprises a fluid cylinder which communicates with a gas reservoir formed integrally with the punch and die holder and which is adapted to be charged with gas to a predetermined pressure so as to obtain a desired stripping force on the punch. The hold down sleeve on the punch is preferably also actuated by a fluid spring to obtain a preselected clamping force on the stock being punched.

Abstract: A mechanism for use in a multi-station crank press, and the method of operating said mechanism wherein the stripper sleeves at each station are actuated, adjustably, under the control of two cams both to hold the blanks before they are contacted by the punches and to strip the blanks from the punches at selected moment as they are retracting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a smooth edge blank from stock material. A blanking die is carried by the movable die shoe and a closely cooperating blanking punch is secured on the fixed die shoe. Spring biassed means is displaceably provided within the blanking die to apply pressure on a sheet of stock located on the punch only over the area to be blanked out from said sheet of stock. A piercing punch may also be provided and extends coaxially through the blanking die and a bore extending through the blanking punch provides a piercing die. The spring biassed means for applying pressure to clamp the stock only over the area to be blanked is a shedder displaceably disposed within the bore of the blanking die. A stripper encircling the blanking punch is provided for removing scrap stock upon completion of the blanking step and a spacer means is disposed to space the blanking die and the stripper apart by a distance exceeding the thickness of the stock.

Abstract: The device includes a fixed separating member with two mutually parallel thread guide plates spaced from one another and a cutting body movable toward the fixed member and operable by a textile machine. The cutting body includes two clamping shanks, which in the course of a cutting motion slide against the outer surfaces of the guide plates with a predetermined contact pressure in order to tension a thread guided crosswise over the guide plates. The cutting body also includes a blade so arranged between and parallel to the clamping shanks that in the direction of the cutting motion its cutting edge lies behind the clamping edges of the clamping shanks.

Abstract: A cutter assembly is disclosed for accurately profiling the free end of multi-conductor flat flexible cable for termination by known electrical connectors. The assembly includes a pair of fixed, parallel, spaced side shears and a transverse end shear. A cable is held in the assembly between a fluted shear plate and a spring biased pressure plate. The cutter assembly is actuated by conventional press means.

Abstract: A sheet punching machine comprising a support for the sheet to be punched and a punch carrier carrying a multiplicity of punches, together with means for forcing the punches through the sheet; said means are so arranged as to press the punches successively, one after the other, through the sheet, and return means are provided to return to their starting position the punches which have passed through the sheet. The means of forcing the punches may comprise two parallel endless chains mounted on two pairs of coaxial toothed wheels fixed in rotation in pairs, at least one transverse shaft fixed to the two chains and carrying a working roller and two running rollers, and two rectilinear support surfaces for the running rollers, the punches being axially movable at least approximately perpendicularly to the trajectory of the rollers and having a part which intersects the horizontal path of the working roller when the running rollers run on the said support surfaces, the return means for the punches being elastic.

Abstract: A cutting arrangement for a filament monitoring system for use in a draw-twister and the like comprises a gripping member, a cutting member and an intermediate filament guide, all of which are mounted on a spring actuated slide. Actuation of the slide causes the gripping member and cutting member to grip and cut the filament, the filament guide maintaining the filament in proper position.

Abstract: A high speed punching apparatus for cutting parts out of generally flat stock with said apparatus including means for selectively adjusting the tool stripping force to accommodate different materials, means for avoiding possible cutting of an overlaying template, means for minimizing friction between the punching tool and associated die button, means for minimizing hangup of burrs on the work piece in the die button and also a punching tool having means for minimizing friction and for expelling chips cut from the workpiece.

Abstract: Punching apparatus particularly adapted for use in connection with flexible film materials including cooperatively arranged punch and die assemblies arranged in aligned relationship, and ram means for reciprocably driving or stroking the punch assembly in a reciprocatory path into engagement with the work film and die for performing cutting or perforating operations on the film. A film clamping shoe is provided on the punch and is disposed in opposed relationship to the die assembly, the shoe being arranged to clampably engage the work film disposed between the punch and the die upon advancing or stroking motion of the punch. An annular flange extends upwardly from the surface of the die and toward the punch and film clamping shoe means so as to provide for taut engagement and retension of the film by the film clamping shoe means.