Abstract: An apparatus for working on a single layer or a layup of sheet material, or other work material, has a table for supporting the work material with a support surface selected areas of which may be vacuumized. The selective vacuumization of support surface areas is accomplished by a simple valving system interposed between an air plenum and a plurality of individual compartments underlying the work surface, the valving system including an elongated valving member having a plurality of first and second ports distributed along the length thereof, a belt extending along the length of the valving member and overlying the ports and a belt deflector movable along the length of the valving member, the position of the belt deflector determining the selection of which second ports are connected to which first ports. In the selective vacuumization mode of operation a vacuum is applied to the air plenum.

Abstract: A material unloading conveyor is arranged in overlapping relation to the discharge end of a bristle conveyor and includes an endless belt which has a plurality of U-shaped staples secured to its surface to pivot relative thereto. The staples move in combing relation to the bristles, which comprise the bristle conveyor, and the material supporting surface defined by the bristles to lift sheet material from the bristle conveyor and onto the unloading conveyor as the material is discharged by the bristle conveyor.

Abstract: A produce wedger is provided for sectioning produce, such as tomatoes. The produce is restrained in such a manner that as the slicing device moves through it (thereby slicing it into a plurality of sections), the produce is left substantially in its original shape. The device is configured to minimize destruction of the composition of the produce.A method of sectioning by slicing with minimal disruption of the produce, is disclosed.

Abstract: A stationary steel rule cutting die for cutting a fixed pattern in each of a plurality of stacked compressible material layers according to the shape of the rule die including a vacuum system for reducing the stack height of the compressible material layers prior to cutting.

Abstract: A layup of sheet material clamped to a conveyor by a conveyor loading apparatus is pulled by and onto the conveyor from an adjacent supply table. The loading apparatus includes a clamping carriage assembly straddling the conveyor and supported for free rolling movement relative to the conveyor. Fluid motors mounted on the clamping carriage move a clamping bar from a released position into clamping engagement with the layup to clamp it between the conveyor surface and the clamping bar and couple the clamping carriage to the conveyor to move with the conveyor. A flexible hose wound on a pay-off reel mounted on the clamping carriage and spring biased toward wound position supplies pressure fluid to the fluid motors and biases the clamping carriage toward a retracted position near the supply table end of the conveyor when the clamping bar is in its released position.

Abstract: The method of cutting a plurality of boards or parts (20) from a number of stacked panels (10) which includes placing the panels upon a perforated fixture (2) including a plenum (14) such that the area beneath the perforated surface (4) may be evacuated. The stack of panels (10) are cut into boards or parts (20) the desired size and shape with the exception of a small tab (22) connecting each board or part (20) such that the entire panel (10) remains a unit. An impermeable sheet (24) such as plastic is placed over the top of the partially cut panels (10) and the space (14) beneath the partially cut panels is evacuated holding the parts in position. The tabs (22) are then cut and the boards or parts (20) removed.

Abstract: An automatically controlled machine for cutting limp sheet material includes a vacuum bed defining a surface on which the sheet material is spread and held during cutting. A reciprocating cutting blade penetrates through the sheet material and the support surface of the vacuum bed as the blade is translated parallel to the support surface along lines of cut. A plurality of air-impermeable panels extend through the bed in spaced relationship to sectionalize the vacuum bed and permit the vacuum to be generated only in those portions of the bed where the cutting blade is operating. To prevent interference with the penetrating cutting blade, the panels are individually withdrawn from the bed when the cutting blade approaches.

Abstract: A core slabber for removing paper from the cores of fiberboard rolls where the cores are to be reused comprising a horizontal core support, a clamp plate on the core support, a camshaft internally of the core support to move a pin outwardly radially from said core support to move said clamp outwardly to engage the interior of the core. Tracks parallel to the axis of said core support carry a cutting blade on a blade carrier. A mechanism for moving said cutting blade accurately into engagement with selected depths of outer layers of paper on the core in order to cut the paper several layers at each pass in order to remove the paper and prepare the core for reuse. A sensor is also provided to limit the movement of the blade toward the core and also to limit and reverse the traverse of the blade parallel to the axis of the core.

Abstract: An automatically controlled machine for cutting limp sheet material includes a vacuum bed defining a surface on which the sheet material is spread and held during cutting. A reciprocating cutting blade penetrates through the sheet material and the support surface of the vacuum bed as the blade is translated parallel to the support surface along lines of cut. A plurality of air-impermeable panels extend through the bed in spaced relationship to sectionalize the vacuum bed and permit the vacuum to be generated only in those portions of the bed where the cutting blade is operating. To prevent interference with the penetrating cutting blade, the panels are individually withdrawn from the bed when the cutting blade approaches.

Abstract: A cutting die assembly for cigar wrappers is manufactured by rigidly interconnecting a knife blade unit and a die assembly on a common carrier. The die assembly has an opening of particular shape bounded by a generally planar margin over which tobacco leaf may be draped. The knife unit is formed by shaping knife blade strip into a closed form to fit just inside the shaped margin of the die assembly with the knife edge just above same. The shaped knife blade strip is filled with a filling body interiorally to a height substantially below the cutting edge and is internally rigidified thereby. A suction air chamber is defined by the rigidly interconnected units and is bounded by the common carrier, the die assembly and the outer surface of the knife blade strip. Openings are provided through the margin of the die assembly to the suction air chamber to hold the draped tobacco leaf and stretch it over the knife edge.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine includes a conveyor table having an endless conveyor belt for moving segments of limp sheet material onto the table for cutting. A cutting carriage and blade are mounted for controlled movement over the support surface of the table to cut pattern pieces from the limp sheet material positioned on the surface. A vacuum chamber envelops the endless conveyor belt except for the portion of the belt defining the support surface, and the chamber communicates with the sheet material on the surface to draw a vacuum within the material and hold the material in a compressed state on the surface for cutting.

Abstract: A propsed apparatus comprising a film reel, a film feeder, a vacuum film holder and a mechanism adapted to move the feeder along the plate is adapted for use in the projection-back in process camera device. These members are arranged such that a film which is being unwound away from the reel is gradually sucked onto said film holder with the movement of said feeder guided by the mechanism. The apparatus may include a film cutter for cutting the film after each stroke of said feeder together with a sheet reel having a wound sheet and adapted to supply it for closing up sucking apertures of said holder portion not covered with the film.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine includes a conveyor table having an endless conveyor belt for moving segments of limp sheet material onto the table for cutting. A cutting carriage and blade are mounted for controlled movement over the support surface of the table to cut pattern pieces from the limp sheet material positioned on the surface. A vacuum system holds the material in a compressed state on the surface during cutting, and a sealing carriage is coupled with the cutting carriage to spread an air-impermeable overlay which seals the material when cut. Before the conveyor belt moves the cut segment of the sheet material off of the table, the sealing carriage is uncoupled from the cutting carriage, and the overlay is wound onto a self-retracting roller on the sealing carriage. The carriage is simultaneously drawn by the overlay toward one end of the table where the carriage remains parked as the cut segment moves off the table.

Abstract: A rounded food article, such as a tomato or potato, is quickly divided into a number of radial sections by forcing it through a conical cup of radial blades within which it is impaled on a central spike to which the central ends of the blades are joined. The article is forced through the wedge-shaped spaces between the blades by an annular array of fingers depending from a plunger to which a handle is attached. The plunger assembly slides over a pair of vertical guides towards the blade assembly engaged within a recess in the base. The fingers extend completely through the blades when the plunger is fully engaged within the blades. The plunger includes obstructing tabs in the event both vertical rods are not properly engaged in the plunger, such that the plunger is angularly displaced and the fingers strike the base rather than the blades or spike. Four legs give the device a steady foundation and raise the base sufficiently from the table to allow the long food sections to be freely discharged onto it.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine includes a conveyor table having an endless conveyor belt for moving segments of limp sheet material onto the table for cutting. A cutting carriage and blade are mounted for controlled movement over the support surface of the table to cut pattern pieces from the limp sheet material positioned on the surface. A vacuum system holds the material in a compressed state on the support surface during cutting, and an air-impermeable overlay is spread on top of the cut material to seal the material and prevent leakage into the vacuum system. The overlay is an elongated strip with the opposite longitudinal ends wound into rolls. One roll is mounted on a self-retracting roller and connected with the cutting carriage to spread the overlay onto the cut sheet material as the carriage moves back and forth.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine for cutting sheet material employs a cutting wheel and a hard, smooth and continuous surface of ferromagnetic material on which the sheet material is spread for cutting. To prevent shifting during cutting, the material is releasably attached to the support surface by adhesives, freezing, electrostatics and other securing means. The cutting wheel is forced downwardly against the hard support surface by an electromagnet mounted on the cutting wheel support to insure severing of the sheet material.

Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for marking tags for use on jewelry to indicate the characteristics of the jewelry and prices and the like wherein the possibility of alteration is minimized by the use of tags having a coating which is penetrated by a stylus or the like, and wherein such tags are held in place within a specially designed holding templet for ease of holding. The principal characteristics of the invention involve the method of holding the tags (which themselves are known) while being marked with a stylus and the apparatus itself which holds the tags comprising an appropriate material with templates fitting the tags.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine for cutting sheet material employs a cutting wheel and a hard, smooth and continuous surface on which the sheet material is spread for cutting. To prevent shifting during cutting, the material is releasably attached to the support surface by adhesives, freezing, electrostatics and other securing means. The cutting wheel is forced downwardly against the hard support surface by a number of means to insure severing of the sheet material and may be ultrasonically vibrated to facilitate the severing process.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine for cutting sheet material employs a cutting wheel and a hard, smooth and continuous surface on which the sheet material is spread for cutting. To prevent shifting during cutting, the material is releasably attached to the support surface by adhesives, freezing, electrostatics and other securing means. The cutting wheel is forced downwardly against the hard support surface by a number of means to insure severing of the sheet material and may be ultrasonically vibrated to facilitate the severing process.

Abstract: This is a vacuum clamp for holding workpieces which assures that the workpiece is held without distortion. This is accomplished by providing a fixed support, with a convex surface, and a flexible seal around the fixed support so that when a vacuum is drawn within the seal the workpiece being held abuts the fixed support tangentially. The convex surface of the support does not force the workpiece to conform to the surface of the support as it would if the surface of the support were flat.

Abstract: A cutting table for whole tobacco leaves out of which wrappers or binders are to be cut, comprises a perforated plate forming the top of a suction box and presenting a field illuminated from below, within which the mid rib of the tobacco leaf should be positioned, and also presenting indication lines likewise set off by illumination to facilitate the optimum position of the tobacco leaf in relation to the desired cutting pattern.

Abstract: Arrangement for engaging and retaining web-like material, more particularly a plurality superposed webs of cloth for a cutting-out machine or cloth pattern cutter, including a device for generating a vacuum below a bristle belt conveying the material.

Abstract: A wood working router which comprises a plurality of turret heads adapted to be selectively operated and each having a plurality of radially and outwardly extending tools and the corresponding number of motors for driving the individual tools, a mechanism associated with each turret head for intermittently rotating the turret head so as to move a selected one of the tools to the processing position each time the turret head is rotated, and a workpiece holding and releasing device for holding a workpiece on a sucking table by suction and releasing the workpiece from the sucking action.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting limp sheet material comprises a computer-positioned fluid jet cutting tool supported for movement above and relative to a bed of vertically elongated upwardly projecting members which have pointed free upper ends disposed in a generally common plane to define a fluid permeable sheet material supporting surface. The bed has fluid passageways therethrough which communicate with a fluid collection chamber therebelow. Vacuum apparatus independent of the fluid collection chamber is provided for normalizing or compressing a lay-up of limp sheet material resting on the supporting surface so that the individual sheets which comprise the lay-up collectively assume the characteristics of a rigid solid mass.

Abstract: A system for the production of dipped taper candles, including an overhead conveyor system supporting mobile carrier racks for formation of the candles in suspended relation from the rack, and including a wicking station for providing rows of candle wicks in generally tensioned suspended relation from a carrier rack, a dipping station for automatically dipping said wicks on the rack through a predetermined number of dipping cycles, a cutoff station for cutting off the bases including the wick tensioning weights of the candles suspended from the carrier rack, a butt forming station for heat forming the cut butt ends of candles suspended from the carrier rack, and a cut down station for expeditiously cutting down the carrier rack rows of the candles formed on the candle wicks and for collecting the same for further processing. The invention also provides a novel method of producing plysically uniform candles in mass production batches.

Abstract: The present invention embraces the method of, and apparatus for, producing a stream feeder for flowing streams of molten mineral material, such as glass, from which filaments are attenuated comprising positioning a workpiece such that a pin enters a first locating hole of a set of locating holes, forming a first group of orificed projections in the workpiece, subsequently positioning the workpiece such that the pin enters a second locating hole of the set and forming a second group of orificed projections in the workpiece.

Abstract: A device for cutting a piece of a flat workpiece at a selected location identifiable by two or more binary coded numbers which device includes a cutter, a cutting platen having an upper workpiece supporting surface and a lower portion, a plurality of upstanding, shiftable members, a guiding arrangement on the platen adjacent the lower portion for loosely receiving the members, an arrangement for moving the members in accordance with the coded numbers and a structure for forcing the cutter against the cutting surface. In accordance with another aspect, the shiftable members are movable by binary fluid motors each including a series of axially aligned fluid actuating units having strokes corresponding to binary numbers and an arrangement for actuating certain of these units in the fluid motor to move the shiftable members in accordance with the extended condition of the binary motors.

Abstract: Apparatus for scribing a planar work piece includes a vacuum chuck table and a scribe bridge assembly moveable along shaft tracks straddling the table surface. The bridge assembly supports first and second sets of scribe devices which can be alternately rotated into engagement with a work piece as the bridge assembly moves along the tracks. The assembly is driven at both ends by chain drives by synchronized movement.

Abstract: A method and a device for dividing tobacco leaves or the like into pieces, said pieces are suitable for effective and automatic processing, said method is distinguished in that the leaf is applied in a flat state on a supporting element and subsequently a co-operative counter-element is caused to vibrate, after which said elements are pressed together as a result of which a cutting edge provided on one of said elements is pressed across the tobacco material.

Abstract: A vacuum table has a base and a bristle bed which includes a bristle mat formed from a plurality of molded bristle blocks mounted in closely spaced relation within the table base. Each bristle block has a base portion and a multiplicity of straight or tapered bristles which project upwardly therefrom and cooperate to define a penetrable support surface. Apertures in the bases of the blocks and/or spaces between marginal edges of adjacent blocks define airflow passageways through the mat which communicate with a vacuum source for inducing airflow in downward directions generally parallel to the bristles. The bristle blocks may be supported on a grid or may be self supported.

Abstract: An adjustable die assembly is shown for forming a template having a plurality of holes each having a medial lug portion. The die assembly is mounted in a base member that has a graduated dial plate. The template is first provided with a plurality of starter holes. The die has a post surrounded by an annular recess except for a medial lug portion. The die is first set at a particular angular relationship to the dial plate. A template hole to be processed is fitted over the post. The base member includes an adjustable cross bar for alignment of the template with respect to a datum plane. A punch is then assembled on the die post and passed through the template for forming the holes with a medial lug portion in various angular positions.

Abstract: In a wrapper rolling machine for the manufacture of cigars etc. and comprising a wrapper cutting out unit, means are provided to hold one half of a tobacco leaf while cutting is performed in its other half, and to deliver the first half, together with any scraps appending thereto, in a plane condition and a desired orientation for the subsequent cutting out of one or more wrappers from said first half.

Abstract: Sheet glass is held for cutting with multiple rotary blades by freezing to a supporting base plate with a liquid, preferably water. The same liquid at a temperature just above freezing temperature is used to cool the blades during cutting, and forms a frozen scale which protects the glass and prevents chipping. After cutting, the liquid is allowed to thaw and releases the pieces without damage or need of special cleaning.

Abstract: A plate hold-down device for use during the abrasive cutting of plates which includes an expansible and retractable member adapted to be filled with a liquid and placed onto the plate.

Abstract: A relatively rigid horizontally extending supporting surface supports a layup of sheet material to be cut. Air is evacuated from between the sheets in the layup, and a sheet of air impervious material covers the layup to aid in compacting the layup. One of several blanking dies in a turret is adapted for vertical movement in a carriage mechanism, which is movable in at least one coordinate direction across the layup. Relative movement in the other coordinate direction is also provided for, and the turret is rotatable on a vertical axis normal to the supporting surface for orienting the die to be used. The blanking die turret is also indexable about a horizontal axis in order to locate its various dies for the blanking motion and thereby minimize waste from the layup of sheet material.

Abstract: A film severing method and apparatus is provided in which a film having first and second edges is engaged by film holding devices and the film is severed in a transverse path between such holding devices while the film is held on either side thereby, such severing including:Cutting the film at the first edge by moving a severing device into the film at a position spaced from the first edge and thereafter moving it in a first direction toward and through such first edge to form a partial cut andCompleting the severing of the film by moving another severing device in a second direction into the partial cut and thereafter through the film toward and through the second edge whereby to sever the film.

Abstract: A fixture is removably affixed to a workpiece thereby providing a temporary reference edge positioned parallel to a reference line and a known distance from a reference point on the workpiece. The temporary reference edge in cooperation with a guide and a cutting blade of a cutting table enables the workpiece to be accurately cut with respect to the reference line and reference point without first having to cut a reference edge on the workpiece.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing understrips for cigarette packets of the hinge lid type. A web of the reel-wound cardboard material is dragged along an infeed track, intermittently, by rolls which operate in conjunction with counter rollers and make on the web, parallel with its forward motion, two rows of indentations, punctuated with notches. A cutting device is placed transversely to the infeed track. It consists of a reciprocally movable knife and a stationary knife, and operates in a phase relationship with the web feeding, indenting and notching roll and counter rollers, such that all understrips, detached from the continuous web, are identical. The movable knife has means for holding the understrip detached from the continuous web and for thereby presenting the understrip to apparatus for additionally shaping it and transferring it.

Abstract: A novel method cutting textile material into garment-pattern shaped pieces using thin paper sheet pattern pieces utilizing magnetic objects to position and clamp the pattern pices to the textile. Further, a method of storing the cut textile is disclosed.

Abstract: Hole punching apparatus for punching registration holes for graphic arts sheets, steps, etc. including table support means (e.g., a graphic artist's light table) having a grooved guide channel for registration pins along one side and a second similar grooved guide channel perpendicular to the first and positioned intermediate the ends of the first, a single hole punching means having a depressable position-retaining means for sheet material being punched and whose punch axis is aligned at the intersection of the two grooved guide channels, and three registration pin assemblies, one each of which assemblies is separately slideably positioned in one of the three legs of the intersecting grooved guide channel. The registration pin assemblies being adapted to be locked in a fixed position.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a piped opening for use in a garment and an apparatus for making the opening. The piped opening comprises corresponding die-cut slits or cuts formed in the front and facing portion of a garment with the flap or flaps defined thereby being reversely folded inwardly of the respective front and facing portions to define a corresponding opening therein. An edging patch having a complementary slit or cut and reversely folded patch flaps is secured to one of the portions with the patch flaps positioned contiguous to corresponding flaps of the adjacent portion to form a partially piped opening. The front and facing portions are then reversely folded to dispose the edging patch therebetween with the respective openings defined in each, disposed in coaxial alignment. The front and facing portions are then secured.The apparatus for locating and forming an opening in a garment, e.g.