Abstract: An apparatus for punching and binding a stack of papers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a paper clamp and a binding element insertion device that are movable relative to each other. The binding element insertion device is configured to receive and detect binding elements of different sizes. The apparatus also includes a punching mechanism, a controller, and a user interface. The controller controls movement of the paper clamp and the binding element insertion device based on the size of the binding element needed to bind the stack of papers together. The user interface is configured to provide information to a user of the apparatus and to receive input from the user before, during, and after the punching and binding operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for cutting beaded fabric that includes a bead attached to cloth-like material. According to one embodiment, a continuous length of the beaded fabric is fed through a guide into a die-cutting press and is die-cut via a soft anvil die while the material is retained in the guide. A guide is also provided for retaining the beaded fabric during die-cutting operations. Pre-cut beaded fabric is also provided that is easily separated into tie-downs. A continuous cutting method is also provided for forming individual tie-downs from a combination of fabric and plastic material used to form a bead on the fabric. The continuous cutting method may include die-cutting beaded fabric, placing a mark on a bead of the beaded fabric, and severing the bead at the mark.

Abstract: A steel rule cutting die for cutting fixed patterns in a single or plurality of stacked material layers according to the shape of the steel rule. The invention provides for a decrease in the quantity of scrap material produced, by minimizing the amount of gap between adjacent cavities in the steel rule cutting die. Pre-sharpened steel rule is used with the cutting edge shifted to the outboard side of the cavity thus reducing the amount of compression or wedging of scrap material between adjacent cavities, and thus allowing adjacent cavities to be positioned closer to one another or to contact one another without reducing the ability to remove the scrap material after the cutting operation. Frayed scrap material can be evacuated through the base of the die by providing evacuation holes in the base substrate of the die as well as providing for evacuation of scrap material from marker notch locations along joined sections of adjacent cavities. A variety of cavity shapes can be accommodated.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for severing and stacking articles which have been differentially pressure formed in a sheet of thermoplastic material from the sheet. Apparatus is provided for moving the sheet in a horizontal path and relatively vertically moving opposed upper and lower trim dies into engagement with vertically opposite sides of the sheet to trim the articles from the sheet at a trim station. The articles free fall through an opening in the lower die and free fall to an underlying accumulator. The accumulator includes mechanism which is moveable from a stack forming position in the path of freely falling articles to receive and accumulate freely falling severed articles in a stack, and a releasing position in which a formed the stack is released for vertical free fall.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming and ejecting articles integrally thermoformed in a sheet of thermoplastic material from the sheet including a pair of opposed trim dies which will trim parts out of a web of thermoplastic material. Apparatus is provided for pushing the trimmed parts out of the trimming station at a greatly accelerated rate. The apparatus includes a pusher member reciprocally movable in a to-and-fro path of travel between a retracted position and a forward ejecting position. Apparatus is provided for moving the ejector mechanism in the to-and-fro path and includes a toggle linkage mechanism which engages a cam for movement between relatively folded positions on one side of a plane and relatively oppositely folded positions on the opposite side of the plane to rapidly advance and even more rapidly retract the pusher member.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically stacking molded articles successively trimmed by a trim press from a web of thermoplastic material, the trim press having a stationary die member which includes a die plate and a die shoe, the apparatus comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a carriage mounted to the frame; (c) at least one stacking mechanism, the stacking mechanism comprising: (i) a plurality of stack rods rotatively mounted to the carriage, each of the stack rods having a stack dog located substantially perpendicular to a first end thereof the stack dog positionable within a corresponding aperture of the die shoe of the stationary die member; and (ii) mechanism for rotating the stack rods so that the stack dog engages an endmost article of a completed stack of articles, the stack of articles located at least partially within the die shoe of the stationary die member; and (d) mechanism for transporting the completed stack of articles from within the die shoe of the stationary die member to a position for removal from the

Abstract: A trim press for severing articles differentially pressure formed in a thermoplastic sheet comprising a stationary die member and a movable trim die member mounted on a frame for movement toward and away from the stationary trim die member between a spaced apart position and a closed position in which the trim die members engage opposite sides of a sheet to sever the article from the sheet. Dynamically balanced drive mechanism is provided for moving the platen in a to-and-fro path of travel while concurrently oppositely moving a counterbalance weight movably mounted on the frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing fibrous web pieces by die cutting the pieces from a continuous web. In the method, a fibrous web is provided having adjacent corrugations usually filled with a powder, and the powder-filled web is passed through a matched cutting die set intermittently which cuts and punches out the individual web pieces. Following the web cut out step, the web pieces are transferred downwardly onto a shuttle conveyor, and the pieces moved forward and simultaneously spread apart to permit subsequent convenient placement of the pieces. The cutting die apparatus includes matched punch and body die units which closely interfit with less than about 0.001 inch total clearance, so as to cut and punch out the fibrous web pieces from the continuous web.

Abstract: For reducing the refitting time of high-speed presses as a consequence of the adaptation of the distances of stacking spindle and support members to the dimensions of the cutting tool to be interchanged and of the blank, the stacking spindle and the support members are arranged on interchanging rails adapted to be displaced out of the press table. Upon reaching the required height of the stack, the spindle tip adapted to be separated from the stacking spindle is held by a retaining device consisting of adjusting means and slide member so that the stack can be lowered to the discharge conveyor plane.

Abstract: An improved press produces oval blanks arranged in a "nested" pattern from a web of material. The press includes a cutting die plate having a plurality of oval-shaped discharge apertures, an inclined die shoe underneath the cutting die plate, and a punch for piercing a web supported on the cutting die plate to form blanks and then deposit the blanks into the inclined die shoe via the discharge apertures. Partitions divide the inclined die shoe into a plurality of blank transfer lanes. Each transfer lane connects one of the discharge apertures to a companion exit region. Guide rails are provided to guide blanks deposited into the transfer lanes toward the exit regions as the blanks fall under gravity through the inclined die shoe.

Abstract: An automatic punching machine having a gripping/lifting attachment which grips and lifts upright punched stacks from a delivery channel, turns them and deposits them onto transfer statics for further conveyance to an automatic bundling machine. The deposited stacks are held in the transfer station by stack guides. So that the stack guides do not interfere when the swivel arm of the gripping/lifting attachment, which is arranged so as to be turnable overhead through about 180.degree., is swung into the transfer station, such are fastened to a lifting table which can be lowered out of the plane of further conveyance. Mounted on the free end of the swivel arm is a swivel head which is pivotable through about 90.degree. and which is provided with a parting knife for the dividing or separating of the stacks.

Abstract: To permit punching of very small holes from a strip of sheet metal, for example to form a sequence of holes at the margin thereof, or to obtain small punched blanks, having diameters of a few millimeters, for example 1-2 mm or even less, and prevent adhesion of the punched blanks to a reciprocating punch plunger (1), the punch die (4) is formed with a shallow groove (8) in the wall of the opening (5) of a die, the groove extending either spirally or axially for the depth of penetration or stroke of the punch plunger. Upon withdrawal of the plunger, a small projection or nose which will have formed in the region of the groove will wedge or jam therein, thus preventing upward travel of the blank with the withdrawing reciprocating tool. Preferably, the opening is slightly conical, with a cone angle of, for example, about 1/2.degree. with respect to the axis (12) of the bore (5); a suitable angle of inclination for a spiral groove is, for example, 12.degree.

Abstract: A high-speed apparatus and a method for successively trimming a plurality of thermoformed articles from a surrounding continuous web of a thermoformable foam plastic film material. A male locator urges the thermoformed articles molded into the web against a cutter so as to trim the articles from the web, with the articles being retained in a recess within the cutter. Subsequently trimmed articles form a state of nested articles within the recess.

Abstract: A trim press including relatively movable trim die assemblies for engaging opposite sides of a plastic sheet to sever articles integrally formed in a sheet of plastic. An article ejector is mounted on the moving die assembly. Mechanism is provided for moving one of the trim dies in a to-and-fro reciprocal path and amplifier mechanism is provided for moving the article ejector relative to the moving trim die.

Abstract: A trim press for severing articles differentially pressure formed in a thermoplastic sheet comprising a pair of dynamically balanced trim die members mounted for movement toward and away from each other between spaced apart positions and closed positions engaging opposite sides of the sheet to sever the article from the sheet. One of the trim die members includes an opening therethrough for receiving the article as it is being trimmed and for passing the article therethrough after it is trimmed and part receiver means stationarily mounted in alignment with the opening for receiving the articles from the moving trim die member.

Abstract: An alignment and stacking arrangement for stampings manufactured in a continuous stamping operation by a stamping machine having a punch and associated punch matrix. At least one stacking channel is arranged in the punch matrix for receiving the stampings with an intermediate stack forming device being arranged at the stamping machine at a position below and independent of the punch matrix. The intermediate stack forming device may include at least one locking pawl for reducing the clearance of the stacking channel and/or a mandrel arranged in the stacking channel which is selectively engaged by a holding element during the formation of the intermediate stack. A stacking mandrel or stacking shaft is associated with the mandrel and is displaceable so as to permit a stack of stampings of a predetermined height to be carried away from the stamping machine by a conveyor arrangement.

Abstract: An alignment and stacking arrangement for stampings manufactured in a continuous stamping operation by a stamping machine having a punch and associated punch matrix. At least one stacking channel is arranged in the punch matrix for receiving the stampings with an intermediate stack forming device being associated with stacking channel. The intermediate stack forming device may include at least one locking pawl for reducing the clearance of the stacking channel and/or a mandrel arranged in the stacking channel which is selectively engaged by a holding element during the formation of the intermediate stack. A stacking mandrel or stacking shaft is associated with the mandrel and is displaceable so as to permit a stack of stampings of a predetermined height to be carried away from the stamping machine by a conveyor arrangement.

Abstract: Device for forming orderly arranged groups of packages from a continuous web of packages, comprising a first stem slidably guided vertically and driven between a lowered position underlying the web and a raised position overlying the web, a support secured to the top of the stem, a punching member attached to the support and having a sidewall. The sidewall surrounds a cavity and includes a border defining externally a cutting edge. A die support is provided such as to have a lower side substantially adhering to the upper side of the web and having an opening aligned with and complementary to the punching member, such as to permit the insertion thereof through the opening and the punching out of one package from the web during the raising movement of the punching member from the lowered position to the raised position. A second stem is slidably guided parallel to the first stem and is provided at the top with a plate receivable in the cavity.

Abstract: A side outlet, self-stripping punch adapted to be mounted in a bore in a die board. The self-stripping punch includes an elongated, cylindrical base having a cutting edge on the top end and a pair of locking ears on the bottom end to prevent rotation of the punch in the die board. The locking ears are formed by upsetting them from the punch base, and they each have a flat face disposed on a common plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the punch.

Abstract: Punching press apparatus including an exchangeable tool set having upper and lower punching tools movable toward one another by a pressing ram to punch parts from sheet metal material. A stacking duct extends vertically downwardly from thepunching dies to accommodate a plurality of the punched out parts, which parts are then conveyed by endless magnetic conveyor belts arranged below the stacking duct, to remote part stacking mandrels and the like. In order to accommodate exchange of the punching tools without disconnection or emptying of the stacking ducts, the stacking ducts extend downardly to a position spaced upwardly of a press table supporting a toolholding plate, which toolholding plate supports the lower punching tool. The stacking ducts are formed as inserts in the toolholding plate so that a very simple exchange of the punching tools and toolholding plates can be effected by lateral movement of the units including the toolholding plate and punching tool out of the press ram working area.