A stored energy ejector mechanism is disclosed and described and includes an ejector plunger member which is propelled by a spring-bias induced by an actuator lever actuated by a stroke of a punch press and the like. The stored energy in these springs is released and the propelling or ejection motion of a plunger member is begun by the actuation of a trigger mechanism whose release time is selectively established and preferably occurs during the same stroke of the press mechanism in which is produced the loading of the springs. Although primarily for use with a punch press to provide a substantially quiet ejector action, this stored energy is equally applicable to other operations such as providing an ejector mechanism for use with a conveying or line inspection system employing linear motion.
An energy storage device comprising a resilient member deformable to a stressed energy storing condition in which it is retained by a latch which is displaceable to release the stored energy and displace an actuating member in a first direction. A lost motion connection between the resilient member and setting is displaceable to deform the resilient member to the stressed energy storage condition, the lost motion connection absorbing displacement of the setting when the resilient member is in the stressed energy storage condition, wherein the actuating member is movable in the first direction independently of the resilent member.
In a multi-bobbin machine for making paper booklets e.g. of interleaved cigarette paper, a multiplicity of strips from respective supply bobbins are interfolded and converged to form a booklet strand which is cut to length by a cutting station which reciprocates along the strand so that booklet lengths enter it and are cut. A rotating non-circular shaft passes through the cutting station and a sleeve in the cutting station slides axially along the shaft as the station reciprocates and rotates with the shaft. The sleeve is independently linked to a strand clamp and to a cutting knife which are separately timed and move along different paths, the strand clamp moving longitudinally towards and away from the strand while the knife makes a slicing movement across and through the strand. A fixed ejector driven by a second sleeve on the shaft ejects booklets from the cutting station into a discharge chute, the ejector being preferably driven by a pair of cams so that in its return stroke it passes above the strand advancing into the cutting station. With this arrangement the ejector can be as wide as the discharge chute and is not difficult to time.
A pre-tensioner arrangement applies tension to a safety belt in response to deceleration of a vehicle. A spring stores a force which is to be applied to the safety belt. A trigger mechanism comprises a lever which exhibits a mechanical advantage, one end of the lever engaging the spring, or an element associated with the spring, to retain the spring in a compressed state, and the other end of the lever engaging an over-dead-center linkage. An inertia mass is provided to engage the over-dead-center linkage to move it through the dead-center condition to release the lever and cause the spring to be released when severe deceleration is experienced.
