A flange holding apparatus composed of: (a) a head for engaging a flange; (b) a collar surrounding the head, wherein the collar extends along a portion of the length of the head, wherein the head and the collar define a gap therebetween and the head can move between a centered position and an eccentric position relative to the collar; and (c) a resilient member disposed in the gap, wherein movement of the head from the centered position to the eccentric position compresses a portion of the resilient member, whereby the compressed portion of the resilient member urges the head to return to the centered position.
A rotatable vacuum has a passage through a spindle (32). The spindle protrudes through a bushing (30) and forms an annular chamber (46) therebetween that is connectable to a vacuum source through 360.degree. of rotation.
A carousel device (10) has a rotatable platform (12) with vacuum assisted suction cups (14) placed circumferentially about the rotational axis of the spindle (32). The spindle protrudes through a bushing (30) and forms an annular chamber (46) therebetween that is connectable to a vacuum source to assist holding a box (20) down while an operator feeds cable (70) into the rotating box.
A method of forming a flexible belt including: providing a flexible member; providing a work surface; forming the flexible member in a loop shape including an overlap region; positioning the overlap region of the flexible member in pressure contact with the work surface such that the photosensitive surface and the work surface is on the outside of the loop shape; positioning a welding tool on an inside surface of the loop shape of the flexible member opposite the overlap region; and ultrasonically welding the flexible member at one or more locations.