Patent ID: 6886682

Claim:
A link for connecting an upstream and a downstream multi-turret processing machines, comprising: a base; a bridge disposed on the base and forming a cross-piece for a T to the base to allow connection on one end of the cross-piece to a base of an upstream multi-turret processing machine and to allow connection at the opposite end of the cross-piece to a base of a downstream multi-turret processing machine, the bridge having a center aperture, an upstream aperture on an upstream side of the center aperture, and a downstream aperture on a downstream side of the center aperture opposite to the upstream side, the three apertures for holding a last existing upstream turret on the upstream multi-turret processing machine in the upstream aperture, for holding a link processing turret in the center aperture, and for holding a first existing downstream turret in the downstream multi-turret processing machine in the downstream aperture, all three turrets being in parallel; a link processing turret disposed in said center aperture; one or more gears for meshing indirectly with gears in the upstream and downstream multi-turret processing machines; and a gearcase near to the bridge for encasing the one or more gears for the link processing turret, the gearcase having separate mating surfaces for mating with respective gearcases for the multi-turret processing machines, with at least one of these mating surfaces being adjustable.