Let us help you identify that mysterious object you’ve found.
Currently in CHALLENGE mode: If you've got something obscure knocking about, post a picture, and let's see how we do. Please prefix such posts with "CHALLENGE:" so we know we've got a fighting chance.
Some light hints that may point you in the right direction:
Hint 1
The assembly is a part of a larger machine.
Hint 2
Several assemblies are meant to move side by side in unison.
Hint 3
The square-ish shaped piece is plastic that will wear down and be replaced.
Piano wire hammer/striker...can't remember the technical term.
Hammer is the correct term, but that's not what they are. They come from a machine.
Almost looks like the inside of a piano key
Edit: just read the hints and it kinda fits
Not for a piano. It's more industrial.
This has 3D printer adjacent vibes but I don't know if I can get closer than that.
Interesting guess, but no.
I don't know what the right word is, but some sort of cam follower? The left part slides along the cam, raising and lowering the lever and applying torque to the right attachment point. There could be multiple cams and levers on the same shaft.
That's actually getting pretty close. The main difference is that the roles are reversed: The attachment point controls where the assembly goes.
So some sort of latch? The attached mechanism pushes this thing to the left, where it ramps up over something, then falls down to hook into place? I can't imagine what would need several of these working side by side in unison though.
Hmmm, no, the ramp is on the wrong side. Does it push something?
Pushing is correct :)
Brake caliper bracket, German.
I'm afraid not. The only attachment point is the round hole on the right.
Is that angled wear piece running in a track or does it ride on top of something and it's only constrained by the bar it's mounted to on the other end?
I feel like this is a piece of a machine used for manufacturing, but I have not a clue what it would do specifically lol
Closest guess so far! The track is correct. Not for manufacturing per-say, but definitely a complex machine.
Not for manufacturing per-say.... Does this wear piece that rides in a track press up on something? Are the tracks at varying depths? Is is a cam or perfectly round?
Is it made of plastic or aluminum?
I hate not knowing what it is lol
More of a "put all of this stuff together in one package" sorta machine. The wear piece does push something while riding in the tracks. Technically the tracks do have various depths, but that's not too important to the general function of the assembly.
There is no cam type function in the machine. The assembly is solidly attached to the bar that moves.
The bar is aluminum and the square ish piece on the left is low friction plastic.
Is this like a part of something off the marble machine x?
Is it playing music from a large drum? Haha
Lol, that's a no. It's for an industrial machine.
Does this push paper along a track or converor by its edge? For like a newspaper or something?
Spot on.
Answer
It's for pushing mail into an envelope. Three or four of them work in unison to push a stack of papers/inserts into an envelope.
God damn. That's the hardest one I've seen in a long time. Very nice.
I figured it would be a tough one.
These are mail insertion machines I worked on for several months as a mechanic. It's a little blurry since that were moving, but here it is in action:
That's cool. Never seen anything like that. I love big industrial machines that exist only to recreate an action a single human can do easily lol
Look up a Pitney Flowmaster if you're curious for more.
Collates the inserts into stacks, aligns and opens the envelopes, pushes the insert stack into the envelope, folds and seals the flap, flips the envelope, applies a stamp, prints addresses or data, reads the barcode, ejects any flagged envelopes, and finally stacks them all in a neat row.
Oh MF i swear i saw something like this in my subaru service manual to keep the timing sprocket in place while you have the belt off.
Lol. It's not car related. This is for a larger stationary machine.
Since it is a challenge I'm not posting the name directly.
-angry flaily puppycat.gif (voyager doesn't allow gif insertion rn apparently)
^^^^me after clicking the link
I don't know the GIF. I guess you are angry with the name. Is that the case? If yes may I know why?
It's moreso representing the exclamation about being bested by the thing, lol.
Lifter assembly?
The right side clamps onto a bar and the left side rides on a cam and lifts the bar when the line passes under?
Other comment guessed the same thing. The bar controls where the assembly goes instead.
Is it a machine for folding envelopes or cardboard boxes?
Related to envelopes, but not for folding.
Looks like a gear ratchet. Slope on the left piece allows a gear to rotate in one direction. Clamp on a bar on the right allows the assembly to be lifted to allow the gear to rotate in the other direction as well. Like a sort of gear brake?
Not quite. The assembly moves around for other reasons.