Abstract: A missile canister for storing, transporting and launching missiles includes inner and outer skins and a compression resistant honeycomb type material between the skins. An alternative embodiment on the missile canister has an epoxy syntactic foam material between the skins of the cells which are attached one to another by threaded fasteners which cooperate with tapped holes in the cell walls.

Abstract: A common base for a plurality of fillers is disclosed for supporting a plurality of type of container fillers. A common drive system for the plurality of fillers is supported by a single plate, and drives a star wheel for moving containers below a plurality of filler valves for receiving a predetermined volume of flowable product. The power means rotates a plurality of selected types of filling valves, and means are provided for raising and lowering pistons in said cylinders for filling containers of variable sizes.

Abstract: The disclosure herein relates to a wheel service machine, such as a wheel balancer, which provides audible output for guiding an operator to measured positions on a vehicle wheel assembly where corrective operations must be performed, such as the application of wheel assembly unbalance compensation weights.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for rapidly laying up and curing thick complex shaped resin matrix composites connected to a rotatable and alterable male mold to wrap a plurality of continuous and intermittent layers of uncured laminate around the male mold when said mold is in a closed position; moving the male mold into a female mold and thereafter severing all layers on the male mold and articulate the male mold to an open position which shapes the upper regions of the composite and thereafter transferring the resin matrix composite to a female mold which shapes the composite in a desired configuration and thereafter heat cures the composite lay-up while being subjected to a vacuum. A second embodiment of the invention uses a non-rotatable male mold.

Abstract: A transfer mechanism for transferring groups of plastic containers from a continuously moving transport conveyor to a tray includes container sensors and a mechanism for providing correct in-fee timing of the containers. The tray is advanced after each group of containers is deposited therein and when the tray is full, it is removed.

Abstract: A combination tire and rim assembly match mounting, match grinding and balancing machine has a load roller for contacting the mounted tire periphery with a predetermined force. The displacement of the roller provides a measure of tire radial runout and either a vision system or mechanical probes provide a measure of rim radial runout. A controller operates to calculate the least square best fit between the tire and the rim and to control the match grinding to provide improvement in the tire and rim assembly operating vibration characteristics.

Abstract: A multi-drop container discharge system receives frangible containers from carriers of an articulating hydrostatic cooker and discharges the containers into carriers of an intermittently driven indexing conveyor. Free fall of the frangible containers is minimized by first delaying free-fall from the hydrostatic cooker carriers and thereafter preventing free-fall to the bottom of the truncated V-shaped carriers of an indexing conveyor.

Abstract: A batch sterilization system is disclosed having a plurality of retorts mounted on at least one indexable turret which sequentially and simultaneously indexes one retort with a loader for receiving containers to be sterilized, while a second retort with sterilized containers therein is indexed with an unloader for unloading. A second embodiment includes a pair of loader/unloaders for loading and unloading a first product in first retorts and a second product in the other retorts.

Abstract: A self-aligning quick connect coupling is disclosed for coupling two rods together having large diameter end portions with end surfaces in the form of spherical sectors. The coupling is formed in two halves threaded together and provides ample clearance for allowing the rods to be coupled together even though not axially aligned. The coupling halves are slotted to permit easy removal of the coupling halves from the rods when being uncoupled.

Abstract: A volume adjustment device for a filler is disclosed which simultaneously permits rough adjustment of a plurality of pistons within product cylinder and also permits fine volumetric tuning of each piston for precisely measuring predetermined volume of flowable product being discharged into containers or the like thus providing more accurate fill volumes and also minimizing fill volume differences between stations.

Abstract: A right angle deck having a plurality of shafts with alternating left and right hand roller clusters. A single motor is connected to rotate the shafts with left hand clusters and a single motor is connected to rotate the shafts with right hand clusters; the motors being independently controlled and reversible.

Abstract: A dual ammunition transfer mechanism includes a pair of ammunition round feed conveyors for selectively conveying the same size but different types of rounds toward a pivotal round selector finger. One conveyor is stopped while the other conveyor is driven causing the rounds therein to move past a round deflector finger which guides the rounds between driven star wheels and a Z-shaped feeder. A round kicker drives rounds one at a time into a slot in a disc rotating at high speeds and having camming surfaces therein which cooperates with a round lifting finger which momentarily enters the slot and stops the round while the disc continues to rotate while camming the round out of the slot at a rate of up the 400 rounds per minute.

Abstract: A cluster for a material handling conveyor in which a plurality of rollers are mounted on a body member at an acute angle to a driven shaft, with bushing pressed into and recessed from each end of each roller to provide a consistent frictional force between the rollers and the member under various conditions of moisture.

Abstract: A filler spool valve is disclosed having an open ended housing with an elongated cylindrical passage therethrough. A valve core having a plurality of evenly spaced arcuate and inline passages is reciprocated by a pneumatic cylinder connected thereto by a quick connect coupling to alternately cause a flowable product to flow along generally C-shaped passages, and thereafter linear passages, in the spool valve in response to reciprocation of the valve core. The valve core is easily removed from its housing for cleaning by opening a quick release coupling and manually pulling the core from the cylindrical housing.

Abstract: A batch sterilization system is disclosed for first loading containers to be sterilized into cars, transferring the loaded cars into one of a plurality of retorts arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns, sterilizing the containers while in the retorts and discharging the containers from the cars, discharging the cars from the retort, unloading the cars and thereafter repeating the cycle. The system includes a plurality of single or double door retorts in horizontal and vertical rows thereby minimizing floor spaced. Different horizontally and vertically spaced retorts may process products requiring different sterilization times in the retorts. A programmable computer is preferably used for performing the several functions of the sterilization system and for keeping track of the location of the containers during and after processing.

Abstract: A means for precisely depositing containers into a moving nest, with the means being relatively insensitive to the speed of the nest. Each container is positioned over a lug which is driven at the speed of the moving nest and the container is aligned with the nest. When the container and nest are aligned and at the same speed, the container is dropped into the nest.

Abstract: A structured light scanning system observes, interprets and provides structural feature size, position and movement data in automotive service equipment applications where such feature characteristics must be determined either preliminary to or ultimately for measurement of quantities affecting automotive performance, such as tire/rim assembly balance, runout and alignment or brake surface planarity and smoothness.

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus having a sky window in a device for pressing two materials together during a welding operation. The pressing device holds a plastic lid material snugly against a plastic container during the welding operation. A laser-transparent window in the pressing device allows a laser beam to be directed through the pressing device to a junction between the lid material and the container. The laser beam is converted into heat to weld the lid material to the container.

Abstract: A corn cutter unit in which an ear of corn is propelled by a plurality of feed rollers into a plurality of knives carried by a rotating head, with the knives being adjustable to define an opening through which the cob may pass, and a cob puller having upper and lower chains, each of which is formed of links and driven by sprockets over a guide, which guide has a height substantially equal to the length of the individual chain links to extend through said head and grip the corn cob.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for transferring cylindrical articles such as glass or metal containers from a position supported on their cylindrical surfaces to a position supported on one of their flat ends. The apparatus includes an intermittently driven feed conveyor for feeding containers between stationary guides which positions the flat ends of containers upon a pair of narrow flat belts trained around annuluses secured to a driven starwheel having equally spaced carriers thereon which move between the guides and push the containers onto a linear upper run of the belts which are driven at a higher arcuate speed than the annuluses for assuring the upper ends of the carriers do not contact and cause the containers to be dislodged from their flat surfaces.