Abstract: An optical triangulation probe is provided for measuring the distance and inclination of a surface. A light source is utilized for projecting a beam toward the surface to form a light spot on the surface. The image of the light spot is reflected and formed on a light detector means which produces a signal representation of the image intensity distribution of the light spot image and the location of the image on the detector means. Estimating means utilizes the signal representation of the light spot image and a signal representation of a theoretical image to estimate the location of the light spot image on the detector means. The distance of the surface and its inclination as established upon making the estimation due to the known triangulation relationship between the location of the light spot image on the detector means and the location of the light spot on the surface.

Abstract: A flexible coupling in which one or more flex elements are positioned in a spaced apart relationship between two torsional force transfer members. Each of the flex elements are connected to another flex element or a transfer member and maintained at a spaced distance by spacer links positioned along the periphery of the flex elements. Areas of potentially high stress in the flex elements are distributed within the elements by varying the thickness of the flex elements in peripheral directions along the peripheral length of the flex elements and in radial directions relative to the axis of the flex elements.

Abstract: A bucket for attachment to the chain in a mill duty bucket elevator, includes a one piece wrapper member bent into a U-shaped trough defined by a sloping front wall, a horizontal bottom wall, an upright rear wall, a forwardly sloping rear wall, and a horizontal top lip. A rectangular hole in the wrapper plate defines the outside edges of a chain channel in which the chain lies when the bucket is fastened to the chain. Four side pieces having identical shapes and outside dimensions lie transversely across the trough to provide two end walls and two inside partitions. The partitions brace the front wall and act as side walls of the chain channel. A back plate fastened to the partitions and to the top lip and bottom wall adjacent the rectangular hole acts as the front face of the chain channel. The top lip, fastened to the two end walls and the two partitions, provides torsional stiffness to the bucket.

Abstract: A conveyor chain of the type comprising a plurality of pintle links and a plurality of pins connecting the links together. The pins have a first end which is necked-down and has a noncylindrical cross-section so as to resist rotation relative to the link, and the second end of the pin is knurled to limit axial movement.

Abstract: An improvement in shaft couplings having a flexible elastomeric center element positioned between and bonded to annular metal shoes, which increases the service life of the coupling by forming the elastomer to preferred shapes, contours and thicknesses adjacent a circumferential discontinuity of the shoes and center element.

Abstract: A chain link for a product capturing chain, including a pair of opposed retaining lips integral with the link for retaining the resilient gripping member.

Abstract: A magnetic conveyor including chain links with article carrying portions having magnetized grommets or magnetic filler material dispersed throughout to impart magnetic properties to the conveyor chain for conveying ferro magnetic articles. Preferably, the chain links comprise a polymeric resin material with a magnetic filler material dispersed therein during the molding process. Magnetization to provide multiple poles allows a minimum amount of filler material to be used thereby resulting in a relatively small reduction in the strength of the chain.

Abstract: A combustible gas sensor element prepared by the process of applying, to a sheathed wire coil, separate costs of catalytic wash each heated in a furnace, separate and alternating coats of porous ceramic and platinum each heated by passing an electric current through the coiled wire filament, and separate coats of porous ceramic top coating, each heated by passing an electric current through the filament.

Abstract: A grit settling basin including a cylindrical grit settling chamber adapted to contain liquid sewage and a grit storage chamber positioned beneath the grit settling chamber and adapted to receive grit settling out of the liquid. A vertical shaft is positioned centrally in the grit settling basin and extends into the grit storage chamber. A partition comprising a truncated cone surrounds the central shaft and defines the two chambers. A first annular opening is provided between the shaft and the partition and a second annular opening is provided between the partition and an upper portion of the grit storage chamber. A plurality of vanes project from the central shaft below and adjacent the partition and cause upward fluid flow through the first annular opening in response to rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: A polymeric snap-on attachment for a hollow rivet chain including first and second side members adapted to lie adjacent to the sidebars of the chain. At least one of the side members includes an integral pin-like projection adapted to fit through one of the hollow rivets in the chain. The other side member includes a receptacle which receives the pin-like projection with a snap fit to fix the first and second side members to each other and to the chain.

Abstract: A disposable diaper with uniformly stretched elastic bands adhesively bonded along the entire length of both edges of the diaper with heavier concentrations of adhesive in the waistband portions than in the crotch portion to reduce gathering and creep of the elastic in the waistband portions. Preferably the diaper is of hour glass shape with the elastic outboard of the absorbent batt in the crotch portion and extending across the laterally extending ears of the absorbent batt in the waistband portions to further improve the stability thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for elasticizing the leg areas of disposable diapers is disclosed. Portions of a continuously moving elastic ribbon are attached to a continuously moving web at spaced apart locations along the length of the web corresponding to the leg areas of a finished diapers. The web is moved over at least one arcuate surface and the portions of the ribbon that are not attached to the web are drawn through a slot in the surface so that the unattached ribbon portions separate from the web and travel a shorter path than the web. While the unattached portions of the ribbon are passing through the slot, they are clamped intermediate their ends by clamping means. While the unattached ribbon portions are held clamped, they are cut at their ends by cutting means.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for elasticizing the leg areas of a conformable garment is disclosed in which a continuous length of web material is continuously fed onto a moving support surface. As the web is fed onto the support surface, oscillating means moves the web in alternating directions in the direction of movement of and opposite to the direction of movement of the web as a whole to form spaced apart relatively flat folds in the web. Continuous, moving elastic ribbon is applied and adhered to the web in a tensioned condition across the folds, the folds are at least partially opened and the elastic is severed opposite the partially opened folds to provide discrete elastic strips attached at desired locations to the web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for attaching a continuously moving elastic ribbon to a continuously moving web such that only selected discrete areas of a finished conformable garment fabricated from the web are elasticized. A continuously moving belt formed of plate members hinged together and engaging the continuously moving web is guided by cam means to cause adjacent plate members to fold and thereby form folds in the web. After folding of the web, the continuously moving elastic ribbon is moved into contact with areas of the web between the folds and is adhered to the web at these areas. The elastic is cut opposite the folded areas of the web corresponding to areas in the finished diaper in which it is desired not to provide elasticization. The belt means is then guided so that the plate members unfold to thereby unfold the web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for elasticizing the leg areas of disposable diapers is disclosed. A continuously moving elastic ribbon is attached to a continuously moving web at spaced apart locations along the length of the web corresponding to the leg areas of a finished diaper. The web is moved over an arcuate surface and the portion of the ribbon that is not attached to the web is drawn through a gap in the surface so that the unattached ribbon portion separates from the web and travels a shorter path than the web. While the web and unattached ribbon portion are separated, the unattached ribbon portion is cut so that only the ribbon portion attached to the web will have an elasticization effect on the finished diapers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying discrete lengths of elastic strip material to predetermined areas of a continuously moving web by corrugating the web and applying the discrete lengths of substantially unstretched adhesively coated elastic over the corrugations in predetermined areas, bonding the elastic to the areas, and withdrawing the web from the corrugations to stretch the elastic; and the conformable garment produced thereby which may be in the form of an elasticized leg disposable diaper.

Abstract: An extruder nozzle for producing a relatively wide flat ribbon of extruded fluid is provided. The extruder nozzle includes a groove in communication with the orifice of the nozzle, the groove being generally arcuate in shape and so dimensioned that the ends of the arc are closer to the extrusion point than is the center so as to cause the orifice to fill completely and thereby permit the extrusion of a relatively wide flat ribbon. A shim means is provided to establish the size of the orifice and to cut off the arcuate groove at each of its ends to establish a reservoir of fluid at each end of the groove and thereby eliminate the formation of a needle or the like at the lateral edges of the extruded ribbon. Shim means of various thicknesses may be utilized to control the thickness (or depth) of the extruded ribbon.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for driving an object such as a nail covered by a deformable member such as a shingle without damage to the latter. Force is applied by means such as a hammer to a force distributing member in engagement with the deformable member. A force receiving member is positioned opposite the force distributing member and the deformable member is positioned between the force distributing and force receiving members. The force is received from the deformable member by the force receiving member and applied to the object to drive it.