Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles from a stack onto a moving conveyor. The apparatus includes a supporting structure or frame that supports a stack of articles and the supporting structure is canted at an angle of about 15.degree. to 25.degree. from the vertical. The supporting structure is generally L-shaped in cross section, having a pair of walls located generally normal to each other, while the opposite sides of the supporting structure are open so that the articles can be loaded into the supporting structure through the open sides. The lowermost article in the stack is supported on an L-shaped base, so that only peripheral portions of adjacent side edges of the lowermost article are supported. A pusher plate is mounted for sliding movement relative to the supporting structure and acts to push the lowermost article from the stack and the dispensed article will then fall onto the moving conveyor below.

Abstract: A body portion comprises a load bearing portion for being displaced due to a load being applied thereto in a load applying direction, and a plurality of strain portions for being strained as a result of displacement of the load bearing portion due to the load being applied thereto, the plurality of strain portions being respectively integrated with the load bearing portion in positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the load bearing portion. Each portion of the plurality of strain portions respectively has horizontal hole formed in directions approximately perpendicular to the load applying direction. The load sensing device further comprises a strain sensor for sensing strains occurring in the plurality of strain portions so as to sense the load applied to the load bearing portion.

Abstract: An improved clamp assembly for clamping the overlapping ends of metal tubes in an exhaust system. The clamp assembly includes a metal ring having a pair of overlapping end portions disposed in side-by-side contact. A generally U-shaped bracket is secured to each of the end portions and each bracket has a pair of opposed legs connected by a web portion. Extensions project longitudinally outward from the end of each leg and the extensions are offset laterally from each other. One leg of each bracket is welded to one of the end portions of the ring and the welded leg is bent adjacent the weld to position the first extension in slidable contact with the other end portion of the ring. The extension of the opposite leg is disposed in side-by-side relation with the first extension and also serves to slidably receive the opposite end portion of the ring.

Abstract: A floor sweeper having, in addition to its main brush roller, one or more auxiliary brushes for sweeping debris into the path of the main brush. Each auxiliary brush includes a brush body having an annular array of outwardly downwardly inclined brush bristles. A flexible drive ring is mounted concentric to said bristles and adjacent the roots thereof on the underside of the brush body. Both the ring and bristle tips are disposed in fixed parallel planes and the assembly is mounted on an axis which is fixed and inclined from the vertical in a manner so that the rearward brush edge will, upon forward sweeper movement, rotate transversely inwardly beneath the sweeper housing with a debris disturbing and flicking action. Downward force on the sweeper causes the drive ring to deform upwardly and to deflect the adjacent bristles in a direction away from the carpet to keep the brush-carpet friction forces generally equalized.