Abstract: An improved device for detection of stones in the sidewalls of glass containers. Stones in the sidewalls of glass containers cause stress patterns to be formed. These patterns are visible if the glass container is viewed through crossed polarizing filters due to the refraction of polarized light. A television camera and electronic analysis circuit may be substituted for the human eye. The detection capability and reliability of the system is improved if the glass container is illuminated with primarily infra-red radiation. Then, polarizing filters which polarize infra-red radiation and remove visible light are used. A filter before the television camera lens removes far infra-red radiation and allows only near infra-red radiation to be measured. This makes the device insensitive to glass color, flutes or stippling and improves the signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: A system for the connection of flexible electrical circuits to electrical components, particularly gas discharge panels. Flexible circuits are used to carry electrical signals to and/or from various electrical components. In the case of gas discharge panels, the flexible circuits must be carefully and securely held in a fixed position to mate with thick film termination pads from the multiple thin film operating electrodes. The present invention discloses the utilization of a clip member as a major component of a total system for securing such flexible circuits to, as an example, a gas discharge panel.

Abstract: Internal arcing in a cathode ray tube is substantially prevented by coating a portion of the interior of the funnel and neck of the tube with an electrically conductive composition, and coating a portion of the interior of the funnel and neck of the tube with an electrically resistive composition. The electrically conductive composition comprises about 10-30 weight percent iron and about 90-70 weight percent of a glass frit. The electrically resistive composition comprises about 8-24 weight percent iron, about 2-8 weight percent TiO.sub.2 and about 90-68 weight percent glass frit. The use of conventional "dag" coatings is eliminated. The cathode ray tube is especially useful as a picture tube in a color television receiver in which high operating voltages are employed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shearing an elongated gob of glass from the end of a vertically flowing stream of molten glass and tilting the severed gob from its vertical orientation toward a horizontal orientation. A pair of shear blades are mounted for horizontal reciprocation between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the blades are overlapped generally in the center of the stream of molten glass and thereby shear a single gob from the stream. The movement of the blades is so controlled that the lower blade moves appreciably beyond the stream centerline. The upper blade has completed its stroke and is returning to its open position while the lower blade continues its over center travel. The difference in travel is caused by a difference in the length of the drive linkages between the upper and lower shear blades. The net result of the total cycle is to cause the severed gob to rotate about 90.degree. in mid-air before entering a forming mold.

Abstract: A system for the multiplex addressing of a colloidal light valve array. An array of individual sites or cells is made using a colloidal light valve (CLV) material which has a light transmission curve that is a function of the frequency of the applied potential across the site or cell. The array is generally defined by rows and columns of electrical conductors. The intersections of the rows and column define sites or are at individual cells. Any one site may be uniquely addressed by supplying this site with a high frequency electrical signal and a low frequency electrical signal during one time period and with two low frequency electrical signals during a second time period. Non-selected or non-addressed sites are supplied with combinations of high frequency and low frequency electrical signals during the two time periods to force the average light transmission valve of these nonselected sites to be the compliment of the average light transmission of the addressed site.

Abstract: A method for powder coating of articles with an organic polymeric material. Articles to be coated, preferably glass containers, are transported by a first conveying mechanism through a pre-heat oven wherein their temperature is raised to a level above ambient temperature. The preheated containers are then transferred to chucks of a second conveying mechanism which carry the containers through a powder spray apparatus wherein the organic polymeric material is applied to the container. The chucks of the second conveying mechanism are cool and any oversprayed material will not adhere thereto. After spraying, the containers are again heated to cure the sprayed-on powder coating to form a filmlike layer on the container. The containers are then cooled below the softening point of the organic polymeric material and released from the second conveying mechanism for further handling.

Abstract: A multiple tube solar energy collector having a diffusely-reflecting surface positioned behind the collector tube array. Multiple double walled collector tubes are connected into a manifold for circulation of a working fluid through them. The working fluid is heated by solar energy as it flows through the tubes. A diffusely-reflecting surface behind the tubes reflects back to the tubes both direct beam and diffuse solar radiation which fails to strike the tubes directly. This system allows efficient operation of a tubular solar energy collector without requiring focusing or polished reflecting surfaces. The tubes are preferably no more than four tube diameters apart, on centers, and no more than four tube diameters above or separated from the diffuse-reflecting surface.

Abstract: An improved ball dispensing package combination for liquid cosmetics and the like. A ball is held in place in a fitment which is attached to the finish portion of a container for the product to be dispensed. The ball is allowed to move freely within the fitment to allow dispensing. The total package is completed by a closure which engages threads on the exterior of the finish portion. The closure has an internal downwardly depending sealing ring which engages the upper rim of the fitment as the closure is tightened. Simultaneously, the lower portion of an internal cavity of the closure engages the ball at its maximum chordal dimension. The ball does not touch the upper portion of the internal cavity, so any material on the ball does not tend to stick to the closure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a completely encircling coating of an organic polymeric material on a localized region of a glass container. At a coating station, a glass container is rotated through at least 360 degrees. During the rotation, a material application head furnishes fluid organic polymeric material to the surface of the localized region of the glass container which is to be coated. Stop members hold the application head a fixed distance from the localized region and determine the perimeters of the encircling coating and a doctoring edge of the application head helps form a uniform layer or coating of the organic polymeric material completely encircling the localized region.

Abstract: A food service tray which allows selective heating and/or cooling of meal components carried thereby. A base member of a thermally insulating material has a plurality of compartments divided into serially connected flow chambers having inlet and outlet openings. Food receptacles made of a thermally conductive material carry the meal components and are inserted into the compartments. Thermally insulating lids then cover the food receptacles. A refrigerated fluid under pressure may be passed through all or part of the flow chambers to thereby maintain the contents of the food receptacles therein in a chilled condition. A heated fluid under pressure can then be passed through selected flow chambers to thereby rethermalize or heat the contents of the food receptacles in the heated flow chambers to a proper serving temperature.

Abstract: An improved lehr loading bar for loading newly formed glass containers into an annealing lehr. A series of relatively flat faced liner bars are loaded into a carrier bar having opposed dove tail slides. The liner bars are separated by spacers which also engage the dove tail slides. The space between adjacent spacers defines a pocket into which a glass container may fit for transfer to a lehr. Both liner bars and spacers are made of carbon or carbon graphite material to prevent thermal damage to the hot glass containers when they touch them.

Abstract: An improved two piece food package. The package includes lid and dish members. The lid has formed in its perimeter three slots, two on one side and a single slot on the opposite side. The dish member has three locking tabs designed to engage the slots in the lid to thereby hold the two members together as a unit package. Under the single tab is formed a locking lug. The locking lug extends outward far enough to interfere with a portion of the lid when the lid and dish are assembled. This interference causes the dish sidewall to bow, creating a lock of the dish sidewall into corners of the lid.

Abstract: Apparatus for the control of flow and temperature of a working gas to allow temperature control of meal components carried by a two-compartment tray. The components of a meal are carried in an insulated, two-compartment tray. Both compartments are cooled by refrigerated air introduced thereto until a short time before serving. Then, hot air is introduced to one compartment to heat the contents thereof while the cool air flow to the other compartment is maintained. A flow distributor has two inlet and two outlet manifolds. One inlet and outlet manifold pair always receive cool air for supply to one compartment of the tray. The other inlet and outlet manifold pair can selectively receive either cool or hot air to allow heating or cooling of the contents of the other tray compartment. The trays are held in a uniform vertical array. Nozzles are connected to the air flow within the manifolds.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for inspecting hot glass containers by sensing the heat radiation from the bottles. Newly formed glass containers are moved past the apparatus of this invention in a single file immediately after leaving the bottle forming machines. A series of four heat-sensing probes register the heat radiation pattern of containers as they pass by. A logic unit determines if the container is of the proper diameter, standing upright, and has a neck portion that is not significantly inclined from the vertical. Containers which are lying down, two containers stuck together, or containers which have a bent neck portion are rejected.

Abstract: A system for the collection and utilization of solar energy. A manifold is mounted on the roof of a building with a major portion of the manifold being contained within the building. A plurality of double-walled, glass solar energy collector tubes are inserted into that part of the manifold which extends above the roof of the building. A gas, such as air, completely fills the manifold and collector tubes. The gas is circulated from the manifold to the ends of the collector tubes from whence it returns, having been heated during the movement. A heat exchanger mounted in the manifold has a working fluid, such as water, passing through it. The heated gas impinges on the heat exchanger, giving up much of its energy to the fluid passing through the heat exchanger. The working fluid is then used for space heating or cooling functions within the building.

Abstract: Apparatus for spraying powdered materials. A spray gun for applying hot powdered thermoplastic materials to a substrate to be coated may be constructed in such a fashion as to have no moving parts. A first fluid amplifier section inspirates the powdered material and cool air from the outside atmosphere. A second fluid amplifier section also inspirates outside air. This air is heated as it is inspirated. A transition section connects the two fluid amplifier sections. The powdered material inspirated by the first fluid amplifier section mixes with the heated air inspirated by the second fluid amplifier section. This causes partial melting of the powdered material so that as it exits from the second fluid amplifier toward the substrate to be coated, the material is in a condition to allow more uniform coating of the substrate.

Abstract: An improved glass pressing machine which captures exhausting cooling gas to reduce noise in the vicinity of the machine. A glass press for making television face plates includes a cooling station where large quantities of a gas, such as air, are blown on a newly formed article to remove residual heat. Escape of this air creates a noise problem in the area of the machine. The tube which introduces the gas is substantially enclosed by a shroud. The gas, as it completes its cooling function, is conducted from an exhaust pipe in the shroud to a vent stack which delivers the gas to a location remote from the machine. The spent cooling gas is therefore not exhausted at the machine location to create a noise problem.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the measurement of a cell current. A polarographic cell, which may be a two or three electrode system, furnishes a cell current which is a measure of a particular constituent of a material under test in the cell. The electrodes are continuously washed by a buffer solution which gives a base line or steady state current. The current from the cell is converted to a voltage for ease of measurement. The first derivative with respect to time is taken of the voltage. When this rate of change of voltage exceeds a pre-selected level, a signal is generated. This signal causes a sample and hold unit to hold and present as a constant output the voltage level at that time. This is the steady state value. The signal also resets a peak detector which accepts the cell voltage and tracks its value until a maximum is reached. Then, the maximum value is held as a constant output quantity.

Abstract: A food service tray which allows selective heating and/or cooling of meal components carried thereby. A base member of a thermally insulating material has a plurality of compartments divided into serially connected flow chambers having inlet and outlet openings. Food receptacles made of a thermally conductive material carry the meal components and are inserted into the compartments. Thermally insulating lids then cover the food receptacles. A refrigerated fluid under pressure may be passed through all or part of the flow chambers to thereby maintain the contents of the food receptacles therein in a chilled condition. A heated fluid under pressure can then be passed through selected flow chambers to thereby rethermalize or heat the contents of the food receptacles in the heated flow chambers to a proper serving temperature.