Abstract: A fastener for releasably securing an object to a panel having a hole therethrough comprises a screw having a screw head attached to the object and having a threaded screw shank insertable through the hole in the panel. The fastener further comprises a flexible resilient plastic push-on/screw-off nut having a bore therethrough which is slidably mountable onto the threaded screw shank into engagement with the panel. The nut has a resilient flexible concave nut head which operates to seal the panel hole and has a nut shank defining two resilient flexible legs, each of which has internal nut threads for engaging the threaded screw shank. The nut also comprises webs, each connected between the nut head and the outer side of a leg, which operate to force the nut threads tightly against the screw thread in locking engagement when the nut head is forced against the panel. The nut is removable from the screw by rotation in a conventional manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for high speed, fully automatic and precise bending of a wire or rod in three dimensions and with the same or different bending radii or bending contours for each bend comprises a passive bending tool (16) having a wire-receiving passage therethrough and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart bending surfaces or grooves at its exit end and a bending head (B) having an active bending tool (F) thereon. The passive bending tool (16) is selectively rotatable about a first axis (X) along which the wire extends to align a desired bending surface with a desired bending plane. The bending head (B) is also rotatable about the first axis (X) to position the bending tool (F) at the appropriate side of the wire. The bending tool (F) is rotatable about a second axis (Y), which is perpendicular to the first axis (X), to bend the wire along the selected bending surface.

Abstract: A die assembly for mounting in a die press operates to punch a row of holes in a stack of paper sheets in response to a single press stroke. The die assembly comprises a stationary lower die block having a row of die holes therethrough, one or more lubricated stationary guide plates each having a row of guide holes therethrough and located above and spaced from the die block by a separator plate so as to define a stack-receiving slot, a reciprocably movable punch retainer assembly located above the guide plate and a row of elongated, downwardly-depending punches connected at their head ends to the punch retainer assembly which extend through and slidably engage the guide holes. When the press closes, the cutting ends of the punches move through the stack-receiving slot and through a stack of sheets therein into sliding engagement with the die holes. When the press opens, the punches are withdrawn clear of the stack-receiving slot.

Abstract: An impact crusher rotor comprises radially slotted discs secured to a shaft at axially spaced intervals and hammer bars releasably secured in the disc slots. A backup bar secured in a slot in every disc provides a keyed connection with a hammer bar, at its rear, and a wedge in the slot maintains the hammer bar engaged against the backing bar with a force that increases with rotor speed. Each wedge can be established in an initial locking position by a screw that has its length radial to the rotor axis, has a threaded connection with the wedge, and has an end reacting against a bottom disc surface defined by the slot. Each wedge is confined to radial motion relative to the disc by a U-shaped shoe which straddles the disc periphery and is releasably fixed to the disc and which also protects a portion of the disc periphery that is in front of the hammer bar.

Abstract: Wire processing apparatus comprises a wire selector/feed mechanism for feeding a selected one of a plurality of different wire strands lengthwise into a wire insertion mechanism which then presents a wire segment severed by a wire cutter mechanism laterally to the infeed ends of a pair of laterally spaced apart conveyor units of a conveyor mechanism. Each conveyor unit comprises a support frame on which a conveyor belt assembly is mounted. The conveyor belt assembly is adjustably positionable on the support frame to enable wire segment end portions of desired length to project from the conveyor belt assembly. The wire selector/feed mechanism comprises a wire selector device including a pair of spaced apart rotatable plates having pairs of aligned holes for releasably supporting the wire strands.

Abstract: A rod feeding and placement mechanism for use in apparatus for making hanging file folders comprises a magazine wherein a plurality of flat, elongated, metal rods are vertically stacked, one above another. A pair of laterally spaced-apart, horizontally disposed, slightly convergent, contra-rotating de-stacking screws located below the magazine engage the lowermost rod in the stack and advance or feed it laterally along a rod-path. Another pair of laterally spaced-apart, horizontally disposed contra-rotating top screws above the de-stacking screws then receive the rod from the de-stacking screws and advance or feed it further along the rod-path to an at-rest position located above a flat paperboard blank. Guide rails and magnetic strips support the rod as it advances along the rod-path. The rod is releasably maintained for a moment in the at-rest position by permanent magnets.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for inspecting and grading a grain sample involves the use of a first tray having an upwardly-facing grooved surface on which kernels of grain can be arranged in rows for a first inspection. A second tray is placed on top of the first ray and has a resiliently compressible deformable surface which faces downwardly and bears against kernels in the grooved surface of the first tray so as to entrap and immobilize any kernels of grain on the first tray. Both trays are then overturned so that resilient surface of the second tray faces upwardly and grooved surface of the said tray faces downwardly. When said first tray is removed from association with the second tray, the kernels, now overturned, are arranged on the resilient surface of the second tray and are ready for further inspection.

Abstract: A manually operable tape dispenser/applicator device is provided for applying pressure sensitive adhesive masking tape to a portion of the surface of an automobile body fascia which comprises a plurality of parallel grooves.

Abstract: A plurality of magnetic elevator devices disposed along the sides of a vertical stack of magnetizable steel objects, such as sheets or rods, separates them and raises the uppermost one vertically. Sensing devices in a control system sense when the object reaches a transport position and actuate a transport mechanism to move to another location. Each magnetic elevator device comprises a magnetic structure (permanent magnet or electro-magnet) and a pair of elongated, vertically extending, laterally spaced apart contact rails of opposite magnetic polarity which engage the edges of the stacked objects. Each contact rail comprises a magnetic portion having a point of minimum reluctance near its top and a non-magnetic, low-friction surface portion (plastic or stainless steel) which slidably engages each object to guide it and to hold it spaced from the magnetic portion.

Abstract: The insulating housing of the device supports two spaced-apart stationary terminal/contact assemblies. A resilient, thermally-responsive, snap-acting, movable contact support member, which has a movable contact and a cam-follower thereon, is connected at one end to one assembly and is movable to three positions relative to a stationary contact on the other assembly, namely: a contact-closed position wherein the movable contact engages the stationary contact, a contact-open position and a contact-tripped position. An outwardly projecting rod-like actuator slidable on the housing, and which has a cam on its inner end, is axially movable inwardly and outwardly between an "on" switch-closed/breaker-reset position and an "off" switch-open/breaker-tripped position (wherein it is biased by a spring), respectively. In actuator "off" position, the cam blocks the contact support member and prevents the movable contact from closing.

Abstract: A multicolor image forming apparatus for forming a multicolor visual image on an image retainer, wherein latent images formed on the image retainer are successively developed on a color basis. The diameter of dots constituting the visual image of each color or each color image signal cutting size out of a matrix unit having picture elements of each color is modulated by an electrical signal.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for supplying and installing plastic expansion rivets with breakaway mandrels in holes in a workpiece. It comprises a hand-held, trigger actuated, pneumatically-operated installation tool; a rivet-supply mechanism for supply rivets one-by-one to the tool on a timely basis; and a vacuum-operated, mandrel-removal mechanism for removing broken away mandrels from the tool. The installation tool has a hollow barrel with a nose piece at its working end for receiving and releasably holding each rivet delivered thereto. Two piston assemblies are slidably mounted in the hollow barrel: one maintains the rivet body stationary against the workpiece and the other has jaws thereon for gripping and pulling on the rivet mandrel to expand the rivet body and break away the mandrel. The hollow barrel also contains a vacuum tube through which broken-away mandrels are expelled.

Abstract: A drain bolt wherein a recess is formed at the end of a male-threaded portion of a bolt body, and a sinker portion of a synthetic resin magnet is embedded in the recess of the bolt body so that a projecting portion of the magnet is projected from the end of the male-threaded portion of the bolt body. The projecting portion of the synthetic resin magnet is larger in diameter than the sinker portion. A plurality of grooves are formed on the side of the projecting portion of the synthetic resin magnet along its length.

Abstract: A riding mower chassis frame comprises a pair of identical beams extending along the chassis at its opposite sides. A one-piece channel-shaped member bridges the beams near the rear of the chassis to give the frame rigidity, provide for laterally swingable connection to the frame of a rear axle on which steerable wheels are mounted, and serve as a pan in which movable weights are carried. A platform mounted on the rear of the frame, for carrying interchangeable accessories, is swingable to and from a horizontal load carrying position about a transverse axis at the rear of the frame. An automatically engaging releasable latch on the platform cooperates with another frame member that bridges across the beams.

Abstract: A large manually operated leak-proof corrosion-proof low-cost shut-off or stop valve for handling high pressure refrigerant liquid and/or gases is disclosed. The valve comprises a valve body formed of two sheet metal hemispheres electron-welded to the periphery of a circular metal valve plate which has an aperture therethrough. Hollow cylindrical metal tubes entend into circular holes formed in the hemispheres and are electron-welded to the hemispheres along the edge of the circular holes. One tube on each hemisphere serves for fluid flow. Another internally and externally threaded tube on one hemisphere serves as valve sleeve through which a manually rotatable and axially shiftable externally threaded valve spindle extends. The inner end of the valve spindle is secured to a valve disc which cooperates with the aperture in the valve plate. In the method, components to be welded together are assembled and rotated with respect to a stationary electron welding beam.

Abstract: A method for controlling the environmental conditions in the proximity of vegetation or crops in the cultivation of plants is described in which use is made of protective sheets comprising a large number of microperforations having each a protruded rim, said microperforations having a diameter between 50 and 2000 .mu.m and being present in a density of between 25 and 40000 microperforations per cm.sup.2. The invention also relates to plastics sheeting for use in said method and to a protective device for use in a greenhouse provided with such sheeting.

Abstract: An underground tank having a leak detection mechanism, wherein a narrow gap is provided between an inner tank in which a liquid is to be contained and an outer tank covering the inner tank, a conduit is opened into the gap and a float is provided in the conduit, so that a leak of tank can be detected from the position of the float. A thin sheet is wound on the outside surface of the inner tank so that the narrow gap is defined between the inner tank and the outer tank.

Abstract: A dispenser for paste-like products consists of a dispensing head (1) and a cartridge (2) containing the paste-like product. The cartridge has its lower end closed by a follower piston slideable along the interior wall surface of the cartridge under action of the exterior atmosphere. In the dispensing head, a pumping device with a pump chamber is provided. An inlet-check valve is provided for prevention of backflow of paste-like material entering the pump chamber through a passage from the interior of the cartridge. At least one part of the inlet-check valve, for instance, a valve seat thereof or, for instance, all parts of the inlet-check valve, namely, a valve seat and a closure member, are provided on an upper cover wall of the cartridge as part of the cartridge. The cartridge is releasably connectable to the dispensing head. After exhaustion of its contents, the cartridge may be detached from the dispensing head and replaced by a filled cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing the yield from a raw board, having defects randomly located therein, and for cutting the raw board optimally into product boards of predetermined specification, thereby cutting out any defects. The apparatus includes an adjustable fence located at a defect detection station, oriented along a path and movable transversely to the path. Located at the station are laser lines for temporarily forming lines lengthwise on the raw board. These laser lines cooperate with the fence to determine clear and full widths of the raw board. Also disclosed is a method for using the apparatus for optimizing the yield of the raw board. The clear width and full width information is transmitted to a computer while any waste portion is cut off and as all defects between the laser lines are being marked by an operator. In the meantime, the computer calculates an optimum solution for product to be cut from the board.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods use a portable submersible pump to mix and fluidize waste material (sludge, liquid and floating crust) in a septic tank, to then pump it into a truck-mounted holding tank to recirculate it in the holding tank during transport, and to discharge it at a disposal site. The apparatus comprises a truck-mounted holding tank having tank inlet and outlet ports, a portable hydraulically driven submersible pump detachably mounted on the truck, and a truck-mounted motor-driven hydraulic pump for operating the portable pump. Hydraulic fluid supply lines, wound on a truck-mounted reel, are connected between the hydraulic pump and the portable pump motor. A waste hose is wound on a truck-mounted reel, several hose sections are detachably mounted on the truck, and a portable, multi-position, manually-operable selector valve is detachably mounted on the truck. In operation, the portable pump is disposed alongside or in the septic tank and pumps a stream of pressurized fluid from the septic tank.