Abstract: A system for curling turned-in lips about the open mouths of thin walled, stacked, thermoplastic containers, having brims which extend in a return direction axially, utilizes a plurality of externally helically grooved, tubular, thermally conductive, synchronously rotated rollers equiradially spaced from a common central axis to define an annular passageway between them through which a stack of the containers pass with the brim of the containers simultaneously engaged in the grooves of the rollers. While the brims are being heated radiantly and via conduction substantially to the critical forming temperature, the brims are engaged in the transport portions of the grooves, but the peripheral side wall portions of the container are not contacted.

Abstract: A first sensor comprising interspersed light emitting and receiving fibers is situated at the egress slot of an air containment element on a fluid weft insertion type loom and retroreflectively senses filling yarn as it egresses from the element. The first sensor, placed along the length of the air containment tube, together with a second sensor outboard of the shed is used to discriminate filling yarn condition and the impact of those conditions on fabric quality. Signals from the first and second sensors are employed in a logical method to permit continued operation of the loom when particular faults are sensed but do not represent conditions warranting stopping of the loom, while said sensors do produce loom stopping signals when faults of predetermined values are sensed. Loom output efficiency is thus improved by allowing a controlled number of defects to enter the finished fabric.

Abstract: A weft guidance tube for a fluid weft insertion system of weaving apparatus includes an elongated member having a longitudinal channel therein. A plurality of segments are juxtaposed in the channel. Each of the segments includes a base and an upper end, with the upper end having an aperture therein and an exit slot extending from the aperture. The base of each segment is wider in cross-section than the upper end thereof. Connecting pins project outwardly from one side of each base to thereby permit connection of adjoining segments to each other. When so connected the apertures and exit slots of all of the segments arranged in the channel are in proper alignment and the upper end of each segment is spaced apart from the upper end of adjoining segments by a distance goverend by the width of bases of the segments. The plurality of segments are secured to the channel by suitable gripping means.

Abstract: A trim press is provided with a remotely controlled adjustment by means of which the end limit of the feeding stroke of the feeding mechanism may be precisely adjusted relative to the die of the trim press while the machine is in operation. Oscillating and reciprocating members of the prior art trim presses are replaced by continuously rotating members to enable a higher rate of operation.

Abstract: A thermoforming machine having opposed mold platens includes a linkage system driven in cyclic movement by rotary cam mechanism to cyclically shift the platens between their open and closed position. The cam mechanism is driven by a variable speed motor which is controlled in a manner such that the rotary speed of the cam mechanism during different portions of a cam revolution may be set to a speed which is different than the rotary speed of the cam mechanism during other portions of each revolution. By adjusting the speed differential or by adjusting the angular extent of that portion of a revolution of the cam mechanism over which the different speed is maintained the time duration of any chosen portion of the cycle may be adjusted independently of the time duration of other portions of the cycle.

Abstract: A granulator primarily intended for the granulation of plastic scrap material in which a pair of meshed paddle rolls serve as a combination metering and feed device through which such plastic material is fed to the granulator. The paddle rolls are mounted in such a manner and driven by drive means which enable one of the paddle rolls to move laterally away from the other paddle roll including an angular or skewed relationship yet while still maintaining an articulated; that is, synchronized, movement of the paddle rolls in relationship to each other.

Abstract: In a yarn storage feeder system of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,379 and having a yarn storage unit upon which a quantity of yarn is maintained from a yarn supply for intermittent withdrawal and delivery to yarn feeding and/or consuming means, such as a loom, and in which the yarn storage unit is driven by a low inductance DC motor such as a flat armature or pancake DC motor powered by a full wave rectified AC current, a significant improvement in motor operating efficiency, especially output torque, is achieved by incorporating an electrical choke in the circuit supplying such current to the DC motor.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a fluid weft insertion loom monitors the significant operative events of each weaving cycle of the loom, e.g. yarn supply withdrawal, insertion nozzle actuation and yarn end arrival, and indicates the occurrence of each such event, preferably in terms of the elapsed time of such occurrence from a fixed reference point of the loom cycle, for example front dead center. The indications of the relative timing of the occurrences of such events is preferably retained on corresponding visual displays until the successful completion of each weaving cycle or in the event of a defective cycle until the defect is corrected and the loom is restarted. Preferred individual sensing units for the respective significant operative events are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inserting a weft strand into the shed of a loom or the like in which a confined zone is provided in proximity to the shed serving as a guide for a weft strand passing through the zone, and a sustained pulse of a supersonic gaseous medium is abruptly expelled from the zone directed toward said shed to thereby pass the weft strand through at least a portion of the shed. The strand is preferably confined to a pre-selected path during passage of the pulse of medium and the strand through at least the stated portion of said shed.

Abstract: A granulator primarily intended for in situ use in combination with an injection molding machine such that plastic scrap such as sprues and runners generated in such formation of plastic parts may be granulated thereby. The granulator is adapted for disposition within the confines of the injection molding machine and particularly within the drop out area thereof. A pair of rails guide the granulator in such drop out area and enable it to be laterally withdrawn to one side of the molding machine for repair, parts changes, cleaning and the like. The specific construction of the granulator includes a pair of meshed paddle rolls serving as a combination metering and feed device and removal means to remove granulated material to that end of the granulator disposed proximal said one side of the machine so as to enable efficient and quiet in situ granulation of plastic scrap generated from the injection molding procedure in a manner heitherto unattainable.

Abstract: A trim press employs a hammer assembly to deliver a hammer blow to the punch of the press at the moment the punch begins to apply shearing pressure to material being trimmed. A spring system applies a steadily increasing spring loading to the hammer as the punch carrying platen moves downwardly in its operating stroke toward the die. A latch assembly, triggered by an abutment on the die, unlatches the hammer at the time the punch engages the material so that the downward velocity of the punch due to the downward movement of the platen is increased by a hammer blow as the punch moves through the material being trimmed. The spring system is operable to restore the hammer to its latched position during the upward stroke of the platen.

Abstract: An oscillating canopy is employed in the feeding of an elongate sheet of synthetic plastic material having articles, such as cups, for example, formed in the sheet, to a die which trims the articles from the sheet. The canopy has a downwardly concave curved upper portion upon which the sheet is supported by a series of rollers. The canopy is driven in forward and return strokes in pivotal movement about an axis located at a radial distance from the curved upper portion which is a greater distance from the discharge end of the curved upper portion than from the sheet receiving end so that tension is maintained on the sheet during the feeding stroke. The sheet-supporting rollers are mounted for rotation in one direction only, this direction being that in which the rollers can roll relative to the sheet on the return stroke of the canopy.

Abstract: An adjustment mechanism for a restrictor bar in a die construction of the type in which such restrictor bar is movable into and out of the internal flow path of the die so as to regulate extrusion of material therefrom. The restrictor bar movement is in axial direction and is accomplished by means of axially restrained, rotatable spools connected to threaded ends of studs in turn extending through the die body and fixedly attached to the restrictor bar. Each of the spools includes a breakable segment to cause the spools to break prior to possible stud overstressing. The spools or portions thereof may be easily replaced at a position located outside of the die and accordingly eliminates die down time.

Abstract: Loss of tension in individual warp threads is detected in the lease zone by directing a flow of air against one side of the warp threads within the lease zone to displace any relatively untensioned thread toward the opposite side of said zone and detecting such displacement photoelectrically. Preferably, the photoelectric detector is insensitive to disturbances other than thread displacement.

Abstract: A device for feeding sheet material into a granulator and particularly scrap plastic sheet material of the type wherein a plurality of such sheets are normally twisted together to form a composite rope which is fed between opposed feed rolls and subsequently into a granulation chamber. The present feed device includes a pair of cooperating rolls, each of which is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, radially inwardly extending grooves. The grooves of each roll are adapted to mesh or interdigitate with a resultantly formed ridge on the opposing roll such that the sheet material fed therebetween is forced into a sinuous cross sectional configuration and subjected to differing roll surface velocities. Both of the above-described conditions imparted to the sheet material are believed to contribute to trouble free positive feeding especially when feeding individual, i.e. single sheet material thicknesses.

Abstract: A system for initially separating injection molded plastic parts from the sprue and runner assemblies formed therewith. The system is primarily intended for in situ use with an injection molding machine and includes a hopper-like structure having a supporting surface adapted to receive the plastic product from the molding machine and thereafter effect a separation thereof by means of the sequential operation of first and second barriers preferably within the time frame of a single cycle of the injection molding machine. The parts are delivered to a storage container while the sprue and runner assemblies are granulated.

Abstract: In differential pressure synthetic plastics thermoforming machinery, mold support assemblies mounted on a frame have relative movement between a mold open and a mold closed position. Power operated mechanism is provided for axially moving at least the female mold support assembly, and the female mold on the assembly which carries a stripper element mounted for relative movement with the mold. Mechanism is provided for automatically latching the stripper element to the frame as the female mold moves toward mold closed position, and abutments are provided on the mold support assembly and latch for automatically unlatching it only after the female mold has withdrawn a predetermined distance in its movement toward mold open position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lining the interior of a container with plastic sheet material. An open topped container is elevated upon a support through a passage in a lower die member into contact with the under surface of a sheet of heated thermoplastic material overlying the upper end of the passage. A plug assist member is then employed to deform the sheet into conformation with the interior of the container. Upon withdrawal of the plug assist member, an upper die member is lowered into shearing relationship with the lower die member to shear the sheet around the upper periphery of the container. The support, with the lined container in place, is then further elevated to raise the lined container upwardly through the opening thus sheared in the sheet and through a passage extending vertically through the upper die member. The plastic lined container is discharged from the apparatus by pushing it transversely across the flat upper surface of the upper die member.

Abstract: An extruder or the like, continuously issues a heated plastics material in the form of an elongated web, which is moved sequentially to molding and article severing stations. The products cut out are moved to lip rolling printing and drying stations. Articles such as containers are formed by the mechanism which includes a turntable assembly for varying the length of the web travel path between an extruder and forming station to thereby control the residual heat in the web at the time of forming, and a molding drum with improved plug assist devices which are air powered and also include air emitting ports to move the web into intimate engagement with the mold cavities as a final forming step under controlled conditions which assure that the pressure is applied at exactly the proper time. The system includes a lip curling system which feeds containers severed from the web in stepwise fashion through forming roll sections and releases them in timed relation to indexible mandrels.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing high quality wrapped yarn by a wrapping operation wherein a binder strand, carried by a supply package supported by a rotatably driven hollow spindle, is fed to the free end of the hollow supply spindle and wrapped around a core strand moving through the hollow spindle. The binder strand inherently balloons outwardly in its path of travel from its rotating supply package to the core strand being wrapped. The zone in which the binder strand balloons is enclosed to isolate it from the ambient air about the wrapping apparatus to thereby substantially preclude pick up of fiber waste on the binder strand. Suction means communicates with the hollow spindle to attract the core yarn and facilitate passage of the wrapped yarn therethrough. Isolation of the zone in which the binder strand balloons is obtained by enveloping the package and balloon-forming region of the binder strand with an enclosure.