Abstract: Method of attaching belt loops (L) to articles of clothing (6), e.g. trousers and skirts, comprises feeding a strip of material (M) through a cutting station (C) at which it is cut into lengths (L) and securing those lengths in position by stitching. Prior to cutting, adhesive is applied to the strip (M) at either sides of each cutting location so that each end of each length has a coating of adhesive. The adhesive, which is applied to both sides of the strip, is to prevent fraying.

Abstract: A hot-melt dispenser or glue-gun is provided with a two-element sleeve at the inlet to the melt chamber, the elements being separated by a thermal barrier to reduce heat flow from that sleeve element in direct contact with the melt to the other sleeve element thereby inhibiting undue softening or even premature melting of the rod of thermoplastic composition held within the sleeve as it is fed to the melt.

Abstract: The specification is concerned with sealant compositions comprising prepolymers which are capable of being cured by atmospheric moisture. The compositions provide a desirable blend of properties with regard to application and use, using prepolymers derived from comparatively inexpensive raw materials. The prepolymers correspond to a reaction product of an at least substantially linear acrylate ester polymer having a Tg of not greater than 10.degree. C. with a hydrolysable silane having a saturated organo-functional group, the reaction product being a fluid material soluble in organic solvents and curable by exposure to atmospheric moisture to a resilient solid. The prepolymer is a silane-modified polymer which preferably has from 2 to 3 hydrolysable silane groups per molecule of prepolymer and from 1 to 3 hydrolysable groups per silane group.

Abstract: An apparatus for flattening the horizontal seal area of a form-fill-seal pouch or bag comprising a pair of spreaders adapted to be located in the interior of the film pouch to stretch the film in the horizontal seal area to eliminate wrinkles in the film to insure an air-tight seal.

Abstract: In a pulling over and lasting machine in addition to a toe pincer there are provided two sets of side pincers, each set being mounted on a support pivotal about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe bottom and passing through or adjacent the toe pincer. Each pincer is adjustably mounted on its support but in addition each set is movable bodily, through its support, about its axis. The supports are movable equidistantly in opposite directions, i.e. towards and away from one another, into a selected one of a plurality of pre-set positions thus to accommodate to shoes of different widths. For moving the supports a plurality of cylinders are arranged in tandem and operable according to the selected pre-set position of the support.

Abstract: A metal fastener for a report folder and the method of manufacturing same comprising the steps of forming the fastener head, forming a single prong portion extending from the periphery of the head, and lancing the prong portion to form two separate prongs.

Abstract: It is convenient to supply electrical or electronic components for placement on tapes; however it has proved difficult to satisfactorily handle tapes for carrying large components. Use of wide tapes to feed larger components is facilitated by using a drive belt (48) to rotate at a sprocket wheel (44) to feed the tape (38,40), a drive wheel (52) to move the belt, and drive means conveniently a ratchet wheel to cause the drive wheel (52) to rotate through a predetermined angle to feed the tape a distance equal to the spacing between the components on the tape. Wide tape can conveniently be disposed of after unloading by using means (88,90) for severing the tape (38) immediately downstream of an unloading position, and means for collecting the severed tape preferably comprising a duct (84) through which a current of air flows to carry the severed tape to a remote receptacle (85).

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for processing workpieces prearranged within pallets in an automatic sewing machine system. The apparatus includes an automatic release of a pallet containing a sewn workpiece. The front of the pallet drops onto shock absorbing members located within inclined chutes. The chutes contain slides which allow the dropped pallet to slide downwardly following impact with the shock absorbing members. The chutes are mounted in such a manner that they may be easily removed from the automatic sewing machine system.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for depositing powder in a selected configuration, fusing the configured powder into a laminate and adhering the fused laminate to a shoe substrate. The machine includes a mounting plate on which the shoe substrate is to be releasably clamped which is elevated from a lower release position to an upper clamping position. A pair of lever arms are mounted on either side of the mounting plate for displacement from a release position to a clamping position. Each lever arm includes a support arm which is configured so that a support portion will be parallel to and lower than the mounting plate when the mounting plate is in the clamping position.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for processing workpieces prearranged within pallets in an automatic sewing machine system. The apparatus is displaceable from fixed positions wherein the pallets are normally processed from an input location to a sewing location and hence to an output location. The displaced apparatus allows access to various portions of the automatic sewing machine system.

Abstract: A tack strip for securing upholstery fabric to a frame structure comprising a strip of flexible metal having a longitudinally extending fold line forming upper and lower angularly disposed flanges. The lower flange has a continuous edge and a plurality of equally spaced openings separated by a solid flange portion. The openings are spaced to receive a staple that is adapted to secure the solid portion and thus the lower flange to the frame structure. The upper flange has a plurality of equally spaced slots extending to the fold line in the area of the lower flange openings. The slots form a plurality of spaced tabs in the upper flange, each tab having outwardly and downwardly extending prongs facing the lower flange. The fabric is adapted to be placed over the tabs and pressed onto the prongs. The tabs are then bent over to sandwich the fabric between the flanges, with the prongs being bent back toward the tabs and coacting with the staple to securely retain the fabric to the frame structure.

Abstract: A machine for depositing powder in a selected configuration, fusing the configured powder into a laminate and adhering the fused laminate to a shoe substrate. A heater raises the temperature of configured powder to fuse the powder into a laminate. A pair of radially spaced holes extend downwardly through the heater through which a fused laminate underlying the holes can be observed. Configured powder is conveyed past the heater to fuse the configured powder into a fused laminate, and a remote temperature sensor is controllably displaceable from one location to a second location so that the temperature of a fused laminate below either one of said apertures can be sensed. The temperature sensor is secured at either of the two discrete locations, and the holes can be closed by pivotally mounted caps.

Abstract: A product handling and weighing apparatus having a rotary paddle wheel with vanes forming product pockets therebetween to hold the product and transfer the product through a weighing bucket.

Abstract: A mechanism for transferring chip components from a supply source onto a conveyor. A manifold of individual disc members receive the component from a supply and rotate to position the component onto a conveyor. A drive crank rotates the disc from the receiving to the release position and sensors tell a machine control the position of the component and the disc.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for sensing the presence of arc discharge in arc welding such that the change in electric current is sensed at the time of discharge and light emitted from a welding position is sensed only when the sensed electric current surpasses a predetermined level.

Abstract: A method of making an elliptoidal internal journal type wave generator for use with a flexspline, the latter having internal spline teeth, an outer diameter (O.D.) designated two times the radius (R), and a radial deflection (d) for spline meshing at minor axis localities with diametrically opposed spline teeth of at least one rigid circular spline, the method comprising:a. providing a circular wave generator ring with a radially inner wall diameter (I.D.) equal to twice R plus three times d, and a ring thickness 1.3 to 1.4 times the inner wall I.D.;b. opening the ring by forming only one gap at least eight times d in circumferential dimension;c. radially reducing the ring portion diametrically opposite to the gap to enhance radial flexibility of the ring while still enabling it to maintain its I.D. dimension;d.

Abstract: A fastener-installing tool comprises a housing in which a collet which holds a fastener moves back and forth between a forward fastener-installing position and a rear loading position. A curved feed tube is pivoted on the housing to swing about its center of curvature into a fastener delivering position in front of the retracted collet to feed into it a fresh fastener delivered through a hose from a supply. The feed tube swings out of the path of the collet when it next advances.

Abstract: A hot melt glue gun is described and claimed having a rod feeding mechanism (14) comprising a trigger (50) arranged to drive clamping means to grip a rod of adhesive and to move the rod towards a melt chamber (17) of the gun. The clamping means comprises a carriage (42) movable towards and away from the melt chamber and having a shaped portion (110) to accept a rod to be fed. The clamping means also comprises, pivoted on the carriage, a clamp member having a clamping arm portion (71) for gripping the rod against the shaped portion, and a crank arm portion (70). The crank arm portion has an operating portion (49) having a convex surface (64) arranged to co-operate with pressure means (207) of pivotally mounted connecting means (52). The connecting means is positioned to be operated by the trigger. By virtue of the disposition of the pivots and the clamping arm and of the shaping of the operating portion of the crank arm, there is brought about an improved usage of triggering effort to feed the rod.

Abstract: A pick-up head especially for use in a machine for placing electrical components on a substrate comprises a tool holder mounted for movement, conveniently by a lead screw driven by a motor, between a plurality of datum positions and further positions remote therefrom, having means for interchangeably mounting a pick-up tool with a datum face of the tool located at a predetermined position relative to the tool holder. The head further comprises a plurality of orienting jaws mounted for movement towards and away from a component carried on the datum face of a tool on the tool holder when the holder is in one of the datum positions whereby the jaws can engage the component to orient the component.