Abstract: Apparatus for mixing powdered and liquid materials to form slurries comprising a mixer body having an inlet for such materials and parallel mixing chambers extending to a discharge outlet. Rotors are mounted for rotation in the chambers and include feed sections leading from the inlet to mixing sections and to the outlet. The mixing section of each rotor includes a first lobed mixing portion having short advancing helices, and reverse helices adapted to quickly wet and pressurize the mixture to force entrapped air back through inlet. The mixing section also has a second mixing portion having an increased number of lobes following the first portion to increase the mixing action and shear on the mixture. The second mixing section is followed by a lobed discharge section adapted to impel the mixture through the outlet.

Abstract: A pipe clip is provided having means for retaining the clip on a stud. Means for retaining a pipe on the clips comprises a flexible finger which embraces the pipe, and the means for retaining the clip on a stud includes a locking portion which is movable from a position allowing the finger to flex for admission of the pipe to a position in which it locks the finger in embracing engagement with the stud and firmly secures the clip to the stud.

Abstract: An easily removable blind rivet of the type having an open rivet body with a flange on one end and a mandrel positioned within the opening in the rivet body, the mandrel having an enlarged head at one end adapted to upset the rivet body when the mandrel is pulled. The rivet flange has a portion formed out of the surface of the flange which is adapted to be gripped so that the flange can be removed from the rivet body enabling the rivet body to be passed through the opening in a workpiece.

Abstract: A mounting clip is provided for pressing onto a weld stud having ridges extending radially outwardly therefrom. The clip is provided with a box for accommodating the stud. A frame is provided on the top of the stud receiving box which provides wall structure for supporting a pair of detents, which wall structure is designed to be flexible, allowing the detents considerable freedom of movement.

Abstract: A method of applying a configuration of reinforcing/stiffening material in powder form to a receiving surface, for subsequent fusing, cooling and pressing to a shoe upper. The method comprises the utilization of a deposition station, a heating station and a press station. A tension receiving belt receives the configuration of powder through a cut-out in the bottom of a swept container. The receiving belt is supported from beneath during the deposition activity. The receiving belt is shuttled in timed steps to the successive stations for melting the powder and subsequent adhesion of the melted powder to an unreinforced shoe upper in a displaceable frame.

Abstract: For determining a path of movement of a tool along shoe bottom marginal portions a series of points along such path is selected and information regarding such points stored in the form of digitized co-ordinate axis values by a computer, from which information the path can subsequently be derived. The selected points are spaced by a predetermined distance (which may be the same for each pair of adjacent points) regardless of shoe bottom contour. To this end, when each point is digitized, the tool and shoe bottom are relatively moved apart by the predetermined distance along a first axis, extending heightwise of the shoe bottom. Thereafter in returning the tool and shoe bottom into engagement along said one dimension under operator control, appropriate compensating movement also takes place automatically along a lengthwise axis and/or along widthwise axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the stroke of a press in which the movements of two portions of a movable platen of the press are continuously sensed during a stroke. A signal is generated whose magnitude at any time during a stroke is dependent on the sum of the distances moved by the two portions of the movable platen during the stroke. The signal is compared with a preselected value which is selected in accordance with the length of the stroke required and the stroke is terminated when the magnitude of the signal equals the preselected value.

Abstract: A method of sequentially manufacturing a plurality of reinforced substrates such as shoe uppers, by applying a powder through a stencil by automatic means in a rotary machine, where the powder is first applied in a three-dimensional configuration to an annular surface, which is rotated to an arcuate heating station, then to a join and cool station after the powder has fused. The fused powder has a shoe upper pressed thereagainst by a rotary transfer cube which successively applies the uppers seriatum to the fused configuration of powder as they are presented therebeneath.

Abstract: A pliers-type tool for setting pull-type blind fasteners of a kind requiring the stem of the fastener to be severed after it has been pulled to set the fastener. A pair of blades mounted on pivotal holders arranged to be rocked by an actuating member of the tool after the stem has been pulled is provided. The actuating member is slideably mounted on the pull bar and a tooth of a latch engages both parts during an initial part of the setting stroke. When the fastener has been set the latch becomes disengaged from the pull bar while continuing to retract the actuating member. Such disengagement is controlled by a cam which is adjustable on the housing of the tool to vary the length of stroke of the pull bar in accordance with the thickness of workpiece in which the fastener is being set.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors and devolatilizing methods which provide extremely efficient devolatilization of materials, including viscous and visco-elastic materials and which involve a devolatilizing stage including a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage of the devolatilizing stage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material to transfer grooves formed in the closure surface and operationally communicate with a vacuum source to provide a highly efficient devolatilizing stage.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors which involve a devolatilizing stage including a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage of the devolatilizing stage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material transfer grooves formed in the closure surface.The rotary processors of this invention include a novel vacuum system to evacuate the devolatilizing stage.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors including sealing means to control leakage of pressure and/or material between processing passages which are maintained at significantly different pressure levels. The processors comprise a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that viscous material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material transfer grooves formed in the closure surface.

Abstract: A harmonic drive motion transmitting mechanism having a housing encircling a circular spline within which is journalled a flexspline. The flexspline has an annular array of gear teeth thereon, which flexspline has an inner bore having a diameter defined as D. The circular spline also has an annular array of gear teeth mateable with those of the flexspline. A wave generator is mounted within the flexspline. The flexspline has a lip which extends longitudinally beyond the distal edge of its annular array of gear teeth by 10% to 40%D. The lip is of radially thickening dimensions from immediately adjacent the outer edge of the annular array of gear teeth thereon, and from a thickness of about 1%D up to a thickness of about 3%D at the distal edge of said flexspline, to minimize the skewing of the ellipsoidal deflection wave of the flexspline.

Abstract: A conditioning apparatus for a rotating annular belt at a powder reinforcing machine, wherein an arrangement of arms are pivotably secured to a frame portion of the machine, to scrape the belt as it intermittently rotates, to deposit a release fluid onto the width of the belt as it rotates, and to spread the fluid evenly across the belt if fluid puddles up thereon due to the intermittent nature of the belts rotation. The arm for releasing fluid onto the belt has a felt portion which receives fluid from a conduit in communication with a reservoir for the fluid. All the arms are pivotably attached to the frame portion of the machine, adjacent the annular belt, and all are lockable in an upright position to facilitate repair or replacement of any components thereof.

Abstract: Applicator nozzles for applying a band of liquid composition e.g. hot melt adhesive to a workpiece using a hand-held applicator have been unsuitable for some purposes. By this invention a nozzle is provided comprising a resiliently flexible applicator portion terminating in a spreading lip of triangular section, bounding a depression and having an orifice e.g. cruciform in shape, opening into the depression, through which orifice material to be applied is supplied to provide a reservoir of composition in the depression. In a preferred nozzle the lip is defined by a frusto-conical outer surface and a surface of the depression meeting at an effectively circular spreading edge portion. In use the nozzle is placed on a workpiece the reservoir of composition forming a pool on the workpiece, the nozzle axis being tilted so that only a trailing edge of the lip contacts the workpiece as composition is applied.

Abstract: A V-shaped shell comprising a replaceable tip for a mold apparatus utilizable for squeezing a shoe upper against a female mold. The V-shaped shell comprises generally planar members meeting at a curvilinear apex, each planar member having a raised periphery which tapers inwardly towards the surface of the planar member, to define a pre-arranged volume for the tapered distribution of stiffening resin applied between the inner liner and outer layer of a shoe upper.

Abstract: A light weight heavy duty blind rivet setting tool having one piece upper housing containing a rivet setting mechanism and a one piece lower pressure vessel having an air activated piston operable to pressurize a medium in the upper housing to activate the rivet setting mechanism. The upper housing has a handle area containing a trigger which, through a trigger linkage, operates a valve on the bottom of the pressure vessel which is connectable to an air source. A muffler is positioned adjacent the valve to receive the exhausted air from the pressure vessel after the tool has been operated, to minimize the noise level of the tool operation. The trigger linkage is adjustable to eliminate the tolerance stack-up in the linkage.