Abstract: A nozzle member for an automatic washing apparatus for containers which nozzles are capable of washing containers in a fast and efficient manner. The containers for which this particular nozzle is fabricated are of the semirigid type and are composed of a plastic material. They are elongated in configuration and are intended to contain sterile liquids. The nozzle is fabricated to enter the plastic container and thoroughly wash it with a mixture of detergent, water, and air. This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 660,587 filed Feb. 23, 1976, now abandoned.

Abstract: An endless power-driven conveyor has flights in the form of rakes whose teeth extend between a plurality of parallel comb elements that extend lengthwise of the upper run of the conveyor, for example for removing solids from a liquid. Two endless conveyor chains are interconnected by crosspieces beneath the comb elements; and the rake teeth upstand from these crosspieces. The head wheel of the conveyor has a recess to receive these crosspieces. The comb elements are curved about the head wheel and received in crenelations in the head wheel, the outer surfaces of the crenelations and the outer surfaces of the comb elements about the head wheel forming a continuous partially cylindrical contour. The comb elements then diverge downwardly from the head wheel and terminate in substantially vertical downwardly directed free ends which strip the solids from the rake teeth for gravity discharge of the solids into a container.

Abstract: Bobbin handling apparatus including means for feeding bobbins from a supply station in random end orientation to a delivery station for use by a doffing machine. The bobbin handling apparatus is conveniently mounted on the doffing machine, and includes means for sorting bobbins of one end orientation from the other and means to reorient bobbins of the one orientation to the other for presentation to the doffing machine of bobbins of a single orientation. The handling apparatus includes a bobbin supply box adapted to be manually positioned on and removed from the apparatus immediately above floor level, thereby requiring minimum physical effort.

Abstract: The aperture mask conveyor and inspection system comprises a pair of belt conveyor assemblies which between them grip and transport an aperture mask from the end of the processing unit to a chute assembly which chute assembly feeds the mask onto a belt conveyor, a densitometer is centrally positioned on the belt conveyor to provide a measure of the amount of light transmitted through the center portion of the mask which is passed beneath the densitometer. After passing under the densitometer the mask is deposited on an adjacent tray.

Abstract: Method of charging a chute for the feed of objects to a machine using a casing which has a band shaped frame forming a wall surrounding the objects and two detachable end lids closing the frame at lateral edges opposite each other. The frame at one point on its circumference is pliable apart. The method comprises removing one end lid, placing the casing in an opening in the side of the chute, and removing the other end lid. The opening in the chute is then closed and the frame is plied apart to release the objects in the chute.

Abstract: Concave potato chips are arranged in edge standing, nested, aligned relationship, with their rectilinear dimensions extending upwardly, and the line of potato chips is moved along its length toward a packaging apparatus. Juxtaposed separator blades are inserted downwardly into the line of potato chips as the blades move with the line of potato chips, and the blades are moved apart to form a gap in the line and therefore create separate groups of potato chips as the potato chips move to the packaging apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for evacuating manure. The manure is collected in a container in the barn, and then transferred therefrom via a conduit at the bottom of the container by introducing air under pressure into into the top of the container. The conduit leads up to the approximate center of a collecting area to introduce the manure into the bottom of a manure pile at the collecting area.

Abstract: An apparatus for laterally separating a group of elongated magnetic elements, for example steel bars which are moving longitudinally along a conveyor. A rotatable fanning roll extends transversally across the path of the bars. The fanning roll has a magnet associated therewith. The magnet attracts the bars towards the fanning roll while simultaneously creating repulsion forces tending to laterally separate the bars. A deflecting roll located in advance of the fanning roll is employed to deflect the bars out of their normal path of travel in relation to the surface of the fanning roll to thereby produce a momentary separation between the front ends of the bars and the fanning roll. During this momentary separation, the magnetically induced repulsion forces are not impeded by frictional resistance between the bars and the surface of the fanning roll, and this in turn improves the resulting lateral bar separation.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding goods or materials of the kind having several layers and/or having a tendency to separate into layers into a processing machine in a direction generally parallel with those layers, for example, for feeding pulp bales into a disintegrating machine comprising a roller conveyor for displaceably supporting the goods and a driving device to engage the goods and displace those goods along the roller conveyor in order to force the goods into the processing machine wherein the driving device includes a pusher drivable along the roller conveyor which pusher is adapted to engage with substantially the entire rear or trailing surface of the goods for forcing the goods into the processing machine while substantially uniformly acting on all of the layers of the goods. The pusher is mounted on a carriage which is connected to a drive chain by means of a pin.

Abstract: A supply and transfer mechanism for use on a cigarette packaging machine including a hopper for receiving a supply of cigarettes, said hopper having a reservoir portion and a vein section. The vein section channels the cigarettes from the reservoir portion into at least three counter sections. A plunger is provided to transfer the cigarettes in the three counter sections into three compression pockets carried on a rotary drum which indexes adjacent to the counter section.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed which provides an entrance gating structure for spacing the entry of containers carried by a conveyor into a testing device. The containers arrive at the testing device under line pressure and are then permitted to enter a testing apparatus where they are conveyed through the testing device and then returned to the conveyor. The gating device is a spring-loaded pivot arm having a pair of legs. One leg stops the flow of containers until the prior container clears the length of the long or other leg. The gate functions automatically without requiring any external operator.

Abstract: The specification discloses a snap-on top plate assembly for a roller chain. The assembly comprises an inside saddle in the shape of a channel, an outside saddle in the shape of a channel shaped to fit over the inside saddle, and a top plate. The inside saddle has holes through its legs shaped and positioned to accept the outside ends of the pins in a link of roller chain when the link is positioned within the inside saddle. Three embodiments are disclosed. In two of them, the legs of the inside saddle are generally flat; in the other, the legs of the inside saddle are bowed inwardly.

Abstract: A variable spray direction fuel injection nozzle includes a cylindrical nozzle body having a stepped bore therein defining at one end a first cavity and a second cavity of reduced size terminating at a closed end wall at the opposite end of the nozzle body, the nozzle body further having a fuel inlet in communication with the first cavity, the wall of the nozzle body being provided with a radial through spray orifice extending into the second cavity closely adjacent to the end wall, a cup-shaped, cylindrical valve open at one end being slidably mounted within the second cavity with its open end opening into the first cavity, the valve adjacent to its closed end being provided with a radially extending through slot, the valve being angularly fixed relative to the nozzle body so that the slot in the valve is in angular alignment with the spray orifice in the nozzle body, a spring being positioned within the nozzle body to normally bias the valve in an axial direction relative to the nozzle body whereby the slot

Abstract: A roller type of conveyor including a support and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the support for moving items therealong. A slip pulley is piloted on and rotatable relative to the rollers, and a drive mechanism and a drive belt are operative relative to the slip pulley for rotating the rollers up to a desired point of resistance by the rollers, to thus provide an accumulating type of conveyor. Tension members are in contact with the drive belt for adjusting the drive pressure and thus the accumulation feature of the rollers, and a brake is also operative on the rollers for interrupting rotation and it is under the control of mechanism and sensors, all being related to the item accumulation feature.

Abstract: An article transport system employs a rail assembly and a holder rotatably mounted on a conveyor. The assembly is comprised of a series of interconnected, axially-aligned, generally cylindrical members, which are relatively free to move independently of one another. Relative movement of the holder and rail assembly causes, through frictional engagement therebetween, the uniform rotation of an article mounted on the holder; the system has particular utility for transporting decorated can shells through ultraviolet curing ovens.

Abstract: Packing paddles for conveying and packing broken rock and debris in a mine are pivotally mounted on mine roof supports. Hydraulic sequence valves are employed to operate hydraulic rams controlling the paddles. The valves, and thus the paddles, are operated in sequence to convey the debris from paddle to paddle.

Abstract: A conveyor system for feeding a web of corrugated fiberboard into or out of a cutter. It includes perforated conveyor belts mounted on a suction box which is formed with longitudinal slits in its top surface. The web is securely transferred with a sufficient, but not excessive, holding force without slipping or crushing of corrugations in the fiberboard.

Abstract: A conveyor such as especially a sorting conveyor having an endless conveyor belt structure comprising a plurality of juxtaposed belt links each constituted by a conveyor element provided with an endless conveyor belt mounted crosswise so as to have an exposed upper run constituting part of the article supporting surface of said conveyor belt structure, means being provided for driving any selected cross conveyor belt in order to effect diversion of an article from said conveyor belt structure at a selected place therealong said driving means such as driving rollers being arranged substantially stationarily at least relatively to said conveyor elements so as to be able to drive the cross conveyor belts without participating in the movement thereof, actuator means being provided for making said driving means operative in response to an article approaching the place in which it is wanted to be diverted from the conveyor.

Abstract: Elevator modules for use with an improved overall building system which consists of field assembled precast components reinforcing means embedded within site-poured concrete that forms portions of the wall and floor surfaces of the building, with the reinforcing means serving to structually unite the precast concrete components with the site-poured concrete and support the same against tension, shear and lateral shifting forces are disclosed. The elevator modules are precast components themselves having opposed front and rear walls and opposed side walls each having at least one through vertical void therein. The end walls have locating notches disposed in the bottom edges thereof. Some of the other precast components include full and partial thickness floor slabs and the locating notches in the bottom edges of the elevator modules are capable of engaging with and being supported on adjacent full thickness floor slabs.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprises a conveyor drivable at variable speeds by a hydraulic motor which is controlled by a cam regulated flow control valve. Sensing means responsive to some condition on the conveyor requiring a change in speed (i.e., excessive accumulation of conveyed articles requiring conveyor slow-down) are connected to the cam on the flow control valve to effect a corresponding change in conveyor speed. The valve amplifies the relatively small fluid control signal therewithin to effect control of relatively high pressure fluid.