Abstract: A device for molding foam products including upper and lower portions cooperable to form a foam mold defining a mold cavity therein. The upper mold portion has at least one vent hole therein. A mechanism for providing the mold cavity with an expandable foam during a filling cycle is also provided. The expandable foam reactively expands when provided within the cavity so as to be molded into the shape of the cavity during a foaming cycle. The foam approaches the vent hole while expanding within the mold cavity during the foaming cycle. At least one vent hole provides a passage through which air and reaction product gases introduced into the cavity as a byproduct of the reactive expanding of the foam can escape to atmosphere from the cavity during the foaming cycle. A sensing and signal generating assembly detects the presence of the foam at a predetermined proximity to the at least one vent hole during the foaming cycle and generates a signal in response to the detection.

Abstract: A synthetic resin pelletizing machine includes an extrusion cylinder forming, with a horizontal plane, an installation angle .theta. which is in the range of 0.degree.<.theta.<90.degree., a raw material feed passage extending upwardly from said extrusion cylinder at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said extrusion cylinder, and a cooling unit disposed below a die head and having a double bath construction composed of a first cooling bath and a second cooling bath disposed in the first cooling bath. The pelletizing machine thus constructed is compact in size and is capable of assuring a smooth feed of a raw material to the extrusion cylinder as well as a smooth passage of an extruded strand through the cooling unit.

Abstract: Spinning head for spinning polymer melts, having a filter cartridge made of a seamless metal cloth cylinder having an end cap and a connector, said cartridge being disposed within a melt passage having a conical taper toward the bottom. The connector is inserted into the melt channel and has a matching conical shape to seal against the channel wall. A die plate having a maximum area of 90 cm.sup.2 connects to the connector. An opening through the connector permits filtered polymer melt to flow from the filter cartridge through the connector to the die plate. A single filter cartridge is provided for each die plate, whereby the ratio of filter area to die plate area is at least 0.5:1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a molded polyurethane foam without using low-boiling solvents such as Freon and methylene chloride which present problems when used as a blowing agent. The polyurethane foam has the same good appearance and soft feeling as that produced with low-boiling solvents. A polyurethane foam is produced by injecting a polyurethane material into an evacuated cavity and permitting it to expand so that it flows and fills the cavity, said polyurethane material being composed of 100 parts by weight of polyol component and 0.1-0.6 part by weight of water as a blowing agent. The cavity pressure may be maintained high spontaneously or low while the polyurethane material is flowing in the cavity. When the polyurethane material has reached the final fill position in the cavity, the fore-end of the polyurethane material is discharged from the cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming ribs with sideward projections in a plastic pipe. The projections are formed by means of elongated rolls (10) each moving around the pipe and rotating about its central axis, the rolls being in an inclined position and at an oblique angle with respect to the central axis of the pipe.

Abstract: A tamper indicating closure is formed with connecting frangible straps between the cap and the tamper indicating band by molding connecting straps which are oversized and reforming the straps to produce reduced thickness frangible straps.

Abstract: Apparatus useful for removing articles cut from a sheet of flexible material includes a gas transmissive conveyor belt that is brought into proximity to the exposed surface of the articles, a suction roll which backs the conveyor belt and has an internal vacuum and passageways for exposing said vacuum to the outer surface of the suction roll in configurations corresponding the leading portions of the articles, and means for causing the passageways to register substantially with the leading regions of the articles. Embodiments may also include passageways which are arcuately arrayed in groups, a cylindrical cutter roll for cutting out the articles from the sheet as it is being transported by a carrier surface, and/or a carrier surface in the form of a roll face.

Abstract: A cylindrical screen for perforating a thermoplastic film or sheets. The screen is formed from a relatively thin sheet that is secured together to form a cylindrical shape. A plurality of apertures are positioned in the sheet and the apertures in the sheets forms a passageway through the screen. The passageways are disposed at an angle from about 5.degree. to about 60.degree. with respect to a plane that is disposed substantially perpendicular to the surface of the screen.

Abstract: A method for forming a coved backsplash system, comprising two adjacent perpendicular wall sections joined by a curved corner joint. In particular, a designed relief, or groove, is formed on the rear surface of the material at a predetermined depth. The grooved material is placed on a shaped mandrel having the capacity of maintaining controlled heating, limited to the area being formed on the material. The grooved area is also heated by a device in conjunction with the surface area being heated by the mandrel. The solid surface material is brought to a thermoforming temperature by conductivity of the heat generated in the mandrel and heating devices. A wiping arm is used to form the solid surface material to the mandrel, the solid surface material being brought in contact with a flat work surface by the wiping arm. The non-grooved, flat surface areas of the material are then held in place by the wiping arm while the solid surface material begins the cooling process.

Abstract: An apparatus having a vacuum chamber or chamber, wherein the changing manner of the mold can be improved, the sealing structure of the vacuum chamber or an injection nozzle is simple, and the cost of the apparatus is reduced and preservation of the apparatus is improved. The apparatus has a vacuum chamber for surrounding a mold into an airtight situation. The vacuum chamber includes an upper casing and a lower casing, and they are being divided by a parting line defined by mating peripheral edge surfaces which incline upwardly from an operator-side to an opposite-side. An O-ring as a sealing member of the vacuum chamber is positioned between the peripheral edge surfaces.

Abstract: A ring-cake preparation system is adapted for use in association with a ring-cake and a ring-cake container. The ring cake container is formed in a cylindrical configuration. A plate with a post is positioned within the cake container. The apparatus includes at least one disc formed in a planar circular configuration with a circular aperture at its approximate center point. The diameter of each circular aperture measures between about eighteen and twenty percent of the diameter of each disc. Each circular aperture is adapted to permit the passage of the post of a ring cake container. At least one rim is formed in a cylindrical configuration and is positioned around the periphery of each disc. The rim is positioned in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the plane of the disc. The width of the rim measures between eight and twelve percent of the diameter of the disc. The disc intersects the rim at its approximate center point.

Abstract: A new and improved adjustable casting mold including a mold base having a generally rectangular configuration. Included in the device is a fixed mold form having a generally L-shaped configuration. The fixed mold form is integral with the mold base offset from a center portion thereof. Also included in the device is an adjustable mold form having a generally L-shaped configuration. The adjustable mold form is positionable on the mold base and positioned against the fixed mold form. The adjustable mold form is positioned against the fixed mold form to create a casting area. A clamp assembly is removably positioned against the adjustable mold form and the fixed mold form. The clamp assembly is secured thereto by two washers and two wing nuts. The clamp assembly serves to secure the adjustable mold form to the fixed mold form.

Abstract: A prosthetic casting machine receives an amputated stump while a patient is standing so that a hard socket can be made based upon the shape of the stump when it is under load. The machine includes a brim for accommodating an above-the-knee stump or a retaining disc for below-the-knee stumps. A telescoping leg enables precise adjustment of the height of the machine to accommodate patients of differing heights. The patient's stump is inserted into a liner and the liner is coated with plaster before the stump is inserted into the machine. After insertion, while the patient is standing, compressed air is introduced into a space between a transparent flexible bladder and a transparent rigid cylinder so that a uniform pressure is applied to the plaster by the bladder. The transparent parts enable a prosthetist to observe the results of the pressurization so that corrective steps may be taken if the plaster is not evenly compressed.

Abstract: In a cotton candy machine for spinning granular sugar into filaments and having a rotatable shaft, a spinner head mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, bearings rotatably supporting the rotatable shaft below the spinner head, an impeller mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and being disposed between the spinner head and the bearings. The impeller rotates to blow sugar which finds its way down to the level of the impeller away from the bearings. The impeller has a plurality of radially extending fins or vanes on at least one of the upper and lower side, and an O-ring groove in its lower side in which an O-ring is seated which seals against the motor. Radially directed air flow generated by rotation of the impeller with the rotating shaft directs sugar granules away from the bearings, and the O-ring seals the impeller against the motor to provide an additional check against sugar entering the bearings. Sugar is unable to reach the bearings of the motor and motor life is increased.

Abstract: A device for emblemizing indicia onto the soles of shoes for identification and individuality purposes including a base in a rectangular configuration having an upper surface, a lower surface, parallel side edges and parallel front and rear edges, the base having a rectangular recess in its upper surface adjacent to the front edge, the base also having a plurality of recesses in its upper surface adjacent to its rear edge; a pivot structure formed of parallel bars pivotally mounted at their lower ends to the side edges of the base adjacent to the rear edge with a support post coupled between the upper ends of the bars; a shoe supporting structure comprising a shoe tree coupled to the support post; and a heating platen of a rectangular configuration positionable within the recess at the front edge of the base, the platen having a recess on its upper surface for the receipt of pre-selected marking components with indicia on the upper surface of the marking components; and a heating device located within the pla

Abstract: Formwork for surfaces varying in curvature has a face sheet adjustable with respect to its curvature, girders supporting the face sheet and applied to the girders, in spaced relationship to the face sheet, there is a boom system which is composed of individual boom members bridging the girders and is suitably attached to the girders at the outsides thereof averted from the face sheet. Adjustment of the curvature of the face sheet is carried out by altering the effective length of the boom members between the girders. The mutually opposed formwork elements are adapted to be braced together by means of formwork anchor ties. A crosspiece in the form of a boom member is applied to a formwork element at at least two girders and simultaneously serves as an abutment for the formwork anchor tie, the latter therefore being arranged between and having its reaction forces transferred to the two girders.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing a material, such as by meltblowing, wherein the apparatus provides a flow of air in a first direction and a flow of material in a second direction at an angle with respect to the first direction, and wherein the air flow contacts the material flow and propels the material in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction of the air flow for deposition on a desired substrate.

Abstract: A method and mold apparatus are provided for forming and trimming a vehicle inner door panel. The panel is a shaped laminate including a vinyl cover layer and a structural foam backing layer having a glass fiber reinforcing substrate. Upper and lower mold members have peripheral seals which define a mold cavity when the mold is closed. A plurality of movable trim blades are carried by the lower mold member adjacent the seal. The trim blades move among retracted, intermediate and extended positions. Hydraulic rams open and close the mold and move the trim blades. Sheets of vinyl and substrate are placed across the lower mold member and the mold is closed to seal the substrate and vinyl layer about their periphery. As the mold closes, abutment surfaces on both mold members advance the trim blades to an intermediate position to pinch the cover layer against the substrate inwardly of the peripheral seals. A two-part polyurethane liquid foam system is injected into the cavity.

Abstract: A mold assembly has an ejector assembly which includes a rotating camming device and a longitudinally sliding locking device. The ejector pins of the ejector assembly are replaced by rotating the camming device to slide the locking device into a disengaged position. The ejector pins are now free to be removed from the mold assembly. Once new ejector pins are inserted into the mold assembly the camming device is rotated back to its engaged position to lock the ejector pins into the mold assembly. The rotation of the camming device is in excess of 180.degree. which provides a locking feature in both the engaged and disengaged positions.

Abstract: A foam molding apparatus with improved seal for sealing the mold lid to the bowl. The bowl and lid include inclined sealing surfaces surrounding the mold cavity with the bowl sealing surfaces being concave and the lid sealing surface being convex. Both the bowl and lid are resiliently supported on frames so that the lid can self align upon the bowl as the convex lid sealing surface engages the concave bowl sealing surface. Adjusting screws are carried by the lid carrier frame and engage the lid to apply pressure to the lid forcing the lid against the bowl sealing surface with the bowl being resiliently carried on a supporting frame allowing the bowl to float relative to the frame to achieve an even pressure distribution about the mold cavity at the sealing surfaces. The lid and bowl are both formed with fluid passages to enable hot water to be circulated through the mold maintaining the mold at an elevated temperature.