Abstract: A mandrel for transporting a plurality of magnetic discs is described. The mandrel has a series of axially spaced grooves, each designed to engage and support a magnetic disc at an inner edge region of the disc's circular opening, at two or more contact positions.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of this invention are to sort disks into predetermined ranks depending on their thickness. The disks are conveyed stepwise in each supply cassette at equal intervals, and partly pushed to measure their thickness. They are transferred from the supply cassette to a receiving cassette of the corresponding thickness rank.

Abstract: A stick inserter for inserting flat sticks into partially frozen confections in the molds of a confection machine forms a packed column of sticks in face to face engagement above a row of molds, a row of spaced thin blades is lowered and each blade forces a stick out of the column and into a confection. Upon retraction of the blades, pivotally mounted lower guide rails for the column, which have been lowered to accommodate stick insertion, are raised to restore displaced sticks back to their original positions in the column. In order to insure stick singulation, a jogging mechanism partially lowers the blades ad then retracts them slightly and a blade deflection plate releases previously deflected blades so that they spring against the faces of sticks adjacent to those to be inserted.

Abstract: A spacer assembly for half steam table trays includes a grid-like framework upon which are mounted a plurality of non-metallic support pads adapted to accept the corners of adjacent trays laid thereon in a rectangular pattern. The framework is fabricated of a light metal functioning structurally only to position the support pads. A spacer assembly is laid atop each succeeding layer of trays and the tray corners are compressed a predetermined amount until the pads in a vertical column are in contact, whereby the pads bear the load of the trays stacked thereabove.

Abstract: A method for supporting and heat processing a layered array of half steam table trays using a spacer assembly. The spacer assembly includes a grid-like framework upon which are mounted a plurality of non-metallic support pads adapted to accept the corners of adjacent trays laid thereon in a rectangular pattern. The framework is fabricated of a light metal functioning structurally only to position the support pads. A spacer assembly is laid atop each succeeding layer of trays and the tray corners are compressed a predetermined amount until the pads in a vertical column are in contact, whereby the pads bear the load of the trays stacked thereabove.

Abstract: A self-enclosed tablet dispenser for dispensing tablets into liquid-filled containers, such as swimming pools, including a first tube to hold the tablets, a base connected to the first tube with a horizontal passageway in which a plunger slidably reciprocates to move the tablet from the bottom of the first tube at one end of the passageway to the other end of the passageway, and a second tube connected to the base at the other end of the passageway to guide the tablet into the liquid by gravity means. The second tube may be open-ended on the bottom, or it may be closed so as to hold the tablets while allowing the liquid to enter and thus dissolve the tablets.

Abstract: A power strapping tool having an anvil and a tensioning wheel adapted to engage with overlapping portions of a strapping looped about a package and extending to a supply. The tensioning wheel is rotatable in a direction as to tension the loop of strapping and maintain such strapping tensioned while overlying portions thereof are connected to each other and then in an opposite direction to relax and flex away from the underlying strapping portion a span of the overlying strapping extending between such wheel and the location of strapping connection to thereby position such flexed, overlying strapping portion for easy severence. In the preferred embodiment, rotation of the tensioning wheel is also relied upon to effect projection of a knife between the overlying flexed and the underlying strapping portions and to then again tension the overlying strapping portion whereby the flexed strapping is urged against the projected knife to thereby sever the applied loop of strapped from its supply.

Abstract: A vertical stack of tablets is disposed in a tubular container extending upwardly from an opening in the top wall of a housing. The tablets are dropped one-by-one in front of a reciprocable pusher, which is driven by a rotary impeller and is effective to eject the lowermost tablet out from under the stack and into a sump in the housing, where it may be dissolved by water in the sump. The impeller is driven by a jet of water from a nozzle which receives water under pressure from a conduit leading into the housing. Water under pressure from this same conduit operates a settable ratchet device and a jet-deflector so that, when the desired number of tablets have been dispensed, the jet is deflected and the impeller is stopped to stop the reciprocation of the tablet-dispensing pusher.