Abstract: A common air bag module for the different spoke patterns of a vehicle steering wheel. The cover is configured with a cavity to fit over multiple steering wheel configurations. The common air bag module has common internals including a common cushion pack with chamfered corners on one side and a rounded side opposite the side with the chamfered corners and a common tear seam approach to enable styling flexibility with a plurality of cover show surface options.

Abstract: A common air bag module for the different spoke patterns of a vehicle steering wheel. The cover is configured with a cavity to fit over multiple steering wheel configurations. The common air bag module has common internals including a common cushion pack with chamfered corners on one side and a rounded side opposite the side with the chamfered corners and a common tear seam approach to enable styling flexibility with a plurality of cover show surface options.

Abstract: An air bag module includes an inflator with a deployment side through which gas is expelled to fill an air bag. The inflator and bag are positioned in a canister having a deep recess. The air bag is folded in a configuration with a plurality of folded portions of the air bag stacked adjacent a side of the inflator and having perpendicularly bended portions of the folded bag in a bottom portion of the canister recess. The folded portions deploy sequentially so that only filled portions of the bag are deployed for interaction with a vehicle occupant.

Abstract: An air bag that includes a fold indicator to indicate whether the air bag has been properly folded within an air bag module. The indicator includes a plurality of marks disposed and spaced on an outer surface of the air bag in a predetermined pattern. The predetermined pattern is arranged such that when the air bag is properly folded the plurality of marks forms a folded pattern indicative of a properly folded air bag. The plurality of marks may be made from a material that is exposable by an x-ray such as a metallic coating. With such a construction, the air bag module, after it as been assembled, may be sent through an x-ray machine and examined as to whether the folded pattern of the marks of the air bag conforms to a standard pattern indicative that the air bag has been folded properly.

Abstract: A driver-side air bag module is mounted to a steering wheel assembly mounting bracket having three mounting apertures. The module comprises a cover, an inflator and a base plate, which are assembled without using fasteners. The base plate has a plurality of arcuately-spaced mounting apertures and mounts three studs. The cover includes a plurality of mating flexible tangs having locking shoulders. The inflator has a peripheral mounting flange which includes three arcuately-spaced locking blades and a plurality of locking tabs projecting from its surface. The base plate has three mating openings each having an adjacent locking abutment. The studs are first staked to the base plate. The cover is assembled by inserting the tangs through the base plate mounting apertures so that the shoulders snap over to engage the base plate. The inflator locking blades are pushed through the base plate mating openings and twisted to pass them over the locking abutments.

Abstract: The operations of the palletizer are automatically controlled by a prerecorded control program. The palletizer includes a vertical shaft, a retractable draw plate located above the shaft and a drive mechanism for moving a hoist along the shaft. After a tier of cartons is formed on the unretracted draw plate, a tier sheet inserter extracts a single tier sheet from a stack and places the sheet on top of the tier. The draw plate is then retracted, placing the tier on the hoist and the hoist is lowered until the tier is aligned with the banding mechanism, which is located within the shaft. The banding mechanism places a strap around the tier, tensions the strap and fastens same. The hoist is then repositioned to accept the next tier as same is deposited thereon by the draw plate.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus comprises a series of spaced rollers defining thereover a travel path for articles and an article stop located adjacent and downstream with respect to one of the rollers and movable between an extended position and a retracted position. In its extended position, the article stop extends into the travel path to obstruct passage of articles from the roller, and in its retracted position the article stop is spaced from the travel path to permit passage of articles from the roller. A roller stop is secured to the article stop and movable therewith, the roller stop being operatively disengaged from the roller when the article stop is in the retracted position and operatively engaged with the roller when the article stop is in the extended position. Operative engagement of the roller stop with the roller inhibits rotation of the roller and thus reduces the momentum with which an article engages the article stop.

Abstract: In a palletizer, various load patterns are achieved through the arrangement of tiers or layers of rows of cartons, each constituent row therein having a given width. Conveying means are provided with a first side at which rows of cartons are received at spaced intervals and a second side. The conveying means, when actuated, is effective to transport the rows of cartons thereon towards the second side thereof. Means, responsive to the number of rows of cartons present on the conveying means, is effective, subsequent to the entry of each of the incoming rows of cartons at the first side of the conveying means, to actuate the conveying means to transport the rows presently thereon a distance substantially equal to the width of the incoming row, when less than R rows are present on the conveying means, and a selected distance sufficient to move the leading row of cartons on the conveying means to the second side thereof, when R rows are present thereon.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a frame and means for moving a container relative to the frame. A series of force exerting rollers are adjustably mounted on the frame and engagable with the container such that they are effective to exert a force on the crease line of the flap as the container is moved relative to the frame. In this manner, the crease is manipulated or worked such that the flap will remain in the closed position. Rollers are also provided for preventing deformation of the container surface adjacent the crease line as the force exerting rollers act thereon. Some of the force exerting rollers have a surface oriented at 45.degree. from the top of the container and thus act directly on the crease line. The deformation preventing rollers have a surface parallel to the surface of the container adjacent thereto. A force exerting roller may be combined with a deformation preventing roller to form a single roller having a flanged portion and a cylindrical portion.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for sensing the position of the top of a carton situated on an upwardly moving hoist beneath the draw plate of a palletizer. The carton top has a flap thereon which, in some instances, is partially opened and which will require a given force to close it such that it does not interfere with the sensing of the position of the top of the carton. The apparatus terminates the upward movement of the hoist when the top of the carton is in the desired position and then withdraws to permit the draw plate to deposit the next tier of cartons on the hoist. The apparatus comprises a support situated below the draw plate and a movable carriage mounted on the support.