Abstract: Apparatus for automatically sequentially applying labels to objects characterized by a plate having an edge defining a V shaped region. A strip transport means moves a label strip comprised of first and second parallel carrier strip portions, having labels adhered thereto bridging said portions, along the upper surface of the plate toward the apex of the V shaped region. The strip transport means then pulls the two carrier strip portions in diverging directions around the edge portions of the V shaped region to thus release the label bridging the carrier strip portions at that point. The label strip has index marks therealong which cooperate with the strip transport means to prevent any cumulative differential linear movement between the carrier strip portions. The index marks comprise points on the strip whose physical characteristics, such as optical, magnetic, electrical or structural enable the marks to be readily distinguished by a sensor from other areas on the strip.

Abstract: Methods, the products produced thereby, and apparatus for forming conformable garments having selected discrete elasticized areas. More specifically, methods and apparatus for stretching one or more ribbons of thermoplastic elastomeric material, immobilizing the stretched material in its extended state, subjecting spaced discrete areas of the stretched material to heat so as to "kill" the elastic properties thereof in the heated regions while leaving the elastic properties of the intermediate unheated regions thereof unaltered and bonding the alternate elasticized and non-elasticized zones of the elastic ribbon to a continuous web suitable for use in forming a plurality of interconnected, but severable, like conformable garments having selected discrete elasticized areas on a high speed production basis. In the preferred form of the invention, the conformable garment thus formed comprises a disposable diaper product.

Abstract: The invention is an improved applicator for placing elastic strips on articles such as garments. A continuous of tensioned elastic is gripped sequentially by two clamping means. The elastic unit thus created is severed from the main body of elastic material. One or both clamping means may be movable to adjust the length of the elastic unit and control the position where it is applied to the article. Preferably the elastic is adhesively bonded but it may also be stitched to the article. As soon as bonding is achieved, the clamps are opened in sequence and return to a starting position to repeat the cycle.The examples disclose a six-module elastic applicator designed to apply elastic to discrete areas adjacent to the leg openings of disposable diapers. This applicator enables more precise placement of the elastic and virtually eliminates waste.

Abstract: A tape-applying apparatus (10) is advanced toward a body (15) upon which a strip of tape (16) is to be applied to urge a plurality of stitching rollers (72,74) against the body (15). Further advancing of the apparatus (10) will move an applicator roller (42) and the end of the tape (16) into engagement with the body (15). As the body (15) is moved past the tape-applying apparatus (10), the tape (16) is pulled over the applicator roller (42) and is stitched to the body (15) by the stitching rollers (72,74). When sufficient tape (16) has been applied, the housing (20) of the tape-applying apparatus (10) is urged away from the body (15) which moves the applicator roller (42) out of contact with the body (15). A brake apparatus (94) on the housing (20) is activated by a cam recess (80) on the holders (50) for some of the stitching rollers (72). The brake apparatus (94) engages the applicator roller (42) to arrest further feeding of tape (16) to the body (15).

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for winding tread stock onto a tire by stretching the relatively thin strip of vulcanizable strip as it is being applied to a rotating tire wherein the windings of the strip overlap each other in a stretched condition to provide a uniform contour at any cross section of the tire eliminating air pockets and enhances bonding of the adjacent and overlying stock.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting elastic strips into elastic leg diapers in accordance with the improved elastic leg disposable diaper and process for manufacturing same disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 85,372, filed concurrently herewith, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, wherein elastic strips are adhesively secured continuously along the longitudinal edges of the disposable diaper and are alternately secured in stretched condition along the crotch area and in relaxed condition along the outer waist areas to form gathered and extendible side portions in the crotch area for elastic compliance to the legs of the wearer including mechanisms for alternately stretching and relaxing predetermined lengths of the continuous elastic strips.

Abstract: A thermoplastic web of indeterminate length is provided by forming a tubular thermoplastic web having interconnected filaments. The web is rotated about its axis while being advanced along its axis and is slit so as to provide a web having substantially parallel filament alignment at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the web. The web may be formed into a multiply structure having a plurality of webs wherein the filament alignment of at least one of the webs of the structure is at an angle to the filament alignment of at least one of the other webs of the structure.

Abstract: An adhesive printing blanket including rubber or rubber-like material. The printing blanket may also be provided with reinforcing inserts. A foil-like protective layer covers the adhesive layer of the printing blanket. The protective layer, which is elastically flexible, is removed by pulling off prior to the adhesive mounting of the printing blanket. The protective layer is under a tensile stress to preclude creasing during rolling up of the printing blanket into a roll and during subsequent spreading out of the printing blanket into a plane.

Abstract: There is provided a new arrangement for pressure sensitive labels mounted along a carrier strip, and also a new method and means for removing these labels from the carrier strip and applying them to a product. The label carrier strip is divided down its middle forming separable halves, with the labels mounted over both halves. The separable halves carrier strip is pulled along a plate towards a V-shaped notch in one edge of said plate. The V is somewhat wider than the carrier strip. At the notch, the two halves of the carrier strip bend and are drawn through the V-shaped notch, each half over a different side of the V. This causes the two carrier strip halves to follow divergent paths from each other, and also from the label, forcibly releasing the label from the carrier strip halves. The label is thereby forced to continue in a straight line over and past the V-shaped notch until it is free of the carrier strip. It cannot follow the carrier strip halves through the V.

Abstract: A compact and inexpensive decorator for transferring labels by heat and pressure from a carrier strip to articles such as bottles. The decorator is designed as a unit, including infeed and outfeed conveyors, a turret for holding articles during labelling and maintaining their shape by inflation, a deck bearing a transport for the carrier web and a device for impressing labels from the strip onto the articles, and a control module. For round articles the turret includes interchangeable Index and Decorator cups, while for oval articles an easily removed turret base with article cutouts is used. The deck may be adjusted in its height and angular orientation with respect to the turret to permit decoration of a wide variety of article faces. The carrier web transport includes a capstan web drive for pulling the web, a double gate, and a dancer roll, which provide label-by-label advance of the web controlled by signals from a photoelectric web monitor and a container detector.

Abstract: A strapping machine comprises a roller for reversely rotating by a one way motor to tighten a package with a band, a differential reducing mechanism engaged to a clutch whereby the roller is reversely rotated at high speed before sliding the clutch and is further reversely rotated at low speed and high torque after sliding the clutch and a seal forming shaft starts when a return roller is stopped under a predetermined tension applied by tightening the band. The strapping machine further comprises a cutter anvil to contact the inner surfaces of the bands at the superposed part with a heating element inserted into the superposed part of the bands and a cutter for cutting the band under suitable tension after cooling the heat-sealed bands.

Abstract: Pipe is coated by extruding a band of heat-softened thermoplastic, cooling the band and passing it through tension-isolating snubber rolls then applying it to the surface of the rotating, advancing pipe under tension, and controlling the tension isolating snubber rolls and rate of movement of the pipe surface with respect to the rate of extrusion to provide substantially controlled tension on the band between the extruder and the tension isolating means and to provide a second, higher tension on the band between the tension isolating means and contact of the band with the pipe surface.

Abstract: Web splicing apparatus employs a pair of driven nip rolls which controllably feed web from a running roll into a festoon as web is drawn out of the festoon at a constant rate by a downstream web consuming machine. The nip rolls are driven by a DC motor connected in a closed loop servo system which compares the speed of the web entering the festoon with the web line speed to develop a command signal for the motor. During normal operation, the command signal includes a web velocity trim signal developed by monitoring the position of the festoon dancer relative to a selected reference position so as to minimize tension upsets and to maintain the dancer within its control range. During a splice sequence, the command signal comprises a deceleration ramp having a selected slope to provide controlled deceleration of the web to minimize tension upsets and to permit actuation of the splicing nips prior to actual web stop.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a continuous elastic ribbon is fed to a diaper web assembly station in a stretched condition. While traveling to the assembly station, an adhesive is applied to discrete lengths of the elastic ribbon at regularly spaced intervals. Simultaneously, discrete absorbent core segments as well as webs of moisture-impervious backsheet material and moisture-pervious topsheet material are fed to the diaper web assembly station. At the station, the stretched elastic ribbon is adhered to the moisture-impervious backsheet web in the discrete areas of the elastic which are covered by adhesive at predetermined points along the length of said web. After the adhesive has set up, the assembled web and the elastic contained therein is severed in its unadhered areas, whereupon the unadhered end portions become relaxed and inactive without affecting the functionality of the adhered portions in the ultimate assemblage.

Abstract: A releasing layer is formed on a heat resistant backing sheet and a transparent thermal bonding layer is formed on top of the releasing layer to provide a coating material. The sheet of material such as photograph is mated with the coating material. When the sheet material is a photograph its emulsion side contacts the bonding layer and is passed through a heated roller assembly to bond the bonding layer to the photograph. The backing sheet and the releasing layer are then separated from the sheet material or photograph and bonding layer.

Abstract: An apparatus to effect longitudinal plow folding and subsequent heat sealing of previously computer printed continuous business forms stationary includes a folder and a plurality of elongated heating ribbons disposed parallel to the direction of web travel in spaced apart parallel relationship and being convexly curved for supporting the continuous web passing thereover. Hot melt adhesive applied during manufacture of the stationary is disposed between the plies of the folded-over web, to be locally heated through the web as it lays against, and advances directly over, the multiplicity of parallel heating ribbons. Upon exiting the heater bed, a sandwich platen is provided to maintain the plies in intimate contact, while removing heat from the web and adhesive to bond the plies at each of the multiplicity of spots so heated. The folded and sealed web may then be processed by conventional bursting into individual sealed documents, for mail processing or confidential distribution.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for manufacturing stock material from which bags or other containers may be formed is disclosed. A folded plastic film is fed from a stock roll onto a plurality of carrier rollers which support the film in a horizontal position. Simultaneously, a separate closure strip is fed from a second stock roll through a guide block which aligns the strip with a sealing station, the two halves of the closure strip being pressed together to maintain proper alignment. The upper ply of the folded plastic film is fed into the heat sealing apparatus at the sealing station, the edge of the upper ply being aligned with one edge of the closure, and the film and the closure strip are fed continuously through the sealing station where they are welded together. The lower ply of the film web is folded downwardly so that it bypasses the sealing station.

Abstract: Means for dry printing from a foil onto a workpiece having a contoured (inclined) surface. As the workpiece is advanced linearly beneath a foil applicator roll, an inclined surface on the workpiece will shift the roll in a vertical direction relative to a carriage, from which the roll is biased downwardly. Such roll movement is sensed and causes a force to be applied to the carriage, to move the carriage in a vertical direction so that it "follows" the roll. The carriage movement is limited to an amount sufficient that a pre-established downward biasing force on the roll will be restored, so that the roll pressure on the foil is maintained within an effective printing range. Further, a driving force is applied to the roll and foil that tends to move them faster than the rate at which the workpiece is being advanced.

Abstract: Apparatus for making filter plugs wherein the extent to which the tow is stretched or the rate of transport of a uniformly stretched tow to the wrapping mechanism is controlled by a testing unit which determines the resistance of filter plugs to axial flow of air therethrough. Alternatively, the speed of the garniture belt in the wrapping mechanism is regulated as a function of changes in resistance to flow of testing air transversely across successive increments of a uniformly stretched tow.

Abstract: An inexpensive, lightweight reflective panel for solar-thermal collector modules of the type including a parabolic reflector for reflecting incident solar radiation onto a fluid carrying conduit positioned along the focal axis of the reflector. A rigid, waterproof, honeycomb panel formed from paper and having a uniform thickness of parabolic shape supports a reflective material. Glass fiber cloth adhered to the outer panel surfaces adds to the panel's strength and rigidity. An adjustable support system suspends the reflective panel from the fluid carrying conduit and provides a means of adjusting panel curvature to precisely obtain the required parabolic shape.Methods of forming the panels are described which permit the panels to be formed at or near the site of their installation to obviate shipping problems and expense.