Abstract: A coin handling mechanism for conveying coins to a remotely positioned coin receptor which accumulates the deposited coins. There is a liquid diverter within the mechanism for directing the flow of liquid injected through the coin entrance slot downwardly along the back of the housing to a fluid collecting chamber. A plurality of ribs at the back of the housing form channels for directing the flow of the fluid along the back of the housing. There is also provided a coin discharge chute having an adjustment mechanism to adjust the point of discharge of the coins. This compensates for variances in various vending machines and positions the coin discharge chute properly with respect to the coin receptor.

Abstract: This chute comprises a first section and a second section having its inner end portion pivotally connected to the outer end portion of the first section in a manner that allows the second section to be pivoted from a folded position into a position of alignment with the first section. A releasable interference device blocks the second chute section from entering into its position of alignment when the second section is pivoted from its folded position into an intermediate position near its position of alignment. This interference device comprises a blocking member pivotally mounted on the inner end portion of the second chute section and comprising an impact head that is normally positioned in a blocking position between the inner end portion of the second chute section and the outer end portion of the first chute section when the second chute section enters its intermediate position. A spring biases the impact head into its blocking position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for transferring laminated sheets from a printer to a separate processor therefor in a manner whereby the sheets are not crumpled, delaminated or otherwise damaged and whereby the printer and apparatus are easily aligned for facilitating such transfer. The apparatus includes an arrangement for inducing bending of the laminate and an arrangement for controlling the bending.

Abstract: A basketball return device for enhancing individual shooting practice time is provided which is safe and easy to install and which effectively returns all successful basketball shots to the shooter at any preselected location on the basketball court. This device attaches to a standard basketball goal including a metal ring and a nylon or chain net, for example, and is composed of a mounting ring and a retaining member. The mounting ring and/or retaining member are attached to the rim or net by a plurality of elongated, self-supporting adjustable hooks. A curved chute adjustably attaches to the mounting ring and guides the basketball back to the shooter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for feeding material from a hopper to an extruder choke. The apparatus comprises a Y-shaped feeder section having an inlet portion and an outlet portion capable of being sealably connected and disconnected to the extruder choke. The apparatus further comprises an extension arm having a first end configured to be positioned into and out of sealable contact with the inlet portion of the feeder section and a second end configured to engage with the hopper. In operation, when the hopper is opened, material is fed into the extension arm, through the feeder section and into the extruder head.

Abstract: A waste disposal chute assembly is disclosed for segregating waste material in a multi-story building. The chute assembly has a plurality of laterally adjacent chutes, which may be nested together. Each chute has a plurality of elongate, longitudinal, telescoping members. The telescoping members have an inlet port, an outlet port and a telescoping portion. Seam cleats are provided to facilitate the unobstructed telescoping of the telescoping members into those below. Laterally adjacent telescoping members are attached and each chute has an opening to provide access thereto. Each opening may be covered by a door which is adapted to provide access to more than one opening. The chute assembly is retained in the multi-story structure.

Abstract: A die press unloader which retrieves material from beneath the lower die of a pair of dies mounted in a die press. The material which is retrieved will have passed through the lower die, and can comprise either scrap, for example in making perforated strip or product, for example in making shaped blanks from a strip. The unloader utilizes a combination of gravity and a mechanical arm, preferably actuated by a double-acting air cylinder, the movements of which are controlled by the press itself.

Abstract: An offset assembly (20) for a gravity-conveyor chute (10) includes offset upstream and downstream tubes (18 and 22) which are hingedly attached one to the other, with an upstream end opening (66) of the offset downstream tube being significantly larger than outer dimensions of a downstream end (44) of the offset upstream tube. The offset upstream and downstream tubes are rectangular in cross section with each including hinge mounts which extend laterally, outwardly, from outside surfaces of panels thereof. The downstream end of the offset upstream tube terminates in a plane which forms an angle with an axis of elongation of the offset upstream tube. The offset upstream tube has a side opening with a ledge and a door thereat.

Abstract: A slant-shelf magazine for an automatic, coin controlled, vending machine adapted to dispense cylindrical articles, such as canned or bottled beverages, which are stored and gravitationally fed from plural, parallel, horizontally inclined superposed storage racks into a vertical drop chute located opposite the lower ends of such racks. The drop chute communicates with a horizontally inclined delivery chute having a vend mechanism at its lowermost end for releasing articles one-by-one to a discharge hopper upon customer selection. The delivery chute is oppositely inclined from the storage racks and is joined to the drop chute by an intervening curvilinear guideway formed to reverse the gravitational movement direction of the articles prior to entry into the delivery chute for purposes of reducing article load forces on the vend mechanism.

Abstract: An improved discharge chute assembly for use with a concrete mixing truck includes improved chute components which are fabricated from a high strength, lightweight polymeric material. The polymeric material tends to remain smooth during wear, and permits chutes according to the invention to be manufactured much lighter than those heretofore known. According to a second aspect of the invention, an improved connecting joint structure is provided which is simple to connect and disconnect, and will not become jammed with wet concrete. Both the chute components and joint structure are constructed with smooth outer surfaces to avoid catching on clothing or other fabric. The combination of lightweight chute components and the improved joint structure yields a discharge chute assembly which is safer and more efficient to deploy at a construction site.

Abstract: A chute is disclosed for passing articles such as laundry between floors or walls in a building. The chute has a tubular frame to be securely inserted in an opening in a planar partition, and a flexible tube attached to and hanging from the frame. The tubular frame has a peripheral wall defining an inlet in communication with one side of the planar partition and an outlet extending beyond the other side of the planar partition. A peripheral flange is outwardly directed from the peripheral wall adjacent to the inlet and is adapted to rest against one side of the planar partition. A gripping projection extends transversely from the peripheral wall and is spaced from the other side of the planar partition. The flexible tube is releasably attached to the gripping projection. A lid is movably connected to the frame to open and close the inlet.

Abstract: A system for channeling drainage fluid from a point located upstream to a point downstream comprises a series of conduit elements linked together and partially fitted in one another. This system is remarkable in that the series of conduit elements is assembled so that the linked conduit elements can articulate with one another and each conduit element is suspended from the previous conduit element of the series with upper end of the first conduit element being suspended from a point of anchorage located upstream. The conduit elements articulate with one another in pairs by means of a disconnectable hook arrangement, such as performed protuberances, which acts as a hinge. The above system for channeling running water prevents the degradation of slopes served by such systems.

Abstract: An elementary length of the ducting comprises a pair of top and bottom plane panels (2, 3) and a pair of side panels (4, 5) having outwardly projecting longitudinal rims (8, 9, 12, 13) on their outside faces, the margins (10, 11, 14, 15) of the top and bottom panels (2, 3) and the rims (8, 9, 12, 13) of the side panels (4, 5) are predrilled to receive fixing bolts (6). A detection panel (47) is disposed as an inside lining of the bottom panel (3) and is connected via its own rims (48, 49) to the side panels (4, 5), and a tunnel (52) is left between the bottom panel (3) and the detection panel (47), with said tunnel opening out into the ducting, close to a bend.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device designed to be added to an existing machine to improve its efficiency and reduce errors. The existing machine is an inserter machine which is composed of several stations having guide rails connecting the stations. The machine is designed to feed papers from station to station along the guide rails, however gaps between the rails of adjacent stations cause the papers to catch and misalign thereby disrupting proper operation of the machine. The present invention consists of rail structures designed to overlie the guide rails of the existing machine in a manner covering the above described gaps so as to facilitate the smooth flow of papers from station to station without disruption.

Abstract: A guide skirt for guiding parts ejected from an injection mold to a receptacle includes side panels which are adapted to be attached at the top to respective mold-platen assemblies and are hingedly connected together so that as the mold-platen assemblies move between open and closed positions the bottom edges of the side panels move between open and closed positions causing the freshly molded parts to be retained in the skirt when the mold-platen assemblies are open and the molded parts are ejected from the mold and after a predetermined time thereafter to be released from the skirt when the mold-platen assemblies again close.

Abstract: The chute attachment is attached to a chute on cement truck at a receiving end so that cement might flow through the receiving end to an outlet end having a reduced size compared to the receiving end and into the desired place. A closure assembly is provided to close the chute attachment to thereby cut off the flow of cement, and minimize or avoid any spillage. The chute attachment has a frame which includes a circular assembly having large, middle and small circular members. The members are secured together at a common tangential point and a cover is secured to the frame.

Abstract: A portable amusement device wherein flotation of participants occurs on a continuous basis within flotation devices comprises a plurality of trough defining segments each being formed with double side walls and end walls with the double side walls defining a hollow section to permit nesting of the individual segments for shipment and storage. The trough segments are joined to one another to form a continous trough with a pump in at least one hollow section to continuously move a flotation medium throughout the trough and thus propel participants therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring tubulars between the floor of a drilling rig and a pipe rack including an elongated main support frame adapted to be positioned in proximity to the pipe rack, a lift trough positioned longitudinally of the support frame and having one end pivotally coupled to the main support frame, whereby the lift trough can be pivoted upwardly to an inclined position, a power member connected to the lift trough for pivoting the lift trough upwardly to an inclined position relative to the main support frame and toward the drilling rig and downwardly to a generally horizontal position, and a carriage including a movable holding tray operatively connected to the lift trough for moving tubulars positioned in the lift trough along its length. An adjustable fixed trough supported on a drilling rig floor, sloping towards the lift trough and connectable with it when it is in the inclined position for transferring tubulars to the rig floor.

Abstract: A modular chute for passing a workpiece therealong is disclosed. The chute of the present invention includes a U-shaped cross-section having a bottom wall, a pair of opposed side walls, and an open top. A joining device is provided for abutting and securing a plurality of chutes into a continuous member. Wear members are disclosed that are selectively secured to the walls of the chute to reduce friction and wear from parts moving along the chute.

Abstract: A timber chute for the transportation of corticated timber has smooth and deformable polyethylene walls. This makes the chutes light in weight, easy to handle, and less subject to damage than the prior art chutes.

Abstract: A chute-hose coupler unit includes a first coupler and a second coupler each adapted to be detachably connected to ends of the respective chute-hoses, each coupler including a leaf spring which has a stop pin provided in its free flexible portion, and additionally including a cam means adapted to slide under the leaf spring of the mating coupler, the stop pin having a tendency of being inserted into the chute-hoses under the urge of the leaf springs, thereby blocking the component parts in the chute-hoses against dropping out of the open ends of the couplers when the couplers are disconnected from each other.

Abstract: The snow thrower includes an impeller housing carrying an impeller for rotation about a transverse axis and having an upwardly open, forwardly inclined discharge chute through which snow is propelled by the impeller. One or more upwardly extending deflector vanes are disposed in the discharge chute for directing the discharge of snow. Each deflector vane includes a pivot pin which extends rotatably through the transverse rear wall of the discharge chute and a control mechanism, located exteriorly of the discharge chute and connected to the outer ends of the pivot pins, is operable to selectively pivot the deflector vanes between forward, left and right discharge positions.

Abstract: A playground slide for use on an incline, such as a hillside, comprising a plurality of modular bedway sections, each comprising a bedway floor and laterally spaced upstanding sidewalls two or more of which sections have diverse longitudinal curvatures, and universal connections on each section. These universal connections consist of a pair of flanges defined by an integral, longitudinal extension of the sidewalls beyond the terminal ends of the bedway floor for overlapping relation between adjacent sections which are fastened through aligned holes in the overlapping flanges thus permitting interconnection with other sections of similar or dissimilar longitudinal curvature, such that both the length and overall longitudinal curvature of said slide may be adapted to conform closely to the particular characteristics of the incline, based on the quantity, longitudinal curvature, and positional order of bedway sections utilized.

Abstract: A playground slide for use on an incline, such as a hillside, comprising a plurality of modular bedway sections, each comprising a bedway floor and laterally spaced upstanding sidewalls, two or more of which sections have diverse longitudinal curvatures, and universal connections on each section. These universal connections consist of a pair of flanges defined by an integral, longitudinal extension of the sidewalls beyond the terminal ends of the bedway floor for overlapping relation between adjacent sections which are fastened through aligned holes in the overlapping flanges thus permitting interconnection with other sections of similar or dissimilar longitudinal curvature, such that both the length and overall longitudinal curvature of said slide may be adapted to conform closely to the particular characteristics of the incline, based on the quantity, longitudinal curvature, and positional order of bedway sections utilized.

Abstract: An apparatus, carried by a vehicle, for excavating packed snow or ice from a roadway in a swath equivalent to the width of the apparatus. A strong and unitary frame carries a transmission actuated by a vehicle PTO to power an axle shaft. The frame houses a hopper-like collector assembly with a chamber bisected by a paddle assembly on the axle shaft. The collector and paddle assemblies cooperate to slowly move snow or ice into a vertically oriented chute. Thereafter, the paddle assembly and vertical chute cooperate to rapidly propel snow or ice through a directional discharge chute. The apparatus may have one or more combinations of operative components to determine width of the snow or ice removal swath.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight snow thrower having a power driven impeller rotating about a horizontal, transverse axis to throw snow upwardly and forwardly through a chute which is substantially coextensive in width with the axial length of the impeller. A plurality of laterally spaced upright vanes are disposed in and pivotally connected to the upper end of the chute for the purpose of directing the discharge of snow. The chute includes a front wall portion which serves as a support for the discharge directing vanes and as a strike-off wall preventing jamming of the discharge chute when the snow thrower encounters deep snow. Snow thrown by the impeller against the front wall portion tends to fall down because of its vertical disposition.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight snow thrower having a power driven impeller rotating about a horizontal, transverse axis to throw snow upwardly and forwrdly through a chute which is substantially coextensive in width with the axial length of the impeller. A plurality of laterally spaced upright vanes are disposed in and pivotally connected to the upper end of the chute for the purpose of directing the discharge of snow. The vanes are pivotally connected to a control bar whereby movement of the control bar effects simultaneous lateral tilting of the vanes. The vanes include a centrally positioned set which are parallel to one another and a pair of vanes at each of the laterally opposite sidewalls of the chute which are disposed at upwardly converging angles to one another so as to compress the column of discharged snow. One of the sidewalls of the discharge chute is also inclined laterally inwardly in an upward direction.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight snow thrower having a power driven impeller rotating about a horizontal, transverse axis to throw snow upwardly and forwardly through a chute which is substantially coextensive in width with the axial length of the impeller. A plurality of laterally spaced upright vanes are disposed in and pivotally connected to the upper end of the chute for the purpose of directing the discharge of snow. A vane adjusting mechanism includes a transverse, laterally shiftable vane adjusting bar which is connected to the vanes through pairs of laterally spaced fingers extending forwardly from the control bar on opposite lateral sides of the vanes. Lateral shifting movement of the bar effects simultaneous lateral tilting of the vanes. The vane adjusting bar includes a pair of rearwardly extending stud parts which extend through slots in the rear wall part of the transverse recess in the rear wall of the discharge chute in which the bar is disposed.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for feeding slide fastener parts from a parts feeder to a parts assembling station, which apparatus is characterized by the provision of linking means for removably connecting a part feed chute between the feeder and the station. The linking means comprise a first chute holder connected to the parts feeder and a second chute holder connected to the assembling station, the first holder having spring-loaded grippers adapted to come into and out of locking engagement with one end fitting of the chute, and the second holder having a spring-loaded positioning pin adapted to lock the other end fitting of the chute into position relative to the second holder.