Abstract: A system for dispensing labels for labelling goods which move in single file past a labelling position, using a strip of labelling material in which labels are pre-punched to leave adhesive bridges. The strip of labels is drawn from a supply to a dispenser. As a new label reaches the dispenser in a "ready" position, the preceding label arrives at the labelling position in a linear extension of its travel. At the dispenser, the label is separated from backing material of the strip of labels by deflecting the backing material. Individual labels are pre-punched in a paper strip across the entire area of the label, with the exception of narrow adhesive bridges. Adhesive bridges furthest forward are separated first, followed by adhesive bridges to the rear of the label, shortly before the label is separated from the backing material.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting tickets cut from ticket stock, and for stacking these tickets in a horizontal array. Tickets are collected and oriented to stacking position by a vacuum transport belt assembly and uniformly aligned by a horizontal stacker. The transport assembly is mounted on a housing which includes a vacuum drum to maintain ticket engagement with the transport belts, as the belts traverse a path having a horizontal to vertical orientation about the top and front of the housing. The stacker is mounted perpendicular to the front base of the housing and incorporates a stacking belt extending the length of, and parallel to the base of the housing. The stacking belt is incremented in the stacking direction, in synchronization with a cutter. Stacker infeed disks are mounted on the transport terminus roller in a unitary arrangement which both releases tickets from the transport and feeds tickets to the stacker, to improve processing efficiency.

Abstract: In a flip-chart comprising at least two sheets disposed in overlying relationship and releasably securable to one another by means of static cling, each said sheet adapted for writing thereon and erasure of said writing, and each said sheet being removeable from said other sheets for releasable securement to a surface soley by means of static cling.

Abstract: A needle assembly for dispensing plastic fasteners as part of a tool having a feed track through which a fastener assemblage is fed, such needle assembly including the needle which is encased in a holder which may be easily secured to and removed from such tool. The holder defines in conjunction with the remainder of the tool at least a major portion of the feed track. The holder may include an antiback device for permitting the motion of the fastener assemblage within such feed track toward the needle but not in reverse direction. Such antiback device may be engagable by the user to deflect the antiback and a fastener feed mechanism within the tool out of the feed track, thereby to permit withdrawal of a fastener assemblage from the tool. The needle comprises a hollow, slotted metal structure, and the holder is a plastic structure which is injection molded around such needle.

Abstract: A series of labels for the labelling of goods are separated from a strip which consists only of the labels. The labels are rendered actively adhesive on their rear sides before they reach the goods.

Abstract: A tab for adhesively securing and binding articles within looseleaf binders and like devices, where such articles cannot be conveniently provided with apparatus for engagement by the binder rings. The tab includes a central, apertured portion advantageously comprising bilaterally symmetric apertured sections separated by a central fold line, and wing portions, all adhesive-coated. The tab is prepared for use by folding the respective halves of the central tab portion against each other with apertures aligned. The tab may then be inserted in a binder ring, and the wings of the tab adhesively secured to the article to be bound. Advantageously a plurallity of such tabs are included in a tab stock, such tab stock including an adhesive coated tab substrate (preferably transparent) and backing sheet.

Abstract: A medium formed by a mixture of polymeric binder with conductive metal and either semiconductive particles or galvanic couple alloy particles that can be coated or printed on a substrate to convert electromagnetic radiation to heat without arcing and produce increase heating of foods. Conversion efficiency can be controlled by the choice, thickness, pattern and amount of materials used in the medium. The medium can be formulated to be used repeatedly without burn out or can be formulated to be used only once after which it becomes microwave inert. The conductive particles are typically aluminum, copper, zinc and nickel; the semiconductive particles are typically carbon, titanium carbide, silicon carbide and zinc oxide; and the galvanic couple alloy particles are typically aluminum-nickel alloy, aluminum-cobalt alloy and aluminum-copper alloy.

Abstract: Improved continuously connected plastic fastener stock for attaching price tags to garments and other joining applications. The fastener stock includes two side members connected by a series of filaments, one of the side members comprising a series of severally connected T-bars. The T-bar connectors are defined by saw-tooth-like indentations in that end bar, having a perpendicular or slightly angled surface which is eventually engaged by the plunger when ejecting the severed T-bar.

Abstract: A method of metallizing a substrate by applying a metallic film to the substrate and measuring the film at a plurality of different lateral positions of the substrate by inducing an eddy current in the film and detecting the magnitude of the film to provide an indication of film thickness.

Abstract: A method and article providing different images from differing viewing angles. The image side of a lenticular sheet is printed with radiation curable inks and cured using a collimated radiation source located at a viewer position with respect to the lenticular surface. Uncured ink is removed from the printed surface, and the resulting clear region of the imaging surface may be processed further in a variety of ways. The clear region may be left unprinted, or printed with a second image different from the first, or a stereoscopic image that combines with its pre-printed mate to form a three dimensional image. The clear region also may be vacuum metallized or chemically plated to form a highly reflective surface.

Abstract: A locking loose-leaf binder mechanism which has a curved housing retaining two hookplates, to which binder rings are attached. A control slide attached to each end of the housing includes one or two cam surfaces to engage the hookplates. In an embodiment incorporating two cam surfaces, one cam surface locks the binder rings in a closed position when the slides are fully retracted into the coverplate, and a second cam surface similarly locks the rings when the slides are fully extended from the coverplate. When the slides are neither fully extended nor retracted, the cam surfaces are in a neutral position and the rings may be opened. In further embodiments of the invention, a single cam surface may be employed, either to lock the rings when the slides are fully extended, or fully retracted. Each control slide end further includes a specially formed hanger tab to suspend the binder on a file-frame when the control slides are fully extended.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for charged particle generation, particularly for use in electrographic imaging, in which charged particles are generated in a discharge region and extracted to form an electrostatic image, wherein a controlled gas is introduced into the discharge region for improved operation and service life. The controlled gas may consist of nitrogen, an elemental noble gas (or mixture of such gasses, or a mixture of nitrogen with one or more noble gasses. In the preferred charged particle generator designs, a high voltage alternating potential (drive voltage) is applied between driver and control electrodes separated by a solid dielectric member to induce glow discharges within apertures in the control electrodes. The charged particle generator may include only the driver and control electrodes, or may further include screen electrodes to regulate the extraction of charged particles.

Abstract: A loop attachment in which each attachment has a plurality of filaments, joined in a loop by a seamless connector. Each attachment is insertable through at least one object and has an elongated filament that extends from a flattened object-penetrating part to the seamless connector. The attachments are formed into an assembly with their flattened penetrating parts connected in a spaced relationship for consecutive detachment.

Abstract: A metallized laminate and process of manufacture wherein a metallic layer or underlying ink layer appears in a pattern on the laminate. The method in a specific embodiment involves the steps of forming a laminate by coating a heat stable release coat onto a carrier sheet; coating an ink layer in a pattern on the heat stable release coating so that at least portions of the release coat remain uncovered with ink, and applying a metallic layer over the release coat so that at least a portion of the metallic layer is in direct contact with and adheres directly to the release coat. Portions of the metallic layer may be removed by an etchant. A heat activatable adhesive layer is applied over the metallic layer. The laminate so formed is heat transferable from the carrier sheet to an article.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting tickets cut from ticket stock, and for stacking these tickets in a horizontal array. Tickets are collected and oriented to stacking position by a vacuum transport belt assembly, and uniformly aligned by a horizontal stacker. The transport assembly is mounted on a housing which includes a vacuum drum to maintain ticket engagement with the transport belts, as the belts traverse a path having a horizontal to vertical orientation about the top and front of the housing. The stacker is mounted perpendicular to the front base of the housing and incorporates a stacking surface of rollers extending the length of, and parallel to the base of a side plate. The rollers are driven in a direction which, advantageously, positions tickets which may be of varying length against the side plate. Stacker infeed disks are mounted on the transport terminus roller in a unitary arrangement which both releases tickets from the transport and feeds tickets to the stacker, to improve processing efficiency.

Abstract: Electrostatic transfer imaging in which a latent electrostatic image is formed on a dielectric image roller, toned, and transferred to an image receptor medium. The dielectric roller contacts a transfer roller, and receptor sheets are fed between the two to receive toner images. Image transfer is effected with simultaneous fusing using high pressure between the rollers, which are skewed for enhanced efficiency of toner transfer. The rollers are skewed, preferably at an angle in the range 0.5 degree to 1.5 degree. Receptor sheets adhere to the surface of the transfer roller in preference to that of the image roller, thereby creating a relative motion between the dielectric surface and receptor sheet. This surface motion differential considerably improves the efficiency of toner transfer from the image roller to the receptor sheet, thereby reducing residual toner on the image roller.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dispensing of attachments comprising a pair of side members linked by a connector. A roll of fastener stock is fed to a reciprocatively driven slide head assembly at which the roll is advanced over an elastomeric feed belt to a pair of needles secured to a shuttle. Once inserted in the needles, an individual attachment is severed from the stock, and displaced over a preset distance by the shuttle into the path of a pair of ejector rods. The ejector rods force the side members of the attachment out of the needles for insertion in a fabric or other workpiece at the bottom of the head stroke. On return stroke of the head, the needles are withdrawn, ejector rods retreat, and the shuttle returns to its severing position in a manner to avoid mechanical interference. This design uses an electric motor driven fastener dispensing head, actuator slide and associated linkages for actuating the various mechanisms either on an on-demand or continuous basis.

Abstract: A medium formed by a mixture of polymeric binder with conductive and semiconductive particles that can be coated or printed on a substrate to convert electromagnetic radiation to heat without arcing and produce increase heating of foods. Conversion efficiency can be controlled by the choice, thickness, pattern and amount of materials used in the medium. The medium can be used repeatedly without burn out. The conductive particles are typically aluminum, copper, zinc and nickel and the semiconductive particles are typically carbon, titanium carbide and zinc oxide.

Abstract: A medium formed by a resin binder with conductive and semiconductive particles that can be coated on a substrate to convert electromagnetic radiation to heat. Conversion efficiency can be controlled by the choice and amount of materials used in the medium, which can be used repeatedly without burn out.

Abstract: A compensated web transport for decorators, in which the motion of the web is matched with that of a container being decorated. Controlled motion of the web is used to reduce distortion in the transfer of labels to irregularly shaped containers.