Abstract: Sheet turnover apparatus of particular utility in the document-delivery system of a high speed printer, copier, or the like. Documents are serially routed through an infeed nip of a three-roller assembly, and received by a narrow, angularly-profiled chute. The chute includes a recoil assembly at its far end, which causes the document to reverse its travel within the chute to be directed toward the outfeed nip of the roller assembly. A paddle or flipper assembly mounted to the central roller of the roller triad directs the trailing edge of the document from infeed nip to outfeed nip, where it becomes the document's leading edge.

Abstract: Application of heat transfer labels to articles. A roller having a smooth elastomeric coating turns against a moving web. The web carries heated labels which are transferred to the roller. The roller, with a transferred label thereon, turns against a moving article, and transfers the label to same. The elastomeric coating conforms to the article surface.

Abstract: An adjustable folder is disclosed with an overlap to accomodate variable contents. As the quantity of filed paper exceeds the current size of the folder, the overlap is moved to provide additional capacity.

Abstract: An imaging member employed in the high temperature transfer of toner onto paper. The imaging member operates at temperatures above the melting temperature of the toner by sealing the porous structure of the imaging member with a material having suitable dielectric, thermal and fluid release properties.

Abstract: An ion generation system employed in forming electrostatic images on a dielectric surface in which compensation is made for variations in the electrostatic images. The desired compensation is accomplished by spacial or electrical adjustments of electrode apertures, or by adjusting their relation to the dielectric cylinder, so that more uniform electrostatic images are produced.

Abstract: An electrosensitive substrate from which a metallized surface layer is selectively removed using electrosensitive printing to expose a patterned underlayer. The patterned underlayer may be randomly exposed, or exposed in prescribed portions. Tags, labels or the like of this description may be electrically imprinted with unique identification codes, such as serially printed alphanumeric characters. Such tags and labels resist duplication by conventional printing techniques. The patterned underlayer may be imprinted using inks of a variety of surface textures, resulting in an embossed effect in the metallized surface. Alternatively, a lacquer layer may be provided between the patterned layer and the metallized surface to achieve a uniform appearance of the metallized surface.

Abstract: An electrosensitive substrate from which a metallized surface layer is selectively removed using electrosensitive printing to expose a patterned underlayer. The patterned underlayer may be randomly exposed, or exposed in prescribed portions. Tags, labels or the like of this description may be electrically imprinted with unique identification codes, such as serially printed alphanumeric characters. Such tags and labels resist duplication by conventional printing techniques. The patterned underlayer may be imprinted using inks of a variety of surface textures, resulting in an embossed effect in the metallized surface. Alternatively, a lacquer layer may be provided between the patterned layer and the metallized surface to achieve a uniform appearance of the metallized surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the metallization of support members, such as paper sheeting and other cellulosic products. A metallic film is transferred to a preheated paper support from a plastic sheet carrier and adhered to the paper by a thermoplastic material. The carrier is typically of stabilized plastic with a releasably adhered film of metal. Separate metallic films may be transferred simultaneously from opposite sides of a preheated plastic sheet carrier to separate, preheated paper supports. Pressure is applied to the composite which is cooled, desirably by chilling, and the carrier stripped away to leave the desired metallic layer on the receiving surface of the paper support.This transfer procedure overcomes the objections associated with metal foil laminates and is particularly suitable for metallizing support members, like paper, which are difficult to metallize directly because they release significant amounts of vapor during conventional vacuum metallization.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting the sealing surface of a container for dips, saddles and lean is disclosed. While the container is rotated, a beam of light is projected horizontally above and through a finish portion of said container. An optical detector detects the height of said sealing surface by detecting the location of a minimum in the light beam. Dips in the height indicate dips or saddles. Alternately, an opaque bearing member is lowered onto the sealing surface in the path of the light beam to provide a reference indicative of the prevailing height of the sealing surface. Light passing between the underside of the bearing member and the sealing surface indicates a dip or saddle.

Abstract: A field programmable electronic locking system includes a processor and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The processor has address outputs electrically connected to address inputs of the EEPROM to address memory locations within the EEPROM, data inputs electrically connected to data inputs/outputs of the EEPROM to receive data from the EEPROM, and a high-impedence control input for transforming the address outputs of the processor to a high-impedence state. An EEPROM programmer activates the high-impedence control input of the processor to render the address outputs of the processor to a high-impedence state during a programming operation, and transmits address information and data to the address inputs and data inputs/outputs of the EEPROM, respectively during the programming information to write data into said EEPROM. Consequently, the EEPROM need not be removed from its socket or printed circuit board during programming, and may be programmed in the field.

Abstract: An improved drive assembly for a straight line shear mechanism or like, reciprocably mounted mechanism of a glassware forming machine wherein the mechanism is coupled by an arm to a drive rod, the improvement lying in the provision of an adaptable joint between the drive rod and the arm. Such joint permits a limited amount of radial repositioning of the arm relative to the drive rod, and a lesser amount of axial repositioning and reorientation. A preferred design of such joint utilizes a hardened sleeve fitted around a segment of the drive rod, such sleeve having a flange to provide a radial surface. A rod nut placed at the other end of the sleeve provides a second radial surface. A bushing secured within an aperture of the arm by a bushing nut is housed around the sleeve between the sleeve flange and the rod nut.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the operation of the shears of a glassware forming machine. The control system incorporates sensors which produce signals representative of predetermined shear positions in each shear cycle, and in particular, makes use of the correlation between the duration of a Zero Crossover Signal and the point of maximum overlap of the shears. The system adjusts the time of deactuation of a fluidic drive assembly, and therefore, the overlap displacement, if the termination of the Zero Crossover pulse falls outside a defined "deadband". The Zero Crossover signal may also be monitored to provide alarm signals or shut the system down.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for automated and semi-automated installation of blind rivets, comprising mechanical, pneumatic, and electronic subassemblies, with self-diagnostic capabilities. The system includes a rivet transfer arm external to the installation tool, which receives pneumatically fed rivets in a "home" position and transfers the rivets to an "advanced" position of alignment with the tool's nosepiece. A mandrel collection system routes separated mandrels from the tool to a remote receptacle through a channel under vacuum. Various sensors detect rivet placements, mechanism positions, and air pressure conditions, and signals from such sensors together with user inputs are received by a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU diagnoses the state of the installation system, produces command signals for a plurality of solenoid valves to regulate the system pneumatics, and reports status and fault conditions to the operator.

Abstract: A device for automatically presenting mandrel rivets to the nosepiece of a rivet installation tool, which receives rivets from a supply in a slidably mounted transfer arm while the arm is in a retracted position, and axially and radially moves the arm relative to the tool axis to a position of alignment with receiving jaws within the tool. The rivet is then propelled into the tool's nosepiece from the transfer arm by an air blast. The presentation device may be separately mounted within a rivet installation machine, or may be mounted to the tool body in a hand-held configuration. A first version provides successive, separately actuated axial and angular movements of the transfer arm, while a second version provides simultaneous axial and angular movement of the arm. The rivet is held within the transfer arm by a vacuum, which vacuum may be rapidly changed to a positive pressure on command to propel the rivet from the arm into the tool.

Abstract: A technique for generating isotherms representing the cross-sectional temperature profiles of molten glass flowing in a forehearth channel. A plurality of temperature sensors are placed at predetermined locations within the plane of the channel cross-section, advantageously in a rectangular grid, to provide a matrix of temperature readings. Digitalized temperature readings from these sensors are routed to a processor, which interpolates these temperature readings to approximate the temperatures intermediate the various sensing points, and optionally beyond the array of sensing points. The isotherms are obtained by fitting a Lagrangian interpolating polynomial through the various recorded temperatures. The interpolated values thus generated may be used to provide real time displays of isotherms in the forehearth cross-section under examination, or may be included in a control loop.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for electronically controlling a servo motor drive for glass gob distribution apparatus, to provide accurate high speed motion of one or more scoops. At the set-up stage, the operator adjusts the scoop position with respect to each trough to align scoop and trough in a straight line. During automatic operation, upon receipt of a MOVE command a motion control computer provides digital output signals to move the scoops through a prescribed motion profile, such profile having suitable characteristics to move the scoops over various distances without vibration or overshoot. A digitalized cubic-parabolic-cubic (CPC) curve or similar cam profile is scaled to the amplitude and direction of the required motion, and the motion profile computer outputs command signals on a point-by-point basis over the time span of this stored motion profile. Such time span is designed to provide sufficient dwell time to allow the gobs to traverse the scoops.

Abstract: The drive system comprises a motor (10) to drive a glass gob producing feeder, a motor (18) to drive a gob distributor for distributing the gobs to sections of a glass container manufacturing machine of the individual section type, and a motor (34) to drive a container-removing conveyor. The drive means supplies electrical signals to cause the motors to operate at desired speeds. The drive system comprises a source (52) of a basic frequency signal which can be varied by varying means (54) to determine the speed of the entire production line, means (58) for producing a gob distributor controlling signal by dividing the basic frequency by a factor reflecting the number of machine sections, and means (62,66) for producing a conveyor system controlling signal by multiplying the basic frequency by a factor reflecting the number and spacing of the containers.

Abstract: A thermocouple jacket monitor is disclosed. The thermocouple monitor is constructed utilizing an inner jacket and an outer jacket with a replaceable conductive metal strip sandwiched between the inner jacket and a central insulator housing the thermocouple junctions. The conductive metal strip is connected to an alarm circuit in the thermocouple head. When the outer and inner jackets are corroded away by a molten material, such as molten glass, exposing the conductive metal strip to the molten material, the alarm such as a light on the thermocouple head, or the control panel or both, is lit notifying the operator that the thermocouple is damaged and needs to be replaced. If a two-way continuity alarm circuit is utilized, a second alarm light is activated when any portion of the conductive metal strip is corroded to the extent of being separated.

Abstract: A mold number reader for detecting code marks at the heel of a transparent bottle or the like, such code marks desirable being in the form of dots or balls protruding from the bottle's heel. During rotation of the bottle, its heel portion is illuminated with a structured light source in the form of a narrow rectangle, which light is selectively reflected by code marks and collected by field-type optics. The use of a wall defined light source of small area provides a high input signal level, while the field optics enjoys a high depth of field an hence decreased sensitivity to bottle placement during inspection. The light source may be a modulated laser diode and the signal processing electronics may include a demodulator to process the photodetector output signal. The use of heterodyned signal processing decreases the sensitivity to ambient light and other sources of noise in the output signal.

Abstract: An improved electronic control system for glassware forming apparatus having a heirarchy of machine level supervisory controllers (including a machine controller and an operator communications controller), section controllers, and individual mechanism controllers. The mechanism controllers may be dedicated to the control of a variety of functions admitting of automated control, such as servo-control of electrical motors, sequencing of solenoid valves, generating alarm signals, etc. The mechanism controllers include separate control programs designed for their associated forming mechanisms, and are subject to on-off timing control in real time from the section level controllers. In general, the machine controller and operator I/O controller handle set-up, operator modifications during operation, and other "non-real-time"interactions with the mechanism controllers; the machine controller also coordinates the operation of a plurality of mechanism controllers in accordance with machine-level parameters.