Abstract: A device for processing picked and eviscerated poultry backs, each having kidneys, fatty portions on opposite sides and a tail, the device including a first conveyor for advancing the backs successively longitudinally along a prismatic slide; a pair of cutters spaced transversely of the slide for trimming the fatty portions of the backs advanced along the slide; openings in the slide which register with the kidneys of advancing backs; a control system for applying vacuum to the openings when registered with the kidneys to remove them from the backs; a second conveyor extended transversely of the first conveyor for receiving the backs from the slide and advancing them transversely therefrom; and a second cutter disposed to trim the tails from the backs as they advance along the second conveyor.

Abstract: A base characterized by a substantially horizontally oriented plate adapted to receive a load, a vertically oriented post disposed beneath the central portion of the plate supporting the plate for pivotal motion about a plurality of horizontally oriented axes lying in the plane of the plate, and a pair of jack screws spaced ninety degrees apart and connected to peripheral portions of the plate, and a power train for selectively driving the jack screw, each independently of the other, for tilting the plate to achieve a leveling of a load supported thereby.

Abstract: A stuffing apparatus for a machine having a stuffing station and adapted successively to deliver objects, having cavities to be stuffed, to the stuffing station, the apparatus having a magazine housing individual segments of stuffing material; a plunger assembly borne by the machine for movement along a path of travel through the magazine to drive one of the segments from the magazine and into the cavity of an object in the stuffing station; and a mechanism for synchronously indexing the magazine transversely of the path of travel of the plunger assembly to position one of the segments in the path prior to each movement of the plunger assembly.

Abstract: In a very high or very low temperature duct system in which duct insulation is terminated at selected locations so as to be not coextensive with the duct, an annular metal perforated or mesh screen support flange is used, as a low conductor of heat or cold, between the duct and an outer insulation cover to retain the end of the insulation and to support its usually very thin cover. The screen may be Z-shaped in cross section having a small diameter annular portion to surround and be secured to the duct adjacent the end of the insulation. A generally radially extending portion of the screen extends outwardly from the small diameter portion and adjacent the end of the insulation. The periphery of the radially extending portion is in alignment with the outer peripheral surface of the insulation and the outer peripheral surface of the insulation cover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for impregnating a tube of absorbent material in which a mass of flowable material to be absorbed is inserted into the tube by a supply conduit, a vacuum is applied to the tube in spaced relation to the inserted material by a suitable source of vacuum, a flattening device is provided to compress the tube, and the tube is transported by an elongated conveyor through the flattening device commencing at the absorbent material and progressing toward the vacuum to spread the material from side to side of the tube and to extrude the material along the tube.

Abstract: A target release system, particularly suited for use in simulating the hunting of wild game, characterized by a portable signal transmitter for transmitting detectable signals in a terrestrial space environment, a plurality of visually secluded signal receivers for singly detecting signals transmitted by said transmitter, and a target release subsystem connected with each of the signal receivers for releasing at least one target in response to transmitted signals detected by the receiver.

Abstract: A wound roll of a strip of fibrous material having a first end portion forming an innermost plurality of superimposed contiguous layers and a second end portion forming an outermost plurality of superimposed contiguous layers, a plurality of punctures defined in each of the end portions, each puncture being characterized by a burr projected therefrom into interlocked relation with a puncture defined in an adjacent layer, whereby the end portions of the strip are secured together in the roll.

Abstract: A hitch for use in coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle characterized by a housing having bottom and top plates disposed in mutually spaced parallelism and a pair of converging side walls defining on opposite sides of the housing a first and a second throat disposed in coaxial alignment, said first throat being of a width dimension less than the width dimension of the second throat, an extensible link comprising a coupling arm seated between said plates having a width dimension slightly less than the width dimension of the first throat and projected from the second throat, a slot of a keyhole configuration comprising an elongated segment terminating in a bore, a retainer pin normally related to the plates and extended through the slot supporting the link for displacement to a retracted position wherein said link is extended through the first throat, and a cylindrical interlocking bolt integrally related to the retainer pin and configured to be inserted into the bore when the link is displaced to its retract

Abstract: A working table or desk having a grating for vertical storage of material in elongated form, such as rolled blueprints. The table has a vertically directed opening with grating forming rods extending thereacross to form spaces for inserting rolled documents for storage. A container is positioned below the opening on the floor to receive the lower ends of the material. The opening has vertical surfaces having spaced horizontally directed holes therein. Each hole on each surface is in alignment with an opposite hole in an opposite surface to receive the rods forming the grating. One of each pair of oppositely aligned holes is deeper than the other to receive a coil spring. Each rod is inserted into a deeper hole to be in abutment with the spring, the spring being compressed to permit the entry of the rod across the opening and when so compressed the other end of the rod is within the opening and in position to be forced into the opposite hole by the bias of the spring. The spring thus holds each rod in place.

Abstract: An implement for cutting canes, foliage and the like of a row crop, the implement having a frame adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, such as a tractor having a tool bar movable to and from a lowered position, for movement with the vehicle along a path of travel substantially parallel to the row crop; a cutting head mounted on the frame for movement to and from an extended cutting position; a mechanism borne by the frame for moving the cutting head to and from the extended cutting position; and a control system operably interconnecting the tool bar and the mechanism for moving the cutting head to the extended cutting position when the tool bar of the tractor is moved to the lowered position.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning containers and having a housing; a rotary cleaning mechanism mounted within the housing; a drive assembly for rotating the cleaning mechanism about an axis of rotation; a grasping assembly, having portions movable between grasping and release positions, borne by the apparatus for holding a container to be cleaned in a position about the cleaning mechanism substantially concentric to the axis; and a pressure system connected to the grasping assembly operable selectively to move the portions of the grasping assembly between the grasping and release positions.

Abstract: A method for denaturing a food product including the steps of intermixing a marking agent and a carrier agent which is immiscible with the food product at ambient temperature; heating the resultant mixture above ambient temperature to make the mixture flowable; and applying the mixture to the food product; and an apparatus for performing the method including a mechanism for intermixing the marking and carrier agents; a pump system connected to the mechanism and operable to pump the mixture from the mechanism into contact with the food product; and a heating system communicating with the mechanism and the pump system operable to heat the mixture above ambient temperature to impart flowability to the mixture.

Abstract: An apparatus having a frame with a work station therein and adapted for movement relative to a work object having elongated overhanging portions, a pair of rearwardly inclined elongated members mounted for rotational movement on the frame in spaced relation defining a path of travel for the work object therebetween and into the work station of the frame, and a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the members to carry the overhanging portions of the work object over the members to raise the portions along the inclined members to elevated positions during passage of the work object through the work station for the performance of a work operation in the work station.

Abstract: A wire rope sling having a coating for protecting material lifted thereby, and having eyes at both ends for engaging a crane hook. The coating is a flexible, abrasion resisting plastic, such as urethane, positioned on a substantial part of the sling intermediate the eyes. The coating is fixed to the wire rope and thick enough to withstand the maximum load of the wire rope.

Abstract: An apparatus having a plurality of supports adapted to receive containers with portions of the containers spaced from their respective supports, an assembly mounting the supports in spaced relation to a first path of travel for movement along a second path of travel approaching the first path of travel, and a control system for individually detecting when the portions of the containers reach the first path of travel and thereupon terminating movement of their respective supports along the second path of travel.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a maze card of laminated plastic construction having defined on the opposite faces thereof a singular path extending between the peripheral zone of the card and its center, and passing at least once therethrough via a gate or gates delineated by indicia.

Abstract: A system including conduit connected to a source of solid waste, a shredder for particlizing solid waste, an igniter for igniting particlized waste, a gas burner for initially heating the liner of the igniter to a temperature above ignition temperatures for the waste, and an air duct for transporting burning particles of waste along a vortexing path extending downwardly through the igniter, then through an agitating conduit, within which the burning particles are maintained in suspension and are finally introduced upwardly into a particle trap within which combustion of ignited particles is completed. A by-products recovery system is connected with the trap for collecting ash, for subsequent usage, and for recovering heat to be returned to the gin.

Abstract: A sanitary backwashing system for an automatic milking machine having a milking unit and a source of vacuum, the system including a valve having a first port connected to the milking unit and a pair of second ports alternately connected to the first port, one of the second ports being connected to the source of vacuum; and a source of sanitizing fluid under pressure connected to the other of the second ports and the valve having a first position in which the valve connects the milking unit to the source of vacuum while blocking off the other of the second ports and a second position in which the valve connects the milking unit to the source of sanitizing fluid while blocking off the source of vacuum.

Abstract: A baling device for use in baling layered material such as folded newspapers and the like, characterized by a planar base having defined therein an upwardly opening cruciform slot for accommodating the passage of a twine-bearing needle beneath a stack of materials supported thereby; angularly configured support members removably disposed at each of the four corners of the base for laterally supporting each of the vertical sides of the stack; and a housing telescopically received by the supports including a hinge cover for accommodating access to the interior of the device.

Abstract: An improved nozzle for an apparatus for denaturing food products, the nozzle having an inlet end mounted on a source of flowable food product material which is propelled in a stream along the axis of the nozzle, a planar surface contacting the material and extending at right angles to a plane normal to the axis, and a duct extending along the axis for injection of a denaturing agent to form a streak of the agent extending longitudinally of the stream.