Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping an article with stretch film. The article is first advanced against a vertical web of film to partially enfold the film longitudinally about the article and to advance the article to a longitudinal folding station where a tail of the film is folded up against the bottom of the article and at which film wings laterally project from the article. The partially wrapped article is then advanced to a stretch and lateral fold station at which the film wings are clamped by clamping jaws which are moved laterally away from the article whereby to stretch the film. The article is then lifted and the clamping jaws are advanced toward each other and beneath the bottom of the article whereby to fold the wings at least partially against the article while maintaining stretching tension on the film. Thereafter, the article is advanced through a plow to complete the wrapping of the wings against the article.

Abstract: A liquid isolator to prevent cross-contamination in the supply of liquid to and between animal racks. The isolator comprises cylindrical concentric tubes arranged to form a liquid storage chamber, a standpipe in the chamber, and a liquid entry tube within the standpipe. Near their upper ends, a liquid transfer port is provided between the standpipe chamber and the liquid storage chamber. An air lock is formed between the liquid transfer port and the level of any liquid in the storage chamber. The air lock isolates liquid in the standpipe chamber from the liquid in the storage chamber. Check valves are also provided in a liquid inlet at the top of the isolator and a liquid outlet at the bottom of the isolator, thus to prevent back flow through the isolator.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping an article with stretch film. The article is first advanced against a vertical web of film to partially enfold the film longitudinally about the article and to advance the article to a longitudinal folding station where a tail of the film is folded up against the bottom of the article and at which film wings laterally project from the article. The partially wrapped article is then advanced to a stretch and lateral fold station at which the film wings are clamped by clamping jaws which are moved laterally away from the article whereby to stretch the film. The article is then lifted and the clamping jaws are advanced toward each other and beneath the bottom of the article whereby to fold the wings at least partially against the article while maintaining stretching tension on the film. Thereafter, the article is advanced through a plow to complete the wrapping of the wings against the article.

Abstract: The freezing chamber of a frozen or semi-frozen confection freezer has a mixing rotor having a shaft which extends through an opening in a wall. The seal between the shaft and wall comprises an elastomeric cup having a rim engaged with the wall about said opening. The cup has a hub engaged with the shaft and a yieldable skirt between the hub and the rim. The hub has a socket which receives a metal ring with an oblique wear surface. An O-ring is engaged between a fillet on the shaft and the oblique wear surface on the ring whereby the cup is self-centering with respect to the shaft, notwithstanding any tendency of the shaft to nutate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying adhesive attaching tapes to pads, such as diapers, in which an elongated strip of adhesive tape having an adhesive face and a non-adhesive back is folded longitudinally about a hinge line to form tape wings having their non-adhesive backs together and their adhesive faces facing away from each other. A release liner is applied to the adhesive face of one of the wings, leaving the adhesive face of the other wing exposed. Discrete folded tape segments are severed from the folded strip and are transferred from the vicinity of the severing tool to the vicinity of the pad by drawing the lined wings of the folded tape segments by vacuum against a vacuum drum. The adhesive face of the exposed wing faces outwardly of the drum. The drum is rotated to adhere the adhesive face of the exposed wing to a portion of the pad in the course of drum rotation.

Abstract: A tank level indicator having a mounting sleeve and a floating indicator rod slidably mounted in the sleeve. The sleeve has an inner wall from which projects inwardly a series of circumferentially spaced guide pads with gaps therebetween. The pads guide and space the indicator rod with respect to the inner wall. The remainder of the sleeve interior is free of such pads to leave a substantial clearance space between the inner wall of the sleeve and the indicator rod.

Abstract: Apparatus for making corrugated sheet material, primarily intended for use in heat exchangers as secondary heat exchange surfaces, includes a pair of rolls rotatable in opposite directions to draw sheet between the rolls.The rolls are made up of laminae each with the same corrugated profile having teeth circumferentially spaced around the laminae. The teeth of each lamina are spaced from the teeth of adjacent laminae so that the sheet is sheared into interconnected strips each of corrugated form, the corrugations being displaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the strips.The corrugated material produced by the apparatus has improved heat exchange characteristics by virtue of the presentation to a flow of fluid over the material of a plurality of free edges of the material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of recovering filler from a sanitary pad. The pad typically has a film backing and a cover sheet and filler therebetween. Such a pad is laid out flat and advanced through a cutter which opens up the cover to expose the filler. The filler is sucked from the pad for salvage and the film backing is discarded.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating liquids from soft particulate food solids, especially for cottage cheese. A tensioned belt is partially wrapped around a foraminous drum to compress a layer or bed of food particles advancing on the exterior of the drum wall through a separation zone beneath the belt. The belt run opposite the drum wall is free to flex and yield and to expand and contract the cross-sectional area of the separating zone, depending upon the thickness of the bed of food particles in said zone. Accordingly, delicate such particles will not be damaged or broken up into small particles, as would happen if a thick bed is forced through a zone of fixed cross-sectional area. Moreover, pressure is maintained on the bed when it is thin. A belt tightener is provided which will maintain a desired tension on the belt so that the belt will always exert a predetermined desired pressure on the bed.

Abstract: A bottle filling and closing machine and a bottle labeling machine are mounted on opposite sides of a bottle conveyor line close enough together so that both machines can be operated by a single operator. The filling and closing machine, the labeling machine, and the conveyor means extending therebetween are normally driven in synchronism by a common motor. A clutch is included in the drive means for the labeling machine to enable it to be disconnected from the filling and closing machine, and an auxiliary drive motor is coupled to the labeling machine to enable it to be driven independently of the filling and closing machine. The conveyor means extending between the two machines can comprise conveyor star wheels or conveyor worms.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for loading a fresh bale of stacked wood pulp sheets into a continuously rotating bale milling cradle of a fluff generator, usually on top of a partially exhausted bale. A bale loader cradle is mounted above the bale milling cradle and is provided with mechanism for selectively holding the bale loader cradle stationary while the bale milling cradle continues to rotate and while a fresh bale is loaded into the bale loader cradle. When it is desired to transfer the fresh bale into the bale milling cradle, the two cradles are driven in synchronism with the cradles aligned. The floor of the bale loader cradle is then retracted and gravity transfers the fresh bale from the loader cradle into the bale milling cradle. After transfer has been completed, the bale loader cradle is stopped in alignment with a bale delivery conveyor to ready it to accept another fresh bale.

Abstract: A bottle filling machine is adapted for circulating cleaning liquid through its combination gas and liquid storage tank and conduits, filler valves and other fluid passageways communicating therewith at high velocity by partitioning the tank into input and output chambers with a float that is urged into sealing relation by buoyancy and by pressure differential developed on its opposed sides as a result of the pressure drop produced in components that communicate between the chambers.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping an article with stretch film. The article is first advanced against a vertical web of film to partially enfold the film longitudinally about the article and to advance the article to a longitudinal folding station where a tail of the film is folded up against the bottom of the article and at which film wings laterally project from the article. The partially wrapped article is then advanced to a stretch and lateral fold station at which the film wings are clamped by clamping jaws which are moved laterally away from the article whereby to stretch the film. The article is then lifted and the clamping jaws are advanced toward each other and beneath the bottom of the article whereby to fold the wings at least partially against the article while maintaining stretching tension on the film. Thereafter, the article is advanced through a plow to complete the wrapping of the wings against the article.

Abstract: A cow trainer hung from an electric wire has a disconnect switch between a metallic hanger bracket and a metallic stem or rod which carries the cow contact bar. The switch comprises an insulating sleeve having a bore in which one end of the stem slides. A pair of insulating hanger straps interconnect the sleeve and the stem whereby the weight of the stem and cow contact bar normally pull the straps to a fully extended position in which the end of the stem is in spaced relationship to the hanger bracket and out of electrical contact therewith. The straps yield upwardly when the stem is subject to upward movement when the cow humps her back, thus to permit the stem to slide upwardly in the bore and make electric contact with the hanger bracket and shock the cow.

Abstract: An exhaust hood for kitchens, spray booths, etc., is provided with an air intake plenum having a nozzle spout which is adjustable to inject air from the plenum into the hood on selectively different injection paths. The nozzle spout desirably has an adjustable lip which is perforated. The spout turns on a bearing for adjustment purposes and there are flexible seals between the plenum and the nozzle spout.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mixing foundry mold catalyst and carrier gas when the catalyst is in the liquid phase and the carrier is in the gaseous phase at standard conditions of temperature and pressure. The catalyst liquid is heated to vaporize it and the resulting catalyst gas is then mixed with the carrier gas under control of an automatic gas flow regulator which maintains the mass ratio between the catalyst gas and the carrier gas at the desired level in the gaseous mixture notwithstanding variations in the flow rate of either or both gases. The gaseous mixture is then blown through foundry molds and cores to cure the resin binder therein.

Abstract: A fluff distributor comprises a fluff chamber, two or more vacuum screens in said chamber and onto which screens fluff is laid in batts. The screens have separately controllable drive mechanism whereby each screen can be independently driven at a desired rate of speed. Accordingly, the volume of fluff output from said chamber for each screen is similarly separately controllable. Each screen supplies fluff to one of several converting machines. The converting machines can operate at different rates of speed requiring different volumes of fluff and by reason of the separate control for each distributor screen, the same fluff distributor can supply fluff to different converting machines operating at different demand levels for fluff.

Abstract: Flying splice apparatus and method for splicing the leading end of a new web of rolled web material to a running web. The running web is trained between two coacting rotors respectively provided with coacting web press jaws. When a splice is to be made, the rotors are turned concurrently through a cycle in which the jaws coact to press the leading end of the new web against the running web. The jaw on one rotor comprises a vacuum pad to releasably hold the leading margin of the new web thereagainst. A double-faced adhesive tape is applied to the opposite margin of the new web. The jaw on the other rotor comprises an anvil and when the rotors are cycled to coact, the adhesive tape on the leading edge of the new web is pressed against the running web and the anvil jaw to adhere said leading edge to the running web and strip it from the vacuum pad, thus effectuating the splice.

Abstract: Conveying apparatus for upright standing bottles between two synchronously driven bottle treating machines. The apparatus comprises a star wheel and a worm, both being driven synchronously with the bottle treating machines. Supporting and guiding rails for the bottles are provided with gaps through which broken bottles and fragments thereof are discharged.