Abstract: A continuous casting assembly has a pair of contiguously counter-rotating belts for controllably forming a continuous cast metal ribbon. One of the belts is chilled and forms a casting surface for the cast ribbon, while the other belt is intimately positioned to hug the ribbon and improve the quality of the ribbon. The two belts are squeezed together to compress the ribbon by evacuating between the belts and allowing the atmospheric pressure to act on the opposite surfaces of the belts. A sealing box adjacent the lateral edges of the belts includes elongated floating seals and provides the evacuation by connection to a vacuum source. The floating seals are formed of plastic rods and are retained in the sealing box by end wiper seals which also serve to seal against the belts at the ends of the box.

Abstract: A stove adapter for attachment to and use with a camping lantern includes a substantially cylindrical base member having an upper cooking surface and a plurality of extension arms pivotally attached to the base member. When opened radially outwardly, the extension arms provide an enlarged cooking surface for supporting, for example, a large skillet. When retracted inwardly, the bail of the lantern swings overhead to carry the lantern and the attached stove adapter. When opened, a first portion of each extension arm extends downwardly and engages the side of the cylindrical base member to support the arm in the plane of the cooking surface. When closed, the first portion extends upwardly to provide a stop for retaining cookware on the stove adapter. An over center spring collar is also provided to maintain the extension arms in both the open and closed positions and to retain the cookware on the cooking surface when the arms are retracted.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for bulk material is disclosed having a former transforming packaging film into a tube, interdigitating means engaging and advancing the film over the former, delivery means for providing a charge of material or product to the package at the bottom of the tube and sealing and cutting jaws to complete the package. The interdigitating means for feeding the new length of material includes idler rollers mounted on support arms. The rollers engage the sides of the tube, flatten the tube and upon continued movement form an elongated zig-zag path to provide the next package length. Before feeding the film F, stripping action can be initiated by initial film feed movement. An upstream brake is engaged to hold the film during the stripping action and released during the film feeding action. Springs on the upper and lower rollers assure alignment of the film and prevent over stressing of the tube.

Abstract: A safety interlock system for mounting on the support assembly of a row-crop harvester is provided to protect against damage from a loose or broken gathering member being drawn into the chopper of the harvester. Specifically, the system includes a guide sprocket mounted on an idler arm that is urged by spring means to tension the gathering member. If the gathering member is loose or breaks, the idler arm swings forward under the force of the spring. A linkage, connected to the idler arm, moves in response thereto and interacts with a finger lever to activate a switch. Activation of the switch energizes an interrupter means, such as an electronic clutch, that interrupts the drive to the gathering member. The switch is protected from damage, dirt and debris by being mounted away from the gathering member within a compartment in the support assembly.

Abstract: A carton transfer apparatus including an inverting arm having a carrier for transferring individual blanks of flexible paperboard material. The inverting arm pivots so that its effective length remains constant throughout its feeding movement. The inverting arm specifically pivots about a follower on one of its ends; the follower being movable along a track to vary the location of the pivotal axis during the feed movement. The track is secured to a pivotable support member. A feed arm drives the inverting arm and the support member is rotated in timed relationship by an interconnecting link. As the follower on the inverting arm moves along the track, the effective length of the arm is maintained substantially the same so as not to impose acceleration movement on the carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of clamping tube-like members on a clamping support, for cutting off portions of the tube-like members are provided. Clamping forces are applied to the tubes alternately in horizontal and vertical directions in such a way that the clamping forces generated are higher than clamping forces which are applied only in a horizontal direction, without however causing permanent deformation of the tube-like members. The apparatus comprises a horizontal clamping mechanism and a vertically displaceable clamping member. A measuring device is associated with the horizontal clamping mechanism and the vertically displaceable clamping member, for measuring the geometrical deformation of the tube-like members which occurs during a clamping operation. The measuring device produces a signal to stop the clamping operation before the degree of deformation of the tube-like members reaches an inadmissible value.

Abstract: A combined holding and stripper jaw apparatus is provided for use in a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The apparatus includes a pair of opposed holding jaws operated in reciprocating fashion to close and grasp the packaging film tube following the product filling step of the cycle. A stripper jaw is pivotally mounted to the underside of each holding jaw. The stripper jaws are each movable between a ready position adjacent the holding jaws and a strip position for stripping the product in the packaging film tube. Sealing jaws independently mounted between the holding and stripping jaws are separately cycled to close and seal the packaging film into a bag. As the sealing jaws close, a cam surface on the sealing jaws contacts an angled portion of the stripper jaws forcing the stripper jaws downward against spring tension to the strip position. In addition, the holding and stripper jaws include relief features in the edges contacting the packaging film for the venting of trapped air.

Abstract: An acoustical shield assembly and mating thread preguide unit include a series of acoustically insulated panels that substantially surround a sewing machine so as to be operative in attenuating any generated noise. A portion of the top panel, including a downwardly extending flange, is hinged to move between an opened position allowing access to the sewing machine and a closed position for mating with the preguide unit. The preguide unit is mounted to the sewing machine by a pair of adjustable mounting rods and includes two face plates spaced apart by means of a pair of spacer posts. Each face plate includes eyelets between the spacer posts for the passage of thread to the sewing machine. When the hinged portion of the top panel is closed, an elongated opening is formed between the downwardly extending flange and the top edge of the adjacent rear side panel of the shield assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for winding an advancing filament or the like being fed by a transfer device. The filament is clamped to a rotating winding wheel and the filament leader is cut for disposal. The apparatus includes a combined clamping and cutting element mounted for rotation with the wheel. The element includes a pivotable arm having a free cutting knife facing the direction of filament travel. When actuated, the arm pivots from an open position away from the wheel to a closed position wherein the arm engages the filament and the wheel so as to retain the advancing filament on the wheel. Following clamping engagement the rotating brush rollers pull the filament leader forcing the filament against the cutting edge as the wheel continues to rotate so as to cut the filament leader.

Abstract: A resealable container cap includes a skirt portion that is permanently attached to the container about a container opening. A plug portion, hinged to and received within the skirt portion, engages the container wall to seal the opening. A score line initially connects and provides a line of weakening between the skirt and plug portions. Initial removal of the plug portion from the skirt portion to open the container tears the connection along the score line leaving a clearly visible indication that the container has been previously opened.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to sharpeners for blades having a cutting edge, and is particularly concerned with knife sharpeners of the type where two sharpening elements (generally known as "steels") are located in a housing in overlapping V-formation and spring-loaded towards each other, with an access opening in the housing to allow the blade of, e.g., a knife or pair of scissors to be pressed against the steels, and when reciprocation of the blade effects sharpening of the cutting edge. Such sharpeners known hitherto, are arranged to provide a constant V-angle between the sharpening elements, and accordingly produce the same V-shaped cutting edge irrespective as to the thickness of the blade.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a hinged or clamshell type carton from a paperboard blank includes a feed conveyor for transferring the blank to a forming die. A hinge erecting conveyor is provided in the feed conveyor guide path to erect the hinge. A pair of pusher fingers form a shuttle conveyor in the guide path cooperating to transfer the partially erected blank to the die. Side channel guides arranged along the conveyor guide path maintain the partially erected paperboard blank in alignment with the erecting conveyor. Side channel guide extensions converge to maintain contacting engagement with the blank as selected carton panels converge during hinge formation and to support the blank in contacting registration on the face of the die and in the forming head path. A hinge gathering guide with hold down rails positioned above the erecting conveyor accurately locates and positions the carton blank and hinge.

Abstract: Top closing doors are pivotally mounted on a trailer and are provided with a driving mechanism including a drive cylinder connected by a pin to an endless chain extended in figure-eight fashion around opposed sprockets at the ends of the trailer. The doors are driven by swinging arms connected to the sprockets so as to move in opposite directions during opening and closing and provide full 270.degree. opening movement. The chain includes a master drive link to provide driving stability and an adjustable link passing in guiding relationship to the master link and for providing the required driving tension. The master link is driven by a drive pin connected to a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A storage box is provided for holding and displaying diskettes including a container portion, a lid portion joined by a living hinge to the container portion and a U-shaped linkage member pivotally interconnecting said container and lid portions to form a combined latch and stand for the box. The hinge is flexible and provides the tension necessary for the snap action movement during the opening and closing of the lid portion. In the closed position, the hinge is under tension to provide a seal. When the lid portion is held in the open position, the U-shaped linkage member forms a stand for the box. Preferably, the geometry of the linkage member is selected to position the container portion at an angle of substantially 45 degrees to the horizontal for display of the diskettes for easy access.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing jams in a carton coding machine or the like are disclosed. The apparatus includes a pivotally mounted coding assembly actuated by a cylinder and cooperating solenoid operated directional control valve. A photo transceiver and reflector are provided for detecting a change in article flow, such as is caused by a defective article or article jam. Control means, responsive to a detected defective article or article jam, substantially simultaneously interrupts power to the coding assembly and displaces the coding assembly from the path of the articles. This prevents the defective article from wedging in the coding assembly and jamming the machine. After a delay period, the coding assembly is returned to the operative position for coding the following articles.

Abstract: An article carrier is provided with adjustable side walls pivotally mounted on a base and clamped to hold articles in place. To provide the pivoting action, the base includes a plurality of holes in two parallel rows for loosely receiving a pair of connecting pegs from each of the side walls. This arrangement allows for the angle and distance between the side walls to be altered to generally conform with the size and shape of the articles within the carrier. The side walls are connected together with elongated cross members, each including a slot substantially throughout the length for receiving threaded connectors from each side wall. Wing nuts are provided to secure the side walls to the cross members following adjustment and rigidify the carrier for securely holding the articles. A stored position is provided by the two walls laying flat on the base, the cross members on top and the wing nuts screwed on retaining posts on the base.

Abstract: A weighing system for making a predetermined weight of a product comprised of individual articles having variable weights by selecting the product stored in a combination of a predetermined number of storage cups. Quantities of the product having targeted weights are distributed to a plurality of scale-controlled hoppers for accurate weighing. The weighed product is fed from each of the scale-controlled hoppers to a plurality of storage cups associted with each of the hopers, and the product weight associated with each storage cup is registered. Specific combinations of storage cups are tested to determine whether the combined product weights therein add to make the desired weight, within acceptable limits. The first combination found to make the weight is used, and the appropriate storage cups are emptied to a container for receiving the product. The appropriate storage cups are refilled from the scale, and the process repeats.