Abstract: An automatic cup dispenser for dispensing cups at high speeds and at predetermined intervals from a stack of cups wherein each cup includes a bottom wall, a side wall and a peripheral lip comprising a plurality of opposed pairs of rotors mounted for rotation about vertical axes. The rotors are supported in position such that the upper end of each rotor engages the lip of the lowermost cup in a stack. Each rotor has a helical groove in the periphery thereof for engaging the lip of the lowermost cup and guiding the cup downwardly, the helical groove of adjacent rotors extending oppositely, and adjacent rotors being driven in alternate directions. The length of each groove is such that on rotation of the rotors, the lip of the lowermost cup is engaged and moved downwardly out of the stack while the remainder of the cups in the stack are held in position by a shoulder on the rotor.

Abstract: An injection nozzle for use in an injection molding apparatus including a generally annular base portion which supports a generally cylindrical hollow side wall portion. The hollow side wall portion terminates at its upper end portion in an inwardly beveled heat transfer control portion. The beveled heat transfer control portion terminates in an angled mating portion which is of complementary angle to the angled mating surface of an injection nozzle accepting recess in the injection mold portion of the apparatus. The injection nozzle structure provides for controlled heat transfer control from the sprue portion of an injection molded parison to prevent crystallization in the sprue portion of the parison.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for cooling a molten stream of glass flowing in a firebrick hearth from an entrance end to an exit end of a glass furnace forehearth, the method comprising the steps of: cooling the bottom of the hearth which cools the molten glass by forcing air through ducts in the hearth bottom insulation; cooling each side of the hearth which cools the molten glass by forcing air through ducts along the side of the hearth.

Abstract: An apparatus for splicing webs from separate web rolls comprising a splicing station across which a web from one roll is moved, a vertically movable brake movable downwardly for engaging the web to momentarily interrupt the web, a fixed knife blade associated with the station beneath the web and a movable knife blade which is movable from a first position above the web to a second position below the web. The apparatus supports the taped end of a web from a second roll in position above the movable knife blade and is operated to move the movable knife blade to sever the trailing end of the web from the first roll and tape the leading end of the second roll to the severed end of the first roll providing a butt splice. The movable knife blade is manually removable from below the spliced web, after being moved downwardly to splice the webs, and is insertable to a position above the second web for a subsequent splicing of the web from the second roll to another roll.

Abstract: A multi-layered blown plastic container is formed by injection molding a first thermoplastic parison, axially stretching the first parison at its orientation temperature, injection molding a second thermoplastic parison around the first parison, and blowing the multi-layered parison at its orientation temperature to provide an oriented container, the inner layer being oriented in the axial and hoop directions, and the outer layer oriented in the hoop direction.

Abstract: An improvement in a method for producing paper is disclosed. The paper-producing method involves the steps of preparing a slurry of high lignin content having a predetermined freeness and containing from 1 to 20 percent by weight of fibers, refining the slurry to enable the production therefrom of paper having predetermined properties, forming a web from the slurry and drying the web. The improvement involves treating the high lignin content slurry, prior to the refining step, with a sodium, potassium or lithium alkaline sulfite/sulfide/carbonate solution at atmospheric pressure at a temperature of at least 60.degree. C. and at a pH of at least 10 for from 10 to 60 minutes. The amount of the sulfite/sulfide/carbonate solution should be sufficient that the treatment increases the strength of paper made at the same degree of freeness. The slurry should be one in which at least 50 percent of the fibers are softwood fibers and containing not more than 3.0 percent of residual cooking chemicals.

Abstract: A child resistant package comprising a container and a closure. The container has an open end, a thread on the inner surface of the open end, diametrically opposed lugs on the outer surface of the open end having a radially extending surface. The closure has a top wall, a peripheral skirt and an annular wall spaced radially inwardly from the peripheral skirt, and having an external thread on the outer surface thereof interengaging the thread on the inner surface of the upper end of the closure. The skirt has radially engageable lugs extending radially inwardly from the skirt. The skirt is flexible such that the closure can be engaged with the container by interengagement of the threads and rotation of the closure in one direction until the lugs on the skirt engage the lugs on the container and the closure may be removed by radially compressing portions of the closure at about 90.degree.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a unitary molded article and a method for producing a multi-part closure for assembly on the neck of a container, the closure involving an axially shiftable valve element which is movable between open and closed position. All parts of the multi-part valve element are integrally molded in a common molding cavity and the various relatively movable parts are interconnected by thin annular webs which are severed and the parts placed in proper operative condition during the assembly of the closure to the neck of a container by a conventional applicating machine.

Abstract: A dimensionally stable plastic canning ring for securing vacuum sealing lids to food containers during processing, is fabricated of thermoplastic material reinforced with fibers. The fibers are circumferentially aligned in the plastic media whereby the canning ring exhibits thermal expansion which is lowest in the direction of fiber alignment, i.e., circumferentially. The circumferential thermal coefficient of expansion substantially matches that of a glass container with which the canning ring is utilized. Due to the similarity of thermal coefficients of expansion, relative dimensional differences between the plastic ring and the glass container occurring during processing are negligible. The ring is manufactured by an injection molding process. The mold cavity includes a single gate disposed generally adjacent its periphery.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved finger hole construction for lifting a two cell box. The divider in the box is formed by two abutting vertical panels and finger holes are respectively cut from side walls integrally formed with each said panel and in vertically aligned relationship, the horizontal width of the finger holes being limited to accommodate only two adult fingers so that the insertion of four fingers into the two aligned holes results in a division of the lifting force between the two side walls and tearing is resisted by the close proximity of the integral vertical panels to the point of application of the lifting force.

Abstract: A web handling apparatus for selectively positioning web rolls so that the web from each roll can be moved past a work station such as a splicing station comprising a frame and a suspension arm pivoted to the frame for swinging movement about a horizontal axis. The arm is movable between first and second positions on each side of a vertical plane containing the horizontal axis. A pair of roll supports are positioned on the arm such that when the arm is in the first position, one roll is supported so that the web thereof is aligned longitudinally with a work station, and when the arm is in the second position, the other roll is supported with the web longitudinally aligned with the work station whereby the web can be removed and moved horizontally past the work station.

Abstract: A child-resistant package comprising a container having a neck with threads thereon and a child-resistant closure. The closure comprises a cap made of organic plastic material and having a top wall and a peripheral skirt, having threads thereon adapted to engage the threads of the container. The skirt has a radial flange and a plurality of circumferentially spaced depressions on the upper surface of the radial flange. The closure also comprises a ring telescoped over the cap and surrounding the skirt of the cap. The ring has a plurality of lugs extending upwardly from the radial flange of the cap and adapted to engage the depressions upon application of a downward force on the ring. Each depression on the radial flange has a substantially vertical surface at one circumferential end adapted to be engaged by a lug on the ring when the ring is rotated in a direction to thread the closure onto the container.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improved venting arrangement for a solar energy collecting device of the type wherein a double walled tubular-type structure is employed with the outer wall of the inner tube carrying a solar absorbent coating and the interior of the inner tube being periodically filled with a heat transfer fluid. To prevent such heat transfer fluid from completely filling the inner tube, and thus establishing an undesirable siphoning action, and to concurrently permit the unrestricted venting of air out of the inner tube during filling and into the inner tube upon drainage of the fluid therefrom, this disclosure provides a vent tube extending into the upper regions of the inner tube and having a floatable valve structure mounted on its upper end and arranged so as to effect a seating of the valve and the closing of the vent tube when the fluid level in the inner tube reaches a desired height.

Abstract: Copolyesters of iso- or terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol, 1,3 bis(2-hydroxyethoxy) benzene, and possibly other diols, have lower 0.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 permeabilities because of the 1,3 bis(2-hydroxyethoxy) benzene reactant. Also disclosed are hollow containers, sheet and film made from such copolyesters.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of sealing a container mouth, and especially the mouth of a glass container, and the glass container so sealed. The method involves oxidizing the container rim portion, applying a first annular thin coating of an organo-functional silane compound and then a second annular thin coating of an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer over the first coating on the rim portion. A thin imperforate membrane such as aluminum foil having a thermoplastic sealing material such as Surlyn copolymer over its sealing surface is sealed to the container rim portion with heat and pressure.

Abstract: A thermoplastic threaded closure for a fluid container comprises a relatively rigid, generally curvilinear dome, and an internally threaded annular skirt depending from the periphery thereof. An annular plug sealing member depends from the inside concave surface of the dome, and is constructed and arranged for a slight interference fit within an associated container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced venting ports may be provided through the dome, between the plug and the skirt.

Abstract: A freestanding unitary container fabricated from an organic thermoplastic material is disclosed which includes a neck portion terminating in a main body portion having a generally flat bottom portion. The main body portion includes opposed centrally located collapsible label panel areas having upstanding rim portions adjacent the margin of the centrally located label panel areas. A flexible hinge portion is disposed between the upstanding rim portions and the label panel portions and provides an area of flexion between the label panel areas and the rim portions. As a partial vacuum is formed in the interior of the container, the label panel areas are drawn inwardly. The flexible hinge portions flex to accommodate the change in the label panel areas and isolate the rim portions and adjoining container sidewall portions form structural distortion.

Abstract: A safety closure comprises a cap having a pair of locking lugs which engage complimentarily disposed camming surfaces on the associated container and a plug or valve style liner disposed within the cap. The liner includes a generally planar disk having a hollow cylindrical plug defining an outer surface having a compound taper and a conical projection spaced concentrically about said cylindrical plug. The liner extends into the finish of the container and seals it during axial translation of the closure corresponding to 180.degree. or less rotation thereof. The liner, due to its simplicity, may be fabricated of material which exhibits resistance to the product within the container but which would otherwise be unsuitable or difficult to mold into the cap.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a machine for making a plastic covering on a rigid base article which in the illustrated form comprises a glass bottle and a conforming shrunken plastic covering thereon. The plastic is fed in oriented sheet form to the turret apparatus, cut into lengths and wrapped and seamed on successive mandrels as sleeves. Bottles are simultaneously processed to preheat condition and indexed over the sleeves, the latter telescopically assembled on the rigid base article, i.e., the bottle, and the combination carried to a heat tunnel. The plastic sleeve shrinks into snug surface fit on the adjacent surface portion of the rigid base article.The bottle is preheated in one of two embodiments by: (1) a preheat tunnel on the machine which raises the bottles from room temperature to about 220.degree. F., or (2) the preheat is carried over as latent heat in the glass bottle from the annealing lehr, a part of the bottle manufacturing process.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the manufacture of glass film having a thickness not in excess of 0.003 inches and accomplished by drawing the film through a narrow slot-like orifice. The walls of the orifice are defined by an electrically conductive, hot glass resistant metal and electrical currents are introduced into the metal walls of the orifice to effectively maintain the central portions of the orifice walls at a higher temperature than each of the two lateral end walls of the orifice, thereby producing a temperature differential in the drawn film on the order of 40.degree. F. between the edges of the film and the central portions of the film.