Abstract: Disclosed is a luminescent solar collector having a beveled edge meeting an extended face surface thereof at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees, ideally essentially 45 degrees, and physically attached and optically coupled to a relatively small area of said surface a photovoltaic cell adjacent to and parallel to said edge. Usually the beveled edge is a straight edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of a gob of molten glass as it enters a cavity in the mold of an automatic glassware forming machine. The detector includes a phototransistor sensor and circuitry for generating a gob detection signal. Two or more detectors can be combined to generate a signal indicating that the last gob has entered a multi-cavity mold so that the forming process can begin. The gob detection signal can also be utilized to adjust the timing of the glassware forming process for differences in the travel time between the gob forming apparatus and the mold.

Abstract: Two sections of a multiple section-type of glass forming machine are disclosed in which each section is comprised of a single parison forming station and two blow molding stations with a pair of transfer arms for alternately transferring and reverting the formed parisons from the parison station to the blow molding stations. A take-out means is provided for each blow molding station to move the blown ware to a dead plate. A sweepout device moves the ware from the cooling dead plate to a conveyor. A common conveyor for all of the forming machine sections is provided for conveying the ware away from the sections which are physically arranged as in-line forming machine sections.

Abstract: A control system for a glassware forming machine which has a plurality of individual machine sections each capable of individually forming glassware articles. The control system includes a machine supervisory control means connected to a separate section control means for each of the individual sections and to a data storage means. The machine supervisory control means loads each section control means with a control program and timing data from the storage means for forming a specific article of glassware. As the individual sections form the glassware under the control of the section control means, the machine operator can change any of the timing data for each individual section. The machine supervisory control means obtains the current timing data from each of the section control means at predetermined intervals and sends it to the storage means. Thus, in the case of a power failure, for example, the current timing data is available and can be loaded into the section control means to resume operation.

Abstract: An improved liner element for a closure cap which is adapted to be disposed within the closure cap and bonded to the interior end surface thereof. The liner element is characterized by having a laminated structure comprising a backing layer or cushion layer of surface-sorbent material, such as fabric, a relatively thin sheet of paper or comparable surface-sorbent cellulosic or paper-like membrane or substrate, having an inner face which is surface-bonded to the interior end surface of the closure and having an outer face which is surface-bonded to a barrier layer of pliant polymeric material. The barrier layer of polymeric material is selected to possess the properties of being essentially impermeable to water vapor and gaseous transmission so as to be suitable for closure caps utilized in conjunction with containers for packaging comestible products and carbonated or non-carbonated, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Abstract: A method of making blown plastic containers having internal ribs is disclosed. The first step of the disclosed method is to prepare a substantially amorphous blowable plastic parison such that a major portion thereof is at a temperature within the orientation temperature range of the plastic, and a strip portion has a higher modulus of elasticity than the major portion. The second step is to blow out the parison within a blow mold such that the major portion expands faster than the stiffer strip portions and interior folded ribs are formed by the strip portions and adjacent areas of the major portion. Various means of performing those steps are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for forming a molecularly oriented thermoplastic container, wherein a thermoplastic blowable shape such as a parison or a blown pre-form is blown to the configuration of the container within a blow mold cavity. The temperature of the blowable shape is within a range conducive to molecular orientation during the blowing step, which is rapidly performed by hot blow air at a temperature between about 100.degree. to 400.degree. F. Typically, a blowable shape formed of polyethylene terephthalate is blown while the shape is at a temperature within the range of 165.degree. to 200.degree. F. by the introduction into the shape of hot blow air at a temperature within the range of about 165.degree. to 200.degree. F. If desired, the blowable plastic shape may be axially stretched mechanically in addition to being blown in order to improve the biaxial orientation of the thermoplastic material in the final article.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plastic drum having a circumferential recess in the sidewall of the drum near its top, in the form of a frustum of a cone and adapted to receive a one-piece snap-on metal ring carrier structure of a disclosed design that allows handling of the drum with fork lifts, parrot beaks and similar chime engaging devices.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a fluid product dispenser. The dispenser includes first and second containers. The second container is positioned within the first container. The product is placed in one of the containers and a dispensing nozzle or opening is in communication with the product. The second container has a flexible wall adjacent the product. Fluid is introduced into the other container. A force is applied to the flexible wall to urge the product outwardly through the dispensing nozzle or opening.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for heating thermoplastic parisons to a substantially uniform temperature across their wall thickness prior to a blow molding operation. The parisons are rotated about their longitudinal axes while being conveyed adjacent a thermal conditioning means, which includes vertically spaced radiant heating elements and a gaseous cooling source. The heating elements radiate infra-red rays having a wave length to penetrate and heat the full thickness of the parison wall; whereas the gaseous cooling source directs a stream of air onto the surface of the parison facing the heating elements to prevent the parison surface from being overheated. Additionally, each of the heating elements may be individually regulated so that the parisons can be differentially heated along their axes to control the wall thickness of the final blown articles.

Abstract: A glassware forming machine including means for distributing gobs of molten glass to individual sections of the machine at a predetermined rate, drive means responsive to electrical power of a selected frequency generated by a power source for driving the gob distributing means at the predetermined rate and an automatic control means responsive to timing signals for controlling each of the individual sections in a predetermined timed sequence of steps for forming the glassware wherein the power source generates the timing signals at a frequency proportional to the selected frequency of the power source. Each piece of glassware is formed during a machine cycle which is related in duration to the gob distribution rate and typically is defined in terms of 360.degree.. The power source includes a timing pulse generator which synthesizes the timing signals from the power source electric power frequency at the frequency required for defining 360.degree. per machine cycle.

Abstract: A glassware forming machine including means for distributing gobs of molten glass to individual sections of the machine at a predetermined rate, drive means responsive to electrical power of a selected frequency generated by a power source for driving the gob distributing means at the predetermined rate and an automatic control means responsive to timing signals for controlling each of the individual sections in a predetermined timed sequence of steps for forming the glassware wherein the power source generates the timing signals at a frequency proportional to the selected frequency of the power source. Each piece of glassware is formed during a machine cycle which is related in duration of the gob distribution rate and typically is defined in terms of 360.degree..

Abstract: Linear copolyesters are contemplated having the following repeating units: ##STR1## in their backbone structure. These polyesters have utility in the packaging industry for packaging various comestibles.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for conditioning strain hardenable thermoplastic materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate, so that a highly developed strain crystallized morphology may be established during a blow molding operation. In the method, a thermoplastic parison is heated to a temperature in a range conducive to molecular orientation and then initially stretched at that temperature. Next, the stretched parison is cooled to a temperature slightly below glass transition temperature and stretched further at the reduced temperature. The combined stretching in these two separate phases is chosen to condition the material so that it is either on the verge of being strained hardened or has actually started strain hardening. Thereafter, the parison may be again heated to a temperature conducive to molecular orientation and blown; to a final article, with the resulting expansion of the material during the blowing operation achieving the desired strain crystallized morphology and strain hardening.

Abstract: Disclosed are phosphorus glasses containing beryllium and fluorine and Nd.sup.3+ as the active lasing species.

Abstract: A cup packaging device for seriately receiving, counting and loosely nesting into a group on a first conveyor segment a preset number of cups, nesting the cups into a more tightly nested stack on a subsequent conveyor segment, conveying the tightly nested group of cups at an accelerated speed past a verifying device to determine if the number of cups in the group matches the previously counted number, laterally offloading to a holding tray a stack of cups in response to a count mismatch signal or a downstream component malfunction signal, advancing an acceptable stack into a bagging device, conveying the bagged stack longitudinally out of the bagging device and then transferring the stack laterally into a collection bin. The conveyor system comprises separately driven conveyor segments which are operated at speeds that vary from one another and are also changed during each cycle.

Abstract: During thermal processing of saturated polyesters in the molten state gaseous oxygen is excluded and as a result acetaldehyde formation is minimized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically producing a frozen parison sample in an automatic glassware forming machine which includes a blank mold station for receiving a gob of molten glass for forming a parison in a first portion of a predetermined sequence of steps and a blow mold station for receiving the parison and completing the formation of the glassware in a second portion of the predetermined sequence of steps. When an operator requests a frozen parison sample, a control means automatically alters the first portion of the predetermined sequence of steps by extending the time the parison typically remains in the blank mold such that the parison freezes. The frozen parison sample is then transferred to the previously disabled blow mold station where it can be subsequently removed for inspection.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a hollow plastic article having a separate full ring-shaped member bonded to the article within the blow mold, and the article so made.

Abstract: A gas discharge device, including an interface and addressing means connected to a pair of opposed electrode arrays to energize a plurality of discharge cells, each cell including proximate electrode portions of at least one electrode in each opposed array, the dielectric charge storage member insulating at least one of the proximate electrode portions from the gas. A sustainer voltage source generates an alternating polarity wave form which maintains a discharge sequence in all cells which are in the "on" state. In accordance with the present invention, an enhancement pulser means generates an enhancement voltage pulse which is cyclically superimposed on the sustainer wave form. The enhancement pulse has the same polarity as the sustainer wave form and is generated to coincide with each discharge of the cells in the "on" state to increase the brightness and performance of the gas discharge device.