Abstract: A machine for placing and heat-shrinking oriented plastic tubular sleeve labels around containers is described. The machine has a turret with means for holding and rotating containers around the turret periphery including rope drive means. There is also provided sealing means for heating and pressing the heated seam of the sleeve, the means including a free floating self-aligning pressing bar.

Abstract: There is herein disclosed a take-out arm mechanism for a glass forming machine particularly suited for the simultaneous handling of four or more containers wherein the arm is provided with an integrally molded and formed counterweight carried thereby to counteract the weight and mass of four take-out tongs, holders and attendant mechanisms. In addition, a novel tensioning means is provided for maintaining an adjustable, constant tension in an endless chain which extends between a pair of sprockets carried within the take-out arm. The sprockets and the chain together form, in essence, a parallel linkage mechanism which maintains the tong holder end of the take-out arm vertical relative to the movement of the arm through 180.degree. about the axis of the fixed spindle.

Abstract: A gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes is shown, at least one thereof being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member containing a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one Lanthanide Series rare earth including CeO.sub.2 or La.sub.2 O.sub.3. In one embodiment, a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel has an electrical memory and is capable of producing a visual display, the panel having an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric charge storage members, each of which is backed by an array of electrodes that are oriented with respect to the array behind the opposing member to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes constituting a discharge unit.

Abstract: A method for detecting a substantially transverse refractive defect in the sidewall of a transparent container is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of directing a filtered source of diffused light toward the sidewall of the container to provide an intensity gradient varying in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the container and sensing the intensity of light at a plurality of positions in a field-of-view aligned along a path in the plane of the sidewall and generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the container.

Abstract: A crown closure and container comprising a glass container having a crown finish without threads, a closure comprising a rigid plastic outer shell and an inner cup-shaped liner. The outer shell comprises a top panel and a peripheral skirt. The liner is made of soft resilient plastic material and comprises a top wall and a peripheral wall. Interengaging cam surfaces are provided between the inner surface of the skirt of the shell and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the liner such that when the closure is applied to the crown finish by an axial motion of the closure relative to the container, the liner if forced into the shell and the upper portion of the liner engages the crown finish of the container. The peripheral skirt of the outer shell is formed with threads so that the upper portion of the liner is forced into the threads and will allow for sufficient interference with the liner and finish to permit removal of the closure by rotation of the shell in relation to the liner.

Abstract: A package is provided that has connector carrier means for connecting a first multicontainer pack and a second multicontainer pack, each container having a top finish, each multicontainer pack having a top carrier for engaging the finish of a container, the connector engaging at least two of the finishes of the containers in each pack to provide a stable portable package.

Abstract: A carbonated beverage package comprising a container having an opening with a peripheral lip defining a free edge, and a downwardly and outwardly inclined sealing surface spaced from the free edge of the peripheral lip. A closure of plastic material, such that it will flex in thin cross section, is provided with an annular wall, a radial wall engaging the free edge of the peripheral lip of the container, and a transverse wall defining a convex surface facing inwardly of the container. The closure has a downwardly and outwardly inclined integral annular sealing surface at the juncture of the axial wall and transverse wall which engages the sealing surface of said container and places the axial wall under tension.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus is a quadruple gob glass parison forming machine. Its distinguishing features are the mounting of the mold carrying inserts in the mold arms so that equal closing forces will be applied to all the molds, and that the mold arms are formed with extensions so that a conventional mold closing motor can by coupled to the arms and the closing force will be greater by at least 25%. The four molds are opened and closed within the space that has normally been considered cramped, even when three molds were being used.

Abstract: There is provided a method of continuously producing a highly oriented heat shrinkable single layer of amorphous styrene foam or a composite of a thermoplastic film and an amorphous polystyrene foam to form a heat shrinkable two-layer sheet that is easily stored without substantial shrinkage at ambient temperature, the outstanding single-layer sheet or two-layer sheet being adapted for heat shrinking rapidly to form a label around a container or a cup.

Abstract: A child resistant package comprising an open-mouth container having a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections extending radially outwardly adjacent the open end thereof, each projection defines a notch facing downwardly, and a closure having a top panel and an annular skirt depending from the periphery of the top panel, and a plurality of radially inwardly extending and circumferentially spaced locking lugs on the inner surface of the skirt. The locking lugs are adapted to engage the notches in the projections on the container. A tamper-indicating member comprises an annular ring having portions extending between the lower edge of the skirt of the closure and a portion of the container and operable to normally limit axial movement of the closure. The ring offers a visual indication that the contents have not been tampered with and the ring must be removed before the closure can be removed. The container includes a specially designed inclined surface provided with dual slopes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a limited torque applicating mechanism for applying caps to the threaded necks of containers. Torque is transmitted to a conventional cap applicating head from a rotating power shaft by positioning a ring of permanent magnets on either the driven or driving element and disposing a ring of high magnetic permeability material concentrically adjacent on the other of the driven or driving elements so that the torque transmitted between the driving and driven elements is limited by the magnetic attraction between the ring of permanent magnets and the ring of high permeability magnetic material. The apparatus further incorporates a mechanism for adjusting the relative axial position of the ring of permanent magnets with respect to the ring of high magnetic permeability material to permit selective adjustment of the amount of torque transmitted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting glass tubes for fire checks and other defects is disclosed. Each tube is positioned on transport equipment and moved through an inspection area as it is rotated about its longitudinal axis by a spinner mechanism. A broad source of diffused light illuminates each tube in the inspection area. A camera is positioned above the moving line of tubes and includes an array of photosensitive diodes arranged parallel to the longitudinal axes of the tubes. A check in a tube will reflect a higher intensity light to the camera than a non-defective portion of the tube. By averaging the signals from the first few diodes for each longitudinal scan of the camera, a reference voltage level can be electronically determined for each scan. Any signal generated by a diode element of the camera which is greater than the sum of the reference signal and a predetermined signal indicates the presence of a defect in the tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for accepting preheated or ambient containers in single file to an eighteen-head handling turret that will carry the containers through a generally circular path by their necks. The containers are transported through 320.degree. of the circle described by the chuck-carrying turret. The other 40.degree. of the circle is the zone where the chucks are open and the containers that are labeled move away from the turret and heated containers are entering. The chucks are rotated about their axes by a chain-driven mechanism, and while rotated, pass between spaced ovens to shrink theremoplastic sleeves about the containers.

Abstract: A vapor detection tube is disclosed, the tube holding an adsorbent material for adsorbing vapors, the tube having at least one end with a constriction near the end and the diameter at the far end of the tube being of about the same diameter as the main portion of the tube. There is disclosed plastic sealing caps for sealing the ends of the tube for safe and contamination free handling and shipping, the tube being so constructed and arranged that it can be easily broken at the constriction in a clean and uniform manner to provide an open tube for sampling and the tube being easily sealed by sealing members after the sampling is finished and before analysis is made.

Abstract: When multiple gob feeders are used in which an enlarged tube is necessary to accommodate a row of plungers, a substantial surface area of glass is exposed to radiation or convection cooling and, to avoid excessive heat loss, a pair of heat baffles are used which extend downward into the tube at either side of the row of plungers. The baffles have lower portions which occupy a significant part of the space between the plungers and tube, and act as barriers against the movement of heat up through the space therebetween. The pair of baffles are so configured that they may be raised from the tube without requiring the removal of the plungers. Further, the baffles are supported in the tube by the tube support and therefore will be raised or lowered with the tube when it is adjusted.

Abstract: A device for use with machines having plural article fabrication or tooling stations and an exit path remote from the stations indicates the specific fabrication or tooling station upon which a given individual article was formed. The device includes a display device having indicia such as numerals which correspond to the plural stations and drive means which causes a specific indicia to be displayed as an article from the corresponding remote tooling station traverses a given reference location along the exit path. The device expedites rapid tracing or malfunctions to specific ones of the plural forming stations.

Abstract: A photoreactive plastic composition degradable by ultraviolet radiation, said composition consisting essentially of a photodegradable polymer having uniformly dispersed therein about 0.01-10% by weight of at least one photosensitizer. There is also provided a process for the preparation of the photoreactive plastic composition. The photoreactive plastic compositions are useful for making plastic articles, particularly plastic packaging materials.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sealing top end flaps of cartons into engagement with the inner walls of the cartons comprising a horizontal support plate, a first pair of juxtaposed parallel axes rollers mounted adjacent one end of the plate, a second pair of juxtaposed parallel axes with all the rollers having their axes rollers mounted adjacent the other end of the plate, with all the rollers having their axes lying in a common horizontal plane and means for vertical reciprocating support plate. After glue is applied to the inside of the top end flaps and walls of the carton the rollers are moved into engagement with the end flaps and carton walls to seal them together.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for orienting the seam of a cylindrical sleeve label or conical label, the label being of a heat shrinkable plastic material and being formed of a length of the plastic with an overlie to form a seam, means for holding a stacked column of labels, means for rotating the labels including rollers, aligning means for aligning the seam of each label at the bottom of the stack, the aligning means including aligned wire fingers that contact the seam and stop the rotation of the label container, each label being adapted for application over the top of a container to form a sleeve label thereon.

Abstract: Hot runner injection molding apparatus for coinjecting two thermoplastic materials sequentially through separate channels to form at least a two-layer sandwich material is provided. There is a valve means for instantaneously switching the flow of thermoplastic material from one channel to the other channel, the valve means preferably comprising a shuttle ball member.