Abstract: An apparatus for filling two cylindrical canning containers with cylindrically compacted and shaped tuna chunks. The apparatus has a flared compression channel for relieving excessive compression in the compacted tuna chunks, a movable shaping wall for controlling the density of the tuna chunks by changing the volume of the channel, and a movable blade between two semi-cylindrical cavities in the shaping wall for splitting the relieved compacted tuna chunks into two streams which then flow easily into the cavities for forming semi-cylindrical ends prior to cutting the formed ends into cylindrical cakes for injection into the canning containers.

Abstract: Rolls of individual plastic bags are formed on apparatus that overlaps the bags before the bags are fed into the roll to provide a compact roll of individual bags. The apparatus overlaps portions of the bags so that a plurality of bags can be continuously fed into the roll even though the bags are not mechanically connected end-to-end to adjacent bags on the roll.

Abstract: Rolls of individual plastic bags are formed on apparatus that overlaps the bags before the bags are fed into the roll to provide a compact roll of individual bags. The apparatus overlaps portions of the bags so that a plurality of bags can be continuously fed into the roll even though the bags are not mechanically connected end-to-end to adjacent bags on the roll.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for connecting the opposite ends of a belt conveyor stringer to longitudinally spaced ground engaging support stands without the use of tools. The stringer is made from a length of round pipe, the ends of which have diametrically outwardly projecting locking lugs for locking the stringer ends in slotted brackets fixed to the top of the support stands. The outer wall of the bracket has a gravity actuated lug keeper plate, or a spring loaded lug keeper plate, which locks the lug in the bottom of the slots in the bracket when the stringer is rotated in one direction.

Abstract: A drive and drive controller for a vibratory conveyor, wherein the drive comprises a pair of pole pieces offset along a direction of action of the drive, and moveable in the direction of action of the drive when energized by a power signal. Preferably, one of the pole pieces is mounted to a tray portion, and the other to a kinetic balancer portion, of the conveyor. The power signal comprises a series of pulse trains of controllable frequency and duration, whereby the drive unit may be vibrated at a controllable frequency and amplitude so that the vibratory conveyor may be readily tuned to optimal performance. Optionally, the voltage level of the power signal may be reduced by an autotransformer in series with the power signal to independently control the power level.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture and stacking of bags, pouches and the like made from a sheath of a thermoplastic material in which an upper welding jaw and a belt driven horizontal cutting blade are slidably mounted to each other for vertical movement relative to each other and the lower welding jaw is also mounted for moving vertically and has a downstream projecting holding shoulder which has a horizontal transverse counter-blade-groove cooperating with the blade in a jaws lowered and closed position for cutting a portion of the sheath which is flexed between the shoulder and a clamp which presses an advanced segment of the sheath to a stacking table. The stacking table includes a vertically moveable pin carrier for impaling the severed end of a formed bag onto a transverse row of needles.

Abstract: A strong, light-weight track shoe for use with a track-laying vehicle. The shoe includes a cast body portion having three bored lug segments spaced along the front of the shoe and a pair of bored lug segments spaced along the rear of the shoe. The cast body portion has a fin-like guide member for engagement with sprocket and bogey wheels. Pairs of reinforcing ribs extend lengthwise along the shoe which form the longitudinal sides of sprocket tooth engaging openings. A single grouser extends along the width of the shoe to reinforce the body portion and to provide traction between the shoe and ground as the vehicle moves along a terrain. The grouser member and the rear lugs form the leading sides and the trailing sides of the sprocket tooth openings, respectively.

Abstract: A bag making machine having a combination of a first dancer with multiple-rolls and a second dancer with a single roll for accumulating a web of flattened tubular thermoplastic material between constant and intermittent web feed sections of the bag making machine.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture and stacking of bags, pouches and the like made from a sheath of a thermoplastic material in which an upper welding jaw and a belt driven horizontal cutting blade are slidably mounted to each other for vertical movement relative to each other and the lower welding jaw is also mounted for moving vertically and has a downstream projecting holding shoulder which has a horizontal transverse counter-blade-groove cooperating with the blade in a jaws lowered and closed position for cutting a portion of the sheath which is flexed between the shoulder and a clamp which presses an advanced segment of the sheath to a stacking table. The stacking table includes a vertically moveable pin carrier for impaling the severed end of a formed bag onto a transverse row of needles.

Abstract: The turn tilt table is preferably mounted on a self propelled mobile vehicle for carrying a test article such as a military vehicle weighing up to 70 tons. The mobile vehicle is driven to a plurality of test sites at which radar beams or the like are directed against the test article for determining vehicle radar signatures or the like. During testing, the turn tilt table may be tilted anywhere between a horizontal position and 45.degree. from the horizontal; and may be pivoted 360.degree. about an axis normal to the plane of the turn tilt table to any of a plurality of positions within 360.degree.. If vehicles are being tested, a ramp is connectable to the table to allow the vehicle to be driven onto or off the table.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for converting thermoplastic web material, flat or tubular, to produce bags. A conventional bag machine produces web segments provided with a group of centrally located holes and each segment is transferred by a conventional rotary transfer device to one of a plurality of platforms which are sequentially located at a stacking station. The platforms are provided with upwardly projecting pins on which the web sections are stacked. After the accumulation of a desired number of web segments on the platform located at the stacking station, the loaded platform is indexed away from the stacking station to a perforating station and then to a cutting or cutting and blocking station to thereby produce two bag stacks, each of which are retained on the associated platform by the pins.

Abstract: The multipurpose vehicle of the present invention is designed to operate in and around dry docks and wharfs and its capable of lifting and moving propellers from propeller shafts within areas confined by a ship's rudder and to carry the propeller to an area away from the ship to be lifted to the wharf by crane. The propellers may weigh as much as 75,000 pounds and be 23 feet in diameter. The vehicle may also be used to accurately position keel blocks and haul blocks weighing up to 25,000 pounds in positions to support a ship. The vehicle may be lifted by crane out of dry dock to test padeyes for safety and certification by applying up to a 50,000 pound pulling force to the payeyes. The vehicle's upper arm can be extended to about 40 feet high or can be lowered to a level permitting the vehicle to pull or carry articles into buildings on the wharf.

Abstract: Disclosed is stacking arrangement for accumulating a plurality web segments of substantially identical dimensions on sharpened pins projecting upwardly from a support plate located at a stacking station. As each web segment is produced, it is firmly held or grasped on opposite sides of its medial area and impalled on and penetrated in the medial area by the sharpened pins. Release of the segment from the grasping force occurs after the segment has been penetrated by the pins.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for induction heating weldable surfaces and moving the heated surfaces together with sufficient force to upset the surfaces while in a substantially inert atmosphere for thereby welding the surfaces together. The apparatus includes a rotary bus bar joint for moving the induction coil between the weldable surfaces, and also includes a clamping mechanism for handling members having weldable surfaces of different sizes and shapes. A pair of separately controlled induction coils may be used with or without laminations for heating tubular or solid members to an upsetting temperature.

Abstract: A track compensator for adjusting tension of an endless track on a track-laying vehicle and for absorbing changes in track tension during vehicle operation. A tension adjuster, connected to an idler wheel, adjusts the distance between a drive wheel, at one end of the track, and the idler wheel at the other end of the track. A shock absorber mounted between the vehicle and the tension adjuster absorbs stress on the track caused by debris between the track and vehicle wheels.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture and stacking of bags, pouches and the like made from a thermoplastic material in which the upper welding jaw and a belt driven angled cutting blade are mounted in fixed manner to the machine. The lower welding jaw is mounted for moving vertically and has a downstream projecting holding shoulder which has a transverse groove with stepped edges forming a blade support in the raised position of the lower jaw. A blocking shoe is provided a short downstream distance from the holding shoulder and has a blade spring member attached to a bottom surface which extends in an upstream direction toward the lower welding jaw. The blade spring operates to first tension the thermoplastic segment in the raised position of the lower jaw prior to the cutting by the transverse moving blade and then to deliver and hold the severed end of the formed bag on a resilient pad on the stacking table.

Abstract: A welding control circuit for induction heating of a pair of articles to a welding temperature and for pressing the heated articles together. A pair of induction coils are positioned in a gap between the portions of the articles to be heated and a pair of temperature sensors monitor the temperature of both articles and controls heating rates so both articles reach a welding temperature at approximately the same time. The temperature sensors provide signals which cause the coils to be retracted from the gap and cause the heated articles to be pressed together to form a welded pair. When similar articles are to be welded together a single coil can be used to provide induction currents which heat the articles.

Abstract: An elastomeric compression element for an electromagnetic exciter unit which has a generally semi-circular outer periphery, an elongate inner periphery, end portions merging the inner and outer peripheries, a planar base surface and a contoured contact surface. The central portion of the element is dimensioned to have a height and thickness greater than that at the end portions for providing a non-linear spring action with the reciprocating free mass inside the unit during electromagnetic conduction.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for converting thermoplastic web material, flat or tubular, to produce bags. A conventional bag machine produces web segments provided with a group of centrally located holes and each segment is transferred by a conventional rotary transfer device to one of a plurality of platforms which are sequentially located at a stacking station. The platforms are provided with upwardly projecting pins on which the web sections are stacked. After the accumulation of a desired number of web segments on the platform located at the stacking station, the loaded platform is indexed away from the stacking station to a perforating station and then to a cutting or cutting and blocking station to thereby produce two bag stacks, each of which are retained on the associated platform by the pins.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary vacuum arm bag or sheet transferring and stacking device and a stack-handling system enabling an indexing of counted bag stacks. The transferring device grasps and retains the bags adjacent margins transverse to the direction of web advance while at least a portion of the opposed margins parallel to such direction are spaced inwardly from the arms to define a slot or gap thru which stack-retaining fingers project contributing to remove a bag from a pair of arms and retaining the bag in a stack wherein respective margins overlie each other. Also disclosed is a stack-handling system having the ability to remove a completed stack from the stacking station and yet allow, if desired, continuous bag machine operation and, as a result, uninterrupted transfer of sheets or bags to the stacking stations.