Abstract: To cinch a web end portion onto a web-free core, the core is driven by a core drive mechanism at an outer surface speed in excess of the speed at which the web end portion is fed to and threaded around the core. The core drive mechanism slips but continues to drive the core after the web end portion is cinched onto the core. After the web is wound to form a roll of predetermined diameter, the core drive mechanism is disengaged from the core to terminate the core drive. The outer surface of the partially built up roll further substantially simultaneously engages a builder roller which surface drives the roll.The core drive mechanism further comprises a gudgeon for engaging and rotatably driving the core, and a rotatably mounted drive wheel which is driven by the builder roller. The drive wheel is coupled to the gudgeon by a bearing for driving the web-free core at an outer core surface speed greater than the web speed.

Abstract: A web slitting and winding apparatus having at least a pair of vertical, parallel, plate-like slitter modules slidably movable laterally relative to one another for varying the distance therebetween. Each slitter module further has a pair of flanges extending toward one another for supporting a pair of coacting knives. A web is slit by the knives into a plurality of web strips which are guided and wound onto cores.

Abstract: Apparatus including a chamber within which are mounted spaced rollers and an elongated housing interposed between a pair of rollers for heating or cooling a web transported over the rollers. A suction device in fluid communication with the chamber establishes a pressure differential on opposite sides of the web for assisting in producing a predetermined angle of contact of the web with the rollers, and for drawing fluid from the housing along the surface of the web for heating or cooling the web.

Abstract: Chucking apparatus is disclosed for engaging articles such as screw-type caps for applying the caps to containers. Caps are bottom or center fed to a fluid operated chuck device which grips the caps and screws them onto a container. The chuck device comprises a plurality of jaw members pivotable to a cap gripping position. An annularly shaped, resilient member surrounds the jaw members. As fluid under pressure is introduced into a chamber in fluid communication with the resilient member, the member is compressed causing the jaw members to pivot to the cap gripping position. The chuck device, which is connected to a constantly operating motor through a torque clutch, screws the cap onto a threaded portion of the container. The torque clutch is set such that when the cap is properly tightened on the container, the resistance to further tightening causes the clutch to disengage.

Abstract: Plastic film cartridges generally comprise a variety of component parts plus a label affixed by adhesive to the cartridge housing. The cartridge housing (a plastic) is recyclable when the label and adhesive are removed and the housing is separated from the other non-compatible plastic and non-plastic cartridge components. In accordance with the invention, multi-stage reclaiming apparatus is disclosed wherein film cartridges are first rough chopped to provide physical separation of the cartridge components. The cartridge housing pieces are separated from other cartridge components on the basis of differences in specific gravity in a series of specific gravity separation tanks. To remove the labels and adhesive from the housing pieces, a separation tank contains a detergent solution capable of assisting in dissolving the adhesive. The tank is provided with a group of heating elements to cause the detergent solution to boil in the immediate vicinity thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for classifying or orienting articles having surface areas which differ in the characteristic usually referred to as "smoothness" or "roughness". An air stream is directed against the articles to impinge against one of the surface areas. The apparatus is configured so that if the impinged area is smooth, a laminar flow condition will be established which draws the article towards the air stream. If the impinged area is rough, on the other hand, the article will be blown outwardly from the air stream. One embodiment has particular utility with flat articles having opposed surfaces, one of which is relatively smooth and the other of which is rough (being interrupted by ribs or like discontinuities). The articles are transported leaning against a flat support member so that a random one of the respective opposed surfaces will move across an air stream which is expelled from a hole in the support member.

Abstract: Article unloading apparatus is disclosed for use with a molding machine, the molding machine comprising first and second mold members reciprocally movable relative to one another between mold-open and mold-closed positions. The article unloading apparatus comprises a pair of guide rails movable apart to a retracted position and toward one another to an article receiving position. The pair of guide rails and the mold members are coupled together such that movement of the mold members to the mold-closed position, for molding an article, causes the guide rails to move to their retracted position in which they do not interfere with the molding operation. Movement of the mold members to the mold-open position, for unloading the molded article, causes the guide rails to move toward one another and between the mold members to their article receiving position. In the article receiving position, the guide rails are spaced from but in register with an article molded by the mold members.

Abstract: A method of adhering a plurality of articles, each having one marginal edge thicker than the opposite marginal edge onto a tape to form an article-tape product. The article may be a pod which is usable, for example, in instant photographic products where the pod is interposed between image-recording and print receiving sheets and advanced between a pair of pressure applying members for rupturing the pod and dispensing and distributing the processing liquid between the sheets.

Abstract: An enclosed conduit such as a tube, and a method for processing webs with a liquid solution, wherein the web is positioned helically around the periphery of the tube. The tube has openings, such as being porous, at least in the helical path of the web. A liquid solution cushion or bearing is formed between the web and periphery of the tube in at least the helical path of the web by continuously directing the liquid solution outwardly through the openings. In one embodiment, the web is transported by drive rollers or belts against which the web is forced, and edge deflected between the convolutions of a helical rail or band wrapped around the periphery of the tube. In another embodiment, the tube is provided with axially spaced, radially extending protuberances on its periphery for edge deflecting the web along a helical path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adhering rupturable photographic pods containing a photographic processing liquid onto a tape to form a photographic pod-tape product. The pod is usable, for example, in instant photograhic apparatus where the pod is interposed between image-recording and print receiving sheets and advanced between a pair of pressure applying members for rupturing the pod and dispensing and distributing the processing liquid between the sheets.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the length of each of a series of continuously advancing and non-transparent articles, each article possessing an actual length L distributed about a predetermined or nominal length L.sub.o. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises two radiation/sensor pairs spaced apart by the nominal length L.sub.o. The radiation/sensor pairs are positioned along an axis parallel to the direction of article advancement. One radiation/sensor pair acts as a trigger to indicate when either the leading or trailing edge of the advancing article reaches a predetermined position, at which time the signal developed from the remaining radiation/sensor pair is memorized or recorded. This memorized voltage is an indication of the position of the leading or trailing edge of the advancing article and thus is a measure of the article's actual length. Disclosed apparatus includes a circuit to compensate for the effects of temperature variations, component drift, etc.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for pulling webs of random lengths from respective cartridges. Each web has an end portion which protrudes from its respective cartridge. The cartridges are advanced by an endless belt cartridge conveyor in a first direction while the web end portions are sandwiched between a pair of endless belt conveyors and advanced in a second direction at an acute angle with respect to the first direction. Due to such divergent advancement of the cartridges and the web end portions, the webs are pulled from the cartridges. A cutting wheel is provided to cut the web after being pulled from the cartridges.

Abstract: A nonmechanical shearing mixer uses fluid velocity to create sufficient turbulence to completely mix two fluid components. Mixing is accomplished in an annular mixing chamber defined by inner and outer cylindrical walls. A first fluid is forced under pressure outwardly through openings in the inner cylindrical wall, the openings being oriented and arranged to cause the first fluid passing therethrough to undergo a generally rotational fluid flow pattern in the annular mixing chamber. A second fluid entering the annular mixing chamber through openings in the outer cylindrical wall is similarly caused to undergo a generally rotational fluid flow pattern but in the opposite direction of the rotational fluid flow pattern of the first fluid. The two opposing rotational fluid flow patterns thus "clash" in the annular mixing chamber and create a large amount of turbulence and shearing action resulting in effective and complete mixing of the two fluids.

Abstract: A card injecting apparatus in which an air gun directs a jet of air underneath a stack of articles for lifting the articles above a supporting surface to form a space between the lowermost article and supporting surface. Additional jets of air are directed by the air gun for injecting a card into the space. The air gun is formed of two portions, one portion defined by a stationary member and the other portion defined by a slider member which is movable relative to the stationary member between two positions for successively feeding cards from spaced apart hoppers to the air gun.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking or unstacking trays comprising a tray holding mechanism and a drive member for moving the tray holding mechanism from an initial position along a prescribed closed path. In the stacking mode of operation, upon movement along the path, the tray holding mechanism moves downwardly depositing a first tray held thereby onto a second tray previously supplied to a receiving station on a tray support platform such as a conveyor. Continued movement along the path causes the tray holding mechanism to engage the second tray and to raise the stacked first and second trays to permit a third tray to be supplied to the receiving station by the conveyor. This sequence is continued until as many trays as desired are stacked. Alternatively, the disclosed apparatus may be switched to an unstacking mode wherein trays are deposited in succession from a stack to the receiving station on the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for splicing the trailing end of an expiring web of an old stock roll to the leading web end of a new stock roll. The new stock roll is provided with a splicing tape for initially releasably attaching the leading end of the new stock roll to its outer web convolution. A plurality of sensors are provided for positioning the new stock roll and splicing tape in a precise presplicing position prior to the splicing operation. During the splicing operation, a web guiding and severing mechanism guides the expiring web into engagement with the new stock roll, severs the expiring web, and splices the trailing end of the expiring web to the splicing tape on the leading end of the new stock roll.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for use in transporting microfiche master frames, preferably containing microfiche, either from a loading station to an operating station and from the operating station selectively back to the loading station for a repeat transport by said apparatus, or to an exit station. The transport apparatus comprises a feed mechanism for feeding a master frame from the loading station to the operating station, and from the operating station to an elevator. The elevator lifts the master frame which is then selectively ejected from the elevator to either a recycle means or an exit means. The exit means delivers the master frames ejected thereto to an exit station from where the master frames may be removed from the transport apparatus, while the recycle means delivers the master frames delivered thereto back to the loading station from where the master frames are recycled through the transport apparatus.

Abstract: An improved method for reclaiming waste plastic materials generated during an extrusion coating operation. A rotating funnel or other device is used to gather the hot molten plastic waste material and twist it into the shape of a rope. The plastic rope is passed through a cooling bath and one or more pinch rollers. After passing through the rollers, the plastic rope is spooled, chopped, or fed to a plastics processing machine.

Abstract: A mix tank of suitable shape is provided with a suitably located nozzle, for thoroughly mixing at least one material (solid or liquid) with a liquid supplied under pressure to the nozzle. The tank configuration and nozzle location combine to produce a generally figure eight fluid flow pattern marked by low levels of aeration and sudsing.

Abstract: A shuttle mechanism movable between initial and final positions for accurately, intermittently advancing a stretchable web containing spaced apart, encapsulated articles such as dental packets under a punch for cutting individual articles from the web. Front and rear claw tips enter succeeding sealed joints or grooves in the web in the initial position of the shuttle mechanism. While in this position, the rear claw is moved toward the front claw so that the pitch of the grooves is equal to the normal groove pitch of the web in its unstretched condition.