Abstract: A machine for feeding injection molded plastic lids from a gathering area to which they have been delivered in either scrambled or stacked relationship to a delivery point where the lids are oriented for subsequent delivery to a lid stacking machine or to a point of use. The lid feeding machine comprises a first driven belt in a generally horizontal plane but slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal on its longitudinal axis and a second driven belt in a generally vertical plane but also slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal on its longitudinal axis, the belts being juxtaposed in approximately 90.degree.

Abstract: A package for a loaf of bread comprising a flexible, conventional plastic bag which encloses a loaf of bread and a U-shaped support member of cardboard material within the bag and embracing the loaf of bread. The support member presents a base wall which normally underlies the bottom of the loaf and a pair of opposed end flaps attached to the base wall and extending normally vertically therefrom whereby the support member is generally U-shaped in configuration to embrace the loaf of bread therewithin. The end flaps are each adjacent a corresponding end of the plastic bag and it is desirable that one end of the bag be of a transparent material whereby the outer surface of the end flap of the support member adjacent the transparent end of the bag may be viewed through said transparent end and any indicia which might be placed on the outer surface of said end flap be read through the end of the bag.

Abstract: An offset lithographic press, as commonly found in the newspaper industry, is provided with an airless, pulsed spray dampening system for simplified, automatic control of the ink/dampening fluid balance. The dampening system is constructed in accordance with several critical parameters, including the center-to-center nozzle spacings, nozzle to adjacent roller spacings, as well as the frequency of pulses per minute, the duration of each pulse, and the pressure of the dampening fluid. Construction of a dampening system in accordance with the critical parameters enables the press to be operated with a minimum of user intervention, and the relatively small spacing between the nozzles and the adjacent rollers is such that the dampening system can be mounted adjacent the aisles between the press units for facilitating maintenance thereon.

Abstract: A connector for an immersible electric device such as a pump motor substantially precludes water leakage in an area where the wires enter a motor housing. The connector is comprised of a elastomeric body portion having a relatively non-resilient plate secured thereto, and passageways extending through the body portion and the plate complementally receive the electrical wires. The body portion and the plate are installed in a mating bore of the motor base such that the plate is seated against an inwardly extending shoulder within the bore.

Abstract: A jet-knife assembly for meats or like products is provided which assures even, predictable grinding with a minimum of objectionable fines or agglomerated strings, so as to yield final products of consistent dimensions and characteristics. The overall assembly preferably includes a plate presenting only a single set of circularly arrayed apertures therethrough, together with a cooperating, multiple-blade, rotating knife adjacent the plate; the knife blades each have elongated fluid-conveying channels along the operating faces thereof, which are sized relative to the plate apertures so that the cross-sectional area of the channel is always greater than the total plate open area in communication with the channel during blade rotation. Pressurized steam or air is directed to the blade channels during operations, so that as the knife rotates and blade channels come into communication with the plate apertures, product is expelled or "popped" out of the plate apertures.

Abstract: An improved tower foundation is provided which is inexpensive to manufacture and when installed, serves to securely support a leg of power transmission towers and the like. The tower foundation hereof includes a screw-type earth anchor member having a tubular cavity at the uppermost end thereof. An elongated tower leg connector member is positioned and secured in the cavity of the installed anchor by an initially flowable, solidified material (preferably a sand/epoxy resin mixture). The tower leg connector member advantageously comprises a lowermost, tubular first portion and an uppermost, L-shaped in cross-section second, apertured connection portion, with the first and second portions having approximately coincidental centroidal axes.

Abstract: A submersible pump has a cartridge of pump stages that are compressed between an inlet base and a discharge head as a pump casing surrounding the cartridge is roll-formed to complementally engage shoulders on the base and the head. The inner diameter of the casing presents a slight interference fit with each of the pump stages so that a diffuser on each stage is held in a stationary position during operation of the pump. The casing also provides a plurality of radially inwardly directed forces to maintain the stages in alignment with each other. Complete circumferential contact of the diffuser walls with the interior surface of the casing reduces interstage leaking such that pump efficiency is enhanced.

Abstract: A reliable, pulse-flow supplemental oxygen apparatus for alleviating respiratory ailments is provided which yields substantial savings in oxygen while giving the patient the physiological equivalent of a prescribed continuous stream of oxygen. The apparatus preferably includes a demand oxygen valve operated in a pulse mode by means of electronic control circuitry which, through an appropriate sensor, monitors the patient's breathing efforts and gives a variable "custom tailored" pulse volume of oxygen to the patient during the very initial stages of each inspiration. Pulse volume variability is based upon a measured parameter characterizing at least a part of one and preferably a plurality of the patient's preceeding breaths; advantageously, the elapsed time interval of the patient's three preceding breath cycles is measured to effectively measure breath rate.

Abstract: A fire-rated, flush mounted corner guard is provided which serves to maintain continuous integrity in the fire rating of building walls notwithstanding the recessing thereof to accommodate a corner guard and consequent lessening of the amount of fire rock present at the corner. The corner guard preferably includes an upright, continuous, floor-to-ceiling, L-shaped in cross-section synthetic resin corner cover, means for resiliently mounting the cover within a corner recess substantially flush with the building walls, and insulating means within the corner recess beneath the cover. In this way the corner guard assembly provides a fire rating substantially equivalent to the fire rating of the walls. Preferably, the insulating means includes a heat-expandable continuous ceramic insulating sheet and steel protector disposed over the insulating material and beneath the cover and which overlaps the wall outermost surfaces adjacent the corner portion.

Abstract: A wiring harness is provided which, among other uses, allows quick and convenient installation of lights on a Christmas tree. Preferably, the wiring harness includes a flexible, resilient, C-shaped ring body having a channel-shaped cross section with an interior surface; a plurality of electrical receptacles received within a corresponding plurality of cavities defined in the interior surface of the ring member; and a conductor pair electrically intercoupling the receptacles with an electrical plug. In advantageous use, the harness, with a plurality of strands of tree lights already plugged into the receptacles, is spread apart, placed about the upper boughs of the tree and released whereupon the essential labor is completed for placing the lights on the tree.

Abstract: A trotline reel assembly includes a elongated shaft, a crank member fixed to the shaft for rotation thereof, and a handle rotatably connected to the shaft adjacent the crank for supporting the assembly. A main or major line of a trotline is wound about the shaft adjacent the handle during rotation of the crank, and as each drop line or leader line is encountered, the corresponding hook is inserted into an open end of the shaft remote from the crank and handle. The assembly presents an open, unrestricted area between the wound extent of the major line and the open end of the shaft for receiving the leader lines and facilitating insertion of hooks in the open end of the shaft regardless of the spacing of the leader lines along the length of the major or main line. Preferably, a flange fixed to the shaft between the wound major line and the handle substantially precludes entanglement of the trotline with the handle as the shaft is rotated to reel in the line.

Abstract: The feeder has a device which reciprocates across the bottom of a stack of articles so as to separate and feed the lowermost article of the stack during each feeding stroke of the device. The device has a pair of elongated members which extend in the direction of feed and are provided with friction padding along their uppermost surfaces for making firm contact with the article to be fed. Such members, working together as an integral unit, rise up into engagement with the article to slightly raise it along the engaged portions thereof above the rest of the device as the forward stroke is commenced, thereby warping the article along the leading edge thereof as such leading edge is at the same time tucked beneath a confining element at the front of the stack which is strategically spaced above the device a distance which permits the passage of only the lowermost article during each feed stroke.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the continuous vacuum grinding of meat or other products is provided which permits continuous deaeration and grinding so as to materially enhance the organoleptic properties of final meat products such as sausages and the like. Broadly speaking, the apparatus of the invention includes a pumping apparatus together with a grinder and a closed conduit coupling the pump and grinder; deaeration apparatus is also provided which serves to evacuate the meat products prior to grinding, and the latter are maintained in that condition throughout the grinding operation. In preferred forms, use is made of a reciprocating piston-type pump together with remote, separately powered grinding apparatus. In this form of the invention, deaeration is accomplished by means of apertured pistons within the pumping unit which are operatively coupled to a vacuum pump or other suitable evacuating device.

Abstract: A multiple-purpose, non-clogging target-type water distribution nozzle assembly for use in counterflow or crossflow water cooling towers is provided which is sized to safely clear large debris found in some cooling water while giving relatively full coverage water dispersal for enhanced water cooling. The preferred nozzle assembly includes a water metering upper section having a tubular flow conduit for substantially axial, downward water flow. A target is situated below the conduit and includes a central, essentially conical ramp-like element, and a plurality of elongated, outwardly extending, transversely arcuate water-dispersing fingers oriented in a circular array around the base of the ramp-like element. Hot water is initially passed downwardly through the conduit for impingement on the target structure, which serves to create a relatively even dispersal of water over a large area beneath the target, thus enhancing cooling of the water.

Abstract: A collapsible flow control art easel comprises a base plate which is mounted on the under-side of an art board and which includes spaced apart apertures. A retaining plate mounted on a tripod such as the type commonly used by photographers has two spaced apart guide members with lips that interlock with rims of the base plate adjacent the apertures. The retaining plate also carries a pivotal lever arm having a flange movable into and over a rim of a third aperture of the base plate, in order to releasably lock the base plate to the retaining plate. The guide members have exterior, laterally converging guide surfaces which engage converging lateral rims of the base plate for aligning the latter to the retaining plate. A multi-pivotal support assembly, including the tripod, enables movement of the base plate and the art board carried thereon in a path defined by a reference line extending transversely through the base plate and sweeping an imaginery, inverted cone.

Abstract: A die cutting press for processing web material has a registration system which is operable to provide precise alignment of a shiftable die cutting unit along two axes during the time that the web material is advanced along a third axis toward the die unit, so that as soon as a defined area of the web reaches the die unit, the press can be immediately actuated to subject the web to the die cutting operation. In preferred forms of the invention, an indicator strip is printed on the length of the web and is detected by two spaced photo optical sensors movable with the die unit. A first control means, coupled to the sensors, selectively actuates in stepwise fashion either of two servomotors as may be necessary to bring the die unit into registration with defined web areas in a direction laterally of the web length (which may be defined as a Y axis) as well as a rotative orientation with respect to the defined web areas about an upright axis (which may be termed the .theta. axis).

Abstract: A mounting structure for use in rotationally supporting a rotatable drum dryer is provided which prevents spauling, flaking and pitting of the dryer tracks, which supports the rotational movement of the dryer, and which prevents axial shifting of the dryer. The mounting structure preferably includes a fixed base, at least a pair of proximal, continuous, annular tracks fixedly secured to the dryer, and a corresponding pair of trunnion rollers rotatably coupled with the base and adapted for contacting the faces of the tracks respectively. The mounting structure also advantageously includes at least one thrust wheel for engaging the side of one of the tracks to prevent axial shifting of the dryer. More particularly, two mounting structures are provided, one for each end of the dryer, and each mounting structure includes two pairs of thrust wheels, one pair engaging the side of each track and opposedly configured to prevent axial shifting of the dryer in either direction.

Abstract: An impact power tool for delicate hand working operations is provided which is especially adapted for detailed engraving, carving, and delicate stone setting applications. The power tool preferably includes a hand-held impact device, a piston received within the body of the device and shiftable therein for delivering impact energy to the device, conduit for delivering and venting motive fluid from and to the hand-held device for shifting of the piston, and a valve coupling the directing and venting conduits to the device in alternative fashion at rapid, variable, cyclical rate. The impact tool may be operated by connection to a standard source of pressurized air. The tool is capable of providing a greater range of impact strokes per second than conventional hand-held controlled impact tools, and thereby provides expanded capability for extremely delicate and fine engraving, carving and stone setting work.

Abstract: An improved hand tool is provided which permits easy field removal and replacement of connecting rivets employed with agricultural implement sickle sections, and is especially designed for use with relatively new so-called double sickle sections which present only very limited working clearance. The tool preferably includes a pair of jaw sets respectively extending from each end of a handle. The handle is contoured to allow pivotal adjustment between various sickle section spacings. The jaw sets carry structure for either removing or replacing a rivet on a damaged sickle section without removing the sickle section mounting bar from the cutter bar. A removable anvil is included as a component of the rivet-replacing jaw set to permit replacement of different types of rivets through the simple expedient of reversing the anvil position.