Abstract: A hot melt adhesive hose assembly has a redundant control circuit fixedly mounted thereon which comprises a pair of heater circuits for heating a hot melt adhesive hose assembly to a predetermined temperature level, and a pair of temperature sensors which are used to sense the temperature of the hot melt adhesive hose assembly wherein the sensed temperature level will be used to control energization of the heater circuits in order to maintain the desired temperature level. A first one of the heater circuits is initially electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry, and in a similar manner, a first one of the temperature sensors is likewise electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry.

Abstract: A bulk material cargo container liner system comprises an inflatable bulk material cargo container liner which has at least one vacuum discharge tube member disposed internally within the bulk material cargo container liner and extending along the longitudinal extent thereof for discharging bulk cargo material outwardly from the bulk material cargo container liner, and at least one inflatable air bag component for conducting the bulk material, disposed within the bulk material cargo container, toward the vacuum discharge tube member.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a top film sheet from a film web wound upon a roll of film and for setting it onto an object to be packaged. A free end portion of the film depends downwardly from a pair of holding jaws, and a pair of pulling jaws is movable between an EXTENDED position at which the pair of pulling jaws will be disposed beneath the pair of holding jaws so as to grasp the free end portion depending downwardly from the pair of holding jaws, and a RETRACTED position at which the pair of pulling jaws will cause a portion of the film to be withdrawn from the roll of film so as to form the top film sheet after the portion of the film, withdrawn from the roll of film, is severed by a cutting blade.

Abstract: A case sealer assembly comprises frame members which are fabricated from round tubular or rod stock. In this manner, water will tend to readily drain from such structures and not tend to accumulate upon such structures in order to prevent the harboring or growth of bacteria within such regions of the assembly. In addition, the case sealer assembly has knockdown capabilities as a result of comprising a plurality of subassemblies which are readily disassembled from one another in order to facilitate the cleaning of the various subassemblies as well as the overall case sealer assembly, and in addition, to facilitate maintenance or replacement of component parts. Various subassemblies of the case sealer assembly are also reversibly mounted upon the main tube frame subassembly so as to effectively render the case sealer assembly operative in either one of two different directions as may be preferred in accordance with particular manufacturing plant processing lines.

Abstract: A new and improved sealed joint or system is disclosed for securing together the opposite ends of plastic strapping, which is encircled around the package or bale, in order to ensure that the opposite ends of the plastic strapping do not exhibit any slipping or relative movement with respect to each other whereby the predeterminedly formed size or shape of the package or bale is able to be preserved or maintained. In accordance with various different embodiments of the present invention, different arrangements of the sealed joint, with respect to the opposite ends of the plastic strapping, are structured whereby enhanced frictional contact is effectively developed between the sealed joint and the opposite ends of the plastic strapping, or between the opposite ends of the plastic strapping per se, so as to in fact reduce the amount of slipperiness effectively defined between the opposite ends of the plastic strapping.

Abstract: A film delivery device comprising a first assembly which can be connected to a wrapping machine and a second assembly (5) which is pivoted to turn, relative to the first assembly (4), about a horizontal hinge axis (6) between a closed position (I) and an open position (II). A first prestretch roller (7) is in the first assembly (4). A second prestretch roller (8) is in the second assembly (5). The film can be threaded by S-threading between the prestretch rollers (7,8). The second assembly (5) is hinged at the lower end to the lower end of the first assembly (4) to turn about the horizontal hinge axis (6). The second assembly (5) comprises a pivoted and spring-loaded first deflecting roller (22) which is arranged downstream relative to the first prestretch roller (7). In the open position (II) of the second assembly (5), that part of the first deflecting roller (22) which is close to the lower end thereof is resting against the surface of the first prestretch roller (7).

Abstract: Apparatus for applying tax stamps to individual cigarette packages of different cigarette cartons, having different height dimensions, comprises a cigarette carton height determination station, a cigarette carton opening station, a cigarette package tax stamp application station, a cigarette carton closing station, and a cigarette carton exit station. Each particular cigarette carton has its height dimension determined at the first cigarette carton height determination station, and the height dimension data is transmitted to a programmable logic controller (PLC). The programmable logic controller (PLC) automatically adjusts mechanisms located at the various stations in accordance with the height dimension data characteristic of each cigarette carton.

Abstract: A new and improved knockdown pallet structure comprises a relatively flexible base panel which is fabricated from a suitable woven plastic material, such as, for example, polypropylene, and a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending pockets are secured upon undersurface portions of the base panel so as to accommodate rigid support members, which may comprise rigid thermoplastic tubes or pipes, for accommodating the fork tines of a forklift truck when a pallet structure, having a palletized load disposed thereon, is to be lifted and transported.

Abstract: A new and improved combination pressure gauge and relative humidity indicator for use upon a compressed air or gas too, such as, for example, a paint spray gun, comprises a housing within which a pressure transducer, for determining the pressure level of the incoming compressed air or gas, and a humidity sensor, for determining the relative humidity of the incoming compressed air or gas, are disposed and contained. A first end portion of the housing has a first coupling mounted thereon for connection to an inlet port coupling of the paint spray gun, while a second end portion of the housing has a second coupling mounted thereon for connection to a compressed air or gas line of a compressed air or gas supply source. In this manner, the combination pressure gauge and relative humidity indicator can be readily incorporated within the fluid flow line of the compressed air or gas so as to be separably and independently useable with any compressed air or gas tool.

Abstract: A quick installation hot melt adhesive dispensing nozzle assembly, for use in connection with hot melt adhesive dispensing modules, comprises a nut member which is adapted to threadedly engage a hot melt adhesive dispensing module seat member, and a hot melt adhesive dispensing nozzle member which is initially assembled together with the nut member. A plurality of orientation pins are adapted to effectively interconnect the nozzle member to the dispensing module seat member such that a particular angular orientation of the nozzle member, and therefore the angular orientation of the dispensing ports defined within the nozzle member, may be predeterminedly positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hot melt adhesive dispensing module.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying labels to an article being conveyed along an article conveyor path comprises first and second label applicator pad members hingedly connected together, and a single air cylinder actuator, comprising a piston rod fixedly connected to the first label applicator pad member, which is movable between a RETRACTED position and an EXTENDED position. An applicator roller is disposed upon the second movable label applicator pad member, and in accordance with the label application mode of operation, the applicator roller adheres a downstream half-end portion of a label onto a side face of the carton, wraps the label around a trailing end corner region of the carton, and applies an upstream half-end portion of the label onto the trailing end face of the carton when the piston rod is moved to the EXTENDED position while the article is being conveyed past the label applicator pad members by the article conveyor.

Abstract: A new and improved threaded fastener comprises a first, primary thread lead, and a pair of second, auxiliary thread leads alternatively interposed between successive threads of the first, primary thread lead. As a result of the provision of the pair of second, auxiliary thread leads being interposed between successive ones of the threads of the first, primary thread lead, the formation of the first, primary threaded lead, upon the threaded fastener, is facilitated.

Abstract: A new and improved packaging structure comprises a base member and a pair of oppositely disposed upstanding side wall portions, wherein at least one of the interior corner regions, defined at the intersection between one of the side wall portions and the base member, is scored so as to permit the side wall portion to be pivotally moved between a first position perpendicular to the base member, and a second position coplanar with the base member. In this manner, articles can be inserted in a sideways direction into the packaging structure. In addition, the articles will be properly aligned and spaced from the side wall portion when the side wall portion is returned to its perpendicular position so as to accommodate a dependent side wall portion of a second packaging structure so as to form a composite packaging assembly.

Abstract: A new and improved contamination-control mat assembly which has a plurality of adhesive-coated sheets disposed upon the upper surface portion of the contamination-control mat assembly, and a new and improved polystyrene frame member, having an acrylic-rubber anti-slip backing member applied thereto, disposed upon the undersurface portion of the contamination-control mat assembly, wherein the polystyrene frame member and the acrylic-rubber anti-slip backing member are integrally affixed together by means of a coextrusion process.

Abstract: A new and improved external corner protector is fabricated from predetermined materials and comprises a vertex portion, and a pair of leg members which diverge outwardly at a predetermined included angle with respect to each other from the vertex portion. The vertex portion and distal end portions of the leg members have relatively enlarged cross-sectional dimensions relative to the cross-sectional dimensions comprising those portions of the leg members which integrally interconnect the distal end portions of the leg members to the vertex portion, wherein the relatively enlarged cross-sectional dimensions serve to reinforce the vertex portion and to dispose only such relatively enlarged distal end portions of the leg members into contact with the external side wall members of the palletized load which define the external corner region being protected.

Abstract: A new and improved method for calibrating workpiece clamping mechanisms such that once a particular clamping mechanism is calibrated with respect to a particular workpiece to be clamped upon a support surface, the clamping mechanism will always clamp the workpiece with a predetermined, precisely repeatable clamping force. In addition, the method of the present invention may be utilized in conjunction with the calibration of a plurality of clamping mechanisms so as to enable the plurality of clamping mechanisms to always generate the same precise clamping force whereby the multiple clamping mechanisms, utilized to clamp a single workpiece upon a support surface, can in fact clamp different regions of the single workpiece with precisely the same predetermined clamping force such that all regions of the single workpiece are in fact securely clamped.

Abstract: A method for applying tax stamps to individual cigarette packages of different cigarette cartons, having different height dimensions, comprises the provision of a cigarette carton height determination station, a cigarette carton opening station, a cigarette package tax stamp application station, a cigarette carton closing station, and a cigarette carton exit station. Each particular cigarette carton has its height dimension determined at the first cigarette carton height determination station, and the height dimension data is transmitted to a programmable logic controller (PLC). The programmable logic controller (PLC) automatically adjusts mechanisms located at the various stations in accordance with the height dimension data characteristic of each cigarette carton.

Abstract: A disposable dryer cartridge for an air/gas dryer apparatus for installation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool. The cartridge includes a flexible elongated casing having a drying composition therein. The casing has an air/gas inlet and an air/gas outlet thereon. A handle is also provided on the casing. The casing is self-configurable into a cross-sectionally contracted configuration when lifted by the handle to facilitate insertion in or removal from an air/gas dryer apparatus. Following insertion of the casing in an air/gas dryer, it is manipulated as necessary to reconfigure the casing from the contracted configuration to an operational configuration wherein the casing is not cross-sectionally contracted and wherein the drying composition is compacted. When the casing needs replacement, it can be grasped by the handle and lifted to re-effect the contracted configuration and thereby removed from the dryer.

Abstract: An electronic control circuit, for use in connection a hot melt adhesive dispensing system having a relatively large applicator head, has a plurality of heater circuits and a plurality of temperature sensors disposed upon different regions of the relatively large applicator head, wherein the electronic control circuitry can effectively interface between the plurality of heater circuits and the plurality of temperature sensors, and the adhesive supply unit (ASU) hose and head connector, so as to control individual ones of the plurality of heater circuits and thereby ensure that all of the heater circuits will maintain the same temperature setting throughout all regions of the applicator head.

Abstract: A new and improved fastening system for attaching relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, such as, for example 14-25 gauge sheet metal members, wherein the power output parameters of the power tool are controlled such that when the driver blade member of the power tool acts upon each one of the brad-type nail fasteners, the brad-type nail fasteners will attain a predetermined velocity value, such as, for example, within the velocity range of 1000-2500 in/sec. Any one of various different types of power tools may be employed, and in addition, various geometrical characteristics of each brad-type fastener are important, such as, for example, the tip geometry, the aspect ratio A/R of the shank member of the fastener, and the use of an adhesive or painted coating upon the external surface areas of the shank member of the fastener. The fasteners preferably comprise dual-width fasteners which exhibit enhanced pull-out resistance values.