Abstract: A roll type stock feed apparatus for a power press. The stock feed apparatus has a pneumatic system for actuating the feed rolls between stock feed and stock release positions. Pressurized air in a substantially constant pressure is applied to one side of a pneumatic actuator to press the feed rolls into feeding engagement with strip stock between the rolls, and pressurized air is selectively applied and exhausted from the other side of the actuator piston to respectively release and apply feeding pressure to the stock feed rolls. An adjustable stop is provided to limit movement of the actuator pistons in a stock release direction.

Abstract: A normally closed pilot operated bi-directional poppet valve for controlling flow between first and second valve ports. When the pilot valve is closed, pressure is applied from whichever port is at the higher pressure to the poppet in a manner to hold the poppet closed. When the pilot valve is open, pressure is vented to whichever port is at the lower pressure in a manner to allow the poppet to open.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a pleated expandable and collapsible multi-cell product for window coverings and the like. A web of material is accordion folded widthwise to form a series of web panels united in alternate succession along first and second creased folds disposed at respective first and second sides of the web. Successive panels are advanced in an unfolded condition lengthwise of the web through an adhesive applying zone to an inlet end of a refold stack and adhesive is applied to each web panel, in a band parallel to and spaced from the associated creased fold with a preceding panel. The web panels having adhesive applied thereto are refolded in succession along the associated creased fold with a preceding panel onto the inlet end of the refold stack.

Abstract: A drapery fixture for use as a drapery swag holder or a drapery tie-back holder. The fixture includes a mounting bracket and rosette components for use with a piece of fabric for forming a fabric rosette. The rosette components include a shape retaining rosette body member having a front face and a central opening through the front face, and a plug member dimensioned for insertion into the central opening for retaining a fabric piece adjacent the center of the front face of the body member. A fabric receiving recess is provided at the rear side of the body member and a flexible strip can be pressed into the fabric receiving groove to retain the fabric at the rear side of the body member.

Abstract: The bi-directional pressure relief valve comprising a valve casing defining a valve bore, a valve chamber at one end of the valve bore and a pressure chamber communicating with the opposite end of the valve bore. The valve chamber has a first port communicating with a first fluid line and a second port communicating with a second fluid line and the first port having a valve seat coaxial with the bore with a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the valve bore. A poppet type valve member is slidable in the bore and has a reduced end portion engageable with the seat to shut off flow between the first and second fluid lines and a spring yieldably urges the valve member to a closed position.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for adjustably supporting a headrail of a window covering. The bracket assembly includes a wall bracket having a generally horizontal bracket arm and a unitary slide body slidably mounted on the arm and having an upper portion that overlies the bracket arm and at least one lower cross portion that underlies the arm. A headrail support clip device has an intermediate portion that overlies the lower cross portion of the slide body for support thereon and front and rear leg portions that extend downwardly from the intermediate portion for supportably engaging a headrail below the lower cross portion of the slide body. The slide body is adjustable along the arm to positions in which the arm closely overlies and retains the clip device on the lower cross portion of the slide body. Mechanism is provided on the slide body engageable with the arm for releasably retaining the slide body in different adjusted positions along the arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting stick confections from a row of mold cups of a stick confection molding machine and for transferring the extracted confections to a multi-lane wrapping machine having a number of lanes that is a submultiple of the number of mold cups in a row. The transfer apparatus includes a plurality of transfer bar assemblies which are moved from an extraction location above and parallel to a row of mold cups to a discharge location above and transverse to the lanes of the multi-lane wrapping machine. Each transfer bar assembly includes a number of gripper heads mounted on the transfer bar assembly for turning movement about individual turning axes transverse to the transfer bar and spaced apart therealong and a number of individual gripper units mounted on each head.

Abstract: A forced air convection oven having an open front and a door for closing the open front, a centrifugal air circulating blower on a horizontal axis located generally centrally on the rear wall of the cavity with heaters adjacent the rear wall for heating the air circulated by the blower. An air distributor cage unit is mounted for removal as a unit through the front opening in the housing and the top, bottom and opposing side panels of the cage have a multiplicity of air discharge openings therein for passing air into the cage for flow therethrough to the return outlet in the rear wall. A food tray support rack is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in the cage and is removable through the opening in the front of the cage for cleaning.

Abstract: A vertical blind apparatus of the type having a plurality of panel support carriages mounted for movement along a track and a lazy-tong linkage extending lengthwise of the track and connected to the carriages to control spacing between adjacent carriages when the blind is extended along the track to a closed position. The maximum spacing between adjacent carriages is further controlled by rail engaging fingers on the outer pivots of the lazy-tong linkage, and a rail having lateral guide faces arranged to engage the fingers to limit movement of the outer pivots to a preselected minimum distance.

Abstract: A hold-down bracket for the bottom rail of a door or window covering. The hold-down bracket comprised a generally L-shaped bracket member having a mounting flange adapted to be attached either upright or horizontal support surface and a leg extending transverse of the mounting flange. A bracket extension is mounted on the leg for angular adjustment about an axis perpendicular to the leg and spaced from the mounting flange and a bottom rail connector pin is provided on the bracket extension at a location spaced from the axis. Detents are provided to releasably retain the bracket extension at least two different angularly adjusted positions relative to the leg, to change the spacing between the bottom rail connector pin and the mounting flange.

Abstract: A cord equalizer for gripping a plurality of lift cords in a window covering. The cord equalizer includes a molded first body member having an elongated channel extending from a lower to an upper end, and a second body member overlying the channel and having a rib intermediate its ends extending crosswise of the channel. The first and second body members are slidably interconnected for relative movement in a direction lengthwise of the channel and a notch extends inwardly from the upper end of the second body member in registry with the channel to provide a passage for lift cords that opens laterally of the channel.

Abstract: A continuous motion machine for metering and loading groups of articles onto flat pads. The machine includes endless type infeed conveyors for advancing articles in a downstream direction to a dead plate and a row metering device intermediate the ends of the upper run of the infeed conveyor for retarding advance of the articles on the infeed conveyor and for releasing the articles one row at a time. An endless type overhead conveyor has flight bars pitched therealong and an inlet run extending downwardly toward the upper end of the infeed conveyor at a location downstream of the metering device and a lower run extending in the downstream direction above the infeed conveyor and above the dead plate. A pad conveyor is disposed below the dead plate and is operated to advance pads to a pad transfer passage intermediate the ends of the dead plate.

Abstract: A self-contained ice making machine including a cabinet divided into first and second separate compartments with an ice making head including an evaporator disposed in the first compartment and with a compressor and air cooled condenser disposed in a second compartment. Air from the room surrounding the ice machine is drawn through an air intake in a side of the cabinet and through the condenser into the second compartment by a condenser cooling fan, and a vent pipe having an exhaust fan is connected to an air discharge opening in the top of the second compartment for venting the second compartment outside of the room in which the ice making machine is installed.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling articles in succession into horizontal groups of sidewise adjacent articles and for transferring the article groups to an unloading station. The apparatus includes a feed conveyor for feeding articles in succession to an article loading station, an endless pusher conveyor having an upper run extending forwardly along a generally horizontal path from the article loading station to a group unloading station, and first and second endless type control conveyors each having an upper run extending forwardly along the generally horizontal path from the loading station past the unloading station.

Abstract: A composite rod and bracket assembly for window curtains and valances including an elongated telescopically adjustable metal inner rod. Rod end members detachably supporting the ends of the inner rod and are adjustably mounted on wall brackets to adjust the projection of the inner rod. An outer rod member having a height and cross-section substantially larger than that of the inner rod is formed of thin walled plastic and includes a face wall defining the top, front and bottom of the outer rod member, and upper and lower rear wall portions that extend downwardly and upwardly from the face wall and have grooves in adjacent edges for detachably receiving the upper and lower edges of the inner rod member to support the outer rod member thereon. Bracket covers formed of a low density foamed plastic and having a cross-sectional configuration similar to that of the outer rod member, are detachably mounted on the rod and brackets.

Abstract: A vertical blind of the type having louver carriages mounted for movement along a guide channel with a louver carrier mounted on each carriage for rotation about an upright axis and carriage gear mechanism for rotating the louvers in response to turning of an operating shaft that extends lengthwise of the channel. A wand operated mechanism is provided for rotating the louvers in response to raising and lowering a wand and includes a drive lever mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of the operating shaft and a crank lever rotatable with the shaft and operated by the drive lever to rotate the shaft. A bidirectional detent mechanism on the housing and crank lever releasably retains the shaft in different angularly adjusted positions. The wand includes a tubular member connected to the drive lever through an L-shaped connector so that tubular member extends downwardly from the underside of the channel in all operating positions fo the drive lever.

Abstract: A press-on type finger pull for application to the face of sliding panels. The finger pull comprises a rigid body having a rear mounting surface and a front surface wider than the rear mounting surface and side surfaces that extend forwardly and outwardly from the rear mounting surface to form a narrow finger contact edge adjacent the front surface and a fingernail receiving recess rearwardly of the finger contact edge. Abutment ribs extend transverse to each side surface and have a rear face generally coplanar with the mounting surface and an abutment face extending transverse of the plane of the mounting surface between the rear face and the finger contact edge. A thin layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is provided on the rear mounting face for attaching the finger pull to a panel.

Abstract: A roll type stock feed apparatus having a servomotor drive and a programmable controller operable to drive the feed rolls to feed stock in preselected incremental lengths. A ram position sensor is arranged to be actuated when the ram moves in a downstroke and to be deactuated when the ram moves in an upstroke and the programmable controller is operated in response to the sensor to drive the feed rolls when the sensor is deactuated. The interval between successive actuations of the ram position sensor is timed to measure press speed. The interval between actuation and deactuation of the ram position sensor is also timed to control shifting of one feed roll into feeding engagement with the stock when the ram is at a preselected position intermediate the ram positions at which the sensor is actuated and deactuated.

Abstract: A curtain rod and bracket assembly in which the rod sections have a front wall and upper and lower U-shaped flanges extending lengthwise along the rear side of the front wall. Rod end brackets are provided for supporting the ends of a rod section and the rod end brackets are adjustable to vary the angle of projection of the rod end brackets relative to the surface on which the bracket is mounted, and to also adjust the angle at which the rod extends relative to the end bracket, for use in bay and bow windows. A curtain rod connector is formed with end panels adapted for insertion into endwise adjacent rod sections and resilient tabs at one edge of the end panels for engagement with a flange on the curtain rod to hold the curtain rod and connector in assembled relation.