Abstract: A crystal plating device and method of plating crystals in which a crystal to be plated and thereby set at a desired frequency is placed in an external removable holder or slug for insertion into a chamber of a plating device. The device is connected to a vacuum pump which is activated after the slug is loaded. Spring loaded filament posts carry a filament of precious metal such as gold or silver. The crystal is oscillated at a predetermined frequency prior to energizing the filament to evaporate or atomize the metal which plates the crystal and sets its frequency identical to that of the oscillator.The slug is externally loaded and can carry different size crystals. It is fitted with masks to accurately direct the deposit of the metal upon either or both sides of the crystal. After plating the slug is easily removed from the plating device.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating titaniferous and ferruginous discolorants from a crude kaolin clay. A dispersed aqueous slurry of the clay is formed containing a deflocculant and a fatty acid collecting agent, and the slurry is conditioned to coat the discolorants with the collecting agent to thereby render the discolorants hydrophobic. A system of sub-micron sized magnetic ferrite seeding particles, the surfaces of which have been rendered hydrophobic, is thereupon added to the slurry. The seeded slurry is mixed to coalesce the hydrophobic-surfaced discolorants with the hydrophobic-surfaced seeding particles, and the slurry is then subjected to a froth flotation, which removes substantial quantities of the discolorants and seeding partices coalesced therewith, and also removes excess seeding particles and excess collecting agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a puffed borax product having superior particle strength and improved uniformity of hydration and puff ratio. In the method particles of borax having a given particle size distribution are introduced into a downwardly flowing slowly moving laminar air stream in a vertical tower, as a horizontally dispersed sheet of particles. The air stream is heated sufficiently to remove part of the water of hydration without fusing the borax. The borax particles, carried by the air stream, are gravitationally separated downstream, and are found to have a more uniform puffing ratio, i.e. feed particles of different sizes are puffed more proportionally than in prior art processes.An apparatus for carrying out this method is also disclosed, which comprises a vertical tower with an input for heated air and an opening in the wall of the tower through which the borax feed is introduced as a dispersed sheet.

Abstract: In a screen printing machine having a plurality of workpiece supporting pallets that are driven along an oval path and which cooperate with a plurality of printing heads that are adapted for movement between an operative, printing position at each of a plurality of printing stations and an inoperative, non-printing position spaced from each of the printing stations, means are provided for selectively indexing the pallets either to an immediate printing station or to a succeeding printing station which is spaced downstream from the preceding printing station in the direction of movement of the pallets by at least one intermediate printing station. The apparatus disclosed herein replaced the hydraulic and electrical apparatus of the prior art with mechanical structure and requires only a single operator as compared with two or three operators with prior art structure. A cable is used in the present invention to replace the power linkage employed in the prior art for raising and lowering the flood bar.

Abstract: An expendable spool for threads, yarns and the like, having a hub and flanges at both ends of the hub. The flanges are formed by two mirror symmetrical portions with each flange portion having a radial slot for receiving a projection of the other flange portion thereby forming interlockable but separable portions. The hub also comprises two mirror symmetrical portions, each of which is secured to a flange portion at each end so that the spool can be separated into mirror symmetrical halves. The flanges have central apertures and the hub has a central passage which is continuous between the flanges. The inner wall of the hub is provided with ribs having a triangular cross-section, the apices of which lie in a cylindrical surface for securing the hub to a spindle for rotation therewith.

Abstract: A submersible pump having a volute fixedly connected to the discharge conduit, and a motor housing detachably connected to the volute. The impeller is coupled to the motor mounted within the motor housing, which housing has a flange adapted to fit over the top of the volute, and mate with a corresponding flange on the volute. To fix the motor housing to the volute, guide members on the volute are inserted into slots in the motor housing flange, and the motor housing twisted in one direction to engage the guide members with the slots. Twisting the motor housing in the opposite direction releases the guide members permitting the motor housing with the motor and pump impeller to be removed from the volute for servicing. A handle is provided to twist the motor housing to engage and disengage it from the volute and with which the motor and pump impeller may be lifted out of and off the volute.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for accepting an initially presented population of randomly oriented elongated slender articles which terminate in an enlarged head portion, and providing a high-speed output stream, wherein all said articles are commonly oriented for further mechanical manipulation. The apparatus comprises an input bowl for accepting the articles, which bowl includes a rotatable central disk for feeding objects incident thereupon to the periphery of the disk. A continuous wall member extends upwardly from the disk periphery about a major arced zone, the bottom of the wall member being spaced from the disk to define a gap through which the elongated portion of the articles may protrude while the heads of same continue to ride upon the disk periphery in sliding contact with the side wall. An output section defined adjacent the periphery of the disk at the portion opposed to the arced zone receives and delivers the articles from the disk.

Abstract: An insertion device for a diaphragm is provided. The device comprises an elongated hollow member which has a chamber for longitudinally holding a diaphragm. An opening is provided in one end of the member through which the diaphragm is dispensed. A plunger means slidable within the hollow member is at the other end of the member and used for dispensing the diaphragm through the opening. An indicia means is provided on the plunger for indicating the proper orientation of the diaphragm for insertion. The chamber preferably contains a disposable diaphragm and a spermacidal agent. An indicia means may also be provided for indicating the complete release of the diaphragm from the opening. A removable closure means, e.g. self-sticking tape, may be provided for sealing the opening.

Abstract: A ball carrier for tennis balls and the like adapted to be worn about the waist of an individual player. The carrier is in the form of a belt encircling the waist to which one or more cup-shaped, resilient plastic ball holders are fixedly attached. Each of the ball holders is preferably hemispherical and has a flattened base portion which is attached to the belt and which stabilizes the cup-shaped ball holder. Internally projecting ribs extending inwardly from the rim of the holder parallel to the axis of the sphere are provided to firmly grasp and hold the ball when it is inserted.

Abstract: A vending machine capable of dispensing individual beverage cups incorporating a soluble component, selectively from one of a plurality of stacks, each stack containing cups having a particular type of soluble component. The cups are positioned in inverted position within a stack, and are dispensed in such inverted position from the top of the stack. A claw mechanism, selectively positionable along a horizontal track which is tiltable about its own horizontal axis for actuating the claw mechanisms, is employed to engage a cup which is delivered to a chute structure carrying the same to a location where it may be manually engaged for subsequent filling with a liquid. With the removal of a cup from the top of a given stack, the stack is elevated to position the next succeeding cup of the stack within the path of movement of the claw mechanism, so that the operation may be repeated.

Abstract: An implement for mincing, for example, garlic having a pair of members pivotable about a common axis. Each member has a handle portion with a protruding inner end portion adapted to abut against each other when the members are brought together, and another portion on the other side of the pivot provided with a plurality of blade-like members which interleave with a similar set of blade-like members on the other pivotable member for grasping, and shearing through a work-piece such as a clove of garlic. The ends of the members with the blade-like portions are notched at their ends remote from the pivot for aiding the grasping and holding of the work-piece between the blade-like members. Each of the pivotable members is constructed to be completely interchangeable with the other.

Abstract: A camera comprises a focal-plane shutter having a front curtain and a rear curtain. The front curtain comprises a center portion thereof being formed into a low reflection portion and a rear end portion being at least formed into a high reflection portion as compared with the center portion in the running direction of the front curtain.

Abstract: An apparatus for over the edge printing including a printing squeegee which forces ink through clear portions of a printing screen onto a workpiece. Excess ink which is forced through clear portions of the printing screen and which extend over the edge of the workpiece, are cleaned by a cleaning assembly which includes a cleaning belt. The cleaning belt is unrolled below the printing screen and an excess ink squeegee prints the excess ink onto the cleaning belt which is then cleaned and re-rolled and the apparatus is made ready for the next printing stroke.

Abstract: An anhydrous white kaolin clay pigment is disclosed, which consists of porous aggregates of kaolin clay platelets. The pigment exhibits exceptionally high light-scattering ability when incorporated as a filler in paper. The aggregates have an average specific gravity in the range of 0.5 to 0.6, and a size distribution such that not more than 5% by weight thereof are of greater than 10 microns ESD, at least 75% are of less than 2 microns ESD, and not more than 15% are of less than 1 micron ESD. The pigment has a Valley abrasion value below 30 mg, and preferably below 20 mg, and a GE brightness of at least 93. The mean size of the internal pores in the aggregates is less than 0.55 microns and preferably is less than 0.5 microns. This low mean pore size is deemed instrumental in producing the aforementioned high scattering ability. A method for producing the said pigment is also disclosed and claimed.