Abstract: In order to effectively and efficiently produce patties in a machine, particularly at a high rate of speed and while maintaining a consistent level as to the quality of production, a patty machine is disclosed which includes a casting, a ram, a mold plate, and a drive system. The casting has a cavity which is adapted to receive a material to be formed into a patty at an inlet located intermediate opposite ends thereof. The ram is reciprocably disposed within the cavity at a point upstream of the inlet, and the mold plate is reciprocably disposed relative to the cavity at a point downstream of the inlet. With this arrangement, the drive system imparts simultaneous reciprocating movement to the ram and the mold plate. The mold plate may cooperate with a knockout assembly where both the mold plate and the knockout assembly are driven through a hydraulic system in a coordinated fashion.

Abstract: A fitted bed sheet includes a full-width pocket at at least one end.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle with a pair of buckle tongues. The buckle includes a spring mechanism movable within the buckle housing from a position blocking engagement of a latch when a single tongue is inserted to a position away from the latch when both tongues are inserted allowing the latch to engage the tongues. In one embodiment, a latch indicator is slidably mounted to the buckle push button in the buckle cover and includes a lower end contacting the latch. The indicator is movable from a position flush with the buckle push button when the latch is not engaged with the tongues to an upraised position over the button when the latch moves up and engages the tongues. The tongues have mating portions, but are separable.

Abstract: A bag detection apparatus (50) for sensing the position and seam integrity of a deformable bag (24) and bag transfer apparatus (53) for gripping and maintaining positive control of the edges (25) of the bag (24) during transfer from a bag filling station to a bag closure station. The bag positioning and seam integrity detecting apparatus (50) includes pneumatic conduits (60-67) mounted on the bag distending assembly (23) of a bag filling apparatus (20) and coupled to pressure switches (68). A controller (101), monitoring increases in pressure at each pressure switch (68), determines the position and condition of the mounted bag (24). The transfer apparatus (52) includes a pair of elongated arms (80) having hook-shaped gripping fingers (82) formed to engage and cooperate with clamping members (83) to grip the bag proximate the upper edge (25). A bag detection method also is provided.

Abstract: A heavy duty mobile wood and tire shear having a lower stationary jaw rigidly attachable to the dipper stick of a hydraulic excavator. The lower jaw has a forwardly extending face plate for receiving and supporting the workpiece with two forwardly extending tines. An upper C-shaped swingable jaw is pivotally mounted to the lower jaw and connected to the hydraulic cylinder of the dipper stick. The swingable jaw has a cutting blade with a knife-like edge. The upper jaw swings between open and closed positions relative to the lower jaw as to bring the cutting blade down upon the face plate as to penetrate and shear through wood. Shearing blades are releasably affixable along the knife-like edge of the cutting blade and along the face plate as to bring the shearing blades into shearing relation as the upper jaw approaches the closed position as to also shear through tires.

Abstract: A snap-on light socket for a flexible light strip assembly includes a plurality of sockets which are removably and randomly fixed to a standard insulated wire (conductor). The socket is, in affect, comprised of a primary chamber into which is inserted a pair of cooperating contacts which serve to grip a conventional wedge base lamp and which have sharply pointed portions extending therefrom which pierce the insulation of the wire to effect the electrical connection. A lower tunnel-like channel is formed to accept and to grip the insulated wire and includes slotted means permitting the said sharply pointed portions of the contacts to extend partially into said channels to be in position to pierce the insulation when the socket is affixed to the insulated wire.

Abstract: First and second pairs of wheels are mounted to respective sides of a grain cart in a manner which avoids tire "scrubbing," such as when a tire is forced sideways over a support surface without rotation, as the cart is displaced in a turning manner over uneven soil. Each pair of wheels includes an inner and an outer wheel coupled together by pivoting linkage which allows each wheel to move either upward or downward over uneven soil while vertically displacing the other wheel in the opposite direction. On level ground, the linkage provides a positive camber for a pair of inner and outer wheels, with lower portions of adjacent wheels in contact with the soil more closely spaced than upper portions of the wheels. As the relative elevation of the wheels changes as the cart traverses uneven soil, wheel camber changes from positive to negative, wherein upper portions of adjacent wheels are more closely spaced than lower portions of the wheels.

Abstract: The attachment (20) provides inner forks (54, 56) and outer forks (58, 60) that are directly and independently driven for handling juxtaposed pallets. The fork assembly (26) is carried by guide members (44, 48, 62, 66) that are constructed so that when two juxtaposed pallet loads are carried, there is substantially no downward deflection of the laterally outermost portions of the loads. A hydraulic control system is included for controlling the four operation functions performed by the attachment (20). The hydraulic control circuit is designed so that no electrical components need be mounted to the attachment (20).

Abstract: A shade control arrangement comprises a shade panel having inner and outer edges with an attachment clamp or attachment clips at the inner edge and additional clips at the outer edge. The outer clips can be used to hold the edge of a gelatin sheet or a perforated sheet to stretch the sheet across a source of light to which a pair of panels is connected using the inner clips or clamp. The clamp comprises inner and outer jaws which form a pocket that can be closed with a screw, at least one of the jaws being pivotally connected between the legs of a U-shaped fork that is detachably connected to the shade panel near the inner edge thereof. A flexible shaft is detachably connected to the clamp. A similarly structured clamp can be used to capture the edge of a flexible sheet that contains a plurality of parallel bend troughs so that the sheet can be bent into a varity of shapes.

Abstract: A panel connector for interconnecting and supporting panels along their side edges to form space divisions. The panel connector comprises a structural connecting post having a supporting bottom end and a securing top end. The connecting post has opposed parallel side walls with a first pair of side walls having hook receiving apertures spaced in groups along the connecting post. A clamp bracket is secured in the top corner of at least one panel to be secured to the connecting post. A clamp is associated with the bracket and has a hooking element which engages with the apertures in the top end of the connecting post and with hook cavities in the clamp bracket to rigidly connect the panel to the connecting post. The side edge of the panel is also provided with a hooking clamp spaced from the top end to engage with further hook receiving apertures provided along the connecting post.

Abstract: This invention relates to a power drive unit which is attachable to, and detachable from, a conventional wheelchair. Thus, a conventional manually-powered wheelchair can be converted into a power driven wheelchair employing the subject apparatus for driving and directing the movement of a manually-driven wheelchair having a plurality of wheels riding on an underlying surface. The subject apparatus comprises a drive and steering wheel which rides on the underlying surface for driving and for directing the path of operation of the wheelchair, as well as for powering the drive wheel. The apparatus is attachable to, and detachable from the wheelchair and is located rearwardly of the wheelchair so that the weight on the drive and steering wheel will substantially only be the weight of the apparatus. On the other hand, the weight of a person sitting in the wheelchair will be substantially the only weight imparted to the wheelchair wheels.

Abstract: A multi-fixture rack system for inspecting a part on an automated assembly line comprising a main plate assembly having coordinate-labelled mounting holes for mounting a series of sub-plate assemblies. Each sub-plate assembly has coordinate-labelled mounting holes for receiving clamps and vacuum clamp holders. The locations of the clamps and vacuum clamp holders are preset for a particular part to be measured on each sub-plate. The sub-plates are stored on component trays in a rack near a measuring device.

Abstract: A block of expanded polystyerene (EPS) foam is encapsulated with one or more plastic strips within a resilient shell of high molecular weight plastic such as polyethylene. The method and process utilizes heat and pressure (e.g., one hundred fifty tons) to seal and bond the foam in a protective cover with the seam fused together with all the strength and integrity of the original material. The units may be used as part of a dock flotation system.

Abstract: A stainless steel tank has an inlet for food products such as pasta and a discharge end where the food product is discharged. A perforated cylinder is mounted to rotate within the tank and an auger is positioned within the cylinder to advance food product from the inlet to the discharge of the tank. The auger is fitted with a plurality of lifting baffles to extend radially inwardly from the cylinder between two adjacent flights of the auger to carry food products sidewardly and lift the food product out of water contained within the tank and allow the food product to tumble back into the water. Two manifolds extend into the tank beneath the perforated cylinder and have a plurality of apertures. A controller controls a supply of steam and a supply of pressurized air to selectively introduce steam and compressed air through the manifold apertures into the tank.

Abstract: A thread-forming fastener and method of installation thereof are provided for use with a workpiece constructed of a thermoplastic material. The fastener includes a threaded shank having a thread of desired form and a driver head portion. A metallic coating of a predetermined composition is applied to the threaded shank. The composition of the coating is selected for its effective Curie temperature for heating the fastener during application of the fastener to the thermoplastic workpiece. The heated surface enhances plastic flow of the thermoplastic material during thread forming and effectively reduces the required drive torque for thread forming by the fastener while increasing the holding torque. The fastener is preferably also formed with a spaced thread defining an unthreaded surface portion running adjacent to the thread at substantially the root diameter of the thread.

Abstract: A miniature ratchet type push button activated electrical switch having a mainspring and an auxiliary spring wherein spring rates, spring lengths and spring orientations are selected such that a substantial depression of the push button is required before electrical continuity is broken in a closed circuit. This configuration additionally serves to reduce the amount of audible noise generated by the switch during the ratcheting operation.

Abstract: A crisp, palatable, reduced calorie whole grain snack food is produced by subjecting initially tempering whole grains such as wheat, barley, corn, oats, rice and sorghum to a micronizing process wherein the whole grain(s) are partially precooked through application of near infrared radiation. Thereafter, the micronized grain is mixed with water and other optional ingredients and preconditioned with agitation and steam/water addition. After preconditioning, the mixture is directed to a twin screw extruder in order to form an extrudate of desired shape and size. The extrudate is then heat treated to crisp the outer surface thereof, typically through the use of oven heating and/or frying. The resultant snack product preferably has a whole grain content of at least about 50% by weight and a low total fat content on the order of about 20% by weight or less.

Abstract: A driving and steering mechanism for a vehicle having a pair of driving wheels includes a steering wheel rotatably mounted to the vehicle and an accelerator foot pedal pivotably mounted to the vehicle. Transmissions associated with the driving wheels include a pivotable control arm for controlling the operation of the transmission, which independently controls the speed and direction of rotation of the associated wheel. The vehicle is turned by causing one wheel to rotate faster than the other wheel. A zero turning radius turn can be effected by causing the driving wheels to rotate in opposite directions.The driving and steering mechanism includes a pair of floating links pivotably connected at one end to a respective transmission control arm. Steering links, associated with the steering wheel, are pivotably connected to a respective floating link distal the connection to the control link.