Abstract: Thermal imprinting for example of one or more surfaces, using a heat transfer carrier and a release layer of pigmented, low molecular weight polyolefin. The imprint is made by bringing the transfer layer into contact with the surface of an object and applying heat. This releases the transfer layer to the surface being imprinted. When the transfer layer is required to have any significant thickness, it desirably includes a low melting point wax or resin to provide flexibility. The release characteristic can be improved by the inclusion of a further crystalline wax layer between the transfer layer and the carrier.

Abstract: Bundling of objects using a harnessing device with a locking head and a strap with teeth that are controlled by stretching. The locking head contains a pawl or tang that engages the teeth of the strap by wedging. A wedging tooth is desirably on the locking tang as well, and a further tooth to promote locking is desirably included in the locking head. The strap is advantageously molded of stretch reorientable material which is subsequently stretched to control the profile of the teeth which are engaged by the locking tang and head.

Abstract: A fastener formed by an elongated member with an apertured tip, such as a filamentary string, that is attached to a bi-directional locking head with longitudinally opposed openings. The elongated member is inserted into either of the opposed openings of the head, where it is engaged and locked in place by an internal, at least partially circumferential ring. Once the apertured tip is inserted into the locking head it remains in its locking position even if the filamentary string becomes separated from it as a result, for example, of pilferage.

Abstract: An improved release coating for heat transferable laminates wherein an ink design layer is transferred from a carrier web onto an article such as a plastic or glass container upon application of heat and pressure. The improved release coating transfers with the ink design layer and forms an optically clear protective coating over the transferred ink design layer. The transferred release coating upon resolidification has an exceedingly high optical clarity, with no hazing, spotting, or halo discernible over the transferred ink design layer. The improved release coating incorporates a tackifying resin in a wax base. The wax base includes a montan wax and a crystalline wax such as paraffin wax. The wax base may also include a microcrystalline wax component. The tackifying resin is a transparent hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin.

Abstract: A tool that is particularly suitable for the installation of objects that require tensioning and severing. A tensioning member is operated through a toggle linkage that collapses when a pre-determined level of tensioning is reached and actuates a cutoff lever. The result is severance of the tensioned object with reduced shock loading. In addition the tool is easy to operate; the tensioning level is accurately and reliably adjustable; and the severed object is controllably ejected from the tool.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the dispensing of attachments. The attachments are fed from a continuous roll of stock into position where an individual attachment is separated from the stock. Thereafter the stock and the separated attachment are advanced so that the attachment enters a movable slide and the stock occupies the prior position of the severed attachment. The slide is then moved with respect to one or more output needles so that a plunger may force the attachment from the slide through the needle or needles and dispense it into the material with which the attachment is being used. When the dispenser has dual needles, the attachments severed from the stock can be used as plastic staples for securing objects and items.

Abstract: Coating methods and compositions for products and transfer media, such as carbon papers, in which the major constituent is a filler such as clay, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, or the like. The filler replaces a substantial amount of, and extends, the wax or wax-like material which ordinarily forms the principal part of a transfer coating, while providing improved transfer characteristics. The coating is prepared as a dispersion of the filler or extender, with wax or a wax-like material and colorant, in a low viscosity medium such as water. The coating can thereafter be applied to a substrate to provide a desired product by using suitable equipment, such as a trailing blade coater, which may be incorporated into a paper making machine or used separately.

Abstract: Dielectric sealing of porous anodized aluminum, in which moisture in the pores of the oxide coating formed by hardcoat anodizing is removed, and the porous anodized surface then impregnated with a dielectric wax. Suitable wax sealants include Carnauba and Montan waxes. The anodized member is preliminarily heated to a temperature in the range 120.degree.-180.degree. C. in order to drive off moisture and other substances from the pores. This heating process may be continued for the purposes of impregnating the pores with the wax sealant, which is applied as a hot melt. Alternatively, the preliminary dehydration is achieved simply by heating the member to the impregnating temperature, with no separate dehydration stage. Any excess material remaining on the member's surface is removed. The resulting product has excellent resistivity and dielectric properties, and maintains these properties at elevated humidities.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat transfer labelling of articles using a resilient pad maintained at elevated temperatures. Decorative laminates affixed to a support member such as a web are fed to a heated platen. A resilient pad consisting of a silicone elastomer is pressed against the laminate at the heated platen, whereby the laminate adheres to the pad when it retracts from the platen. The heated pad is then pressed against an article to be labelled, to which the transfer substrate adheres in preference to the pad surface. The resilient pad is typically heated to a temperature above ambient temperature but lower than that of the heated platen. The pad is heated by repetitive contact with the platen, and additionally by an independent heater. The pad may include one or more interior heating elements, or an exterior radiant heater located adjacent the pad during periods between label transfers. This apparatus is well suited to the labelling of articles of a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and materials.

Abstract: A thermal ink transfer laminate wherein an ink design is transferred from a carrier support to an article, typically paper, by application of a thermal printing element to the nontransfer side of the carrier. The thermal ink transfer laminate is composed of a carrier support of paper or plastic film overcoated on one side with a heat sensitive ink coating. The heat sensitive ink coating is composed of a hot melt mix containing a coloring agent, a wax binder, and a resin binder.The coloring agent contains a dye dispersed in an unsaturated fatty acid medium. The wax binder contains a paraffin and microcrystalline wax. The coloring agent in combination with the wax binder greatly facilitates attainment of a drastic drop in melt viscosity of the design layer during thermal transfer onto a receiving article. The degree of transfer attained is virtually complete resulting in a transferred image of exceedingly high image clarity and definition.

Abstract: A composite stamp pad for coating a stamping device with ink. The composite stamp pad is composed of a porous ink pad with a porous reservoir liner. The porous reservoir absorbs any ink which may leak from the pad due to heat or high humidity. Ink absorbed into the reservoir flows back into the pad automatically when temperature or humidity return to moderate levels. The reservoir and ink pad each have an open cell structure wherein the average pore diameter of reservoir is at least about 10 micrometers greater than the average pore diameter of the pad.

Abstract: Dielectric sealing of porous anodized aluminum, in which moisture in the pores of the coating formed by hardcoat anodizing is removed, and the porous anodized surface then impregnated with a water insoluble metallic salt. The impregnant material is a compound of a Group II or III metal with a long chain fatty acid containing between 8 and 32 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated. The impregnant material may be applied as a hot melt or in solution; in the former case, any excess material is removed from the surface. The resulting product has excellent resistivity and dielectric properties, and maintains these properties at elevated humidities. As a final step the surface may be polished to provide favorable toner release characteristics during pressure transfer.

Abstract: A typeholding chase which positively clamps rubber type elements, and firmly engages the elements during high speed machine operation. The chase provides secure engagement of type elements, while facilitating interchange of such elements without a need for separate tools. The chase houses a plurality of resilient support members including mounting surfaces as well as spacer blocks and a bias plate for inducing a type clamping force.

Abstract: Antistatic floormats having superior mechanical properties and charge dissipating characteristics. The floormats consist of flexible laminations of a semiconductive material, which resist fracture due to local stresses. The laminations include one or more conductive edge clips or other ion collectors in order to provide efficient charge dissipation paths. A preferred design includes a base construction configured to provide structural support with reduced stress concentrations. An alternative base construction incorporates an array of edge supports with an unbroken central area. The floormats are generally characterized by a transparent or translucent appearance, optionally overlaid with a decorative pattern of semiconductive resin having anti-skid characteristics.

Abstract: Cover folders having binders that securely retain the cover and inserted sheets, without the use of external fasteners. The binder is an elongated bar with an interior channel for receiving and holding a folded cover. The bar includes within the channel slanted ribs which engage the folded edge of the cover sheet along an overlapping flap. The overlapping flap of the cover sheet may be made more rigid by heat treatment and/or by a reinforcing coating.

Abstract: A two-sided insert for transparent identification tabs. The insert has lateral side-by-side panels. This permits collinear entry of information on the panels. The adjoining panels are then folded back to back and inserted into an identification tab holder.

Abstract: A disposable ink cartridge for use in automatic marking systems. The ink cartridge is composed of a housing which contains a collapsible elastomeric ink reservoir having an open end secured to a plurality of barrier disks. The barrier disks are apertured to permit passage of ink through and between them, from the reservoir. An ink absorbing member of fibrous or porous material is positioned at the other, outlet end of the cartridge housing. The ink cartridge provides a constant flow of ink when the ink absorbing member is contacted by a print head or the like until the supply of ink is depleted from the reservoir. The cartridge design permits depletion of essentially the entire reservoir under the above conditions.

Abstract: Apparatus for bit-by-bit duplication of data stored on a flexible diskette. A master disk is driven by a conventional DC drive, which provides a feedback control voltage responsive to the instantaneous speed of the master disk. A slave disk is driven from external index synchronization circuitry, which receives signals from the respective disk drives indicative of the angular position of the diskettes, and additionally receives the master drive control voltage. The index synchronization circuitry outputs a motor error correction voltage to the slave disk drive, thereby coordinating the rotation of the respective diskettes. Bits are copied only when the slave disk drive parameters fall within a narrowly defined window.

Abstract: An applicator for uniformly dispensing liquid such as ink. The applicator is composed of a flexible supply bottle with a porous plastic applicator disc attached to one end. The porous plastic applicator forms a tight seal with the ink supply bottle. The applicator disc is preferably composed of sintered porous polyethylene having an average pore size of between about 35 to 50 microns in diameter with pores occupying between about 40 to 50 percent of the applicator volume. When the bottle is squeezed, ink is forced out of the bottle through the porous applicator disc; and when the bottle is released, ink trapped within the applicator disc interior returns to the bottle preventing clogging of the applicator disc. The applicator is secured to the ink supply bottle by engagement between an annular flange at the bottle's mouth and a circumferential groove in the applicator.

Abstract: A screen printing process for imprinting an ink design over release coat substrates carried on a web to form heat transferrable labels. The process includes screen printing an ink design image onto the substrate followed by passing the imprinted substrates through a drying section and subsequently transferring the design image to an article. The ink formulation used in the screen printing step is composed of a base ink vehicle containing a polyamide adhesive resin and a film forming component, a thixotropic filler and a plasticizer. The formulation exhibits fluidity, adhesive and plasticity characteristics which made the ink particularly suitable to imprint and form heat transferable labels by silk screen printing.