Abstract: An antistatic chairmat for preventing electrical shocks due to triboelectricity. The chairmat consists of a transparent plastic material and includes an array of semiconductive inserts with a ground connection. The preferred design incorporates a conductive or semiconductive lower layer, and an insulative intermediate layer which may be a printed design, or sheet. The lower conductive or semiconductive layer provides electrical continuity to ground via studs at the bottom of the semiconductive inserts. An alternative antistatic chairmat includes a plurality of semiconductive layers bridged by one or more conductive grounding clips.

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: Apparatus for controlling the tension of a web during transport, such as a label-carrying web in a heat transfer labelling machine. The web travels from a supply reel, around a dancer roll and metering roll, through various other web handling devices to another dancer roll, and is collected at a rewind reel. Each dancer roll is linked to a clutch for the corresponding supply or takeup reel, so that each clutch exerts a braking torque determined by the web tension at its dancer roll. Each dancer roll is further linked to an air cylinder to provide a user-determined tension level. The carrier web includes pin holes which are engaged by a pin wheel rotatably mounted to the metering roll, so that the pin wheel swivels when subjected to web tension differentials. Swivelling of the pin wheel opens and closes a valve within the metering roll, thereby providing a variable vent for high pressure air supplied to the supply air cylinder.

Abstract: Multi-purpose labelling making use of composite label structures which can be applied manually or by machine. The composite label structure includes at least an outer label that is temporarily held on an intermediate carrier by a suitable adhesive. The intermediate carrier is in turn releasably adhered to a base carrier.In use of the composite structure, the outer label and intermediate carrier are separated from the base carrier and applied to an item of inventory. The composite of the label and intermediate carrier are then used when the item is subsequently processed, for example, by removing the outer label from the intermediate carrier and transferring it for inventory control or other processes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for stretching of fastener stock. The stock is of stretchable material and is engaged by members which are spaced apart at an angle and rotate at substantially the same peripheral speed in different planes to stretch the portion of the stock that extends between the members.

Abstract: An electrostatic imaging device including an elongate conductor coated with a dielectric, and a transversely oriented conductor contacting or closely spaced from the dielectric-coated conductor. A varying potential between the two conductors results in the formation of a pool of ions of both polarities near the crossover area. Ions are selectively extracted by means of an extraction potential to form a discrete, well-defined charge image on a receptor surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ion generation with enhanced performance through operation at elevation temperatures. A glow discharge ion generator is subjected to extrinsic heating, both preliminarily and during continued operation, thereby providing increased ion current outputs. Such thermal control additionally prolongs the life of the ion generator by reducing corrosion and contaminant buildup.

Abstract: A novel process is described for curing radiation-curable liquid compositions. The compositions are cured by exclusion of oxygen, alone or in combination with exposure to radiation. The compositions preferably include known photoinitiators but are substantially free of known anaerobic initiators.

Abstract: Apparatus for turning bottles and the like during exposure to a jet of hot gas or other heat source. Bottles are individually passed by an air cylinder gate and travel to a drive wheel and a spring loaded idler, where they are trapped by a second air cylinder gate. The drive wheel turns the bottle over a predetermined revolution while the bottle face is exposed to heat. The bottle is then permitted to exit by retraction of the second air cylinder gate. A pneumatic assembly controls gate operation, along with mechanical actuation to prevent bottle entrapment in the heating area.

Abstract: An article-holding turret which is particularly suitable for rotatably conveying large objects. A friction brake is fixed to a pawl plate, and these axially mounted structures are oscillated by a rack and pinion assembly driven from a turret index shuttle. A ratchet and spindle assembly is coaxially mounted on the turret's central shaft, and caused to periodically index through desired angular intervals by a pawl carried on the pawl plate. The forward rotation of the ratchet and spindle assembly is accompanied by a commensurate rotation of the friction brake, thereby minimizing rotational drive forces required during this segment. An auxiliary pawl and bracket assembly prevents retrogression of the ratchet and spindle during the reverse oscillation of the friction brake assembly.

Abstract: Thermal imprinting of substrates, for example one or more surfaces of multi-dimensional objects, using a heat transfer film formed by a 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: File folders of the type having hooks to permit suspension for storage, and further including appendages to permit binding or compartmentalization of materials. The folder may contain loose-leaf binding rings, permanently or detachably mounted to the base. Alternatively, the folders are perforated at the base to hold a spiral binder for materials. The folders can be provided with telescoping side members to achieve an accordion-like effect. Such folders may additionally include permanent or removable divider panels.

Abstract: A decorative laminate and method of transferring designs onto articles. The laminate is formed of a transfer substrate affixed to a support member. The transfer substrate is composed of a protective layer, an ink layer and a resinous coating layer. Optionally, a barrier layer is provided beteen the resinous layer and the ink layer. In many applications the protective coating layer may be omitted. The laminate is applied to an article using a heated silicone rubber transfer pad to which the transfer substrate adheres during the transfer process.

Abstract: A retractable ink stamp having a handle and a stamp housing slidably positioned on one end of the handle with an ink absorbing stamp matrix located within the stamp housing. The matrix, preferably of polyethylene foam construction, functions as both an ink reservoir and ink stamp. The stamp matrix is durable, has increased ink absorbing capabilities, exhibits excellent capillary characteristics, but yet is easily manufactured at low cost.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for imprinting tickets and pinning them onto articles. The printing-pinning machine includes seven functional assemblies driven from a single shaft in a compact arrangement. A strip feed drive handles ticket stock with minimal drag and "pull back", and includes the features of a jogger, and profiled feed pawls. A feed/inking drive system includes mechanical amplification, a ball detent safety feature, and a floating guide rod assembly. Print and sever apparatus are lowered and raised in coordination, to act in sequence on the ticket strip.

Abstract: A label carrier web transport for use in heat transfer decorators and the like, in which labels are optically registered to control web transport. A timing assembly coordinates the rotation of a cam shaft with the actuation and deactuation of clutch and brake assemblies within a metering roll. An optical scanner trained on the web registers a predetermined contrast location to actuate the brake and deactuate the clutch, subject to the presence of an enabling signal from the timing assembly. The metering roll, in combination with a reciprocating label shuttle, provides intermittent web motion to achieve controlled label advance. An alternative label transport system incorporates a capstan web drive in lieu of the metering roll, with a microprocessor to control various machine functions including intermittent web transport.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the metallization of support members, such as paper sheeting and other cellulosic products. A metallic film is transferred to the paper support from a plastic sheet carrier and adhered to the paper by a thermoplastic material. The carrier, typically of stabilized plastic with an adhered film of metal and an overlay of thermoplastic adhesive with the paper support. Pressure and/or heat is applied to the composite which is subsequently cooled and the carrier stripped away to leave the desired metallic layer on the receiving surface of the paper support.This transfer procedure overcomes the objections associated with metal foil laminates and is particularly suitable for metallizing support members, like paper, which are difficult to metallize directly because they release significant amounts of vapor during conventional vacuum metallization.

Abstract: A label carrier web transport for use in heat transfer decorators and the like, in which labels are optically registered to control web transport. A timing assembly coordinates the rotation of a cam shaft with the actuation and deactuation of clutch and brake assemblies within a metering roll. An optical scanner trained on the web registers a predetermined contrast location to actuate the brake and deactuate the clutch, subject to the presence of an enabling signal from the timing assembly. The metering roll, in combination with a reciprocating label shuttle, provides intermittent web motion to achieve controlled label advance.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating laminations of mica and conductive foils for generation of ions in air. A layer of mica is laminated to sheets of metallic foil using pressure sensitive adhesive as the bonding material. The foil is etched in order to form electrodes in a desired pattern. The mica-foil laminate may include an encapsulating layer or tape of pressure sensitive adhesive around the edges.

Abstract: A corona charging device including a dielectric-coated elongate conductor contacting or closely spaced from a grid electrode, mounted against an insulating support. A high voltage varying potential between the elongate conductor and grid electrode induces a glow discharge in the vicinity of the dielectric-coated electrode. The grid electrode may act as a ground plane to provide a corona discharge device with respect to a proximate member. Alternatively, the grid electrode may be maintained at a desired potential to provide a charging device with an automatically limited voltage.