Abstract: A new and improved molded egg cell construction wherein the molded egg cell includes a cushion or pillopad on an up-post side wall of the cell which projects inwardly, a thin area formed on the outside of the cell adjacent its bottom which is square, the sides of which are oriented at 45.degree. to the sides and ends of the egg carton incorporating the cell, and in which the bottom is planar on its interior surface but formed with thin areas on the exterior of the bottom, in between which, is a footed formation.

Abstract: An egg cell base is provided to create softened areas of egg contact. The base has a center area which creates a softened cushion for egg contact and also creates a gap to shield the eggs from contact with the surface upon which the egg carton rests. Internally, the bottom is provided with a crater construction which helps distribute contact over a larger shell area, and also helps locate and hold the egg tip in place. Surrounding the central area are foot areas of greater thickness which provide strength for stacking. The ring cushion also is capable of providing an accordian motion upward to accommodate high eggs that may bulge the cover of the carton stacked therebelow during shipment.

Abstract: The reciprocable plunger of a fluid dispenser is immobilized by a frangible strap extending about the plunger and engaging a locking ledge on the container cap. Severance of the strap unlocks the plunger and permits plunger reciprocation.

Abstract: A new and improved molded egg cell construction and method for its manufacture, wherein the molded egg cell includes a cushion or pillopad on an up-post side wall of the cell which projects inwardly, a thin area formed on the outside of the cell adjacent its bottom which is square, the sides of which are oriented at 45.degree. to the sides and ends of the egg carton incorporating the cell, and in which the bottom is planar on its interior surface but formed with thin areas on the exterior of the bottom, in between which, is a footed formation.

Abstract: A beak type lock for a container includes an upstanding latching member having a horizontal rib at its latching surface and vertical rib extending upwardly therefrom, which latching member is adapted to engage an orifice having a shoulder at its bottom margin and a recessed upper margin and wherein the shoulder is ribbed on its under side.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing pump includes a one-piece piston capable of not only effecting a pumping operation but also an outlet valve opening and closing function upon limited relative axial movement. In one embodiment, the piston reciprocates and forms a valve seat for a container vent opening extending through a closure cap provided on the pump body, and in another embodiment, the pump cylinder reciprocates and forms a valve seat for opening and closing the container vent opening. The pump chamber defined by the cylinder has a valved inlet which may be formed by a sleeve depending from the piston and an upstanding conduit in the cylinder or may be formed by a ball check valve in the cylinder.

Abstract: In a liquid dispenser, the pump plunger having a discharge head thereon is locked to the closure cap on a liquid container against relative displacement. A pair of opposed locking elements, attached to the side wall of the discharge head, each having a locking pawl thereon for engagement with inwardly extending lip portions provided on the cap. The locking elements are spring biased into locking engagement, and are capable of being manually moved from a locking position to an unlocking position in which the locking pawls are out of engagement with the lip portions. When out of engagement, the locking elements are retained in their unlocking position to avoid any interference between the locking pawls and the annular lip during plunger reciprocation.

Abstract: A denestable plastic egg tray formed of a substantially flat sheet of material and having a plurality of alternate rows of pockets and posts for housing the eggs. A row of downwardly extending pockets is provided adjacent the parallel sides of the peripheral rim, each of the pockets including inclined outer walls. At least one ledge member is provided on the inclined pocket walls suitable to be engaged by a denesting finger during removal of the tray from the remainder of the stack of similar trays.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring individual trays of eggs from the top of adjacently spaced stacks onto a conveyor member. A lifting head is provided for each stack of egg trays and includes thereon vacuum cups which are engagable with each of the individual eggs in the uppermost tray. A vacuum actuated gripper is further provided with each lifting head assembly for engaging and lifting the uppermost tray away from the remainder of the stack. Each lifting head assembly is associated with a rotatable drive to effect rotation during transfer while also moving adjacently spaced lifting head assemblies with respect to one another in order to avoid contact during simultaneous rotation of adjacent lifting head assemblies. Relative movement between each head assembly and the respective support platform is also provided to accommodate variations in height between adjacent stacks to insure proper engagement with the uppermost tray to be transferred.

Abstract: A tape cassette holder and the combination thereof with an outer sleeve extending therearound wherein the cassette holder comprises:(a) an open pocket portion for receiving a tape cassette at the edge along which tape is exposed,(b) a back flap, and(c) reel-engaging-and-locking members extending forwardly from the back flap in the area of at least one reel hole of a tape cassette to be received in the pocket portion; wherein the pocket portion, the back flap, and the reel-engaging-and-locking members are integrally formed from a single sheet member; the pocket portion includes a bottom wall, two side walls, a front wall, and a back wall; the two side walls and the front wall extend up from the bottom wall to an elevation below that of the reel holes of a cassette to be received in the pocket portion; the back wall and the back flap are integral with each other along a hinge line at about the same elevation that the two side walls and the front wall are above the bottom wall; and the reel-engaging-and-locking

Abstract: A valve actuator, usable in pump-type and aerosol fluid product dispensers, includes a one-piece part mounted on the plunger or valve stem of the dispenser for axial reciprocating movement therewith and for rotation relative thereto. The upper end of the plunger or stem has a cylindrical segment covering a cavity surrounding the discharge orifice and a tangentially extending groove so as to form, in a first relative position of the actuator, a swirl chamber and a fluid passage which is open beyond the periphery of the segment so as to establish communication between the outlet of the plunger and the orifice via the fluid passage to thereby effect a fluid spray from the swirl chamber upon plunger reciprocation. In a second relative position of the actuator, the segment uncovers the groove and cavity so as to establish direct communication between the plunger outlet and the discharge orifice so that the fluid is discharged as a solid fluid through the orifice upon plunger reciprocation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an article inflating system for engaging and inflating articles to be decorated including an endless belt assembly for engaging the article to permit inflation thereof while the article is being decorated. A plurality of spaced cup-shaped nozzles are disposed on a horizontal moving endless belt so as to allow the cup-shaped nozzles to engage the article prior to decoration and assume a sealed relation therewith while passing through the decorating station. While at the decorating station, the open end of the cup-shaped nozzle is positioned in communication with an air supply manifold disposed adjacent the decorating station to enable inflation of the article during decorating. After the label has been applied to the article, the nozzle is gradually lifted out of engagement with the decorated article while the latter is conveyed away from the decorating station.

Abstract: Nestable multi-section hinged cartons having lobe formations extending into the carton ends which may act as a fulcrum acts so as to adjust into parallelism a slightly askew carton presented to a nest of similar cartons when the pressure of a subsequent carton is applied to the nest.

Abstract: A support system for articles being decorated at a decorating station is disclosed. A plurality of spaced receptacles are disposed on a horizontally moving endless conveyor which transports the receptacles and articles supported therein to the decorating station. The receptacles are contoured to the general shape of the bottom of the article to be decorated and have a recessed portion and upwardly extending edge portions. Each receptacle is formed of two sections separated along a line transverse to the path of travel of the conveyor such that the receptacle sections open and separate from one another when passing over a curved surface. In this manner, the article to be decorated may be conveyed along an adjacently disposed conveying system and directly transferred into engagement with the receptacle for conveying to the decorating station.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing pump includes a pump plunger mounted for reciprocation in a pump cylinder, the plunger having a discharge passage extending therethrough and communicating with a discharge opening in a discharge head connected with the plunger which sealingly engages a retaining collar on a container closure during a lock-down position of the discharge head. A check valve in the discharge passage includes a cage surrounding a valve opening, and a lower end of the plunger sealingly engages a portion of the cage when in the lock-down position. The piston is arranged on the plunger to form an air space so as to prevent any hydraulic lock which would interfere with a full depression of the head into its lock-down position. The sealed locking engagement between the head and the retaining collar is capable of being unlocked by the provision of axially oriented unlocking cam faces for effecting disengagement upon relative rotation between the head and the collar.

Abstract: Box cover comprising a top panel, fold over sides and fold over ends, the fold over sides each including a corner assembly tab and a floating corner reinforcement tab at opposite ends thereof, each assembly tab including structure allowing the reinforcement tab adjacent thereto and associated therewith to be nestled thereagainst and to extend generally coplanar with a substantial portion of the assembly tab. The method of assembling the box cover from an integral blank with glue applied to the inside of the fold over ends, utilizing a straight or planar surface mandrel moved into position indirectly engaging a pair of floating reinforcement tabs and a pair of assembly tabs in substantially a single plane and directly engaging a fold over end.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of applying heat transferable labels from a web onto a hollow article. The articles to be decorated pass through the apparatus continuously with the label being applied without any stoppage or other intermittent motion imparted to the article being decorated. In this respect, the articles are conveyed to a receptacle holding means which receives and holds the article while passing through the decorating station. The label carrying web, which is driven through the decorating station, is heated both at and prior to the decorating station to facilitate transfer without the necessity of interrupting either the movement of the label carrying web or article to be decorated.

Abstract: An improved blank for a scoop-type carton with a layout and method for the cutting of quickly erected scoop-type cartons with a maximum of nested common edges and the remaining edges at a distance exceeding the widths of two cutting knife blades. This is partially obtained by increased use of common edges parallel to the carton center line and the areas on the flaps for gluing.