Abstract: A multiple depth storage structure includes tilted, parallel rail assemblies in a storage bay. A first, single depth rail of each assembly is rollably mounted on a second, double depth rail, which is rollably mounted on a third, triple depth, fixed rail. Outer rail assemblies, having an upper outer rail rollably mounted on a lower outer rail, may be located outwardly adjacent each rail assembly. A first load is placed on cross supports joining the upper outer rails, if so equipped. Loads are successively accepted on the first rails, forward depth of the second rails, and forward depth of the third rails. Successive loads push back previous loads, and removal of each load causes positioning of the remaining loads and the rails for facile removal of a previous load or acceptance of a next load.

Abstract: A carriage is mounted for longitudinal movement on the elevator of a stacker crane and carries a rod adapted to engage the flange on the container drawer to move the drawer in and out of the storage rack. The rod is mounted on a pair of chains trained on sprockets at opposed sides of the carriage. Drive means is provided for moving the carriage back and forth into and out of contact with the storage rack at the level where the drawer enters the slot or bin in the rack. As the chains move on the sprockets, the extractor rod engages the flange on the drawer and, depending upon the direction the chains are moving, either pulls the drawer out or pushes it into its slot. The container drawer slides on suitable supports in the rack and on the carriage.

Abstract: A cyclical wire stitching machine head includes a reciprocating staple-forming and driving apparatus which is coupled to a wire gripping and feeding mechanism which reciprocates with it. During each cycle of the machine the supply wire is gripped and a predetermined length thereof is fed through a cutter to a holder and severed while, simultaneously, the length severed in the preceding cycle is formed into a staple and driven through the work against a clincher. On the retraction stroke, the holder is rotated to bring the severed length of wire into position for forming and driving during the next drive stroke. A guide tube positively guides and supports the unstraightened wire from a supply coil along a feed path from the input end of the head to the gripping and feeding mechanism. Guide means are also provided for guiding the wire from the cutter to the holder while accommodating rotation of the severed length of wire with the holder.

Abstract: Bypass clinching means for a stitching machine which drives a generally U-shaped staple through associated work, includes a housing pivotally mounting a pair of clinching members which are inclined with respect to the plane of the staple bight portion, the housing defining voids respectively adjacent to the clinching members to receive the excess leg lengths during clinching. A separator plate is disposed between the clinching members and prevents a staple leg from entering the void for the opposite clinching member during the clinching operation. Guide surfaces on the housing and separator plate guide the staple legs to the clinching members.

Abstract: Pulverulent or other bulk material is conveyed in a continuous stream on a belt conveyor, the stream comprising a plurality of substreams of different compositions which are deposited by hoppers onto the conveyor belt. A frame straddles the conveyor belt downstream from the hoppers and carries a plurality of fixed plow assemblies which depend from the frame at locations spaced apart laterally and longitudinally of the conveyor belt, each plow assembly having a plow blade which extends into the stream of pulverulent material. The blades are variously oriented, each blade displacing the engaged portion of the stream both vertically and laterally of the conveyor belt to mix together the compositions of the substreams.

Abstract: A strap accumulator for use between strapping apparatus and apparatus for dispensing strap from the outside of a mill-wound supply reel, includes a coil holder for accommodating a ribbon-wound coil of dispensed strap. The outer diameter of the coil is constrained by an expandable spring steel hoop biased to a contracted condition. Motor-driven feed wheels feed strap from the supply reel through a gap in the hoop to the outside of the coil along the inner surface of the hoop. The coil is laterally retained by side structure having an aperture permitting withdrawal of strap from the center of the coil. The natural expansion of the coil holds the hoop expanded for opening a switch to deenergize the feed motor. Withdrawal of strap from the coil contracts it, allowing the hoop to contract for closing the switch and energizing the feed motor to feed more strap to the coil. Safety switch means are provided to deenergize the strapping apparatus in the event of malfunction of the accumulator.

Abstract: A wire loop stitching machine includes a reciprocating drive coupled to a staple-forming and drive means and to a wire feed means for feeding a length of staple wire to a holder and severing it. A bender forms the wire over the holder into a generally inverted U-shaped staple. A supporter with a rounded projection is then inserted between the legs of the staple and a recessed driver deforms the bight portion of the staple over the projection into a curved loop portion and then drives the formed loop staple into an associated workpiece, retracting the supporter in the process.

Abstract: A "loop"-type wire stitching machine head includes a reciprocating drive coupled to a staple-forming and driving means and to a wire feed means for feeding a length of staple wire to a holder and severing it. A bender forms the wire over the holder into a generally inverted U-shaped staple. A supporter with a rounded projection is then inserted between the legs of the staple and a drive bar deforms the bight portion of the staple over the projection into a curved loop portion and then drives the formed loop staple into an associated workpiece, retracting the supporter in the process. The supporter is biased to its supporting position and a guide plate guides its movement to that position. A cam positively holds the supporter in its supporting position during forming of the loop portion of the staple and effects positive movement thereof partway to its retracted position after formation of the loop portion to accommodate driving of the staple.

Abstract: Apparatus for casting of low-density metals, such as magnesium alloys, into an air-permeable mold includes a housing forming a substantially airtight chamber in which is disposed a mold assembly including a mold secured between top and bottom plates by encircling bands or straps. A bottom-discharge reservoir vessel for molten metal is disposed above the mold, the vessel outlet communicating with the mold inlet through a coupling against which the mold assembly is resiliently urged by bias springs to insure an airtight coupling. A valve is selectively operable for opening and closing the vessel outlet and closure apparatus cooperates with the vessel for providing a substantially airtight closure thereof. A pressure control system is coupled to the vessel and the chamber for establishing a pressure differential therebetween which cooperates with gravity to urge the molten metal from the vessel into the mold when the valve is open.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling emissions from the cast house of a blast furnace system includes hood means covering the iron trough from the blast furnace, the hood means having a hatchway formed therein adjacent to the blast furnace discharge notch and closed by a vertically-removable hatch cover which is raised and lowered by cables which extend upwardly over sheaves carried by a yoke assembly mounted on the bustle pipe immediately above the iron trough and then to a remote winch. Means are provided on the yoke assembly for latching the latch cover in its raised position.

Abstract: A gravity-feed storage and delivery rack includes upstanding support frames and a plurality of vertically-spaced shelf frames mounted between the support frames by means of mounting clips which have prongs receivable in complementary apertures in the columns of the support frames. The clips are channel-shaped along their entire length, the channel side walls having inclined retaining surfaces thereon which cooperate with the associated support column to form a notch providing a wedge-fit for a side rail of the shelf frame. Each shelf frame side rail is provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent to the rear end thereof for receiving a stop pin which projects laterally therefrom for engagement with the rear columns of the support frames to facilitate front-to-back adjustment of the shelf frames with respect to the rack. A mezzanine construction is disclosed having stacked racks with vertical-column support frames and front-to-back staggered shelf frames.

Abstract: A removable step for climbing a storage rack which supports pallets in a warehouse or the like. The step comprises a U-shaped rod, the free ends or legs of which are bent at a right angle to the closed portion of the U, which portion provides a step. The legs fit into a first pair of openings in the face of a column comprising part of the rack. The column has many pairs of openings spaced along its length. The legs terminate in hooks which hook over a second pair of openings below said first pair to keep the step from tilting under the load of the climber's foot.

Abstract: A battery charging system includes a highrise storage rack system for holding a plurality of battery chargers and defining a plurality of battery locations. Each battery to be charged is placed on a pallet which has a connection block with a cable connectable to the battery and a male connector. A load carrier carries the pallet and the battery to a selected battery location in the rack and deposits it thereat in a charging position, thereby connecting the male connector to a female connector on the rack connected to one of the chargers. The load carrier also retrieves charged batteries on their pallets from the rack, the retrieval motion effecting disconnection of the pallet from the charger. Each pallet has a fluid receiving trough provided with a drain which cooperates with fluid inlets of a fluid collection system on the rack for collecting fluids emitted during the charging process.

Abstract: A cyclical wire stitching machine includes a reciprocating driving coupled to a staple-forming and drive means, which is in turn coupled by a rack and pinion mechanism to a wire feed means, so that the wire feed means and the staple-forming and driving means reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions. The wire feed means includes a wire gripper which grips the supply wire for feeding it, while the feed means moves in one direction, to a wire holder where a predetermined length of wire is severed from the supply, the gripper then being locked open for releasing the wire while the feed means retracts in the opposite direction and the fed length of wire is formed into a staple and driven. Thus, during each cycle, the machine feeds a length of wire and forms and drives that same length of wire so that at the end of the cycle there is no severed wire in the wire holder.

Abstract: A gravity-feed merchandise storage and delivery rack includes upstanding support columns and a plurality of vertically-spaced storage shelves mounted upon the support columns by means of mounting clips; each storage shelf includes rearward and forward side frame members interconnected by splice members including offset portions so that the forward side frame member is offset outwardly with respect to the rearward side frame member to facilitate passage of merchandise thereby; an intermediate guide member on the storage shelf having a pin adjustably positioned thereon and extending downwardly therefrom to engage in openings in a channel member extending transversely of the storage shelf; and a shelf support infinitely adjustable upon an intermediate support column for supporting an elongated storage shelf intermediate the front and rear thereof.

Abstract: A storage rack entry vehicle for transporting loads in a warehousing system includes infrared radiation source and detector units which determine the relative position of the vehicle and load. The optical axes of the source and detector are parallel and closely-spaced. When infrared radiation from the source is scattered by the load (or a pallet carrying the load), some of the radiation is reflected back to the detector along a path substantially parallel to the optical axes. The maximum range of detection is controlled by adjusting the gain of an amplifier which forms part of the detector.

Abstract: There is disclosed a strapping machine for applying a plastic strap around an object, tensioning the strap and heat-sealing together overlapping portions of the strap, including a retractable heating member movable between the overlapping strap portions and a pressure-applying means including a pressure block with a tiltable universal joint coupling for pressing the overlapping strap portions against the heating element with a first relatively light pressure to melt the facing surfaces thereof. The heating element is withdrawn while the pressure-applying means presses the strap thereagainst with the first pressure, and then the melted strap portions are pressed together with a strong second pressure to complete the seal. A cam with a yieldable section controls the first pressure and a compression spring controls the second pressure. While retracted, the heating element is raised to a higher temperature for burn-off of strap residues.

Abstract: A coking oven having a coking chamber and a combustion chamber with a high temperature flue gas outlet connected to a first heat exchanger for heating cool air to cool the flue gases to an intermediate temperature, a coal dryer using the intermediate temperature flue gases for drying wet coal to a water content of a few percent by weight and preheating the coal to a temperature below the boiling point of water, a coal oiler to oil the partially dried and preheated coal, and a gas cleaner system for removing particulate matter from the low temperature flue gas coming from the coal dryer; also disclosed is an improved method of coking coal and apparatus for preheating and partially drying coal that can be added to existing coke oven structures.

Abstract: A storage rack entry vehicle for transporting loads of substantial weight in a warehousing system includes a plurality of wheels spaced from each other in the direction of both the length and the width of the vehicle and which support the vehicle for movement upon rails. The vehicle also includes an elevatable platform which supports the loads on the vehicle and distributes the load weight to locations adjacent each of the wheels. A rigid plate connects both the wheels and the load supports. However, this rigid plate is sufficiently flexible such that the plate flexes to maintain all of the wheels in continuous contact with the rails where one of the rails may vary in elevation such that at least one of the wheels might otherwise move out of contact with the rail surface.

Abstract: Improved logic circuitry combined with an efficient and economical motor controller which enables a DC motor to reverse the direction of a vehicle and to maintain the speed of the vehicle within narrow speed boundaries during acceleration, deceleration and constant speed conditions.