Abstract: An automatic bottle-turning machine is described in which filled water bottles are conveyed through an automatic turning apparatus that rotates them from an upright position onto their sides, and discharges them. Bottles enter a turning station which is laterally rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and is blocked at its distal end by an exit stop. Bottles are counted as they enter. When a predetermined count number is reached, bottle entry is stopped and the station rotates 90 degrees from its initial position to a second position. The exit stop is then deactuated and the turned bottles discharge. Bottles are counted as they exit. When the predetermined count number is reached, the station rerotates from the second position to the initial position, and the exit stop is reactuated.

Abstract: An automatic bottle-loading machine is described in which filled water bottles are conveyed through an automatic turning apparatus to a loading station where the bottles rest on their sides. At the same time, an empty bottle rack is loaded into an elevator and automatically delivered to the loading station. A pusher mechanism automatically pushes bottles onto a shelf of the rack. The automatic procedure is repeated with successive shelves of the rack until the rack is filled. The filled rack is then discharged from the machine and the machine is ready for the next rack.

Abstract: A spark plug wire loom is described in which an axially rotatable support routes the wiring and keeps the wires separated. A tapered head mounts a separator to a T-nut mount so that the separator pops into place into a recess in the T-nut mount and is kept there.

Abstract: Open molds for forming molded packings are moved sequentially to a series of work stations. The work stations include a preparation station for preparing the molds with a separator sheet or other release agent and a clamping station for covering the molds to contain foam material within the molds during cure. The foam material is dispensed into the molds as the molds are moved from the preparation station to the clamping station. The molds may be inverted as they are moved from the clamping station to an ejection station such that removal of the molded packings is facilitated by gravity. The sequence and duration of the various operations are controlled to provide automatic manufacture of the molded packings. A unique system for delivering a thin sheet to a molding machine or to other types of sheet processing machines is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system are described for manufacturing molded packings used in the shipment of articles such as computers, typewriters and the like. The system employs a plurality of mold plugs positioned on a rotating platform whereby the mold plugs are alternately moved between work stations. At one work station a separator sheet is manually placed over a mold plug. At another work station a foaming material dispensing gun is automatically operated in a predetermined pattern over a mold which encloses the mold plug. The pattern is manually adjustable to fit any particular mold plug. Control over the system is obtained with a microprocessor programmed to operate with sensors and actuators associated with the system.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for use in a urethane foam molding process to make a molded packing that is employed in the packaging of an article. A generally air tight housing is placed in cooperative relationship with a box in whose chamber the molded packing is to be made with one housing port located for air flow communication with the chamber and another housing port being located for air flow communication with ambient air. A pair of motor driven air blowers are mounted inside the housing with each air blower operatively positioned at a housing port. When one air blower is energized it causes the evacuation of air from the chamber of the box through one port to draw and hold a polyethylene sheet into the cavities of the chamber and of a mold form located therein. The air is exhausted past the other air blower and port. When the other air blower is energized, air flow through the ports is reversed so as to blow air into the box chamber for the release of the molded packing.