Abstract: In a membrane valve fluid flow control device which includes a pair of superimposed surfaces wherein the membrane is interposed between the surfaces under compression and further serves as a seal. A raised rib portion is provided to impact limited areas of the membrane and localize compression along a narrow band apart from and surrounding valve chambers and any associated openings through the surface. The raised rib portion will localize compression forces along a narrow band on the membrane and limit lateral flow of the membrane material to prevent thickening or bulging of the material over the valve seat area.

Abstract: A hydraulic coupling for a "Bag-in-the-box" fluid container, comprising a sealed closure and a connection fitting sealably engaged therewith, the closure including a hollow tube carrying a tapered, dislodgable plug and the connection fittig for coupling to a hydraulic pick-up line, the fitting sealably engaged in the tube and having a plunger arranged to dislodge the plug to gain access to the content of the gab for transmission of the content of the bag to the pick-up line.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device of the type wherein piezoelectric spring-like benders operably are associated with impacting members, each capable of deforming a membrane to control flow past a valve seat upon change in the electrical condition of the benders. Each bender and impacting member is isolated from the fluid by the membrane. The benders may be mounted individually arranged side-by-side for multiple use or can be grouped in a comb-like configuration. A mounting is provided for the benders which permits the force exercised on the impacting member by the free end of the bender to be adjusted and maintains the electrical isolation of the benders one from the others. The mounting as installed provides a stationary or an adjustable fulcrum point and a clamping member cooperating with the fulcrum for fixing the adjustment.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand printer system has a print head including a manifold plate and one nozzle plate for each desired printing nozzle array. The manifold plate carries dot valves each controlling the flow of ink to one nozzle of each array. Ink passed by each dot valve flows through an outlet passageway to an opening. The nozzle plates each mount a nozzle array on a front side surface in linear columns with staggered nozzles. On each nozzle plate back side surface, grooves couple ink from one manifold outlet passageway opening to one nozzle. The manifold outlet passageway openings are located to be symmetrical at 180 degrees of rotation so that all the nozzle plates can be mounted on the manifold plate in either one of two positions rotated 180 degrees from one another.

Abstract: A piezoceramic bender cooperates with an impacting member, membrane and valve seat to provide a novel piezoelectric transducer arrangement for achieving desired rapid and accurate control of fluids under pressure in a variety of different applications, such as, computer printing, fluidics, etc. The bender is advantageously isolated from the fluid in operation.

Abstract: An article marking apparatus of the reciprocable impact type wherein an imprinting head is driven from a rest condition sealably engaged with an inking cartridge assembly through a 90.degree. rotation to impact upon the surface of a passing article whereby to imprint indicia information thereon represented by printing type font carried by said imprinting head. The imprinting head is pivotally coupled to a pneumatic drive device by a linkage assembly including a drive link. The imprinting head mounts a shaft having freely rotatable bushings at its opposite ends. Opposite cam slots are provided formed in the housing for receipt of the bushings for guilding the imprinting head along a predetermined path for translating said head through an imprinting stroke and return while the head is rotated at constant angular rotational accelleration. The peak of the rate of angular rotation of the head occurs midway in the stroke with the head assuming a motion to the terminus.

Abstract: A base-lock type font holder for imprinting apparatus of the impacting type, the holder comprising selectively spreadable aligned parallel rows of base lock segments which are clamped together within the outwardly opening cavity of a carrier body with the type font seated therein. An internally spring biased ratchet like arrangement facilitates both clamping and retention of the type font therein immovably during as many as several million impacts effected by the imprinting apparatus. The ratchet-like arrangement includes a pair of free-mounted miniature puck members seated at opposite ends of a coil spring, together seated in bearing relation to clamping screws employed to secure the segments within the cavity, and said screws being capable of manual manipulation against the spring bias selectively to spread or clamp said segments.

Abstract: An article marking apparatus of the reciprocable impact type wherein an imprinting head is driven from a rest condition in sealed engagement with an inking cartridge through a ninety degree rotation to impact upon the surface of a passing article whereby to imprint indicia information thereon by means of printing type carried by said imprinting head. The imprinting head is an integral part of a carrier or shuttle device pivotally coupled to a pneumatic drive device by a folding linkage including a drive link supplemented by an idler coupled between the shuttle and the carrier. A guide member is provided in intercepting relation to the shuttle to maintain the shuttle along a preferred path toward a straight line vertical orientation aligned with a window through which the imprint is effected. The inking cartridge is removably mounted within said marking apparatus to intercept the imprinting head carried by said shuttle.

Abstract: An inker wheel comprising a pair of axially mateable plastic molded discs defining a centrally apertured hub and a concentric annular channel mounting a flexible annular inking ring. One disc carries plural concentric rim pairs arranged to define the mounting channel when the discs are assembled. One rim of each pair is narrow to fix the channel width at one dimension to accommodate one width ring, the narrow rim being selectively removed if a second wider ring is to be accommodated. The pair of discs being selectively machinable to remove an outer portion thereof so that an inner pair of rims define the mounting channel for an inking ring of lesser, yet predetermined diameter can be accommodated. Grommet-plunger fasteners are provided to effect a releasable coupling. Thus a pair of molded members are provided for making at least four differently dimensioned inking wheels.

Abstract: A method of making a resilient expandible inking ring by forming a ring of elastomeric ink-absorbent material of generally rectangular cross-section, seating the ring in a thin wall U-shaped shell of unvulcanized rubber leaving the outer portion of the ring outwardly to extend from the shell introducing a bonding material formed of an uncured rubber slurry between the shell and the ring and vulcanizing the assembly. The ring may be formed by end to end bonding of a strip of said ink-absorbent elastomeric material.

Abstract: An inking wheel having a ring formed of firm inking material, said ring being mounted upon a hub by means of a concentric, radially yieldable support comprising a concentrically disposed coil spring, said concentric spring having a pair of outer coils supporting the ring and an inner lesser diameter coil adapted to be frictionally seated on the hub, the inner and outer coils joined integrally by a pair of bridging coils at opposite ends of the inner coil with the resilience being provided thereby.

Abstract: A rotary imprinting device for imprinting information on articles passing successively spaced along a given path and including a frictionally driven imprinting wheel provided with a planetary repositioning mechanism for returning the wheel to its initiate condition after an imprint has been effected and the wheel is released from the article. The repositioning mechanism is adjustable to change the null conditions of the wheel relative to the given start condition thereof. A slot and key coupling is described between the drive means, the means holding the imprinting type and the imprinting wheel, to prevent relative shifting thereof as the imprinting wheel is rotated.

Abstract: An inking ring and wheel for code daters, the ring being formed as an elongate length of ink absorbent strip material of generally rectangular cross-section arranged secured end to end to define a ring, said ring being seated in a thin wall U-shaped shell whereby the outer portion of the ring extends radially from the shell so that a portion thereof is disposed outward of the shell. Preferably, the strip is formed of foam rubber and the shell is formed of uncured rubber. A slurry of a solvent and uncured rubber is used as an adhesive for joining the ends of the strip, as well as the strip to the shell. The assembly is vulcanized to effect permanent securement. The thus formed inking ring is mounted upon a cylindrical hub and a pair of side plates retained thereon on both sides of the inking ring to define an inking wheel.

Abstract: An inking wheel having an outer ring of firm inking material, the outer ring being mounted upon a radially yieldable support assembly, said support assembly formed of a pair of relatively rigid concentric cylindrical sleeves and a resilient cushioning material disposed between said sleeves. The inking wheel can be mounted upon a shaft, a hub or mounting spindle. Axial disks can be provided to restrain axial movement of the ring and the support assembly.

Abstract: A method for the high speed application of printing code indicia. The articles to be imprinted are carried by a conveyor consecutively past an imprinting zone wherein printing heads on an imprinting wheel intercept the article at an imprinting location. The articles are spaced uniformly a predetermined distance, the lateral movement of the articles is restricted through the imprinting zone, a positive force is applied to the tops of the articles to immobilize the articles at the same time the imprint is applied and the speed of the circumferential rotation of the imprinting wheel is correlated with the speed of the conveyor and the number of printing heads carried by the imprinting wheel.

Abstract: A high speed machine for imprinting code indicia consecutively upon individual articles moving in a line along the upper reach of a conveyor to an imprinting zone arranged along the conveyor path. The imprinting is performed by plural printing heads carried by an imprinting wheel. The speed of rotation of the imprinting wheel being correlated with the speed of the conveyor and the number of printing heads carried by the imprinting wheel. The articles are spaced uniformly one from the other a predetermined distance with their lateral movement being restricted during passage of the articles through the imprinting zone, a positive force being directed downward upon the top of each article at least at the time the imprint is applied thereto.