Abstract: A lawn mower (100) comprising a wheeled carriage (102) configured to carry a primary cutting tool (105) for cutting lawn, the primary cutting tool (105) being operably coupled to a primary drive system. The mower (100) also comprises a trimmer (106) operably coupled to the wheeled carriage (102), and a translation mechanism comprising a selectable static state and a selectable dynamic state. The translation mechanism (110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120) is operably coupled to the trimmer (106) and configured to permit horizontal translation of the trimmer (106) in front of the wheeled carriage (102) in response to selection of the dynamic mode.

Abstract: A cutter device comprising: a rigid rectangular support frame, including an elongate guide bar for positioning the frame at the edge of a web article; a transversely extending slide bar joined to and extending across a midportion of the rigid rectangular support frame, secured to the elongate guide bar; and a knife holder assembly which is transversely slidable on the transversely extending slide bar. The knife holder assembly comprises a main body member which is transversely slidable on the transversely extending slide bar, and which may be locked in a selected transverse position, with a knife blade secured on the main body member for engagement with a transversely inward region of the web article.

Abstract: The invention provides a rocker arm and a method of making it having a cold formed steel body including parallel side walls and a bearing housing in the form of a sleeve attached to the side walls and defining a through opening to receive needle bearings. The sleeve has surfaces resistant to gas hardening so that after the arm has been subject to gas hardening only the main body is hardened leaving the sleeve unaffected. A method of making the rocker arm according to the invention includes preparing a sleeve having a surface which is resistant to gas hardening and which is unaffected by brazing temperatures; attaching the sleeve to the arm by brazing; and gas hardening the completed arm at a temperature less than the brazing temperature.

Abstract: A finger follower arm is provided for mounting on a support post to transmit oscillatory motion from a cam to a poppet valve to cause the valve to move linearly between open and closed positions. The arm has a support post end including a downwardly open domed socket for engagement on the support post and an upstanding peripheral wall. A tappet valve end defines a downwardly open channel having parallel side surfaces and a downwardly facing bearing surface between the side surfaces for engagement with said poppet valve. A pair of upstanding spaced-apart side walls extend between the support post end and the tappet valve end and blend into the peripheral wall which extends continuously between the side walls to rigidify the support post end. A method of manufacture is also described.

Abstract: An improved pressure adjustment device for the intermediate conveyor system of a sheet feed machine wherein the conveyor system includes a plurality of spaced roller assemblies slidably mounted on a beam which is pivotally mounted to interior portions of the sheet feed machine, and wherein the roller assemblies include their own spring tensioning; comprising a tension bar extending between the interior portions and having an elongated slot therein, the tension bar being located in a position closely adjacent and forward of the pivot axis of the beam, a hollow channel member being mounted on the tension bar and having a lower opening therein, and an adjustment screw having an external head and being threadedly received in the upper portion of the channel member whereby the lower end of the screw passes through the slot and opening and downwardly against the beam to urge the beam downwardly about its pivot axis.

Abstract: Apparatus for pelletizing liquid and viscous products. A body of the liquid or viscous material is enclosed within a chamber having discharge orifices or nozzles at the bottom of the body of liquid. There is a body of gas above the liquid which is subjected alternately to increased and decreased gas pressures so that the pressure on the body of liquid is first above and then below atmospheric pressure. That causes the product to be discharged from the orifices in droplets. The droplets are then solidified to form pellets. A predetermined liquid level is maintained within the chamber. The changes in gas pressure are produced by operating a valve which connects the body of gas in the chamber alternately to a suction line and supply line for gas under pressure.

Abstract: A dual-belt system for cooling a continuous layer or strip of a product. A treatment zone is formed by co-extensive runs of two endless steel belts, which are mounted upon end rolls and are positioned in predetermined relationship. The coolant liquid exerts the desired pressure on the layer of the product to insure the proper heat-exchange relationship between the product and the coolant. The cooling liquid is supplied to headers having a belt run as one wall, and variations in the thickness of the layer of the product do not change the pressure exerted on the product.

Abstract: A method for pelletizing liquid and viscous products. A body of the liquid or viscous material is enclosed within a chamber having discharge orifices or nozzles at the bottom of the body of liquid. There is a body of gas above the liquid which is subjected alternately to increased and decreased gas pressures so that the pressure on the body of liquid is first above and then below atmospheric pressure. That causes the product to be discharged from the orifices in droplets. The droplets are then solidified to form pellets. A predetermined liquid level is maintained within the chamber. The changes in gas pressure are produced by operating a valve which connects the body of gas in the chamber alternately to a suction line and supply line for gas under pressure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cooking products such as french toast in which the uncooked product is placed on one end of an endless steel belt upon which it is carried while being cooked. The product passes through a first cooking zone to cook it on one side, and it is then turned over and passes through a second zone in which it is cooked on the other side. The turning operation is performed by a flipper positioned between the two cooking zones which pushes spatula means under the product with a movement against the movement of the conveyor. The spatula is then swung about an axis transverse to the movement of the conveyor and directly above the cooking surface, and the product is turned or "flipped" along an arcuate path progressively with respect to the movement of the conveyor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for turning longitudinal rows of french toast. The turning operation is performed by a flipper positioned between the two cooking zones which pushes spatula means under the product with a movement against the movement of the conveyor. The spatula is then swung about an axis transverse to the movement of the conveyor and directly above the cooking surface, and the product is turned or "flipped" along an arcuate path progressively with respect to the movement of the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing endless steel belts or steel bands of improved characteristics on machines of the type having a large roll and an endless steel belt extending around the roll and held under tension against the roll surface as the roll is turned. This type of equipment is used for producing a continuous sheet of a product by feeding a layer of the feed products in between the belt and the roll to thereby compress the products while subjecting them to a heat treatment. The belts must be replaced from time to time and must be repaired upon occasion, and the present invention permits such replacement and repair with belts having very high tensile strength.

Abstract: A dual-belt system for solidifying products such as hot-melt resins by passing a product layer through a treatment zone formed by two endless steel belts. The product layer is precooled so that the product strip has substantially the desired cross-sectional shape prior to entering the treatment zone. During the precooling step the product spreads by the action of gravity, and the rates of precooling and movement are such as to insure that the product strip has dimensions within acceptable tolerances.

Abstract: A dual press having hydraulic units which are controlled to regulate the pressure exerted on material being treated. A control system includes sensing means along the path of materials passing to the press and sensing means along the path of materials passing from the press. Thus, sensing means control the hydraulic units and regulate the pressure so as to maintain a predetermined maximum pressure when a continuous supply of material is passing through the press. The pressure is reduced or removed completely when the supply of material is decreased or interrupted.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing viscous, pourable substances onto belts having highly sensitive surfaces, especially for dispensing a uniformly thick layer of polymer resins onto a steel belt. Provided for this purpose is a storage box having an open bottom, in which the bottom edge of at least one of the end walls located at right angles to the direction of travel of the belt is arranged just above the surface of the belt in such a manner that it does not contact the surface of the belt. Sealing is provided by means of flows of gas or liquid, which are directed at the gap between the bottom edge of the side wall and the surface of the belt from the outside, and whose pressure retains the viscous substance in the storage box.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cooking products such as french toast in which the uncooked product is placed on one end of an endless steel belt upon which it is carried while being cooked. The product passes through a first cooking zone to cook it on one side, and it is then turned over and passes through a second zone in which it is cooked on the other side. The turning operation is performed by a flipper positioned between the two cooking zones which pushes spatula means under the product with a movement against the movement of the conveyor. The spatula is then swung about an axis transverse to the movement of the conveyor and directly above the cooking surface, and the product is turned or "flipped" along an arcuate path progressively with respect to the movement of the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for collecting oil or other floating substances from a water surface, comprising a boat having a holding tank and at least one belt conveyor having its lower end submerged and its upper end in communication with the holding tank so that oil or other floating substances are removed from the water and conveyed to the holding tank as the boat progresses through the water.

Abstract: A duel-belt press in which two mating endless steel belts are supported and pressed against each other through a treating zone while holding a layer of a product captive. The layer of product is compressed as it moves into the nip formed by two diametrically opposed compression rolls which act through the belts to compress the product layer. Belt support structures are provided through the zone extending from upstream to downstream of the compression rollers relative to the movement of the belts and the layer of the product.