Abstract: The load anchors illustrated and described herein are for anchoring straps in place relative to a support track. The load anchors comprise a pair of rigid load anchor plates, each plate having a notch in each transverse edge thereof. The notches define a neck portion which separates a head portion and a base portion. An aperture extends through the base portion, with the distance between the geographic center of the aperture to the deepest point of one notch exceeding the distance between the center of the aperture to the deepest point of the other notch. The apertures in both load anchor plates are not aligned when the notches in the plates are aligned; however, the anchor plates can be moved with respect to one another so as to place the apertures thereof in registry with each other and to enable a strap to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An automobile tire stacking and strapping machine embodying a stacking station where a predetermined number of tires are upstacked by successive application thereof to the bottom of a stack undergoing erection, and the completed stack is transferred bodily to a strapping station and deposited therein. At the strapping station, lengths of strapping material are passed endwise through the eye of the stack, brought around the outer side thereof in overlapping relationship to provide closed loops, the loops tensioned and the loop overlaps sealed together, the excess strapping severed from the loops, and the thus strapped stack pushed from the machine to a discharge area. The strapping operation is conducted on each stack at the strapping station while a preceding stack of tires is undergoing erection at the stacking station.

Abstract: A strap dispenser is mounted for vertical movement on a frame from an elevated rest position to a strap dispensing position therebelow. The dispenser includes a coil of strap that is clamped by a hub, and upon demand for strap, the hub is permitted to fall from the rest position to transform the potential energy of the strap coil to rotational energy through a one-way clutch, which overcomes the inertia of the strap coil and initiates its rotation. When the demand for strap ceases, a mechanism is actuated in response thereto for positively holding the hub against rotation with respect to the shaft, and the inertia of the formerly rotating coil is utilized to return the hub mechanism to a rest position.

Abstract: Marking dial in an electrically actuated nameplate marker is indexed by a ratchet gear means having two adjacent rows of gear teeth which are out of phase relative to each other. A solenoid-actuated detent plate is adapted to engage a gear tooth in one of the two rows of gear teeth in response to a signal from a rotary switch means, thereby positioning the marking dial so as to imprint a desired character. The rotary switch means is operably connected to an alphanumeric keyboard which completes a circuit to solenoids which actuate the detent plate.

Abstract: Steel ligatures are provided having coated thereon a thin film of a resin composition containing zinc particles. The resin composition comprises a mixture of an epoxy resin and a phenolic resin, and the coating may be cured, or substantially uncured, as desired.

Abstract: In a friction-fusion apparatus a solid state control circuit including a triac connected in series with an electric motor, and a control circuit connected across said triac including a resistor and a capacitor and a diac connected between the junctions thereof and the gate electrode of the triac. A voltage control circuit across the capacitor normally limits the voltage across the capacitor to an amplitude insufficient to trigger the diac and is operative in response to a manually actuated switch to increase that voltage, thereby triggering the diac and rendering the triac conductive to operate the motor for a selected time interval.

Abstract: Overlapping ends of metal strap or the like are connected without the aid of an overlying supplemental seal or fastener by means of longitudinally spaced joints which form a one way interlocking relationship. An integral abutment means comprises juxtaposed protuberances, integral with the overlapping strap segments, which irreversibly override each other as the interlocking relationship is formed and present spaced stops which abut each other before a formed interlock can disengage when the overlapping strap segments are shifted relative to each other in an interlock disengaging direction.

Abstract: Nylon strip wrapped peripherally around rim of spoked wheel having radial spoke apertures and valve stem hole, nipples extending through apertures and connected, respectively, to outer ends of spokes, strip frictionally engaging outer ends of nipples to prevent puncture of subsequently mounted tire on rim by accidentally loosened nipple, and having aperture cut therethrough after mounting on rim to coincide with valve stem hole, together with novel method of so mounting strip on wheel rim and apparatus for accomplishing same comprising strapping means, wheel support means including pin cooperating with valve stem hole to properly locate wheel in a loading position which is adjustable to accommodate different diameter wheels, manually operable control means to initiate lowering of support means, switch means automatically operable to stop support means, to present wheel to strapping means and initiate cyclic actuation thereof to wrap nylon strip peripherally around rim, tension, cut and secure ends of strip to