Abstract: A support rail for use in supporting a planting tray during its initial growing period in a greenhouse. The support rail is especially suited for use with trays having a high-density matrix of small-sized soil plugs, and comprises a horizontally extending, vertically disposed web member and a pair of support members projecting from opposite sides of the web member at its lower extremity. The support members are angled downward from the horizontal so that a tray resting on support member will be supported along the tray's lower edges and not along the bottom surface. The rails are arranged in a uniformly spaced, parallel configuration, which provides stable support for a plurality of trays without providing a preferential growing environment for those soil plugs closest to the edges of the trays.

Abstract: A watering device for potten plants comprising a support disc and a plurality of arcuately spaced legs extending downwardly and outwardly from the disc so as to elevate said disc from the bottom of a tray. A pad is positioned on said disc, with the pad having a hinged movable tab which can be bent downwardly through an opening formed in the disc for submergence in the water in the tray. The tray is formed with arcuately spaced pockets which receive the legs of the support and which extend below the bottom wall of the tray so as to elevate the same from a supporting surface.

Abstract: Underground irrigation apparatus (10) having a ground penetrating part (12) arranged for being inserted into ground to be irrigated with the assistance of a handle part (14) connected to the ground penetrating part. A fluid control assembly (16) associated with the ground penetrating part (12) and the handle part (14) provides a fluid flow under pressure to facilitate insertion into ground to be irrigated of the ground penetrating part (12) and subsequently a redirected flow to irrigate ground in which the ground penetrating part is inserted. The fluid control assembly (16) includes a valve (44) connectible to a suitable source of fluid for alternately directing same in a desired direction. A removable mixer portion (70) directs fluid along the path which irrigated ground in which the ground penetrating part (12) is inserted in order to add a fertilizer, and the like, to the irrigating flow.

Abstract: A planter has the seed box and seed dispensing mechanism supported by a tool bar which is supported by tool bar gage wheels and a tractor. A plow moves loose, dry dirt from the seed bed. The plow, opening plow, and covering mechanism are drawn as a unit from the tool bar by a parallel motion linkage. The plow, opening plow, and covering mechanism unit for each row is supported by a planter gage wheel running in front of the plow.

Abstract: A serial printing apparatus is disclosed which has rotatable and axially slide-movable type wheels and means for supplying differently colored inks to the respective type wheels. The improvement in the printing apparatus made by the present invention comprises the provision of axially slide-movable hammers disposed opposed to the respective type wheels. Printing in different colors is performed by the hammers.

Abstract: A box-shaped container for use as a cold frame is composed of a number of side wall panels and a cover. The side wall panels and the cover are formed of hollow transparent panels of plastics. The side walls are connected to each other by connecting angle-shaped elements forming stop faces abutting against respective end surfaces of the adjacent walls to be connected. The connecting elements are formed with holes receiving stud pins extended through respective bores in side wall panels and locked thereon by locking members.

Abstract: A row unit with a mechanism which provides normal planting via a parallel bar linkage connection to the planter and which can be locked up in a raised, non-planting position when desired. The mechanism includes curved slotted openings in the lower bars of the linkage for frame mounted spacers as the frame pivots about the connection with the upper bars, and locking structure having detents to engage the spacers in the lowered working and raised non-working positions. The mechanism also prevents the release of the locking structure until the row unit weight is lifted therefrom.

Abstract: A mounting head is used to fix a print wheel to the free end of a drive shaft provided on a carrier. The head extends from the print wheel toward a platen. The head lies in a space defined by the print wheel and a document guide device which is located between the platen and the print wheel and which guides a document downward in front of the platen. A document is not blocked by the mounting head while it is guided through the gap between the platen and the document guide device.

Abstract: A mobile implement for flame treating soil. The implement includes an elongated tube member for being pulled over the ground to be treated, a scoop for digging soil from the ground as the tube member is pulled thereover, an auger or screw for conveying the soil through the tube, and a burner for subjecting the soil being conveyed through the tube member to flame substantially along the entire length of the tube member.

Abstract: A hydroponic device includes a hollow housing which defines a substantially closed lower chamber for receiving a liquid nutrient solution and a top open-ended upper chamber for receiving an inert filler material and the desired vegetation which are separated by a partition wall. At least one nutrient supply pipe is coupled to the partition wall and extends downwardly into the lower chamber. The supply pipe has a throughput bore extending therethrough to establish fluid communication between the upper chamber and the lower chamber, whereby the nutrient solution may be fed in a continuous cycle from the lower chamber to the upper chamber and back again.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand labelling apparatus with the aid of which pressure-sensitive labels adhering to a carrier tape can be imprinted, dispensed and applied to articles. For this purpose the apparatus comprises in the front region of its housing a printing mechanism which is driveable by an operating lever and to which the carrier tape with the pressure-sensitive labels adhering thereto is fed by a feed means likewise driveable by the operating lever. In every operating cycle the printing mechanism imprints one pressure-sensitive label which is then further fed by the feed means with the carrier tape to a peel edge at which the imprinted label detaches from the carrier tape and moves into a dispensing position in which it is ready for application to an article.

Abstract: A hand labeller having a plurality of rotatable print wheels with selectable print types disposed on the periphery of each print wheel and a selector spindle for positioning selected print types at a printing zone of the print wheels. The selector spindle includes a reduced diameter portion which engages and slides in an arcuate slot in the labeller housing if (a) the spindle is fully pushed into the print wheels and (b) the labeller is operated to rotate the print zone of the print wheels to a label printing position. If the spindle is not fully pushed in, a large diameter portion of the spindle will engage the arcuate slot, the latter portion being too large to enter the slot whereby the print zone of the print wheels is inhibited from rotation to the label printing position.

Abstract: An arrangement for the transfer and conveyance of sheets between first and second printing units of a multi-color lithographic press which includes a receiving drum in the first printing unit, a feed drum in the second printing unit, impression cylinders associated with the drums, an endless chain, which includes links joined by pins, trained about the drums, and a guide rail following the path of the chain. A plurality of gripper carriages moveable on the rail are each coupled to the chain for movement therewith by a carriage coupler, each coupler including a drive roller on the chain mounted outboard parallel to the pins thereof. Each gripper carriage includes a yoke for snugly embracing the drive roller on the chain. The feed drum includes a radially mounted drive fork for engaging the cam roller of each gripper carriage as it comes into the vicinity of the feed drum in order to achieve a condition of accurate register between the feed drum and the gripper carriage.

Abstract: A Christmas tree stand which is readily adjustable to straighten a Christmas tree. A ball member which is affixed to the base of a tree is inserted into an opened clamp held by the stand. The tree is adjusted for straightness after which the clamp is locked about the ball member. The clamp may be closed by a foot pedal while the user holds and straightens the tree.

Abstract: A printing mechanism is disclosed which has a cylindrical type wheel rotatably supported on a driving shaft and carrying a plural number of types arranged on it circumferential surface at regular angular intervals and protruding from the surface. For effecting printing, one of the types is selected and the selected type is struck against a recording medium making use of a energy of rotation. The present invention is directed to improvement in such type of printer. The improvement comprises an elastic member through which the type wheel is supported on the driving shaft. The elastic member is fixed to the driving shaft. The type wheel is disposed concentrically with the driving shaft and spaced from a platen by a determined distance. The elastic member is engaged with projections formed on the inner circumferential surface of the type wheel so as to transmit rotation of the driving shaft to the wheel.

Abstract: A line spacing mechanism having a platen, a line spacing ratchet, a line spacing lever mounting a pawl adapted to engage and to drive said ratchet upon pivoting movement of said line space lever, a setting lever for controlling the time of engagement of said pawl and ratchet and adjustable stop means for limiting driving movement of said pawl and overtravel of the platen. The mechanism includes a single detent means for detentably holding said ratchet, said setting lever and said stop means, and includes means on said setting lever operable on said detent means to release said ratchet for irregular movement.

Abstract: A printing plate holding device for an offset duplicator. The device includes a base slidably positioned on one side of a grooved portion of a plate cylinder of the duplicator. A clamp plate is secured to the base and a clamp lever is attached to the clamp plate. A latch is loosely secured to a pin attached to the clamp lever and connected to a spring to provide a plate clamping force upon the clamp plate. A guide plate and a plate release preventing plate are attached to an outer longitudinal side of the base. An axial displacement control device is positioned at one longitudinal end of the cylinder while a circumferential displacement control device is positioned at the other longitudinal end thereof.

Abstract: In a hand labelling apparatus for printing and dispensing labels from a label strip including a carrier tape where the labels are adhered to the tape, a tape feed mechanism for stepwise feeding the label strip in a forward direction to a peel edge at which point the labels are substantially separated from the carrier tape, a printing mechanism having changeable type where the distance between the printing zone of the printing mechanism and the peel edge exceeds the length of each of the labels, a return member for feeding the label strip in a return direction opposite to the forward direction, an operating lever pivotable between a rest position and a working position where the operating lever is connected to the return member and the tape feed and printing mechanisms so that, during movement of the operating lever from the rest position to the working position, the return member feeds the labels in the return direction to the print zone where one of them is printed, a return stop member for disabling the ret

Abstract: A wick support is disclosed which is employed to support a wick used in wick-watering plants. The wick support insures proper insertion of the wick into the plant soil and also insures proper positioning of the wick in a water reservoir.

Abstract: The continuous type belt is arranged round two rollers, one of which is driven. One straight section of the type belt contacts over its entire length the support designed as a platen.In order to avoid groove on the platen caused by the rotating type belt, and to achieve a distribution of other kinds of wear of the platen over its circumference, a gear motor causes the platen to rotate very slowly (approximately 1 revolution in 72 hours).The platen can also be rotated without a gear motor. For this purpose, the longitudinal axis of the platen is slightly inclined relative to the edge of the type belt. This inclination effects a small movement component in the direction of the platen circumference while the type belt slides along the lateral surface of the platen, said component causing a slow revolution of the platen.