Abstract: An apparatus for the high speed transportation of cigarette filter rods from a magazine containing the rods to a transfer drum. The apparatus has a magazine, a downwardly extended chute connected to the magazine adapted to receive filter rods singularly, a rod separation means at the junction of the magazine and chute, and a vacuum means adjacent to the chute exit. The vacuum means creates a negative pressure within the chute to hold the lowermost rod in the chute in a fixed position for accurate transfer to the transfer drum.

Abstract: A transfer device for transferring articles from the delivery end of a first conveyor to the receiving end of a second conveyor, which conveyors are so arranged that they convey articles in two directions which lie in an at least approximately horizontal plane and form with each other an angle that is other than 180.degree.. The transfer device is provided with a shaft which is mounted for rotation on a stationary component about an axis which at least approximately bisects the angle formed between the two conveying directions. A carrier arm is fixedly connected to the shaft and is arranged between the delivery end of the first conveyor and the receiving end of the second conveyor. A pick-up is connected to the carrier arm and has a pivotable axle carrying supports which are adapted to engage the underside of an article which is at the delivery end of the first conveyor.

Abstract: A disconnectable driving roller for roller conveyors having individual driving roller groups isolatable from a common conveyor drive comprising a driving wheel having a dog coupling for connecting the driving wheel to the roller, which includes a first axially slidable coupling; pivotally mounted coupling lever; and an axially slidable actuating disc between said coupling lever and the first coupling, with the coupling lever and the actuating disc having cooperating cams. The arrangement is such that when the coupling lever is moved from a disengaging to an engaging position, the cam disc is moved and in turn moves the first coupling into its position connecting the drive wheel to the roller.

Abstract: A burner for use in a flame scarfing apparatus including a plurality of flame scarfing sections, a transverse bore extending through the burner, a screw-threaded bolt disposed within the bore, chamber sleeves disposed about the bolt and spaced to correspond to approximately the length of the flame scarfing sections and O-rings mounted in annular grooves formed intermediate the sleeves so that tightening nuts on the bolt compresses the O-rings into sealing engagement against the surface forming the transverse bore.

Abstract: In moving bottles to and from a cleaning machine, the bottles are transported over a stationary support surface by drivers formed on a plurality of juxtaposed rotating discs. Each disc has a pair of angularly spaced drivers and rotates about a common axle. During rotation of the disc, the axle moves transverse to its axial direction back and forth along a substantially straight path. For each complete back and forth movement of the axle, the disc rotates through one-half of a revolution so that one driver of each pair transports one or more bottles from a first station to a second station while the other driver of each pair returns from the second station to the first station.

Abstract: A shutoff control apparatus is incorporated into a feed station where material is loaded onto a belt conveyor. The feed run of a conveyor belt is supported by interconnected roller assemblies forming a trough-shaped roller support at each of a plurality of spaced-apart locations where the roller supports are swingably carried by a stationary frame. A horizontally-arranged rectangular frame is supported by leaf springs within the stationary frame at a closely-spaced relation below the belt supporting roller assemblies. Plate members project upwardly from the rectangular frame to extend between the roller assemblies. A drive motor for the conveyor belt responds to a shutoff control switch which is actuated in response to movement by the rectangular frame. The frame moves when a sharp-edged object penetrates the conveyor belt and establishes a driving relation between the belt and one of the plate members together with a roller assembly.

Abstract: A method of transferring an article carried by a first moving conveyor to a second moving conveyor and apparatus for effecting the same. The transfer is effected by lifting the article from the first conveyor, transporting it to adjacent the second conveyor, and permitting the second conveyor to receive the transported article for further conveying thereof by the second conveyor. The conveyors may utilize hooks for suspending the articles being conveyed, and the transferring operation may comprise a step of lifting the article from the hook of the first conveyor, and allowing the second conveyor to suspend the transferred article from a hook thereof in effecting the desired transfer. Structure is provided for swinging the hook of the first conveyor rearwardly to facilitate disengagement of the hook from the article being carried. In the illustrated embodiment, the hook swinging means is defined by brushes frictionally yieldably engaging the hook as it is carried along on the first conveyor.

Abstract: In a high pressure liquid system such as those commonly used for cleaning and scaling, a feed pump is connected in series with a high pressure pump. The discharge from the high pressure pump is controlled by a fail-safe pressure responsive valve which is responsive to feed pump pressure.

Abstract: An irrigation device in the form of an elongated conduit of predetermined length wherein the conduit comprises a one piece wall of plastic material formed by extrusion in a continuous length. The conduit comprises at least two compartments having specific relative dimensions and disposed in fluid communication with one another wherein the configuration and disposition of the two compartments are defined by the configuration of the single wall portion which is formed from the single piece of extruded material. Dispersion means in the form of a strip of elongated liquid permeable material is mounted within one of the compartments and configured to extend outwardly to the exterior of the conduit whereby liquid is dispersed through the two compartments to the exterior of the conduit through the liquid permeable dispersion element by a capillary-type action.

Abstract: A depress button type sprayer comprises a piston slidably inserted into a cylinder and provided with a liquid jetting nozzle, a lever for moving the piston into the cylinder against the force of a spring and a depress button for operating the lever.

Abstract: An emitter unit comprises a pair of casing components and a coupling for coupling said components together via an interposed strip that extends beyond the components on all sides and is adapted to form a closed conduit such that one component is inside the conduit and one is outside. At least one of the components defines, together with the interposed strip, a flow restricting flowpath. Apertures are provided for effecting communication between said flowpath and the other component via said strip.

Abstract: Method for providing surge capacity and for smoothing out the flow rate of refuse in a system, wherein refuse is loaded onto a moving conveyor at variable or intermittent rates, by (1) preventing excess refuse from passing beyond a given point on the conveyor by a rotating leveler, spaced a predetermined distance from the conveyor to permit only the desired level of refuse to remain on the conveyor beyond the leveler, and (2) rotating the leveler at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyor, the direction of rotation of the leveler being opposite to the direction of travel of the refuse on the conveyor. Refuse in excess of the amount desired to be transported by the conveyor is retained behind the leveler as a rolling inventory of refuse, causing the refuse to be discharged from the conveyor at a constant and uniform rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing articles supplied in one line amongst a plurality of conveying tracks comprises guides pivotable about a vertical axis and defining a pivotable passage for said articles. A starwheel which is rotatable about a vertical axis is mounted on one of the guides and has its teeth successively projecting into the passage so that the starwheel is advanced by one tooth by the articles passing through said passage. A steering member is pivoted by one end to a crank driven by the starwheel, the other end being pivotable about a vertical axis so that an outlet end of said pivotable passage swings between said conveying tracks upon rotation of said starwheel. The starwheel is operatively connected to said crank by way of gearing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously bending or creasing sheet material as the material travels along a path. The invention creases and decurls the material; that is, compensates for a natural tendency to curl in the opposite direction, and serves as a drag on the trailing portion of the sheet material, thereby providing positive sheet control. It is characterized by an air pressure gradient which forces the material into a zone between a pair of parallel, spaced, elongated support surfaces as the material is drawn over the support surfaces.

Abstract: An adjustable arbor wheel mounting arrangement has a support frame having a mounting surface and an arbor having an axis and an end mounting surface. A wheel means is mounted on the arbor and fastening means is provided for clamping the arbor end mounting surface against the mounting surface of the support frame upon reaching a preselected working position. An abutment reaction means is provided for directing thrust forces upon the wheel means and substantially normal to the axis through the arbor and to the support frame.

Abstract: A dispensing head for use in a fluid dispensing system has a base member made from an inert plastic material with locking guide means at the lower section thereof and boss means at the upper section. The boss means has a shoulder a predetermined distance from the locking guide means and a control valve cavity which extends into the base member from the upper surface of the boss means so as to communicate with an inlet for fluid to be dispensed and an outlet for dispensing said fluid respectively disposed in the base member a spaced distance therefrom. A guard member also made of an inert plastic material has a connecting section and a shield section. The connecting section forms a shaped cavity with locking guide grooves on the inner wall of the connecting section so that the guard member in assembled position will operatively engage locking guide means at the lower end and a shoulder at the upper end of the base member.

Abstract: A valve for a gas lighter wherein an elongated support body of low thermal conductivity is clamped in a tubular member forming a valve seat at its upper end to lock a flame-height-controlling filter in place below this valve seat. The improvement resides in the formation of the thermally conductive burner-carrying member with a tubular apron, skirt or sleeve which is fitted over the thermally conductive valve member and slidingly guided therein to press a valve body (rubber gasket or flap valve) against the valve seat. The gas passage in the burner member is formed only in the upper end thereof, while the apron extends into the well beyond the filter.

Abstract: A feeder apparatus for transferring particulate material and water from a sump outlet to the inlet of a pump is formed in the sump by making a well at the outlet of the sump and placing an impeller in the well. A partition is formed separating the inlet to the feeder from its outlet, the partition having a height equal to or exceeding that of the water level in the sump. The outlet from the sump is connected to a channel which has a continually decreasing cross-sectional area, the terminus of which is connected to the inlet of the pump. A fluid jet can be mounted at the inlet of the feeder for reducing the concentration of particulate fluids at the pump inlet or for fluidizing the particles at the entrance of the pump.

Abstract: An improved mounting means for the rollers of a roller conveyor apparatus comprising a tubular bushing having a body portion which extends through the polygonal-shaped holes in the adjacent support structure into the polygonal-shaped shaft opening or bore of a bearing assembly sitted within the end of a roller and a tubular pin having a shaft portion extending through the bushing. The bushing has longitudinal slots running from the remote end along the body portion forming a plurality of resilient members and internal radially extending knobs on the resilient members. The circumference of the bushing is sufficiently large within the bearing shaft opening to prevent rotational motion of the contacting element in the bearing assembly. The pin has a complimentary groove circumferentially disposed about the shank portion near the remote end which causes the knobs and therefore resilient members to expand outwardly against the bearing assembly when the pin is fully inserted into the bushing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for uniformly feeding particulate matter into a carrier gas, which apparatus includes a particulate matter inlet duct communicating with a carrier gas conduit, a device for introducing into the conduit upstream of the inlet duct, a flow of carrier gas which is maintained under constant pressure prior to introduction, a particulate matter pump communicating with the inlet duct and operable at a variable pumping rate to supply particulate matter through the inlet duct to the conduit, a device for sensing the pressure in the conduit, and a control connected to the pressure sensing means for varying the pumping rate of the pump in accordance with pressure variation in the conduit to maintain a uniform feed of particulate matter into the carrier gas flowing in the conduit.