Abstract: A characteristic feature of the invention lies in that a container for each liquid component, incorporated in a sand machine, is provided with an actuator intended for effecting forcible opening of the container spring-loaded valve, a device for controlling this actuator, and an eccentric mounted on the shaft of a drive for actuating feeders and acting on the control device; each proportioner for a fluid component is provided with spring-loaded diaphragms, of which one is adapted to control a feeder for loose components and the other, to close the feeder outlet. The connection between the feeders is effected by an intermediary member connected with the spring-loaded diaphragm and brought in contact with a cam mounted on the shaft of the drive for feeders and set at an angle of 2 to 15 deg. relative to the eccentric.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described by means of which the slitting head in a slitting line for severing sheet metal web material into strips is utilized to transfer the leading end of the web material from the uncoiler to the recoiler for attachment thereto during the feed-up operation. The invention enables the concerned operation to be performed more safely in reduced time and with less effort and manpower than heretofore.

Abstract: A wire insertion apparatus particularly for forming presses and the like comprising at least one pair of insertion rollers between which a wire or rod is periodically advanced by a predetermined insertion length, a crank and connecting rod mechanism connecting at least one of the insertion rollers to a drive shaft for producing a periodic angular movement of the insertion rollers, the mechanism comprising an intermediate lever member pivotally mounted on an axis, first and second linkage rods connecting the intermediate member respectively with an eccentric on the drive shaft and an eccentric mounted on one of the insertion rollers so that rotation of the drive shaft produces angular movement of the insertion roller in response to pivotal motion of the intermediate lever member, and means for shifting the pivot point of one of the linkage rods so as to change the distance between the pivot axis and that rod and thereby change the degree of angular movement of the insertion rollers.

Abstract: In combination with a toilet paper dispenser having a base mountable upon a wall and a pair of opposed trunnion arms removably mounting a dowel which loosely journals a roll of toilet paper having a lead sheet. The improvement comprises in combination therewith a biasing means for restraining unwinding of the roll, including a cover projecting from the wall and overlying the roll. A mount strip of resilient material is secured to the cover and includes a depending hinge secured to the wall. A resilient friction tab projects from the mount strip and resiliently and tangentially and yieldably bears against the roll.

Abstract: A construction line reel has a cord bearing head upon which construction line is wound freely rotatably disposed on a single handle. The cord bearing head is elongated in the direction of its axis of rotation to effect safe and convenient one-handed dispensing of construction line, enabling construction workers working at unsafe heights to focus maximum attention upon their safety while dispensing construction line.

Abstract: An egg fluffer having mixer blades with copper surfaces thereon for interacting with egg white albumen in whipping processes to produce high-volume, stable foams.

Abstract: A tape drive hub having an improved reel latch, a hub body having a plurality of radial openings communicating with a reel receiving cylindrical surface, a tapered locking member carried axially by the body removable from an unlocked to a locked position, and an actuator received in each of the radial openings, each of the actuators being formed of a cylindrical body having a piston at the outer end and means at the inner end for engaging the locking member, and each actuator cylindrical body including a preloaded spring engaging the piston so that when the locking member is axially advanced into the locked position, each cylindrical body is pushed outwardly to engage the piston end with a reel positioned in the hub, the force of engagement being determined by the preload on each of the actuator springs.

Abstract: A mixing and kneading machine including a pair of parallel rotors each having a long vane and a short vane, both of which extend spirally about the center line of the rotors. A length ratio of the short vanes to the long vanes is selected within a range of 0.48 to 0.1. Also described is a mixing and kneading device which has a pair of parallel rotors rotating in opposite directions within a mixing chamber defined by a casing and an end frame. Each of the rotors comprises a long vane and a short vane, both of which extend spirally about the center line of the rotor, the spiral direction thereof being selected such that material to be mixed flows from the edges of the rotors into the central portion thereof. The ratio of the length of the short vane to that of the long vane is determined within the range of 0.48 to 0.1 and a ratio of axial thrust exerted on the material by the short vane to that by the long vane is determined between 0.7 and approximately 0.

Abstract: A system for winding or unwinding lengths of an elongated article such as an underwater conduit or cable, in succession, from a plurality of spools. The system includes two spaced apart spindles which can be moved vertically, horizontally in the direction of unwinding of the article, and toward each other, so that the spindles can be used to handle the spools when the spools are supported with their axes perpendicular to the direction of unwinding of the article. By this arrangement, one spool can be unwound, deposited on the deck of a ship, and the spindles can be moved to the second spool to pick up the spool for unwinding. The system can be used to unwind lengths of underwater conduit, during the laying of the conduit in a marine environment.

Abstract: In a contactless turning guide controlling a running web through a change of direction, pressure air from a source thereof is delivered into a plenum chamber, from which it issues through slots that direct it between the web and a curved guide surface, to form a pressurized air cushion on which the web floats out of contact with said surface. A damper that controls flow of pressure air into the plenum chamber is automatically so positioned by a servo as to maintain a constant distance between said surface and the web, notwithstanding variations in web tension. For control of the servo, a supply pressure sensor produces a first output corresponding to above-atmospheric pressure of air in the plenum chamber, a cushion pressure sensor having an inlet at said surface produces a second output corresponding to above-atmospheric pressure in the air cushion, and a ratio-forming device to which said outputs are fed produces a ratio signal corresponding to a ratio relationship between the first and second outputs.

Abstract: A mixer especially useful for making mechanical foams is disclosed. The mixer includes a stator and a rotor mounted for rotation with respect to the stator, the stator and rotor defining a fluid flow path between them. The fluid flow path includes two shearing zones spaced axially along the rotor. A surface of the rotor extending from the first shearing zone to the second shearing zone defines one boundary of the fluid flow path. The cross-sectional area of the flow path through the mixer is kept substantially constant, varying by no more than about 25 percent, so that zones of stalled flow and low pressure are avoided, thereby maintaining the velocity of the mixture in the flow path relatively high at all times and maintaining a substantial back pressure on the mixture. Portions of the stator and rotor are easily assemblable or disassemblable so that the mixer can be readily converted from a multi-head form to a single-head form.

Abstract: The web from a running roll passes through a festoon in which an amount of web is stored. Upon the application of a splice command signal, the speed of the running roll is reduced from an initial or line speed V linearly at a rate R1. As the speed of the running roll decreases, the rate at which the festoon web length decreases reaches a preselected fraction of the speed V. This indicates that the running roll is stopped. A splice initiate signal is then generated. The web from the running roll is spliced to the web from a reserve roll. Following the splice, the speed of the web from the reserve roll is accelerated linearly at a rate R2 to speed V. If the rate of reduction of running roll speed is independent of the initial speed V, the same web tensions are experienced during braking of the running roll regardless of the initial speed V. If the rate is made dependent on the initial speed V, lower web tensions are experienced during braking for lower initial speeds V.

Abstract: A tensioning device for materials of tape form particularly adapted for metic printers and comprises a floating element situated between free sections of a paper tape installed in return fashion in a driving mechanism. The floating element is provided with displacement transmission elements formed by spiked belts of which the spikes are engaged in perforations in the tape. The tensioning of the tape is provided by a weight hooked to the floating element such that the tape section emerging from the driving mechanism is driven, via the floating element, by the tape section which enters the driving mechanism.

Abstract: A membranous thermal barrier and means for its placement on and removal from an ice surface, such as a rink, are provided. The barrier comprises a flexible, sheet-like covering having low moisture permeability and thermal insulation properties sufficient to substantially reduce heat transfer to the ice surface when emplaced on the ice during non-use hours. Reel means are provided to wind, transport, store and dispense the covering quickly and with minimal labor.

Abstract: A self-threading spool or core for a moving web or strip in which the web or strip is guided onto the periphery of a supported frame for rotation about a horizontal axis by freely flexible guide means anchored at one end to the frame and extending from said anchored end generally tangentially to the underside of the core periphery and then up and over said periphery to be held by gravity in partially encircling contact therewith or with the web being wound, the guide means defines with the periphery of said core a nip into which the leading edge of a web travelling between the core and flexible means is directed into winding engagement with the core. When a sufficient number of coils has been collected on the core, the flexible means slides free of the core to an out-of-the-way position beneath the core.

Abstract: A winding core for magnetic tape is adapted for stacking between like winding cores. The core has a substantially annular body with top and bottom substantially annular body surfaces, an outer circumferential body surface to wind the tape about, a discontinuous inner circumferential body surface and a set of recess surfaces extending between the annular body surfaces and between portions of the discontinuous inner circumferential body surface. The recess surfaces define a circular array of recesses for the core. Opposed sets of projections rise from the top and bottom annular surfaces. Each set forms a circular array; and each projection is adapted to mate with a recess of a like top or bottom sandwiching winding core. The projections of each array of projections are spaced to mate with every third recess along the array of recesses of a sandwiching core.

Abstract: A fire hose washer and winder having two reels on opposite sides of a frame. On one side, a hose path is defined along hose guides from one end of the machine to a reel and on the other side of the machine a similar hose path over hose guides is established to another reel. On one side of the machine a hose washing and scrubbing section is positioned such that the hose guides support a hose on a path passing through opposed brushes, with two pipes on opposite sides of the hose path directing water onto opposite sides of the hose, so that a hose can be washed, scrubbed and then wound. On the opposite side of the machine, hoses are brushed and then wound on a reel without washing.

Abstract: In web rewinding apparatus for producing hard-wound individual rolls, a knife for cutting through the web is carried for substantially radial extension and retraction by a cutoff roll which cooperates with a bed roll around which the web has substantial wrap. When extended, the knife enters a longitudinal slot in the bed roll, in which there is a row of fixed pins. A web impalement pusher bar, extended from the cutoff roll along with the knife, impales the web onto the pins. Transfer pads carried by the bed roll extend, to detach the web from the pins and clamp it against a new core. Cores onto which web is wound are supported by six mandrels spaced circumferentially around a turret that carries them, in turn, to each of six fixed stations. Coaxial with each mandrel on the turret is a rotatable driver and a normally disengaged clutch which, when engaged, transmits rotation of its driver to its mandrel. Alternate drivers around the turret are driven from one motor, the remaining drivers by a second motor.

Abstract: A reel with an expandable mandrel support device for coiling material such as flat rolled steel strip or strips, the reel mandrel having a gripper mechanism for effectively securing each leading end to the reel mandrel which mechanism has numerous cam action gripper bars that singularly can increase gripping force as the tension in the strip strands clamped by one or more cams is developed by the reel; a positioning wedge assembly for these gripper bars constructed to first position and hold immovable, in an operative position, except for movement due to tension buildup, and secondly to positively and quickly release all gripper bars from the strand ends and hence from the reel mandrel when the coils formed by the reel mandrel are to be removed.

Abstract: An automatic, pneumatic reel latch, comprising a hub adapted to be attached to a drive shaft of a tape deck, the hub has an annular groove forming an inner cylindrical surface and an outer thin cylindrical shell. A cup-shaped piston is fitted with a rolling diaphragm and inserted into the groove. A plurality of tapered flats are molded on the outer surface of the piston. Compressed air is supplied through an axial bore in the drive shaft, into the cylinder, causing the piston to move out of the groove, and by cam action of the lands, move outwardly a plurality of roller friction pad assemblies, having friction pads on their outer surfaces. A tape reel is adapted to slide over the latch and to be outside of, and co-planar with, the friction pads. The pneumatic pressure of the piston will force the friction pads into contact with the reel, providing sufficient friction to drive the reel in synchronism with the hub.