Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for automatically binding a silicon wafer to a carrier plate. In the binding method of the present invention, the wafer is positioned underneath the carrier plate and then lifted and bonded to the carrier plate, at or below atmospheric pressure: once this is accomplished the process returns to the previous pressure. In addition, in the apparatus which performs this process, by means of a carrier means which supplies the carrier plate and wafer to the location where binding is to be carried out, the binding surface of the carrier plate and wafer are turned upward, transported and the carrier plate is flipped around in the interval between the carrier plate transportation apparatus and the binding unit.

Abstract: Business forms may be manually inserted into cooperation with a conveyor between a folder and a sealer by providing an outer movable cover for the conveyor, and an inner normally stationary cover underneath the outer cover. An interlock, formed by a magnet and a reed switch, is provided between the inner cover and the conveyor. A slot is formed in the inner cover, with first and second guide elements extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from the slot. Each of the guide elements has a plate, the first guide element having one upstanding guide edge, and the second guide element having adjustably spaced first and second S-shaped guide edges. A planar transition portion of the first guide element overlaps and is connected to the second guide element, and a planar transition portion of the second guide element is connected to the bottom of the inner cover. The second guide element plate makes an angle of between about 30.degree.-60.degree.

Abstract: An image is permanently printed on an object by capturing the image, printing heat sensitive ink solids by thermal means onto a medium, and then transferring the ink solids from the medium to the object by applying sufficient heat to the ink solids to cause the heat sensitive ink to permanently bond to the object in the desired image. The heat sensitive transfer ink is printed onto the medium by thermal printing means at a temperature which will release and print the ink, but which is below the temperature which will cause the heat sensitive ink to bond permanently. The image is then transferred from the medium onto the object at a higher temperature which will cause the sensitive ink to permanently bond to the object.

Abstract: Pressure sealing of business forms is effected utilizing first and second sets of (preferably narrow-width) rollers forming first and second nips which provide a sealing force to business forms passing between them. The first set of rollers are rotatable about first and second axes, typically horizontal, while the second set of rollers are rotatable about third and fourth axes. The third and fourth axes are substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes, and may be horizontal or vertical. The first set is typically provided above the second set, and a conveyor may be provided for conveying forms which drop from the first set into operative association with the second set.

Abstract: In a tape alignment mechanism for overlapping two or more tapes with an alignment operation in a width direction, the tape alignment mechanism comprises an alignment member.For example, when a tape is fed through a roller member having a pair of flange portion of which interval of length is designed to be substantially similar to a width of the tape, the tape is aligned in a width direction.Further, an another tape to be overlapped with the tape is fed through the roller member, and thus, the two tapes are acculately overlapped.

Abstract: An automatic labeling machine, for containers in the form of mesh bags or the like, includes a carriage 18 displaceable back and forth in a support plate 19, which incorporates a central, lengthwise channel 20, two lateral connecting rods 23 and 24 being articulated in the carriage, one with an external stud and the other with a lever 25, joined together at their free ends by means of a brace 26, in which is fixed a finger 27 carrying small catches 28, which can be introduced into the channel 20 with intercalation of the corresponding part of the label to be dragged toward the discharge from the machine; A push rod 32 temporarily retains the stud, provided with a plane 32a inclined to the inside in its free end and which can be freed by a bumper 36 joined to the corresponding connecting rod 24, and the lever 25 actuates a cutting device 16.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for attaching articles to a plastic bag wall and particularly for attaching flat articles, such as coupons, cards, packets, samples, etc., to an inside wall of a panel of the bag and at different locations thereon. The articles are attached by feeding a bag-forming film sheet of plastic material to an article insertion station where the plastic sheet passes about a nip roll. An article transfer mechanism transfers articles from a discharge end of one or more supply magazines to two or more support surfaces at an article insertion station. These support surfaces are aligned with distinct sections of the bag-forming film sheet. An attaching film sheet is fed over a support roll which is in frictional rotational contact with the nip roll with the attaching film sheet aligned over the distinct sections of the bag-forming film sheet.

Abstract: Pressure sealing of business forms is effected utilizing first and second sets of (preferably narrow-width) rollers forming first and second nips which provide a sealing force to business forms passing between them. The first set of rollers are rotatable about first and second axes, typically horizontal, while the second set of rollers are rotatable about third and fourth axes. The third and fourth axes are substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes, and may be horizontal or vertical. The first set is typically provided above the second set, and a conveyor may be provided for conveying forms which drop from the first set into operative association with the second set.

Abstract: A carpet tape seam applicator for use in the installation of carpet pieces which abut to form the seam, the applicator including a pair of U-shaped bracket portions pivotally mounted together and intersecting at a substantially right angle with a removable spindle adjacent the pivot carrying a roll of carpet tape, a pair of rollers at one end to contact the floor surface where the tape is being applied, and a centrally located arm extending rearwardly from the opposite bracket portion. The arm has a laterally curved surface to conformably receive the handle of a heat bonding iron to heat the glue on the tape and activate the glue so that the carpet edges of the abutting pieces can be pressed down onto the tape as the applicator passes thereover. The central arm and handle of the heat bonding iron are easily gripped by the installer for ease of operation.

Abstract: In a labelling machine comprising at least one plate (1), which is adapted to carry out controlled rotations, and a plunger (2), which is adapted to carry out controlled upward and downward movements, the object to be labelled, e.g. a bottle (24), being fixed between said plate and said plunger such that it is secured against rotation relative thereto, the plunger has associated therewith a rotating means (3), which will rotate said plunger to a specific angular position and/or fix it in said angular position, if the plunger is not in contact with the object to be labelled. However, if the plunger is in contact with the object to be labelled, it will be decoupled from said rotating means, whereupon it can rotate freely together with the object to be labelled, which is driven by the plate. Such a rotating means can be established with the aid of simple structural means and permits a manifold use of asymmetric plungers having a preferred position. This is the case e.g.

Abstract: A multi-color powder coat paint recovery apparatus that permits rapid color changes in a powder coat operation comprises a rotatable paint booth positioned adjacent to a painting station, with the booth having a plurality of individual paint color chambers angularly spaced around the periphery of the booth. Each chamber has an open outer side and a filter mechanism at an inner side, with the inner side being in communication with an exhaust outlet from the interior of the housing. The chamber further has primary and secondary paint hoppers positioned below each filter mechanism. An air circulating mechanism draws air inwardly from the painting station through the open outer side of the chamber, through the filter mechanism, out of the housing through the air outlet, and then returns the air through a filtered outlet in a plenum chamber behind the paint applicator. Each color chamber corresponds to a separate paint color.

Abstract: This invention directs itself to a tape dispenser system which includes a housing (1, 1') having an enclosure. A pressure plate (121) contiguously interfaces with a tape (4) to displace the pressure plate (121) into contact with a swing block (17). The swing block (17) is rotatively actuated with respect to the housing (1, 1') and drives a cutter holder (18) and cutter blade (181) combination into engagement with the tape (4) for severing the tape (4). The cutter blade holder (18) is coupled to a second end of the swing block (17) within an elongated slot (172) for transferring the rotative motion of the swing block (17) into a linear drive displacement for the cutter blade (181). A stop member (175) having wing member (176, 177, and 178) are rotatably mounted to the housing (1, 1') for contacting an end of the swing block (17) and releasing such for rotation to drive the cutter blade (181) external the housing (1, 1').

Abstract: A label applicator and method for applying labels to an article is provided that changes the orientation of a label from a horizontal to a vertical orientation before the label is applied to the article, so that the label is not applied to the article in the same, or parallel, plane that the label is presented to the applicator. The label applicator includes a housing formed from a first faceplate and a second faceplate, each having a plurality of holes passing therethrough which define an interior chamber adapted to be connected to a source of reduced pressure. The second faceplate extends in a plane that, in the preferred embodiment, is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first faceplate. A plurality of conveyor belts carried by the housing carry the labels from the first faceplate to the second faceplate. A corner assembly having openings that are larger than the holes of the faceplates interconnects the first and second faceplates.

Abstract: A hand operated device for transferring a film from a carrier tape to a substrate is provided with a planar surface on its bottom wall, having a pair of laterally disposed flanges extending outwardly from the side walls, the side walls forming a hand gripping surface. An applicator bar over which a carrier tape is fed is spring biased downwardly to a point below the bottom planar surface, the point being such that the force required to raise the applicator bar to the plane of the planar surface is equal to the force required for laydown of the film onto the substrate. The device is operated by movement of the device over the substrate with said planar surface in contact with the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for taping joints between pieces of wallboard comprises a taping head, slidingly contactable with a wall, for substantially simultaneously applying a first layer of a joint compound to a joint between pieces of wallboard, embedding a wallboard tape in the first layer of the joint compound, and overcoating the embedded wallboard tape with at least one additional layer of the joint compound; a handle, connected to the taping head, for supporting the taping head, the handle being manually graspable by an operator, the handle having a fluid conduit formed therein for passing joint compound to the taping head; a tape supply mounted on the handle for supplying wallboard tape to the taping head; a backpack, wearable by the operator, for supporting a supply of the joint compound and for producing a pressurized stream of the joint compound; and a flexible connecting means for fluidically interconnecting the backpack and the fluid conduit to pass the pressurized stream of the joint compound from the backpa

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for making a conductive circuit in sheet form. A circuit trace is firstly designed using a CAD (computer aided design) system and a computer aided cutting device is operated by the CAD to cut the desired circuit trace in a thin foil sheet which is adhesively secured to a release backing sheet. The non-circuit trace portions of the foil sheet are removed from the adhesive release backing sheet leaving only the circuit trace. An adhesive transfer sheet is then used to remove the actual circuit trace, in an undisturbed manner, from the release sheet and applied it to a support base. Because the circuit trace has an adhesive backing, it will adhere to the support base. A multi-layer flexible electric conductive circuit can also be fabricated with this method and the transfer sheet can also be utilized as an insulating layer.

Abstract: A welded sleeve applicator (10) and method for forming an identification sleeve (34) around an elongate object (16) is disclosed. A leading end portion (22) of a continuous strip (24) of identification indicia-bearing, ultrasonically weldable material is fed by a printer (18) onto a base (12), passing under an elongate object that is received on the base. The leading end portion of the material strip overlies a flexible wrapping strap (26). A pivot arm (28) wraps the strap and the leading end portion of the material strip around the elongate object. The wrapped leading end portion of the material strip is retained in place over an adjacent second portion (100) of the material strip by a vacuum drawn through a guide (30). The pivot arm and wrapping strap are removed, and an ultrasonic welding horn (32) is lowered to weld the leading end portion and the second portion of the material strip together, forming an indicia-bearing, tubular sleeve.

Abstract: A developer-supply apparatus has a developer-liquid supply nozzle, a spin chuck for supporting a wafer, and a holder for allowing the supply nozzle to wait there. The supply nozzle is transferred between a position above the chuck and a waiting position on the holder. The supply nozzle has a nozzle tip with a plurality of through holes communicating with a space containing a developer liquid. A U-shaped conduit extending along the line of the through holes is provided in the holder, for removing drops of the developer liquid hanging from the nozzle tip. The conduit has a bottom provided with a plurality of through holes for exhausting the developer liquid.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for attaching tags (14) provided with closed loops (34), so-called tie-on tags, to the necks of containers (27, 27A).Tags (14) of this type are usually slipped on by hand over the containers (27, 27A) passing by on an assembly line, which requires high numbers of employees.The object of the invention to develop the method in such a way that the tags (14) can be automatically attached to the container necks is solved thereby that the tags (14) provided with loops (34) are aligned and placed in a row in a first procedural step, as well as fastened to at least one support band (16) and, in a second procedural step, a gripper (24) is inserted into each loop (34), each loop (34) is released from the support band (16), the gripper (24) with the loop (34) crosses over the neck of a container (27, 27A), that the loop (34) is released from the gripper (24) and the gripper (24) is moved away from the container (27, 27A).

Abstract: A calendering device has a plurality of pressure rollers and an opposing plurality of counterpressure rollers, each rotatably mounted on a piston rod movable in a direction for permitting the pressure rollers and counterpressure rollers to approach one another to calender a product. The pistons of the piston rods are mounted within pneumatic casings and are moved by a diaphragm within the pneumatic casings. There is no contact between the pistons and the walls of the pneumatic casings, thereby reducing the frictional resistance to the movement of the rollers. Means are provided for equalizing the pressure applied to a roller and its corresponding counter roller. Separate pneumatic casings and diaphragms may be provided for each piston rod, or several of the pressure rollers or counterpressure rollers may be moved by a single diaphragm, which can be in the form of an elongated hose.