Abstract: A wire feeding device is for placing wire that is restrained in troughs. The device has a housing. A wire feeding assembly is mounted to the housing. The wire feeding assembly includes a feed tube for the wire to pass through. The feed tube directs the wire for placement in a trough. The trough extends at least one axial direction and has an opening for the wire to be placed in the trough, and the trough includes a restraining mechanism positioned over the opening to the trough. A wedge is adapted to be inserted into the trough to move the restraining mechanism for placement of wire into the trough. The wedge moves the restraining mechanism from a first position to a second position, the first position being over the opening to the trough and the second position being away from first position.

Abstract: An apparatus for tagging plants includes a frame attached to a stand, and jaws operably mounted on the frame for receiving a plant branch. The apparatus includes a strip advancing mechanism, a tag advancing mechanism, a fastening mechanism, and a programmable controller for controlling the actuation of each of these mechanisms. The strip advancing mechanism is configured to advance a section of flexible strip onto the jaws in a loop around the plant branch from a continuous supply of strip material, and includes a cutter for cutting the section from the continuous supply of strip material once it is advanced. The tag advancing mechanism is configured to advance a tag to a position proximate the jaws from a continuous supply of interconnected tags, and includes a cutter for cutting the tag from the supply of tags. The fastening mechanism includes a stapler for stapling a staple to the tag to hold the tag to the section of strip and to hold the ends of the section together in the loop around the plant branch.

Abstract: A toolholder guide for punch blocks, turrets, and the like, including a toolholder bore machined to accept an internal sleeve of wear resistant metal sized for reciprocal motion of the toolholder. The sleeve is installed within the bore, and provides a close clearing radius with the body of the toolholder, so that the toolholder is accurately centered and guided. The inside of the sleeve is finally machined using a bore-simulating the holding mandrel. The finally machined sleeve is finally installed into the turret bore using an adhesive potting compound as a corrosion barrier between the sleeve and the punch block or turret. The sleeve is adapted for toolholders having bodies with protruding keys or for toolholders with longitudinal keyway slots.

Abstract: There is provided a method for measuring a sound absorption power of a theater chair with a human being seated thereon. The method includes steps of disposing a theater chair which is an object of measurement in a measuring environment; disposing a dummy sound absorber in the theater chair, the dummy sound absorber having a shape in which it is in contact with the theater chair, a sound absorption power and a chair pressing force in such a manner that the dummy sound absorber simulates a human being seated on the theater chair; causing changes in the theater chair which changes are substantially equivalent to a change in the state of the theater chair caused when a human being gets seated on the chair and a change in the sound absorption power of the theater chair caused by seating of the human being thereon; and measuring the sound absorption power of the theater chair. There is also provided a dummy sound absorber used for carrying out this method.

Abstract: A four panel mailer formed of a single sheet or ply of paper is including an elongated sheet (10) of material adapted to receive indicia and made up of four connected panels (18, 20, 22, 24) including two end panels (18, 24) at opposite ends of the sheet and two intermediate panels (20, 22) adjacent one another and located between and adjacent respective ones of the end panels (18, 24). One of the end panels (18) is somewhat longer in the direction of elongation of the sheet (10) than the other of the end panels (24) and has an address window (38). The other of the end panels (24) has two lines of apertures (66) extending in the direction of elongation of the sheet.

Abstract: In manufacturing a metal bellows of high rigidity by using relatively simple equipment, a plurality of annular concavities are formed around the outer periphery of an unprocessed tube to form an intermediate product. Then, a core iron is inserted into the intermediate product while the annular concavities around the outer periphery are braced. Subsequently, the intermediate product is pressed in its axial direction to be formed into the metal bellows.

Abstract: A seat skinning mechanism for skinning a flexible membrane cover on a polymeric foam vehicle seat body is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a first support surface for positioning the seat body located generally underneath the seat body, a second support surface contacting the seat body on a first vertical side of a seat body, first and second powered wings pivotally mounted with respect to the second support surface, the wings causing the lateral edges of the seat body to fold upon themselves to an extent to allow the flexible membrane cover to be placed over the foam body, the second support surface and the wings, and a lift to force the foam body upward, removing the seat body from between the second support surface and the wings with the membrane cover on the seat body.

Abstract: An improved flexible multi-duct conduit system for housing and protecting subterranean fiber-optic cable comprises matable sections each having an outer casing and a plurality of inner ducts for carrying the cable. An rubberized inner duct coupler is provided at one end of each section for aligning and sealing the inner ducts of adjacent sections when the sections are joined together end-to-end. An outer casing coupler for coupling and sealing the outer casings of adjacent joined sections comprises a cylindrical collar that extends around the ends of two adjacent sections. Sealing gaskets disposed between the outer casing ends and the collar insure against ingress of moisture and other corrosive subterranean elements into the outer casings. The inner ducts are bendable and the outer casings are formed with corrugated exterior surfaces so that the entire system, when assembled in the field, can be bent about an arc to accommodate turns and the like.

Abstract: A method of assembling a collapsible ink reservoir for a liquid ink printer cartridge comprising the steps of attaching a first sidewall to a frame member along a sealable junction to form an open assembly; assembling a pressure regulator; inserting the pressure regulator of said assembly step into the open assembly of said attaching step; and affixing a second sidewall to the open assembly of said attaching step to form an enclosed assembly.

Abstract: This invention relates to an inlet valve assembly for central vacuum systems and the method of installing the same. In particular, this invention relates to an inlet valve assembly including an inlet face plate, a mounting plate, having a deformable mounting flange, and an electrical receptacle integrally formed with a high voltage wire. In some uses, the inlet valve assembly also can include a low voltage wire which can be used to complete a low voltage circuit to initiate a central vacuum motor. The mounting plate can accommodate the electrical receptacle in a temporary position and the inlet face plate can rear mount the receptacle into a locked position where the receptacle is securely attached to the inlet face plate. In this manner, the receptacle may be mounted to the inlet face plate even though one end of the high voltage wire is already wired into an electrical box.

Abstract: A knife (12) are a holding and releasing mechanism (8) are oriented in the direction of a radius of a chipper disc (19). The holding and releasing mechanism (8) is pushed in the direction of the radius of the chipper disc to release the knife (12) and drawn in the opposite direction to fasten the knife in the chipper disc (19). The time consumed in replacing the knives is reduced and laborious manual operations can be avoided. The procedure can be automated.

Abstract: A machine for removing tubular plastic labels from bottles to facilitate their re-use and recycling. The machine has a multi-station turret and supply and exit conveyors to sequentially supply labeled bottles in line to the turret and remove delabeled bottles from the turret. The delabeling is accomplished with a cutter which is preferably in the form of a high-pressure jet of water. Ideally, the cutter is adjusted so that it is a differential cutter which will cut a label without cutting or marring a bottle from which a label is being removed. With one embodiment, a water flush mechanism is provided to flush cut labels from their bottles and the turret onto a screen conveyor. The flush water passes through the conveyor into a container from which it is pumped for re-use. Removed labels are transported by the screen conveyor to a collection bin. With another embodiment, an air blast mechanism is used to strip cut labels from bottles and a vacuum pick up is used to collect stripped labels.

Abstract: A plate member adapted to be received on the base of a machine vise having a longitudinal slot or cavity therein is provided to prevent the entry of foreign material into the slot or cavity. The plate member may also be provided with slots therein to limit the longitudinal travel of the vise's clamping members.

Abstract: A collar-swaging die includes two portions which are slidable relative to each other for alignment of the collar onto the exposed end of the bolt.

Abstract: Piston-ringing apparatus comprises a tubular piston nest member for receiving each piston to locate the piston groove in a predetermined ring-receiving position, a plurality of ring cartridges positionable one at a time in alignment with the piston nest member. The aligned ring cartridge is engaged to the piston nest member to permit transfer of rings from the ring cartridge to the piston nest member and disengage the aligned ring cartridge when empty of rings. The stack of rings on the cartridge is moved by opposing fingers toward the piston groove to position an endmost ring residing on the nest member in the groove of each successive piston received in the nest member while the aligned ring cartridge is engaged thereto. A fiber optic switch is provided for directing a light beam tangentially through the piston groove to determine whether a ring is positioned therein. The switch provides a finger motor drive signal to stop feeding of a ring to the piston groove when a ring is present in the piston groove.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing hot strip steel includes a continuous slab caster adapted to cast a strand of 4 inches or more in thickness. The strand is cut to slab length and heated in a roller hearth furnace or a walking beam furnace prior to entry into a multi-stand tandem reversing mill. The slab is rolled in a downstream direction through the mill in a first reducing pass. The mill is reversed and the elongated slab is rolled in an upstream direction through the mill in a second reducing pass. The intermediate bar exits the upstream end of the mill and is coiled in a coil box positioned intermediate the furnace and the reversing mill. The bar is then unwound from the coil box for rolling in the downstream direction through the mill in a third and finish pass. The finish gauge strip moves down a run out table downstream from the mill for coiling in a down coiler apparatus.

Abstract: A method of producing a rotatable brake component and bearing assembly is disclosed wherein the brake friction surface of the brake component is oriented in a predetermined relationship relative to an inner race of a bearing unit. In accordance with this method, a rotatable brake component (e.g., a rotor or drum) defining an axis and including a brake friction surface and a hub portion having a cylindrical bore formed therein is provided. Next, the bore of the hub is machined. A bearing unit is then installed in the bore of the hub portion. The bearing unit includes an outer race which engages the bore and an inner race rotatably supported relative thereto. The brake component and bearing assembly is then supported on a machining apparatus by the inner race of the bearing unit. Using the machining apparatus, the brake friction surface is machined whereby the brake friction surface is oriented in a predetermined relationship relative to the inner race of the bearing unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying the current ownership of a used publication. A first sticker with indicia for identifying the current ownership verification is adhered with permanent adhesive to a portion of the front cover of the publication. A second transparent sticker is adhered with permanent adhesive to a selected page of text of the publication. A portion of the second transparent sticker extends above the selected page of text so that a tab may be adhered to extend above the selected page of text. Indicia providing identification relating to the current owner of the publication is placed beneath the second transparent sticker. A first photo of the current owner may be placed below the second transparent sticker, and a third transparent sticker is secured with permanent adhesive over at least a portion of the indicia providing identification relating to the current owner of the publication.

Abstract: A tool for aligning modular flotation platform sections is lightweight and portable. Its principal components are a fulcrum lever arm, a link rod, and two adapters for gripping coupling means on adjacent flotation platforms. The fulcrum lever arm has a handle portion and a slotted head portion. The link rod is secured at one end in the slotted head portion by means which enable it to move pivotally and translationally in the slots. To the other end of the link rod and the end of the head portion of the fulcrum lever arm are secured the two gripping adapters. They are secured in such a way that they may pivot on the securing means. The adapters may be fabricated to mate with standard coupling means with which standardized flotation platform components are typically equipped.

Abstract: A method for compressively forming a ferrule about a cord is provided. The method utilizes two successive compressive forming steps. In the first step, the starting ferrule is formed into a crescent-like configuration in side elevation. In the second step, the crescent-like configuration is formed into a cardioid-like configuration in side elevation. The method can be practiced using a hand-operated forceps that is equipped with shaping dies. The resulting so formed ferrule displays superior cord holding and retaining characteristics.