Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and hardware for bonding together nds of a sealing strip. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of cutting a slot in both a first end and a second end of a sealing strip, inserting an attachment strip having a plurality of engaging members into the slot cut into the first end, applying adhesive to the second end of the sealing strip, and placing the two ends of the sealing strip into an abutting relationship by inserting the attachment strip into the slot in the second end and sliding the ends together. The hardware used to effect the method includes an alignment guide having a substantially C-shaped channel for receiving the ends of the sealing strip to be joined together. The alignment guide has an end cap associated therewith having one or more slots for receiving a cutting tool for cutting slots in the ends of the sealing strip. The hardware further includes an attachment strip which is used to join the ends of the sealing strip together.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously disposing tubular labels on a plurality of bottles or other containers includes an assembly for advancing the bottles or other containers along an endless travel path. The apparatus also includes a plurality of tubular label applying stations each operable to individually apply a tubular label onto a bottle or other container as the bottle or other container is advanced along the travel path. The advancing assembly is preferably in the form of a rotating plate supporting the bottles or other containers thereon at uniform angular spacings from one another and the tubular label applying stations are preferably also supported on the rotating plate. A cam and cam follower arrangement is utilized for controlling each tubular label applying station to perform its label applying operation in coordination with the advancing movement of its associate bottle or other container.

Abstract: A machine for processing raw material plates includes a feeding assembly, a first transportation assembly for moving raw material plates to a front clamping assembly which is used to clamp a first raw material plate for subsequent cutting of an irregular front end of the first raw material plate by a front electric heating assembly. The machine further includes a movable table device for moving the first raw material plate to a rear clamping assembly for subsequent cutting of an irregular rear end of the first raw material plate by a rear electric heating assembly. The rear electric heating assembly has a further function for fusing the cut front end of the first raw material plate to a previously fused material web before the cutting of the rear end of the fused material web. A second transportation assembly is provided to feed the first raw material plate to the rear electric heating assembly.

Abstract: A universal label cutter apparatus and method for feeding labels from a roll of label material and cutting labels of various lengths and materials. The label cutter apparatus including a microprocessor controlled drive system employing separate and independent servomotors for driving a feed roller, a cutter drum, and a vacuum drum at different speeds. The microprocessor being programmable to vary the rotational speed of the cutter drum during each label cutting cycle in order to optimize control of the label during cut off and transfer to the vacuum drum.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for separating a toner cartridge hopper from its mounting member so that the cartridge can be reliably resealed and refilled with toner for repeated use. A container holds the cartridge while leaving the outer edge of the gasket exposed. In one embodiment, the container is provided with wheels that travel in a track. The container moves linearly along the track past a blade that cuts away the outer edge of the gasket. In a second embodiment, the container is positioned on a rail aligned to pass between two spaced-apart blades. The rail is mounted on a linear bearing so that the rail moves linearly past the blades to remove both gasket outer edges in a single pass. By removing the outer edges of the gasket, the welds that join the hopper and mounting member to the gasket are broken and the hopper can be separated from the mounting member.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for cyclically accelerating the leading end of a slower moving first material web to match the faster speed of a continuous second material web. The apparatus is comprised of a set of upstream metering rolls which feed the first material web at a constant slow speed, a set of downstream applicator rolls having a constant and relatively faster rotational velocity, and an acceleration mechanism which variably and alternately reverses and allows forward movement of a leading end segment of the first material web while allowing for the constant rotational velocities of the upstream and downstream rolls. The first material web is wrapped partially around the set of upstream rolls and the leading end segment thereof is wrapped partially around one of the downstream rolls. The acceleration mechanism is juxtapositioned between the upstream rolls and the downstream rolls in the feed path of the first material web.

Abstract: A labeling machine in which pressure sensitive adhesively backed labels are releasably adhered to a backing strip moving along a path from a dispensing roll to a take-up roll. The labels are removed from the backing strip onto a rotating applicator drum at a first station along said path, and the thus removed labels are transferred from the applicator drum to articles being successively presented at a second station. The improvement comprises a scanning unit, a comparator unit, and a removal unit. The scanning unit is positioned in advance of the first station for reading indicia appearing on the labels adhered to said backing strip. The comparator unit is associated with the scanning unit for comparing the indicia on the labels with a preselected standard and for generating a control signal in the event of a mismatch between the standard and the indicia appearing on an incorrect label.

Abstract: A tapered insert die plate providing a surface-to-surface contact between the insert and die plate to facilitate removal of and insertion of the insert and substantially improve heat transfer from the outside ring of the die plate to the die insert. The tapered insert is retained in place by hold down bolts which serve as jack bolts to force the insert out of the outer ring of the die plate by insertion into screw threaded holes in the insert to abuttingly engage a flange surface on the outer ring of the die plate to facilitate extraction of the insert when required. The die plate insert includes a plurality of orifices extending therethrough through which molten polymers are extruded in a conventional manner with the tapered surface-to-surface contact between the insert and the die plate providing improved heat transfer from the outside ring of the die plate to the die plate insert as compared with other known techniques of mounting an insert in a die plate.

Abstract: A electrically conductive sheet stuck onto a medium is picked up by a camera so as to detect the sticking position of the electrically conductive sheet on the medium, and the sticking condition of the electrically conductive sheet is compared with a predetermined pattern so as to determine whether the sticking condition of the electrically conductive sheet is satisfactory or not. That is, the check of the sticking condition of the electrically conductive sheet is automated. Further, a position where the sticking of the electrically conductive sheet is inferior is indexed in accordance with the result of the check, and the retry operation for sticking again the electrically conductive sheet can be automatically made.

Abstract: An apparatus for joining the ends of belt-shaped members. The apparatus includes first and second transporting devices, a positioning device, and an end affixing device. The first and second transporting devices extend and retract in the longitudinal direction of the belt-shaped member, and transport the belt-shaped members in the longitudinal direction thereof. The positioning device stops the transport of the belt-shaped members and positions the belt-shaped members as opposing ends of the belt-shaped members on the first and second transporting devices being driven abut against the positioning device. The end affixing device joins the aligned ends of the belt-shaped members. Accordingly, the apparatus for joining the ends of belt-shaped members properly positions and joins the opposing ends of the belt-shaped members on the first and second transporting devices.

Abstract: A label printer for printing an image on a plurality of labels attached to a base sheet and issuing the labels on which the image has been printed. The label printer includes a platen roller, a pinch roller adapted to separably contact the platen roller through the base sheet, a slide frame for supporting the pinch roller so that the pinch roller is movable between a contact position and a separate position with respect to the platen roller, and a frame stopper for releasably holding the slide frame in the contact position where the pinch roller is in contact with the platen roller. When the frame stopper is released from the slide frame, the slide frame is slid to reach the separate position to widely separate the pinch roller from the platen roller. Accordingly, the base sheet can be easily inserted through the space defined between the platen roller and the pinch roller separated therefrom.

Abstract: Electrostatic powder coating apparatus comprising a spray module located within a bight of a conveyor having suspended from it a plurality of articles to be coated with powder prior to heat treatment to convert the powder into an adherent coat of paint or the like.The spray module comprises a veined impeller able to rotate about a vertical axis and having charged powder projected towards its center from a stationary nozzle so that vanes on the impeller impart centrifugal force to the powder particles.The impeller and nozzle assembly may be reciprocated vertically so that the sprayed powder traverses the length of the suspended and moving articles.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for producing smart cards, characterized in that it comprises a station (1) for milling recesses in batches of plastic cards associated with a station (3) for inlaying integrated circuits in said recesses, said milled cards being conveyed from milling station (1) to inlaying station (3) by a transfer system (2) making possible an adaptation to the speed differences of the stations (1, 3) and to the positioning differences of these stations (1, 3).

Abstract: Methods are provided for the design of backing dies utilized with front, decorative embossing dies for the simultaneous production and embossing of wood composite panels. The methods apply where more than one decorative pattern is embossed onto the wood composite panels during a single press cycle. The cross-sectional area or volume of the panels impressed with each different decorative pattern forms the basis for the methods of the design. Included are methods of forming wood composite panels using dies made according to the disclosed die design methods.

Abstract: The invention concerns a support beam of a coating system for coating a web of paper or cardboard carried in or at the coating system by a roll, the support beam having a length about the same as the roll. Tie rods or thrust rods are distributed around the periphery of the support beam and are spaced at least 50 mm from the center of gravity line of the cross sectional surfaces of the beam. The cross sectional surfaces are disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support beam. Traction or thrust devices apply a tension or compression force to at least one of the tie rods or thrust rods.

Abstract: A back pasting apparatus which uses a back pasting adhesive tape and is intended to make the apparatus compact and to improve back pasting quality. A guide rail (16) movable back and forth with respect to a frame (14) is provided. A paper table (15) arranged opposite to the guide rail (16) is biased by a spring or the like in the direction of the guide rail (16). The guide rail (16) and a clamp (22) are driven by a drive mechanism. First, a back pasting adhesive tape (30) is fed by a tape feeder into the guide groove (19) of the guide rail (16). As the clamp (22) lowers, the cover of papers (17) is pressed against the adhesive tape (30). The guide rail (16) is moved down along the grooves (20, 20) before being moved forward. As a result, only the paper table (15) is pressed down and moved back so that the adhesive tape (30) is pressed against the back and back cover of the papers (17).

Abstract: There is shown an apparatus for bonding outer leads of a display panel to metal leads of a bonding tape that includes a movable stage for supporting the display panel. A light source is provided on the stage that is positioned beneath the outer leads of the panel, when mounted on the stage. A means is provided to support the bonding tape so that the metal leads are held in overlapping position over the outer leads. A means to observe the resultant overlapped leads is located over the light source. A heat source for applying heat to the aligned leads to form bonds therebetween is provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and an associated method for achieving alignment between an image on a film and a lenticular material that is to be bonded to the film to permit the image to be viewed in 3D. The apparatus imparts a controlled bending of the lenticular material over the film such that the slight differences in length between the lenticular material and the film, caused by the bending, adjusts for changes in the line spacing of the lenticular material and or in the spacing of the image segments. Other embodiments of the invention provide for a controlled stretching of the film along its length and from side-to-side to again compensate for variations in the line spacing of the lenticular material or spacing of the image segments.

Abstract: A method of automatically and continuously labelling articles such as fruit or vegetables. The method consists in placing said articles in indented trays having parallel rows of indentations, in disposing the trays in single file on a continuously moving conveyor, said rows being disposed perpendicularly to the advance direction of the conveyor, and in moving at least one labelling head over a row of indentations with composite rectilinear translation motion resulting from longitudinal advance motion corresponding to that of the conveyor combined with transverse motion such that a label is placed successively on each article in said row, and then in renewing said operation for each of said rows. The invention also provides apparatus for implementing the method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for safely rotating large for apply flammable tank coating materials in a spark free environment. The tank is continuously rotated for drying while being relocated to a drying position permitting another tank to be brought to a position for the tank coating process. A hydraulic motor assembly is used to drive the apparatus in its rotational and relocation modes. A hose festooning array permits the continuous rotation and relocation of the rotating tanks while maintaining the safe environment. The hose festooning array provides automatic storage and distribution of the hose between the motor assembly and the remotely positioned pump. A chain driven by another hydraulic motor provides the driving force to reposition the tanks using a track system.