Abstract: A hand operated device for transferring an adhesive film from a carrier tape to a substrate is provided with a single spool having a portion containing the roll of carrier tape and a large diameter portion having a plurality of knurls formed on the circumference thereof. The tape is fed from the spool to contact the substrate and then fed between the knurls. A spring arm serves as a clutch by maintaining the tape in contact with the knurls but allowing slippage of the tape therebetween at a predetermined tape tension.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting a heat transfer labeller of the type which transports labels on a carrier web to a heat transfer site, to use as a film pressure sensitive labeller. Devices at and around the label transfer site are removed and replaced with a peel plate and label applicator for pressure transfer of labels. Idler rolls are added to the machine to guide the label carrier web from an unwind reel to the pressure transfer site, and from the transfer site to a take-up reel. A take-up drive is provided to pull and collect the web, providing adequate tension for dispensing film pressure sensitive labels. The take-up drive may comprise a controlled speed take-up motor at the take-up reel, or may comprise a label registration drive which supplements the pulling force provided by the take-up reel. Optionally, a substitute take-up reel with high torque drive may entirely replace the take-up mechanism of the heat transfer labelling machine.

Abstract: An item applicator machine having an item support which reciprocates in reference to an applicator arm. The item support is reciprocated within an item supply strip loop. The supply strip is advanced as the item support moves under the applicator arm. The supply strip is locked as the item support moves away from the applicator arm causing an item support dispensing edge to peel an item from the supply strip. A vacuum head on the applicator arm engages the item just prior to the item support's movement away from the applicator arm and picks up the dispensed item and applies it to an object. Curved faces are provided on alternative vacuum heads which are easily interchangeable with the flat faced vacuum head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an image such as out of a nail lacquer, picking up the image and transferring the picked up image either by a non-linear motion or a linear motion to a person's nail where it is deposited. A multicolor image can be built up on a person's nail. Stops are provided for properly indexing the pick up and deposit of the image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of wrapping pipe with a cementatious material such as concrete. The material is conveyed to the pipe as a continuous strip provided with notches along one edge and complementary notches are formed at the other edge of the strip as the strip is wrapped spirally onto the pipe. The continuous strip is formed in a hopper having a number of sections of successively reduced widths and containing rollers by which successive superimposed layer portions of the strip are formed with reinforcing mesh embedded between successive layer portions.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a magnetic disk wherein a center core having an adhesive substance previously applied thereto is adhered to a magnetic sheet. The apparatus includes a holder having a center core retaining member extending therefrom for receiving and retaining the center core, the holder being rotatable such that the retaining member rotates about an orbital path; a core feed station, disposed along the orbital path, to which the center core having the adhesive applied thereto is fed, the center core being received by the retaining member at the core feed station; an adhering station disposed along the orbital path at a position downstream of the core feed station for adhering the center core to the sheet; and an annular housing substantially surrounding the orbital path an through which hot air is circulated so as to partially dry the adhesive applied to the center core.

Abstract: A label transfer device 10 having drive roller 26 and pinch roller 28 for advancing label tape 30, positioning a label attached to label tape 30 adjacent to stripping edge 24 of slidable stripping plate 18 and holding said label fixed in that position while stripping plate 18 is retracted from a first position to a second position so as to strip the label from label tape 30. Vacuum pick up head 38 is provided for attachment to the stationary label prior to the movement of stripping plate 18 so as to ensure positive attachment to prior to label stripping and thus eliminating label transfer skips.

Abstract: A methods is disclosed for labeling bottles in a stream. An input conveyor is provided for supplying bottles to a presenting station. Bottles are restrained at the presenting station until the appropriate time by an entrance gate. Bottles are conveyed from the presenting station to a work station by an advancing conveyor. Bottles entering the work station drive the predecessor bottle out of the work station. An exit gate is provided to halt bottles leaving the work station so that they act as a registration stop for bottles entering the work station.

Abstract: A film is delivered from a delivery roller and another film is delivered from another delivery roller. The two films are introduced between a heater and a receiver. The heater presses the two films against the receiver to bond the films. Then, the rear end of the film is cut off with fusing and the front end of another film is cut off with fusing by wire heaters. The bonded film is transferred through drive and pinch rolls to an accumulator for storing the film and is spread to open slits by holding rolls to form a longitudinal web, which is laminated on a lateral web manufactured in another process to form a reticulate non-woven fabric.

Abstract: In the production of foamed plastic articles using a screw extruder, it is known to introduce a gaseous foaming agent into the plastic while the latter is passing through the extruder. It has been found that a foamed thermoplastic with pores or cells of uniform size and distribution can be produced by passing a gaseous foaming agent, e.g. nitrogen gas through a central passage extending substantially the entire length of the extruder screw, discharging the agent into the thermoplastic proximate the discharge end of the extruder, and mixing the foaming agent with the plastic immediately prior to discharge of the mixture into a mold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming and bonding skins to shaped articles includes a first sleeve having an open top end and a lower end closed by a bottom plate, a second sleeve having an open top end and a lower second end which is slidable arranged, and coaxially connected, with the top end of the first sleeve, a top plate, and a forming medium. The forming medium may be an elastic medium, a fluid, or a plurality of low-friction particles, and may be covered by a flexible open pore sponge blanket. The shaped article and the laminate skin to be bonded thereto are placed on the forming medium within a space defined in part by the second sleeve, and the forming medium is pressurized so as to cause the skin to form and bond to the shaped article.

Abstract: A main controller (55) causes a vision controller (36) to determine the exact location of plies (24) for a composite article in response to images from video cameras (35). The main controller then causes a robot controller (40) to direct a robot (42-46) to pick up the plies and move to a neutral position. The main controller causes the vision controller to determine that the plies were in fact picked up. If so, the main controller causes the robot controller to direct the robot to move the plies to the mold while the vision controller looks for the next ply to be picked up, in overlapped fashion. Failure to properly locate the plies and failure to verify that the plies were picked up causes an automatic retry to locate the plies or verify ply pick up.

Abstract: A polymer-extruder screw has a mixing section with relatively deep channels between flight lands at a proximal end, progressively shallower channels with a progressively larger screw core of a central transition section, and finally a metering section having a plurality of at least three pressure channels juxtaposed helically between flight lands having channel interruptions comprised of helical inclines and constant-radii tops in helical progression to a distal end of the extruder screw where the pressure channels end with equal depth at an interface with a metering gate of an extruder. The pressure channels can be symmetrical or asymmetrical in angles of incline and decline at opposite helical sides of the channel interruptions for optimizing channel depths, for positioning of maximum channel depths in relation to tops of channel interruptions, for equalizing channel depths at the distal end of the extruder screw and for optimizing incline and decline advantages for polymers with different characteristics.

Abstract: The device forms part of a high speed labeling machine of the type utilizing cold-applied gums, typically as in bottling plant, and serves to support and drive the rotary unit by which single labels are gummed and transferred to the point of application; to advantage, the gumming roller and the center station which rotates the single labels into position are suspended from above, thereby avoiding the damage caused to seals by solidifying and encrusted gum spilled in normal operation, and facilitating the operation of washing the machine (whether automatically or by hand) given that there is no need to dismantle any component part.

Abstract: A rotary label die cutting apparatus and process comprises a servo motor driving either a rotary die cutter or its backup roll, preferably the latter, a servo motor driven roll pulling a web carrying uncut label under the die cutter and an electronic processor controlling the relative position and speeds of the die cutter and web through commands to the servo motors with the apparatus including a sensor for observing eye marks on the web and the angular position of the die roll with the apparatus having the unique ability to control the cutting action while the cutting is taking place. to cut labels of different lengths from one die and then return to a home position to await commands for cutting a second label.

Abstract: A foamed polyolefin sheet is formed by extruding a molten polyolefin resin, which contains a blowing agent, into a low-pressure zone through an annular die provided at an end of the extruder to form a foamed tubular body, bringing the foamed tubular body into contact with a peripheral surface of a cylindrical cooling device to cool the foamed tubular body and then slitting the thus-cooled foamed tubular body and then slitting the thus-cooled foamed tubular body in the direction of extrusion to open same. The cylindrical cooling device is divided into an upstream section and at least one other spaced downstream sections. The internal pressure of the foamed tubular body is increased to from about 5.times.10.sup.-4 to 3.times.10.sup.-2 kg/cm.sup.2 (G) between the die and the upstream section of the cylindrical cooling device and also between at least two adjacent sections of the cylindrical cooling device to apply tension to the foamed tubular body at the inner wall and prevent the formation of corrugations.

Abstract: An apparatus for the formation of a foamed polyolefin sheet provided with a cylindrical cooling device for cooling a foamed extruded tubular body at one end of an extruder, air outlets for increasing the internal pressure of the cooled foamed tubular body at a region between the extruder die and the upstream section of a cylindrical cooling device and between at least two adjacent sections of a cylindrical cooling device and a cutting blade for slitting the foamed tubular body enables the production of foamed polyolefin sheets with improved surface characteristics and strength.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus for applying seals, such as valves, over a pressure relief passage of a container. Displaceable retention members, positioned next to a platen having an applicator surface, releasably secure one or more seals adjacent the applicator surface prior to attachment to the container. A seal attachment element moves the applicator surface toward and into a seal attachment position adjacent the container. As the applicator surface moves, the displaceable retention members release to, in turn, effectuate attachment of the seals over the pressure relief passage. A retraction element operatively attached to the platen causes return movement of the applicator surface and, in turn, return of the displaceable retention members back into a seal retaining position.

Abstract: A system automatically weeds around graphics cut into a sheet of sign material having a backing and utilizes a tool moved relative to the sign material sheet along a path offset from the lines of cut defining the graphic in response to commands issued by a controller to selectively bond an overlay sheet to the weed portions of the sign material sheet. The overlay sheet is placed over the sign material sheet and is selectively bonded with portions of the cut sign material sheet for subsequent separation of the nongraphic or weed material from the cut graphic when the overlay sheet is pulled away from the backing.

Abstract: A panel sealing system (10) is provided for heat sealing a plastic layer (18) to a panel member (20). The panel sealing system (10) includes a base frame (22) which has a pair of fixedly located end section frames (32) extending on opposing sides of a heating housing (24). Displaceable internal end section base frame housings (34) are mounted within the end section frames (32) and allow for displacement of panel members (20) and plastic layers (18) to be displaced internal to a heating chamber (36) of heating housing (24). The heat within the heat chamber (36) is adjusted by vertical adjustment of electrical housings (84) contained within the heat chamber (36). Additionally, drive mechanism (62) is provided to remove the heat sealed panel subsequent to the heat sealing operation within the heat chamber (36). In this manner, panel members (20) are optimally heat sealed by a continuous closed cell coating or layer which extends the life of the panel member.