Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for applying a thermoplastic adhesive to a portion of a garment in a predetermined pattern. The portion of the garment is initially loaded onto a conveyor device through a loading fixture and a powdered adhesive is screen printed onto said portion in a predetermined pattern. The adhesive is cured in a drying oven and permitted to cool. A cover panel is then placed over the adhesive and the cover panel is fused to that portion of the garment at elevated temperature and pressure. The resultant garment, preferably a woman's undergarment, possesses the combination of unique control, support, shape and aesthetic characteristics.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for applying a thermoplastic adhesive to a portion of a garment in a predetermined pattern. The portion of the garment is initially loaded onto a conveyor device through a loading fixture and a powdered adhesive is screen printed onto said portion in a predetermined pattern. The adhesive is cured in a drying oven and permitted to cool. A cover panel is then placed over the adhesive and the cover panel is fused to that portion of the garment at elevated temperature and pressure. The resultant garment, preferably a woman's undergarment, possesses the combination of unique control, support, shape and aesthetic characteristics.

Abstract: Paramagnetic articles such as a stem (14) and an armature (17) are placed into mutual coextensive alignment with a gap (19) of a predetermined width between adjacent portions of such articles. To repetitively establish the predetermined gap between successive groups of such articles, a first of such articles is guided tangentially into a magnetic field. A resulting force on such article (14) draws the article against a first stop surface. The article becomes magnetically polarized, such that when the second article, such as the armature (17) is guided into coextensive alignment with the first article, the second article becomes attracted to the first article to be drawn against a stop surface opposite to and spaced from the first stop surface by a dimension equal to the predetermined gap width.

Abstract: Paramagnetic articles such as a stem (14) and an armature (17) are placed into mutual coextensive alignment with a gap (19) of a predetermined width between adjacent portions of such articles. To repetitively establish the predetermined gap between successive groups of such articles, a first of such articles is guided tangentially into a magnetic field. A resulting force on such article (14) draws the article against a first stop surface. The article becomes magnetically polarized, such that when the second article, such as the armature (17) is guided into coextensive alignment with the first article, the second article becomes attracted to the first article to be drawn against a stop surface opposite to and spaced from the first stop surface by a dimension equal to the predetermined gap width.

Abstract: Initially randomly oriented elongated articles (11) are uniformly oriented and inserted into cavities (47) of a magazine (48) in a mass insertion process. The articles (11) are first aligned in parallel grooves (32) of a rack (31), wherein they initially retain a random longitudinal orientation. The articles (11) are then translated longitudinally in one or the other direction depending on their orientation in the rack. Those of the articles extending in the one longitudinal direction are first transferred to the magazine (48) while the other articles remain in the rack. The longitudinal orientation of the remaining articles is thereafter reversed by rotating the rack about its longitudinal axis, and the remaining articles are inserted into the magazine as the complement of such first transferred articles.

Abstract: A miniature magnetic, mercury-wetted relay construction for achieving optimum magnetic reluctance in its operating flux path and thereby improving relay sensitivity. The dimensions of the armature of the relay are determined for maximum flux-carrying capacity without sacrifice of flexibility by mounting the armature to the relay stem by means of a thin, magnetic hinge. At the pole-piece end of the relay, a recess is provided within which the contact is mounted, the recess forming a flux concentrator projection of the pole-piece which extends outwardly therefrom toward the opposing face of the armature. Reluctance of the flux closure path is further reduced by providing an integral extension of the stem toward the end of the pole-piece which extension advantageously acts as a parallel flux path shunting the small gap presented at the armature end and an end of the stem. By forming the shunt extension integrally with the stem, joint reluctance is eliminated.

Abstract: The possibility of contact bounce in an electrical switch is minimized by transferring energy from an armature of the switch to a damping liquid. An arrangement for damping the armature by such a transfer is particularly suited for use with a mercury-wetted sealed contact switch. The switch includes first and second spaced terminals embedded at opposite ends of a cylindrical envelope. The armature is located in the space between the two terminals. It is hinged by a thin leaf spring at the first terminal and is normally positioned to form a gap with the second terminal. Operation of the switch to close and reopen the gap results from an application and a removal, respectively, of a magnetic field through the terminals and the armature. Mercury wets the contact points between the second terminal and the armature. The mercury is supplied from a pool located at the first terminal.