Abstract: A quick change knife blade assembly, for use in conjunction with a tape roll dispensing cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine, comprises a knife blade mounted upon a knife blade mounting plate. A pin plate is fixedly connected to mounting pins passing through the knife blade, and springs are interposed between the pin plate and the mounting plate so as to normally bias the pin plate to a position at which the mounting pins prevent the removal of the knife blade from the mounting plate. When the pin plate is depressed against the biasing forces of the springs, the mounting pins are moved so as to permit the knife blade to be removed from the mounting plate.

Abstract: A knife blade guard locking mechanism, for use in conjunction with the sealing tape application rollers of a tape cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine, is adapted to be operatively connected to a spring biasing mechanism of the sealing tape application rollers such that when the sealing tape application rollers are disposed at their inoperative positions, the knife blade guard locking mechanism is disposed at its locked position so as to effectively cover the knife blade in order to protect personnel from being accidentally cut. Conversely, when the sealing tape application rollers are disposed at their operative positions, the knife blade guard locking mechanism is automatically unlocked so as to permit the knife blade to be uncovered in order to perform its sealing tape cutting operation.

Abstract: A system for mounting the front or rear sealing tape application roller of a carton or case sealing apparatus wherein the front or rear tape application roller is able to be quickly and easily replaced upon its roller shaft without the need for special tools. A spring-biased detent pin which is spring-biased between a radially outwardly position at which the detent pin so as to be engaged with and block removal of the roller from its roller shaft but which may be depressed radially inwardly so as to be disengaged from the roller and thereby permit the roller to be removed from its roller shaft.

Abstract: A tape guide plate and finger plate assembly for the leading end portion of the carton or case sealing tape is provided in order to effectively prevent the leading end portion of the carton or case sealing tape from folding over upon itself whereby the adhesive material, disposed upon the front side surface portion of the sealing tape would effectively become stuck to itself and thereby foul further carton or case seal-ing operations. In addition, rollers are provided upon a finger plate so as to permit the sealing tape to be dispensed in a substantially frictionless or drag-free manner.

Abstract: A spring tension control system for the front and rear application roller arms, and for the sealing tape application rollers mounted thereon, of a tape cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine comprises a first spring-biasing mechanism to control the disposition and movement of the front and rear application roller arms upon which are respectively mounted the front and rear case sealing tape application rollers for applying the sealing tape to the vertically oriented front and rear surface portions of the case. In addition, there is also provided a second spring biasing mechanism which operatively cooperates with the first spring biasing mechanism so as to effectively impart an enhanced amount of tension and speed to the rear case sealing application roller in order to achieve enhanced case sealing processing speeds.

Abstract: An adjustable diameter tape roll cartridge core assembly which permits various different tape rolls, manufactured, for example, by various different tape roll manufacturers, and characterized by different internal diameter dimensions, to be fixedly and securedly mounted upon the tape roll cartridge core member of a tape roll dispensing cartridge assembly of a carton or case sealing machine. The core assembly comprises an expandable and contractible annular ring member whereby the external diametrical extent of such expandable and contractible annular ring member is adjustable so as to in fact be capable of tightly engaging the inner peripheral surface portion of any one of various different tape rolls having various different internal diameter dimensions.

Abstract: A system for mounting the front or rear sealing tape application roller of a carton or case sealing apparatus wherein the front or rear tape application roller is able to be quickly and easily replaced upon its roller shaft without the need for special tools. A spring-biased detent pin which is spring-biased between a radially outwardly position at which the detent pin so as to be engaged with and block removal of the roller from its roller shaft but which may be depressed radially inwardly so as to be disengaged from the roller and thereby permit the roller to be removed from its roller shaft.

Abstract: A spring tension control system for the front and rear application roller arms, and for the sealing tape application rollers mounted thereon, of a tape cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine comprises a first spring-biasing mechanism to control the disposition and movement of the front and rear application roller arms upon which are respectively mounted the front and rear case sealing tape application rollers for applying the sealing tape to the vertically oriented front and rear surface portions of the case. In addition, there is also provided a second spring biasing mechanism which operatively cooperates with the first spring biasing mechanism so as to effectively impart an enhanced amount of tension and speed to the rear case sealing application roller in order to achieve enhanced case sealing processing speeds.

Abstract: A tape guide plate and finger plate assembly for the leading end portion of the carton or case sealing tape is provided in order to effectively prevent the leading end portion of the carton or case sealing tape from folding over upon itself whereby the adhesive material, disposed upon the front side surface portion of the sealing tape would effectively become stuck to itself and thereby foul further carton or case seal-ing operations. In addition, rollers are provided upon a finger plate so as to permit the sealing tape to be dispensed in a substantially frictionless or drag-free manner.

Abstract: A quick change knife blade assembly, for use in conjunction with a tape roll dispensing cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine, comprises a knife blade mounted upon a knife blade mounting plate. A pin plate is fixedly connected to mounting pins passing through the knife blade, and springs are interposed between the pin plate and the mounting plate so as to normally bias the pin plate to a position at which the mounting pins prevent the removal of the knife blade from the mounting plate. When the pin plate is depressed against the biasing forces of the springs, the mounting pins are moved so as to permit the knife blade to be removed from the mounting plate.

Abstract: A knife blade guard locking mechanism, for use in conjunction with the sealing tape application rollers of a tape cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine, is adapted to be operatively connected to a spring biasing mechanism of the sealing tape application rollers such that when the sealing tape application rollers are disposed at their inoperative positions, the knife blade guard locking mechanism is disposed at its locked position so as to effectively cover the knife blade in order to protect personnel from being accidentally cut. Conversely, when the sealing tape application rollers are disposed at their operative positions, the knife blade guard locking mechanism is automatically unlocked so as to permit the knife blade to be uncovered in order to perform its sealing tape cutting operation.

Abstract: An adjustable diameter tape roll cartridge core assembly which permits various different tape rolls, manufactured, for example, by various different tape roll manufacturers, and characterized by different internal diameter dimensions, to be fixedly and securedly mounted upon the tape roll cartridge core member of a tape roll dispensing cartridge assembly of a carton or case sealing machine. The core assembly comprises an expandable and contractible annular ring member whereby the external diametrical extent of such expandable and contractible annular ring member is adjustable so as to in fact be capable of tightly engaging the inner peripheral surface portion of any one of various different tape rolls having various different internal diameter dimensions.

Abstract: A new and improved case former, or carton folding and erecting apparatus, is disclosed wherein a pair of pivotal support arms, upon each one of which is mounted a case or carton engagement roller, are mounted upon the machine framework such that when actuator mechanisms, for folding the oppositely disposed major side bottom flap members of the case or carton to their folded positions so as to complete the formation of the bottom portion of the case or carton, are actuated, the pair of pivotal support arms are effectively released from a restrained position, at which case or carton engagement rollers are disposed at retracted positions with respect to the case or carton blank so as to initially permit the case or carton blank to be inserted into the case former, or carton folding and erecting apparatus, in an unobstructed manner, whereby the case or carton engagement rollers can now engage the major side walls of the case or carton so as to retain the case or carton in position while the case or carton is subs

Abstract: A new and improved case sealer assembly comprises a pair of oppositely disposed case drive mechanisms for conveying a multiplicity of cases through a sealing station. The drive mechanisms are laterally separated from each other such that an interior space is formed therebetween which effectively defines a sealing station for serially accommodating the multiplicity of cases to be sealed.

Abstract: The present invention is a flow focusing and mixing device for use with internal combustion engines. The flow focusing and mixing device may be located in the exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine for increased oxidization of the exhaust, increasing the air quality of the exhaust released into the environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the recovery of heat and/or condensable liquid from a gaseous environment utilizing an open cycle heat pump system. The open cycle heat pump system is employed to alter the temperature of a gas by compression, expansion, heat exchange, and combinations thereof, to condense selected vapors carried in the gaseous environment for removal from the gas. The open cycle heat pump system can also be used to extract the heat from a gas for use as desired.

Abstract: Vapor recovery system comprising vapor source, vapor concentrating system and refrigeration condensation system. Method comprises accumulating condensable vapor in vapor accumulator, and subsequently removing vapor from accumulator using carrier gas to provide concentrated carrier gas stream. Vapor in carrier gas is condensed by refrigeration condensation means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the recovery of heat and/or condensable liquid from a gaseous environment utilizing an open cycle heat pump system. The open cycle heat pump system is employed to alter the temperature of a gas by compression, expansion, heat exchange, and combinations thereof, to condense selected vapors carried in the gaseous environment for removal from the gas. The open cycle heat pump system can also be used to extract the heat from a gas for use as desired.The invention also relates to means for recovering condensable solvent and/or heat from gas streams employed in drying ovens used in processing solvent-laden materials.