Abstract: The disclosed frozen confection machine is provided with a series of mold bars each of which contain a plurality of cavities for containing confection material which is frozen in said cavities. The machine is provided with a mechanism for inserting sticks into the partially frozen confection material, means for defrosting the exterior of the cavities to facilitate removal of the frozen confections and a selectively operable device responsive to the inadvertent retention of confection material in one or more cavities to remove the retained confection material by inverting the mold bar and spraying hot water into the cavities to remove the confection material. Moreover the confection machine provides laterally opposed to chains circulating in a closed path in which one reach of the chain, the working reach, associated with filling, freezing, stick insertion and confection removal devices and a return reach.

Abstract: Apparatus for extracting frozen stick confections from several mold cups of a mold strip of a stick confection freezing apparatus is disclosed. At a pre-extraction station, the sticks of the frozen confections are individually grasped and individually pulled with separate spring forces while the mold cups are heated from below by hot water sprays. Each confection is lifted from the mold cup as soon as the surface layer thereof sufficiently thaws, and before each confection is completely removed from the cup, it is released and dropped back into the cup. At a second extraction station, all of the confections are simultaneously removed and thereafter conveyed to apparatus for wrapping the frozen confections.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting several frozen confections from the mold cups of the mold member of a freezing apparatus and for conveying the frozen confections away from the freezing apparatus while rotating each confection 90.degree. and separating the confections to wider intervals. Such extractor-conveyor includes a plurality of extractor bar assemblies and an endless conveyor for moving the extractor bar assemblies from an extraction station to an ejection station. Each extractor bar assembly includes a plurality of gripper units that are initially arranged at relatively close intervals along the length of the extractor bar assembly that are each aligned with their direction of travel. The gripper units are connected by links and are mounted within a transverse channel so they may be rotated and separated as they are conveyed by a camming rail that is positioned to engage a cam follower roller attached to an end gripper unit.

Abstract: A display sheet and placard for use with a pegboard type merchandise display wall has sequentially numbered display posts, each carrying merchandise of common characteristics. The display placard has multiple matrices, each corresponding to a particular configuration of merchandise, particularly plumbing fittings. The first and second axes of each matrix have independently variable required characteristics of the merchandise, particularly sizes of each respective end configuration of the fitting. The body of each matrix has numbers referring to the numbered display post carrying fittings having the desired characteristics and sizes indicated by the row and column of the first and second axes, respectively.The placard or sheet may also provide graphic facsimiles or verbal descriptions of the characteristics or sizes of the fittings, descriptions of the manufacturer, instructions for use of the selection system, general characteristics of the merchandise displayed, and appropriate environments for use.

Abstract: An improved method for extracting frozen stick confections from several mold cups of a mold strip of a stick confection freezing apparatus is disclosed. At a pre-extraction station, the sticks of the frozen confections are individually grasped and individually pulled with separate spring forces while the mold cups are heated from below by hot water sprays. Each confection is lifted from the mold cup as soon as the surface layer thereof sufficiently thaws, and before each confection is completely removed from the cup, it is released and dropped back into the cup. At a second extraction station, all of the confections are simultaneously removed and thereafter conveyed to apparatus for wrapping the frozen confections.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing frozen confections of the type including sticks projecting from a block of frozen confection material including a plurality of detachable mold strips and a screw conveyor arrangement for indexing the mold strips through a closed rectangular path in a horizontal plane with the mold cups of the mold strips opening upwardly. The conveyor includes cradles to which the mold strips are individually and pivotally mounted, a rectangular arrangement of tracks for guiding the cradles through the rectangular path of travel, and several conveyor screws which are driven continuously for propelling the cradles along the tracks. The conveyor screws have screw grooves therein adapted to cause the cradles to dwell under a confection filler, a stick inserter, a confection extractor and mold cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: A compression type end fitting for a non-metal flexible tubing wherein the fitting includes a tubing receiving bore terminating at an internal stop shoulder with a continuing smaller diameter throughbore, a nut sub-assembly of a nut and compression sleeve having a nut receiving throughbore has a tubing reinforcing insert loosely retained within the body and nut sub-assembly when the latter are preassembled preparatory to receiving the tubing through the nut sub-assembly. The insert has a circular flange for loosely retaining the insert within the fitting body bore and has a guide end protruding outwardly of the nut sub-assembly when the latter is assembled to the fitting body to provide for an initial engagement with the tubing and for a prealigning of the tubing, insert and nut sub-assembly throughbore preparatory to pressing the tubing into the fitting and final tightening of the nut sub-assembly on to the fitting.