Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like, is disclosed. A sheet workpiece is conducted into a nip defined between a pair of milling and stretching rollers wherein one of the rollers is rotated at a lineal surface velocity which is greater than the lineal surface velocity of the other roller, and the rollers are rotated in opposite directions. One of the rollers effectively brakes or retards one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece while the other one of the rollers effectively accelerates the other one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece as the workpiece passes through the nip defined between the rollers whereby the workpiece is simultaneously milled and stretched.

Abstract: A method of providing a clear image on a component including the steps of providing a transparent member having first and second opposite sides, providing a layer of opaque material on the second side of the transparent member and ablating away a predetermined pattern of the opaque layer by directing a laser beam at portions of the first side of the transparent member corresponding to the predetermined pattern, the laser beam passing through the transparent member to contact and ablate the opaque layer and provide a clear image through the transparent member corresponding to the predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A continuous, automated method and apparatus for transporting and electrostatically powder coating articles such as fasteners. Articles in an unoriented state are oriented one behind another, transferred in succession to and magnetically retained on a face of a rotating feed wheel at a first position with respect to the feed wheel, transported to a second position by rotation of the feed wheel, transferred in succession at the second position to a respective portion of a moving conveyor, and releasably suspended magnetically and electrically grounded at the respective portion of the conveyor. Magnets used to suspend the articles from the conveyor are shielded from direct contact with the articles to avoid coating the magnets. While the articles remain suspended magnetically from the conveyor by their end portions, they are conveyed through a coating booth where they are electrostatically powder coated.

Abstract: A seamless tube useful in making a roofing batten is extruded from a polymeric material consisting essentially of a major amount of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and a minor amount of at least one polyolefin, flattened in a vacuum sizer so as to define two plies, and milled and drawn so as to orient the tube longitudinally. As milled and drawn, the tube is oriented so as to have a tensile strength of at least about 25,000 psi in a longitudinal direction. The plies are punched so as to have holes therethrough at spaced intervals along the tube. When used to make a roofing batten to coact with conventional fasteners, such as roofing screws, the tube exhibits superior characteristics of split resistance and pull-through resistance.

Abstract: A roll riser for use, such as in staggering paper rolls, during shipment generally includes a rigid sheet and a core attached by its ends to the sheet along the length of the sheet. The core is collapsible and expandable so as to transform the roll riser from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. First and second end portions of the sheet are folded against a side of the core around fold lines, and lie generally adjacent to the core to cause the roll riser to remain in an expanded configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness for use in strapping packages and the like is passed between a pair of cylinders or rollers placed closely together at a desired nip for reducing the thickness of the sheet. One roller is rotated at a faster lineal rate of speed than the other, and the rollers rotate in opposite directions. This apparatus and method achieves milling and stretching of the material substantially simultaneously at the nip of the rollers.

Abstract: A collapsible and expandable void filler for separating cargo during transit in trucks, railroad cars, airplanes and the like includes an outer tubular housing having a diamond-shaped tubular core. The housing and core are collapsible into a generally flat configuration along score indentations. In one embodiment, the void filler is held in an expanded configuration by a plurality of collapsible wall portions along the outer housing that collapse inwardly from the periphery of the housing and engage the core. In other embodiments, the void filler is held in an expanded configuration by a cord or elastomeric bands which are tightly stretched around the periphery of the housing and is held in a series of aligned notches.

Abstract: A method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness for use in strapping packages and the like is passed between a pair of cylinders or rollers placed closely together at a desired nip for reducing the thickness of the sheet. One roller is rotated at a faster lineal rate of speed than the other, and the rollers rotate in opposite directions. This method achieves milling and stretching of the material substantially simultaneously at the nip of the rollers.

Abstract: A continuous, automated method and apparatus for transporting and electrostatically coating articles including providing a plurality of articles in an unoriented bulk state, each article having a first end portion, orienting each article and transporting them into a desired position, transferring each article in succession to a moving conveyor, suspending each article from the conveyor by its end portion and conveying the articles for electrostatic coating and curing.

Abstract: A collapsible and expandable void filler for separating cargo during transit in trucks, railroad cars, airplanes and the like includes an outer tubular housing having a diamond-shaped tubular core. The housing and core are collapsible into a generally flat configuration along score indentations. In one embodiment, the void filler is held in an expanded configuration by a plurality of collapsible wall portions along the outer housing that collapse inwardly from the periphery of the housing and engage the core. In other embodiments, the void filler is held in an expanded configuration by a cord or elastomeric bands which are tightly stretched around the periphery of the housing and is held in a series of aligned notches.

Abstract: A method of providing a clear image on a component including the steps of providing a transparent member having first and second opposite sides, providing a layer of opaque material on the second side of the transparent member and ablating away a predetermined pattern of the opaque layer by directing a laser beam at portions of the first side of the transparent member corresponding to the predetermined pattern, the laser beam passing through the transparent member to contact and ablate the opaque layer and provide a clear image through the transparent member corresponding to the predetermined pattern.

Abstract: The present invention is a package for housing and mixing two materials, such as epoxy resin and polyamine adduct, together to form an adhesive. Two sheets are joined together to form the outer periphery of the bag. A third sheet is secured between the outer sheets and divides the package into two compartments. One compartment includes a line of perforation holes that are easily ruptured when a user applies pressure to the external area of the compartment. A cap covers the perforation holes so that the material contained within the rupturable bag will not leak into the other compartment. When the one compartment is ruptured, the adduct that is contained therein is released into the other compartment and mixes with the resin. After the two materials are completely mixed the adhesive is ready for use.

Abstract: A seamless tube useful in making a roofing batten is extruded from a polymeric material consisting essentially of a major amount of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and a minor amount of at least one polyolefin, flattened in a vacuum sizer so as to define two plies, and milled and drawn so as to orient the tube longitudinally. As milled and drawn, the tube is oriented so as to have a tensile strength of at least about 25,000 psi in a longitudinal direction. The plies are punched so as to have holes therethrough at spaced intervals along the tube. When used to make a roofing batten to coact with conventional fasteners, such as roofing screws, the tube exhibits superior characteristics of split resistance and pull-through resistance.

Abstract: A seamless tube useful in making a roofing batten is extruded from a polymeric material consisting essentially of a major amount of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and a minor amount of at least one polyolefin, flattened in a vacuum sizer so as to define two plies, and milled and drawn so as to orient the tube longitudinally. As milled and drawn, the tube is oriented so as to have a tensile strength of at least about 25,000 psi in a longitudinal direction. The plies are punched so as to have holes therethrough at spaced intervals along the tube. When used to make a roofing batten to coact with conventional fasteners, such as roofing screws, the tube exhibits superior characteristics of split resistance and pull-through resistance.

Abstract: A seamless tube useful in making a roofing batten is extruded from a polymeric material consisting essentially of a major amount of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and a minor amount of at least one polyolefin, flattened in a vacuum sizer so as to define two plies, and milled and drawn so as to orient the tube longitudinally. As milled and drawn, the tube is oriented so as to have a tensile strength of at least about 25,000 psi in a longitudinal direction. The plies are punched so as to have holes therethrough at spaced intervals along the tube. When used to make a roofing batten to coact with conventional fasteners, such as roofing screws, the tube exhibits superior characteristics of split resistance and pull-through resistance.

Abstract: In a package designed to be readily loaded into a magazine, stacked roofing washers are collated by means of an elongate, flexible, polymeric strap extending through central apertures of the washers. Near each end of the strap, the strap is formed with a formation, such as, for example, an overhand knot, which is capable of supporting the washers if the package is suspended from the other end of the strap. One such formation is capable of being deformed sufficiently so as to permit it to be forcibly pulled through the washer apertures. A related method of loading such washers into the magazine and a related method of packaging such washers are disclosed. Each such method involves the package noted above.

Abstract: A package for releasably holding a plurality of containers comprises an arraying device, a plurality of containers, and encompassing means. The arraying device releasably holds the containers together to form a predetermined array. The containers have a bottom, and are insertable into the arraying device so that the arraying device is located proximate to the bottoms. The arraying device loosely retains the containers therewithin. The encompassing means surrounds the containers and the arraying device for retaining the containers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a package for a three dimensional block wherein the package is formed of flexible film doubled along one edge with end seals joining the ends of the film and a reclosable zipper along the other remaining edge with the zipper being longer than the length of the block and longer than the space between the end seals so that as the zipper is opened, a mouth is formed sufficiently large to allow for insertion or removal of the block through the mouth of the package.

Abstract: Dual flexible plastic pouches and a method of making the pouches where the pouches are reuseable and reclosable and have a double fastener strip arranged along the center between the pouches, the double strip is formed with a lower layer and upper pull flanges folded in from the edge of the lower layer with the pull flanges having reclosable rib and groove elements between the flanges and lower layer, an upper film web is juxtaposed over the lower web and bonded thereto over the peripheral edge to form pouches, the flanges are heat sealed to the upper web with a heat blocking thermal barrier between the flanges and lower layer of the fastener to prevent unintentional bonding.

Abstract: A plastic film bag for foodstuffs or the like having opposed film bag walls joined at their edges and forming a mouth between the walls and at one side reclosable fastener strips between the walls at the bag mouth having facing releasably interlocking profiles thereon with a sealing strip extending from one profile to the wall of the other profile with the sealing strip being sufficiently broad to avoid stress thereon and preferably with the sealing strip having a frangible fracture line extending substantially parallel to the profile to be torn when the profiles are first separated with the fracture line formed in various ways including perforations, or a score line, or an insert in the sealing web defining the frangible fracture line or the web being formed of multiple parts joined by a portion that fracture more easy than the sealing web.