Abstract: A package assembly suitable for use in storing and shipping a plurality of product containers includes a shipping configuration and a display configuration. In the shipping configuration the package assembly is constructed from a single blank of packaging material and formed into a case into which a plurality of product containers are inserted. In the display configuration a top portion of the case is removed from a bottom portion of the case along one or more tear lines on the blank.

Abstract: A package assembly includes a number of containers, a heat-shrink wrapping disposed around the containers and tear strip; the tear strip aids in opening the heat-shrink wrapping. The tear strip can be defined by perforations disposed through the heat-shrink wrapping and arranged in pathways. The perforations are cut in the heat-shrink wrapping with a packaging apparatus having a cutting member. The cutting member is used in combination with a die to leave a chad attached to heat-shrink wrapping. Thereafter, the heat-shrink wrapping is shrunk with a heating source in order to bundle containers together within the package assembly.

Abstract: A package assembly suitable for use in storing and shipping a plurality of product containers includes a shipping configuration and a display configuration. In the shipping configuration the package assembly is constructed from a single blank of packaging material and formed into a case into which a plurality of product containers are inserted. In the display configuration a top portion of the case is removed from a bottom portion of the case along one or more tear lines on the blank.

Abstract: A package assembly suitable for use in storing and shipping a plurality of product containers includes a shipping configuration and a display configuration. In the shipping configuration the package assembly is constructed from a single blank of packaging material and formed into a case into which a plurality of product containers are inserted. In the display configuration a top portion of the case is removed from a bottom portion of the case along one or more tear lines on the blank.

Abstract: A package assembly suitable for use in storing and shipping a plurality of product containers includes a shipping configuration and a display configuration. In the shipping configuration the package assembly is constructed from a single blank of packaging material and formed into a case into which a plurality of product containers are inserted. In the display configuration a top portion of the case is removed from a bottom portion of the case along one or more tear lines on the blank.

Abstract: A package assembly includes a number of containers, a heat-shrink wrapping disposed around the containers and tear strip; the tear strip aids in opening the heat-shrink wrapping. The tear strip can be defined by perforations disposed through the heat-shrink wrapping and arranged in pathways. The perforations are cut in the heat-shrink wrapping with a packaging apparatus having a cutting member. The cutting member is used in combination with a die to leave a chad attached to heat-shrink wrapping. Thereafter, the heat-shrink wrapping is shrunk with a heating source in order to bundle containers together within the package assembly.

Abstract: A robot compliance device includes first and second discs (12, 30) spaced along a first axis (X). A column (24) is interconnected between the first disc (12) and a beam (14) intermediate the first and second discs (12, 30). A compliance member (40) is mounted around the column (24) between the first disc (12) and the beam (14). First and second canted resilient plates (50) are interconnected between the compliance member (40) and the beam (14) and spaced from each other along a second axis (Y) perpendicular to the first axis (X) and are at a first acute angle with and spaced from the first axis (X). Third and fourth canted resilient plates (52) are interconnected between the second disc (30) and the compliance member (40) and spaced from each other along a third axis (Z) perpendicular to the first and second axes (X, Y) and are at a second acute angle with and spaced from the first axis (X).

Abstract: A motion control apparatus (10) in the form of a linear brake includes a camshaft (23) rotatable in a housing (11) moveable along a linear rail (30). The camshaft (23) is rotated by a gear motor (15) causing an eccentric engagement portion of a cam follower (24) to abut with a facing (12) which engages the linear rail (30) to provide a clamping force thereon. A damper (25) is received on a dowel pin (14) secured to the housing (11) and received in a U-shaped groove in the camshaft (23) to inhibit further rotation of the camshaft (23). A shim (20) separates the outer races of the bearings (22) receiving the camshaft (23) to preload the first and second bearings (22).

Abstract: A robot compliance device includes first and second discs (12, 30) spaced along a first axis (X). A column (24) is interconnected between the first disc (12) and a beam (14) intermediate the first and second discs (12, 30). A compliance member (40) is mounted around the column (24) between the first disc (12) and the beam (14). First and second canted resilient plates (50) are interconnected between the compliance member (40) and the beam (14) and spaced from each other along a second axis (Y) perpendicular to the first axis (X) and are at a first acute angle with and spaced from the first axis (X). Third and fourth canted resilient plates (52) are interconnected between the second disc (30) and the compliance member (40) and spaced from each other along a third axis (Z) perpendicular to the first and second axes (X, Y) and are at a second acute angle with and spaced from the first axis (X).

Abstract: A motion control apparatus (10) in the form of a linear brake includes a camshaft (23) rotatable in a housing (11) moveable along a linear rail (30). The camshaft (23) is rotated by a gear motor (15) causing an eccentric engagement portion of a cam follower (24) to abut with a facing (12) which engages the linear rail (30) to provide a clamping force thereon. A damper (25) is received on a dowel pin (14) secured to the housing (11) and received in a U-shaped groove in the camshaft (23) to inhibit further rotation of the camshaft (23). A shim (20) separates the outer races of the bearings (22) receiving the camshaft (23) to preload the first and second bearings (22).

Abstract: A friction disc (16) for a torque and/or rotational control apparatus includes elongated and shortened fins (42, 43) upstanding between and equally circumferentially spaced intermediate first and second component discs (40, 41). The fins (42, 43) are free of circumferential interconnections to allow air to radially pass freely between the fins (42, 43). The fins (42, 43) extend in non-radial directions between the first and second component discs (40, 41). A mounting ring (48) is integrally formed with the elongated fins (42) intermediate and axially spaced from each component disc (40, 41) and radially inward of the inner edges (46) of the component discs (40, 41). The elongated fins (42) each includes a first elongated portion (42a) and a second shortened portion (42b) extending at an obtuse angle therefrom and on the mounting ring (48) radially inside of the inner edges (46). Windows (74) are formed in the mounting ring (48) radially inside of the component discs (40, 41) and of the elongated fins (42).

Abstract: A motion controller for use with a rod (10A, 10B, 10C) has a backlash reducer (88A, 88B, 88C) that substantially reduces or eliminates the space created after manufacturing parts with specified tolerance dimensions to substantially reduce or eliminate backlash. The backlash reducer (88A, 88B) can be in the form of a holder such as an internal retaining ring (78) and a shim (36), a threaded cap (38), or the like to accommodate various part size variances due to manufacturing tolerances. Alternately, the end cap (45) of the motion controller (10C) can have an outside thread (41) that mates to an inside thread (43) of the inside surface (54) of a housing (29). The motion controller (10A, 10B, 10C) has a friction collar (12) to hold the rod (14) under the action of balls (16) and a piston (18). The motion controller (10A, 10B, 10C) can be fluid powered with a fluid such as air.

Abstract: A rotational control apparatus (10) includes multiple facings (274-276) rotatable with and axially slideable relative to a mount (124) and which sandwich multiple friction plates (252, 253) rotatable with and axially slideable relative to a hub (12). To create turbulent air flow, the friction plates (252, 253) include an undulating outer circumferential edge (258) and a plurality of passages (260) in the interface portion and overlapping the inner peripheries (282) of the facings (274-276). An automotive clutch release type bearing (290) directly abuts between a piston (40) and the friction facing (274) and is encapsulated in the piston cavity (36) and a cavity (277) formed in the friction facing (274), with the friction facing (274) engaging the axial end (34) of the air chamber (24) when the facings (274-276) and the friction plates (252, 253) are disengaged. In the preferred form, the air chamber (24) and the mount (124) are of the same geometry and are machined from identical castings.

Abstract: A rotational control apparatus (10) includes multiple facings (274-276) which sandwich multiple friction plates (252, 253) rotatable with. To create turbulent air flow, the friction plates (252, 253) include an undulating outer circumferential edge (258) and a plurality of passages (260) in the interface portion and overlapping the inner peripheries (282) of the facings (274-276). An automotive clutch release type bearing (290) directly abuts between and is encapsulated in the piston cavity (36) and a cavity (36) of a piston 40 and a cavity (277) formed in the friction facing (274). The friction facing (274) engages the axial end (34) of the air chamber (24) and in alternate form, a friction facing (300) of the piston (40) interfaces with an interface surface (318) intergrally formed on the hub (12) to control rotation of the hub (12) when the facings (274-276) and the friction plates (252, 253) are disengaged.

Abstract: A rotational control apparatus (10) includes multiple facings (274-276) rotatable with and axially slideable relative to a mount (124) and which sandwich multiple friction plates (252, 253) rotatable with and axially slideable relative to a hub (12). To create turbulent air flow, the friction plates (252, 253) include an undulating outer circumferential edge (258) and a plurality of passages (260) in the interface portion and overlapping the inner peripheries (282) of the facings (274-276). An automotive clutch release type bearing (290) directly abuts between a piston (40) and the friction facing (274) and is encapsulated in the piston cavity (36) and a cavity (277) formed in the friction facing (274), with the friction facing (274) engaging the axial end (34) of the air chamber (24) when the facings (274-276) and the friction plates (252, 253) are disengaged to control rotation of the mount (124).

Abstract: A rotational control apparatus (10) includes multiple facings (274-276) rotatable with and axially slideable relative to a mount (124) and which sandwich multiple friction plates (252, 253) rotatable with and axially slideable relative to a hub (12). To create turbulent air flow, the friction plates (252, 253) include an undulating outer circumferential edge (258) and a plurality of passages (260) in the interface portion and overlapping the inner peripheries (282) of the facings (274-276). An automotive clutch release type bearing (290) directly abuts between a piston (40) and the friction facing (274) and is encapsulated in the piston cavity (36) and a cavity (277) formed in the friction facing (274), with the friction facing (274) engaging the axial end (34) of the air chamber (24) when the facings (274-276) and the friction plates (252, 253) are disengaged. In the preferred form, the air chamber (24) and the mount (124) are of the same geometry and are machined from identical castings.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for controlling rotation of an input (12) in the most preferred form of a brake includes a housing (50) which can be positioned in either first or second positions. In the first position, a piston (66) moves out of its cavity (64) in the housing (50) and forces a plate (76a) including the piston (66) and an interface facing (80) toward an interface disc (20) while a release spring (92) located in a countersink (74) acts on a fastener (98) to move the first plate (76a) away from the interface disc (20). When flipped to the second position, the piston (66) moves out of its cavity (64) in the housing (50) and forces a second plate (76b) interconnected to the first plate (76a) away from the interface disc (20) while engaging springs (90) sandwiched in cavities (70) between the housing (50) and the first plate (76a) including the interface facing (80) force the first plate (76a) toward the interface disc (20).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for controlling rotation of an input (12) in the most preferred form of a brake includes a housing (50) which can be positioned in either first or second positions. In the first position, a piston (66) moves out of its cavity (64) in the housing (50) and forces a plate (76a) including the piston (66) and an interface facing (80) toward an interface disc (20) while a release spring (92) located in a countersink (74) acts on a fastener (98) to move the first plate (76a) away from the interface disc (20). When flipped to the second position, the piston (66) moves out of its cavity (64) in the housing (50) and forces a second plate (76b) interconnected to the first plate (76a) away from the interface disc (20) while engaging springs (90) sandwiched in cavities (70) between the housing (50) and the first plate (76a) including the interface facing (80) force the first plate (76a) toward the interface disc (20).