Abstract: An adjustable width guideway assembly for use in a conveyor for conveying articles having different widths. The assembly comprises a first moveable guide and a second fixed guide parallel to the first guide, the first and second guides defining the guideway therebetween. The first guide is moveable towards or away from the second guide between a first position, a second position and at least one intermediate position The disclosure is particularly directed towards an adjustable width guideway assembly for use in an air conveyor conveying light plastic bottles suspended in the guideway by a flange located on the bottle neck.

Abstract: An assembly comprising a plurality of pistons, each of the pistons comprising of a cylinder and a piston rod, a first collar for supporting the cylinders at a first end and a second collar for supporting the cylinders at a second end, for each of the cylinders, a first air inlet through the first collar into the first cylinder end and a second air inlet through the second collar into the second cylinder end, a plurality of valves, each of the valves connected to a source of compressed air, and a plurality of air hoses interconnecting each of the valves with one of the air inlets.

Abstract: An assembly for rotating a selected article in a stream of like articles without rotating an adjacent article, each of the articles moving along a conveying surface of a conveyor belt with a speed of forward travel and comprising an axis which is normal to the conveying surface. The assembly comprises a mechanism for revolving the selected article around the axis without changing between the axis of the revolving selected article and the axis of the non-revolving adjacent article.

Abstract: An adjustable width guideway assembly for use in a conveyor for conveying articles having different widths. The assembly comprises a first moveable guide and a second fixed guide parallel to the first guide, the first and second guides defining the guideway therebetween. The first guide is moveable towards or away from the second guide between a first position, a second position and at least one intermediate position The disclosure is particularly directed towards an adjustable width guideway assembly for use in an air conveyor conveying light plastic bottles suspended in the guideway by a flange located on the bottle neck.

Abstract: An adjustable width guideway assembly for use in a conveyor for conveying articles having different widths. The assembly comprises a first moveable guide and a second fixed guide parallel to the first guide, the first and second guides defining the guideway therebetween. The first guide is moveable towards or away from the second guide between a first position, a second position and at least one intermediate position The disclosure is particularly directed towards an adjustable width guideway assembly for use in an air conveyor conveying light plastic bottles suspended in the guideway by a flange located on the bottle neck.

Abstract: An adjustable curved neck guide for a conveyor is disclosed. The guide comprises a plurality of segments mounted on first and second plates using a series of pin and slot assemblies. Each segment has first and second surfaces and a guide edge, the segments arranged end to end such that the guide edges define a curve having radius. As the second plate is moved relative to the first plate, the pins slide in the slots thereby moving the segments and changing the radius of curvature defined by the guide edges.

Abstract: An assembly for rotating a selected article in a stream of like articles without rotating an adjacent article, each of the articles moving along a conveying surface of a conveyor belt with a speed of forward travel and comprising an axis which is normal to the conveying surface. The assembly comprises a mechanism for revolving the selected article around the axis without changing between the axis of the revolving selected article and the axis of the non-revolving adjacent article.

Abstract: An assembly comprising a plurality of pistons, each of the pistons comprising of a cylinder and a piston rod, a first collar for supporting the cylinders at a first end and a second collar for supporting the cylinders at a second end, for each of the cylinders, a first air inlet through the first collar into the first cylinder end and a second air inlet through the second collar into the second cylinder end, a plurality of valves, each of the valves connected to a source of compressed air, and a plurality of air hoses interconnecting each of the valves with one of the air inlets.

Abstract: An adjustable width guideway assembly for use in a conveyor for conveying articles having different widths. The assembly comprises a first moveable guide and a second fixed guide parallel to the first guide, the first and second guides defining the guideway therebetween. The first guide is moveable towards or away from the second guide between a first position, a second position and at least one intermediate position The disclosure is particularly directed towards an adjustable width guideway assembly for use in an air conveyor conveying light plastic bottles suspended in the guideway by a flange located on the bottle neck.

Abstract: An adjustable curved neck guide for a conveyor is disclosed. The guide comprises a plurality of segments mounted on first and second plates using a series of pin and slot assemblies. Each segment has first and second surfaces and a guide edge, the segments arranged end to end such that the guide edges define a curve having radius. As the second plate is moved relative to the first plate, the pins slide in the slots thereby moving the segments and changing the radius of curvature defined by the guide edges.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage device includes a number of solid-state thin-film electrochemical cells which are selectively interconnected in series or parallel through use of an integrated interconnect board. The interconnect board is typically disposed within a sealed housing which also houses the electrochemical cells, and includes a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to first and second power terminals of the energy storage device. The interconnect board advantageously provides for selective series or parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells, irrespective of electrochemical cell position within the housing. Fuses and various electrical and electro-mechanical devices, such as bypass, equalization, and communication devices for example, may also be mounted to the interconnect board and selectively connected to the electrochemical cells.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage device includes a number of solid-state thin-film electrochemical cells which are selectively interconnected in series or parallel through use of an integrated interconnect board. The interconnect board is typically disposed within a sealed housing which also houses the electrochemical cells, and includes a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to first and second power terminals of the energy storage device. The interconnect board advantageously provides for selective series or parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells, irrespective of electrochemical cell position within the housing. Fuses and various electrical and electromechanical devices, such as bypass, equalization, and communication devices for example, may also be mounted to the interconnect board and selectively connected to the electrochemical cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved electrochemical energy storage device. The electrochemical energy storage device includes a number of solid-state, thin-film electrochemical cells which are selectively interconnected in series or parallel through use of an integrated interconnect board. The interconnect board is typically disposed within a sealed housing which also houses the electrochemical cells, and includes a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to first and second power terminals of the energy storage device. The interconnect board advantageously provides for selective series or parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells, irrespective of electrochemical cell position within the housing. Fuses and various electrical and electromechanical devices, such as bypass, equalization, and communication devices for example, may also be mounted to the interconnect board and selectively connected to the electrochemical cells.

Abstract: A magnetic coupling assembly for selectively rotating rollers of a roller conveyor when the torque required to maintain this rotation does not exceed a predetermined threshold is described herein. The magnetic coupling is mounted to the side rail of a conveyor, below the conveyor rollers and include a driving portion rotatably mounted to the side rail and a driven portion rotatably mounted to the driving portion. Corresponding friction surfaces of the driving and driven portion are brought and maintained in contact via a magnet and an element made of magnetic material or another magnet. Means for varying the distance between the magnet and the element made of magnetic material are disclosed. The present invention is also concerned with means for simultaneously adjusting more than one coupling assembly and with means for detecting the rotation of conveyor rollers.

Abstract: An improved electrochemical generator is disclosed. The electrochemical generator includes a thin-film electrochemical cell which is maintained in a state of compression through use of an internal or an external pressure apparatus. A thermal conductor, which is connected to at least one of the positive or negative contacts of the cell, conducts current into and out of the cell and also conducts thermal energy between the cell and thermally conductive, electrically resistive material disposed on a vessel wall adjacent the conductor. The thermally conductive, electrically resistive material may include an anodized coating or a thin sheet of a plastic, mineral-based material or conductive polymer material. The thermal conductor is fabricated to include a resilient portion which expands and contracts to maintain mechanical contact between the cell and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the cell and the wall structure.

Abstract: A magnetic coupling assembly for selectively rotating rollers of a roller conveyor when the torque required to maintain this rotation does not exceed a predetermined threshold is described herein. The magnetic coupling is mounted to the side rail of a conveyor, below the conveyor rollers and include a driving portion rotatably mounted to the side rail and a driven portion rotatably mounted to the driving portion. Corresponding friction surfaces of the driving and driven portion are brought and maintained in contact via a magnet and an element made of magnetic material or another magnet. Means for varying the distance between the magnet and the element made of magnetic material are disclosed. The present invention is also concerned with means for simultaneously adjusting more than one coupling assembly and with means for detecting the rotation of conveyor rollers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved electrochemical energy storage device. The electrochemical energy storage device includes a number of solid-state, thin-film electrochemical cells which are selectively interconnected in series or parallel through use of an integrated interconnect board. The interconnect board is typically disposed within a sealed housing which also houses the electrochemical cells, and includes a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to first and second power terminals of the energy storage device. The interconnect board advantageously provides for selective series or parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells, irrespective of electrochemical cell position within the housing.

Abstract: An improved electrochemical generator is disclosed. The electrochemical generator includes a thin-film electrochemical cell which is maintained in a state of compression through use of an internal or an external pressure apparatus. A thermal conductor, which is connected to at least one of the positive or negative contacts of the cell, conducts current into and out of the cell and also conducts thermal energy between the cell and thermally conductive, electrically resistive material disposed on a vessel wall adjacent the conductor. The thermally conductive, electrically resistive material may include an anodized coating or a thin sheet of a plastic, mineral-based material or conductive polymer material. The thermal conductor is fabricated to include a resilient portion which expands and contracts to maintain mechanical contact between the cell and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the cell and the wall structure.

Abstract: An improved electrochemical energy storing device includes a number of thin-film electrochemical cells which are maintained in a state of compression through use of an internal or an external pressure apparatus. A thermal conductor, which is connected to at least one of the positive or negative contacts of each electrochemical cell, conducts current into and out of the electrochemical cells and also conducts thermal energy between the electrochemical cells and thermally conductive material disposed on a wall structure adjacent the conductors. The wall structure includes electrically resistive material, such as an anodized coating or a thin film of plastic. The thermal conductors are fabricated to include a spring mechanism which expands and contacts to maintain mechanical contact between the electrochemical cells and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the electrochemical cells and the wall structure.