Abstract: An air knife assembly is disclosed for removing water and soapy lubricants from an area of a bottle or can which is to be labeled or coded using drop marking equipment. The air knife is positioned at the correct pitch, roll and yaw angles to remove water from a desired area only, avoiding damage to labels which have been applied but not yet bonded to the bottle or can. The dewatering ensures accurate marking of the product.

Abstract: A tuned card weight for biasing a stack of cards in a card feeder includes: (a) a base section having a pair of parallel edges, one of the edges having an extension forming an acute angle with one side of the section; (b) an elastomer cantilever coupled to the other side of the base section along the other of the edges, the cantilever having a handle at its free end; and (c) a metal rod extending through the handle for providing the resulting structure with a damped resonant frequency. The resonant frequency is provided such that it is greater than the rate at which the feeder operates.

Abstract: A fuser includes a pair of members defining a zone, a pair of electrical elements supported in series with a power supply by one of the members, and a thermostatic switch being electrically connected in parallel with one of the elements. When the temperature in the zone is below a predetermined level the switch is closed and shorts out the element with which it is in parallel. The switch opens when the temperature rises above said predetermined level, whereby less heat is provided for the zone. This arrangement provides a rapid warm up for the zone. Heat distribution in the zone is achieved by supporting the heating elements in zigzag fashion. Sagging of the elements thus mounted is prevented by bias means which maintain the elements under tension.