Abstract: A self-energizing disc brake is disclosed. The brake is applied by moving a pair of pressure plates angularly to cause them to separate and clamp friction discs between themselves and braking faces at opposite ends of a housing. The angular movement of the plates is initiated by a brake-applying mechanism comprising a pair of links of different lengths, which are pivotally connected at their outer ends to respective lugs on the pressure plates, and a pull-rod which is connected to the inner ends of the links through a common pivot and is radially displaceable. This facilitates installations of the brake within asymmetrically arranged housings.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting and stacking hollow, frusto-conical containers or other articles has a downwardly inclined ramp for receiving the articles in random orientations. A deflector wall spaced by a gap from the bottom end of the ramp serves to deflect the articles to the gap, which is greater than the width of the widest end of the articles and less than the length of the articles, so that the articles can drop into the gap only with the widest end uppermost. Endless conveyor belts are provided below the gap for receiving the articles therebetween and conveying the articles. The ramp is formed by the upperwardly driven upper run of an endless belt arrangement, or has an upwardly rotating roller at the bottom thereof, for displacing upwardly of the ramp an adjacent portion of any of the articles which bridges the gap so that the containers are caused to fall properly into the gap.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning granules of plastic resin comprises a barrel having a hopper feed at its upper portion and a resin discharge at its lower portion to provide for gravitational flow of the granular resin through the barrel. The barrel periphery is perforated to permit passage of heated gases into the barrel and over the granular resin. A channel is defined centrally of the barrel and extends therealong to collect gases flowing over the resins and discharge such gases externally of the barrel.