Abstract: A hurdle for malthouses or other material-handling spaces has a supporting frame and a bottom supported by the supporting frame and including a plurality of hollow sheet shaped members arranged parallel closely near one another and self-supporting, a plurality of openings provided in the hollow sheet shaped members for passage of a material to be handled, and connecting elements for connecting the hollow sheet shaped members with one another.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to an improvement for tying devices which are secured to shoes for holding the shoelace knot in place. In the embodiment disclosed, the invention incorporates elastic means for engaging the shoelace knot from opposed sides to impede the knot from becoming untied while simultaneously exposing the knot for view and maintaining the normal appearance of the bow.

Abstract: A construction machine with a cutter is provided to simultaneously cut a slot in an ice sheet, to excavate a trench in the underlying seabed, and to bottom-tow a pipeline in the trench formed by the cutter.

Abstract: A graphic staging device for displaying substantially two-dimensional graphics such as a sign or the like of generally planar configuration, preferably in at least a slightly arcuate presentation and for protecting the same from ambient exposure, is comprised of first and second staging member which are nearly identical, having longitudinal asymmetry such that the two may be nested in mechanically interlocked, transversely mirror-imaged face-to-face engagement. There are very slight dimensional variations between the two staging members; in one instance the overall dimensions are identical but thickness differs, in another instance the dimensional variations are on the same order as the thickness of the members or less.

Abstract: An automatic page turning apparatus associated with a closed passbook and the like includes feed means for positioning and holding one edge of a passbook at a station located along a guide chute, and a drive member movable in a direction perpendicular to the guide chute for engaging and moving the passbook to a bowed configuration where a rotating drive roller engages the cover member or the top page member of the bowed passbook for moving the member to a partially open position. Control means operates the feed means to move the passbook in a direction enabling the drive roller to move the partially open member to a fully open position. Circuit means varies the power applied to the drive member enabling the drive member to apply more pressure to the passbook where the cover member is to be turned.

Abstract: An improved display framing apparatus including panel frame members for bordering individual display panels and connecting frame members for joining panel assemblies as a booth, exhibit or other display assembly. The connecting frame members extend vertically intermediate adjacent panel assemblies and each provides two or more receiving channels into which jaw arrangements extending from horizontally disposed panel frame members are inserted and engaged. Each jaw arrangement includes a pair of pivotably connected jaw members between which is disposed a slide member movable toward and away from the pivot axis of the jaw members respectively for permitting their movement toward one another for insertion and removal from the associated channel and for actuating their movement apart for gripping engagement interiorly of the associated channel.

Abstract: A multiple barrel firearm having "over-and-under" barrels or "side-by-side" barrels is adapted to have individual ones of the barrels fired by successive pulls of a single trigger. Upon discharge of one of the barrels a recoil and counter-recoil responsive means, such as an inertia block pivotably mounted on the trigger is mechanically positioned to engage a hammer trip lever associated with the second barrel to assure that the second barrel is fired upon a successive pull of the trigger. This is accomplished by thrusting a cam lug into the path of movement of the recoil and counter-recoil responsive means during its counter-recoil movement so as to disengage it from means normally holding the recoil and counter-recoil responsive means out of engagement with the trip lever prior to firing of the first barrel.

Abstract: This invention relates to shooting benches in general, and more specifically to a collapsible, portable, contoured, shooting table with adjustable legs and having raised and recessed portions, to accommodate a shooters upper torso, support a plurality of firearms, and prevent loose shells from rolling off the table surface.

Abstract: A tube 22 contains a liquid absorbent material 28, an end portion of which can be immersed in the liquid contained within a bag 20 positioned about a tree 30 and transfer the liquid at a rate dependant on the attitude of the tube 22 to the end 27 of the tube 22 inserted in the ground adjacent the root structure 31 of the tree 30.

Abstract: An improved procedure for forming F.sub.1 hybrid soybean plants (i.e., hybrid soybean plants of the first filial generation) is provided which is capable of being readily implemented on a commercial scale. Unlike processes proposed in the prior art the requisite cross-pollination needed to produce the F.sub.1 hybrid having hybrid vigor is precisely controlled. The seed parent upon which seeds capable of forming F.sub.1 hybrid plants are produced is fully male sterile (as described herein) thereby eliminating the possibility of self-pollination. It surprisingly has been found that the required male sterility is made possible in the seed parent by combining via a controlled plant breeding program previously widely dispersed factors comprising an atypical Cms cytoplasm and two distinct pairs of recessive genes for fertility restoration r.sub.1 r.sub.1 and r.sub.2 r.sub.2. For instance, the Cms cytoplasm conveniently may be derived from a Mandarin cytoplasmic source (e.g., the Elf variety), the r.sub.1 r.sub.

Abstract: A method for growth, development and maturation of cacao embryos produced from the callus of Theobroma cacao L., and product of such method.

Abstract: A window shield adapted for sliding windows in domestic buildings and providing weather protection, increased security, safety and noise reduction. The shield includes a sheet produced in plastics material to cover the window opening or a part thereof. The sheet includes edge strips along each transverse edge in the form of moulded portions of the plastics sheet bent in opposite directions to one another, out of the plane of the sheet. A central moulded rib is included in the sheet when extra rigidity is required. Further improvements in rigidity are provided by metal edges fixed along the edge strips. Two methods of attaching these shields are described: inserting lips of upper and lower attachments into grooves of extruded aluminium window frames, the lips being parallel to, and equally distant from, the sheet; and fastening pivoting feet to the window sill, the pivoting feature allowing attachment to sills of any slope, and fastening a rigid member to the window head.

Abstract: A device for securing the locked position of a motor-vehicle door activated by a rotating post and that is locked or unlocked by raising and lowering the post has a disk attached to the post and a rotating support in the form of a double-armed lever mounted below the disk on a stationary section of the frame so that the support can be displaced into a position in which the disk rests on the top of one of the lever arms. The axis of rotation of the support is positioned on the frame section and lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the direction in which the rotating post is raised and lowered. The bottom of the second lever arm of the support rests on and is forced by a compression spring against a stop on the frame section and the bottom of the first arm of the support has a recess. A rotating locking element, which is also a double-armed lever with two support surfaces on one arm, engages the recess.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combined gate and lock assembly of tubular construction comprising two horizontal female members fixed to two vertical posts pivotally mounted with respect to support structure. In the closed position, the longitudinal axes of the female members are aligned and receive coaxially in recipro cable relationship therein a male member having an eye engaged by the shackle of a padlock. In the open position, the male member is appropriately disengaged from one of the female members which are disposed in their open position by appropriate rotation of their vertical posts.

Abstract: The grinding wheel is axially displaceable by means of an axial drive for material removal or cutting operations and tooth flank corrections. The axial drive comprises a double-acting hydraulic piston-cylinder unit, the piston of which is formed at a spindle sleeve of a grinding wheel spindle and the cylinder of which is formed in a carrier or support sleeve. The cylinder is controllable by a servo-valve. A displacement or path measuring device is operatively associated with the spindle sleeve. The servo-valve as well as the displacement or path measuring device are connected to a displacement or path detection circuit which is connected to a program or operating control. There is thus realized a particularly sensitive and precise adjustment for the material removal or cutting operations and the tooth flank corrections.

Abstract: The grinding apparatus permits precision machining of a valve seat or a sealing surface, and includes a grinding spindle having a holding and guiding part extending into a finished workpiece bore with clearance. The holding and guiding part is smaller in diameter than the grinding spindle and includes a pin which carries on its free end a grinding tool. The other end of the pin passes into the grinding spindle which has a substantially larger diameter. The grinding spindle is located outside the bore of the workpiece and may thus be made very stable. The pin is held by the grinding spindle so that the workpiece is held and guided securely even in the case of very small workpiece diameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and controlling the force exerted on a disc by a rotating pad. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the forces exerted by a plurality of polishing pads used for polishing the surfaces of rigid computer memory discs. The spring mechanism that provides the load force to a free sliding shaft which transmits the force to the polishing member is fitted with a suitable transducer, such as a strain gauge, which senses the axial force transmitted down the sliding shaft to the polishing pads by way of the force/strain relationship of the spring mechanism. The strain sensed by the transducer is converted to an electrial signal which is conducted to the input of a closed loop, feedback control servo system which maintains the desired contact force of the pads on the disc and, at the same time, maintains an equality of forces on each side of the disc.

Abstract: A grinding wheel that can rotate at high speed to grind flat plates comprised of a thin conical grindstone fastened to the open end of a rotatable inverted cup, with the grinding edge projecting outwardly from and at an inclined angle with respect to the open end. The grindstone includes a cylindrical fitting part which is fastened to the inside of the cup and a conical grinding part formed by electroplating from a nickel plating solution in which super hard abrasive grains are dispersed. The grindstone can also be prepared by electrodepositing abrasive grains directly onto a flange formed at the open end of the cup.

Abstract: A method for removing resin flashes formed during molding of a workpiece by wet blasting, wherein the wet blasting is carried out by blasting onto the workpiece a slurry comprising a synthetic resin abrasive, water and a surfactant.

Abstract: A universal abrasive cleaning apparatus comprising a plurality of arms which are rotatably connected in series with one another is disclosed. A plurality of nozzles are connected to the distal end of the series of arms by means of a nozzle support. Conduit means interconnecting the nozzles to the source of abrasive and fluid are disposed within the interior of each arm thereby protecting the conduits from damage during manipulation of the arms. The proximal end of the series of arms is connected to a drum rotatably disposed within a housing. The drum is powered by a motor. A brake mechanism is connected to the housing for braking the drum during operation of the motor. An actuator means is connected to each of the arms for rotating the arms about their respective axis of rotation. The actuator means is controlled manually or by a microcomputer.

Abstract: A nozzle for use in water jet cutting includes distinct upper and lower bodies held together by a locking device. The upper and lower bodies each include a mating surface, the two mating surfaces being of complementary shape and held in close contact by the locking device. The upper body includes a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlets. The lower body includes a mixing chamber and the fluid outlets are in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. A jewel having a stream-forming aperture formed therethrough is mounted in each of the fluid outlets and arranged so that the centerlines of the stream-forming apertures converge to a focal point within the mixing chamber. The nozzle includes a nozzle exit passage having a first end in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, the focal point of the centerlines being adjacent the first end of the nozzle exit passage. The upper body includes an abrasive inlet connected to an abrasive passage that opens into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: An interior wall for a transportable building module which includes a frame, a floor associated with the frame, a roof associated with the frame, and at least one exterior wall associated with the frame. The interior wall includes lower horizontal support members rigidly secured to the floor and upper horizontal support members flexibly associated with the frame. A plurality of spaced apart vertical support members are secured therebetween. Wall panels preferably gypsum panels are secured to the vertical support members, and preferably are provided with reinforcement across an outer surface of same and joints therebetween. Exemplary of preferred reinforcing mediums are fiberglass fabric adhesively secured across the panels and joints, or a flexible polymeric film produced in situ across the panels and the joints.

Abstract: A transportable building module including a load-bearing support frame which includes a pair of spaced apart portal frames, a floor frame and a roof frame. The floor frame includes two elongated open web trusses having tubular floor purlins secured in spaced relationship therebetween. Reinforcing floor elements are secured to the upper surfaces of the open web trusses and the floor purlins. Reinforcing mesh is draped across the area of the frame to receive a reinforced concrete slab floor with the mesh being received around the upstanding reinforcing elements. Clip elements may be received around peripheral reinforcing elements, if needed for peripheral reinforcement, and a concrete slab is produced in situ about the floor frame, encapsulating the reinforcing elements, which concrete floor will undergo transit of the building module without damage.

Abstract: The double pane window is provided with a drying chamber which is filled with desiccant and an antechamber which extends from the drying chamber to communicate with the surrounding environment at the opposite end. The antechamber prevents a direct exit of dry air from the enclosed space between the window panes into the surrounding atmosphere during "breathing" of the window as well as drawing in of moist ambient air into the drying chamber. The antechamber also brings about a considerable increase in the diffusion resistance for the water vapor diffusion into the desiccant or the space between the window panes.

Abstract: A glazed curtain wall construction for a commercial building is composed of a multiplicity of glass window units and glass panel units which are supported in stacked relationship by a series of vertical columns or mullions. Each unit is rectangular in configuration being composed of a header, a sill and a pair of jambs that connect the header and sill together. The sill of each unit is provided with a downwardly projecting flange which is received within a groove in the header of the next lower unit and the header is provided with an inwardly extending flange that defines a downwardly facing recess which is supported on dumbbells attached to the side surfaces of adjacent mullions. In addition, one jamb of each unit is formed with a vertical flange which is received within a groove in the opposite jamb of the next adjacent unit.

Abstract: Moldings which serve as grounds either for fluent settable or dry finish material, or both, are suited to be fastened against sub-structure of a building, and the molding includes a channel which interiorly is revealed forwardly as trim, the channel being disposed forwardly in the molding so as to be accompanied by coves formed in the molding at the rear of the channel, and so as to have fluent settable finish material enter and cleat in the related cove, where fluent settable finish material is selected for application outside the cove, to the molding.

Abstract: An improved heat insulated tie rod allowing to reduce local heat insulation defects of concrete or stratified, concrete wall members. The tie rod includes stoppers for setting and holding together a pair of frame walls in spaced apart relationship with, if desired, a heat insulating panel therebetween. The tie rod is improved in that it is made of two coaxial portions connected to each other through a central, heat insulated body having a high resistance to crushing. Preferably, each tie rod portion has a looped end surrounding the central body which can be a block of hardwood.

Abstract: A spacer device for use in construction of conventional walls to permit increased wall thicknesses and use of additional insulating materials. The spacer comprises a hollow cylinder having spring biased pins extending chordally from the sides of the cylinder. The pins may be compressed against the springs and into the cylinder to permit insertion of the spacer device through apertures in a wall panel. After insertion, the springs force the pins outward to act as a positive stop against axial movement of the panel along the cylinder.

Abstract: In a sub-ceiling system having removable modular panels of intersecting thick louvers defining a grid pattern with open cells, supported in a framework of suspended rails of inverted T cross-section, the panels are surrounded by perimeter strips attached to the ends of the louvers. The perimeter strips integrate visually with the exposed lower flange portion of the support rails to simulate louvers so as to conceal the panel boundaries and present the overall appearance of a monolithic grid pattern over the entire finished ceiling area while providing the utility and convenience of damage-resistant modular panels which are extremely easy to install and remove.

Abstract: A ceiling insulation system for commercial buildings. The present invention provides an attractive ceiling panel system with a functional insulation and water vapor barrier system with an insulating R-value of 44 and a perm rating of 0.4. A hat-shaped channel is suspendable from bar joist, steel purlin, or wood joist by using one of three different suspension fasteners. A C-shaped clamp with locking ring, a cylindrical rod and two spring clamps complete the suspension subassembly. Channel junction clips and board edge clamps are used to insure the integrity of the system and enable a high insulation value and a low perm value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for attaching facing pieces to building structures in predetermined horizontal row and vertical tier arrangements. This method and apparatus is particularly well-suited for mounting removable marble face stones to crypt vaults in mausoleums. Anchor blocks are set in the structure in predetermined vertical and horizontal alignment positions and mounting bolts upon which the facing pieces hang are inserted into the anchor blocks. The mounting bolts are characterized by their ability to produce an eccentric motion which is used to cam the facing piece horizontally or vertically and thereby providing means for making small adjustments necessitated by the fact that the building structure and/or the face pieces have slightly irregular dimensions. Shims are used to make adjustments in the third dimension.

Abstract: Modular wall panels are provided which are interconnected by pairs of upper and lower side connectors and which are rigidly interconnected together in substantial alignment to form a wall construction. The wall panels are provided with a vertically arranged bracket supporting means adapted for receiving brackets and accompanying shelves or furnishings at desired locations.

Abstract: A prefabricated monolithic reinforced concrete floor system is disclosed and claimed. Open web trusses are provided along a longitudinal dimension of a floor frame with rectangular tubular beams secured therebetween. Reinforcing elements are secured along upper surfaces of the open web trusses and the tubular beams where a floor is utilized and a reinforcing mesh material is draped thereover. Reinforcing clips may be received about the peripheral reinforcing elements to further reinforce edges of the floor. The concrete slab is produced in situ about the frame and totally encapsulates the reinforcing elements present while a lower surface of the slab is coterminous with an upper surface of the open web trusses and the tubular beams.

Abstract: A novel and improved, expanded metal is disclosed along with novel and improved products incorporating such expanded metal. The expanded metal is formed from a piece of sheet metal which is lanced in nested arrays so that when the metal is expanded, diagonal legs are connected to the remaining portion of the sheet metal by folds. After the expanding operation, the legs are substantially coplanar with the adjacent portions of the piece of sheet metal, and the only material deformation of the metal occurs along the folds. The illustrated legs and adjacent projections, which are connected to the legs by folds, are curved so that the centers of the legs have a maximum width. The expanded metal is illustrated incorporated into various types of framing members used to position interior panels of building structures, such as drywall studs, floor tracks for drywall construction, and intersection tracks. Also disclosed are grid tees for suspension ceilings and wall molding members for suspension ceilings.

Abstract: A prefabricated structure, illustratively a residential dwelling, having a prefabricated central core and a plurality of prefabricated floor, wall and roof members that pivotally fold inwardly about the central core to produce a compact partially collapsed folded structure, which is easily transportable, and pivotally fold outwardly about the central core for quick and inexpensive on-site installation, is disclosed.

Abstract: An energy absorbing structure suitable for example of use in a motor vehicle body panel to absorb impact loads comprises a wall having a plurality of ridges extending in a longitudinal direction corresponding to the expected direction of an applied load, and at least one reinforcement secured to the wall on adjacent ridges. The dimensions of the ridges and the points at which the reinforcement is secured are so arranged that the wall undergoes progressive collapse under impact in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A device for feeding cartons in succession from a stack of cartons for being deposited on top of articles carried in a case being moved on a conveyor. A plurality of picker fingers are selectively moved to and from the stack of cartons, and outwardly extending projections carried on top of the picker fingers extend between the lowermost carton and the next carton. Upon lowering of the picker fingers, the lowermost cartons of the stack are deposited on a feed chute for delivery to the case. The case is moved along the conveyor under a pressure foot which presses the cartons down over the tops of the articles for securing the articles in packages.

Abstract: A packaging machine wraps an article with a web of patterned wrapping paper as it is continuously formed into a sleeve, and seals or cuts or both seals and cuts the front and rear ends of a sleeve enclosure in which the article is wrapped. A timing adjustment device for the packaging machine includes input means for setting an operating pitch of a seal cutter or the like and a thickness of the article, a processor for computing an initial angle or position of the seal cutter or the like based on the settings for the operating pitch and the article thickness to establish timing of operation of the seal cutter or the like with respect to the article fed by a feed conveyor and the patterned wrapping paper and for issuing a control signal based on the result of computation, and a control motor for adjusting a timing mechanism for the seal cutter or the like based on the control signal.

Abstract: A machine for sealing the top and/or bottom flaps of random size cases is disclosed. The location of the front and rear of cases moved through the machine by a conveyor is continuously monitored by a programmable controller that uses the location information to control the operation of various case alignment, flap folding, and glue-applying mechanisms. Case entry is initially prohibited by a raised gate. When the conveyor reaches a predetermined position the gate is lowered and a case enters the machine. As a case enters the machine, the case is aligned along the center of the case path of travel through the machine; and a T-deck drops to allow the bottom major flaps to separate from the bottom minor flaps. Such separation is necessary for the bottom flaps to be sealed simultaneously with the top flaps. If the bottom flaps are sealed when the case enters the machine, no separation occurs.

Abstract: A carton sealing machine provided with a pushbutton control situated on the upper sealing head for controlling the separation of conveying belts and lifting of an upper sealing head to allow the easy, efficient and sure intervention of the operator in case of jamming of a carton, and the control can also be used to stop the rotational movement of the belts.

Abstract: Apparatus for packing commodities such as meat or bacon into bags of flexible thermoplastics film material comprises a vacuum chamber and sealing means arranged to hold closely together without application of pressure a band of bag material extending across the neck of the bag and applying heat to fuse the band of bag material and form a fluid tight seal. The vacuum chamber may include heating means so that after sealing the bag may be inflated off the commodity and thereby heated prior to collapse into close engagement with the commodity.

Abstract: A conventional envelope stuffing machine is provided with a chopper of cutter for providing a stack of individual inserts from pre-connected booklets. The chopper operates in synchronism with the stuffing machine through the provision of a pair of simple cam-operated switches.

Abstract: A method of producing packages and an apparatus for implementing the method wherein each package contains a whole number of stackable objects which are conveyed in a row for packaging and the weight of each package is to remain within given limits. The method includes counting a number of contiguous objects in the row, forming groups of objects each having the counted number of objects, determining the length of each respective group in the direction of the row, bringing each respective group to a balance scale only if the group has a length within predetermined limits, measuring the weight of each respective group and rejecting a group if its weights lies below a given weight value.

Abstract: A machine for making and filling packets has an intermittently fed sheet material which is recurrently severed into packet strips. These strips are successively pushed downwardly by a battery of filling tubes which shift vertically, bear against the sheet strip, and fold it into a vertical trough-shaped receptacle open at the top. After the filling tube battery has moved downwardly, sets of vertically spaced sealing or clamping jaws operate to effect laterally spaced side seals in an upper strip and conjointly create top seals in the lower or preceding sheet strip. Product is metered to the packet strips. The sealed packets are severed from the strip after the sealing operation. The filled packet has outwardly bowed side walls and the juncture of the bottom wall and the side walls will assume a line, the configuration of which is a function of the size and cross-sectional configuration of the filling tubes, providing a unique advantageous form.

Abstract: The operating speed of apparatus for opening and guiding a flat-folded tube of plastic wrapping film, especially a tube of heat shrinkable plastic film, which include a spreader mandrel for opening the tube and drive rollers or belts for transporting and guiding the tube over the spreader mandrel, is increased, and the overall efficiency of operation of the apparatus is improved, by providing an extension piece with a pair of driving rollers or belts which operate independently of the driving rollers associated with the spreader mandrel, at the downstream end of the mandrel. By cutting the tube at the downstream end of the mandrel, after the tube is conveyed over the extension piece and in contact with the extension piece drive rollers or belts, the cut tube section can be slid over the objects to be packaged at rates of from 2 to 5 times faster than previously possible. The extension piece can be fixedly mounted to the mandrel or it may be oscillatingly suspended from the mandrel.

Abstract: A wrapping apparatus having a rotating ring which carries a film dispenser carriage adapted to dispense film web around a load carried on a wrapping conveyor. A traveling film clamp mechanism is mounted adjacent the wrapping conveyor and extends through the plane of the rotating ring to engage, clamp, cut and brush film web dispensed from the film dispenser carriage. The traveling film clamp mechanism incorporates a linear driver assembly, a fixed clamp jaw mounted to the linear driver assembly and positioned substantially parallel to the line of travel in which the linear driver operates, a rotating jaw mounted to the linear driver assembly adapted to close against the fixed jaw to clamp film web therebetween, and a rotating cutter brush arm carrying a leading cutter edge and a trailing brush.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for feeding, erecting, loading and closing cartons. The packaging apparatus comprises a generally vertically extending carton transfer mechanism for advancing cartons upwardly in step fashion from a carton infeed station adjacent the lower end of the carton transfer mechanism past a carton loading station and to a carton discharge station at the upper end of the carton transfer mechanism. A carton transfer mechanism that includes laterally spaced carton guides that are open at the front and rear sides and transfer slides that are reciprocable along the carton guides. A carton magazine supports a stack of cartons adjacent the open front side of the carton guides and a carton infeed mechanism is mounted for movement in a plane parallel to and between the guides to withdraw cartons from the end of the stack and feed the cartons with open end leading into a position between the guides.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying bags of pliable or easily flexible material includes a vacuum mechanism for successively picking up the uppermost bag in a stack of the bags and transporting the same to a take-up roll mechanism. A delivering mechanism picks up the respective bag held by a holding mechanism at predetermined position and transports the same to the next processing station. The holding mechanism comprises an inclined holding plate having a stopper plate at the lower transverse edge so as to permit the respective bag received at the upper transverse edge to slide down along the upper surface of the holding plate until it is arrested by the stopper plate. An air discharge pipe extends longitudinally on the upper surface of the holding plate in the direction of transport of the bag. Air is discharged through a plurality of air discharge holes formed in the wall of the air discharge pipe between the upper surface of the holding plate and the bag sliding down the plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for binding closed the openings of bags in which predetermined lengths of non-adhesive face-applying tape are applied to the adhesive surface of adhesive tape at predetermined intervals, the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape between the predetermined lengths of the non-adhesive face-applying tape is wrapped around the puckered openings of bags to be bound shut, and the predetermined lengths of the non-adhesive face-applying tape and the underlying adhesive tape are thereafter severed so as to divide the predetermined lengths of the non-adhesive face-applying tape into two equal portions, whereby both ends of the adhesive tape binding each successive bag have separate, equally sized portions of the non-adhesive face-applying tape applied thereto.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with apparatus for harvesting mushrooms and the like. The apparatus comprises cutting means such as a knife which may be moved over a mushroom bed to sever mushrooms in the bed and lifting means for removing the severed mushrooms from the bed and transferring them to collecting means. The lifting means comprises an air mover. The air mover is comprised of a cylindrical chamber or bore having an inlet disposed above the cutting means and an outlet communicating with the collecting means. Compressed air is directed into the chamber through an annular orifice which is so profiled to cause the air stream to flow towards the outlet. A zone of low pressure is created adjacent the chamber inlet which draws ambient air into the chamber. The cut mushrooms are lifted into the chamber, are entrained in the stream of air passing through the chamber, and are delivered onto the collecting means which preferably is a conveyor.