Abstract: A line striper with optical sighting means, and guide line marking devices adapted to be used simultaneously with the application of a paint stripe. The line striper has a forward extending guide bar for direct sighting on the surface to be marked, as well as an optical sighting means for aligning the line striper on a distant fixed point for application of a guide line. Adjustable length booms mounted transverse to the line striper allow application of guide lines a distance removed from the paint spray nozzle. The line striper has multiple paint reservoir paint storage capability to facilitate application of different color paints.

Abstract: A bowling lane dressing apparatus for use on a bowling alley has a carriage with a lane buffer roller. A transfer roller in rolling engagement with the lane buffer roller and in fluid communication with a plurality of reservoirs, each containing lane dressing fluid for transferring fluid from each reservoir by a wick therein to the lane buffing roller. Each reservoir is pivotally mounted for independent movement to bring its wick into or out of engagement with the transfer roller. A variable speed drive is connected to the transfer roller for rotating it at variable speeds to vary the rate of transfer of fluid from each reservoir to the lane buffer roller. If desired, the transfer roller can be separated into independently rotatable roller segments, each of which can be driven by separate variable speed motors. The roller segments and the wick of the reservoir associated with that roller segment may be of substantially equal widths.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for applying a flowable material to a surface for forming molding thereon. An embodiment of the present invention includes a body member having top, bottom, front and rear surfaces. An inlet is operably associated with the body member for receiving flowable material from a supply source. An outlet is operably associated with the body member to dispense the flowable material through the body member. At least one passageway extends between the inlet and the outlet. A molding head formed in the body member shapes the flowable material to form at least one strip of molding on the surface.

Abstract: A method for constructing flooring so as to prevent development of squeaks, by laying a strip of adhesive cushioning tape on the edges of the joists and placing the floor decking on top of this, and also a tool for applying this tape. The tool has a handle for manual operation, and there is an adjustable width head assembly on the lower end of this which enables the tool to engage joists of various widths. This has a central roller flanked by compound wall members. The compound wall members are made up of plate-like wall segments, and these may be displaced vertically on an axle member so as to adjust the width of the guide area which is defined between the wall members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a coating to a front face of an ink jet print head die or print head die comprise positioning a die in a cut out in a top surface of a block such that the die extends from the top surface of the block. An applicator such as a roller or flat blade is used to apply the coating to at least an upper surface of the die as the applicator rides along the upper surface of the die. When a roller is used as the applicator, the roller has a recess corresponding to the extension of the die from the top surface of the block. The roller recess contains a piece of elastomeric material which extends to an outer portion of the roller adjacent to said roller recess. The method and apparatus facilitate transfer of a thin, uniform film of coating to an ink jet printer print head die or a completed ink jet printer print head.

Abstract: The oil pattern laid down by the automatic machine across the width of the lane and along the length of the lane can be precisely controlled and varied through the use of a series of independently controllable wick assemblies that are individually movable into and out of contacting engagement with the oil applicator of the machine. A programmable controller for the wick assemblies determines which of the wick assemblies will be in oil-transferring contact with the applicator and when.

Abstract: A floor coating agent applying machine having a movable machine body, an applying member attached to the movable machine body for applying a floor coating agent onto a floor surface. The applying member includes a plurality of elastic rods vertically suspended from the movable machine body, with the rods being arranged in a loop-like formation as viewed from above the movable machine body, an eccentric rotary cam drivably attached to the movable machine body and rotatable on a vertical axis positioned inside the loop of the elastic rods and a circular recess vertically slidably fitted about the eccentric rotary cam so as to cause a rotational force of the cam to elastically deform the elastic rods thus producing vertical vibration of the applying member.

Abstract: A paint applicator comprises a frame with a flat side which carries an absorbent pad; the other side of the frame supports a handle. The axles for a pair of rollers depend from a hinged mount supported on the handled face of said frame; the axles are parallel and are inclined toward one margin of the frame. The angle of the hinged mount with respect to the frame is adjustable. The rolling face of each of the rollers have a circumferential groove and the edge of the rolling distal from the frame has a circumferential flat surface which converges toward the axle of the roller in a direction away from the frame. The applicator may be used to edge the paint on a surface adjacent a narrow moulding with a bevelled corner by positioning the applicator so that the pad is against the edge of the surface with the grooved rolling face cupping the bevelled edge of the moulding. The incline of the rollers may need to be adjusted to achieve this.

Abstract: A hopper dispenses cement or mortar into the space between side by side paving bricks. The hopper is a self supporting container. The container has opposing container sides converging downwardly to an elongated opening. This elongated opening extends for most of the length of the container. The opening has just below it a spaced pair of thin parallel guides for guiding the cement or mortar into the space between the paving bricks.

Abstract: A floor coating liquid applying machine having a propelling machine body, a liquid feed device driven to reciprocate along a transverse direction of the machine body and a liquid feed pump. The feed pump includes an elastic pump tube connecting between a liquid tank and the liquid feed device, a rotary pump member operatively connected with the elastic pump tube, a feed portion disposed along a rotational direction of the rotary pump member, with the feed portion being operable in response to rotation of the rotary pump member for causing the elastic pump tube to elastically deform to squeeze out the liquid therein into the liquid feed device and a receiver portion disposed aside the feed portion for causing the elastically deformed pump tube to resile so as to introduce further liquid from the tank into the elastic pump tube.

Abstract: A floor coating agent applying machine having propelling wheels attached to a machine body and an applying device for applying floor coating agent onto a floor surface by an applying member. The applying device is vertically movably mounted on the machine body between a free-lift state where the device is lowered, by a dead weight thereof, relative to the machine body to place the applying member into pressure contact with the floor surface and a lift-up state where the applying member is lifted up away from the floor surface. A control member is provided for selectably bringing the applying device into the free-lift state or the lift-up state.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for applying a paint, wherein elastic paint-coating means capable of being soaked with a paint are used. The paint-coating means are soaked with a paint and moved along the surfaces of an object to be coated with the paint while being pressed against these surfaces. The paint-coating means are mounted on the main bodies of paint-coating members, which are moved alternately to a first prescribed position where a paint-supplying means is disposed and to a second prescribed position where the object to be coated with the paint is disposed. When the paint-coating members are closed in the first prescribed position so as to hold the paint-supplying means between the paint-coating means, the paint-coating means are pushed against the paint-supplying means so that the paint may soak into the paint-coating means.

Abstract: Adapter for a mastic applicator and finishing tool flat box having a guide plate and corner guide assembly adapted to be mounted on opposite side and end walls of the flat box. Each corner guide is slidable between an extended position in which it has an end portion that can be projected beyond the end wall on which the assembly is mounted. The extended end portion is adapted to straddle a corner bead to guide the movement of the flat box along the corner bead during mastic filling of the corner bead. The corner guide end portion position in retracted position being out of contact with the wall board thereby permitting normal flat box mastic dispensing movement across the flat wall board surface. Each adapter guide plate having a flange portion overlying the flat box wall end on which it is mounted, the surface of the flange functioning as wear shoes adapted to ride on the abrasive wall board surfaces during normal flat box operation and during bead filling operation.

Abstract: A method and device are divulged for over-molding ski soles. As claimed in the invention, a thermoplastic filling material is continuously fed in solid form into a heating and spreader shoe, the material being progressively softened in the shoe and fed in liquid form under the shoe to be successively distributed, crushed, spread over the ski sole, then driven under pressure by a transverse scraper fast with the spreader shoe. The scraper is a steel bar with rectangular section whose lower edge projects slightly below the lower surface of the spreader shoe. The projection of the lower edge, the slant of its front face, the speed of movement and the bearing force are chosen appropriately.

Abstract: A robotically operated device uses an ultrasonic transducer for the cleaning of ships' hulls. The device may also be used for spraying paints or other chemicals on the sides of ships' hulls. The device includes a housing having an open face adapted to confront a ship's hull and apparatus disposed in the housing for impinging a flow of fluid through the open face onto the ship's hull. An ultrasonic transducer is disposed in the housing for impinging a flow of ultrasonic energy through the open face onto the ship's hull. Apparatus connected to the outside of the housing retains the housing on the ship's hull and moves the housing on the ship's hull. In an additional embodiment, apparatus for spraying paint or other chemicals on a ship's hull is disposed in the housing.

Abstract: An underwater painting machine is provided comprising a brush for applying paint on the surface to be treated, driven with a reciprocal translational movement and cooperating with a rotary smoothing brush with axis parallel to the translational direction, wherein said application brush is formed of a plurality of tufts of bristles each fed with paint substantially at a point situated in the center of the non active end of the bristles, the paint being distributed radially and evenly in each tuft about a central channel and being guided by capillarity along the bristles as far as their active end, without the tufts being immersed in a paint filled chamber and passing through a grid.

Abstract: An applicator for mounting a block of solid lubricant to deposit a thin film of lubricant on the flange of a transit rail car wheel. The applicator (10) includes a bracket (12) adapted to mount the applicator to an unsprung portion of a transit rail car. A pivot arm (26) is pivotally connected at one end of bracket (12) and a block of solid lubricant (42) attached to a mounting plate (34) is bolted to the other end of the pivot arm. The block of solid lubricant is biased against the flange (40) of a transit car wheel by a torsion spring (28). A stop (32) prevents the pivot arm from contacting the wheel as the lubricant block wears by deposition of a thin film of lubricant on the rail car wheel flange as the wheel rolls.

Abstract: A highly-viscous material coating apparatus for use, e.g. in an automobile coating process, to coat a joint of a workpiece, may be mounted on a robot. It provides improved operation where the workpiece provides a reference surface parallel to the joint, where the workpiece provides a reference surface displaced from the joint at varying distances along the length of the joint, and where the workpiece provides no reference surface. Where a reference surface is available, an extendable spring-biased guide pin of the apparatus moves along the reference surface, and any positional errors are compensated-for by action of the spring. If the distance between the reference surface and the joint varies, the varying distance may be compensated for by various disclosed practices. The apparatus also can be used where no reference surface is provided by retracting the guide pin with respect to the nozzle and by controlling the robot so as to direct the nozzle to the joint.

Abstract: The present invention a method of applying a liquid to a plane surface in very thin and uniform layer, the method including the steps of supplying a liquid at a predetermined rate to a liquid impregnating member through a variable displacement pump the displacement of which can optionally be controlled, maintaining the liquid impregnating member at its saturated state and contacting the liquid impregnating member in the saturated state with a roller with a predetermined pressure under the action of a spring.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying liquid to the contacting surface of a roller used in pressing an elongate line to a moving workpiece. The apparatus includes a shoe, mounted on a frame, with a curved face contoured to conform to the curvature of the contacting surface of the roller and a well for holding liquid indented inwardly in and surrounded by the curved face of the shoe. The shoe face terminates in a sharpened edge for scraping debris from the surface of the roller. A spring yieldably biases the shoe toward the contacting surface of the roller. With the shoe so biased, a liquid seal is produced between the curved face of the shoe and the contacting surface of the roller. By filling the recess with a liquid permeable material, uncontrolled dripping of water onto the roller and workpiece is prevented when removing the shoe from its operational position.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for joining two abutting pieces of carpet. The process comprises applying to the carpet backing along both sides of the juncture a strip of hot molten glue at about 210.degree.-425.degree. F. and applying a joining tape to the strip of molten glue, pressing together the tape, glue and carpet backing to cause the glue to soften and penetrate both the tape and the backing, and allow the glue to cool and solidify into a fused and unitary bond. The apparatus comprises a hot glue dispensing gun with a nozzle and a glue applicator attached to the nozzle for uniformly dispensing a strip of glue, a roll of joining tape fed from above and adjacent to the applicator, and a spring loaded roller to press the tape onto the top of the glue strip.

Abstract: A hand held, trigger operated, adhesive hot melt gun slidably mounts a base plate parallel with the gun axis with the plate spring biased forwardly in the direction of a hot melt adhesive discharge nozzle at the end of the gun remote from the trigger. An L-shaped extrusion tip carried by said nozzle includes a series of small diameter holes forming a vertical array within an upright leg which leg contacts an edge of a panel during sweep of the extrusion tip across the edge to deposit linear beads of melted adhesive thereon. The band, which may be mounted within a magazine on the base plate, feeds across the back edge of the extrusion tip to contact the adhesive coated panel edge downstream of the adhesive application point at a point where it is tacky. A spring biased pressure roller mounted to the base plate or otherwise presses the band against the tacky adhesive at this point during relative sweep of the apparatus along the edge of the panel.

Abstract: A portable, manually operable device for preparing a monolayer film of a biological fluid sample or the like on a slide for microscopic examination. Said device includes a base for retaining the slide thereon and a spreader manually movable linearly relative to the base and slide in a pass which spreads a sample of the fluid on the slide into such a monolayer. Preferably, the spreader is constructed to be disposable.

Abstract: Floor treating apparatus, principally for waxing floors includes a drip pan to catch wax from the applicator pad when the applicator head is in a retracted position. A piston pump has an adjustable variable stroke to provide selection of the quantity of wax to be deposited. Slotted connections between the applicator head and the supporting arms provide independent vertical movement of each end of the applicator pad to enable the pad to conform to uneven floors.

Abstract: A dock device having a bottom for supporting a ship or the like and longitudinal walls standing up from the bottom, a carriage adapted to be moved along a longitudinal wall, an arm pivotably and deflectably connected with the carriage, swinging and deflecting mechanism for moving the arm with respect to the carriage, a head carrying a processing member and being rotatably and tiltably connected with the free end of said arm and tilting and rotating mechanism for moving said head with respect to the arm. Horizontal and vertical guide wheels on the head are alternately actuated by setting mechanism connected with the head.

Abstract: A device for applying a coating to a submerged surface. This device comprises an applicator having a support plate and a tight deformable envelope provided on is outer face with bristles, springs being fixed to the inner face of the plate and exert a pressure on the inner face of the envelope. The applicator is connected to the rigid support by means of a group of articulated rods, thereof at least one is connected to the support by elastic means in order that the applicator is applied with an adequate pressure to the surface. Application to the painting of the hulls of ships.

Abstract: An apparatus particularly adapted and intended for mounting at the side of a vehicle (but capable of being pushed or pulled along by other means), for mechanized painting of both sides, or only one side, of a fence or wall structure. A yoke assembly carrying one or more pairs of opposite paint rollers straddles the fence, and means are provided to allow the yoke to float longitudinally, vertically and laterally, and according to the average running surface of the terrain, while moving along and painting one or both sides of a fence or wall.

Abstract: An expandable linear guide is releasably affixed to a wall at a desired space below a ceiling meeting the wall. A paint applying device is removably mounted on the guide for movement along the length of the guide and includes a roller in abutment with the wall. A pulley and cord arrangement is mounted on the guide and coupled to the paint applying device for moving the paint applying device along the length of the guide, as desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a tire such that the tire has a visible contrasting reference line consisting of a die line ridge produced coincidentally with the extrusion of the tread of the tire and a color contrasting ink applied to the peak surface of the die line ridge by a particularly described inking apparatus. The reference line so produced enables objective visual comparison of the position of the reference line relative to the position of the parting line visible in the cured tire as removed from the mold such that deviations of the reference line with respect to the parting line clearly indicate a tire having an objectionable dissymmetry with respect to its equatorial plane and such that the tire can be removed from the production stream. The reference line so produced and particularly the die line ridge have advantages over previously employed centerline tracking methods and apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a coating to a submerged surface has a spreader for a coating on the surface to be coated in a progressive manner and during displacement of said spreader parallel to the surface. A given pressure is applied on the spreader to apply the same against the surface. The coating material is continuously supplied to the spreading means in such a way that the displacement of said spreading means forces the water from the surface and the simultaneous application to the surface of the coating.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an apparatus which can be used underwater for applying paint to a submerged surface, such as the hull of a ship, by remote control from the surface, hence obviating the use of divers and, in the case of ships' hulls, the necessity of placing the ship in dry-dock. The submersible painting apparatus comprises a remotely-controllable vehicle capable of being driven along, while adhering to, a submerged surface and a remotely-controllable painting means located at the rear of the vehicle capable of applying to a submerged surface paint formulated for application underwater. The submersible painting apparatus advantageously incorporates a device for surveying submerged structures, for example measuring the thickness of a ship's hull or detecting flaws or depressions in the hull of a vessel.