Abstract: A handheld power tool and a removable accessory, which is changeable without requiring extra tools, include various elements. For example, the handheld power tool includes a platen having an aperture therein and a locking mechanism coupled with the platen. The locking mechanism includes a cam member. The removable accessory includes a tab that fits into the aperture and that is engagable by the cam member to bias the removable accessory into abutting contact with the platen to securely couple the removable accessory with the tool.

Abstract: A garbage can cleaning system for cleaning a garbage can after garbage has been removed from the garbage can. The garbage can cleaning system includes a platform assembly being designed for being positioned on a vehicle, such as a flatbed trailer. The platform assembly is designed for storing fluid to be used for cleaning the garbage can. At least one fluid distribution assembly is coupled to the platform assembly. The fluid distribution assembly is designed for being in fluid communication with the fluid stored by the platform assembly whereby the fluid distribution assembly is for spraying the fluid into the garbage can to facilitate cleaning of the garbage can. At least one scrubbing assembly is coupled to the platform assembly. The scrubbing assembly is designed for scrubbing an interior of the garbage can to remove debris from the interior of the garbage can.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing a label from a container which includes a cylindrical surface, by blowing air so as to be incident tangentially with respect to the cylindrical surface of the container and flow along the container surface toward a leading edge of the label as the container is rotated. An air knife having an air exit slit and a substantially planar surface disposed adjacent to and substantially perpendicular to the air exit slit utilizes the Coanda effect, such that air exiting from the air exit slit bends around and follows the substantially planar surface so as to flow tangentially to the cylindrical surface of the container and thereby remove the label as the container is rotated.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for loosening adhesive from a drum and abrading labels, paint, and adhesive from the drum with high speed brushes. The drums are heated with an open flame to loosen the adhesive before the labels, paint, and adhesive are abraded from the drums with the brushes. A "soft-touch" pneumatic controller is connected to the brushes to maintain optimum contact of the brushes with the drum and to prevent premature wearing of the brushes. The drum is moved horizontally relative to the brushes during the brushing process to prevent stripes of paint being left on the drum by the brushes.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling printing ink includes a bucket support positioned over a container that allows buckets to be placed up-side-down on the bucket support and rotated to wipe the inside of the bucket substantially clean. A cover for the container is moveable between an open position which allows the bucket to be placed on the bucket support and a closed position wherein the cover and bucket cooperate to form a substantially air tight closure over the container. Paddles urge ink from the container toward a discharge opening such that ink may be dispensed through various dispensing systems.

Abstract: A mac provided for cleaning a propane tank or the like during rotation of the same about its axis while being rotated upon a carriage when the carriage is reciprocated into and out of a cleaning chamber, the cleaning is achieved by two brushes which clean an end of the tank and a peripheral wall thereof by rotating about generally parallel horizontal axes, the brushes are driven from a single reversible electric motor, and appropriate drive connections are provided from the motor to reciprocate the carriage and rotate rollers which rotate the tank during the cleaning thereof.

Abstract: A can cleaning device including a base having a cylindrical cross-section and an integral side wall to form a cavity for receiving the top of a can. A cleaning material is affixed to the base within the cavity to scrub the top of a can through manual manipulation of the device.

Abstract: Rotary apparatus and a related method for removing foreign and undesirable material from composite cans during the manufacturing operation includes a pair of rotatable plates having an axis of rotation and outwardly-extending fingers faced about the periphery thereof, and a plurality of reciprocating plungers arranged alongside the periphery of the plates and generally parallel with the axis of rotation, the plungers being rotated with the plates about a common drive shaft. The rearward end of each plunger engages a cam race for extending the plungers into and out of composite cans positioned about the periphery of the plate only during a portion of each revolution of rotation of the plate, in order to remove trim ring scrap and other foreign objects from the cans.

Abstract: A corn silking apparatus designed to remove the silk from ears of corn, which is characterized by a housing containing a drive gear and a driven, or idler gear. The drive gear is driven by an electric motor and carries a drive shaft and the idler gear carries an idler shaft, which drive shaft and idler shaft are spaced from each other in parallel relationship and each receive a pair of brushes that rotate in different directions. The silk is removed from individual ears of corn by placing the ears on top of and between the rotating brushes. In a first preferred embodiment, the drive shaft and idler shaft extend through the housing and are journalled for rotation in bushings located in a removable front plate and a rear end plate and the motor is located externally of the housing.

Abstract: A device for cleaning the top surface of beverage cans is formed from a circular disk provided with symmetrical openings and has a plurality of bristles extending downwardly from a bottom surface thereof. A cylindrical sidewall surrounds the bristles and a bottom circular edge of the cylindrical sidewall extends downwardly past the ends of the bristles. First and second radially spaced circular brush portions are formed of a diameter to engage the gutters formed on two different standard beverage cans. Radially extending brush portions are positioned to clean the flat top surface of beverage containers. In use, the circular plate is placed on top of a beverage can, with the bristles extending downwardly and engaging the top surface of the beverage can. Water is then allowed to run through the openings, while the circular plate is rotated back and forth with the bristles in engagement with the beverage can. This results in a thorough cleaning of the top surface of the beverage can.

Abstract: A pop top can brush for the cleaning of aluminum and metal pop top cans having a substantially planer top surface, a sidewall substantially perpendicular to the planer top surface, the planar top surface of sidewall having a common circumferential edge, a plurality of cleaning means depending downwardly from the substantially planer top surface and a second plurality of cleaning means depending inwardly from the perpendicular sidewall, the cleaning means positioned to coincide with at least a portion of the circular top of an aluminium or metal pop top can.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning containers which includes a tank for holding a cleaning fluid. A rack which includes clamps for clamping the containers to be cleaned is movable from a loading position in an upper portion of the tank by sliding engagement with a track to a cleaning position in a lower portion of the tank wherein the brushes are in cleaning engagement with the containers. The rack is pivotable whereby the containers may be loaded in an upright position in the rack and may thereafter be pivoted to a sliding position wherein the rack slides downwardly along the track to its cleaning position.

Abstract: A rotating brush jar dryer is disclosed having the outer ends of the brush bristles heated by brushing across a heater element during operation. In bottling operations, prior to applying labels to the jars or bottles the outside surfaces of the jars must be dried. This is often accomplished using a cylindrical rotating brush whose bristles wipe across the surface of a series of jars as the jars are moved past the brush on a conveyor. In the present invention a heating element is positioned parallel to the rotating brush so that the bristles are heated as they brush across the heating element thereby increasing the drying effectiveness of the unit.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed by which a number of thin, disc-like wafers are moved in a linear path and fed into such path on a discrete basis from a supply or feeding station. The individual or discrete wafers are moved into engagement with a pair of endless belts which, in effect, define the linear path and are arranged one over the other with the facing portions of the belts being spaced apart by at least the diameter of the wafers to be interposed therebetween. As the wafers are moved through the linear path by the belts, they are moved between pairs of brushes, each of a pair being rotatably mounted on a respective side of the path for engaging and cleaning the surfaces of the wafer, the pairs of brushes extending in the direction of movement of the wafers.