Abstract: A press for compressing pulverulent materials into both concave and convex pieces includes a press frame, a die carying plate, upper and lower punches, holders for carrying the punches and control devices for controlling the displacement of the upper and lower punches. The press comprises also a first piston-cylinder device for controlling the displacement of the die carrying plate, a second piston-cylinder device fastened to the frame and supporting the die carrying plate, levers arranged above the die carrying plate and having one end pivoted to the frame and sliders slidable on the opposite ends are provided in the press. The first piston cylinder device acts on the other ends of the levers to exert thereon a pressure depending on the distance of the sliders from the other ends of the levers.

Abstract: A concrete mould employs resilient side shuttering, made of rubber for example, which is prevented from deflecting, when concrete is poured, by tensioning wires extending along the length of the shuttering. Pieces of the shuttering, forming the sides of a casting box, extend between fixed end plates having a series of holes to receive the tensioning wires for adjusting the modular width of panels cast in the box. A series of apertures is provided in each piece of side shuttering so that pneumatic core formers can be inserted through aligned apertures so as to extend across the casting box. Different types of joint formers, either fully or partly resilient, can be located about the core formers, each joint former having a series of grooves to receive reinforcement or tensioning wires or rods. When inflated the pneumatic core former locks the joint formers in place. Opening formers can be made from the shuttering and the joint formers.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for delivering the precise optimum number of cure equivalents to the exact point of least cure for each tire, though the location of the point varies from one tire to another tire of different geometry, and may vary in tires of the same geometry if there is a change in normal operating conditions. A cure is effected with the aid of a small computer means utilizing only two boundary temperature conditions and the ambient temperature, irrespective of where the boundary conditions are sensed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for coding articles of manufacture which are produced in a die or mold, such as by molding, casting or other process in which a moldable material is either flow formed or pressure formed to shape. In one form, a plurality of projectible and retractable pins or shafts are movably supported within at least one section of a mold and are selectively advanced or retracted to either partly extend across the mold or die cavity or extend completely thereacross for producing a coded array of cavities or such an array of holes extending completely through a portion of a wall of an object formed in the mold. Projection and retraction of the pins or shafts is effected by respective powered devices, such as fluidic cylinders, motors or electric solenoids. In another form, a plurality of pins or otherwise shaped devices are selectively actuated or disposed by a manipulator operating from outside the mold while the mold is open, against respective portions of the mold cavity wall.

Abstract: A compression belling machine for precision belling simultaneously of a plurality of plastic pipe ends. This is accomplished by selectively feeding groups of pipes, the ends of which are to be belled, first into a heating unit and then, transferring them by an endless conveyor, simultaneously into a belling station having a plurality of molds one-half of each of which molds is stationary and the other half of which may be moved apart from its mating half to permit insertion between the separated halves of a heated end of one pipe. Each of the molds is entirely separate from the other molds and each mold may be removed from the apparatus for replacement. All mold halves, however, are moved together by a common hydraulic head. Control means are provided to operate a novel sequential type feeder and so that pipes may be selectively deposited into the heater and then aligned with their ends properly inserted into the particular mold cavities.

Abstract: Molding apparatus for laminated foam-body panels, comprising first and second walls defining a molding cavity therebetween, the first wall including means for heating the foam during molding and the second wall comprising hingeably mounted access doors, adjustable holding and shaping means for said panels, disposed within the cavity and at least two of which are perpendicularly adjacent, means for simultaneously positioning each of the holding and shaping means, first and second movable locking means for the holding and extrusion means and for the access doors respectively, the first locking means being automatically actuated in response to the positioning means, means for simultaneously actuating and disengaging the first and second locking means, and means for filling the cavity with unmolded foam material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the rotational molding of thin-walled articles. The method is comprised of the steps of introducing a predetermined amount of plastic material into a mold, rotating the mold about a first axis at a predetermined speed, while simultaneously rocking the mold through a selective arc about a second axis which is normal to the first axis, heating the mold for curing the plastic material during the rotation and rocking, and cooling the mold and plastic material whereby the plastic material is molded to form a thin-walled object in conformance with the interior surface of the mold. The rotational molding apparatus is comprised of a heat insulating housing comprising a bottom half and a top half which may be disassociated for access to the interior of the housing. The interior of the housing contains a first frame which may be rocked about a first axis and a second mold-carrying frame which is attached to the first frame and rotates about a second axis normal to the first axis.

Abstract: A method for injection molding an article wherein additives are selectively introduced into the polymer melt downstream of an accumulation device and upstream of a static mixer just prior to its introduction into the mold cavity. The additives include U.V. stabilizers, flame retardant materials, colorants and blowing agents. The method produces injection molded articles with selective amounts of additives in either the skin or core portions of the articles.

Abstract: A stereo relief modelling apparatus based on photogrammetric method and apparatus comprising a flexible platen, used with standard stereo plotting instrumentation such as double-projection direct-viewing plotting instruments. The purpose of the flexible platen is to provide an absolute stereo image for photographic, modelling and other purposes. The flexible platen, which is of sufficient size to provide a meaningful mapping surface, is vertically adjustable at a multiplicity of points by mechanical, pneumatic, electro-mechanical, fully automated, or other means to provide an actual model-like three-dimensional photographic or modelling surface to enable relief distortion from aerial photographs to be effectively eliminated in planimetric photographs which are taken of the adjusted flexible platen, or models molded on the adjusted flexible platen, upon which the aerial images are projected. Modelling is facilitated by situating the platen inside a sealable vacuum box from which the air is removable.

Abstract: An apparatus and method utilizing pressurized air discharged through positionable outlets is adapted to blowing core mark material from freshly molded, uncured concrete blocks of either the rib or flute type designed to be split or conventional unsplit blocks so as to prevent the core mark material associated with such blocks from being trapped and hardening in recesses or on surfaces of the blocks.

Abstract: A diagonal bias-stretching device and a method of enhancing surface grain of imitation-leather material with such device, which device comprises a reciprocating roller moving between lateral positions on either side of a line of advance of an imitation-leather material, to provide for alternating diagonal stretching and relaxing of the material as it moves under tension in the line of advance.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for use in slip forming concrete structural members wherein concrete is fed through a hopper to the front end of an inverted "U" shaped forming chamber, which is caused to move over and along the top surface of a pallet by means of support rollers which engage rails along the sides of the pallet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing a foamed plastic insulated conductor. This process comprises the steps of forming a foamed insulation on a conductor wire by means of a gas injecting extruder and passing said conductor wire having said foamed insulation through telescopic cooling trough means including a movable trough to be adjusted in its position relative to a head of said gas injecting extruder so as to obtain a given value of a capacitance of the foamed plastic insulated conductor in accordance with an electrical signal from a capacitance monitor to detect a value of said capacitance of the foamed plastic insulated conductor. The process of the invention is characterized by further comprising the steps of detecting the position of the movable trough adjacent to its critical or limit positions and adjusting the injection rate of the foaming gas so as to move the movable trough to the middle position of the range of movement thereof.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an arrangement wherein a wall thickness of a plastic bottle formed by means of a blow-molding process is formed into the desired configuration by controlling the wall thickness of a parison from which the bottle is made. A control pin arranged opposite an extrusion outlet of an extruding machine for adjusting the wall thickness of the parison is finely moved in response to a fine step-like control voltage signal to thereby suitably set and vary the opening degree of the extrusion outlet of the extruding machine, thus obtaining the desired wall thickness for the parison.

Abstract: A method of molding articles of plastic having an expanded plastic cellular core using a closable and sealable mold having a sealed mold cavity and including at least one mold core extending into the cavity, comprises, directing the plastic melt material containing a foaming agent into the mold cavity under pressure so as to form a flow front of the melt which progresses through the cavity and which spreads out in all directions and flows around the mold core and tends to form a pocket of gas in the vicinity of the mold core, and venting the cavity adjacent the core so as to remove gas from any gas pocket which may be formed in the vicinity of the core. The apparatus for carrying out the invention includes a vent line which extends from the cavity in the vicinity of the mold core out of the cavity and which has a control valve for opening the vent line to vent any gas which forms in the cavity and which might tend to form a pocket after the buildup of a pressure in the mold cavity.

Abstract: A control system for a plastic extruder which automatically controls both the melt pressure and the melt temperature of the plastic material at the outlet of the extruder barrel. The extruder barrel is divided into a plurality of heating zones and a zone temperature control means individually controls the temperature of each zone in accordance with predetermined zone temperature set points. A melt temperature control means automatically adjusts certain zone temperature set points such that the actual melt temperature is maintained at its desired value. The speed of a rotatable extruder screw is controlled by a melt pressure control means such that the actual melt pressure is maintained at its desired value. In accordance with the present invention, a separate feedforward controller and separate feedback controller are provided in the melt temperature control loop and in each zone temperature control loop such that independent specification of set point and disturbance responses can be achieved.

Abstract: In apparatus having an endless pressing band, formed of a layer of rubber with a steel-wire fabric connected thereto, passing around a heating drum, two associated guide rollers and a hitch roller, the relative positions of advancement of the opposite ends of a transverse weft wire of the steel-wire fabric are sensed by photoelectric cell arrangements and, upon sensing of a lagging of one end behind the other, control means are activated to move the bearing at one end of the hitch roller towards or away from the heating drum while retaining the axes of the hitch roller and the heating drum in a common plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for injecting a temperature sensitive probe into a tire to be cured in a mold which is at least in part heated by a steam cavity. The probe is utilized to monitor cure conditions and provides an electronic input signal to control the cure. The probe is carried by a movable member in a housing mounted in the mold with one side of the movable member being exposed to, and thereby worked on, the steam in the cavity so that the steam pressure itself is utilized to inject the probe.

Abstract: An extrusion line for producing rubber tire tread. Method and apparatus for continuously controlling extrusion line operation to maintain a predetermined length and weight for the finished product. Sensors for unit weight, extruder speed and swell, extruder load, extrudate temperature at the extruder and at the skiver, and conveyor speeds, signal conditioning circuits, and controls for take away conveyor speed, extruder speed, unit weight and skiver length.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing glass fibre reinforced plastic pipes and the like wherein a rotatable hollow mould form is provided, an elongated roll of reinforcing fibres is located on holding means which are placed in the concavity of the mould, spaced from the sides of the mould, the mould is rotated and the fibre roll is unrolled onto the mould face to deposit fibres thereon and settable synthetic resinous material is introduced into the mould form. The holding means may be adapted to move the roll of reinforcing fibres from a position wherein it is spaced from the mould surface to a position wherein it is in contact therewith and the holding means may be rotatable with the leading edge of the roll secured until the roll has attained a suitable speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling sequence and duration of the operational steps in processes such as vulcanization of a pneumatic tire is capable of operating under two basic modes or parameters. In one mode the operational steps are dictated by elapsed real time, while in the other mode, the operation can be dictated by elapsed cure equivalent factors. The desired length of each step or the cure, whether in time or cure equivalents, is set into an input program means. In the time mode, time generating circuitry provides an output proportonal to elapsed time which output is displayed on a counter and electrically compared with the information in the input program means. When a match occurs, the time generating circuitry and displays are reset and the input program means directs the tire vulcanization press to perform the next sequential function. Also disclosed is circuitry which is capable of performing secondary functions such as extending the length of a step, as necessary.

Abstract: A system for determining and/or controlling the profile of a property of an article, in which sensing means simultaneously obtains a multiplicity of electrical gauging signals, each signal being proportional to a property of the article in a particular region, the gauging signals are passed to electrical circuit means which detect any difference in magnitude between the signals from a given region and the average for all such signals and deriving a functional signal for any such difference.

Abstract: A circuit for analog adjustment of a machine including a programming means to generate a fixed number of discrete control voltages. Each programmed control voltage corresponds to the desired machine control voltage at a particular moment of time in the cycle of the controlled machine. A staircase voltage is generated during the time period between two successive moments in the machine cycle, i.e., a machine cycle interval at which the control voltage is defined. The staircase voltage starts during each machine interval at the programmed control voltage corresponding to one moment of time in the machine cycle at the beginning of a particular machine cycle interval and ending, at the beginning of the next machine cycle interval, at the programmed control voltage for the moment of time corresponding to the beginning of the next machine cycle interval.