Abstract: A process for the production of filled dough products in which dough and a filling are co-extruding to provide a filled tube of the dough surrounding the filling. The filled tube is then transported on a movable support. While being transported, the filled tube is cut into segments using a plurality of blades which move with the filled tube and which progressively cut into the filled tube with progressive movement of the filled tube so that filling in the portion of the tube to be cut is progressively pushed out of this portion prior to cutting when the blade engages the moving support.

Abstract: A lozenge candy cutting machine includes a drum with an array of cutter elements thereon that engage on dough web conveyed to the drum. A row of cutters cuts lozenges from the dough web. Each cutter element has an ejector that discharges the lozenge after cut and while the next group of cutters is already cutting another group of lozenges from the web.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a new apparatus and method for in-situ green sheet slitting. More particularly, the invention encompasses an apparatus and method that uses a modified green sheet slitting machine so that it can provide an in-situ slitting of green sheets that result in a plurality of separate green sheets rolls or strips.

Abstract: A strand cutting machine at least includes a rotary blade assembly (A) having a plurality of rotary blades, a stationary blade unit (B) having a guide portion (7) for guiding strands toward the rotary blade in an axial direction of a rotary shaft of the rotary blades and a take up roller (1, 2) disposed on the side of the base end of the guide portion for taking up the strands and further includes a housing for accommodating the above mentioned components. Each rotary blade is comprised of a blade plate (5) having a blade edge at one end thereof. Each blade plate has its blade edge which is the closest to the stationary blade and is located on the same rotary plane and is disposed on and around the rotary shaft while the blade plate is retracted far from the stationary blade in a direction from the blade edge to the base end thereof.

Abstract: In color printing, and in the fine arts, cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) color inks are known to possess much higher color saturation and brightness than conventional pigment and dyed based inks. However, prior art CLC ink formulations are inconvenient because in the liquid phase they have to be confined in cells, and in the solid phase, they have to be applied at high temperature, and have to be aligned by some means to produce the optimum color. This invention solves the problem encountered in the CLC prior art, by making pre-aligned CLC platelets or flakes of appropriate thickness and size and mixing them in appropriate host fluids producing a novel CLC ink which can be applied at room temperature and without the need for alignment. The new pre-aligned room temperature CLC ink can be used as a substitute for conventional inks in almost all printing and plotting, and manual drawing and painting. Using the notch filter CLC platelets, the brightness is further enhanced.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a batch of dough includes a housing that supports a conveyor, a press, and a cutter. The apparatus further includes a drive motor for the conveyor and press. Upon the placement of a batch of dough on the conveyor, the conveyor feeds the batch of dough to the press. The press squeezes the batch of dough against the conveyor to compress it into a thin flat sheet. After the batch of dough has been compressed, the conveyor feeds the flat thin flat sheet to the cutter. The cutter includes an elliptically shaped cutting edge so that, as the flat thin sheet of dough passes underneath the cutter, the cutter cuts ellipses of dough for delivery to a baking device. The motor forms part of a chain drive system that drives the conveyor in an endless loop and, further, drives the press to compress the batch of dough into the thin flat sheet.

Abstract: A cooled pellet making machine includes a rotary cutter and a fixed blade mounted on a fixed support table in opposition to the rotary cutter for cutting a strand into pellets. Each of the fixed support table and the fixed blade are provided with a communication chamber having an inflow port formed in one end and an outflow port formed in the other end. The communication chamber of the fixed blade is connected with the communication chamber of the fixed support table. Cooling water may be circulated through the communication chamber to eliminate heat from being generated on the fixed blade. Therefore, the strand may be cut in a cooled condition by means of the rotary cutter, to produce pellets of uniform size.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a new apparatus and method for in-situ green sheet slitting. More particularly, the invention encompasses an apparatus and method that uses a modified green sheet slitting machine so that it can provide an in-situ slitting of green sheets that result in a plurality of separate green sheets rolls or strips.

Abstract: A method of producing a stress free sheet of dough having uniform height and width can be economically and conveniently used with a batch dough system. Individual dough batches are deposited into a retention hopper from which equal volumetric dough portions are sectioned by a pair of oppositely rotating co-acting cutters. Each cutter includes a number of blades which cooperate with corresponding blades on the opposing cutter to section the dough into portions. The dough portions are deposited onto an inclined conveyor positioned below the hopper so that a leading end of each dough portion overlaps a trailing end of the previous dough portion. A photo-electric detection device ascertains the trailing end of the previous dough portion and signals the cutters to section the next successive dough portion.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a reclosable closure profile, wherein the configuration of the closure profile is mechanically altered for controlling the width of the gap in a groove member by passing the closure profile, while still hot enough to be formed, through a profile gapping means, whereby the surfaces of the closure profile contact the gapping means, thereby maintaining the desired final gap width of the closure profile and/or whereby the gapping means includes a cutting means for notching the base of the groove member for controlling the closure force of the groove member.

Abstract: A tubular extruder for extruding an elastomeric material mixed with short fibers into a tubular form, with the short fibers circumferentially oriented, a cutter for axially cutting the tubular elastomer, and a development unit for developing the tubular elastomer with a longitudinal slit into a flat form are provided. Arranged between the extruder and the cutter is a guide unit used to guide the tubular elastomer with the help of its tubular section. Air is blown off from the tubular section of the guide unit whereby the tubular elastomer is cooled while at the same time its shrinkage in the circumferential direction is suppressed. The ununiformity of shrinkage is avoidable and the disorientation of short fibers is prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a stress free sheet of dough having uniform height and width can be economically and conveniently used with a batch dough system. Individual dough batches are deposited into a retention hopper from which equal volumetric dough portions are sectioned by a pair of oppositely rotating co-acting cutters. Each cutter includes a number of blades which cooperate with corresponding blades on the opposing cutter to section the dough into portions. The dough portions are deposited onto an inclined conveyor positioned below the hopper so that a leading end of each dough portion overlaps a trailing end of the previous dough portion. A photo-electric detection device ascertains the trailing end of the previous dough portion and signals the cutters to section the next successive dough portion. The overlapping dough portions are then formed into a dough sheet having uniform height and width by a pressing roller and a combination of side guide wedges and side pressing rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming composite ice cream-like edible novelties having discrete doughy additions therein. The apparatus includes a main die having an entrance and an exit disposed downstream of the entrance and at least one intermediate die positioned within the main die at a location upstream of the exit of the main die. An ice cream-like composition is introduced to the entrance of the main die in at least a semi-frozen state. A doughy addition supply system is also included such that a stream splitter divides a single doughy addition stream into equal streams, each supplying the intermediate die with the doughy addition at an elevated temperature and at equal rates. The ice cream-like composition and the discrete doughy addition are extruded together through the exit of the main die to form the composite ice cream-like edible novelty.

Abstract: A processing line forms a desired end product for a plastic extrusion machine by supplying raw plastic material to a shredder. The shredder forms partially-fused, irregularly-shaped chunks of the raw plastic. The use of the shredder eliminates the requirement of extraneous matter separation prior to feeding of the shredder. The output of the shredder is conveyed to a ram feeder after passing material separators, such as a magnet and/or a metal detector or the like. The ram feeder forces the chunks to an extruder which ultimately supplies liquified plastic to a pelletizer to form pellets. The pellets are transferred to a storage vat for reuse.

Abstract: A dough strip extruder, such as a lasagna noodle extruder, for extruding one or more ripple edge strips is oriented to extrude the strips horizontally. The extruded strips are supported as they leave the extruder to maintain the strips in the horizontal plane of the extrusion passageway for a distance sufficient to allow complete formation of the undulations on the edges. The support may be by a roller, cylindrical rod, or horizontal plate.

Abstract: The inventive method and apparatus suggests guiding the pasta directly into a drying climate after exiting from the die. Pasta strands of short goods are fed directly into the drying device from the extrusion die. The pasta strands can be cut either directly at the extrusion die or subsequently into packaging lengths after drying by means of an additional cutting device. It is possible to operate only the initial drying in this way, particularly to heat up the goods and then to carry out the final drying in a manner known per se, e.g. by portions. However, it is also possible to carry out the drying in its entirety, i.e. the pre-drying and final drying, according to the invention, particularly for short goods. The goods can be intensively dried at previously unaccustomed temperatures of 90.degree. C. to 120.degree. C., particularly during final drying from 15% to less than 13% product moisture.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and dispensing segments of thermoplastic material into receptacles such as crowns includes a conveyor for conveying the crowns through a passageway at predetermined speeds, an extruder for extruding thermoplastic material through a discharge opening, a rotary knife having blades for cutting the extruded material into segments and depositing the segments into the receptacles as they are conveyed through the passage, and an adjustable belt drive system for rotating the blade in response to the conveying of the receptacles. The belt drive system includes a drive and driven pulley, two pairs of fixed idler pulleys, and a third pair of idler pulleys which are coupled to a laterally shiftable carrier.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a heatable casting bed, a device for tensioning a reinforcement member at the casting bed, a finishing machine movable along the casting bed for casting a component, a cutter for cutting the reinforcement member, a plurality of roller trucks arranged like a train and of increasing height for wedge-like penetration between the component and the casting bed, a slider roller bed at a rear end of the plurality of roller trucks having a length equal to the casting bed length, an actuation device for generating relative motion between the roller trucks, sliding roller bed and casting bed, in order to transfer the component from the casting bed to the sliding roller bed, and a cutting station for cutting the component into segments.

Abstract: A storage or shipping carton for automotive parts or the like has disposed therewithin layers of resilient tubular dunnage having part configured cut outs in the side walls. The dunnage extends transversely of the carton between two of the side walls while the parts extend transversely of the dunnage between the other two side walls. The tubular dunnage is preferably formed of low density polyethylene and the notches in the dunnage are formed by flattening the dunnage and severing the side walls thereof while in the flattened condition and then reopening the dunnage to its normal configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an annular member simply with high accuracy, for example, a side tread and bead filler having a height in the radial direction comparatively larger than its thickness as a constituent member of a tire. A material, for example, a soft and fragile raw rubber at a high temperature is directly extruded through a mouthpiece of an extruder onto a rotating disc-like lower mold so as to adhere onto it. The lower mold is able dividable into plural lower mold segments. An arcuately curved extruded material is formed on the lower mold in this manner. The extruded material is not deformed during being cooled because it is strongly restrained by the receiving surface of the lower mold on which the material adheres. The extruded material is then cut along the divided lines of the lower mold segments. Lower mold segments thus having arcuately extruded materials, respectively, are then transferred to a restoration position and gathered together to form the original lower mold.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for continuously dividing bread dough. The apparatus consists of a dough hopper, vertical conveyors mounted on the side walls of the hopper, a dough outlet provided at the bottom of the hopper located under the vertical conveyors, a divider having cutting knives for dividing the dough, a weighing conveyor provided under the divider for weighing the dough discharged through the weighing conveyor, and a control means for controlling the timing in the discharging operation of the weighing conveyor according to the weight of the dough. The weight of the divided dough is instantly and successively weighed, while the period to keep the outlet open is controlled so that a belt-like sheet of dough, with sections of a uniform weight, is continuously produced.

Abstract: A pellet making machine used in a pellet producing process has a rotary cutter mounted to the outer periphery of a hollow rotary shaft. A fixed blade is disposed opposite to the rotary cutter, and a pellet exhaust chute is disposed below the rotary cutter and slopes downwardly therefrom. The rotary cutter is provided with an interior cooling chamber and the hollow rotary shaft is provided with water inflow holes and exhaust holes communicating with the cooling chamber of the rotary cutter. A water supply tube extends into the hollow rotary shaft and is supported within the shaft by a partition wall, which also forms a water supply passage communicating with the water inflow holes of the hollow rotary shaft and a water exhaust passage communicating with the water exhaust holes of the hollow rotary shaft.

Abstract: An open tube apparatus and method for continuously producing a rotating elongate strip of material are disclosed. An extrusion die continuously extrudes flowable material to form an open tube with a central longitudinal cavity and a transport mechanism includes a plurality of drive rollers which engage and pull the tube downline. A driver rotates the extrusion die and transport mechanism. A tube cutter, which is offset at an angle with respect to the downline direction and defines the open end of the tube, cuts the tube into a continuous elongate web of the desired width as the tube moves downline. An air seal seals the tube cavity to prevent air from escaping through the open end of the cavity, and a tube pressurizer controls air pressure in the central longitudinal cavity of the tube to expand the tube laterally outwardly.

Abstract: Apparatus for making ceramic tubes from a mixture that includes ceramic powder. The mixture is extruded through a die to form a tube. The tube is passed through an open-ended dryer, calciner, transition zone, sintering furnace, and cooler. Thereafter, the tube is cut to the desired length (which may be very long). The quality of the tube is enhanced by applying a vacuum to the mixture prior to extrusion. For tubes made of non-oxide ceramics, an inert atmosphere is maintained both inside and outside the tube in all sections of the equipment that operate above 200.degree. C. A controlled tension is applied to the tube by means of first pinch rolls disposed downstream of the dryer and second pinch rolls disposed downstream of the cooler.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of concrete roof tiles in an extrusion process, in which a continuous layer of fresh concrete is deposited on pallets supplied in a continuous row to a depositing apparatus and is subsequently compacted by means of a shaping roller and slipper and, if appropriate, profiled, and then the compacted layer of fresh concrete is cut at a cutting station into roof-tile moldings of equal length with a rear edge and a front edge, and the front edge is trimmed. To increase the weathering resistance and the strength of the front edge of the concrete roof tiles produced in this way, and to reduce the efflorescence which occurs in this region, a rounding or bevel starting from the lower cut edge adjacent to the pallet and extending up to the top side of the roof-tile moldings is produced, preferably in steps, on the front edge as a result of a compacting of material.

Abstract: A device for cooling synthetic material strands exiting from an extruder nozzle is used especially in the production of synthetic material granules. The hot strands must be cooled before they can be granulated. The cooling apparatus includes a guide element which is tiltable at its upper end about a horizontal axis arranged near the extruder nozzle. Thus, the guide element continuously receives and guides the synthetic material strands exiting from the extruder nozzle. The guide element may be tilted to a first position to guide scrap material, such as start-up strand material, into a scrap bin or may be tilted into a second position to guide usable strand material onto a further guide member for further processing. The lower end of the guide element carries a cutting arrangement for cutting off the synthetic material strands. The guide element carries a cooling arrangement which at least includes a cooling water pipe with spray nozzles.

Abstract: Apparatus for making tiles or slabs such as roofing tiles or paving slabs from castable material, comprises a sequence of platens on an endless conveyor which affords a substantially continuous surface onto which are laid plates and from which dividers are extensible between those plates to sever or at least partially sever a layer of castable material charged and compacted onto the plate. Improvements include selective operation of dividers and their additional provision medially of the platens, selectively operable multiple drill head, charging roller, special plates for tiles to be bent, interlocked drive system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cutting mechanism and its method of operation in "cutting side-lock" portions from "green state" roofing tiles. The tiles are manufactured in a conventional concrete roofing tile making plant in which mortar fed to a hopper extruder (18) of conventional design is formed as a continuous ribbon (26) on a series of pallets (P) conveyed beneath the hopper extruder (18). The ribbon (26) is thereafter cut by a knife (3) into discrete tiles (T) on said pallets (P) with a "side-lock" portion of each tile being blanked out by extension portions (32) (34) of the knife (30). The blanked out portions are thereafter removed from the remainder of the tiles by a blade 90 of removal means 14 such that no damage is caused to the tiles (T) and little or not detritus remains on the tile or the conveyors of the tile making plant.

Abstract: A method serves to deposit a continuously extruded formation or string of an edible product, such as an ice cream formation upon a continuously driven conveyor for a plant for treating the product. In order to be able to deposit the formation discontinuously upon a conveyor consisting of trays, the formation is extruded upon an endless depositing band driven by means of a driving device with contant speed which is slower than the speed of the conveyor. The depositing band is driven around an end reversing location arranged above the container and the end reversing location is moved with respect to the driving device of the depositing band in the same direction as the direction of movement of the conveyor and with a speed which at least is equal to the speed with which the depositing band is driven by means of its driving device. Then the movement of the end reversing location is reversed with respect to the driving device of the depositing band and a formation portion is being deposited upon the conveyor.

Abstract: A process is described which allows continuous flexible connectors to be produced, particularly for vehicles, provided with at least one stop element a flexible cable wound in a coil is stretched between two facing mould halves and clamped to lie between these; at least one attachment element of synthetic plastics material is hot formed onto the cable in such a way as to embed this and remain rigidly connected thereto; then the mould halves are separated expelling the element thus formed and the cable is advanced in such a way as to bring a new section of cable between the mould halves; finally, a segment of cable, provided with the attachment element, is cut from the flexible cable.

Abstract: In manufacturing concrete tiles a stiff concrete mass is molded and heavily compacted by means of a rapidly rotating pressing roller on sheet metal molding trays, which during the molding operation are supported by carriers having relief-like supporting surfaces which are generally complementary to the bottom sides of the tiles. The tray carriers form parts of an endless conveyor passing a concrete extruding station, in which the pressing roller is included, the tray carriers being formed as platforms placed freely between a pair of driving chains, to which each platform is connected by one pair of coaxial pivots only. Each platform is composed of two segments, which are hingedly interconnected independently of the chains. When passing the concrete extruding station the tray carrying platforms rest on an endless intermediate belt moving over a stationary supporting bed, through the top side of which pressurized air is supplied in order to reduce the friction.

Abstract: A brick setting machine is disclosed which is operable to face set, stack without inverting or flat set. The machine is also operable to laterally space each brick from the next adjacent brick so that the faces and edges of the brick can be separately textured. The stacking, face setting and flat setting of the brick is performed by a plurality of elongated trays or turners which are operable to simultaneously rotate substantial numbers of brick through 90.degree. so that they rest on their sides and then when stacking or face setting is required to rotate adjacent rows of brick through an additional 90.degree. to form pairs of vertically aligned brick one resting on the other. The stacking is provided without gripping the brick so as to avoid damage to the brick.

Abstract: An assembly line method of construction is applied to the making of the thin fiber reinforced shell that forms the external surface of the Fibrestone wall. An elongated endless movable belt has the desired recurring pattern to be applied as the external surface of the fiber reinforced shell. Spray guns movable transversely of the elongated belt are provided to spray concrete and chopped up reinforcing fibers on the belt to form a continuous Fibrestone panel strip as the belt moves past the spray guns. A plurality of elongated flex-ties mounted on suitable supports and each having one of their ends adapted to be secured to the upper surface of the fiber reinforced shell are dropped onto the spray formed shell while it is in the plastic or uncured state. To insure that the flex-ties are securely bonded additional concrete and chopped up fibers are sprayed on the flex-tie supports, and the area between the rows of flex-ties are rolled to provide a relatively smooth surface between the rows of flex-ties.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting pieces of a predetermined length from a string of material by means of a rotary saw blade, said string being conveyed intermittently and at irregular speed. To meet this object without the apparatus being more than modestly space-demanding at the three sides of the string, the saw blade is mounted on a transmission (9), which is mounted on a lever (4) extending substantially at a right angle to the string substantially where the cutting is to be performed and pivotable around an axle (5) perpendicular to the string, which lever comprises gripping means (13, 14) for holding the lever unmovable with respect to the string, the transmission (9) being displaceable with respect to the lever to provide the feeding of the saw blade. The apparatus is used for cutting extruded strings of frozen food, an apparatus being placed at each of several strings being extruded simultaneously at an acute angle with respect to the axis of the extruder.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting washers, gaskets, seals and the like from tubular elongate stock having elastomeric properties in which the stock is clamped between two sets of spaced-apart jaws. The jaws are adjustably movable in respect to each other to stretch the tubular elastomeric material. The tubular stock in stretched condition is positioned between a cutting element having plural spaced-apart cutting blades and a cutter block in registry with the blades so that as cutting proceeds, a plurality of precision annular end products are produced with uniform thickness and with the cut surfaces all substantially precisely and repetitively parallel and accurate.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously cutting a filled cylindrical dough body is provided. The apparatus comprises a conveyor belt and at least one cutter arranged above and perpendicularly to the conveyance path of the conveyor belt. The cutter has a wedge-form blade which penetrates the cylindrical dough body from above, while the dough body is being conveyed, by the combination of a downward movement and repeated lateral movements, whereby the dough is cut into separate filled dough pieces without exposing the filler.

Abstract: This invention relates to means for cutting a mass of material, such as dough or ground meat, into pieces of predetermined shape and of substantially uniform size as the material is fed from a hopper on to a conveyor belt.

Abstract: Round dough pieces having an inner portion enveloped by a dissimilar outer portion are formed without generating waste by continuously extruding two dissimilar materials to form an extrudate rope having a core of one material and an outer tube of the other material, depositing the extrudate rope on a continuously moving conveyor, pinching the extrudate rope at predetermined intervals to form spaced sections of reduced width, and separating the extrudate rope into individual dough pieces at said reduced width sections.

Abstract: A strip component is extruded through a heated roller die apparatus and fed onto a heated anvil roll where a rotatable knife blade is pressed against the surface of the anvil roll to trim the strip component.The cutter may have a rotatable knife blade mounted on an arm pivoting about an axis spaced from the surface of the anvil roll for swinging the knife blade into and out of engagement with the strip component on the anvil roll surface. A weight may be attached to the arm for holding the arm down on a stop member in the operative position of the cutter. A number of knife blades may be adjustably mounted on a knife shaft supported by a pair of pivot arms for cutting the strip component at a number of positions across the anvil roll. Alternatively each knife blade may be supported on an individual knife holding body with the knife blade being rotatably mounted on a knife supporting arm which is pivotally mounted on the holding body. The knife supporting arms may also be individually depressed and retracted.

Abstract: A runner structure composed of a runner and a sprue is discharged from an injection molding machine into a chopping apparatus having a first cutter mechanism and a second cutter mechanism. The runner structure is guided by a guide mechanism in the chopping apparatus toward the first and second cutter mechanisms. The sprue is cut off from the runner by the first cutter mechanism, and then the runner and the sprue are chopped by the second cutter mechanism. The first cutter mechanism has a lower cutter for stopping the runner structure by engagement with the sprue, and an upper cutter movable into coaction with the lower cutter for cutting off the sprue. The second cutter mechanism includes a feed roller for feeding the runner intermittently and a cutter reciprocably movable for chopping the runner on the feed roller. The chopped pieces are discharged through a hopper and delivered into the injection molding machine for recycling.

Abstract: A pair of endless belts define a downwardly extending path therebetween which progressively reduces in width from the top to the bottom, so that a material of a foodstuff is compressed while being fed downwardly by the belts through the path. A horizontal conveyor belt lies below the path and is indexed to transfer a predetermined cut length of the material to a shaping station where the material is pushed up into a shaped cavity of a flexible cup member. The flexible cup member is embraced by presser members to shape the material under a preselected adjustable pressure. The resulting block of material attains hardness and shape which would be provided by hand-shaping. Regardless of the hardness of the material in the downward path between the belts, the material can always be cut by each predetermined amount by adjusting the width of the path and, therefore, the degree of compression of the material.

Abstract: A pair of endless belts define a downwardly extending path therebetween which progressively reduces in width from the top to the bottom, so that a material of a foodstuff is compressed while being fed downwardly by the belts through the path. A horizontal conveyor belt lies below the path and is indexed to transfer a predetermined cut length of the material to a shaping station where the material is pushed up into a shaped cavity of a flexible cup member. The flexible cup member is embraced by presser members to shape the material under a preselected adjustable pressure. The resulting block of material attains hardness and shape which would be provided by hand-shaping. Regardless of the hardness of the material in the downward path between the belts, the material can always be cut by each predetermined amount by adjusting the width of the path and, therefore, the degree of compression of the material.

Abstract: A sealing profiled strand of elastomeric materials provided with sealing lips along portions of the strand. The strands emerge from the nozzle or orifice of the extruder, at which point they still have a complete cross section. While still in the plastic state, the strands are cut by a transversely movable cutting knife which is curved in conformity to the outer contour of the strand. The strand is cut pursuant to a prescribed pattern in such a way as to remove portions of the sealing lip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for trimming flash from the outer edge of thermoplastic molded records and then finishing the outer edge. A molded record having flash on its outer edge is supported on a turntable and then rotated about its center. The flash and the outer edge of the record immediately adjacent the flash are selectively heated, preferably by using a focused infrared lamp, to a temperature above the glass transition temperature. A cutter is then advanced tangentially through the flash to remove the heat-softened flash from the record. The trimmed outer edge is then finished by bringing a shaped surface into contact with the softened edge and holding it there while rotating the record until the outer edge has the desired finished configuration. The heating is discontinued and the trimmed and finished outer edge is allowed to solidify.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing tag pin assemblies in which individual tag pins each comprising a head and a crossbar integrally connected by a filament are integrally but severably connected in the thickness direction, which method comprises the steps of continuously molding block tag-pin blanks of a sectional configuration corresponding to the individual tag pins, and of cutting the block tag-pin blank into slices having the prescribed thickness and altogether connected with an uncut portion respectively thereof. Apparatus for practising the method is also disclosed, which comprises an extruder provided with a die for continuously extruding block tag-pin blanks, and a cutter device for cutting the block tag-pin blank into slices having the prescribed thickness and altogether connected with an uncut portion respectively thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing thermoplastic sheet continuously produced from an extruder and successively feeding a length of plastic web to an intermittently operated forming machine. The extruded and cooled sheet drops from a roller down on a belt conveyor running at the same speed as the extrusion rate and is transferred towards the forming machine by a pair of clamp chains. The chains extend from sprocket wheels located in the range of the belt conveyor and are adapted to run intermittently at a speed higher than the extrusion rate and in accordance with the operation of the forming operation. The running speed of the conveyor belt can be increased to the higher speed when the falling sheet has been severed thereabove in the suspended position so that the severed plastic web is grasped by the clamp chains to be fed to the shaping station of the forming machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing special brick shapes such as corner brick and arch brick is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, selected slugs are pushed from an off-bearing belt under surface treatment means to an elevator. A cutter box or frame is located above the elevator. Such frame includes cutter means to cut the slugs into a desired shape and surface treatment means for treating the side edges of the slugs. The elevator raises the slugs up through the cutter frame to a position in alignment with the discharge platform. A single pusher assembly operates to push the slugs from the off-bearing belt to the elevator at one elevation and to push the cut slugs from the elevator onto the discharge platform at another elevation. The apparatus operates in conjunction with a conventional setting machine without interfering with the operation thereof.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for shaping of mats composed of loose fibers with a thermosetting resin interspersed throughout. The apparatus compresses the mat and exposes its laterally extending surfaces to elevated temperatures to obtain partial curing thereof. Slits are made in the surface regions adjacent areas where extra shaping will occur in forming the final product. These slits enable more precise shapes to be impressed upon the mat and eliminate the tendency of the partially cured areas to spring back to a position of lesser compression.

Abstract: An unmanned pelletizing device for plastic material for preventing the breakage of strands of the plastic material formed between a cooling roll and a pinch roll. The cooling roll is partially submerged in a tank of cooling water. A cutter includes a fixed knife having a plurality of grooves formed therein for registration with the plastic strands.

Abstract: A process for preparing thermoplastic piping for recovery of the thermoplastic in which the piping is cut into a continuous spiral ribbon with straightening of this ribbon to be without substantial curvature and cutting of the straightened ribbon into pieces. Preferably, the process produces pieces of thermoplastic of sufficiently small size to be suitable for feeding to an extruder. An apparatus for preparing thermoplastic piping for recovery of the thermoplastic which combines means for cutting the thermoplastic piping into a continuous spiral ribbon with means for straightening the spiral ribbon so that it is without substantial curvature and means for cutting the straightened ribbon into pieces.