Abstract: A novel method for the continuous production of compressed higher density black powder comprising feeding from a feed container means mealy black powder of low density enclosed between upper and lower endless belts into a precompression zone, to produce precompressed black powder, and to expell air contained in said black powder, passing the precompressed black powder through a primary compressing zone containing a primary compression means to achieve a new orientation and displacement of the said black powder, then passing the black powder through a final compressing zone containing a final compression means, while supplying the final pressure to obtain breaking or flow of the crystals as well as crystal lattice displacements of said black powder, and recovering the compressed higher density black powder, each of said primary compression means and said final compression means being capable of building-up compaction pressure as well as being capable of idling, the black powder being moved through said precomp

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of blocks of expanded cellular material having an essentially circular cross section from foamable means which comprises a stationary generally U-shaped mold having two sides, a bottom and an open top and forming an elongated channel cavity having a circular cross section, conveyor means fitting into said channel cavity and having a downward inclination, means pouring the foamable mass onto the conveyor means at the upper end thereof, means for moving said conveyor means away from said pouring means, means for heating the conveyor means to the same temperature as the mold, a substantial portion of said conveyor means going through said mold, means for fitting the conveyor means within the mold whereby said foamable mass acquires the circular shape of the inner portion of the mold as it moves away from said pouring means and as it solidifies.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising an edible web having deposited thereon or at least partially thereon a particulate medicament, the webs being thereafter fabricated and finished to pharmaceutically elegant solid dosage forms having no medicament exposed on an exterior surface. The dosage forms have a consistency of release of medicament which can be controlled to exacting specifications. The disclosed solid dosage forms are prepared by high speed automated equipment and the process by which they are made is characterized by non-destructive quality control analysis and performance evaluation both conducted on-line and integrated into the manufacturing operation. Included in the scope of the disclosed invention are certain apparatus and methods of manufacture.

Abstract: Apparatus for rolling, forming and severing a product such as comestible dough. A mass of unformed dough is placed on a conveyor belt above which a rigid board is supported and inclined downwardly in the direction of movement of the belt whereby the dough is rolled, as it passes under the board, into a cylinder having a diameter corresponding to the spacing between the belt and board at the exit end. The cylinder of dough is then deposited at the opposite end of the apparatus to pass between a pair of spaced rollers, thus being rolled into a sheet. A guide roller receives the sheet of dough emerging from between the forming rollers and guides it toward a plurality of cutter disks. The dough is severed into side-by-side strips as it passes between the guide roller and cutter disks and is deposited on the same conveyor belt used in the initial rolling operation for transport to a final receiving station or pan.

Abstract: A bread dough rounder bar for use with conventional dough dividing equipment to convert a dough piece into a rounded dough ball which may be subsequently processed into a bread bun or roll or the like. The rounder bar includes a work surface which varies in cross-section between an entrance section, a compression section and a rounding section.

Abstract: A mold for obtaining metallic parts with an orientated crystalline struct by the directed solidification of an alloy is disclosed. The mould comprises a body of refractory mold that is a good heat conductor and on the inner wall of said body is provided a chemically protective lining of dense refractory metal oxide, with a high degree of purity, deposited on said body by blowpipe projection as a thin non-porous layer. The thickness of the metal oxide lining is in the order of a tenth of a millimeter to five tenths of a millimeter, the oxide being choosen in the group constituted by aluminium oxide, zirconium oxide, magnesium oxide and thorium dioxide with a degree of purity at least equal to 99.5 %.