Abstract: In one embodiment, a reinforced fiber cement article comprising a fiber cement piece and a reinforcing fixture bonded to a portion of the fiber cement piece for improving the performance, strength and durability of the fiber cement piece. The reinforcing fiber cement article could be used as or in conjunction with a siding plank assembly, which further comprises an interlocking feature that allows the siding plank to be stacked with other siding planks in a manner such that a uniform and deep shadow line is created. The interlocking feature sets the gauge of the exposed plank face and allows for leveling of the plank during installation. The reinforcing fixture could also serve as a thick butt piece or a plastic spline that produces a deep shadow line. A cementitious adhesive is used to bond the reinforcing fixture to the fiber cement piece.

Abstract: In order to fit a box lid to a box tray a pair of opposed plates are used. Each plate is pivotably mounted intermediately of its upper and lower edges such that upper edges of the opposed plates may pivot toward and away from each other. Each plate is biased to an inclined position whereat the upper edges of the opposed plates are more proximate than the lower edges of the plates. With this arrangement, a lid may be placed with respect to the pair of opposed plates such that opposed lower edges of the lid are positioned below the upper edges of said plates and at an outward side of said plates. A box tray may then be raised between the plates such that the box tray urges each of the plates away from its inclined position.

Abstract: A semi-automatic, poly-sleeve labeler has a banding station to which containers are conveyed, there being a roll supply of flat, tubular, poly-sleeve labels above the station. A fixed, upstanding, flat, holder and an inclined, spring-biased, pivoted, flat, holder are mounted at a predetermined distance above the level of the conveyor path to support an open band. The operator tears off a band, places it over the holders, presses a pedal which causes a piston head to lift the container at the station, up through the holders for frictional engagement within the band. The banded container is removed and the parts return for the next cycle. A gear rack and pinion mechanism advances the bands individually and successively over a spreader to a tear-off location at about eye level. The spreader includes oppositely disposed concave recesses in each of which one of the oppositely disposed feed rolls is seated.

Abstract: A device for applying a stretch film lid to a cup has a planar stretching member, including a relatively rigid peripheral portion, and a multiplicity of finger elements spaced thereabout and extending inwardly therefrom. The finger elements are readily displaceable from the plane of the stretching member, and define, upon displacement, a passageway configured to permit the cup to pass through. Securing means is engageable with the stretching member to secure a stretch film thereto. When a cup is urged against the stretching member, it displaces the finger elements, thereby defining the passageway, with the finger elements and securing means cooperating to extend the stretch film along a plurality of axes, to permit the application of the stretched film to the cup.

Abstract: A device on a skein winding machine for the application of bands to banding flaps arranged on a movable carrier, which includes a band feeder for withdrawing a band from a magazine band applying the bnd to the banding flaps in an initial setting of the carrier, for subsequent transfer of the applied bands by the motion of the carrier to a completely wound skein, subsequently depositing the banded skein on a deposit location and finally returning to the initial setting.