Abstract: A bill discriminating apparatus for a bill handling machine including an ultraviolet ray lamp for emitting ultraviolet rays toward bills, a light detector for photoelectrically detecting visible light emitted from phosphor materials contained in bills upon being irradiated with ultraviolet rays and producing visible light detection signals, a visible light detection signal amplifier for amplifying the visible light detection signals produced by the light detector, an ultraviolet ray detector for photoelectrically detecting ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet ray lamp and producing ultraviolet ray detection signals, a CPU for receiving the visible light detection signals amplified by the visible light detection signal amplifier and the ultraviolet ray detection signals produced by the ultraviolet ray detector and discriminating bills, the CPU adjusting an amplifying factor of the visible light detection signal amplifier in accordance with levels of ultraviolet ray detection signals input from the ult

Abstract: A dual downstacker apparatus has adjacent can lid feed chutes for advancing lids one at a time into alternate ones of the pockets or recesses on a starwheel which is continuously rotated beneath the chutes; and the delivery of lids can be interrupted through one of the chutes without interrupting advancement through the other of the chutes.

Abstract: A plurality of sheet-bundle piling lanes are disposed in perpendicular relation with respect to a common sheet-bundle feed lane for gradually feeding sheet-bundles. At a communicating portion between the sheet-bundle feed lane and each sheet-bundle piling lane, a sheet-bundle take-in lever, for taking the sheet-bundles from the former lane to the latter lane, is disposed. Blocks of bundles of sheets that are piled up are formed at each sheet-bundle piling lane.

Abstract: A dolly-like device and associated operational procedure facilitate the transporting and setting of utility poles at locations inaccessible to motor vehicles. The dolly-like device includes a power winch that is utilized to provide the power to raise the pole in the pole setting operation.

Abstract: A method of loading goods into and unloading goods from narrow spaces located some distance above ground level is disclosed. In the method, use is made of a specially designed loading truck with a drive and steering apparatus which can be driven from one place to another and including a cargo lifting apparatus suited for lifting an entire transport carriage of cargo. The apparatus also includes a lift for vertically lifting persons adjacent to the cargo lifting apparatus to thereby provide free access to the load platform. In the method, the truck is driven to the location where the cargo is standing, the cargo is lifted by the truck, the truck is driven to a position adjacent to the unloading place, the transport carriage is lifted until the uppermost layer of cargo is level with the unloading place, and the person lifting device is lifted to a convenient position adjacent the cargo and luggage is unloaded.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly is provided which rotates between in-service and out-of-service positions on a truck body of an off-road, heavy duty truck. A first tailgate rotation actuation assembly rotates the tailgate assembly between a closed, in-service position and an open in-service position wherein the load is dumped from the truck body. In one embodiment, the first tailgate actuation assembly comprises a chain connected to the tailgate assembly at a first end and operatively connected to the truck frame at a second end to rotate the tailgate assembly in response to the rotation of the truck body between the lowered and raised positions. A second tailgate rotation actuation assembly rotates the tailgate assembly between the in-service open position and the out-of-service position in which the tailgate assembly rests on the canopy of the body.

Abstract: The present invention features a universal flow rack system that can be affixed to almost any supporting frame or pallet rack. The flow rack system of the invention features a flow track that is "snap-locked" into place upon the storage frame in an almost instantaneous fashion. This allows for quick assembly, adjustment and removal of the flow track at any time. The flow rack system is positionable about the storage frame or pallet rack in any orthogonal position (X and Y axes) about the horizontal plane of the frame, thus allowing for overhangs and unique positioning thereupon.

Abstract: An apparatus for the emptying of containers is disposed in the course of a conveyor way for containers loaded with piece goods, in particular with luggage pieces. A branch conveyor for receiving discharged piece goods is following to the emptying apparatus. The emptying apparatus is furnished with support rollers and guide elements for the containers and a tipping device with a swivel drive for the swiveling of the containers perpendicular to the transport advance direction (F) of the conveyor way in direction toward the branch conveyor. In order to obtain an emptying of the container during the transport motion based on a constructively simple structure of the apparatus, the container (3) is essentially constructed to comprise a part (4), formed by a shell-shaped floor (8) for receiving the piece goods (5) and a lower part (6).

Abstract: This invention relates to a towable trailer, having an inner and outer frame, that function as levers, to lower the load bed horizontally to ground level. The levers are pivotally attached at the rear of the trailer. The trailer has a hinged tongue portion that when raised, allows cargo such as snowmobiles, to be driven or unloaded off of the front of the load bed while the load bed remains on ground level.

Abstract: The present invention is a coin sorter apparatus for sorting a group of mixed coins by denomination and immediately terminating the sorting process in response to a predetermined operating condition, such as the filling of a coin receptacle with a predetermined number of coins. Sorting is provided by a stationary sorting head and a rotatable disc positioned sufficiently proximate to one another so that when the group of mixed coins are dropped into the center opening of the stationary sorting head, they are rotated by the rotating disc and guided by the sorting head on a outward spiral sorting path to exit channels along the periphery of the stationary sorting head. Each of the exit channels acts as an exit chute for a particular coin denomination by releasing pressure on that particular coin and freeing the coin to move outwardly along the exit channel and exit into a coin receptacle.

Abstract: A coin handling device for handling a plurality of coins comprises a coin-driving member having a resilient surface and a stationary coin-guiding member having a coin-guiding surface opposing the resilient surface of the coin-driving member. The coin-guiding surface is positioned generally parallel to the resilient surface and spaced slightly therefrom. The resilient surface of the coin-driving member is constructed and arranged to move the coins along the coin-guiding surface of the coin-guiding member. The coin-guiding member includes lubricant-filled cavities, self-lubricating inserts, or a gall-resistant coating to reduce friction between the coins and the coin-guiding surface of the coin-guiding member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking and conveying product units. The product units are conveyed on a conveyor from a loading station to an unloading station. The conveyor has a number of paddles extending therefrom where adjacent paddles define receptacles between them for holding the product units. The invention allows the products to be reoriented while being conveyed from the loading station to the unloading station so that the products arrive at the unloading station with the desired orientation. This eliminates separate steps and apparatuses for conveying and reorienting. The present invention does this by first loading at least one product unit into the product receptacles and conveying the product units along the longitudinal axis of the conveyor. The paddles are then reoriented along a generally helical line while the products are being conveyed from the loading station to the unloading station. The paddles are reoriented to a desired angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor.

Abstract: A truck cargo locking system that provides for cargo securement through the use of a device consisting of a spring loaded partitioning apparatus using slidable members and a specially adapted locking mechanism to provide rapid and optimal tension adjustments for installation. A pair of bracing plates buttress against the truck bed sides, and are surfaced with rubber padding each side to protect the vehicle surfaces. The bracing plates are tensioned with springs, and retaining pins maintain the integrity of the slidable parts while not in use. A locking device is pivotally affixed to one slidable member, and fixes the overall length of the sliding members by engaging between two detentes, or slightly angled, dulled teeth that appear in regularly spaced intervals along a row atop the other slidable member.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a sealed rotary feeder for use in an apparatus which continuously processes chips made of synthetic resin with a coating under high pressure and temperature without degrading its material strength. The sealed rotary feeder according to this invention consists of a cylindrical casing having a chip inlet on the upper side of said cylindrical casing and a chip outlet on the low side of said cylindrical casing, a rotor in said cylindrical casing, plural blades which are movably inserted into channels radially formed around said rotor, and divide said cylindrical casing into plural baskets, pressing means which press said plural blades against the inner surface of said cylindrical casing, and walls which form said channels are extended at the vicinity of the inner surface of said cylindrical casing.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is an apparatus for partitioning a storage space such as the load space of a goods vehicle having a frame which defines an opening through which the storage space is accessible, and at least one partition movable within the load space to define at least two compartments of desired relative size in the storage space. Both compartments are accessible through the opening, on either side of the partition. Expandable closure elements, typically in the form of collapsible trellis-type doors, are movable to close the opening, and be locked to each other or to the partition, so that access can be gained to either compartment, while the other remains secure. The expandable closure elements and the partition move on respective sets of tracks. A version of the invention is also disclosed in which movable partition elements in a storage space are provided with expandable closures, allowing access through the partitions.

Abstract: To provide convenient positioning of a subject in a wheelchair, the apparatus has a wheelchair support bucket with two wheel tubs which are connected by an axle. The wheelchair is pivotable in the bucket about the axle for tilting of the occupant. The axle is mounted to a frame which is elevatable on bearings, and the frame runs horizontally on tracks, and is rotatable. The bucket tubs have semi-cylindrical surfaces which position the wheelchair with the wheelchair brace frontward of the housing. The movement mechanism is thus able to be compactly positioned with respect the wheelchair, for convenient positioning of subjects for hair care, dentistry, or other operations. Tilt locks are provided on each bucket tub to passively prevent the egress of a wheelchair from an elevated or tilted bucket.

Abstract: In a pallet supply apparatus, pallets are stacked on a loaded pallet elevator and are conveyed by the elevator to the upper end position of a main body of the pallet supply apparatus. The uppermost pallet is separated from the remaining pallets by a shutter. A left side flange of the pallet is pushed by a left roller in a direction to approach rear and side reference surfaces, and a right side flange of the pallet is then pushed by a right roller in a direction to separate away from the side reference surface and to approach the rear reference surface, thus positioning the pallet. When all works are picked up, and the pallet becomes empty, the right and left rollers are escaped, and thereafter, the pallet is slidably moved toward an empty pallet elevator.

Abstract: A low-aspect ratio propeller system is provided with a multiple ring structure formed with a plurality of circular or non-circular, annular, narrow equivalent air foil rings which are held by rails in a predetermined relationship with the propeller blades. The upstream ring is located downstream from the tip vortex of the propeller within the axial span of the propeller. One or more additional downstream-located rings are used so as to provide at least one annular multiple ring-defined pump aperture through which peripheral vortices generated by the propeller blades or fan blades may enhance the mass flow. In one propeller system, a low-aspect-ratio propeller is employed with high blade angles of attack and non-stall capability to generate strong vortices which enhance the beneficial effect of the multiple ring structure. These vortices increase thrust because their induction action on the rings increase beneficial ring flow circulation.

Abstract: A vacuum turret apparatus for moving objects from a first location to a second location is disclosed. The turret is specifically designed to move individual plate-like objects from a stack of such objects located at the first location to the second location. Flexible bellows in combination with vacuum are used to lift, hold, and move the objects. An air knife ejecting a stream of high pressure air towards the selected object helps separate that object from the rest of the stack.

Abstract: An electrical railroad switch stand is disclosed in which a handle connected to a switching device is moved between a first position and a second position by use of an actuator powered by a motor. The direction of rotation of the shaft of the motor is controlled to control the position of the handle. Lights are provided to indicate the status of the switching device.