Abstract: A structure providing a patient support surface is transferable between a stationery support column and a wheeled transport carriage with the transport carriage, the support column and the support surface providing structure having connecting parts which cooperate to securely hold the structure to the transfer carriage or to the support column when the structure is mounted on the transfer carriage or the support column, the connecting parts during transfer of the structure from the transfer carriage to a support column, or vice versa, being automatically moved between latched and unlatched conditions to allow the transfer to occur and having security features preventing the patient support surface providing structure from being inadvertently unfastened from both the support column and the transport carriage during a transfer procedure.

Abstract: In an apparatus for shifting patients and having a mobile frame supported on rollers, a cantilevered platform arranged on the frame, and a transport band (44) which is movable by means of a drive mechanism in both directions and which proceeding from a first winding roll supported in the frame extends over the upper side of the platform, around the free longitudinal edge of the platform and along the bottom side of the platform to a second winding roll supported in the frame and onto which it is windable, both winding rolls (26, 28) are constantly coupled with the drive mechanism (68, 70, 72) with rotary play being provided between each winding roll (26, 28) and the drive mechanism (68, 70, 72). Each winding roll (26, 28) can be biased in its winding direction.

Abstract: A velvet cutting machine includes, a cutting knife having a knife holder, a knife blade and a velvet point, the velvet point extending at one end of the cutting knife in the form of a needle connected successively to the knife blade and the knife holder, the knife holder being connected by a shaft of the machine to a knife-retaining arm of the machine which, in turn, is coupled by another shaft of the machine, that is subjected to a spring, biasing force in peripheral direction thereof, to a cutting head of the machine swingingly suspended on a support arm of the machine extending substantially parallel to the region of a traveling fabric web that is to be cut.