Abstract: A barrier apparatus for protecting a bus driver including a vertically-oriented panel selectively moveable along a set of tracks between a forward position and a rearward position within a bus, the forward position including the panel positioned between a driver's seat and a passenger entryway of the bus. The panel is arranged so that, when in the forward position or the rearward position or moved between the forward position and the rearward position, the panel remains on a driver's side of the bus thus ensuring that the panel does not obstruct passenger traffic into and out of the bus during any phase of operation of the barrier system.

Abstract: A barrier apparatus for protecting a bus driver including a vertically-oriented panel selectively moveable along a set of tracks between a forward position and a rearward position within a bus, the forward position including the panel positioned between a driver's seat and a passenger entryway of the bus. The panel is arranged so that, when in the forward position or the rearward position or moved between the forward position and the rearward position, the panel remains on a driver's side of the bus thus ensuring that the panel does not obstruct passenger traffic into and out of the bus during any phase of operation of the barrier system.

Abstract: A retractable-ramp accumulator comprises driven endless elastic belts to feed sheets therebetween along a sheet-feeding path, a sheet stacker having a stacking location and including a selectively releasable stop gate, and at least one selectively retractable ramp for selectively deflecting sheets out of the sheet feeding path for selectively feeding under or over previous sheets that are stopped in the stacking location by the stop gate. In one embodiment, an upper and a lower set of ramps are arranged such that while one set of ramps is retracted, the other set of ramps is interposed in the sheet feeding path, so that sheets can be selectively "over" or "under" accumulated.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for stacking a plurality of documents on one edge thereof. The apparatus comprises a motor-driven revolving hollow helix device into which fed documents are individually injected substantially transversely to the helix axis between consecutive helix turns. A single-revolution clutch device between the motor and the helix device provides indexed rotation (orientation) of the helix device for receiving and transporting injected documents. Operation of the clutch device is controlled by a photo-sensor that is located at the exit of the document feed section and that senses injection of each document into the helix device. Injected document feed motion is stopped by a stationary abutment stop. The revolving helix device transports injected documents by screw-action in direction of its axis and stacks the documents side-on-side as they are transported beyond the face of the helix device.