Abstract: The present invention provides a VP protection system and a VP protection method which forward messages quickly to nodes on an ATM network when an error occurs on the ATM network and reduce an error recovery time. The VP protection system, for use on an ATM network that includes a plurality of ATM nodes performing protection, a plurality of working VPs, and a plurality of standby VPs, exchanges messages among ATM nodes when an error occurs, one group of VPs at a time. An intermediate ATM node in a standby path at least comprises a VPG resource information management table, a VP resource information management table, a VPG configuration information management table, a VPG switching message receiving circuit, a VPG switching message sending circuit, node resource management circuits, a VPG resource allocation circuit, a VP expansion circuit, and a VP resource distribution circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus to be appended to a rotary printing press for binding successive stacks of printings with a thermally fusible paper band. Included is a band looper for loosely looping the band around a load on a platform. After having been tightened against the load, the band has its lapping parts heated by a band heater into a fused joint and is cut off from its continuous supply. A heater control circuit is provided for causing the band heater to be normally energized for a preassigned period of time at regular intervals during the operation of the apparatus, keeping the heater heated to a temperature necessary for melting the thermoplastic overlay of the paper band. After the heater has heated the band on each load, the heater control circuit causes the heater to be energized for a longer period of time which is enough to compensate for a temperature drop due to the heating of the band.

Abstract: An apparatus to be appended to a rotary printing press for binding successive stacks of printings with a thermally fusible paper band. Included is a band looper for loosely looping the band around a load on a platform. After having been tightened against the load, the band has its lapping parts heated by a band heater into a fused joint and is cut off from its continuous supply. A heater control circuit is provided for causing the band heater to be normally energized for a preassigned period of time at regular intervals during the operation of the apparatus, keeping the heater heated to a temperature necessary for melting the thermoplastic overlay of the paper band. After the heater has heated the band on each load, the heater control circuit causes the heater to be energized for a longer period of time which is enough to compensate for a temperature drop due to the heating of the band.

Abstract: A device for counting objects being transported by transport equipment includesa light projector for projecting a light beam onto the objects being transported,a light receptor for receiving the light beam reflected from the objects being transported and focusing the beam to a point, anda pulse generating means for generating pulses in accordance with the abrupt shift of the focused point of the reflected light beam caused by the ends of the objects being transported.The objects being transported are counted on the basis of the pulses generated by the pulse generating means.