Abstract: A raising device for a cleaning part in a cleaning tool and a raising method for a cleaning part in a cleaning tool are provided. The raising device is capable of raising the fibers of the cleaning part to a state in which waste can be collected. A raising device for raising the fibers in a fiber layer constituting a cleaning part in a cleaning tool is configured by providing a blowing part which blows compressed air at the fiber layer to raise the fibers of the fiber layer.

Abstract: A system for managing requests for services from vendors including a database having contract information for vendors, entitlement information for users and requests for services. The requests are compared with the entitlement information for the requesting user and the contract information for the vendor that supplies the information to determine if the request is approved. If the request is approved, the system generates an associated billing item in the database for the request and the approved request is transmitted to the vendor. The vendor sends an invoice of charges associated with the approved requests which is compared with the associated billing items for the approved requests. Additionally, a method for managing user requests for services from vendors is provided including providing a database for storing contract information for vendors, entitlement information for users and requests for services from a vendor.

Abstract: A planetary napping machine includes a napping roller drum assembly and cylinder head construction which facilitates assembly and servicing of the apparatus. The napping machine includes a frame and a napping roll drum assembly having a main shaft which is rotatably supported on the frame. One end of the main shaft engages with a drive assembly to drive rotation of the napping roll drum relative to the frame. The napping roll drum assembly includes spaced cylinder heads mounted on the main shaft, and napping rollers each having first and second ends which are respectively rotatably journaled in bearing assemblies which are circumferentially spaced around said first and second cylinder heads. The first ends of the napping rollers have extended end portions which extend through the bearing assemblies on the cylinder heads. The drum assembly still further includes drive motors respectively mounted on the cylinder heads.

Abstract: A napping device for napping a web of textile goods is described. The machine has a driven main cylinder seated in the machine frame with planetary arranged napping rollers. In order to keep one front end of the essentially cylindrical main cylinder open, but yet to assure a quiet-running seating with a long service life, the main cylinder is received at its longitudinal circumferential edges in respectively one ring-shaped ball bearing. The ball bearing comprises respectively one ball bearing shell constituting the main cylinder and one ball bearing shell fixed in place on the machine frame.

Abstract: An automated pile-raising machine for fabric, in which the fabric is advanced about at least one drum, in contact with alternatingly interspersed pile and counter-pile rotating cylinders cleaned by respective cleaning brushes, a timing control system including sensors is provided for coordinating operation of the cylinders and brushes.

Abstract: A teaseling and/or fluffing machine for fabric and knitwork, with tension control, including a load-bearing structure with two sidepieces supporting at least one drum which rotates about a central shaft and supports on its two lateral endpieces two series of teaseling and/or fluffing rollers, of with-pile type and against-pile-type. These rollers are arranged along generatrices of the drum with those of one series rotating relative to those of the other under independent drive. A fabric to be treated passes about the teaseling and/or fluffing rollers and is fed to the machine by a driven feed roller and extracted therefrom by a driven exit roller. Brushes are provided which interact alternately with the teaseling and/or fluffing rollers.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the production of nitrogen from air by the cryogenic fractionation of the air at superatmospheric pressure and which permits the production of variable quantities of nitrogen from a constant supply of air at superatmospheric pressure by periodically distilling less than all of the air which is supplied at superatmospheric pressure and work expanding a stream of air at superatmospheric pressure provided from the balance of said supply whereby to produce additional refrigeration for the process, and recovering condensed nitrogen vapor thereby formed in excess of that required for reflux.