Abstract: The invention provides a method of progressive engagement of all-wheel drive for a mobile vehicle. A set of vehicle parameters is sensed, and an all-wheel drive lock value is determined based on the sensed set of vehicle parameters. Vehicle subsystem control activation is determined, and the all-wheel drive lock value is adjusted based on the vehicle subsystem control activation determination. An all-wheel drive controller is engaged based on the adjusted all-wheel drive lock value.

Abstract: A system of forming a coreless roll paper product in which an elongated coreless paper roll is cut into segments by a saw. Prior to being cut from the elongated coreless paper roll, each roll segment is positioned on a support shaft located on a rotatable turret. The roll segment is severed while being supported by both an elongated mandrel and the support shaft, the blade passing through a space between the mandrel and support shaft. The turret has a number of spaced support shafts projecting therefrom, and rotation of the turret simultaneously brings the support shafts to various locations so that various steps in the operation are performed seriatim and simultaneously.

Abstract: An automatic pipe cutting device chiefly cuts a metal pipe of small thickness. This pipe cutting device has a pipe fixing element for clamping and releasing the pipe and a pipe cutter incorporating cutting bits. A pipe cutting length adjuster means with a limit switch and an optical sensor and a pipe discharger are also provided. The pipe cutting device can automatically adjust the cutting length of the pipe, the fixing, the cutting and the discharging of the pipe.

Abstract: A coreless roll paper product is formed by a method which includes removing an elongated coreless paper roll from the end of a forming mandrel in intermittent steps and cutting the elongated coreless paper roll seriatim into coreless roll product segments with a saw blade located immediately adjacent to the mandrel end.

Abstract: A tube positioning apparatus has at least one mandrel for positioning tubes for processing. A variable tube positioning stroke length is facilitated for optimizing stroke length and for optimizing the time required to position and process tube, such as by cutting. The tube positioning apparatus comprises a slide block having a mandrel attached thereto. The slide block is actuated on a plurality of slide rails from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the mandrel is retracted and in a second position the mandrel is extended for access by processing tools, such as circular knives for cutting the tube into desired lengths. A programmable sequence timer is provided for establishing desired time intervals during which the slide block and attached mandrel are in the retracted position or the extended position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a truncation apparatus and a process of truncating tubes. The truncation apparatus includes a mandrel, a means for advancing the tube to be truncated along the mandrel, at least one knife positioned in proximity to the free end of the mandrel, a slide moveably mounted on the mandrel and an exterior abutment whose distance with respect to the knife is adjustable, in addition to at least one reference system which is longitudinally adjustable adjacent the mandrel and defines predetermined and adjustable lengths between the front end of slide and the knife, and is provided with means to stop the longitudinal displacement of the slide in a manner so as to define a selected length for the last truncated portion of the tube. A method for truncating tubes wherein a length of tube is positioned on a mandrel and cut into at least a first section including one of the end edges of the tube and a last section including the other end edge of the tube.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for manufacturing cardboard tubes with incorporated closure for packing or sending articles or documents and tubes obtained by implementing this process. The process comprises the continuous formation of a cardboard tube on the rotary mandrel of a spiralling machine and cutting the tube into tube elements discharged by the machine. This cut out is provided in the form of a sinusoid with provision of appropriate fold lines. Thus tube elements are obtained, without waste of material, whose ends have two opposite tongues which may be folded back, the adjacent ends of two successive tube elements being offset by 90.degree..