Abstract: An apparatus for spreading open flattened bags has a first air-pervious endless belt having a working flight provided with a working face and an opposite, reverse face; and a second air-pervious endless belt having a working flight provided with a working face and an opposite, reverse face. The working flights of the first and second belts are divergent at an acute angle in the bag conveying direction. There is further provided a suction device generating a vacuum for urging a gas to flow across the working flights in a direction from the working face to the reverse face of each working flight, whereby each bag introduced between the working flights adheres, with opposite bag panels, to the working faces of the working flights and is forwarded thereby in the conveying direction, while being gradually spread open.

Abstract: The driven running gear is intended for low-platform rail vehicles with at least two body parts which are articulated to each other. It is provided with two individual running gears (2, 2') fitted with steering means (15, 15', 16). The running gears are interconnected to pivot about their horizontal axis beneath the axial center of the wheels (8, 8') by a connecting member (3). The connecting member has at its ends transversely directed support arms (4, 4') for the support of a body part. On the latter there are fastened at least one motor (21, 21') and a brake (23, 23', 24, 24') which drive and brake the running gear (1) via telescopic universal shafts (25, 25') and bevel gearings (26, 26') arranged on the outside of the wheels on both individual running gears (2, 2').

Abstract: An apparatus for forming article groups from flat articles includes a belt conveyor for advancing thereon an article column formed of individual, flat-lying articles; a sensor supported above the conveyor surface for sensing the presence of articles on the conveyor surface; a series of article grippers situated downstream of the sensor as viewed in the direction of advance; a mechanism for shifting the grippers from above the conveyor surface to a position laterally of the conveyor surface; a group-forming device including a plurality of containers and a mechanism for positioning the containers at a location in which the articles are released by the grippers and are deposited into the containers to form stacks of superposed articles therein. The mechanism moves the containers stepwise downwardly during the stacking operation. There is further provided a control apparatus having an input connected to the sensor for receiving signals therefrom.

Abstract: A device for compensating the tilt of the carriage body of a rail vehicle when travelling around sharp turns at high speeds includes a tilt compensator with a four-bar mechanism, the tilt compensator being operationally connected to an energy storage device. The four-bar mechanism includes a transversely movable support that is mounted in a floating manner and which is supported on a carriage body suspension for providing vertical cushioning of the carriage body. Preferably, the four-bar mechanism is formed of a wobble stabilizer, two laterally mounted hinged supports and the aforementioned transverse support mounted in a floating manner with a central pivot extending between the energy store and the transverse support.

Abstract: A packaging bag made of sheet material includes a longitudinal seal situated at the longitudinal bag edge and extending parallel to the bag length. The longitudinal seal bonds together at least two layers of sheet material. The packaging bag further has two transverse seals extending parallel to the bag width and intersecting the longitudinal seal. Each transverse seal bonds together at least two layers of sheet material. A tear-open slit is provided in the longitudinal seal and passes through at least three layers of sheet material of the packaging bag.

Abstract: A bogie for high speed rail vehicles includes an automatic control device for radially adjusting the wheel sets of the bogie. The automatic control device is mounted on the bogie frame along with a damper and a rotation locking device which connects the automatic control mechanism with the body of the vehicle. The automatic control device includes a pair of levers rotatably mounted on either side of the bogie frame. The levers are interconnected in a torsion proof rigid manner, for example, by a rigid pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming groups of flat, face-to-face stacked items includes a conveyor belt for receiving the items in a flat-lying orientation; a motor for driving the conveyor belt to advance the items disposed thereon in a conveying direction; a sensor disposed above the conveyor belt for determining a position of individual items on the conveyor belt; a plurality of group-forming chambers; a plurality of serially disposed gripping units situated downstream of the sensor as viewed in the conveying direction for grasping the items advanced on the conveyor belt and for introducing the items into the group-forming chambers; and a control device having an input connected to the sensor and outputs connected to the gripping units for controlling the gripping units as a function of signals applied to the control device by the sensor.

Abstract: A silencer for use with pistols with a fixed or tilting barrel. The design configuration is such that the sighting line is retained when the silencer is fitted. Handleability of the weapon is not seriously adversely affected by the design configuration and the lightweight structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling bags with bulk material includes a filling device for consecutively charging bags with the bulk material; a traction device leading into and out of a region of the filling device; and a plurality of spaced spreading devices, carried by the traction device, for expanding each bag to facilitate charging thereof by the filling device. Each spreading device has first and second mutually cooperating pivotal spreading fingers having a retracted state and an expanded state.

Abstract: A method of continuously making packages from groups of stacked items includes the steps of advancing consecutive groups of flat, edgewise standing, stacked items on a conveyor while supporting each item group by holders engaging each article group; during the advancing step, wrapping a wrapper sheet about an item group by a wrapper folding device, whereby the wrapper sheet supports and holds together the items in consecutive item groups; removing the holders from a just-wrapped article group; drawing the wrapper sheet, together with an item group wrapped in the wrapper sheet for conveying the item groups after the holders are removed therefrom; and withdrawing air from the wrapper sheet at a suction location where at least a partial wrapping has been completed, for generating a vacuum inside the wrapper sheet for causing the wrapper sheet to be pressed against edges of items in wrapped item groups downstream of the suction location.

Abstract: An item transfer apparatus has a first conveyor for advancing items thereon in a first advancing direction; a second conveyor for advancing items thereon in a second advancing direction; and a rotatable transfer device having a rotary axis and a pushing member arranged for motion across the first conveyor for displacing items from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The rotary axis lies in a plane oriented parallel to the conveying plane of the first conveyor.

Abstract: A splicing apparatus for joining a trailing end of a first sheet to a leading end of a second sheet comprises a first servomechanism including a first drive for engaging and advancing the first sheet in a direction of advance; a second servomechanism including a second drive for engaging the first sheet upstream of the first drive; a splicing device for joining the trailing and leading ends to one another upstream of the second drive; a sensor for generating a signal when the trailing end of the first sheet passes a predetermined location upstream of the splicing device; and a computer connected to the first and second servomechanisms, the splicing device and the sensor for reducing the speed of the advancing first sheet and for subsequently effecting a joining operation of the splicing device upon receiving the signal from the sensor; and a sheet length compensating device engaging the first sheet at a location between the first and second drive for reducing or increasing the length of the first sheet betwee

Abstract: A method of supplying stacks of flat articles to a packing machine comprises the following steps: charging receptacles in a dosing device with articles to obtain in each receptacle an article stack shorter and lighter than a predetermined weight and length; advancing some of the charged receptacles to a standby station and some of the charged receptacles to a fine dosing device; and charging the receptacles in the fine dosing device with articles until the predetermined weight and length are substantially reached. The charging step in the fine dosing device includes the step of transferring articles from a receptacle dwelling in the standby station to a receptacle dwelling in the fine dosing device. Thereafter, the receptacles are advanced from the fine dosing device to the packing machine. The empty receptacles are advanced from the packing machine and the standby station to the dosing device.

Abstract: A vehicle, preferably a track vehicle, having a body and wheels arranged in pairs at the sides of the body. The wheels of each pair are supported by a gantry-like frame having support elements extending upwardly from the wheels and a cross member located in the roof region of the body. This arrangement allows the vehicle floor between the wheels to be made quite low and allows the height of the floor to remain the same throughout the entire vehicle length. The wheels can be driven from a motor located in the roof region and are preferably steerable to some extent to allow necessary adjustment as the vehicle negotiates bends.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for forming groups of face-to-face contacting flat items comprises a supply conveyor for advancing a column of serially arranged, flat-lying items; a stack-forming unit situated in a charging station and arranged for sequentially receiving the items from the supply conveyor; a plurality of stacking containers for acommodating a stack of the items; an arrangement for positioning an empty stacking container in the charging station; a stop arranged in the charging station for arresting each item in the stack-forming unit upon delivery by the supply conveyor; an intermittent drive for causing the stack-forming unit to cyclically deposit an item in the stacking container to form an article stack therein; and a sensor which generates a signal indicating a presence of an item to be deposited by the stack-forming unit and which is situated upstream of the stack-forming unit. The signal is applied to the intermittent drive for actuating the same.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for regrouping articles from parallel-arranged first columns to form parallel-arranged second columns includes a first conveyor carrying the first columns of articles; two horizontally spaced endless carrier elements circulating in a closed path having an ascending zone extending upwardly from the first conveyor and a horizonal zone; consecutively arranged article support members extending between the two carrier elements transversely thereto and each having opposite ends pivotally supported by the carrier elements to be advanced thereby through the ascending and horizontal zones; an actuating device for pivoting the article support members into a first pivotal position to support articles and for pivoting approximately simultaneously a plurality of the article support members in the horizontal zone into a second pivotal position in which the article support members are inclined such as to cause the articles to slide off therefrom; and a second conveyor extending below the article support

Abstract: A convertible metering apparatus for dispensing metered quantities of different flowable goods of unlike physical properties comprises a housing defining a material storge chamber therein; a motor; and a drive shaft being rotatably connected to the motor and extending into the housing. There is further provided a metering member adapted to handle a flowable material of a first physical property; a discharge unit configured to receive the metering member therein; and a first releasable connecting arrangement for readily connecting the metering member to and readily disconnecting it from the drive shaft. This arrangement ensures that the metering member is readily replaceable by another metering member adapted to handle a flowable material of a second physical property.

Abstract: A packing machine includes a supply conveyor arranged for advancing articles to be wrapped; a first motor drivingly connected to the supply conveyor; a second motor arranged for advancing a wrapper sheet codirectionally with the advance of articles; a sealing unit for periodically providing a transverse sealing seam in front of and behind each article subsequent to wrapping the article; and a third motor drivingly connected to the sealing unit. There is provided a circuit arrangement operatively coupled to the sealing unit for regulating a rotational position of the third motor. The circuit arrangement includes a computer having an input connected to the first motor for receiving data on consecutive rotational positions. To the computer there are applied data on dimensional characteristics of the articles and the wrapper sheet. The computer calculates, from the data, synchronous rotary positions of the second and third motors at least during periods when the sealing unit is in contact with the wrapper sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming consecutive groups of face-to-face stacked, flat articles includes an input conveyor for advancing the articles arranged in a flat-lying orientation and in a column of indeterminate length; a downwardly curving track arranged for receiving the articles from the input conveyor; a stock-forming device arranged for performing stacking steps by consecutively taking articles from the track and moving each article onto a trough into a face-to-face engagement with an outermost article of a group being under formation on the trough. There is provided a stepping motor connected to the stack-forming device for operating it in steps; a sensor arranged upstream of the stack-forming device responds to a passage of each article on the track. The sensor is connected to the stepping motor to operate it when the sensor responds. When the group has reached a predetermined number of articles or length, a mechanism discharges the group from the trough into a receptacle.

Abstract: A piston is moveably arranged in a cylindrical bore of a housing and the piston rod extends through one end of the housing for connection to a unit to be controlled. A very high variable control rate of the piston is made possible by a control slide valve formed as a hollow cylinder that is moveable within a coaxial bore of the piston rod. The hollow, cylindrical, control slide valve contains a plurality of apertures that cooperate with ports formed in the piston rod that extends on either side of the piston. A chamber formed on one side of the piston is connected to a source of pressurized fluid and a chamber at the other side of the piston is connected to a return for such pressurized fluid. A control rod is connected to the control slide valve for moving same within the coaxial bore of the piston rod and by specially forming the guiding or leading edges of the apertures formed in the control slide valve, high variable control rates are possible.