Abstract: A document printer in which a print drum is driven by a direct current electric motor whose voltage is controlled by a first voltage regulator circuit for supplying a first voltage to the motor during a non-printing operating condition and a voltage boost circuit for supplying a higher voltage to the motor during a printing operating condition so that the same document feed rate is maintained throughout the operation of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for the operation of a working element of an excavator. An arm connected to the working element and a boom for supporting and operating the arm are fabricated each in the shape of a hollow tube whose opposite ends are left unclosed. A boom cylinder, an arm cylinder, or a working element cylinder is disposed as contained within the boom or the arm. The point of connection of the boom to the arm and the point of connection of the working element cylinder to the arm constitute a joint fulcrum. The point of connection of the boom cylinder to the boom and the point of connection of the arm cylinder to the boom similarly constitute a joint fulcrum.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the control of the format of documents, such as letters, prepared automatically on a printer in response to code signals read from a record medium (magnetic storage medium) and to mode control means for associated apparatus. The invention concerns itself particulary with the handling of left margins and indentation levels for different paragraphs in a document especially when a document under preparation has line lengths that are either shorter or longer than the line lengths of an original document that was prepared concurrently with the storage of the coded signals on the record media. A preferred embodiment includes an input/output printer having a keyboard for entry of information and a single element print head for printing of information and an associated unit including an associated recorder for recording key entries as code signals on a magnetic tape record medium and an associated reader for subsequently reproducing the code signals for printing.

Abstract: An embossing system is disclosed for embossing cards with characters of at least two pitches. A number of embossers equal to the number of lines of characters to be embossed on the card are positioned in line. Each embosser is dedicated to the embossing of a particular line of characters with a particular pitch. A common transport belt conveys the cards from an input hopper past the embossing stations of each of the in line embossers to a wait station. During embossing, the transport belt is moved from the current longitudinal position to the longitudinal position where the closest next character(s) are to be embossed by any one of the embossers. The embossed cards are conveyed from the wait station to a topper which applies topping to the embossed characters.

Abstract: A sheet sorter of the nesting-bin type includes translatable bins that are driven so that there is an additional space between the bin immediately on top of a sheet-entry location and any superposed bins. This provides access to a corner of a set of sheets registered in that bin for a stapler which is reciprocable between a remote position permitting free indexing of the bins and an inner position in which it can be operated to staple the respective set of sheets together.

Abstract: The shafts of the sections of a printer-slotter machine are gear coupled and are set to the desired phase relation by a microcomputer control while coupled. The sections need not be de-coupled during set up. During normal operation, following set up, the section shafts are mechanically locked in phase register.

Abstract: A paper roll stand holds a paper roll in such a manner as to allow it to rotate in two opposite directions so as to temporarily locate a leading web end on a table board. An arm assembly positioned above the table board is movable in the lengthwise and lateral directions. The arm assembly includes a suction cup device for lifting up the outermost web of the paper roll, a cutter device for cutting the paper web, and a tape-attaching device for adhesively attaching web pasting adhesive tapes to the web's leading end. A device for adhesively attaching a head of a web end-fastening strip to an inner side of the web's leading end is located below the web. A paper roll-pressing device for adhesively fastening a tail of the web end-fastening strip to the outer surface of the roll is also included. A new paper roll prepared for web pasting according to the present invention is brought to the paper roll stand of a printing unit and rotatably held thereon.

Abstract: The sweeping brush of the machine is composed of two or more parts in order to maintain a constant pressure of the sweeping brush against the ground, to achieve faster clearance of the snow, and to avoid downtime for adjustments. These brush parts are swivellable relative to one another in a vertical plane. The common raising and lowering movement of the individual parts is controlled by a cylinder-piston unit, and the piston acting upon the brush parts is always impinged upon by a pressure opposite to the direction of movement. The individual brush parts may be connected to one another by torsion bars.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a feed path for print medium to be imprinted. A printing station defined by a printhead that is biased towards abutting contact with a platen roller. A floating mount pivotally mounts the printhead with respect to the platen roller so that a uniform contact pressure is established between the printhead and print medium during printing. The printhead is also mounted for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the first axis which allows the printhead to move towards and away from the platen roller to facilitate loading of the print medium. A printhead sensor monitors the position of the head and automatically deactivates the printhead when it is about to be, or is separated, from the platen roller. A stripper mechanism is provided for automatically stripping a backing from the print medium and includes a stripper assist bar that causes the backing to follow, and frictionally engage, a peripheral region on the platen roller that is at least 90.degree..

Abstract: Collation of folded printed signatures or sheets is accomplished by a rotating collating cylinder or rotary collator which is rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis of revolution. The rotary collator comprises a plurality of collating conveyors arranged substantially parallel to this longitudinal axis. These collating conveyors are substantially annularly positioned about this longitudinal axis and extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotary collator. The folded printed signatures or sheets are fed or conveyed by three feeding conveyors or infeed devices and are deposited to straddle the collating conveyors or the respective folded printed signatures or sheets already straddling the collating conveyors. The folded printed signatures or sheets are displaced in the direction of conveyance of the rotary collator while revolving about the longitudinal axis of the rotary collator.

Abstract: Signatures, newspaper sections or like printed products are temporarily stored between two successive processing machines of a production line by convoluting them onto a rotor with a flexible band so that the products are stored between neighboring convolutions of the band. The products are stored when the output of the preceding machine exceeds the requirements of the next-following machine, and the rotor is caused to pay out stored products when the requirements of the next-following machine exceed the output of the preceding machine. The rotor can store printed products in the form of a stream of spaced-apart products or in the form of a scalloped stream wherein the trailing portion of each preceding product overlaps the leader of the next-following product. A stream of spaced-apart products can be converted into a scalloped stream on its way to the reservoir from a conveyor which connects the preceding machine with the next-following machine.

Abstract: Printed products to be opened are held at their folded or spine edge and, with their open or fan edge located opposite to this folded edge, are fed forward with their fan edge leading into an opening or spreading device or apparatus. A lower portion of the printed products possesses a leading edge section or marginal lap section due to an off-center fold. Circulatingly driven grippers or clamps grip this lower portion of the printed products in the region of the leading edge section and guide it along a downwardly and backwardly curved path. The printed products are simultaneously further transported or conveyed by means of feeders or feeding devices. Both portions of each printed product (i.e. the upper and the lower portions) are thus separated from one another. A collating conveyor of a collating drum or cylinder can be inserted into the opening thus formed between both product portions. Such a collating drum or cylinder may possess a plurality of circulatingly driven collating conveyors.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding and shingling sheets in which the sheets, upon exiting the printing operation, enter a controlled slow-down section between a series of high-speed, face-to-face belts. The sheets exit these belts and are decelerated by the action of a snubber means trapping the sheets against a series of slower-speed belts and underlying deck plate. Having been slowed down, the sheets abut a stop member wherein a chopper blade impacts the centerline of the sheet thereby driving the sheet through a slot in the deck plate and into the grasp of a pair of biased, impinging nip rollers. The nip rollers crease the fold created by the chopper blade and accelerate the sheets into a second series of high-speed, face-to-face belts. These belts deliver the folded sheets to a second slow-down section wherein a second snubber means decelerates the sheets by trapping them against a slower-speed belt.

Abstract: A railway ballast renewal machine for renewing a railway road bed within a tunnel is disclosed. The device has a scarifier to loosing the metalling, a work unit to grip and retain the alignment of the rails as well as remove the metalling from between the sleepers, a riddle to sort the metalling, and a device to spread the sorted metalling back on the railway bed. The metalling is removed from between the sleepers by a movable case which moves vertically between the sleepers.

Abstract: A snowblower is disclosed wherein use is made of one vertically disposed endless snow conveying belt to which are secured transverse snow scraper members. The forward strand of the belt is made to travel downward, the scraper members digging into the snow to drive it at the rear of the belt where the scraper members of the upwardly moving rearward strand drive the snow through a conventional outlet arrangement including an elongated opening extending the full width of the casing top wall. The snowblower may make use of a single endless snow conveying belt with scrapers cooperating with the back wall of the casing or else use is made of two snow conveying belts, with appropriate snow scrapers, travelling in opposite directions and forming a snow discharge channel between them wherein the snow is powerfully driven upward through the top wall opening having an appropriate chute for guiding the snow being discharged.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a support body and a printer. The support body has a first area for storing media to be supplied to the printer, and a second area for receiving media from the printer which is mounted on the support body. The support body has a linkage mechanism to enable the support body to be moved from a home position to an accessing position where the accessing of media in the support body is facilitated.

Abstract: A snow plow, designed to fit on small vehicles, is disclosed. The plow has a single point connection to the vehicle. A novel yoke mounting scheme is also disclosed, which enables the blade to be angled. The plow is operated by a pneumatic means, controlled from within the vehicle. All operating connections to the vehicle are made through a single power cord. All pneumatic lines are self contained within the plow, thereby eliminating the need for air hoses to be connected or installed on the vehicle. The plow has an upstop device that is used to block upward travel of the plow. The upstop is used to prevent the plow from obscuring the headlights of the vehicle. An uplock is also provided which acts to lock the plow blade in an non-operating position when the plow is not needed, thereby preventing the possibility of the blade dropping to the road and causing an accident. The plow is designed to be removed quickly and easily from the vehicle for storage.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening signatures comprises a conveyor having a concave section onto which, in use, the signatures to be opened are deposited. Above this concave section of the conveyor there is disposed a series of rotating suckers mounted on a movable frame which is joined to a mechanism for displacing it with a reciprocating arcuate movement which follows the curve of the concave section of the conveyor. The rotating suckers are carried on bars mounted eccentrically and rotatably on associated suction heads. These bars are hollow and communicate, through a duct, with a suction source, the communication being controlled by a solenoid valve. Each of the said eccentric bars is driven to rotate by a spindle to which is rigidly connected a sprocket engaged by a slidable chain which acts as a rack.

Abstract: A snowblower with a power driven intake and discharge fan in a housing has at the front an open face exposing the fan and a transition housing detachably attachable over the open face. The transition housing has a slidable plate or fan cover that rises and can be positioned to leave substantially a snow-height opening at the lower front for most efficient intake of snow by the fan. The transition housing has a concave, radiused lower margin for scooping snow into the circular opening.

Abstract: A machine comprises a body (10) having a ground engaging propulsion means (11) and a base frame (14) mounted on the ground engaging means (11), the base frame (14) being movable relative to the ground engaging propulsion means (11) about a first generally vertical axis (V), a boom (30) extending outwardly of the body (10) and mounted on the base frame (14) for movement about a second axis (B) transverse relative to the first axis (V), the boom (30) having mounted at an outer end (36) thereof for movement about a third axis (71) also transverse to the first vertical axis (V), a dipper arm (37), an implement (43) mounted at an outer end (42) of the dipper arm (37) for movement about a fourth axis (T2), also generally transverse relative to the vertical axis (41), a cable (47) secured to the dipper arm (37) and connected to a winch means (50) to effect movement of the dipper arm (37) relative to the boom (30) to effect movement of the implement (43) towards the body (10), a hydraulic ram (38) mounted between the