Abstract: A machine particularly adapted for dispensing light items packaged in symmetrical, frustum-shaped container. The items are propelled through a tubular cartridge and individually ejected by a flow of air generated by a blower under control of a toggling dual-gate mechanism at the dispensing end of the cartridge. The dual-gate mechanism of a removable magazine grouping a number of cartridges can be selectively addressed and activated by means of a solenoid-driven cross-bar assembly.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a housing supporting a display device. The housing is configured to support at least one drink supply container which can contain a drink syrup associated with a carbonated beverage. The refrigerator has an input device coupled to the drink supply container which enables a user to cause carbonated beverage to flow to a beverage collector.

Abstract: The invention provides a movable walkway installation (10), such as an escalator or a travelator, which installation (10) includes a movable support member (18) for transporting persons supported thereon, a movable handrail (16) for gripping by persons transported by the movable support member (18), and a disinfecting device (14) which is installed and positioned for disinfecting the movable handrail (16) during movement of the handrail (16) past the disinfecting device (14). The disinfecting device (10) may be arranged to produce ultra-violet radiation selected to have a disinfecting or germicidal effect.

Abstract: A conveyor for transporting objects sensitive to electrostatic discharge. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a roller conveyor with conductive rollers in electrical communication with an electrical ground. The rollers preferably have about 105 ohms resistance from the outer diameter to the inner diameter to ensure that electrostatic charges built up on the conveyed object can flow to ground, yet not flow too quickly. In another embodiment, the roller shafts are supported on highly conductive bushings that provide a path to electrical ground that is preferably less that 104 ohms. In yet another embodiment, the roller shafts are driven by a conductive pulley that minimizes the build-up of electrostatic charge as a result of a triboelectric effect with the drive belt.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus of the present invention has a gate for taking in sheets of paper ejected from an image forming apparatus through a taking-in port and switching to either of a conveying path for post processing or a conveying path for non-post processing to convey the sheets of paper and a tray attached to the upper part of the sheet finishing apparatus by a link mechanism, and the tray can rotate between the height position for storing sheets of paper and the height position away from the upper part and keeps the angle of inclination thereof constant at either of the height positions, and furthermore, sheets of paper taken in from the taking-in port are clamped and conveyed by a pair of rollers, and one of the pair of rollers is supported by a sheet guidance member, and the sheet guidance member rotates in connection with the link mechanism and can cope with paper jamming, if any.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a chalk line device having a helical gear and an improved locking assembly. The locking assembly comprises a first lock member having a lock button. The locking assembly also comprises a second lock member including an opening to lockingly engage the first lock member and having a plurality of teeth at one end disposed adjacent one of the helical gears used in this embodiment. The second lock member engages with the helical gear in response to a movement of the lock button member.

Abstract: A package handling system for use with a plurality of packages having package identification thereon. The system of one embodiment comprises processing stations where packages having heterogeneous contents are processed. One or more identifiers are positioned at the processing stations to detect the package identifications associated with the packages. A controller is coupled to the identifier and has access to first and second package data. The first package data related to an actual condition of the package, and the second package data related to acceptable package conditions. A labeler coupled to the controller is configured to apply a first label to the package if the first and second package data indicate that the package is in an acceptable condition or a second label if the first and second package data indicate that the package is in a condition requiring further processing.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for transport and placement of articles in single file order includes dual parallel infeed conveyors each having an elevating portion for discharging articles onto transverse conveyors whose discharge ends are disposed over elevated discharge conveyors traversing in the opposite direction from the direction of movement of the infeed conveyors. The discharge conveyors include horizontal conveyor runs over which are disposed elongated article guide fences operable to guide articles into single file order but to also force articles not in proper order off of the conveyors into bottomless bins which guide the articles onto the inlet portions of the infeed conveyors for recycling through the apparatus.

Abstract: A guide device guides a load carrier of an elevator installation along a guide surface and comprises a guide element contacting the guide surface and connected by a connecting element with the load carrier such that the guide element is movable relative to the load carrier in a first and/or a second positional range. The connecting element comprises first and second resilient elements in a serial arrangement, wherein movement of the guide element in the first range deforms both resilient elements and movement of the guide element in the second range exclusively deforms the second resilient element. The overall stiffness of the connecting element is a function of the respective position of the guide element. Stiffness of the second resilient element increases during compression in the second range, wherein the overall stiffness is substantially constant at a transition between the first and the second ranges.

Abstract: Conveyor systems for storage and movement of goods on pallets and slip sheets. The transfer structures enable slip sheet mounted loads to be transferred to a roller conveyor by providing structures that cooperate with wide platen forks of a lift truck. The structures provide roller contact between a portion of the underside of the slip sheet at all times. In other areas there is alternatively contact between a lift truck platen or additional rollers that cooperate in a manner making it possible to move the slip sheet mounted load from the lift truck to an adjacent conveyor system.

Abstract: A screen assembly for a vibratory separator includes a composite screen frame that has a rigid support section formed from a polymer material and a cushioned strain relief zone. The strain relief zone is located along the inner periphery of the rigid support section and provides support at the interface between the screen frame and the screen cloth. The strain relief zone may extend along an inner peripheral wall of the rigid support section. The rigid support section may include a flange and the strain relief zone may extend around the rigid support section to encapsulate the flange in addition to providing additional support to the screen cloth. The rigid support section and the strain relief zone may be co-formed in a molding process. Alternatively the rigid support section may be a molded member and the strain relief zone may be an extrusion to be assembled to the rigid support member. The screen cloth is affixed to the peripheral frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting articles. The lifting apparatus may lack mechanization, may be used in conjunction with hoist means, and may operate on, among other things, the principles of leverage, gravity, and friction. The apparatus may include a frame disposable on an article to be lifted and at least two fulcrums distributed generally symmetrically about the frame. At least two lifting arms may be pivotally mounted to a corresponding fulcrum. A central exertion member includes a top surface having one sloped portion for each lifting arm. Upon application of upward force to the exertion member, the exertion member applies force to the upper ends of the lifting arms. The lifting arms then rotate around the corresponding fulcrum to contact the article for lifting.

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a car that is raised and lowered within a hoistway has a car frame and a cage supported on the car frame. Chamfered portions are provided at corner portions of the cage. The car frame has vertical columns arranged along the chamfered portions.

Abstract: A lift with a multiple locking position safety leg includes a lift bed for engaging in objects to be lifted together with a fluid cylinder to be connected to the lift bed and extendable and retractable to move the lift bed between two extreme positions including a fully lowered position and a fully raised position. A latching mechanism is provided for holding the lift bed in any of a plurality of positions between the extreme positions and includes a plurality of vertically spaced latches operated by gravity to move to latching positions, one for each of the plurality of positions, and a single actuator for simultaneously moving and holding each of the latches against gravity from the latching positions to allow the lift bed to be moved to the fully lowered position. Also disclosed is a kit for retrofitting existing lifts with the safety leg.

Abstract: A scissor lift mechanism (1) having at least two scissor elements (4, 5) connected in pairs by a swivel axis (3). The drive (11) for raising and lowering the scissor elements (4, 5) is provided by a traction member (13). To reduce the driving power required for operation while at the same time reducing control complexity, the scissor lift mechanism (1) is equipped with two coupling bridges (14, 15) situated on opposite sides of the swivel axis (3) and pivotably supported by thrust struts (22, 23) on each of the two scissor elements (4, 5), respectively. The distance “a” between the coupling bridges (14, 15) and the resulting height of lift “h” are easily variable by applying a tractive force “F” via the traction member (13, 25) which is guided around reversing rollers (16) and back and forth along a plurality of generally parallel paths (18, 19, 20, 21) between the two coupling bridges (14, 15).

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for preventing unauthorized equipment usage that involves providing equipment, such as beverage making equipment, to a customer. Authorized product is provided to the customer in packaging that has a technological measure attached. The equipment includes a technological measure reader to read information from the technological measure to set the equipment to perform an authorized number of food or beverage making cycles. An authorization deactivator may also be provided in association with the equipment to erase, decrement, or otherwise prevent the technological measure from being reused.

Abstract: A machine processing printing-material sheets contains a first sheet transport drum and a second sheet transport drum disposed immediately after the first sheet transport drum in a sheet transport direction. The first sheet transport drum has gripper systems which describe a gripper flight circle during its rotation and a drum profile deviating substantially from a circular shape with outer contour regions running between the gripper systems and set back from the gripper flight circle. The second sheet transport drum has a sheet support surface with pneumatic grooves formed therein. The sheet support surface is composed of a first and second comb segments each with segment prongs. The pneumatic grooves are introduced into the segment prongs of at least one of the comb segments. The pneumatic grooves are preferably introduced both into the segment prongs of the first comb segment and into the segment prongs of the second comb segment.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a frame having a plurality of upstanding legs. At least one tray unit is carried on the frame. The tray unit includes at least one connector element. The conveyor further includes at least one clip connectable to the frame and having at least one attachment element configured to releasably engage the connector element of the tray. The connector elements can be spaced holes located along the sides of the tray unit. The attachment element can be a projection or tooth on the tray clip configured to selectively engage one or more of the holes on the side of the tray unit. The clip can include a locking arm to lock the tray to the clip to prevent the tray from sliding during use. The width of the frame and/or the tray unit can be adjusted.

Abstract: A device for conveying articles having an array of rollers set alongside one another so as to define, by means of homologous generatrices, a plane of conveyance of said articles. A plurality of motor-driven units for said rollers, each motor-driven unit being able to bring about rotation of at least one respective roller of said array. A control unit, which acts on said motor-driven units and is able to control said motor-driven units with a speed that is selectively determined in such a way that the rollers of the array are divided into a first set of rollers, which move at at least one first speed, and at least one second set of rollers, which move at at least one second speed. Said sets of rollers are contiguous to one another along an ideal demarcation line and, by intervening on the respective motor-driven units, the control unit is able to displace selectively the aforesaid ideal demarcation line in the direction of advance of the articles on the array of rollers.