Abstract: An adjustable flex alpine ski is disclosed. The ski includes tensile members embedded below the neutral plane in the center, shovel and tail sections of the ski. The tensile members are each fixed at one end and are independently adjustable by means of tension adjustment mechanisms located at the free ends of the members. The tension adjustment mechanisms are controlled by means of flexible shafts which terminate at hex nuts opening flushly onto the sidewalls of the ski, so as to be unobtrusive and aerodynamic, yet readily accessible in the field.

Abstract: A collapsible sled for transporting articles comprising a pair of box-like sections within each of which there is pivotably mounted a pair of runners. The runners can be pivoted so as to be completely received within the box-like sections for transport, and the box-like sections can be closed upon each other to form a complete box with the runners disposed therein. Fasteners including a plurality of keepers for slidably receiving a plurality of locking members, respectively, are provided for securing the runners and the box-like sections in their operable positions. The fasteners eliminate any need for conventional threaded fasteners, are very convenient to use, and provide a strong and effective fastening arrangement.

Abstract: Plate-like ballast weights attached by noses to a support or carrier element located at the front of an agricultural prime mover. The nose of each individual ballast weight is spaced from the rest of the ballast weight by such an amount that the latter can be hung by the nose on the support or carrier element in a hanging-in or attaching position, and can subsequently be pivoted into its end position with the nose on a slope or inclination of the support or carrier element. A projection in the lower region of the ballast weight catches in a recess in the end position of the support or carrier element. The ballast weights can be secured in this end position by an arresting arrangement in the region of the noses thereof.

Abstract: The actuation of a nozzle utilized for propelling the yarn in an air weft insertion weaving system is controlled by means of a single rotary servo valve having an arrangement of ports adapted to be brought during valve rotation into registration alternately with an air pressure source and with the atmosphere for alternately pressurizing and venting a pilot chamber for opening and closing the nozzle. Preferably, the rotary valve includes a rotary spool enclosed within a sleeve of air permeable material to provide an air bearing for the spool.

Abstract: Machine for separating and longitudinally slitting thin sheet, especially double-rolled aluminum sheet or foil, and for winding it onto two winding shafts in abutting strip coils, each winding station including a displaceable cylinder-biased winding carriage with a deflecting roll and a pressure roll defining a terminal sheet run unaffected by the carriage position. Slitting knives arranged on a rotatable swivel shaft in the winding carriage reach into the sheet path in its terminal run, just ahead of the winding point, the slitting knives being retractable into a safe position through rotation of the swivel shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to an externally hooked storage spool for rotary winding on and unwinding elastic materials comprising a cylindrical core and two flanges, the core having wing-like catching members for catching the end of the elastic material while the spool rotates and one holding hook and one pin to prevent unhooking in an opening between the wing like catching members and the end of the strip is provided with a hammer-shaped first cut in which are produced at least one holding hole and one hole to prevent unhooking.

Abstract: A web slitting and winding apparatus having at least a pair of vertical, parallel, plate-like slitter modules slidably movable laterally relative to one another for varying the distance therebetween. Each slitter module further has a pair of flanges extending toward one another for supporting a pair of coacting knives. A web is slit by the knives into a plurality of web strips which are guided and wound onto cores.

Abstract: A camera film easy loading takeup spool includes a body member rotatable about a longitudinal axis past a film delivery position and a plurality of peripherally spaced pairs of longitudinal jaw members, one of each of which is swingable about a longitudinal axis between film entry opening open and closed positions relative to the respective other jaw member and spring biased to its open position and including a depending follower engaging a circular cam which closes the jaws offset from the film delivery position and permits the spring opening of the jaw proximate the film delivery position. A film perforation engaging tooth or a friction pad is carried by one of each pair of jaws and the inner ends of the jaws delineate an inner passageway of a width equal to about the film thickness. A visual indicator is actuated when any one of the jaw members is open.

Abstract: A carpet take-up device, for use on carpeting that has been glued down, comprising a spool, a means for rotating the spool, a blade adapted to wedge underneath the carpet and having a knife at each of opposite longitudinal ends, a roller bar, and a rear wheel support. The rotation means rotates the spool so as to roll up the carpet as the blade is pulled forward beneath the carpet.

Abstract: A device for winding a plurality of endless webs of stock material on individual cores on a driven cantilevered support shaft to prepare finished packages of the stock material is provided with a secondary, non-driven cantilevered support shaft located in a first position in proximity to, but spaced from the driven support shaft. The secondary support shaft has a diameter which is substantially equal to the diameter of the driven support shaft, and the secondary support shaft is mounted for movement from its first position to a second position wherein the secondary support shaft and the driven support shaft are in a longitudinal, end-to-end alignment, and are contiguous. While located in its first position, the secondary support shaft is loaded with a plurality of unused cores. Upon conclusion of a winding operation, finished packages are removed from the driven support shaft, while the secondary support shaft is located in its first position.

Abstract: An uncoiler for metallic strip material may suffer from rotational effects of a coil supported on the mandrel if the coil is eccentrically mounted on the mandrel. The uncoiler has means for detecting these rotational effects and, if the effects are greater than a predetermined level, a signal is prepared which is used either to prevent further increase in rotational speed of the mandrel or to reduce the speed of the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for reeling a web, for instance a web of paper, on a winding shaft over which core tubes are fitted. A lifting device engages the completed roll only at the periphery thereof and lifts it to an extraction position, where an extraction device extracts the winding shaft. The same lifting device moves a new core tube to the extraction station, where the winding shaft is inserted in the core tube. The combination of winding shaft and the new core tube is then lifted, either by the same lifting device or by a separate lifting mechanism, to a return roller path along which the shaft rolls, and at the end of which the shaft is received by an additional lifting device. The additional lifting device lowers the shaft, delivering it to the jaws of a pivotable reel swing member, which pivots to bring the winding shaft with the new core tube into the position at the application station for winding a new roll therein.

Abstract: A web handling device, such as a high-speed printing press, is provided with a jam prevention means comprising stripper fingers equipped with a shut down means which prevents damage to the press if a blockage occurs during the stripping operation.

Abstract: Machine for separating double-rolled thin aluminum sheet and for winding the separated sheets onto winding shafts, the coil-carrying supply shaft being driven by a motor-generator controlled by a speed control circuit for a constant sheet speed, following acceleration of the supply coil. The traction rolls and deflecting rolls in the processing section are driven by a traction motor controlled by a tension control circuit for a constant sheet tension independently of the sheet speed. The winding shafts for the separated sheets are similarly controlled by tension control circuits for a constant sheet tension independently of the sheet speed. The control circuits have preset members for the adjustment of nominal speed and tension settings.

Abstract: A centerline web guide apparatus for detecting the transverse position of the centerline of a longitudinally moving web of material unwinding from a supply roll and transversely shifting the supply roll to maintain the position of the web centerline along a desired path has two photoelectric detectors located at the opposite longitudinal edges of the web. The photoelectric detectors continuously move back and forth generally transversely of the web continuously monitoring the position of the longitudinal edges of the web. The supply roll of material is supported on a frame which is movable transversely of the web by, for example, an electric motor. As the moving photoelectric detectors detect the longitudinal edges of the web, they send an appropriate signal to the motor controlling the movement of the support frame to transversely move the support frame in an appropriate direction transversely of the web to maintain the centerline of the web in a constant position along the desired path.

Abstract: A stock loop controller is disclosed which measures the round trip time of an ultrasonic signal transmitted to the stock loop and its return echo to generate a digital signal proportional to such time. The digital signal is converted to an analog signal and compared with a voltage reference across an amplifier. The resultant difference signal is used to control a motor operating the stock loop "take-up" or "feed-out" mechanism.

Abstract: In order to prevent cutting of inner windings of a film (39) wound on a pair of arbor halves (34 and 38) during sequential withdrawal of the arbor halves following a winding operation, the arbor halves are forge formed with rounded protuberant winding surfaces (51, 52 and 53). The rounded surfaces may be coated with a low friction plastic to enhance sequential arbor withdrawal without pulling the inner convolutions from the wound film plastic (39). Further, the arbor halves are provided with ends (36) bent beyond 90.degree. so that the arbor halves may force seat in holes (42) formed in holders. The arbor bent end construction will also allow an operator to strike the bent end of the arbor half in a hole to quickly remove a defective arbor to permit quick replacement with a new arbor half.

Abstract: A tensioning device to control the dispensing of a large roll of ribbon or tape under a uniform tension as the roll becomes smaller in diameter. The tensioning device comprises a rotatably supported spool that is fixedly positioned and an adjustable roller mounted to a pivot arm, whereby the roller is positioned contiguously with respect to the fixed spool, the ribbon or tape being interposed therebetween. The roller includes an outer pliable frictional cylinder which is rotatably supported on the shaft mounted to the pivot arm in a vise-like arrangement, whereby the frictional cylinder can be squeezed to cause the outer diameter thereof to be adjusted to the proper frictional engagement with the ribbon or tape.

Abstract: A roller stand incorporating a device adapted to join a running web of material being unwound from a first roll to a web of material of a second roll and comprising a roll-holding device including two unwinding stations, means to cut the running web, a mechanism to exert a braking force on the spindles supporting said first and second rolls, and means provided to transfer rotational motion of said roll-support spindles to said braking mechanism by means of free-wheel members, said members being arranged to control said braking mechanism selectively for application of braking force on the roll-support spindle that at the moment has the highest rotational speed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding a series of web portions to a high speed web processing machine, such as a high speed printer, utilizing auxiliary equipment positioned adjacent the processing machine. The auxiliary equipment permits continuous splicing of web portions and, thus feeding of a continuous web to the processing machine, and intermittent removal of web portions in such a manner that the processing machine may be run continuously without stoppage for feeding or removing the web.