Abstract: A roll sheet conveying device includes a spool arranged to be rotatable while holding a roll-shaped sheet, a sheet conveying roller for driving and conveying the sheet, and a spool brake mechanism for generating a rotation load to act on the spool, wherein, when the sheet is sent out from the spool by driving the sheet conveying roller, the rotation load of the spool brake mechanism is caused to act on the spool, and when the sheet is rewound onto the spool by driving the spool, the rotation load of the spool brake mechanism is prevented from acting on the spool.

Abstract: An automotive seatbelt take-up device has a primary spiral spring biasing a take-up shaft in a seatbelt take-up direction. A spring clutch transfers rotation of the take-up shaft in a seatbelt drawing-out direction to a ring. A secondary spiral spring is capable of generating rotational biasing force on the take-up shaft in a direction opposite that of the primary spiral spring. Thus, the present invention provides an automotive seatbelt take-up device that can reduce both the drawing-out force and the take-up force of a seatbelt when the seatbelt is being worn.

Abstract: The perforating unit comprises: a support (23) with at leat two fixed counterblades (25A, 25B); a first roller (27) revolving about its own axis and carrying a first series of rotary blades (29) acting in combination with a first (25A) one of said fixed counterblades; a second roller (31) revolving about its own axis nd carrying a second series of rotary blades (33) acting in combination with the second (25B) one of said fixed counterblades. The blades of the first series are arranged at a different pitch from the blades of the second series of blades.

Abstract: A storage device for storing strings Christmas, holiday or other strings of lights when the strings of lights are not in use. The device has an end having slots therethrough through which one or more of the ends of the string of lights are placed. A cap is then utilized to hold the light string end in position while the string itself is wound around the exterior surface of the storage device.

Abstract: An integrated adjustable core support and medium guide device comprises a left support member, a right support member substantially parallel to the left support member, and a connecting mechanism coupled between the left and the right support members at opposite ends, the left support member having a left adjustable core support ear integrated with a left guide wall and a left guide rail, the right support member having a right adjustable core support ear integrated with a right guide wall and a right guide rail, the left and the right core support ears respectively including a semicircular upper half securely coupled to the left and the right support members respectively and including a semicircular lower half movably coupled to the left and the right support members respectively, the lower halves being vertically adjustable and the connecting mechanism being laterally adjustable of its width.

Abstract: A core/hub assembly for a printing device that provides for easy alignment and insertion, and maintains a secure interface to prevent slippage of the core during printer operation, is disclosed. A hub includes keys mounted at a proximal end which serve to transmit torque when engaged with a core. The hub further includes splines configured to be received within a core and provide longitudinal support thereto. A core includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs that cooperate to form channels configured to receive the splines of the hub. A portion of the ribs include compliant radially oriented leaf springs which center the core on the hub and provide a physical fit of the core on the hub by engaging the keys at the proximal end of the core when properly inserted therein.

Abstract: A winding unit is provided in which one-way clutches for driving and braking are mounted in the inner surface of the reel and a web such as a cover tape 39 is wound by intermittently rotating the reel. Tension acting on the web can be released during replacement of the reel. A spring type torque limiter 18 is disposed between the reel boss 25 and outer rings 12, 12′ of the one-way clutches 9, 11 for driving and braking. The torque limiter 18 is arranged such that, during rotation in the winding direction, a coil spring 27 locks to transmit torque, and when the reel is forcibly turned in the unwinding direction, slip occurs, thus releasing the tension in the web.

Abstract: A container contents unloading apparatus and methods are provided for distributing load lift and effecting a smooth rotational pivot of a container-holding carriage to slidably discharge the content of the held container and smoothly return the emptied container to an originating position. The container contents unloading apparatus preferably includes a load distributing lifter, preferably provided by a pair of endless loops to propel and guide lift and return movement, a load distributing arm to evenly distribute load lift, and a link connecting a container holding carriage. The endless loops are propelled through a closed path, the closed path having a first and second centerline inclined with respect to one another.

Abstract: A pretensioner 10 for a seat belt 12 utilizes a strap 34 coiled about a clutch assembly 46 wherein the clutch assembly 46 is in normal operation of a vehicle, rotatable about a portion of a webbing reel shaft 16. The pretensioner 10 contains a first passage 20 and a second passage 22 for the respective containment of the clutch assembly 46 and an actuator 32, wherein each passage is formed perpendicular and in volumetric intersection with the other. The pretensioner 10 also contains a gas generant composition 30 in combustive communication with the actuator 32. Upon ignition, the gas pressure produced by the pyrotechnic 30 propels the actuator 32 into the strap 34, thereby effecting rotary advancement of the clutch assembly 46 and the shaft 16, and thus pretensioning the seat belt 12 wound about a spool 13 of a seat belt retractor 14, wherein the spool 13 is rotatably engaged with a second portion of the shaft 16 and thus provided in coaxial relation with the clutch assembly 46.

Abstract: A wooden spool held together with a novel tie rod assembly and a method of assembly the spool between a pair of dies. The novel tie rod assembly includes elongate tie rods having a bent end or otherwise deformed first end and a plurality of grooveless retaining rings. The tie rods are inserted through the end flanges and the transverse barrel of the of the spool. The retaining rings are pressed axially on the smooth second ends of the tie rods which project axially from one of the flanges. The spool can be assembled between a pair of dies. The base die includes locating recesses to receive the bent ends of the tie rods and the top die includes engaging pins for pressing the retaining rings on the opposite ends of the spool.

Abstract: A retractor having a retractable tether and a spring biased reel providing a retracting force throughout the full extension of the tether to take up any slack in the tether and to return the tether to its normal wound storage position on the reel. The retractor having a housing and a swivel attachment component extending from the housing which enables the housing of the retractor to pivot relative to the surface to which the retractor is connected. The general structure of the swivel attachment component permits ready assembly of any one of various configured swivel attachment components to the retractor housing.

Abstract: To provide a pre-tensioner which can effectively use ignition pressure of a gas generator and can be constructed in a compact form as a whole and have lighter weight, a pre-tensioner 10 is mounted outside of a side wall 50 of the frame 2 by a base 41. A hexagonal head portion 4d of a reel 4 penetrates a base 41. Fixed to the outer periphery of the hexagonal head portion 4d is a pinion 23. The pinion 23 is provided with external teeth 24 uniformly formed around the periphery thereof. A ring gear 30 is disposed to surround the pinion 23. The ring gear 30 has internal teeth 31 engageable with the external teeth 24 of the pinion 23. The ring gear 30 has levers 32, 33 projecting outwardly, which are formed on the outer periphery of the ring gear 30 at predetermined interval. The lever 32 of the ring gear 30 is substantially in contact with the head ball 20-15 within the pipe 21.

Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle occupant seat belt, comprising a belt reel (14) rotatably mounted in a housing (12), a torsion bar (21) extending in the interior of said belt reel (14) and connected by its first axial end (22) non-rotatably to said belt reel (14) and by its second axial end (26) non-rotatably to a ratchet disk (18) provided with a ratchet toothing (16), and a load-bearing ratchet pawl (42) capable of being brought into engagement with said ratchet toothing (16) to block said belt reel (14), is characterized in that said torsion bar comprises a first section (28) as well as a second section (30), the cross-section of which is smaller than that of said first section (28), that an arresting portion (24) is configured between said first and second sections (28, 30) and that a bypass element (34) is provided which can be transposed from a starting position connecting said arresting portion (24) non-rotatably to said second end (26) of said torsion bar (21) into a release position in which said arre

Abstract: The invention provides a seatbelt retractor comprising at least: a spool for taking up a seatbelt, a lock mechanism having a locking member whereby rotation in the direction of extracting the seatbelt is obstructed in the event of an emergency, a torsion bar rotatably linking the spool and the locking member, and capable of being deformed by twisting and a seatbelt load restricting mechanism for restricting the load placed upon the seatbelt. The torsion bar deforms by twisting at the time that the rotation of the locking member in the direction of the seatbelt being extracted is obstructed. The spool rotates relative to the extraction direction of the seatbelt. The restriction load properties of the seatbelt load restricting mechanism comprise a relatively small restriction load due to twisting deformation of the torsion bar alone, and a relatively great restriction load made up of a restriction load due to twisting deformation of the torsion bar and a restriction load due to another member.

Abstract: A dispensing machine for wipe material with the reel in a frontal position of the type includes a housing (2), a cover (3), a drum (4), a cutting device (5-6) built into the drum, a cam and start sprig for starting and returning the drum and a device to prevent loops in the material paid out from the reel (B) of material. The device includes a reel holder (16) capable of engaging and positioning itself on a fixed support (17) physically joined to the rear wall of the bottom of the housing, said reel holder being rotatably mounted on support (17) in opposition to a spring and in that the reel holder is devised to position itself on a long bearing surface (17b) of support (17), being locked into position relative to the latter and in that the reel holder co-operates with the core or spindle of the reel of wipe material in order to drive it.

Abstract: Contact roller systems comprising several hollow cylindrical roller segments (2) that are mounted next to each other on the front face side in such a way that they can rotate freely on a continuous shaft (1) are already known per se in winding machines. According to the invention, the internal bearing parts of a roller segment (2) terminate on at least one axial end at a distance (4) from the front face of the roller segment (2). A free space is thus formed, whereby parts of a support bearing (5) which supports the shaft (1) and/or parts of an adjusting lever (6) can be arranged therein. The support bearing (5) and/or the adjusting lever (6) have an annular groove (7) in which the end of the roller segment (2) can rotate in a contactless manner. It is possible to keep the gap between two adjacent roller segments (2) as small as possible in order to avoid markings, while still allowing the support bearing (5) and/or adjusting lever (6) to act.

Abstract: A core shaft having lugs protruding from its outer circumference to grip winding cores such as a paper tube is provided, wherein the movement of the lugs within a shell of the shaft is inhibited thereby to secure concentrical gripping of the winding cores with the core shaft and to prevent from decentering and vibration or runout of the winding cores, eventually enabling a smooth winding or unwinding of a sheet material.

Abstract: A seat belt tension adjuster adjusts tension on a seat belt wound on a reel by a biasing spring. The tension adjuster includes a biasing force adjusting mechanism situated between the reel and the spring for adjusting a biasing force transmitted from the spring to the reel depending on a rotational angular position of the reel. The biasing force adjusting mechanism includes a cam for gradually changing the biasing force based on the rotational angular position of the reel. The tension adjuster can freely set the withdrawing force and the winding force of the seat belt.

Abstract: An elongated composite tube made up of an inner tube 42 and an outer tube 44 (FIG. 3) with a plurality of elongated helical ribs disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube in a supporting relationship to both. A slinky like toy made from the composite tube is also disclosed, as is a method of making both.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for developing speed and rotation count profiles for controlling the spindle drive on a towel winder system for winding rolls of paper, such as tissue or towel. The system and method monitors accumulated paper sheet length metered onto the winding spindle to control desired sheet count and finished roll dimension data. The system and method utilizes the accumulated paper sheet length and the desired finished roll data to calculate an instantaneous diameter. The instantaneous diameter calculation includes determining an effective thickness of the roll based on two forms of calculating finished roll cross-sectional area. The system and method also includes monitoring the actual line surface speed. The instantaneous diameter and the actual line surface speed are used to generate a speed reference signal and an inertia compensation signal. An outer compensation loop can be employed to trim the speed reference signal so that the revolution count can be controlled.