Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for supplying foil material, the apparatus comprising a motor-driven supply roll, a withdrawal means and a consumption sensor provided between the supply roll and the withdrawal means for controlling the drive of the supply roll in response to the consumption of foil material, and at least one stationary deflection roller, at least one sensor roller and a sensor means, the sensor roller being supported and arranged such that it changes the distance from the stationary deflection roller in response to the difference between supply capacity and withdrawal capacity of the foil material, and the sensor means senses said change in distance and accelerates the supply roll when the distance is smaller than a first predetermined distance, and slows down the supply roll when a second predetermined distance is exceeded. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method for supplying foil material.

Abstract: Devices and methods for paying off an elongate material between two coaxially aligned packages without interruption. The elongate material from a first wound package is connected to the elongate material of a second wound package by joining the tail end of the first wound package to the head end of the second wound package. Each wound package includes the elongate material having a body portion and a tail portion wound about a core. Also, each body portion has the head end at an outer diameter of the respective package and each tail portion has the tail end at an inner diameter substantially corresponding to a diameter of the core. Further, the path of the wound elongate material is transitioned from the first wound package to the second wound package by providing transition device having a supporting surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a plurality of lines to a light weight flying device such as a kite or model airplane stores, winds up, and releases the lines on individual, separable spools. The spools are held in a recess in a housing. Each line leads from its spool through spaced apart individual line guides to the device so that the device may be controlled by manipulation of the housing. A winding handle is mounted on an arm connected to an axle on which the spools are rotatably mounted in the recess. In a first, or winding, position of the arm, rotation of the handle rotates the axle and the spools for winding up the lines. An anti reverse ratchet mechanism prevents unwinding of the lines. In a second, or release, position of the arm, the spools are freed from rotation with the axle, an adjustable drag is operative to prevent free spooling or backlash, and the anti reverse is releasable by a manual control for controllably releasing the lines.

Abstract: A spool for a seat belt retractor has a cylindrical member with a cylindrical central portion and two end plates at opposite axial ends of the cylindrical portion. There is a channel formed in the cylindrical central portion with an outer and an inner wall and defining a path for guiding seat belt webbing. The path circumscribes the spool axis substantially over the length of the central portion of the spool in a generally smooth curve. The path has a spool entry and a spool exit portion and an acute angle subtended at the spool axis by the entry portion of the path and the exit portion of the path is approximately 90°. The spool may be hollow with a torsion bar forming the inner wall of the channel.

Abstract: A retensioning device for strapping machines is provided with a pair of tape tensioning rollers comprising a stationary counter roller and a pivoting roller which can be adjusted towards it. A strapping tape is guided through the nip and via an angle of wrap round the pivoting roller. The pivoting roller is mounted on a pivoting lever which can be loaded with a defined force. The retensioning force building up in the strapping tape is opposed to the loading force in such a way that the pivoting roller lifts momentarily from the counter roller when the loading force is exceeded and therefore interrupts the retensioning process.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating particles such as minerals from a mixture including said particles. The apparatus includes means for generating a rotating magnetic field such as a rotating magnetic drum (71). The apparatus also includes means for exposing the mixture to the rotating magnetic field such that susceptible particles are caused to rotate, and means for exploiting the rotation imparted to the susceptible particles to separate the particles from the mixture. The means for exposing may include a conveyor belt (72) or the like for passing the mixture along a first path (70) relative to the rotating magnetic field. The means for exploiting may include a surface (74) for facilitating movement of the particles along a second path (A) other than the first path.

Abstract: A reel device is assembled with a wire harness routed between a fixed member and a movable member. A casing has a first port to which a fixed first portion of the wire harness is fixed and lead out therefrom, and a second port from a movable second portion of the wire harness is lead out. A roller is rotatably provided in the casing. The roller includes a partition plate for partitioning inside of the casing a first accommodating space and a second accommodating space. A shaft member is formed on the partition plate so as to be located in the first accommodating space, on which the first portion of the wire harness is wound. A reel drum is formed on the partition plate so as to be located in the second accommodating space and having a belt member a first end of which is fixed thereon. The reel drum winds a predetermined length of the second portion of the wire harness thereon together with the belt member the second end of which is attached to the second portion of the wire harness.

Abstract: A winding machine and method for winding a material web onto a reel-spool in which the material web is transported over a support roll and a winding nip is formed between the support roll and the reel-spool. For changing of reel-spool, the material web is weakened before the support roll in the web travel direction. The material web is then separated at the weakened point. The winding machine includes a rotatable perforating unit, the perforating unit provided with a plurality of one of cutting elements and perforating elements and a counter-holder is arranged on an opposite side of the web from the perforating unit, the perforating unit and the counter-holder are movable relative to one another to weaken the web.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting corona wires in a corona charger comprises a wire dispenser pen with an inner wall forming a hollow shaft adapted to receive the wire; and a support structure attached to the wire dispenser pen. The support structure is adapted to receive a spool of wire.

Abstract: At least two pairs of carrier arms are mounted to a rotary shaft for independent travel axially thereof while being constrained to joint rotation therewith. Each pair of carrier arms are disposed opposite each other axially of the shaft for rotatably holding one web roll therebetween via expansion chucks. An internally screw-threaded sleeve is rotatably mounted to each carrier arm and locked against axial displacement relative to the carrier arm. Rotatably supported on the shaft and extending parallel to its axis, a screw-threaded rod extends through, and is threadedly engaged with, the sleeves on each pair of carrier arms. A reversible electric motor is drivingly coupled to each threaded nut, and an additional similar motor to each threaded rod.

Abstract: Process for winding a reel and a reel winding apparatus, as well as a measuring apparatus. The process includes determining the driving forces at the locations of the introduction of the driving force onto the reel, and determining a difference between the driving forces. The reel winding apparatus includes at least first and second drive mechanisms arranged to act on a reel to be wound, a measuring system, coupled to the at least first and second drive mechanisms, that includes a force transducer arranged in a vicinity of an introduction of force into the reel, and an evaluation device coupled to the force transducer. The measuring apparatus is provided for measuring a difference in peripheral forces between at least first and second drive elements in a reel winding device. The apparatus includes first and second contacts adapted to contact the first and second drive elements, respectively, and a transducer coupled to the first and second contacts.

Abstract: Winding machine and process for winding a material web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, onto a reel. The material web is guided by a carrying drum that can be supplied with suction, and a nip is formed between the carrying drum and the reel. The carrying drum, which has a perforated casing and/or is provided with circumferential grooves, is supplied with suction by way of at least one external suction box. The suction box is disposed with at least one suction opening opposite the circumference region of the carrying drum that is not wrapped by the material web. The suction box has at least one sealing element that cooperates with the carrying drum in the vicinity of the suction opening.

Abstract: A lockbar for a seatbelt retractor has an elongate joining member and two end pieces joined to the joining member at opposite ends therefore. The end pieces are made of a higher strength material than the joining member. The joining member may be made by extrusion and may be tubular or may be formed as a hollow member. The end pieces may be produced as forgings, die casting or plastic injection moldings or by other suitable methods. They can be produced from different materials and to different designs to suit the specification of the seatbelt retractor. Hence a single basic seatbelt retractor design can be employed for a variety of strength requirements by selecting appropriate end pieces and an appropriate joining member.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a spool that is rotatable about an axis for receiving seat belt webbing. A locking means prevents rotation of the spool during a crash to prevent webbing payout. A load limiting means has a torsion bar extending through the spool and connected in a force path between the locking means and the webbing. One end of the torsion bar is attached to the spool, and the opposite end of the torsion bar is attached to a toothed wheel, wherein said opposite end of the torsion bar is connected to the toothed wheel in an axially adjustable manner.

Abstract: A webbing winding device having a pre-tensioner for tensioning a webbing for restraining a passenger in a passenger restraining direction in an emergency deceleration of a vehicle, comprising a winding shaft to which an end of the webbing is fixed and a gear train mechanism comprising a plurality of gears arranged in such a manner that adjacent gears mesh with each other, wherein a driving gear which receives an external driving force when the pre-tensioner is actuated is driven from a starting end position to a terminating end, position which are set in advance, so as to rotate the winding shaft in a direction for retracting the webbing, and when a driving of the driving gear is completed, at least a pair of adjacent gears are separated so as to enable the winding shaft to be rotated in the direction for retracting the webbing by inertial force.

Abstract: A sortation process provides high-speed sorting of randomly ordered articles into a desired order in a plurality of ordered bins or tubs such as standard USPS tubs in two passes, without additionally marking the articles in any way or requiring additional processes to do so. Optical character recognition or bar code reading performed on an image of the article provides a sequence number which is used to place the articles in respective bins or tubs during a first pass. The process then presents the content of the bins or tubs in order for a second pass during which they are placed in final desired order among a final ordered group of bins or tubs. During the first pass, sequence number information can be collected and used for error checking against the order of articles in each bin or tub during a second pass. The final output of the process provides the articles in standard (e.g. USPS) tubs face up and in delivery order.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a roll tensioner adapted to hold a medium roll rotatably mounted thereon for providing a printable medium strip to the imaging device. The roll tensioner comprises a torsion mechanism exerting torsion to the printable medium strip that tends to pull back the printable medium strip and, thus, to prevent slack of the printable medium strip, the roll tensioner further including a torsion control mechanism to prevent the torsion from getting too large to stop the rotation of the printable medium roll, the roll tensioner also including a clutch mechanism to prevent damage to the torsion mechanism.

Abstract: Method for winding a material web onto a reel in an apparatus that includes a rotatable feed roll, a carrying drum, a discharge roll and a pulper. Winding device for winding a material web onto a reel, said winding device including: a feed roll, a carrying drum, and a support belt which is adapted to guide the material web over the feed roll and the carrying drum. An external vacuum device is positioned adjacent a circumferential surface of the carrying drum which is not contacted by the support belt and the material web and a winding nip is formed between the carrying drum and the reel. A discharge roll is provided for guiding the support belt, and the discharge roll is located in the vicinity of a pulper, downstream from the carrying drum, relative to a web run direction. The discharge roll is also adapted to divert at least a portion of the material web to the pulper before feeding the material web to the reel.

Abstract: A web driving device including a web, a winding axis connected to a first end of the web and configured to rotate and wind the web about the winding axis in a winding direction, and a supplying axis connected to a second end of the web and configured to rotate. The web driving device further includes a driving device configured to drive the winding axis in the winding direction. The driving device is configured to prevent rotation of the winding axis when the driving device is in an inactive condition. The web driving device further advantageously includes an intermediate gear device engaged to the winding axis and configured to restrict rotation of the supplying axis when the winding axis stops rotating.

Abstract: A turning bar apparatus includes a stationary turning bar assuming the form of a hollow cylinder and adapted to change the running direction of a web looped therearound and a compressed-air supply unit for supplying compressed air into the hollow interior of the turning bar. A plurality of air outlet openings are formed through the wall of the turning bar and are arranged in rows and along the longitudinal direction of the turning bar. At least a single row of air outlet openings is arranged in an upstream portion of a web-looping region extending between an upstream end of the web-looping region and a circumferential center of the web-looping region. At least a single row of air outlet openings is arranged in a downstream portion of the web-looping region extending between the circumferential center of the web-looping region and a downstream end of the web-looping region.