Abstract: The shock absorber comprises a strut, a sliding rod slidably mounted relative to the strut and co-operating therewith to define both a shock absorbing chamber and a raising chamber which is connected to a member for feeding it with raising liquid, a dip tube defining a lowering chamber and connected to a member for feeding it with a lowering liquid, and in which a lowering piston is disposed, which piston has one face in contact with the shock absorbing liquid, and an anti-crash tube mounted to slide relative to the sliding rod and including an energy-absorbing member.

Abstract: A method of inserting supplements into newspapers or magazines (20) and a general method of opening newspapers or magazines prior to the insertion process entail separate newspapers being transported in open state through an insertion station. The spines of the newspapers are held in firm contact with pocketlike holders (14, 45) on a conveyor (10) and the holders (14, 45) are caused to temporarily open when they pass the insertion station (60, 61), the firm contact between newspaper (20) and holders being still maintained. Apparatus for performing the method comprises a conveyor (10) and an insertion arrangement (60, 61) with means (14, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26) to open each newspaper (20) and means (60, 61) to insert a supplement into the opened newspaper. The apparatus may also include a second conveyor (40) with separate grippers (45) for each newspaper. The conveyor (40) extends through the conveyor (10).

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a stapling unit including a detachable staple cartridge for holding staples attached in series, a staple driving device for sequentially driving the series of staples into sheets from a front-end portion, and a staple feeder for feeding the staples from the staple cartridge to the staple driving device. The sheet post-processing apparatus further includes a cartridge regulating device engageable with the staple cartridge for inhibiting detachment of the staple cartridge as a result of the engagement, a detector for detecting the presence or absence of the staples, and a releasing device for disengaging the regulating device when the absence of staples is detected by the detector to allow removal of the staple cartridge for replacement of the staples.

Abstract: An apparatus for limiting the power output of a hydraulic system is disclosed. The hydraulic system has a variable displacement pump. The variable displacement pump has a movable swashplate and is driven by a source of motive power. The apparatus includes a memory device for storing a set of power modes. Each power mode has a predetermined power level associated with the hydraulic system and is defined by a plurality of set points. Each set point corresponds to a predetermined flow rate and discharge pressure of the pump. A device senses the speed of the source of motive power and producing a signal representative of the actual speed in response to the sensed speed. A device senses the pressure of the variable displacement pump and produces a signal representative of the actual pressure in response to the sensed pressure. A device senses the swashplate angle of the variable displacement pump and delivers a signal representative of the actual swashplate angle in response to the sensed swashplate angle.

Abstract: A system and method which compares document requirements to the printer capability and determines the best match therebetween. When a mismatch occurs, the system determines the best match between size, color, weight and type by determining a mismatch magnitude between the job paper requirements and the printer's paper capabilities or stocks. The paper with the lowest mismatch magnitude is designated. The system also determines the best match between the document requirements and the printer capability for stapling, folding, duplexing and stacking. The operator is given an opportunity to correct any mismatches and the best match is used to configure the printer for the job if the user has specified a best match print strategy.

Abstract: A fluid-powered rotary actuator attachable to a boom and usable with a work implement having two hydraulic actuators. The rotary actuator has a body with a drive shaft extending longitudinally therewithin. The shaft has one end located outward of the body and fixed to an attachment flange which can be connected to a vehicle boom. An annular fluid coupling is rotatably mounted on the shaft between the flange and the body. Fluid passageways in the shaft conduct fluid to the coupling, which has three circumferential fluid distribution channels. The coupler provides the fluid to flexible hoses which extend to the hydraulic actuators. The coupling is freely rotatable relative to the shaft but has a connection finger attached thereto which is received in a hole in a connection flange which is attached to the body.

Abstract: In a controller (229) of a hydraulic control system for construction machines, a valve control signal calculating function (301) works such that when an operation pattern signal (A-I) for actuators (201, 202 . . . ) is outputted, it selects corresponding one of plural output patterns for an auxiliary valve control pressure stored, as a function of a differential pressure signal between a pump delivery pressure and a maximum load pressure, in relation to the operation pattern signals, followed by calculating an auxiliary valve control pressure (Pc) dependent upon the differential pressure signal based on the selected output pattern, and also selects corresponding one of plural sets of rates of change (K . . . , K . . . ) for the auxiliary valve control pressure stored in relation to the operation pattern signals, followed by combining the calculated auxiliary valve control amount with the selected set of speed changes to calculate each of valve control signals (S21-S26).

Abstract: In order to spread and flatten a signature for printing, and to hold the signature to prevent it from shifting, a binding line mail table includes a plate for supporting the signature in a flat orientation as the signature moves along the signature supporting plate. It also includes a first pair of drive belts disposed on the signature supporting plate in spaced apart relation and a second pair of drive belts disposed on the respective ones of the first pair of drive belts on the sides thereof opposite the signature supporting plate and, further, the drive belts are all then driven at substantially the same speed. With this unique arrangement, and to ensure that the signature is in a flat orientation as it moves along the signature supporting plate for printing thereon, at least one of the drive belts of one of the pairs diverges relative to the respective one of the drive belts of the other of the pairs.

Abstract: A document feeder for feeding a plurality of different kinds of document to image forming equipment automatically, and a sheet finisher for sorting, stapling or otherwise finishing sheets inclusive of the documents. A drive source selectively drives a document support moving member in opposite directions to move document supports from an initial position to a document feed position and further to a stand-by position. This allows a particular document feeding operation to be effected with each of the document supports. Sheets are automatically stapled and then automatically removed from sheet accommodating members. A sheet receiving section collects such stapled and removed sheets.

Abstract: A three element fluid torque converter has a variable pitch stator. The stator blades have two principal orientations, closed and open. The blades are biased toward the closed position by a spring loaded annular piston. In the closed position, the blades block approximately 75% to 90% of the annular area between a stator core and a stator shell. An inlet angle for the stator blades is between 30 degrees and 70 degrees in the closed position. This combination reduces creep torque without any significant increase in driveline noise and vibration when the engine is idling. As engine speed and torque are increased, the blades overcome the spring bias to rotate to the open position thereby increasing the torque transmitted to effectively propel the vehicle.

Abstract: A finisher capable of binding a stack of sheets at a plurality of desired positions by a single stapler. When a plurality of stacks of sheets should be each stapled at two positions, the stapler is controlled such that the last stapling position of the preceding stack is the position where the following stack is stapled first.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for folding lengthwise and clamping a flexible binding, while leaving the edges of the clamped binding free to be separated such that the edge of a length of extensible netting may be inserted between the free edges. A progressive linear clamp is provided for progressively clamping the combined netting and binding material as the netting is inserted to thereby permit an operator to obtain a substantially uniform stretch of the edge of the netting material, and to apportion the netting evenly along the binding. With the netting material thus inserted and clamped between the edges of the binding, a feed mechanism is positioned to engage the combined binding and netting and feed it to a sewing machine to permanently secure the materials together.

Abstract: A binding device associated with an image forming apparatus for binding a stack of recording sheets each carrying an image formed by the image forming apparatus. After a cover sheet at least twice as large in size as the recording sheets has been laid on the stack, a staple or staples are driven into the cover sheet and underlying recording sheets to staple them together. Subsequently, the cover sheet is folded at substantially the center thereof in such a manner as to wrap the stapled stack. Binding means is located at the right-hand side or the left-hand side and capable of binding the stack at the right binding margin or the left binding margin, as desired by rotating the image formed on a sheet 180 degrees.

Abstract: An articulated mechanism for use as an articulated arm of an industrial robot, for example, includes a plurality of arms interconnecting articulations having respective fluid pressure angular displacement motors for angularly displacing the arms relatively to each other. The motors have sidewalls forming working chambers, where an inner surface of the sidewall is exposed to working fluid pressure tending to bow the sidewall outward, and an outer surface of the sidewall has a plurality of counteracting pressure chambers which apply a counteracting pressure force against the sidewall to oppose the outward bowing force, the counteracting pressure force increasing in pressure surface area as the piston is displaced within the motor chamber.

Abstract: The bellows comprise identical waves, having sidewalls in which the elastic deformation of the bellows is located and which have a general curved form in the same axial direction. The bellows can thus be put into a state of elastic axial contraction just sufficient, if the bellows are considered in axial half-section, for each sidewall to be at least approximately contiguous at a single point with the other sidewall of the same wave and at a single point with a sidewall of an adjacent respective wave and for the mean wave peak and wave trough directions respectively to be mutually offset in angle, at least one of them being oblique with respect to the axis of the bellows. The relation between the axis travel of the bellows and its life expectancy is thereby optimized.

Abstract: A brake booster having an initial output force produced a reaction force acting on a face of a second diameter of a plunger to produce a primary force which opposes an input force, an intermediate output force produced by the reaction force acting on a disc to produce a secondary force which is combined with the primary force to oppose the input force and an optimum output force which is produced from the differences between the input force and primary and second forces to effect a brake application.

Abstract: A sorter, which sorts sheets transferred from an image forming apparatus to form a plurality of sheet stacks and staples each sheet stacks, is disclosed herewith. The sorter is provided with a plurality of bins arrayed in an upright direction for stacking the sorted sheets, and is provided also with a stapler to staple each sheet stack. The bin is adapted to swing horizontally between a first angular position to stack the sorted sheets and a second angular position to undergo the stapling of the sheet stack by the stapler. The stapler is adapted to move along the upright direction through a plurality of stapling positions, and staples each sheet set at each stapling position.

Abstract: To cross-fold a moving web into one-third lengths, a cutter blade cylinder (1, 26) is at a cutting position with a counter cylinder (4, 28), which carries needles and may also carry cutting knives. The cutting knives are arranged to cut the web into a format of one-third/two-third length, respectively. The needles (5, 6) on the cylinder transfer the one-third cut element to a second needling cylinder (9, 32) which re-transfers the cut elements to a group of needles (6) on the first needling cylinder (4, 28) so that the one-third length portion is superimposed on the two-third length portion. These two superimposed portions are then transferred to a combination needling-folding blade cylinder (10, 33) which folds the two-third portion in half and transfers the fold to a folding jaw cylinder (14, 38) so that the one-third portion is interlaced into the two-thirds portion.

Abstract: An axle driving apparatus in which an oil sump provided in a housing is vertically partitioned into first and second chambers by partition means constructed in the housing. The first chamber is constructed to have an air layer open to the atmosphere, the second chamber is constructed to be always filled with oil. The first chamber and second chamber can flow oil therebetween through an oil introduction passage of the partition means. When oil volume expands by the temperature during the operation of a hydrostatic transmission, while reducing the volume of the air layer in the first chamber, the oil in the second chamber adjustably flows into the first chamber.

Abstract: In a copying apparatus having a sorter with a sheet stapling function; the sorter has a plurality of bins capable of independently moving up or down, wherein sheets are sorted into the bins sequentially from the top bin to the bottom bin; the bins are moved down to a position where sheets are taken by take-out rollers for transporting them to a stapling unit after the sorting operation; and the bins other than those assigned for the number of copy sets are moved down to the take-out position during the sorting operation. Further, a copying apparatus has a controller which inhibits a copying machine from starting to operate when both a non-sorting mode and a stapling mode are selected at a time and when the input number of copy sets is .[.more than.]. 2 .Iadd.or more.Iaddend., and may cancel the stapling mode during the sorting operation in the stapling mode and continue the sorting operation even after canceling the stapling mode.