Abstract: A machine for "bleed cutting" a sheet (1) into a plurality of pieces (2) and collating them by the method described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,121 has upper and lower pairs of slitting rollers in both the first series (12) and the second series (17) of slitting rollers, and transfer devices (201, 201') are provided within each path of pieces leaving the second series (17) of slitting rollers, with side gaps between the transfer devices within adjacent piece paths, and with end gaps between the second series (17) of slitting rollers and the transfer devices (201, 201'), whereby narrow side and end strips (101, 102) and tiny squares (103) formed by the pairs of lines (6) of cut by the second series (17) of slitting rollers across the pairs of lines (3) cut by the first series (12) of slitting rollers can fall away before the cut pieces (2) arrive at the transverse feed means (29).

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure transmitting apparatus for energizing power cylinders of the kind useful in moving load-carrying platforms on vehicles or the like, being of extremely compact structure on account of a manifold constituted by an end section of a cylinder housing all essential pressure fluid conduits and control valves, as well as connectors for external pressure cylinders being provided with the manifold.

Abstract: A hydrostatic displacement machine has in a revolving cylinder block several displacement elements movable in a guideway and having a radial position during the rotation of the cylinder block determined by a nonrotating displacement ring. The displacement elements, viewed axially, are retained on the displacement ring by two retaining rings. The retaining rings feature relative to the displacement ring a radial seal. The axial seal of the retaining rings is effected in standstill, relative to the housing or housing lid, by way of spring elements, and during the pumping operation, by a contact force which is indirectly dependent on the operating pressure.

Abstract: The object of independent claims 1 and 3 relates to a magnetic clasp consisting of disk-shaped closure bodies, at least one of them being a permanent magnet, and one of the two closure bodies being developed as annular disk open on both sides. The first embodiment of the magnetic clasp has another body of magnetizable metal which is inserted with radial clearance into the two open annular disks, while the second embodiment of the magnetic clasp has only one open annular disk which is provided with a slot and into which the other closure body, developed as closed disk, is inserted with clearance in axial direction via the slot.By these embodiments of the magnetic clasp there is created a construction which is protected against unintentional opening by exerting a pulling action on the closure bodies. Furthermore, since in both embodiments the clasp is open in axial direction towards both sides, the closing and opening thereof is substantially facilitated.

Abstract: An in-bin stapling sorter has a stack of trays moved to positions above and below a sheet entry location at which the trays are spaced apart by cams to receive sheets of paper from an office copier or printer. Sets of sheets are stapled in the trays as the trays are moved together past a stapler which is moved into a stapling position from a non-stapling position. An aligning arm is disposed at one side of the set of trays to engage a side edge of the sheets fed into the trays and sets of sheets in the trays during stapling to align the side edges of the sets of sheets for moving the sheets and sets of sheets against a straight surface at the other side of the trays, thereby providing a neat stapled set.

Abstract: A multi-layered printed product is cross cut and stapled by being fed past a gripping and folding blade cylinder and cooperating binding and cutting cylinders. The binding and cutting cylinders have parallel but offset axes of rotation and define envelopes of rotation which intersect each other at a point which is before, in the direction of travel of the printed product, the point at which the binding and cutting cylinders cooperate with the gripping and folding blade cylinder.

Abstract: A follow up mechanism for maintaining a timed positional relationship between a bearing cage of an arcuate roller bearing assembly and a swashplate supported by the bearing assembly includes a flexural elastic link pivotally connected to the bearing cage and having first and second ends slidably disposed within a first bore in a pump housing and a second bore in the swashplate, respectively. The bores are in axial alignment with each other when the swashplate is in the equivalent of its centered position thereby allowing blind assembly of the follow up mechanism thereby eliminating the need for an access opening in the side of the pump housing and the associated cover, gasket and bolts.

Abstract: A modular, flexibly adaptable "mailboxing" unit and system for both sequentially processing and separating, into a superposed array of plural separate mailbox print job sheet collection bins or trays, the sheet outputs of various users of various printers (including facsimile receivers, copiers or combination units). The mailbox module has left and right side printer inputs and vertical sheet transport input paths therefrom to at least one vertically modular replaceable sub-module for operating sequentially on sheets in the mailbox module sheet path prior to the separating and feeding of sheets into the mailboxes. The replaceable sub-module comprises at least one of a sheet rotator, a sheet inserter, a sheet inverter, a sheet folder, or a sheet hole punch. The mailbox module then provides a third vertical sheet transport path from the replaceable sub-module past the array of mailboxes to provide a bin selection path for the sub-module processed sheets, with optional compiling and finishing.

Abstract: Folding and transport devices wherein the crease of a folded sheet (5) does not extend completely over the length of the fold so that an open loop is formed at one end of the crease. Fingers (25 to 28) can be laterally inserted into the open loop in order to be able to open the folded sheets (5) again without a side fold strip. The folded sheets (5) are normally conveyed to designated positions, but they are opened while their conveyance is halted, so that there is sufficient time for opening them. The folded sheets (5) are opened by insertion needles (16) and V-shaped opening plates (19) while they are simultaneously kept in alignment by stops (14) and grasped by grippers (18).

Abstract: A card package production system (10) with interchangeable inserters (24A, 24B) and carrier folders (86A, 86B) to enable use of forms (26A, 26B) of different types verifies the carriers (30) if they are properly produced and rejects them if they are not prior to the attachment to a carrier. A card carrier (26A) has a pair of corner pockets (31) and a flap (33) in which a card (30) is inserted. The corner pockets (31) are opened by bending the carrier form over an arcuate member (170).

Abstract: An improvement of a recess formed in one end of an output shaft of a brake booster is disclosed. At its one end, the rear extremity of the output shaft is formed with a flange-like stop, which is formed of an annular sheet material. The engagement of the stop with the retainer is effective to prevent said one end of the output shaft from being disengaged from an annular projection on a valve body. This allows the diameter of a reaction disc to be increased without requiring an increase in the diameter of the valve body. Accordingly, a brake feeling can be adjusted over an increased extent than before by increasing the diameter of the reaction disc.

Abstract: Folding apparatus for signatures having a given format includes at least a first longitudinal folding device, a plurality of cylinders arranged in succession thereafter and followed by at least a second longitudinal folding device. Also included are a cylinder section having a base frame, and two cross-fold systems operatable independently of one another and integrated in the base frame. Each of the cross-fold systems has cylinders for guidingly carrying signatures having a given format, the signature-carrying cylinders being of such diameter as to have an outer cylindrical surface extending over the circumference thereof adequate for carrying one behind the other at one time at least two of the signatures having the given format.

Abstract: An actuator comprises a plurality of flexible cylinders arranged adjacent to one another. The inside of each of the flexible cylinder is divided into a plurality of pressure chambers with partition walls that extend axially inside the flexible cylinder. The actuator has a pressure adjuster for adjusting pressures in the respective pressure chambers of the flexible cylinders so that the flexible cylinders may operate at individual degrees of freedom in achieving cooperative motions.

Abstract: A sheet-postprocessing apparatus includes a sheet discharger which discharges sheets to a stacker, the stacker including a first tray adjacent to the discharger for supporting trailing portions of the sheets discharged by the discharger and a second tray for supporting leading portions of the sheets, the second tray being movable in a vertical direction and disposed downstream of the first tray with respect to a sheet discharge direction, the trays being inclined so that sheets stacked thereon slide by their own weight, such that a stack of sheets supported on both trays are stapled by a stapler, the stapled set of sheets then being pushed out of the first tray to be stacked entirely by the second tray. The sheet post-processing apparatus operates in two modes, a stapling mode and a non-stapling mode wherein sheets discharged by the discharger bypass the first tray and are supported entirely by the second downstream tray.

Abstract: A fluid storage tank utilizing a shear seal in which a leak proof static shear seal covers the entire head of the piston of the storage tank requiring only a single fluid tight seam to seal off the fluid storage chamber from the remainder of the storage tank. The shear seal has a circumferential notch located proximate to its outer periphery which permits the shear seal to rupture along a predetermined path. Elastomeric annular seals on the piston provide a dynamic seal to prevent the fluid from leaking while the piston is moving to eject the stored fluid. The head of the piston flattens any protruding portions of the ruptured shear seal against the walls of the storage tank.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having a finisher capable of binding a stack of sheets in either of an edge bind mode and a center bind mode which are predominant over other binding modes. Sheets are stacked in the same position in both of the edge and center bind modes. In the edge bind mode, the papers are bound at the position where they are stacked. In the center bind mode, the papers are bound after being moved a predetermined distance.

Abstract: In a sheet output module for the collection and stacking of printed media sheets from the output of a reproduction apparatus, with multiple separate sheet collection bins in a vertical array, a sheet input for receiving the sheets, and a sheet transport path for transporting the sheets to a selected bin; the sheet input is at a central vertical level intermediately of the module and the vertical bin array, the vertical bin array is divided into first and second portions with a central vertical space therebetween, the sheet transport path has a common shared central path from the input to a branching position where it arcuately branches in opposite directions, with a first branch path extending upwardly to feed sheets to the first portion of the bins and a second branch path extending downwardly to feed sheets to the second portion of the bins.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a double acting actuator having a piston movable within a cylinder, a main poppet control valve connected to a fluid pressure source, and first and second poppet valves connected in series to a rod side chamber of the cylinder. The piston is extended upon actuation of both first and second poppet valves, while allowing retraction of the piston upon release of either the first or the second poppet valves.

Abstract: A signatures finishing system for on-line center folding of sets of signature sheets outputted by a reproduction system; by sequentially individually fully folding the signature sheets in a folding rollers nip as they are outputted and reversing the nip at a position in which the opposite ends of the sheet engage the opposite sides of a closely adjacent saddle compiler to sequentially stack the folded signature sheets on the saddle compiler to form plural sheet compiled pre-folded signature sheet booklets, and then, after stapling, ejecting the compiled folded signatures booklet from the saddle compiler through the same folding rollers nip to a booklet output system which may perform edge trimming and stacking of the booklets ejected through the folding rollers nip.

Abstract: A fluid-operated spring brake actuator has a funnel-shaped pressure plate which reduces the volume of fluid necessary to compress the spring and release the brake thereby providing a faster response time upon actuation of the brake.