Abstract: A binding line having selectable pin spacing on a gathering chain includes a gathering section including the gathering chain having a plurality of spaced pusher pins for transporting gathered signatures seriatim therealong to a signature exit end. A stitcher section includes a stitcher chain having a plurality of spaced pusher pins for transporting signatures seriatim therealong from a signature entry end. A drive system provides for driving the gathering chain synchronously with the stitcher chain so that both the gathering section and stitcher section operate at a constant signature feed rate. The gathering chain pins are spaced apart a first select distance and the stitcher chain pins are spaced apart a second select distance, different from the first select distance. The drive system drives the gathering chain at a different velocity from the stitcher chain to provide the constant signature feed rate.

Abstract: An accumulator with first page hold feature having an accumulating area and a mechanism for feeding sheets of a first group of sheets to the accumulating area. An identifying mechanism is provided to identify the first sheet of a second group of sheets. The first sheet of said second group is fed but is stopped before the first sheet reaches the accumulating area. In the meantime, first group of sheets is released from the accumulating area and the first sheet of the second group is then released from its stopped position and fed to the accumulating area.

Abstract: A finishing apparatus for receiving and attaching sets of sheet material in succession. A movable bin array including plurality of bins are provided for receiving the sheet in each individual bin. Rollers are provided for transporting a copy sheet to the finishing apparatus to one of each individual bin. Registration of the sheet is accomplished by the uphill nature of the each individual bin in the bin array sloping towards a registering portion of a gate assembly, and the action of a tamper mechanism registers the sheets. A stapling means having a cam that is radially urged moves in a plane substantially parallel to the orientation of the the bin array. The action of the cam drives the stapler means into a notched area of each individual bin positioned thereat so that registered sheet sets therein may be stapled in the notched area.

Abstract: A compact interstacking web deflector for causing a slit paper web to overlap one side of the web over the other. The web deflector includes an elevated deflector bar skewed to the path of the slit web. The elevated deflector imparts a twists to one of the sections of the slit web as the web section flows downward in a loop between the web slitting device and a burster device. The other web section is twisted in an opposite angle to the first section as the other web section drops downward over a skewed leading edge on the slitter device. The opposing twists imparted to the side-by-side sections causes the web sections to merge towards the centerline of the web path and overlap each other. The twists in the web sections are removed as the sections loop under a pair web loop ledges at the bottom of the web loops. In this manner, the paper webs are superimposed one over the other for subsequent processing.

Abstract: A pull tab for manipulating a slide of a slide fastener and a slide fastener incorporating such pull tab. The pull tab is made of a synthetic elastomer, wherein the synthetic elastomer is a polyether amide block copolymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic brake-booster comprising a casing (10) inside which is a piston formed by a hub (20) and by a skirt (14) and which, with the aid of an unrolling membrane (12), defines a front chamber (16) permanently connected to a partial vacuum source and a back chamber (18) connected selectively to the front chamber (16) when a first valve passage (56, 58) is opened or to the atmosphere when a second valve passage (76, 78) is opened, the first and second valve passages (56, 58; 76, 78) being formed by first valve means (58, 78) co-operating with second valve means (56, 76), and being actuated by a control rod (35) capable of bearing, through the intermediary of a plunger (32), against one of the faces of a reaction disk (42) securely attached to a push rod (44).According to the invention, the first valve means (58, 78) are formed on the hub (20) of the piston.

Abstract: An accumulator for use in a hydraulic control circuit comprises a check valve for allowing a suction of air into a working fluid pressure chamber from the atmosphere. The check valve includes a valve cylinder integrally formed with a member for defining the working fluid pressure chamber. The check valve includes a check ball movable within a bore of the cylinder, and a ball stopper having an outer peripheral surface formed with mesh-like grooves press fitted into the bore to retain the ball within the bore.

Abstract: A cylinder apparatus and a method of controlling the same allow an object to be moved at high speed and provide a decelerating force that can be changed with ease in conformity with the type of object. The apparatus includes a cylinder, a piston, an air supply source, a first pressure regulator for feeding compressed air of a first pressure into one chamber of the cylinder, a second pressure regulator for feeding compressed air of a second pressure into a second chamber of the cylinder, a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, a deceleration-position sensor for sensing a position at which the piston begins deceleration, a stopping-position sensor for sensing that the piston is situated at an end of the cylinder, and controller for controlling the first and second solenoid valves.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking and separating sheets of web material provides a conveyor for transporting the sheets from a source of sheets. The sheets are conveyed in a stream that is aligned in a downstream direction from a source to a stacking location. A kicker mechanism is located along the conveyor to offset sheets in a direction that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction. A stacking mechanism is positioned at the stacking location for receiving each sheet from the conveyor and overlaying each sheet into a stack that extends downstream in a horizontal orientation that is substantially parallel to the ground. The kicker mechanism may include an elastomeric foot that engages and withdraws from each selected sheet to drive it transversely to the downstream direction. The sheets may be cut from a continuous web source.

Abstract: A fluid pressure operated servomotor having a housing shell containing a flexible diaphragm forming a fluid pressure chamber with a port through the housing connectable for receiving a fluid pressure signal. The diaphragm has a rigid insert extending therethrough and sealed thereabout with a cup shape on the interior of the chamber and having a rod pivot surface formed on the exterior side of the diaphragm. A spring inside the chamber has one end registered in the cupped shape to bias the diaphragm insert in one direction. In one embodiment, the insert is shaped to have a rod pivot surface nested in the coils spring such that the rod pivot load resists lateral buckling of the spring; and, in another embodiment, a shroud is formed on the insert about the rod pivot surface for limiting rotation of the insert with respect to the rod end.

Abstract: An accumulator with First page Hold Feature having an accumulating area and a mechanism for feeding sheets of a first group of sheets to the accumulating area. An identifying mechanism is provided to identify the first sheet of a second group of sheets. The first sheet of said second group is fed but is stopped before the first sheet reaches the accumulating area. In the meantime, the first group of sheets is released from the accumulating area and the first sheet of the second group is then released from its stopped position and fed to the accumulating area.

Abstract: Shown is a direction control valve (16) for use in a hydraulic control system having a source of hydraulic pressure (P) and a return passageway (50). The control valve includes a first hydraulic flow pathway (140, 142) and a second hydraulic flow pathway (144, 146). A two-position valve (38) includes four ports (48, 58, 64, 74). First and second pilot-operated poppets (88, 90) each have a pilot chamber (84, 86). When the valve (38) is in its first position, the source of hydraulic pressure (P) is provided to the pilot chamber (86) of the first poppet (88) and the pilot chamber (84) of the second poppet (90) is connected to the return pathway (50). As a result, one hydraulic flow pathway (140, 142) is open and the other hydraulic flow pathway (144, 146) is closed.

Abstract: In a pressure-intensifying type fluid pressure cylinder, an auxiliary cylinder chamber is provided outside a rod cover, a pressure intensifying piston is axially and slidably disposed on the outer peripheral portion of a piston rod in the auxiliary cylinder chamber, and steel balls are disposed around the piston rod in space having a tapered surface in the pressure intensifying piston. Or, a lock concave portion is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the piston rod and a lock member is provided in the pressure intensifying piston which lock member makes the pressure intensifying piston and the piston rod one body by being fixed in the lock concave portion. When the piston rod reaches a little before the end of extrusion, fluid pressure comes through a way in the auxiliary cylinder chamber between the pressure intensifying piston and the rod cover.

Abstract: A web separator is provided that cuts a web at predetermined separation locations. Downstream of the cutting, the web is folded at predetermined fold locations. A continuously swinging director, downstream of the folding, guides advancing sections of web to opposing fold edges of a supported zig-zag stack. The web is driven into the continuously swinging director by a driving member. The driving member is deactivated selectively by a clutch, while other elements of the separator continue to operate. A central drive motor may be interconnected with each of the drive member, swinging director, folding and support elements. Fold and separation locations may be determined by a bar code detector and selectively operable upper and lower conveyor belts may be disposed below the supported zig-zag stack.

Abstract: A compact conveyor which passes sheets from a printer to a folder saves valuable floor space while providing the capability of accommodating a short intercopy gap. Sensing means on the conveyor detects the exit of each sheet from the printer and signals a temporary increase in the speed of the folder to a fast-fold operation. As the next sheet travels behind the faster moving first sheet, the intercopy gap between the sheets increases before the next sheet arrives at the folder. The arrival occurs after the first sheet has been completely folded, since the increased gap has provided sufficient time delay. When the first sheet is released from the folder, the folder speed returns to the original slower speed which is equalized with the printer. By adjusting the rate of the fast-fold mode, the gap between the sheets arriving at the folder can be regulated.

Abstract: A hydraulic servo unit for changing the swash plate angle of a continuously variable transmission to vary its speed reduction ratio comprises a cylinder whose chamber is divided into a rod-side chamber and a head-side chamber by a piston slidably fitted therein. The rod-side chamber is supplied with working oil under predetermined hydraulic pressure through a first hydraulic pressure supply passage. A second hydraulic pressure supply passage is connected to the head-side chamber through a duty-cycle-controlled first solenoid-operated valve, and a drain hydraulic passage is connected to the second hydraulic pressure supply passage through a second duty-cycle-controlled solenoid-operated valve. The first and second solenoid-operated valves are simultaneously actuated with different duty cycles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brake-booster comprising a casing (10) within which is found a piston structure which, with the help of an unrolling membrane (12), defines a front chamber (16) permanently connected to a partial vacuum source by a valve (17) and a back chamber (16) selectively connected to the front chamber (16) or to the atmosphere via a valve means (34) when a control rod (30) is actuated, and a device (36) for fastening the booster on a wall (38) adjacent to a first face of the casing (10). According to the invention, apertures (50, 60) are made in the piston structure (14) and in a second face of the casing (10) and are aligned in the axial direction of the booster so as to permit the actuation of the fastening device (36) through the aperture (60) made in the second face of the casing (10).

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure supply apparatus includes a variable displacement pump which is controlled to change its discharge flow rate and pressure in accordance with a condition of a load side. The pump is communicated with the load side through a conduit to which an accumulator is communicated through a proportional pressure reducing valve controlled so that its regulating pressure is higher than the pressure required in the load side and is lower than a target discharge pressure of the pump. Furthermore, when the pressure in the conduit is lower than the regulating pressure of the valve, the valve is opened and regulates the pressure in the conduit by allowing higher pressure flow from the accumulator.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for collecting and stapling printed products is provided. A self-enclosed track of travel for stapling heads extends around a collector drum having a plurality of supports. A stapling head is assigned to each support. The stapling heads rotate mutually synchronously about the axis of rotation of the drum. While running past a wire section dispenser, each stapling head accepts a wire section from which a staple is formed in a predetermined first region. In a second region, the staple is brought onto the side of the stapling heads facing the supports. In a third region, the stapling heads are lowered onto the printed sheets, which are deposited onto the supports, and stapled together.

Abstract: Sheet printing and collating apparatus includes a sheet sorter which has a stapler for stapling sets of sheets in the sorter bins. The stapler is actuated by an electric motor to which the applied power is varied depending upon the number of sheets of paper in the sets and therefore, the thickness of the sets to be stapled.Sheets entering the sorter trays are counted and information as to the number of sheets per set is supplied to the microprocessor unit which controls the stapler to supply control signals to a variable power supply to the stapler motor so that the motor power applied to the stapler increases as the number of sheets per set increases.