Abstract: An arch support for the foot includes a plantar support member having a cavity to removably receive a metatarsal support element; metatarsal support elements of different height can be used depending on the activity engaged in by the wearer; heel wedges of different height may similarly be used; the metatarsal support element has, in particular, an open lattice-like structure which reduces material and weight of the support, improves flexibility and allows better air circulation.

Abstract: A code generated by a keyboard or external data source is first converted to an ordinal number code which is processed by first and second algorithms to generate a typing force index and a character type location identifier respectively. The typing force index is used as a variable in an equation whose solution provides typing force information, and the character location identifier is used to calculate character type location information. The information is utilized to position a selected character on a print wheel and to print the selected character with a force depending on the area of the character.

Abstract: A dozer blade of the present invention includes two curved blade sections that are joined at respective inner ends thereof. The blade sections are joined to form a unitary blade exhibiting a concave surface for scraping and removal of snow and the like. The blade sections converge forwardly at the top toward their central juncture such that a top portion of the central juncture is generally positioned forwardly of a bottom portion thereof. Additionally, the top portion of the central juncture is generally positioned lower than outer ends of respective top portions of the blade sections, presenting a winged profile from the front. A divider is positioned along the central juncture from a bottom scraping portion of the blade sections to the top. The divider serves to distribute material being dozed generally equally to either side.

Abstract: A printing plate clamping assembly is situated within a housing carried in a groove at the periphery of a plate cylinder. An adjusting shaft is supported for both rotation and translation by a plurality of spaced roller rings. A bearing support is carried by the adjusting shaft and receives a first end of a connecting link. A second end of this connecting link is received in a first end of a first lever arm of a clamping bar which has a clamping flap at a free end of a second lever arm. Movement of adjusting shaft in both a rotational and transitional manner effects proper printing plate end clamping over a wide range of plate thicknesses.

Abstract: Ink duct for offset or letterpress printing machines has an ink metering device by which a respective ink gap is adjustable zonewise in the axial direction of an ink duct roller. The ink metering device has metering elements pressable against the ink duct roller through the intermediary of a foil covering the metering elements, the foil being fastened so as to be movable tangentially to the ink duct roller. A device is provided for holding the foil, and an adjusting device is coupled with a motorized drive an engageable with the foil holding device for progressively moving the foil tangentially to the ink duct roller at a substantially uniform feed rate so as to dispose succeeding locations of the foil at a given distance from the ink duct roller corresponding to the width of the respective ink gap.

Abstract: A document processing device is provided which is front accessible for use and service and is composed of a paper supply space for cross-perforated continuous-form paper webs, a printing mechanism including a paper feed device, platen and print head, a separator device for producing single documents and an output and/or deposit stacker for single documents. The paper feed device and the paper guidance elements proceeding along the paper web are arranged such that the paper supply space closable by means of a removable housing cover as well as the output and/or deposit stacker are accessible from the front side. The paper supply space and the printing mechanism are located in a lower cabinet rack part whereas the paper guidance elements and devices including the output and/or deposit stacker which follow downstream of the printing mechanism are located in an upper cabinet rack part pivotably secured to the lower cabinet rack part.

Abstract: Damping apparatus for minimizing print hammer settle time permits an increase in the hammer repetition rate, and in which the damping element is a reactive mass which is freely movable behind the actuated element to effect one or more energy transfer collisions with the actuated element. A return spring applies a return force to restore the actuated element and the reactive mass to a rest position. A bias spring, having an applied spring force which is lower than the return spring moves the reactive mass at a slower rate than the actuated element to cause the actuated element to collide with the reactive mass in advance of the rest position whereby the rebound energy of the actuated element is dissipated and restoration of the actuated element can occur as a result of the restore force applied by the return spring.

Abstract: A compliant head loading mechanism for a thermal printer is disclosed which compliantly loads a thermal print head against a carrier and a receiver mounted on the platen to uniformly apply pressure across the width of the receiver.

Abstract: A printer wherein when in printing, a platen and a head are opposedly disposed by a carriage, said printer comprising a bottom plate on which said platen or said head is disposed, and a body hinged to said bottom plate and designed to include said carriage, said body and said bottom plate being relatively rotated.

Abstract: A printer characterized in that a paper feed path for guiding a record paper to a printing position formed between a platen and a head is disposed on the same plane on the whole including the printing position and portions before and behind the printing position.

Abstract: A body care appliance fixed to a backing element is removably and replaceably mounted on a human body encircling frame of flexible plastic tubular material. The frame is separable at a junction. A segment may be inserted at the junction to enlarge the frame. The backing element chordally straddles the frame. A plurality of units having a body care appliance fixed to a backing element are provided which enable the use of the invention for diverse self-treatment body care functions at the dorsal area of the body such as scrubbing, massaging, application of a heating pad and application of body care creams and lotions.

Abstract: A character-carrying disc comprises, arranged on its front face, a circular arc-shaped wire spring ended by two branches, which are rectilinear and bent inwardly constituting a small fork adapted to grip the shaft of a printing machine in which the disc is used and to engage an annular groove of this shaft. This disc carries a slidable pin on a shoulder of which the central portion of the arc-shaped part of the spring bears so as to maintain the pin in an axial position in which it co-operates with a member of the machine to provide a drive connection for rotation of the disc. Thus, the spring performs a double function, ensuring on the one hand the return of the pin to its working position and on the other hand the securing of the disc on the shaft of the machine.

Abstract: A foldable trencher boom assembly including a first boom portion pivotally connected to a second boom portion by a hinge. One leg of the hinge is connected to the first boom portion while the other leg of the hinge is connected to the second boom portion. When the boom portions are aligned, fasteners secure the hinge to maintain the colinear relationship between the boom portions. In the initial phase of folding, the fasteners are removed thereby permitting the boom portions to pivot relative to each other. The digging boom is conveniently folded by securing the digging chain to one of the foldable boom portions and employing the trencher drive motor as an actuator to achieve the folding action. With the foldable trenching boom of the present invention, an overall decrease in the machine length is attained for transport and maneuverability. Further, when the folded trencher boom is in its transport position, the machine height is decreased and a better distribution of weight is achieved.

Abstract: A grader blade has a steel body with a bottom edge incorporating a substrate of air-hardened tool steel casting material assembling a preformed cemented carbide insert in tiered relationship with, and rearwardly of, a casted layer of carbide grit. The front casted carbide grit layer is formed in the casting operation and the rear preformed cemented carbide insert is arranged in the tiered contacting and attached relationship with the carbide grit layer as the latter is casted with the substrate of special steel casting that holds the insert and layer together. The steel body of the blade also includes a recess formed in and along the forward portion of the blade bottom edge into which the casted asembly is disposed and welded to the blade.

Abstract: A device for securing flexible printing plates under tension on a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine having tensioning rails operatively associated with both ends of the plate and being braceable against side walls of a transverse channel formed in the plate cylinder for tensioning the printing plate includes a device for selectively stretching and compressing at least one of the ends of a printing plate in axial direction of the plate cylinder, the tensioning rail operatively associated with the one plate end being of one-piece construction and having a clamping member disposed at a middle region thereof and respective tensioning segments disposed at end regions thereof and actuable for stretching and compressing the one plate end.

Abstract: The present invention provides a paper feeder used in recording systems including printers and comprising feed and pinch rollers between which there is produced a nip used to hold and convey a sheet of paper therebetween. The pinch roller can be engaged or disengaged by the feed roller in a simple and precise manner.

Abstract: A tractor feed for paper webs with margin perforation for use in printers of data processing systems in which endless bands support feed pins engagable with said perforations to effect paper transport toward, around and away from a platen. Upper and lower runs of the endless band and feed pins supported thereby are selectively adjustably movable into and out of paper guide slots to facilitate introduction and loading of the paper web. The band is movable by movable upper and lower guide rails which are controlled by an adjusting mechanism and by springs acting to spread said guide rails apart.

Abstract: A trenching attachment for removable attachment to the bucket of a backhoe is disclosed which converts the backhoe from a stationary digging machine into a continuous trenching machine creating a V-shaped trench suitable for installation of pipes or conduits or the creation of fire breaks. With the attachment installed on the backhoe bucket the operator may control the depth of cut with the backhoe controls as the backhoe is moved forward, creating graded trenches for the installation of drainage or sewer lines.

Abstract: A matrix line printer which includes a shuttle-carrier mounted in a frame for limited reciprocating movement and supporting a plurality of print elements; a plurality of rollers are journalled in the frame and arranged parallel to the direction of reciprocating movement of the shuttle, projections on the shuttle engage the rollers; a pair of circularly round, cylindrical guide pins are arranged in coaxial relation to each other and mounted to respective opposite ends of the shuttle, run in a pair of corresponding sleeve-like bearings; leaf springs on the shuttle urge the projection against the rollers; and additional springs are arranged transversely to the coaxial alignment of said pins for balancing purposes.

Abstract: An eraser of the present invention comprises a magazine having set therein a carriage means for mounting a freely turning first reel loaded with an erasing ink transfer tape and a second reel for winding up the used erasing ink transfer tape and a head for bending or curving the erasing ink transfer tape before it is wound up by the second reel wherein at least the bent or curved portion of the tape is projecting with respect to the magazine. The known defects of the conventional erasing ink, such as requiring a relatively long waiting time before rewriting, difficulty of rewriting due to brush unevenness and inconvenience caused by drying and solidifying of erasing ink as well as the fatal defect of the conventional eraser of transfer type that it is usable only for typewriter, is eliminated with present invention. The invention provides a handy eraser that is quite easy to use.