Abstract: The present invention presents an air bag, and a method of using the same, which has at least one indicator line marking thereon for providing a visual indication of when the air bag is in a properly inflated condition for filling a void between loads, such as cargo or the like, in a truck, airplane, train or the like. Each indicator line includes a center portion which is of a first design, such as being blue-colored, and having easily identifiable ends. Preferably, each indicator line has end portions of a second design, such as being red-colored, which are on opposite sides of the center portion of the line and which are visually distinct from the first design. The center portion of the indicator line has a length which is substantially equal to the maximum thickness of the air bag.

Abstract: A media autochanger flipping assembly which includes a base unit and a media holder unit which is rotatably attached to the base unit. A brake drum is fixedly attached to one of the base unit and the media holder unit 14. A brake drum engager is attached to the other of the base unit and the media holder unit. The brake drum and brake engager co-act to produce a torque on the media holder which resists rotation in the flip direction and thus controls the flip speed of the media holder unit.

Abstract: A tilt linkage mechanism for controlling the pitch of an implement used with load elevating vehicles which includes an actuation cylinder which is mounted intermediate to the length of the implement lift arms and which is utilized to control the rotation of at least one pivot shaft connected to the vehicle lift arms so as to be in parallel relationship between a first pivot axis where the lift arms are connected to the vehicle and a second pivot axis where the lift arms are pivotally connected relative to the implement. At least one parallel linkage assembly is connected to the at least one pivot shaft and to pivot points spaced on either side of the second pivot axis and stabilizer elements are provided for allowing rotation of the actuation cylinder during use for adjusting the pitch of the implement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet post-treatment apparatus comprising a sheet bundle convey unit including at least one sheet receiving tray unit capable of accommodating a sheet, a convey unit for conveying the sheet on the sheet receiving tray unit, and a sheet stacking tray for receiving the sheet and for stacking the sheets thereon. Apparatus includes a hold member capable of shifting between a first position where the hold member is overlapped with a stacking surface of the sheet stacking tray above the stacking surface, and a second position where the hold member is retracted from the stacking surface. When the sheet is conveyed to the stacking surface, the hold member supports a rear end portion of the sheet at the first position, and the hold member is shifted to the second position at a predetermined timing to drop a rear end portion of the sheet, thereby stacking the sheets.

Abstract: A sorting installation for useful products is proposed, which serves in particular to sort out reusable packaging materials. In order to achieve the sorting-out of individual types of packaging with maximum efficiency, the sorting-out of individual monofractions is undertaken, on one or more manual sorting sections, onto a collector conveyor belt which is connected in parallel, the content of which, after sorting-out is complete, is introduced into an associated bunker.

Abstract: A spacer is provided for supporting and cushioning a roll of web material during shipment comprising a pad including a honeycomb core sandwiched between opposite face sheets. The pad includes a curved recess formed therein which is conformed to receive and cushion the rolls of web material. The recess is defined by a portion of the pad in which the honeycomb core and one of the face sheets has been compressively deformed to a predetermined depth. The face sheet which is compressively deformed includes an elongate slit located in the region overlying the recess for preventing the tearing of the face sheet when the pad is compressively deformed.

Abstract: A tie-down device for use with trucks, boats or other vehicles is provided. The tie-down is a single-piece dual-hook device having a pedestal base and an upper attachment section. The base has a threaded hole in the bottom for receiving a bolt or threaded device to a vehicle. The upper attachment section is formed in the general shape of an isosceles having an apex with legs extending downward at an approximate angle of 45.degree. below the horizontal. The outer surface of apex is rounded to avoid snagging. The attachment section has a large bore hole centered under the apex and a pair of hooks in each leg. The tie-down device allows a variety of tie-downs including threading of a line through the bore hole, attaching to the leg hooks, and cleating by winding between hooks, while providing a non-snagging outer form.

Abstract: A ground engaging wheeled trailer includes an elongated chassis having a horizontal deck overlying an upright rolled, hair pin shaped I-beam track including a horizontal section extending the length of the deck, an integral vertical section extending downwardly at the rear of the deck, and an integral, forwardly and upwardly inclined third section. A plurality of cars are mounted for movement on the track by car wheels engaging opposite side recesses within the I-beam track. Each car includes a hinged plate at a radially outboard position on the car. A U-shaped cam follower yoke is fixedly mounted to a spear adjacent the hinged plate and carries cam follower rolls to opposite sides thereof for engaging with respective camming bars to opposite sides of the track third sections. Cam slots formed by spaced camming rails forward of the track third section cause the hinged plates to pivot to a position such that the spears carried thereby are horizontal and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cars.

Abstract: An improved vehicle carrier having upper and lower levels for receiving a plurality of vehicles. The upper level of the carrier includes a rear table which can be tilted to provide a ramp for vehicles being loaded onto the upper level. Each rear table is lifted up and down by a pair of telescoping struts disposed on either side of the vehicle carrier. A rear pair of telescoping struts is directly attached to the rear table. Each one of the rear pair of telescoping struts is pivotably attached at a lower end to the chassis of the vehicle carrier and is pivotably attached at an upper end to the rear table. A forward pair of telescoping struts is rigidly mounted at a fixed angle to the chassis and has an upper end which is pivotably intermediately attached to a swing arm beam. A rear end of the swing arm beam is pivotably attached to a forward end of the rear table. A forward end of the swing arm beam is adapted with a slot to pivot and translate about a fixed pivot point on the chassis of the vehicle carrier.

Abstract: A fastening pad (1) is attachably and detachably inserted into an accommodating furniture (2) to temporarily secure stored goods (3) in the furniture as they are. The fastening pad (1) comprises: a flat sealed bag (11) made of a flexible synthetic resin film; at least one vent valve (12) secured to the sealed bag (11); and a flat absorbing member (13) attached on one side of the sealed bag (11) and made of a flexible recoverable foamed material. The sealed bag (11) is expanded to temporarily secure the stored goods (3) in the accommodating furniture (2) when air is supplied to the sealed bag (11) through the vent valve (12).

Abstract: An unstacking feeder capable of unstacking sheet materials efficiently from a sheet stack has a sheet stack transfer device (3) for transferring a sheet stack, which consists of a plurality of stacked sheet materials (1a), along a circulating transport configuration extending across a predetermined unstacking position (A). In order to separate individual sheet materials from a sheet stack in order, a floater (6) is selected and supplied automatically in accordance with the configuration of the sheet materials by a floater supply mechanism (5, 7, 7d). Each unstacked sheet material is transferred to equipment in the subsequent stage, such as a transfer feeder by sheet material transporting arrangements (11, 19). During this period, each sheet material (1a) separated by the floater (6) is transferred onto a sheet material transporting arrangement by a sheet material transfer device (9).

Abstract: An electrical collector shoe assembly for a rail electrification system, including a metal holder member in the form of an elongate block body having spaced-apart gripping flanges projecting from its opposite sides upwardly and inwardly of the body, an elongate metal collector shoe extending along the top of the block body and having recessed surfaces in its opposite sides and in which the gripping flanges are disposed, and advanceable studs carried by the block body and engaged with the under portion of the collector shoe, applying an upward thrust to the shoe to cause the gripping flanges of the block body to be forcibly engaged with the recessed surfaces of the shoe. There is thus established a unitary electrical and mechanical connection between the shoe and holder member. Servicing and/or replacement of the shoe is greatly facilitated as a consequence of the simplicity of the assembly.

Abstract: A jib pin alignment jack assembly for aligning the apertures on the proximate end of a jib with apertures on the nose assembly of a boom section to facilitate the manual insertion of pins therein for holding the jib in the operative position relative to the boom section. A manually actuated hydraulic jack is mounted on the underside of the jib at the proximate end thereof, and the jack saddle is extendable to push against the nose assembly on the boom section, to thereby align the apertures for insertion of pins therein. One person is able to not only actuate the hydraulic jack to align the apertures but also insert the pin in the aligned apertures.

Abstract: A roll handling apparatus, including a roll handling cart, a C-hook assembly and a tiltable upender assembly is disclosed. The roll handling cart receives a plurality of spaced rolls, for example, paper rolls. A guide moves the cart bed along a path. A first member engages one end of the rolls and a second member engages the other end to move the rolls adjacent one another.

Abstract: A system for securing a vehicle of the type having a plurality of wheels from rolling or sliding along the floor of a refrigerated-type cargo container, employs lashing point anchors which couple to the floor of the cargo container without damaging same. Generally, the floors of refrigerated-type cargo containers are delicate, as they are formed of a plurality of elongated floor sections formed of extruded aluminum. The floor sections are arranged parallel to, and at a predetermined inter-sectional distance from, one another, each elongated floor section having a horizontal top portion and a vertical portion arranged orthogonal to one another to form a T-shaped cross-sectional configuration. A plurality of lashing straps, each having first and second ends, are coupled between the vehicle and respective ones of the lashing point anchors. Each lashing strap has an associated length adjustment arrangement.

Abstract: An arrangement for handling stacks of articles, each article having a predetermined height dimension, employs a stack guide for maintaining the stack of articles in stacked alignment, and an elevator for rasing and lowering the stack guide. A retractable support is coupled to the stack guide for supporting the articles and selectably releasing a lowermost one of the articles, or in the alternative, picking up an article, such that the article is added onto the bottom of the stack. The retractable supports extend along the length of the articles and are rotatable between engaged and disengaged positions. A linear actuator is coupled to the retractable supports by operation of links and effects the rotation between the engaged and disengaged positions. A limiter assembly determines the lowermost limit of the elevator, and also defines a predetermined extent of upward travel, which predetermined extent corresponds to the height of an article of the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for towing motorcycles behind a vehicle. The apparatus includes a frame with a front stop plate, a bottom plate, first and second guide members extending downwardly from the left and right sides of the front stop plate to the respective sides of the bottom plate, and an attachment bar on the forward side of the front stop plate. The attachment bar is preferably in the form of an insert to a tubular type trailer hitch mount and is adapted to be fixedly secured therein. An adjustable wheel clamp with first and second prongs extends rearwardly from the front stop. The wheel clamp is adjustable from a first width W.sub.1 between the first and second prongs to a second width W.sub.2 between such prongs, to accommodate wheels of different width. The prongs further include a plurality of slots which are adapted for passage therethrough of releasably securable fasteners therethough, so that wheels of different widths may be firmly secured for towing.

Abstract: A bale carrier for mounting on a vehicle to carry round bales side-by-side, axes in the direction of vehicle travel, with a tilt cradle for each bale, arranged to dump the supported bales individually over the vehicle side, and a central longitudinal fence to separate bales. Independent latches secure each cradle to prevent dumping and an individual safety stay for each cradle prevents dumping until the stay is manually disabled.

Abstract: An energy collector allows flow of electrical energy between a vehicle and a rail of a railway track. The energy collector includes a vehicle mounting device for mounting the energy collector to such vehicle; a collector shoe for sliding electrical contact on such rail; and a lever arm having a first end and a second end. The energy collector also includes a bottom torsion unit connected to the collector shoe and connected to the second end of the lever arm. The bottom torsion unit is disposed so that the collector shoe is forcefully and generally aligned upon such rail even as the collector shoe encounters physical deviations along a surface of such rail. The energy collector further includes a top torsion unit connected to the vehicle mounting device and connected to the first end of the lever arm.

Abstract: A lifting and swivelling apparatus for objects, in particular for motor vehicles and the like, includes substantially horizontally extending tie rods (28) and a clamping frame (4, 5), which can pivot about a substantially horizontal axis of the tie rods, and a lifting device (24) which can pivot about a substantially horizontal axis of the tie rods (28) and is connected in an articulated manner to the clamping frame (4, 5) via a holding member (23) which is displaceable along said lifting device, the holding member (23) being designed to be displaceable along the lifting device (24) by an actuating device and to be locked in position at any point desired, wherein the clamping frame (4, 5), on its side facing away from the lifting device, is provided with a supporting frame (15) which is curved substantially through 90.degree. and subsequently continues rectilinearly, and in that fastening member (10, 14) are provided on the clamping frame (4, 5) to lock the object to be tilted in position.