Abstract: On a housing (10) which has a mount (20) for a roll (22) of paper, a roller (30) is mounted, by means of a spindle body (32), beneath said mount. A spring (40) is wound in the form of a coil around the spindle body (32) and, in the event of forwards rotation of the roller (30), is subjected to stressing and rotates said roller into a rest position after the paper web (24) has been severed. An end section (42, 48) of the spring (40) is formed by spring coils which always rest against the spindle body (32) in a close-fitting manner, with the result that they act as a directional lock. Between its end sections (42, 48), the spring (40) has a main part (46) comprising spring coils which, in the non-stressed state, enclose the spindle body (32) with radial spacing, only rest against the spindle body (32) in a close-fitting manner after a predetermined forwards rotation of the roller (30), and consequently prevent further rotation of the roller (30).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus adapted to promote the recycling of complex articles, such as, in particular, printer cartridges, toner cartridges and other complex office items. The invention provides an apparatus having storage space arranged to store a number of such complex articles for recycling. Access to the storage space is controlled by a data processor which interacts with a user by way of a visual display unit and control panel. If the user wishes to store an item, he indicates this by way of the control panel and the apparatus is then operable to open a receptacle to receive the used item. When the used item is placed in the receptacle, in preferred embodiments means are provided to determine that the used item is an article of an appropriate type to be stored. These means preferably employ shape recognition. The article will be rejected if it is not of the correct type and accepted and retained in a storage space if it is of the correct type.

Abstract: For transferring bulk goods from a screw conveyor to a pneumatic conveyor, use is made of a cellular feeder. The shafts of the cellular feeder and the screw conveyor are preferably substantially parallel. The outlet of the screw conveyor is formed as a longitudinal slot formed in the casing of the screw conveyor and being of a length which is at least twice the length of the pitch of the feeding screw, and communicates with the inlet port of the cellular feeder for throwing out and discharging the goods substantially radially. The outlet of the cellular feeder is formed at an angular distance from the inlet port of the cellular feeder and is adapted to discharge the goods substantially axially and is connected to or forms the inlet of the pneumatic conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for guiding a personnel carrying vehicle including a body with a pair of driven rear wheels and a pair of front caster wheels into a narrow aisle. A pair of guide rollers are mounted on each side of the vehicle and spaced between the front caster wheels and the driven rear wheels. A steering rail extends between the pair of guide rollers on each side of the vehicle and is curved inwardly towards the body. A guide rail is placed on each side of the narrow aisle for engaging the vehicle mounted rollers with the guide rails terminating in entry ends which engage the steering rails for entry of the vehicle into the narrow aisle. The vehicle is steered forward toward an aisle entrance to cause one of the forward guide rollers to engage one of the guide rails and one of the aisle entry ends to engage one of the steering rails. Continuing forward movement of the vehicle causes the vehicle to rotate about the engaged aisle entry end to align the vehicle within the aisle.

Abstract: The stator disc (11) of a disc motor type elevator machinery has a cuplike or ring-shaped annular cavity (20). The stator (9) is attached to one of the walls of the cavity. The traction sheave (4) is attached to the rotor disc (14) on the opposite side relative to the stator core packet (12) of stampings. The diameter of the traction sheave is smaller than that of the stator core packet (12). A sealing (24) is provided between at least one (22) of the cavity (20) walls and the rotor disc (14) to block the access of external particles into the rotor and stator.

Abstract: A portable tripodal support formed from a plurality of interconnected legs adapted to receive a flexible hopper for holding a supply of golf balls to be individually dispensed to a golf club striking position with one of the legs being the discharge chute for the golf balls.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a vending machine includes a number of failure control devices that monitor and control the functioning of the various components in the vending machine to ensure uniform quality of food products to be sold to a customer. One specific embodiment includes plurality of oven failure control devices, a freezer failure control device and a power failure control device. When a microcontroller in the vending machine determines the occurrence of a failure, the microcontroller displays a failure message on a customer display and discontinues vending food until the failure is corrected, for example, by an operator. In another aspect of this invention, the vending machine includes a mechanism for operating a door of a refrigeration compartment of the vending machine. The mechanism includes a motor driven rotary link coupled to a roller that moves in a slot of the door.

Abstract: A manually activated elevator braking release including an actuating element placed away from the brake and a mechanical power transmission system for transmitting releasing power from the actuator to a brake element. The actuator is placed on a landing and a window is provided near the actuator so that an operator can observe movement of the hoisting ropes and/or traction sheave. Arrival of the elevator car at one of the landing zones is indicated in a manner allowing it to be perceived from a position near the actuator.

Abstract: A method for concentrating airborne particles and microorganisms by injecting them into a swirling air flow from where they are removed into one or more receiving tubes. The swirling air motion and the aerosol injection into it are achieved by pushing or drawing the airborne particles and microorganisms through one or more nozzles that are directed at an angle towards the surface of the containment vessel. The ratio of air flow rate into the vessel to the air flow rate through the receiving tube is equal to the maximum aerosol concentrating ratio desired.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for selectively dispensing articles from an inner cavity of a bin. The apparatus includes a pick-up head having a plurality of spaced suction cups which is moveably supported by a positioning assembly. The positioning assembly locates the pick-up head at various positions relative to the inner cavity of the bin to retrieve randomly organized articles within the bin. The dispensing apparatus includes a vacuum control assembly which is coupled to a vacuum source for selectively applying a suction pressure to the suction cups of the pick-up head. The suction pressure attracts the articles stored in the bin towards the suction cups to retrieve an article from the bin to be dispensed. A sensing assembly is coupled to each of the suction cups to determine whether an article is attached to the suction cup. The vacuum control assembly is coupled to the sensing assembly to selectively apply and release suction pressure to the suction cups.

Abstract: A merchandising device is designed for dispensing bottles each having an integrally formed annular neck flange. The device includes an elongate track for supporting a row of the bottles such that the bottles in the row are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the track and are removable from the track through the front end of the track. The track includes a pair of side walls interconnected by a top wall to form a channel structure, and a C-shaped reinforcing flange provided at the front end of the track to increase the rigidity of the front end.

Abstract: A paper towel dispenser having a housing for supporting a stack of towels and an outlet slot at the bottom of the housing for manual removal of towels one at a time, an adapter positioned within the housing and comprising a single sheet of material having a spacer section and a flange section joined by a hinge section, with the spacer section being positionable adjacent an inner wall of the housing and the flange section being positionable on the bottom of the housing adjacent the outlet slot, with the housing and adapter flange section having interengaging guide means for locating the adapter at at least two positions on the housing bottom for selectively spacing the lower end of the adapter spacer section at at least two distances from the housing inner wall.

Abstract: A tandem sheave assembly for an elevator car includes a hitch plate having an aperture to permit variable positioning of the tandem sheave assembly. A method to install an elevator car includes the steps of: attaching the sheave frame to the car frame via a shaft engaged with the car frame and hitch plate; positioning the sheave frame by rotating the sheave frame about the shaft; and fastening the sheave frame into the desired position by inserting fasteners through the aperture in the hitch plate.

Abstract: A wire belt having increased belt strength includes a plurality of wire links having alternating wide linking portions and narrow linking portions interlocked with respective linking portions of an adjacent wire link. The assembly of the wire belt includes interlocking the wire links, for example, by placing the wide linking portions into an engagement with wide linking portions of an adjacent wire link. The width of the wide linking portions is about equal to the minimum width that will allow the wire link to be interlocked with an adjacent wire link without bending the wire link in excess of the yield strength of the wire link. The width of the narrow linking portions is less than the width of the wide linking portions, and preferably, dimensioned to receive a sprocket for driving the wire belt. The wire links preferably have an undulating shape and include first and second end loops that interlock with adjacent wire links.

Abstract: The present invention is disclosed to provide a power saving apparatus and a method for reducing an electric power of the automatic vending machine when goods stored or provided at an inner part of the automatic vending machine is maintained at a goods sold out state or when an error occurs due to some trouble at a predetermined load(s) of the inner part of the automatic vending machine. In the automatic vending machine, with an operating time of a heater and a compressor being reduced power consumption to be used at the sales stop state of the automatic vending machine can be reduced according to reduced operating time of the inner load at a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A dual track conveying system for transporting workpiece carriers, has a main conveyor and, an auxiliary conveyor arranged parallel to the main conveyor. At least one transverse conveyor is arranged between the main conveyor and the auxiliary conveyor. The transverse conveyor is pivotally attached to the main conveyor. The moveable end of the transverse conveyor pivots up-and-to transfer the workpiece carriers from the transverse conveyor to the auxiliary conveyor. The transverse conveyor has a short belt and a long belt. The short belt is shorter than the long belt by the width of the auxiliary conveyor. A passive conveying track section following the path of the short belt is located in between the belts of the auxiliary conveyor to support one end of the work piece carrier when the moveable end of the transverse conveyor is in the raised position.

Abstract: This invention provides a pivoting wheel chair lift device for raising a wheel chair from a lower elevation to a higher elevation. The wheel chair lift device includes a frame, a ramp, and lift powering apparatus. The third end of the ramp is disposed toward the ground engaging first end of the frame. The fourth end of the ramp is pivotally mounted to the second upper end of the frame. The lift powering apparatus lifts the third end of the ramp. An arresting plate arrests egress of a wheel chair during lifting. A gravity locking bracket and locking receptacle combination lock the arresting plate when engaged. The lift powering apparatus may power the arresting plate and the ramp through two divergent linkages. The fourth end of the ramp can extend over a step to align the ramp with an upper step enabling a wheel chair to roll safely from the ramp to and across the step tread. The invention also comprehends methods of negotiating steps with a wheel chair.

Abstract: A pop-up coupon dispenser for small sheets which have a repositionable adhesive is provided with a flexible plastic cable tie. The dispenser includes a box filled with such sheets having an adhesive stripe along one margin and stacked in accordion fashion, the sheets being printed as manufacturer's coupons supplied to a retailer who attaches the box by the cable tie to a wire rack, to a cardboard display or other suitable support, such as a shelf, and cuts off the excess end of the cable tie. Customers can remove the coupons one-at-a-time and affix them by their adhesive backing to the product for which the coupon is redeemable. A check-out cashier can, therefore, immediately determine that the purchaser is purchasing the product for which the coupon was issued. The dispenser box may also be provided with a conventional shelf clip connected to the bottom of the dispenser box.

Abstract: A portable lift for transporting cargo between different vertical levels of a building. The lift comprises a frame mounted for movement on a plurality of wheels. A carriage having a cantilevered platform that is adapted to support the cargo is mounted for vertical movement on the frame between a lower level and an upper level. The wheels can be manually moved between a lower supporting position where they support the frame for movement to an upper, non-supporting position. Movement of the wheels to the upper, non-supporting position automatically engages a locking mechanism to lock the frame to the building to prevent accidental movement of the frame during a loading operation. The platform of the carriage can be selectively positioned at either a lower position to receive cargo from mechanical handling equipment, or at an upper position to receive a manually carried cargo.

Abstract: A label dispenser includes a frame whose upper surface defines, in lateral cross-section, an arcuate trough within which to receive a supply of spiral-wound label-bearing linings or rolls. A pair of guide rods mounted on the frame in parallel-spaced relation to the trough's front edge guide the end of each lining first upwardly and then sharply downwardly so as to cause separation of individual labels from their respective linings upon movement of each lining relative to the guide rods. At least one spacer engages each guide rod at a like location intermediate the rod's ends so as to maintain the relative position of each guide during operation of the dispenser thereby to eliminate deleterious lateral deflection of one or more of the guide rods. Another rod is mounted on the frame in parallel-spaced relation to the trough's rear edge. Dividers slidably and pivotally supported by the rearward rod provide lateral support for the individual linings.