Abstract: The feed device includes a platform (9) adapted to receive at least one mail item (4; 4A, 4B) laid flat on it and a plurality of rollers (10) each having a flat (10B). Said rollers are mounted to rotate under the platform to occupy alternately a first position in which they remain below the platform and a second position in which they project above the platform. A weight sensor (30) is mounted under the platform to carry it, said sensor being responsive to vertical displacement of the platform to deliver a signal (C) indicative of the load applied to it when the rollers are all substantially in said first position.

Abstract: In a conveyor apparatus, bagged food products fall from a first inclined belt onto a second horizontal belt. As they fall, the bagged food products engage a bar and flip forwardly onto the second belt. The bar has a friction enhancing covering which aids in pivoting the bagged food product onto the second belt, resulting in a properly collated array of bagged food products.

Abstract: The invention is a crane system for a building for the assembly of a gas bag for a lighter-than-air vehicle, the building having a floor and a roof thereover with a longitudinal, vertical and lateral axis. In detail, the crane assembly includes a plurality of crane carriage rail assemblies in the form of arches aligned with the lateral axis of and mounted within the building. The carriage rail assemblies are in a spaced relationship along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of crane carriages are movably mounted on each of the crane rail assemblies with each carriage including a winch mounted thereon having an extendible and retractable cable. A control system is provided for moving the crane carriages by rows aligned with the longitudinal axis of the building along the crane carriage rail assemblies to specific locations along the lateral axis and for adjusting the length of the cables of the winches in each of the rows as a function of the distance of each of the rows along the lateral axis of the building.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for lifting and moving a barrel. The apparatus includes a frame which can be connected to a fork lift, at least one support member pivotably connected to the frame for engaging and supporting the barrel, a power source for selectively moving the support member(s) from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal position and vice versa, and an apparatus for removably attaching to the bead of the barrel.

Abstract: A combination round bale feeder includes tubular U-shaped ribs arranged to form a cradle framework. The cylindrical shape of the feeder keeps the enclosed hay bale or other forage centered, while the spacing of frame members allows controlled access to all of the enclosed forage. A removable gate is provided at the rear of the feeder to permit easy loading and includes brackets to allow the gate to be hung on the side of the feeder during loading. A removable plastic floor sheet is also provided that converts the feeder into a trough for supplemental feed. A mounting platform with skid pipes elevates the framework above the ground and allows the feeder to be pushed or pulled to different locations. The compact construction of the feeder also allows for convenient transport in the bed of a pickup truck as well as manual handling by as few as two persons.

Abstract: An apparatus attached to a main frame of a vehicle for handling straddled loads including coil-shaped loads and slab-shaped loads entered into a load carrying space of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a moveable lift frame having both a tong assembly and probe assembly suspended therefrom. The tong assembly includes tong actuators and depending tongs for clamping a slab-shaped load, while the probe assembly includes a displaceable probe for penetrating coil shaped loads. When the apparatus is used for engaging a slab-shaped load, the probe is displaced so as to be withdrawn from the load carrying space, and the depending tongs are actuated to clamp the load. When the apparatus is used for engaging a coil shaped load, the probe is displaced into the load carrying space and the vehicle is moved to penetrate the load with the probe. With either load, the lift frame is then raised to elevate the engaged load.

Abstract: A control system which stabilizes the hoisting rope of a suspension crane comprising a travel drive control unit capable of calculating a torque reference signal by a speed regulating controller having a proportional gain and an integrator or only a proportional gain on the basis of the deviation of a speed detection signal representing the rotating speed of a traveling motor for driving the trolley of the crane from a speed reference signal obtained by subtracting a damping control speed reference correction signal which is obtained by adding a damping factor to a swing angle calculated on the basis of the speed detection signal representing the rotating speed of the traveling motor or a calculated load torque on the traveling motor from a speed reference signal provided through a linear acceleration starter device by a speed reference device, of controlling the rotating speed of the traveling motor according to the torque reference signal, and of producing a damping effect for damping the oscillation of the

Abstract: A distributor apparatus is characterized by having a transfer starwheel with individual pockets which are successively advanced beneath a feeder unit, such as, a downstacker mechanism, each pocket having a ring gear and individual feed screw elements controlled by the ring gear to successively engage an outer rim of an individual can end advanced into the pocket by the downstacker and subsequently remove each end from the pocket through rotation of the ring gear when it moves into alignment with a discharge chute. One or more discharge chutes may be placed in the path of movement of the pockets of the transfer starwheel, and output level sensors at each discharge chute determine when ends are to be supplied to each chute.

Abstract: A cargo flow control system for bulk cargo containers. The system uses an inflatable bag positioned between the floor of the container and the cargo. When the bag is inflated, it slopes downward from the front of the container to the discharge door at the rear of the container. When the slope is greater than the angle at which the bulk cargo naturally flows, the container can be unloaded without using other unloading techniques such as tilting the container. The system can be used with or without a liner. When used with a liner, it can be manufactured as an integral part of the liner, or as a separate unit.

Abstract: A device for the retention of cargo within a container includes a pair of opposing receptacles, and a support member disposed therebetween. Each receptacle is mounted to an opposing sidewall of the container and includes two channels therein for receiving an end of the support member. The two channels are disposed substantially orthogonally to one another, to accommodate support members disposed in different orientations. The dimensions of the two channels are different, so as to accommodate support members of differing sizes and lengths. At least one channel includes a compressive force member therein to exert a compressive force onto the support member once it is received within the channel. The support member is typically a rigid member, and may include standard cuts of number of varying cross-sectional dimensions. The device is positioned such that the support member abuts or is placed adjacent to cargo within the container, and physically prevents the cargo from shifting during transportation.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for retaining a load having load engaging members (12) to engage the load (100) to be retained along with movement limiting members (14,16) and contact members (18). The load engaging members (12) are movable between first and second positions. The contact members (18) contact the movement limiting members (14,16) so that the load engaging members (12) are fixable in the first and second positions.

Abstract: A tensioning apparatus for a cargo lashing strap that secures cargo to a cargo deck and is configured to have a frame having a first portion adapted to couple the frame to the cargo deck an intermediate portion, and a second portion. The frame has two side walls extending continuously therealong and are generally parallel to one another in the first and second portions, and taper in the intermediate portion. A spindle receives the cargo lashing strap and extends through apertures in the side walls in the second portion of the frame. The spindle is provided with an axial slot therethrough for engaging the cargo lashing strap. Ratchet wheels arranged on the first and second spindle ends, rotate with the spindle. An adapter facilitates engagement and disengagement of a torquing lever with the spindle. A pawl shaft has ends that extend through apertures in both side walls in the second portion of the frame.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a tie-down device for use with small trucks such as pickup trucks having sides. The sides comprise an exterior wall and an interior wall. There is positioned between the exterior wall and the interior wall an elongated member such as a rod or a tube. There is positioned on the elongated member a clamp having an eye bolt. A cargo box or cargo may be positioned on the bed of the pickup truck. A stretchable elastic tie-down device having a hook on each end may be stretched over the cargo box and attached to the eye bolt on one side of the pickup truck and to an eye bolt on the other side of the pickup truck to hold the cargo box in position.

Abstract: After passing in a deformed shape through bending device 28 provided between validator 24 and stacker 25, a bill 23 recovers its initial flat shape due to its own elasticity and provides a face which intersects blocking edges 31. After the bill 23 passes through the bending device 28, although a string attached to the bill 23 is extracted, it is impossible to return the bill to the passageway 27 to prevent any unauthorized extraction of the bill 23.

Abstract: A device as described for unstacking thin, flat articles, particularly flexible articles, and especially tortillas, from a stack of the same, which includes means for repetitively picking up the topmost tortilla in a stack and conveying it to a moving belt where it is deposited individually and separately and moved to a further processing operation. The pick up means includes a rotating cylinder having holes in its surface through which suction acts on the tortillas, to temporarily hold them to the cylinder, and belts around and rotating with the cylinder which transfer the tortillas from the cylinder to the moving conveyor.

Abstract: Imbricated or overlapped copies of printed material are formed within a plurality of rows to form a single layer of a multi-layered and cubic-shaped stack. The stack allows for more efficient use of space for the storage of printed materials, and allows for easier and faster storing and retrieving of printed materials. The apparatus for forming the stack includes a plurality of in-feed conveyors which feed imbricated copy stream segments to a shuttle assembly upon a plurality of side-by-side rows. Once filled, the shuttle is positioned over a flat separator sheet and drops the plurality of rows onto the separator sheet, thereby forming a single layer. The layer is formed directly upon a stack which is formed upon a pallet. The separator sheet of the formed layer is supported by the copy streams which lie below on the preceding separator sheet.

Abstract: A center drive portable auger system for transporting particulate material. The auger includes an auger tube having a feed end and a discharge end, an auger drive shaft within the auger tube, and an auger flighting mounted to the auger drive shaft for transporting particulate material from the feed end to the discharge end of the auger tube. A gear box is positioned adjacent an external surface of the auger tube between the discharge end and the feed end for center driving the auger flighting. Since the central gear is external to the auger tube it does not restrict the flow of the particulate material within the auger tube, does not leak oil into the particulate material, and runs cooler than the internal gear boxes due to less friction during operation. A drive linkage operates between the gear box and the auger drive shaft for driving the auger flighting.

Abstract: A checkout device includes first and second stationary scanners forming central portions of first and second scanning lanes set in parallel with each other, each for reading an article code affixed to an article which is moved from an upstream side to a down stream side in a corresponding scanning lane, and a settlement section arranged between the first and second scanning lanes for performing a settlement process based on article codes sequentially supplied from each of the stationary scanners. In particular, the checkout device further includes a position adjusting mechanism for variably setting a position of the settlement section along the first and second scanning lanes.

Abstract: A transporter device for jet skis comprised of a first support attachable the rear of a vehicle. A second support attachable to the vehicle. A transverse support is coupled at intermediate points to the rearward ends of the primary supports. A quick disconnect couples the first main support with the cross support. A swivel joint couples the rearward end of the second main support with the cross support. The cross-support is formed with a small channel member coupled to the second primary support and a large channel member receiving the small channel member at an intermediate extent and coupled to the first primary support. A quick disconnect pin couples the two channel members of the cross support to effect its shortening and lengthening. A pair of cradle members are secured to the large channel member for receiving thereon a jet ski with a forward upwardly extending support secured to the smaller channel member with a wench for supporting the forward end of a jet ski whereby a jet ski may be transported.

Abstract: An apparatus for suspending and manoevring a load, more particularly for providing a theatrical or stage effect in which an actor or article "flies", includes hoist means and means associated with the hoist means for rotating a load suspended therefrom, such that rotation of the load is unrestricted.