Abstract: A compact disc (CD) is inserted into a sleeve as the sleeve is continuously advanced past a load position at which the CD is removed from a vertical spindle by a pivotally mounted lift arm and inserted into an open edge of the sleeve with the arm moving at the same linear speed as the sleeve. Each of the sleeves is supplied from a magazine by timing belts to a conveyor belt. The pivotally mounted arm picks up the CD through an arcuate groove on its bottom surface having a vacuum applied thereto. The arm also has a pressurized air hole for insuring that the open edge of the sleeve is sufficiently open to receive the CD. After the CD is inserted into the sleeve, two linearly spaced push-in units complete full insertion of the CD into the sleeve. If the sleeve does not have a CD inserted, it is automatically removed from the conveyor belt after passing the first push-in unit. The sleeve is held on the conveyor belt by a vacuum and is held by the vacuum against a straight surface of a guide edge.

Abstract: A sealed envelope, which encloses a rectangular shaped container having an audio or video tape therein to form a package, is automatically removed from the container through cutting a first edge of the envelope during its travel in a first direction and then cutting two substantially parallel edges, perpendicular to the first cut edge, during travel of the container in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. After the three edges of the envelope have been cut, air pressure is selectively applied towards the cut edges. Then, flexible tubes apply forces to the top and bottom of the cut envelope to partially remove it from the container prior to the container being advanced in the second direction to an area in which a vacuum is applied to remove the cut envelope from the container. The packages are initially stacked in a magazine with each package being advanced from the magazine in the first direction in a predetermined spacing from the prior package.

Abstract: A support platform for a person in a wheelchair is disposed at ground level and mounted on the top of a movable support frame within a hole in the ground. The movable support frame is surrounded by a fixed frame having guide rollers for guiding the movable support frame in its vertical movement. A U-shaped handrail, which is not above the ground when the handrail is in its lowermost position, moves upwardly initially relative to the support platform. When the handrail has been moved upwardly a first predetermined distance by a drive arrangement, the drive arrangement then causes the movable support frame to move upwardly with the handrail to transport the person in the wheelchair on the support platform from the ground level position to a raised position at which the support platform is level with a surface of a building to enable the wheelchair to be rolled to the surface of the building.