Abstract: A tensioning and sealing apparatus, for tensioning and sealing a strap made of a plastic passed around a packaged item, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a clamping device for securing a lower starting section of a plastic strap. The apparatus of the invention further includes a tensioning device for both tensioning the strap and for acting upon an upper section thereof. Upstream from the tensioning device, a friction welding device is provided which preferably includes two welding dies, which are movable relative to one another, for joining mutually overlapping regions of the strap. A cutting member is further provided, preferably arranged between the friction welding device and the tensioning device, for cutting through the upper section of the strap after the strap has been welded.

Abstract: A drying station for large animals, in particular, horses, comprises a blower, which is, essentially, moveable vertically up and down and which is preferably a hot-air blower, disposed in a housing, defining a low-pressure chamber. An adjustable flow guide is disposed in the region of the air outlet thereof. Such a drying station allows the drying of the horse to be carried out without manual work, quickly and thoroughly as well as extremely gently for the animal.

Abstract: A tape guidance duct (16) disposed in the manner of an arch bridging the object (20) to be strapped is provided to guide strapping tape (13) when it is being advanced and which releases the tape when it is tensioned around the object (20). The tape guidance duct (16) is assembled in modular manner from a plurality of monolithically formed, sequentially arranged, detachably linked segments (22, 23) which connect with each other by arms extended to fit into corresponding recesses so that, upon such forced engagement, neighboring segments butt together securely at planar end faces and have no lateral play. In this manner the shape and the path of the tape guidance duct (16) is adapted to particular circumstances e.g., different heights or widths of objects being strapped, in simple manner.

Abstract: An elongated elastically deformable housing is responsive to external force applied thereto and is connectable to a pressure evaluation device. A rigid tube longitudinally traverses the housing and defines therewith a closed annular space around the tube, which has a plurality of radial bores formed therein in an array extending the length of the housing and connecting the interior of the tube with the annular space, a hydraulic fluid being contained in the annular space and the tube. Means are provided at one end of the tube for the connection thereof to the pressure evaluation device.

Abstract: Guide members with bifurcated forked ends are fastened to the cleaning apparatus, by means of which this cleaning apparatus can be mounted upon the reed. An endless belt is seated in the cleaning device and rotating cleaning brushes are contained in such cleaning apparatus. In this way, the cleaning apparatus can be slowly moved forward on the reed by means of at least one compressed air motor. By so doing, the reed wires or lamellae or the dents between them can be freed of dirt or other contaminants. The cleaning can take place without removing the reed from the weaving machine.

Abstract: A pressure-medium-driven linear driving arrangement comprises a slide-shaped driving unit supported on a feed rack with a sliding curve. The driving unit comprising step-by-step elements in the form of piston-cylinder systems, which are controlled by a pressure medium via a rotary slide valve to produce a relative motion between the driving unit and the feed rack. The step-by-step elements each have a pivoted lever joined on one hand to the piston of the step-by-step element and on the other hand, joined to the slide housing, constituting self-centering feeding link driving elements.

Abstract: A device for detachably coupling the orifice of a branchline to a line carrying a pressure medium and having a plurality of discharge valves spaced apart from each other in the line wall, the coupling being carried out by means of a coupling device which is movable over the length of the line and contains the orifice and opens one of the discharge valves. The discharge valves are mounted in the line with magnetically actuating opening members and the coupling device is provided with a coupling element guided thereon and is provided with an automatically sealing coupling member in the coupling position with the discharge valve at the pressure side for an automatic alignment with the orifice, and an actuator which magnetically cooperates with the opening member and the coupling member.

Abstract: A device for detachably coupling the orifice of a branchline to a conduit carrying a pressure medium having a plurality of discharge valves disposed spaced apart from each other along said conduit. Each of the valves has a discharge opening, and a closing element for each of said openings. A coupling device has the orifice disposed therein and is longitudinally displaceable along the conduit and connectable with the conduit by opening one of the discharge valves. The coupling device has a coupling element which is guided on the conduit and an automatically sealing coupling in the coupling position with the discharge valve at the pressure side for an automatic alignment with the orifice, and an actuator effective to actuate a respective one of the discharge valves in the coupling position of the coupling element.

Abstract: A device for detachably coupling the orifice of a branchline to a conduit carrying a pressure medium having a plurality of discharge valves disposed spaced apart from each other along said conduit. Each of the valves has a discharge opening, and a closing element for each of said openings. A coupling device has the orifice disposed therein and is longitudinally displaceable along the conduit and connectable with the conduit by opening one of the discharge valves. The coupling device has a coupling element which is guided on the conduit and an automatically sealing coupling in the coupling position with the discharge valve at the pressure side for an automatic alignment with the orifice, and an actuator effective to actuate a respective one of the discharge valves in the coupling position of the coupling element.

Abstract: A device for detachably coupling the orifice of a branchline to a line carrying a pressure medium and having a plurality of discharge valves spaced apart from each other in the line wall, the coupling being carried out by means of a coupling device which is movable over the length of the line and contains the orifice and opens one of the discharge valves. The discharge valves are mounted in the line with magnetically actuating opening members and the coupling device is provided with a coupling element guided thereon and is provided with an automatically sealing coupling member in the coupling position with the discharge valve at the pressure side for an automatic alignment with the orifice, and an actuator which magnetically cooperates with the opening member and the coupling member.

Abstract: Benzodifuranes of the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents hydrogen, alkyl or halogen, each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 represents hydrogen or different non-chromophoric substituents, with the proviso that at least one of the symbols R, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 does not represent hydrogen, processes for their production and the use thereof for whitening organic material of high molecular weight, especially polyester, polyvinyl chloride or polystyrene.

Abstract: A system for detecting changes in load on terrain and actuating an alarm in response thereto including a fluid system, a pressure-sensitive device in the fluid system having a first pressure signal output responsive to a load on a terrain, a second pressure signal output generating device responsive to said first pressure signal output, an alarm and a pressure-sensitive switch connected to said alarm, said switch being responsive to the second pressure signal output to actuate the alarm.