Abstract: A device is provided for monitoring a wash process inside a mechanical washing apparatus, comprising sensor means for measuring physical and/or mechanical parameters of the wash process and recording means for recording the measured parameters within the device. This device comprises means for conducting a washing liquor past the sensor means and means for determining a certain contact time between the washing liquor and the sensor means.

Abstract: A device is provided for monitoring a wash process inside a mechanical washing apparatus, comprising sensor means for measuring physical and/or mechanical parameters of the wash process and recording means for recording the measured parameters within the device. This device comprises means for conducting a washing liquor past the sensor means and means for determining a certain contact time between the washing liquor and the sensor means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the conversion of low-grade heat into mechanical energy, in particular electricity. To this end a working medium is heated in a closed circulation system causing the working medium to expand. The expansion produces mechanical energy. The heat remaining in the working medium is abstracted by a cooling medium in counterflow, to be reutilized for the production of mechanical energy. This makes its possible to achieve a high degree of efficiently. Due to cooling the working medium contracts and this contributes to the achievement of a high degree of efficiency. The working medium is preferably a paraffine.

Abstract: Postal items are assembled using a system with delivery stations and a folding station. Documents are delivered by the delivery stations. The documents are gathered into a stack having on one side substantially aligned document edges. The stack is supplied to the folding station in a direction transverse to these edges. According to the invention the documents, after being delivered, are displaced relative to each other in an area downstream of the delivery stations and upstream of the folding station until these document edges are substantially aligned on one side of the documents. By virtue of the invention, it is possible, inter alia, to use delivery stations and transport means of simple construction. There is also proposed a system with an aligning station for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a plurality of driven transport wheels (2) each suspended for rotation about a centerline (3) thereof and for pivotal movement about a steering axis (4) directed perpendicularly to the transport surface (1), and a string (5) passing over a driving and a driven sheave (6 and 2, 7, respectively). The driven sheave (2, 7) is pivotable along with the associated transport wheel (2). According to the invention, the string (5), between the driving and the driven sheaves (6 and 2, 7, respectively), passes closely to the associated steering axis (4) over divert rollers (8).

Abstract: A method for separating articles, such as paper or plastics sheets or envelopes, from a stack (9), and apparatus for carrying out this method is disclosed. A feed roller (6) periodically feeds an outer article to a conveyor roller (2) opposite to which a separation surface (3) is disposed. The pressure force of the feed roller (6) on the stack (9) is reduced when an article supplied is being carried off by the conveyor roller (2). The object of the invention is to provide such a method which can be carried out reliably with a simple construction. According to the invention, each time an article (8) is carried off by the conveyor roller (2), the feed roller (6) is carried along by said article (8) as long as the feed roller (6) bears on that article (8). The force with which the feed roller (6) bears on the stack (9) is then enhanced by the action of frictional force which is exerted by the feed roller (6) on an article (8) to be carried off.

Abstract: A conveyor table for displacing articles along a transporting surface includes a support construction and substantially rotation-symmetrical conveyor members, the conveyor members being suspended for rotation about axes thereof relative to the support construction, circumferential portions of the conveyor members defining the plane of transport. The direction of transport of the conveyor members is adjusted by rotating said conveyor member relative to the support construction about a line perpendicular to the plane of transport. A guard includes substantially circular openings, through which openings extend corresponding conveyor members. The guard screens the system for operating and driving the conveyor members from the user and the articles to be transported and makes it possible to arrange to the conveyor members at a relatively great distance from one another.

Abstract: A device for controlling the rotation of an element about an axis includes an arrangement for selectively precluding downward rotation of the elements. The arrangement includes a stationary cylindrical member, a wrap spring wrapped around the cylindrical member and a control member mounted on the element. One end of the wrap spring is anchored to the element to prevent downward rotation of the element. The control member is connected to an opposite end of the wrap spring and is movable between first and second positions such that the wrap spring is wrapped tightly about the cylindrical member to prevent downward rotation of the element whenever the control member is in the first position, and such that the wrap spring is wrapped loosely about the cylindrical member to enable rotation of the element whenever the control member is in the second position and whenever the element is rotated in an upward direction.

Abstract: An envelope to be opened and emptied has a first and a second panel (12, 13) at least partially severed along three folding edges and interconnected along a fourth folding edge. A portion of the first panel is moved relatively to the second panel in the direction of the fourth folding edge and pivoted about the fourth folding edge. According to the invention a portion of the envelope adjoining the substantially severed folding edge opposite the fourth folding edge is curled and subsequently the edge of the second panel opposite the fourth folding edge is withheld by a retainer from following the movement of said portion of said first panel. Envelopes of which the front and the back panel are not completely severed along three folding edges can mechanically and reliably be opened and emptied.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing contents from an envelope are disclosed. In the apparatus a front envelope wall is severed from a rear envelope wall along three of the folding edges, the envelope is separated from its contents and finally the separated envelope is removed along an exit track. The exit track passes along the outer side of the apparatus and is at least in part externally visible. The envelope is transferred to said exit track in an unfolded condition and transported along the exit track with its former inner surfaces of the envelope walls turned away from the apparatus. The invention provides a possibility to check visually in a simple and efficient manner whether the contents of an envelope have been removed completely.

Abstract: A method of, and a device for, controlling the rotation of an element about an axis are disclosed. A continuous torque is exerted on the element to rotate it in one direction, and a control member engages with one end of a wrap spring, which extends around a cylindrical part of the element, to preclude rotation of the element when the control member is in a first position. When the control member is out of the first position, the wrap spring loosens about the cylindrical element, thereby allowing the element to rotate under the continuous torque. However, rotation of the element under the continuous torque indirectly causes the control member to return to the first position, thus preclouding further rotation of the element.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for folding paperlike material, such as documents, which may have different quality and length and are conveyed in assembled form or successively in a transport track, said paperlike material having a leading and a trailing edge and being provided with a fold at a location between its leading and its trailing edge by bending the leading edge and the contiguous portion of the material out of the transport track during conveying of the material until the trailing edge reaches a predetermined position and creating a sharp folding edge by bringing the edge to be folded between folding means by a folding blade moving substantially in the transport track.

Abstract: Toroidal motor or pump comprising a toroidal cylindrical casing with a disc rotor containing rotatably mounted vanes which are able to seal off the cylinder. On the shaft of the vanes rockers are fixed which during rotation of the motor/pump cooperate with a curved disc, which casing possesses a restricted section in the shape of the disc rotor through which the vanes in closed position are able to pass, as well as an inlet and outlet port for a pressure medium in the section wherein the vanes are rotating. To guarantee smooth operation between the casing halves and the disc rotor two complementary twin axially curved discs are arranged between which the rockers run, said rockers having the general shape of a central cam with two side cams so that they are able to move through the disc rotor. The restriction is so constructed that the vane in its passing position is not turned a complete 90.degree., but about 85.degree..