Abstract: A driver device for suppression audible transients of an audio amplifier includes an amplifier for receiving an audio signal and a bias circuit configured to quickly generate a voltage level for biasing the amplifier, wherein the voltage level is maintained even if the driver device is powered off. The bias circuit may include a CMOS inverter having a negative feedback that has a standby current of less than 100 nA. The bias circuit further includes a buffer for rapidly charging an external capacitor. The buffer may change to a high impedance state rapidly when the power supply is disconnected.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of covering a stack formed of articles supported on a support pallet with a stretch film, with the apparatus including at least four reefing fingers movable in horizontal and vertical directions for picking up a film cover in four corners of the cover in a bellow-like manner, and four rigid stretching elements associated with respective reefing fingers, with the method including moving the reefing fingers horizontally into four corner regions of the cover and placing the cover around the reefing fingers in a bellows-like manner, moving, before an end of the placing process, the stretching elements radially outwardly and above the respective associated reefing fingers and moving the stretching elements, after reefing and before start of a pull-over process, inward in a direction toward the stack until the stretching elements are located closer to the stack than the respective reefing fingers, moving the reefing fingers away from the stack and thereafter, pulling the cover over the

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for shrinking a shrink film cover covering a stack of goods and having a free edge thereof located beneath the stack bottom, which method and apparatus includes providing a shrink frame, movable vertically along the stack, for applying hot air to the shrink film cover to provide from below upwards thermal energy necessary for shrinkage of the shrink film cover, providing an arrangement for inflating the shrink film cover with hot air to form a space closed by the shrink film cover, with overpressure being maintained in the closed space until application of the thermal energy ends, and delivering hot air from the shrink frame to a lower region of the shrink film cover into a collecting compartment located beneath a stack bottom and, thereafter, from the collecting compartment into the space closed by the shrink film cover.

Abstract: The opposite sides of the bottom layer of a multi-layered stack of packages have recessed portions. In apparatus for fitting a shrunk-on foil hood over the stack, a conveyor is positioned at a working station. The conveyor can be raised and lowered. After the stack is positioned at the working station, the conveyor is lowered and sets of rollers at each end of the conveyor are moved horizontally inwardly above the conveyor into the recessed portions of the stack. With the rollers within the recessed portions, the conveyor is lowered further so that the rollers contact the downwardly facing surface of the recessed portion. The relative movement of the sets of rollers and the conveyor permit the rollers to press the foil hood into closely fitting contact with the recessed portions of the stack. While the foil hood is pressed into the recessed portions, cooling air can be directed toward the stack to facilitate the shrinking action.

Abstract: In an apparatus for automatically handling stacks of bags, initially the bags are formed into stacks, each stack is moved onto and along a conveying track and then unloaded from the track to a loading surface. The support surface on the conveying track for the stacks of bags has a number of recesses into which a prong-shaped support member can be inserted for lifting a stack from the track without using a pallet. The prong-shaped support member includes a stripping plate so that by moving the support member transversely of the plate, the stack on the support member can be displaced onto a loading surface. A carriage movable over the conveying track provides the support surface of the stack of bags. The conveying track includes upper rails for moving the carriage from the stack-forming end to the unloading end and lower rails for returning the carriage to the stack-forming end.

Abstract: In a loading apparatus, sacks are moved from a supply source along a conveyor to a device which arranges the sacks into a layer. From this device, the layer of sacks is moved over a double conveyor belt structure to a member which loads the layer directly onto a loading surface or onto a previously deposited layer of sacks on the loading surface. To provide continuous operation of the apparatus even when a loading surface is being replaced, the different parts of the apparatus can operate at variable speeds. The double conveyor belt structure which normally moves continuously supplying layers to the loading member, switches to a step-wise movement and stores a number of layers of sacks until the loading surface is replaced and ready to be loaded.