Abstract: Method and device for separating letters by transporting a pile of non-separated and unordered letters by a conveyor band in a continuous flow of essentially non-superposed letters which are largely distributed on said conveyor band. At least one retention plate which is fixed to an axis of rotation in a radial direction with respect thereto rotates around the axis of rotation, which is transversally arranged with respect to the transporting direction of the conveyor band, horizontally and above said conveyor band in such a way that the retention plate arranged under the axis of rotation has a velocity component oriented in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the conveyor band.

Abstract: A method for processing mail, wherein a plurality of mailing items inserted into insertion places are collected and subsequently transported in a container to postal centers where they are sorted in sorting devices according to postal categories. The invention is characterized in that the mail is placed in transport containers which are transported to unloading areas in postal centers. When the transport container is filled and/or during the transportation of the container to the postal centers, random partial pre-sorting of mail takes place according to postal categories so that, when, the mail is removed from the containers at the unloading areas, it is in the form of piles formed by the predetermined pre-sorting method and sorted according to the postal categories, whereupon it is guided to subsequent processing stations according to said postal categories.

Abstract: Method and device for separating letters by transporting a pile of non-separated and unordered letters by a conveyor band in a continuous flow of essentially non-superposed letters which are largely distributed on said conveyor band. At least one retention plate which is fixed to an axis of rotation in a radial direction with respect thereto rotates around the axis of rotation, which is transversally arranged with respect to the transporting direction of the conveyor band, horizontally and above said conveyor band in such a way that the retention plate arranged under the axis of rotation has a velocity component oriented in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the conveyor band.

Abstract: A method for processing mail, wherein a plurality of mailing items inserted into insertion places are collected and subsequently transported in a container to postal centers where they are sorted in sorting devices according to postal categories. The invention is characterized in that the mail is placed in transport containers which are transported to unloading areas in postal centers. When the transport container is filled and/or during the transportation of the container to the postal centers, random partial pre-sorting of mail takes place according to postal categories so that, when, the mail is removed from the containers at the unloading areas, it is in the form of piles formed by the predetermined pre-sorting method and sorted according to the postal categories, whereupon it is guided to subsequent processing stations according to said postal categories.

Abstract: A hold-down clamp has a post extending along an axis and having a lower end adapted to be secured to a work surface and an upper end and a clamping body axially displaceable along the post and formed offset from the axis with at least one seat. A locator ring engaged around the post can be fixed to the post adjacent the body in any of a multiplicity of angularly and axially offset positions. A locator element fixed on the ring is engaged in the seat. The seat is a radially outwardly open notch and the locator element is a small-diameter pin extending parallel to the axis from the locator ring.

Abstract: A device for holding together two objects with aligned holes has a body formed with a passage centered on an axis, a tubular bolt axially displaceable in the passage and having a front end projecting from the body and a rear end, and a first spring braced between the bolt and the body for urging the bolt axially rearward relative to the body. A pin axially displaceable in the bolt is formed with a radially outwardly open recess having an angled front flank. At least one retaining element, normally a ball, is radially displaceable in the body front end between a retaining position projecting radially from the bolt and a retracted position recessed in the bolt and engaged in the recess. A second spring urges the pin axially rearward in the bolt and thereby urges the angled flank axially into engagement with the retaining element to press same outward into the retaining position.

Abstract: A dead-blow nonmarring hammer has its head and handle portions unitarily formed on half shells which are welded together. Hammer face inserts are received in ends of the housing portion and impact plates can be provided inwardly of the inserts to protect the inserts against wear by the mobile mass within the housing.

Abstract: A device for clamping a workpiece formed with a throughgoing hole and having a pair of faces to a support also formed with a throughgoing hole and also having a pair of faces has a tube engaged along an axis through both the holes in a position of the workpiece and support with one face of the workpiece bearing inwardly on one face of the support, the holes aligned, and the other faces of the workpiece and support turned outwardly away from each other. The tube is formed with a radially throughgoing aperture opening outwardly of one of the outer faces and with a screwthread outward of the other outer face. A retaining element is radially displaceable in the aperture between an extended position projecting radially from the tube and engageable axially with the one outer face and a retracted position generally wholly recessed in the tube. An actuating pin axially displaceable in the tube is engageable with the element to radially displace same into its extended position.

Abstract: A workpiece-position detector used in combination with a workpiece having a face and with a support having a surface adapted to engage the workpiece face has an element at the surface formed with a passage having a mouth open generally at the surface and blockable by the face of the workpiece, a flexible hose connected to the passage of the element, and a feed line connected to the hose. A pump connected to the feed line supplies a gas under pressure to the hose so that the gas exits from the passage mouth when same is not blocked. A restriction is provided in the feed line and a pressure sensor in the feed line downstream of the restriction produces an output corresponding to pressure in the conduit so that when the mouth is blocked the pressure at the sensor is relatively high and when not blocked it is relatively low. A controller connected to the pressure sensor takes action when the pressure sensor detects the relatively low pressure.