Abstract: A power module for providing power to any one of a plurality of special purpose woodworking tools has a variable speed headstock on a base, and a tool support carriage on the base. The tool support carriage is formed with two pairs of tube-receiving sockets for receiving the support tubes of a special purpose woodworking tool. The sockets are formed at two different levels above the base, such levels corresponding to the difference in spacing of the input shaft connections with respect to the support tubes. The base is mounted for movement toward and away from the headstock, providing alignment of the input shaft with the headstock hub. A variable speed drive in the headstock employs an intermediate three-section pulley of the variator type, and a speed control knob is connected to position the variable speed drive to provide for the selection of speed for any particular tool.

Abstract: An item dispensing system is disclosed wherein in a preferred sheet dispensing embodiment, primary and secondary sets of vacuum cups are mounted to one end of a pick arm which is rotated between a stack of sheets and a dispensing path. Initially, a two-way valve is controlled to pass a vacuum from a vacuum source only to one of the primary and secondary sets of vacuum cups. The selected set of suction cups then attempts to vacuum lift and pass a sheet to and along the dispensing path. The failure of a sensor to sense that sheet in the dispensing path within a preselected period of time indicates that the selected set of vacuum cups may have been unsuccessful in vacuum lifting that sheet from the stack due to a poor vacuum seal between the selected set of vacuum cups and that sheet. Such a failure causes a processor to generate a signal to cause the two way valve to apply the vacuum from the vacuum source only to the other one of the primary and secondary sets of vacuum cups.