Abstract: A conveyor apparatus is divided into a plurality of end-to-end arranged conveyor tracks to advance flat items, in an edgewise upstanding, face-to-face engaging orientation to an item processing machine situated downstream of the conveyor apparatus. Each conveyor track is separately driven and is associated with a sensor which detects the extent of inclination of the items on the respective conveyor track. The drive of any individual conveyor track is de-energized if the items situated thereon assume an orientation having a steepness of predetermined extent and if, at the same time, the item processing machine and the drives of all conveyor tracks situated downstream of the individual conveyor track are at a standstill.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for protecting a remotely controllable semi-conductor switch which closes to interrupt an alternating current circuit in order to protect against an overload is disclosed in which a flip-flop is connected to control the operation of a current control circuit connected to the output of the semi-conductor switch in the event of an overload or short-circuit condition in the AC circuit. Provision may also be made for transient overload conditions, as well as providing a visual indication of the conducting condition of the semi-conductor switch.

Abstract: In a method for precisely advancing a printed packaging strip provided with markings at uniformly spaced distances and which is to be cut into length portions corresponding to such distances, a sensor head being provided along the feed path of the strip to produce an indication, each time a marking reaches a predetermined location, the strip being advanced during successive operating cycles, with each cycle corresponding to the cutting of a successive length portion of the strip, precise strip advance is effected by, during each operating cycle: advancing the strip first through a predetermined distance which reliably differs from the distance between successive markings; subsequently imparting to the strip, by movement of a carrying device, a correcting movement over a distance and in a direction which brings a marking to such predetermined location and causes the sensor head to produce such indication; causing the indication produced by the sensor head to actuate a clamping mechanism to cause that mechanism