Abstract: A low cost, pressure insensitive, highly accurate portable house dust wipe template sampler having a dust pick-up element and a corresponding template having an aperture which exposes a testing surface of predetermined area. The dust pick-up element is comprised of a porous polyethylene "draindisc" filter removably mounted on an inert non-porous plastic body having a gripping handle. The polyethylene filter is sized to snugly fit across the sampling template of predetermined area. Three wipes within the template area by successive polyethylene filters provide a dust mass recovery efficiency/per given area of the template, in excess of 95%.

Abstract: A tester is disclosed that applies forces to selected portions of a vehicle seat. The tester includes force application members that are mounted for pivotal movement about a common pivot axis. Actuators connected to the force application members apply the forces to the selected portions of the back of the seat in either a simultaneous or sequential manner.

Abstract: The mechanical behavior of a given component formed from reinforcing ceramic fibers enclosed in a ceramic matrix is determined by subjecting a dummy component to mechanical testing. The dummy component is formed from low modulus organic resin fibers enclosed in a matrix of an organic resin having a correspondingly low modulus. The organic resin fibers have the same configuration and fiber architecture as those of the ceramic fibers.

Abstract: A locating table apparatus is provided with a housing, a base member fixed in the housing, a table mounted so as to freely move in a longitudinal direction, driving members located on the base member for supporting and driving the table, an outer cover covering the table, an inner cover formed with a U-shaped groove member for covering the driving members therein, and a sound absorbing member attached to at least one of the inner and outer cover, whereby the noisy sound generated inside the locating table apparatus is attenuated by and absorbed in the sound absorbing member.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle power actuator has a housing, an electric motor in the housing having an output shaft, an input gear fixed on the shaft, a threaded spindle extending along and rotatable about a spindle axis in the housing, an output gear fixed on the spindle adjacent and out of contact with the input gear, and a nut threaded on the spindle and nonrotatable relative thereto. Thus rotation of the spindle in one rotational sense displaces the nut axially relative to the spindle axis in a release direction. A rocker pivotal in the housing on the shaft axis carries an intermediate gear meshing with the input gear, and also meshable with the output gear. The rocker is pivotal between an end position in which the intermediate gear meshes with the output gear and through an intermediate position in which the intermediate gear does not mesh with the output gear. The rocker and intermediate gear are so positioned that, on normal forward rotation of the motor shaft, the rocker moves into its end position.

Abstract: A driving force transmission device includes a worm meshing with a worm wheel. The worm has an outer casing defining a first helical groove on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and an inner cylinder mounted in the outer casing and provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof with a helical groove. The outer casing has ball transfer holes at both ends of the first groove and which transfer holes communicate with the helical groove in the inner cylinder. A plurality of balls are rollably and loosely fitted in the helical groove in the outer periphery of the inner cylinder, the first groove in the outer periphery of the outer casing and the second groove in the outer periphery of the worm wheel. The balls circulate between the helical groove in the outer periphery of the inner cylinder and the first helical groove in the outer periphery of the outer casing via the ball transfer holes. Frame rings mounted on the worm at both ends thereof prevent the balls from floating out of the first groove.

Abstract: A ball screw that, together with contributing to reduction of the cost of the device wherein it is incorporated as a feed mechanism, eliminates the need for adjustment work performed to maintain the operation state of the object being operated, for example, an automatic door. The thread pitch of a threaded portion of a screw shaft is varied from one end to the other.

Abstract: A mechanism for diverting balls contained in a ball nut and screw device into and out of a ball recirculation tube includes a pair of apertures formed through the nut which extend from the outer surface thereof inwardly to the axial end of complementary helical threads formed on the screw and the nut. Within each of the apertures, a step is formed which extends partially about the inner surface thereof. A skirt deflector is provided in each of the apertures for guiding the balls into and out of the complementary threads. Each of the skirt deflectors includes an upper flange portion and a depending skirt portion. Pick-up fingers extend downwardly from the lower ends of the skirt portions further into each of the apertures. A step is defined between the skirt portion and the pick-up finger on each of the skirt deflectors. The steps formed on the skirt deflectors are positioned opposite the steps formed within the apertures when the skirt deflectors are installed therein.

Abstract: In a detent lever for a stacking column for storing storage products, comprising a control lever (3) and a supporting arm (4) having supporting surfaces (6), which are arranged on either side of a pivot pin, a slip-on clip (11) is to be put over the supporting arm (4) or the supporting surface (6).

Abstract: An adjustable handlebar mounting assembly adapted to mount above the head tube of a bicycle frame includes a pair of inserts, each of which has a generally cylindrical inner surface formed and adapted to at least in part encircle the bicycle steerer tube. Each of the inserts has a generally arcuate exterior surface, the axis of which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the generally cylindrical interior surfaces. There is a front cap and a back cap, each of which has an interior surface which mates with the exterior surface of an insert. Fasteners secure the caps together and in tight engagement with the exterior of the inserts. A stem extension tube is attached to the front cap and a handlebar is mounted to the stem extension tube. The mating surfaces of the inserts and caps are adjustable in their relative positions, whereby the position of the caps relative to the inserts and the bicycle frame, and thus the angle of the stem extension relative to the frame, is adjustable.

Abstract: A device for punching sheet-type material, in particular label material, includes a sleeve which encloses a supporting roller in a press fit manner. The sleeve is bent from a flat steel sheet having mutually facing edges which are joined to each other and having an external surface which is provided with punching bridges formed by etching the steel sheet. The bridges are preferably sharpened in a knife-like fashion.

Abstract: The invention presented relates to an apparatus for applying rotational force to a workpiece.

Abstract: A live center adapter assembly is made up of an elongated housing, a center adapter inserted into the end of the housing with a recess in the adapter having a rearwardly tapered inner wall for insertion of a center therein. Axially spaced needle bearings support the adapter and center for rotation within the housing, and a bore through one end of the housing permits insertion either of a punch for displacing the center from the adapter or a crank for the purpose of manually rotating the adapter and center.

Abstract: A method for perforating a sheet material provides for a perforating die located intermediate two orbital rollers. The two orbital rollers move in orbital paths in the same orbital direction at the same speed and in positions which are 180 degrees apart. Each roller acts as a temporary storage input and output in opposite phase from each other so that incoming sheet material is alternately stored and dispensed as a loop on the orbital roller. Since the rollers are out of phase, this permits a segment of the sheet material to be stopped intermediate the orbital rollers so that the perforating die can act on the stopped segment.

Abstract: A method by which when a long label tape is cut at a number of cut marks made thereon into a number of labels, the cut marks can be reliably confirmed. The long label tape is advanced in its longitudinal direction, a cut mark is confirmed, and the tape is cut at the cut mark. The cut mark is confirmed by a combination of a first step of confirming that a front side margin of the cut mark arrives at a detecting position and a subsequent second confirmation step of confirming that the cut mark arrives at the detecting position.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a crimped fiber bundle accurately at a high speed in compliance with the high-speed capacity of a crimping machine has a rotor including bisymmetrical finger disks, hook-shaped fingers extending from peripheries of the finger disks, and clamping disks which rotate at a uniform speed at the back of the finger disks. The fingers cross each other at one location in the apparatus adjacent the peripheries of the finger disks to form an interlocking area, which defines an inlet for the fiber bundle. Downstream of the interlocking area in the rotating direction of the rotor is formed a hooking area where the fiber bundle is pulled into a zigzag configuration. Finally, the fiber bundle assuming the zigzag configuration is cut.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a workstation to perform work on a moving workpiece including moving the workstation through a first length of a circular path generally parallel to the path of the workpiece, clamping the workpiece to the moving workstation, and performing work on the workpiece. A portion of the workstation moves into a fixed actuation structure which actuates a clamp on the workstation to clamp the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving upper and lower tool parts for punching, cutting and stamping, and more particular to such an apparatus using a rotary screw rod and a nut member threadedly engaging with the screw rod so as to move up or down therealong.

Abstract: A holder for a circular cutting knife for slitting sheet metal, comprising a precision ground mounting shaft for attaching the cutting knife, the mounting shaft rotatably retained within a housing by engaging sets of high precision ball bearings. The ball bearings are located within the housing by a set of precision ground bearing spacers and precision ground bearing retainers. The bearings are preloaded in the housing to minimize longitudinal movement of the mounting shaft during operation. Additionally, the housing containing the bearings is tapered on one surface so that the cant of the knife blade can be adjusted by reversing the orientation of the housing.

Abstract: A trimming tool for trimming drawn parts over their complete periphery and for the simultaneous transverse cutting of the waste strip which has been cut off achieves complete and fragment-free transverse cutting of the waste strip by way of a low-maintenance, reliable tool which does not limit the space for introducing and removing the workpiece. The transverse cutting takes place by rectilinear further motion of a transverse cutter integrated in a fixed location in the upper tool. Its shear edge is freed in ample time by a controlled escape motion of a make-up cutter. The make-up cutter permits a complete and clean trim cut to be carried out on the workpiece and also permits the shear edge of the transverse cutter to extend right up to the trim shear edge. Because of the rectilinear downward motion of the transverse cutter, the waste strip is also sheared off cleanly and without cracks as far as the innermost trim cut edge.

Abstract: An attachable and removable illuminated fiber optic strand adhered to the top side surface of a guitar neck and which conducts light to a plurality of predetermined proportionally etched abrasions exposed along the longitudinal length of the optically conductive fiber optic strand. The device provides multiple illuminated points of light along the top side surface of the guitar neck facing the guitarist, thereby allowing the instrument to be played in the dark and producing a pleasing visual effect.

Abstract: A guitar includes a body, a headstock, and a neck disposed between the body and headstock. There is a tremolo on the body and a tremolo anchoring system attached to the body. A spring is operatively associated with the tremolo and with the tremolo anchoring system for biasing the tremolo for tensioning a string extending between the tremolo and the headstock. A tremolo-level-adjustment member operatively associated with the spring variably fixedly tensions the spring for variably biasing the tremolo for variably tensioning a string extending between the tremolo and the headstock. The tremolo-level-adjustment member includes a pair of nuts, which nuts are spaced apart from each other, and each of which nut is movable relative to the body for variably fixedly tensioning the spring. There is likewise a fastener for use with the present guitar and with existing guitars.

Abstract: A quick-release capo for a dulcimer musical instrument is presented. The capo body is an inverted U-shaped design having a fixed top and perpendicular side. A second perpendicular movable side is provided. Outside the movable side is a quick-release mechanism. The movable side and quick-release mechanism is adjusted to snugly fit across the dulcimer fret board by means of a thumbscrew and adjusting shaft. As the quick-release piece is adjusted inwardly by the thumbscrew, it compresses the movable side until the capo is snugly fit on the fret board. An L-shaped lever moves a non-concentric cam to alternately tighten or loosen the movable side. This L-shaped lever allows the user of the capo to quickly release and/or re-attach the capo to the dulcimer fret board.

Abstract: A sound reflector device for symmetrical association, in spaced relationship, with the bell or sound-emitting end or any other orifice of a musical instrument whereby a portion of sound is reflected rearwardly from the sound-emitting end of the instrument towards the ears of the player.The sound reflector permits the playing of a musical instrument whereby the player, because of the rearwardly reflected sound, has a truer appreciation of the sound being emitted.

Abstract: A page turning device placed on a music stand by a clip, a preformed set of a flat spring mechanism is fixed in an opening which is located in the center of the device. Each spring has a predetermined length; the first spring resting on the page turning device is the shortest. The second spring is longer by a predetermined length. The last spring is the longest. A narrow pocket is located at the bottom of each transparency. Each spring is connected to a transparency. To operate, each transparency is placed behind a page which is to be turned, and with the aid of a clip the transparency and the page are held together. All the springs and the transparencies, including the pages found in between, are pressed to the right. All the springs are placed together into the indentation of the movable unit in an aperture, at the right side of the device. All the springs are arranged in the unit in the following way: The shortest spring turns the first page; The longest spring turns the last page.

Abstract: A stern torpedo defense system uses a pair of passive sonar towed tactical etectors in tandem alignment to detect the presence and trajectory of a stern torpedo attack. The detectors are towed below the wake of a surface ship and include arcuate arrays of transducer elements mounted in low self-noise, roll pitch and yaw stabilized platforms. The region aft of the stern of the ship is examined by an overlapping plurality of preformed passive sonar beams of preselected beamwidth. Signal processing means monitor the power level of the beams and detect the presence and trajectory of an attacking torpedo so that suitable ordinance may timely and effectively be deployed to destroy the torpedo and thereby thwart the attack.

Abstract: A lightweight mine extracting plow is provided that can be mounted on any type of armored vehicle to enable the vehicle to cross minefields in an attack formation or to assist the armored vehicle in escaping from scattered minefields, either laid by air or by artillery, by removing obstacles, such as mines, from all areas of land. The plow has tines which penetrate the land to extricate the mines. Blades are shaped to dispose the mines sideways out of the path of the tracks of the vehicle. A folding skid device controls articulation of the plow over ground undulations and extends forward to assist in bridging ditches. The skid has a device which automatically positions it in front of the plow and overturns it into a pre-operation mode. A mechanical lifting device is operable by reversing the vehicle to lift the plow out of the ground. Thereafter, the device automatically reverts to its pre-operation mode.

Abstract: A firearm having a disconnector movable in two planes to disconnect the gun if the bolt moves rearward, disconnects the gun if the magazine box is removed and is the connecting member between the trigger and the sears. The firearm has a double sear both of which must be released from the firing pin carrier before the firing pin carrier can move into a firing mode. The firing pin carrier has an indicator visible to the operator to indicate whether or not the gun is in a firing mode. The magazine latch has an integral ejector and the barrel has projections between the magazine box is received to align the magazine box to the chamber mouth. Additionally, there is a firing pin retractor plunger in the bolt which separates the firing pin carrier from the bolt immediately after firing to enhance ejection of spent rounds.

Abstract: A valve mechanism for a brake or clutch booster, and more particularly, an improvement of a valve element used therein is disclosed. The valve element includes a seat which is located at the front end, a connection located at the rear end and connected to the inner periphery of a valve body, and a curved portion which is axially collapsible and interconnecting between the seat and the connection. An annular groove is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the connection at its front end. With this arrangement, the provision of the annular groove is effective to prevent any reduction in the flexibility of the curved portion if the diameter of the seat of the valve element is increased in order to increase the flow rate of the atmosphere into the booster. Thus, if the diameter of the seat 10a of the valve element 10 is increased, there is no need to increase the diameter of the connection 10b of the valve element 10.

Abstract: A linear hydraulic motor including a first piston rod (12) and piston head (16), a second piston rod (18) and piston head (26), and a cylinder housing (30), having a divider wall (46), adapted to reciprocate longitudinally on the piston heads (16, 26). The cylinder housing (30) has end members (34, 36) through which piston rods (12, 18) extend. Four fluid chambers (52, 54, 56, 58) are formed within the linear hydraulic motor. Fluid chambers (52, 56) communicate with each other through conduits (62), and fluid chambers (54, 58) communicate with each other through conduit (64). Piston rods (12, 18) include conduits (68, 70) for fluid communication with chambers (54, 56). A snubber (74) is provided in the divider wall (46) of the cylinder housing (30). The snubber (74) reciprocates within the divider wall (46) and is adapted to abut the inner ends of the piston rods (12, 18) as the divider wall (46) approaches piston heads (16, 26) during the reciprocating process.

Abstract: A roasting oven includes a housing having upper, lower, front, rear, right and left walls defining a cylindrical oven interior. The oven also includes a spit assembly rotatably disposed in the interior, at least one infrared radiation element in the upper wall facing the interior, a water cavity in the lower wall for holding water and drippings, a rotating shaft disposed between the end walls for rotabably supporting the spit assembly, and drive elements coupled to the rotating shaft for turning the shaft during roasting, in which an opening in the front cylinder is provided for inserting and removing meats to be roasted. The infrared element faces the oven interior and enables infrared radiation to be reflected from meat at the interior while curvature of the upper wall of the interior returns heated air which, together with direct radiated heat from the radiation element and the reflected radiation, creates oven temperature in excess of 800.degree. F.

Abstract: A yogurt cheese making device for separating the whey from yogurt having a strainer which receives the yogurt, the strainer having an open top, a bottom, a pair of opposing end walls, and a pair of opposing side walls. The side walls and bottom are covered with a straining medium which is a wire mesh. The wire mesh is disposed at a 45.degree. angle with respect to the vertical to assist in drainage. The bottom of the strainer is defined by a pair of parallel straining troughs. The strainer is nested in a sealable container which has a sealing top. Whey from the yogurt seeps through the straining medium and is collected at the bottom of the sealable container. The entire device is preferably square or rectangular in shape to minimize the storage area required in a refrigerator.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling the ripening of produce. The apparatus includes a chamber having a ceiling, a floor and a plurality of walls. Positioned in the chamber is a support and position structure to support two rows of palletized produce and to space the palletized produce away from the walls to define a fluid circulation space around the palletized produce. The rows of palletized produce are spaced apart to define an interstitial volume therebetween. Each row of palletized produce includes at least an upper and a lower tier with a vertical spacing therebetween. A flexible sealing strip is affixed to the support and position structure to generally seal the vertical spacing between the tiers from the fluid circulation space.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for cutting the skin (S) of a piece of fruit (F) so it can be peeled off, and making a core (C) cut through the middle of the fruit. A base plate (12) has an upper surface (14) for supporting a piece of fruit in a position in which it can be cut and cored. An inner cutting blade (20) and an outer cutting blade (22) are movable from a first portion above the piece of the fruit toward the cutting board. These blades are coaxially aligned with each other. The inner blade is, for example, rectangular in cross-section to produce a generally rectangular cut in the piece of fruit core. The inner blade may have other configurations. The outer blade is a circular blade which cuts through the skin of the fruit so it can be peeled off. A handle mechanism (24) is used to simultaneously move the blades.

Abstract: A crushing attachment is provided for removable support from the lift arms of a front loader and the attachment includes a pair of horizontally spaced apart forwardly projecting lower support arms which taper forwardly in height. The attachment also includes a pair of forwardly projecting crusher arms spaced above and in vertical alignment with the support arms and pivotally supported relative to the support arms for vertical swinging about a horizontal transverse axis extending between the rear ends of the crusher arms. The crusher arms are interconnected by a plurality of reinforcing bars extending and secured therebetween at points spaced longitudinally along the crusher arms and hydraulic cylinders are operatively connected between the crusher arms and the support arms for angularly displacing the crusher arms relative to the support arms.

Abstract: A spark plug printing machine has two silk screens with different color inks mounted side-by-side and facing down. Spark plug insulators are rotatably mounted in a vertical orientation on a turntable. A print transfer pad located beneath the screens is rotatable from a first position, where it is horizontal and contacts the screens, to a second vertical position. In the second position the pad contacts one of the insulators and is displaced along its length to roll the insulator along the pad through more than 360.degree. so that ink from both screens is transferred to the insulator one after the other.

Abstract: In the type-wheel resetting mechanism for the downsized printer: a resetting cam portion (13) is provided in a drive gear (12) to save the number of components and to eliminate assembly and adjusting operations of the cam portion (13) and the drive gear (12); detected portions (25, 25a) for type selection and motor stop operations are provided separately from the drive gear (12); and, a sensor (26) for detecting the detected portions (25, 25a) is provided in the vicinity of the drive gear (12) to save the number of components, which simplifies the construction of the type-wheel resetting mechanism and improves the type-wheel resetting mechanism in reliability.

Abstract: A mimeographic transfer printing machine includes a stencil support drum for supporting a stencil, an ink supply device for forcing ink through the stencil supported on the stencil support drum, an ink receiving transfer drum to which the ink forced out from the stencil is to be transferred, and a sheet support device for supporting a printing sheet to which the ink on the ink receiving transfer drum is to be transferred. The stencil support drum has a slightly larger diameter than the transfer drum so that the circumferential speed of the stencil support drum is greater than that of the transfer drum to provide to the stencil a tension acting in a direction opposite to the rotation of the stencil support drum.

Abstract: A screen printing plate includes a plate body having a front surface and a rear surface. The plate body has a plurality of openings penetrating from the front surface to the rear surface and formed according to a preselected pattern. A recess is formed on the rear surface of the plate body so as to surround the opening. A separation wall defining the boundary of the opening and the recess is formed between this one opening and the recess. The spreading of the solder paste onto a surface to be printed around the opening and onto the rear surface of the printing plate is restricted by the recess when the paste is transferred onto the surface to be printed from the opening. The paste does not go beyond the boundary defined by the edge on the side of the recess.

Abstract: Device for safeguarding a hazardous location of a printing unit in a rotary printing press, wherein the hazardous location is at a cylinder region of the printing unit containing clamping elements, cylinder bearers and pressure-adjusting rods, includes multi-partite protective coverings having an areal or sheetlike form, respective swivel shafts vertically and horizontally disposed in the printing unit and carrying the protective coverings, respectively, the respective protective coverings being swivellable about the vertical and horizontal swivel shafts between an inwardly swung or closed position protective of the hazardous location, and an outwardly swung or open position affording access to the hazardous location for performing adjustment and maintenance operations thereat, a finger guard carried by the respective protective covering swivellable about the horizontal swivel shaft, and means for remotely controlling the swivelling of at least one of the protective coverings about the respective swivel shaft

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a printing roller (1) provided with a profile which containing (8) raised and lowered (9) parts in circumferential direction, a printing belt (3) provided at one side with a complementary profile, and an opposite roller (2) which together with the printing roller (1) determines a nip through which the printing belt (3) runs, in such a way that its profile side interacts with the printing roller, and its printing side interacts with the impression roller, which printing belt (3) is composed of an interlocked strip of plate material which is flexible as regards bending and is rigid as regards deformations in its plane, on one side of which a profiling of another, for instance rubbe-like, material is provided. Preferably, the profiling is carried out in the form of conical projections (6) distributed at regular intervals over the plate surface in question, and the printing roller (3) is provided with complementary recesses (9) distributed in a corresponding manner over its surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning cylinders of a rotating drum printing machine has a cleaning cloth, which can be unwound, and a contacting body. The cleaning, which otherwise is carried in fixed time regions, for which precisely dimensioned cloth sections can be made available, is changed to a measure, which is carried out with an alternating contacting pressure of the contacting body and a quasi continuous advance of the cloth. In the contacting zone, the cloth is taken hold of directly and pulled. An oscillating mechanism, which is preferably realized pneumatically, is provided for the alternating contacting pressure.

Abstract: A mechanical system for self-destruction of a munition, in particular a carrier shell submunition, is provided in a munition having a warhead initiated by a pyrotechnic sequence, a main striker and a priming device composed of a slide movable between a safety position and an armed position and which has a device for priming the charge. The self destruction system includes a secondary striker mounted inside a receptacle of a slide and a control device to release the secondary striker after a preset delay. Secondary striker is integral with a holding element and held abutting a seat by the urging of an arming spring. The control device of the secondary striker has a corrosive agent designed to chemically attack the holding element to release it from its seat. When the holding element is released, secondary striker is translationally moved to contact the detonator to destroy the munition.

Abstract: A toy wheel for a model electric train is provided which is formed of two parts axially arranged next to each other. One part of the wheel has a rolling face having a high coefficient of friction for engagement with a track rail. The other part of the wheel is electrically conducting and, in use, engages a side of the track rail. A spring biases the electrically conducting part toward the rolling part and, in use, into electrical engagement with the current carrying rail on which the rolling part rides.

Abstract: A gondola railway car with a structural frame of metal has panels of lightweight composite tension-bearing sheet material attached to the frame by clamps which grip the margins of the panels. The panels thus are structural components of the car body, while also acting to contain bulk cargo such as coal. The panels may be of aramid fiber cloth coated with a wear-resistant polymeric material, and particles of hard material may be embedded in the polymeric material to enhance resistance to mechanical erosion.

Abstract: An adaptor housing assembly for mounting an adjustable height work surface to a wall panel of an open office furniture system. The wall panel has a pair of vertical slotted standards which are adapted to receive the hooks of a mounting bracket. The adaptor housing assembly mounts a height adjustable work surface to the vertical slotted standards of the wall panel by clamping a mounting bracket to an adaptor housing in which is mounted a height adjustment mechanism having a frame which is connected to the work surface. The adaptor housing is fixed with respect to the wall panel and the frame of the height adjustment mechanism moves vertically with respect to the wall panel to raise and lower the work surface. The channel guides the moving members of the mechanism to which the work surface is mounted. The adaptor housing has a pair of elongated flanges extending outwardly from one end of the adaptor housing to form a slot which receives an elongated plate having tapped holes.

Abstract: An article of furniture, such as a table, is convertible between a compact usable state and an extended usable state. A movable support surface (4) is extendable from a frame (21, 22). The movable support surface (4) has at least one leg (8) pivotally attached thereto, the leg (8) being ground engagable when the movable support surface (4) is in the extended state and the leg (8) being located out of sight under the frame (21, 22) and under the movable support surface (4) when the movable support surface (4) is in the compact state. Additional support surfaces may be (1) provided so as to be co-planar with the movable support surface (4) when the furniture is extended.

Abstract: A sewing machine including a sewing needle which conveys a needle thread; a needle bar which supports the sewing needle; a driver which generates a drive force; a first transmission mechanism which transmits the drive force of the driver to the needle bar so as to reciprocate the sewing needle in an axial direction of the needle; a work-sheet presser foot which is movable parallel to the needle bar; a needle thread take-up lever which takes up the needle thread conveyed by the sewing needle; a take-up-lever support member which supports the needle thread take-up lever, the take-up-lever support member being pivotable about a fixed axis line by being driven by the driver, for oscillating the needle thread take-up lever; and a second transmission mechanism which is independent of the needle bar, and transmits the pivotal motion of the take-up-lever support member to the presser foot so that the presser foot reciprocates in relation with the oscillation of the needle thread take-up lever.

Abstract: Successive stacks of overlapping paper sheets are transported toward a sewing station where the sheets of successive stacks are sewn together by a sewing machine. In order to reduce the generation of heat at the sewing station and the resulting breakage of thread and damage to the needle or needles, successive stacks are provided with rows of holes ahead of the sewing station. The distribution of holes in the stacks and the mode of transporting stacks toward and through the sewing station are selected with a view to ensure that the needle or needles penetrate into the prefabricated holes with a minimum of friction. The surplus of thread is trimmed off the products downstream of the sewing station. Such products can constitute books, brochures, pads or other commodities containing stacks of sewn together sheets of paper or other sheet material.

Abstract: A hem former (16) for folding the margin of a sheet of material in preparation for sewing is mounted to the sewing bed (11) of a sewing machine (10). The hem former has a mounting plate (17), a guide plate (18) having a guide edge (23) and channels (24) extending therethrough, a support plate (22) having a front edge (28) reciprocally mounted upon the guide plate, and a guide cap (36). The guide cap has air nozzles (38) coupled to a supply of compressed air so as to generate an airstream directed beneath the front edge of the support plate and into the channels of the guide plate. The airstream urges the margin of material over the front edge of the support plate and into abutment with the guide edge.