Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming an optical coupling device on a substrate by disposing a material onto the substrate that is polymerizable in response to actinic radiation. A stack of the material is formed by contacting the material with a template having a stepped-recess formed therein. The material is then solidified into an optically transparent body with a surface having a plurality of steps by subjecting the stack to actinic radiation. To that end, the material may comprise an acrylate component selected from a set of acrylates consisting essentially of ethylene dio diacrylate, t-butyl acrylate, bisphenol A diacrylate, acrylate terminated polysiloxane, polydifluoromethylene diacrylate, perfluoropolyether diacrylates and chlorofluorodiacrylates. Alternatively, the material may include a silylated component selected from a group consisting essentially of (3-acryloxypropyltristrimethylsiloxy) silane.

Abstract: Cellulose triacetate film is produced by a solution casting process. Dope, which includes cellulose triacetate and mixed solvent with methyl acetate, is cast on a rotary drum in a form of bead by use of a flow casting die, to form gel film. When a self-supporting characteristic of the gel film becomes higher than one limit value, the gel film is stripped from the rotary drum by use of a stripping roller, to obtain the cellulose triacetate film. During the casting step, a surface of the rotary drum is cooled at −10° C. or lower.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for molding a part, such as a point-of-purchase display, is shown. The system comprises a plasticator and press. The molded part comprises an in-molded graphics sheet which becomes molded integral with the part.

Abstract: A method for preparing a wear-resisting outsole for a shoe, which mixes polyol polyurethane oligomer and prepolymer isocyanate together to form a mixed material. Then, the mixed material is poured into a shaping mold and coagulated by heating to form a TPU polymer outsole. Lastly, a substrate covers the mold and is bonded with the TPU outsole by a heat-pressure forming process to achieve a wear-resisting outsole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a rubber sheet containing short fibers. The method includes the steps of: mixing short fibers in a flowable rubber matrix; forming the flowable rubber matrix with the fibers therein into a cylindrical shape with a circumferential extent; separating a portion of the circumferential extent from the cylindrical shape, and forming the cylindrical shape with the portion separated into a sheet form.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of composite insulators consisting of a shank in the form of a bar or a tube, which is provided with a covering and which comprises plate-like screens which are distanced from each other. The covering and the screens are made of an elastomer material with high insulating qualities. As a result, the number, distance, form and size of the screens can vary from insulator to insulator. According to the invention, at least one injection mould (10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) for injecting a screen (2, 3, 4, 5, 19, 20, 21, 22) is arranged downstream from a device which is used to provide the shank (1) with a covering. The injection mould can be advanced in order to inject a screen upon the shank and opened in order to unmould said screen. An advancing device is also provided in order to displace (16) the shank (1) or the screen mould.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing proteinaceous shaped articles from globular proteins according to the NMMO method, and to proteinaceous shaped articles themselves that are made from globular proteins according to the NMMO method. According to the invention, a suspension consisting of aqueous NMMO and of these precrosslinked proteins is transferred into a spinning solution, whereby the suspension contains a polysaccharide and/or a polysaccharide is added to the extrusion solution. The spinning solution is extruded into a precipitation bath through a form tool and through an air gap. Afterwards, the shaped article is washed with an aqueous liquid without the use of solvents and is subsequently hardened using known crosslinking reactions. The produced solutions are processed for a diverse product-oriented processing, preferably on the basis of known wet and dry/wet spinning techniques, optionally in conjunction with multi-constituent spinning techniques.

Abstract: The invention provides a profiled polyamide yarn having a yarn weight of from 5 to 300 dtex a filament weight of from 0.5-7 dtex and a non-circular profiled filament cross-section, wherein the polyamide comprises from 0.01 to 3% by weight of a non-white pigment melt dispersed therein. The yarns have a high, metallic lustre due to the combined effect of profiling and the non-white pigment. The invention also provides textile fabrics comprising the yarns, and garments comprising the said fabrics. The invention also provides methods of making the inventive yarns by spinning a polyamide melt having the non-white pigment dispersed therein.

Abstract: Acid dye stain-resistant fibers which are formed from a polyamide composition containing a mixture of a masterbatch concentrate, a fiber-forming polyamide and a polymer, the masterbatch concentrate including a carrier and a reagent having the formula: 1

Abstract: A method for making a thermosetting polymer reproduction of an object preferably comprises the steps of modifying an original object such as an object found in nature (e.g., a stone or array of stones) or a manmade article (e.g., a carved decorative object) to a predetermined configuration, making a first mold of at least part of the surface of the original object, filling the first mold with a first thermosetting polymer material to produce a reproduction of at least part of the surface of the original object, modifying the reproduction to a predetermined configuration, making a second mold from the modified reproduction and filling this second mold with a thermosetting polymer material to produce a reproduction of at least part of the surface of the original object. The second mold can be used repeatedly to produce reproductions in commercial quantities.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for rapidly and economically replicating microstructures on polymeric substrates. During the process, a die with protruded microstructures is rapidly heated to above the polymer softening temperature, pressed onto a cold polymer substrate, and subsequently rapidly cooled for die separation. When the heated die contacts the polymer substrate, localized melting occurs at the contacting locations between the substrate and the to-be-replicated microstructure. The resulted melts are confined locally, forming localized spots for compression molding. Bulk deformation of these localized melts results in microstructure replication. In addition to reduction in cycle time, the new process improves dimensional accuracy of replicated microstructures due to uncoupling of microfabrication with macrofabrication.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for decreasing the resistivity of a non-machined conductive flow field plate for use in a fuel cell. The process includes the step of annealing the conductive flow field plate by heating the conductive flow field plate to a temperature between 25° C. (room temperature) and a temperature slightly lower than the material softening temperature of the material composition of the conductive flow field plate; maintaining the conductive flow field plate at that temperature for an effective period of time; and, cooling the conductive flow field plate to room temperature.

Abstract: A method of producing a roll boot from an injection-moldable elastomer, comprising the following steps: injection-molding a basic member having a cylindrical portion and a widened portion; turning the basic member inside out; folding the widened portion outwardly so that it partially comes to lie outwards of the cylindrical portion, forming a roll wall.

Abstract: An improved pressware die set includes mechanical ejectors for removing formed product from the punch. A preferred embodiment includes rocker-style ejectors free from edges or other asperities which may tend to snag and mar the product during the production process. Most preferably, the outward surfaces of the rocker members extend beyond the perimeter of a paperboard blank positioned for forming so the paperboard blank does not encounter an obstruent outward edge during forming.

Abstract: In the step of cladding by applying a pressing force to a ceramic stack body, while a frame being punched into a stack body and kept therein, the stack body is pressed by a pressing force applying member located inside of the frame. According to this method, no deformations are created in the direction parallel to the surface of the stack. Therefore, such a problem as the deformation of a conductive layer due to stress in not caused, resulting in a stack body with an excellent densified structure and, when resulting stack bodies are sintered, ceramic electronic components formed of them are free of defective connections, structural defects and electrical performance failures with an excellent yield rate. In addition, by heating a stack body at applying a pressing force thereto, the densified stack body is formed under a reduced pressure. Furthermore, by having an elastic body provided to the pressing force applying member, a stack body is pressed uniformly.

Abstract: A tire press includes a sectional type mold which has an annular lower mold section secured to an upper surface of a lower plate, an annular upper mold section disposed under an upper plate which is vertically moveably placed above the lower plate so that the upper mold section moves vertically along with the upper plate, and a side mold section having a plurality of sectors divided along a circumferential direction thereof and located radially outwardly of the lower mold section in an openable and closable manner. Holding segments which hold the sectors are provided on outer peripheral sides of the sectors. The holding segments are placed on the lower plate so as to move forward and away from the center of the annular lower mold section. Guide segments which are engagable with and disengagable from outer peripheral sides of the holding segments are suspended from the upper plate radially outwardly of the upper mold section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an ophthalmic device by means of stereolithography. The method comprises the steps of: depositing (i) an essentially solvent-free liquid or melt of a device-forming material, or (ii) a solution of said device-forming material, into a container wherein said device-forming material is crosslinkable or polymerizable by actinic radiation; irradiating said device forming material with one or more activation energy beams to obtain a cured layer of polymerized or crosslinked device-forming material; irradiating said device-forming material with said one or more activation energy beams to obtain a cured layer on top of a previously cured layer; and repeating step (c) to obtain additional cured layers until said ophthalmic device is created integrally, wherein each of cured layers corresponds to a pertinent slice of said ophthalmic device.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, features can be directly imprinted into the surface of a solid substrate. Specifically, a substrate is directly imprinted with a desired pattern by the steps of providing a mold having a molding surface to imprint the pattern, disposing the molding surface adjacent or against the substrate surface to be imprinted, and irradiating the substrate surface with radiation to soften or liquefy the surface. The molding surface is pressed into the softened or liquefied surface to directly imprint the substrate. The substrate can be any one of a wide variety of solid materials such as semiconductors, metals, or polymers. In a preferred embodiment the substrate is silicon, the laser is a UV laser, and the mold is transparent to the UV radiation to permit irradiation of the silicon workpiece through the transparent mold. Using this method, applicants have directly imprinted into silicon large area patterns with sub-10 nanometer resolution in sub-250 nanosecond processing time.

Abstract: The first step of a method for manufacturing polymer-bonded filter bodies is to produce a mixture of a sorptive agent, a liquid, and a polymer. This mixture is then pressed into a filter body by being placed in a compression mold and simultaneously applying a hot gas to it. The evaporation temperature of the liquid is lower than the melting temperature of the polymer while the temperature of the hot gas flowing through the mixture exceeds the evaporation temperature of the liquid. This inexpensive method can provide homogeneously structured high-performance filter bodies.

Abstract: A design of microchannels and a method for economic production of such microchannels. The new microchannel design comprises a thin thermoplastic film and a relatively thick substrate to form microchannels in-between. The microchannels are displaced on the film side. The method for fabricating such microchannels is a hybrid process combining compression, and blowing or vacuum forming to form microchannels between the film and the substrate. During the process, the film is placed on the top of the substrate. A mold or die with to-be-replicated microchannels clamps the film against the substrate. Either blow molding or vacuum forming is then carried out to deform the film and replicate the microchannels. Rapid heatable and coolable molds are preferred to soften the film and form bonds between the film and the substrate while short cycle time is maintained.

Abstract: The inventive method concerns a process of transferring resin into reinforcing fiber material used in the manufacture of composite articles. A first step in the method involves positioning at least one layer of the reinforcing fiber material on the surface of an open mold. The reinforcing fiber material typically consists of glass, carbon, linear polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester fibers. Subsequently, a sealant layer is applied in liquid form over the reinforcing fiber material to create an airtight chamber encapsulating the reinforcing fiber material between the sealant layer and the mold. After the sealant layer is allowed to cure, a vacuum pressure is applied to the airtight chamber to draw resin through the reinforcing fiber material. For example, the resin can be an epoxy, polyester or vinyl ester resin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling element for shaft furnaces, comprising an area (8) which is cross-flown by a cooling agent, resulting from an arrangement of at least one channel (9) which conveys a cooling agent internally and which leads into tubular elements (3,4) for feeding and discharging said coolant which are joined to the coo ling element (1,2), in addition to comprising edge areas with improved cooling properties. The respective channel conveying the cooling agent extends beyond the area where the tubular elements lead into the edge area at cooling agent feed and/or discharge level and has an expanded diameter in comparison with that of the internal channel (9), a guiding element (14) partially dividing the channel section (13) in the direction of flow in order to guide the cooling agent into the edge area of the cooling element and return said agent counter to the direction of said flow.

Abstract: An oxygen fueled combustion system includes a furnace having at least one burner, an oxygen supply for supplying oxygen having a predetermined purity, and a carbon based fuel supply for supplying a carbon based fuel. The oxygen and the carbon based fuel are fed into the furnace in a stoichiometric proportion to one another to limit an excess of either the oxygen or the carbon based fuel to less than 5 percent over the stoichiometric proportion. The combustion of the carbon based fuel provides a flame temperature in excess of 4500° F. The exhaust gas stream from the furnace has substantially zero nitrogen-containing combustion produced gaseous compounds from the oxidizing agent and reduced green-house gases. Substantially less carbon based fuel is required than conventional combustion systems without a loss of energy output.

Abstract: A shock absorbing apparatus in a positioning apparatus including a stage apparatus is disclosed. The positioning apparatus includes a main body apparatus for mounting the stage apparatus thereto, and a chamber for maintaining a region, in which the stage apparatus is disposed, under a condition of vacuum or purged ambience. The shock absorbing apparatus includes a shock absorber provided at a stroke end of the stage apparatus, and a support member provided separately from the stage apparatus, to which the shock absorber is fixed. In the shock absorbing apparatus of the present invention, the shock absorbing apparatus is fixed to the support member provided separately from the stage apparatus including a driving system, and accordingly an increase in size of the stage apparatus can be prevented, and high-speed and highly-precise positioning of an object to be positioned can be performed in a non-atmospheric ambience.

Abstract: A vibration-damped rubber mount is provided to ensure good sliding friction properties over a broad spectrum of spring rigidities with a simple design in a vibration-damped rubber mount with an inner part, which is surrounded by an outer sleeve, where an elastomer ring body is provided between the inner part and the outer sleeve for vibration damping, it is proposed that the elastomer ring body (4) is arranged radially on the outside at the inner wall of the outer sleeve (3) and radially on the inside at a sleeve-like bearing shell (5), which slidingly cooperates with the inner part (1), forming a ball-and-socket joint.

Abstract: A vehicular power unit mount structure having a first mounting member for attachment to a power unit and a second mounting member elastically connected to the first mounting member for attachment to a vehicle body includes an elastic waterproofing cover having an axial displacement stopper engageable with an end of a tubular portion of the second mounting member to elastically absorb impact shock and eventually stop movement of a shaft portion of the first mounting member when the shaft portion is displaced in an axial direction toward the second mounting member, and a radial displacement stopper engageable with an inner cylindrical surface of the tubular portion to elastically absorb impact shock and eventually stop movement of the shaft portion when the shaft portion is displaced in a radial direction relative to the second mounting member.

Abstract: A high profile coil with an overall height in a range of 6¾ to 7½ inches maintains axially alignment under compression. A high profile innerspring constructed with the high profile coils can be baled with other high profile innersprings in a baling machine without spin-out or lateral distortion. On-axis of compression of the coils under various loading conditions avoids contact with adjacent coils in an innerspring.

Abstract: In a so-called bulge type of vibration-isolating bushing wherein an annular cover made of a synthetic resin is provided as a bulge portion on an outer periphery of an axially central part of an inner cylinder, such a vibration-isolating bushing that is superior in buckling strength in the axial direction of the inner cylinder, low-cost, and advantageous in environmental aspect, while preventing any displacement of the annular cover is provided. To that end, a knurling is provided on an outer periphery of an axially central part of a metal pipe constituting the inner cylinder, preferably, together with a serration on an axial edge of the metal pipe; and the annular cover is secured to the outer periphery of the metal pipe inclusive of the knurling by molding of a synthetic resin.

Abstract: A clamping device for clamping work pieces; the clamping device comprises a box-shaped body, a clamping member, and a manually operable control lever; first and second toggle-lever system and an intermediate guide member are provided to connect the control lever to the clamping member of the device. The first and the second toggle-lever systems are constructed and arranged to act in correlation, in such a way that in the clamping condition of the device, the pivotal axes and the intermediate hinge axis of the second toggle-lever system, in the advanced condition of the clamping member are arranged on reference lines forming a small angle against a stop.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping tool comprising a clamping jaw (5), which is releasably fixed on a rail, preferably at the end (2) thereof, and which comprises a pin (4) that passes through an opening of the rail. The clamping jaw is releasably fixed on the rail, whereby, after pulling the pin (4) out of the opening, the clamping jaw can be fixed at an opening (3) located at another position of the rail, preferably at its other end by reinserting the pin into an opening (3) located at that position. A second clamping jaw (7) is displaceably arranged on said rail (1). A tightening element (8) is used to bring the second clamping jaw, according to the location of the first clamping jaw (5) on the rail (1), into a clamping position in the direction of the latter or in a direction away from the latter. The aim of the invention is to achieve a simplified changing from one fixing position to another fixing position on the rail.

Abstract: A modular cutting board having especial utility in non kitchen environments in which at least two plates are hingeably connected, and being relatively movable between a working position in which the cutting board presents a broad coplaner working surface and a transport and storage position in which the working surfaces of the plates are in face to face relation.

Abstract: A clamping means for clamping two parts which more particularly serves for fixing a workpiece palette on a workpiece table. A bolster provided with a projecting shape element is secured to the first part and a cooperating part provided with a recess for receiving the shape element is secured to the second part. In the projecting shape element a sliding element runs which has at least one peripheral recess, into which at least one clamping element clamping means, which is able to be moved in a through hole in the shape element, fits in the non-clamping position, and on sliding the sliding element the clamping element is thrust outward into the clamping position, in which it interlocks in the recess in the cooperating part. The clamping element possesses a central guide for linearly guiding in the through hole, such guide region being provided with an annular groove to accommodate a sealing ring, hemispherical terminal regions being formed on either side of the guide region.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a book block for books, brochures, or the like, from printed sheets connected to each other at the folds thereof by thread stitching, wherein the printed sheets are transferred in a sequence astride with the side portions thereof directed downwardly by means of a conveyor in an accelerated manner onto a feeding device which interacts with a stitching device arranged at a right angle relative to the folds of the printed sheets, such that the printed sheets arrive on the feeding device in the stitching position, and wherein the printed sheets are shifted to the stitching device for sewing the printed sheets to another printed sheet to form a book block. The feeding device is moved prior to the arrival of a printed sheet into the stitching position towards the stitching device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet postprocessing apparatus which includes a first crease forming unit for forming a first crease on a sheet in its width direction, a second crease forming unit for forming a second crease parallel to the first crease, a first abutting member against which the leading end of a sheet introduced into the first crease forming unit abuts to position the sheet, a second abutting member against which the first crease abuts to position the sheet, a first driving mechanism for driving the first abutting member, a second driving mechanism for driving the second abutting member, and a control device for controlling the first crease forming unit, first driving mechanism, second crease forming unit, and second driving mechanism, and makes one folding process selected from a center folding process, inward three-fold process, and Z-fold process executable in the same sheet convey path.

Abstract: A process for introducing a plurality of segregated sheet-like administration forms into a dispenser under formation of a multilayered stack for individually dosable removal, with sheet-like tapes wound-up on rolls being present as starting material, utilizes the following steps. In a first step, a number of sheet-like layers of said tapes, which number corresponds to the stack, is simultaneously drawn from a plurality of rolls. In a further step, the individual tapes are united, using guide means, to form a multilayered strand, which in yet another step, is drawn forward to a cutting station where one length of stack is severed at a time, and wherein a length segment of the multilayered strand corresponding to the stack is substantially in the dispenser prior to being severed from a remainder of the multilayered strand by the cutting device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for receiving printing products (6, 7, 8, 9) in a transfer zone (37). Said device comprises at least one receiving element (1) that has a support element (2), a base element (3) and a bearing element (4), said support element (2) and base element (3) being able to support printing products (6, 7, 8, 9) laterally and from below and the bearing element (4) being able to receive printing products (6, 7, 8, 9) astride said element. According to the invention, a deflection element (5) is provided which can preferably deflect a printing product (6, 7, 8, 9) that is fed to the receiving element (1), in such a way that at least one part of the fed printing product (6, 7, 8, 9) is positioned on the side of the received printing products (6, 7, 8, 9) facing away from the support element (2).

Abstract: For use in an identification card printer includes a roller support, a guide roller, and a card stop. The roller support is positioned between a card feeder and the card transport mechanism. The guide roller is supported by the roller support for rotation about an axis that is substantially parallel to a card feed plane and transverse to a card path. The guide roller includes a card engaging side adjacent the card feed plane where non-abrasive contact of a first surface of the lead card is made during the card feed operation. The card stop is positioned adjacent a side of the guide roller that is opposite the card engaging side. During card feed operations, the lead card is allowed passage to the card transport mechanism along the card engaging side of the guide roller while cards that are stacked upon the lead card are blocked by the card stop.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus in an image forming apparatus including a paper-entering angle varying portion disposed in a frame to vary the angle of a leading end of a sheet entering a paper separating member according to the thickness or stiffness of the paper being fed. The paper-entering angle varying portion includes a paper leading end bending guide formed on the bottom surface of the frame in which paper is stacked. The paper feeding apparatus can prevent a paper feed problem, for example, multi sheet feed or a sheet feed failure by varying the paper-entering angle using the paper leading end bending guide when the paper is picked up according to the stiffness of the paper being fed.

Abstract: A paper pick-up device of an image forming apparatus has a rack member disposed on a pickup bracket supporting a pickup roller to pick-up a paper sheet, and a pinion engaged with rack member. The pickup bracket reciprocally moves with according to the paper characteristics set by a printing command, so that the pickup roller moves to one position among at least two positions which are pre-set in accordance with the paper characteristics and picks-up the paper sheet. Accordingly, since the paper pick-up device prevents slip, multiple-transferring, and paper jam from occurring, the paper sheet is accurately picked-up and transferred.

Abstract: A method of feeding sheets includes the step of conveying the sheets between a feed roller and a separation member. The separation member is pressed against and into contact with the feed roller with a pressure applied between the feed roller and the separation member. The method also includes the steps of separating and conveying the sheets conveyed between the feed roller and the separation member one by one, and providing a cyclic change in the pressure between the feed roller and the separation member.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying device being capable of conveying a folded sheet material that is discharged from an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet material, include: a first conveying path for discharging the folded sheet as it is; a second conveying path branching out from the first conveying path; a third conveying path, which branches out from the second conveying path and is connected with the first conveying path, for conveying the sheet material in an opposite direction to a conveying direction of the sheet material in the second conveying path; first switching means for selectively guiding the sheet material to either the first conveying path or the second conveying path; and second switching means for guiding the sheet material guided to the second conveying path to the third conveying path.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving, inverting and returning sheets from and to a printer for large-sized paper, said printer being adapted to be automatically fed a web of paper from a supply of paper through an inlet (6), defined by a portion of a paper-supporting plate (7), where said printer further is adapted to print and cut sheets of said web of paper and to guide the printed sheet out thereof through a separate outlet (13), where the apparatus is adapted to receive the just printed and cut sheets from said outlet and to return said sheets to the printer in the inverted state. The apparatus comprises a rotatable first guide means (14), which in one position guides the sheet into the apparatus and in a second position guides said sheet past the apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet lateral registration system, especially for high speed printer print media, which can also provide sheet deskewing as well as lateral sheet registration, having substantially increased lateral translation movement re-centering time for the lateral sheet registration system by utilizing at least two lateral shifting rollers having at least two different radii which provide automatic nip closings and openings in their rotations (relative to opposing idlers), with larger radius circumferential lengths coordinated to the downstream distance of the subsequent sheet acquisition system. Additionally disclosed are coordinated position non-slip sheet feeding nips which may be positioned in the paper path between these dual radius deskewing and lateral registration rollers and the image transfer station of the printer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus allowing travel of a tabbed sheet, in which even when a tabbed sheet is made to travel, no erroneous jamming detection occurs, thus allowing the tabbed sheet to travel in the same manner as in the case of an ordinary sheet. The image forming apparatus includes: a sheet detecting unit arranged in a sheet transport path for transporting a sheet and adapted to detect the sheet; and a control unit which, when the tabbed sheet is made to travel, performs control so as to make a set value for a reference timer for a jamming judgment to be made through detection of a sheet by the sheet detecting unit different from a set value for an ordinary sheet.

Abstract: An implementation of a technology is described herein for automatically detecting when multiple sheets of print media are fed into a print device. More particularly, described herein is a technology for indirectly and automatically determining the number of sheets of print media by determining the stiffness of print media, such as acetate and paper. At least one embodiment, described herein, includes a registration assembly of a laser printer. In this assembly, the print medium is deflected (i.e., bent, bowed, buckled, etc.). A measurement of such deflection is made. That measurement is an indication of the relative stiffness of the print medium. Assuming approximately similar densities, the stiffness of print media is directly related to its thickness. The thicker the medium the stiffer it is and vice versa. The thickness of print media is directly related to the number of sheets of print media.

Abstract: The invention provides a sheet distributor and a sheet distributing method. The sheet distributor with which supplied sheets of a specified length are distributed to a plurality of lines of sheets, has a transport unit which keeps transporting each supplied sheet in a transport direction while the sheet is being distributed, a moving unit which moves said transport unit laterally in a perpendicular direction to the transport direction, a position detecting sensor which detects a position of a advancing end of the sheet in the transport direction when the sheet is transported and a control section that controls the start of the movement of said moving unit in accordance with a timing of detecting the advancing end of the sheets. The sheet is moved in a direction oblique to the transport direction during transporting such that a position of the sheet in a widthwise direction is changed at each time of sheet supply, whereby supplied sheets are arranged in a plurality of lines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a game having means of illuminating the playing surface to illuminate a design thereon. The means of illumination includes a reflective layer on the playing surface or a top electro-luminescent light sheet.

Abstract: A puzzle game is disclosed in which one player challenges another by assembling a mechanical puzzle from a set of components. The components make a puzzle in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,399, dated December 1986. The new apparatus incorporates novel features which enhance the game and give the puzzle a unique mode of operation wherein a handle and a housing are alternately rotated about and translated along an axis in relation to each other. The housing defines a storage space for an extraneous object and retrieving the object from the storage space may function as an aim for one of the players.

Abstract: A combination role playing and board game comprising a plurality of action figures configured with detachable arm and head members, and which are moved within a grid-like board surface that represents an arena, wherein confrontations and other events are simulated. Multiple types of dice are used to direct the locations of the action figures and the type of event that may occur upon confrontation with an opposing figure. Each action figure is capable of being disassembled as a result of such confrontation and has certain confrontational qualities which lend themselves to enhanced types of attacks and resistances thereof. Playing cards are used to represent the “health” of each game character, and a plurality of other game cards and chips may be placed on the grid board to represent traps and other devices.

Abstract: A moto-cross/supercross board game for a plurality of players until a winner is declared by being the first player to complete all of their assigned instructions of the die, cards and board game spaces. The moto-cross/supercross board game includes a game board having a plurality of playing spaces arranged to resemble the jumps and turns as seen on an actual moto-cross/supercross track. Each of the board playing pieces being having unique instructions displayed therein. Each player is assigned a playing piece. A plurality of sequential turns are performed comprising rolling a die, moving the track playing piece of the player a number of playing spaces corresponding to the value rolled on the normal die, performing the instructions displayed on the track space on which the playing piece terminates its move on, performing the instructions of the steps of the game card of the player, should he/she land on a card space.