Abstract: A paper jam detector for use in connection with a substrate interleaver of an automated food processing line is provided. At least one jam detector sensor is located along at least one of the feed path from the substrate feed mechanism and a second conveyor that receives product from a first conveyor, and is adapted to detect when a substrate passes from the substrate feed mechanism onto the second conveyor. A controller is connected to the at least one jam detector sensor and to the substrate feed mechanism such that upon detection of an unsuccessful substrate feed, the controller turns off the substrate feed mechanism to prevent feeding of more substrates into the jam area, which creates a hard jam and longer down time for the production line for clearing the jam. A method for detecting jams is also provided.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing flat media comprises a media storage bin at a first end and a discharge chute at a second end, with a coarse media separator located adjacent the media storage bin and a rear conveyor which is intermittently driven to convey the media towards a singulation separator, having a front conveyor which delivers media to a transport conveyor and to a discharge chute. A sensor senses media at a location just before the singulation separator. Media from the bottom of the storage bin are pass through the coarse media separator and lie on the rear conveyor in shingled arrangement, and are pulled into the singulation separator one at a time. The rear conveyor works only when the sensor senses the absence of media.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that a first eject tray is located at a position to which sheets are ejectable in such a manner that front and back surfaces of the sheets are not reversed after the sheets are subjected to predetermined processing. Further, the sheet transport apparatus of the present invention is provided with a first eject tray operation section for aligning leading edges of the sheets ejected to the first eject tray by changing a positional relation in a vertical direction between an upstream side and a downstream side of the first eject tray in a sheet transporting direction.

Abstract: A paper picking system and method, the system comprising a roller spanning the width of the paper, clamping unit positioned along the roller and elevating means for elevating the roller and the plurality of clamping units having clamping portions and surface-contact portions, wherein the clamping portions are positioned at a given distance from the roller when the roller and the surface-contact portions are in contact with the surface of the paper, and wherein the clamping portions are in contact with the roller when the roller and the surface-contact portions are not in contact with the surface of the paper.

Abstract: A bag supplying apparatus for a bag-filling packaging machine, including a vibrating feeder that involves a trough in which bags are placed in a cascade fashion and a vibration driver which vibrates the trough so as to cause the bags to be conveyed forward, a positioning stopper provided at a final end of a conveying path of the bags so that the tip end of a leading bag being conveyed comes into contact with the stopper, and a suction disk that suction-chucks and lifts a bag positioned by the position stopper and feeds the bag to another location.

Abstract: To provide a sheet transporting device which can control sheet transport also with respect to plural kinds of tab sheets different from each other in terms of a tab position in a vertical direction with respect to a transporting direction without increasing the cost. In case of switching back the tab sheet, a timing for the switch back is controlled in accordance with a timing at which the sheet sensor detects a front end of the tab sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for separation and application of thin objects of a non-porous material or of a material of low porosity on a surface. The invention also relates to a package for the thin objects. With the aid of a pick up and lay down head on an application means a vacuum is applied on a part, preferably the middle, of the uppermost object in a stack of thin objects being in a recess of a package. The recess of the package for receiving the objects is at least areawise somewhat smaller than the exterior dimensions of the objects. With the aid of vacuum in the pick up and lay down head the uppermost object is lifted out of the package. The underlying objects in the stack remain in the package by the friction and scrape effects towards the interior walls of the package. Then the pick up and lay down head of the application means is lowered down so that the object is brought into contact with the surface.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets supported by sheet stacking means capable of ascending and descending by sheet feeding means is provided. The sheet feeding apparatus includes sheet position detection means for detecting that an upper surface of a sheet stack supported by said sheet stacking means reaches a position whereat it can be fed by said sheet feeding means, blowing means for blowing air on an end portion of sheets stacked on said sheet stacking means, and control means for controlling said blowing means, wherein at least, either when it has been detected by said sheet position detection means that the sheets reach a position whereat they can be fed, or before a sheet feeding operation by said sheet feeding means is started, said control means performs a blowing operation by said blowing means during predetermined time.

Abstract: A paper feeder is capable of minimizing abnormal noise produced at a separation pad during paper feed, without reducing the paper feed capability, for use in an image forming apparatus using the same. Buffers are mounted on the separation pad. This arrangement ensures that, when a stick-slip condition occurs between the paper and separation pad during paper feed, and the separation pad is vibrated by the paper, the buffer vibrates so as to dissipate the vibration energy of the separation pad, with the result that the vibration of the separation pad is minimized, thereby to reduce any abnormal noise.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus having sheet stacking means movable up and down with a plurality of sheets stacked thereon, sheet feeding means for feeding out the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means and control means for moving the sheet stacking means up and down so that during the supply of the sheets to the sheet stacking means and during the taking-out of the sheets from the sheet stacking means, the upper surface of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means may be automatically moved to a sheet supplying position and a sheet taking-out position set between the upper limit position and the lower limit position in the range of the upward and downward movement of the sheet stacking means each time the sheet is supplied and each time the sheet is taken out.

Abstract: An expansion box is used for an image forming apparatus including a main body part in which an image forming part is housed, and a sheet feeder cassette which is mounted to the main body part and in which sheets to be fed to the image forming part are contained. The expansion box is attached to the main body part, covers the sheet feeder cassette protruding from the main body part, and includes an opening through which a front part of the sheet feeder cassette is exposed. The image forming apparatus includes the main body part, the sheet feeder cassette and the expansion box. An assembly method of the image forming apparatus is also provided. The assembly method includes assemblage with attachment of the expansion box to the main body part and optionally a step of assemblage without attachment of the expansion box to the main body part.

Abstract: A method for conveying sheets through a printing machine and an apparatus for conveying the sheets permit adaptation of a sheet brake to various sheet thicknesses by reducing a speed of the sheets in the direction of advance by bringing the sheets individually one after another into contact with at least one suction element moved in the direction of advance, and by holding each sheet by the action of a suction apparatus on the suction element along a conveying section, dependent upon the sheet thickness, the suction action of the suction element along the conveying section is changed locally.

Abstract: A mail processing device includes a reorientation arrangement that, when the mail processing device is in a first position, is configured to sequentially receive mail items from an upstream process and reorient each item such that the top side of a particular item from the upstream process becomes the bottom side of the item when placed in a downstream process. The device also includes a receiving arrangement configured to receive mail items from the upstream process and guide the mail items into the reorientation arrangement. The device also includes a controller that is programmed to cause the reorientation arrangement to reorient a mail item in response to the detection of the mail item by a sensor. The controller is further programmed to cause the mail item to be moved toward the downstream process after each mail item is reoriented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for accumulating and delivering folded cardboard sheets which can be reduced in cost and improved in reliability thereof sue to a simplified construction of the apparatus and facilitated control of the movement of the ledge.

Abstract: To ensure that the leading edge of the sheet ejected onto a tray 12 does not push and move loaded sheets in advance, loaded sheets are retained at position (II) by a retaining roller. A roller (returning roller in this case) 121 for applying external force to a sheet S ejected onto the tray 12 and moving the sheet toward a end face 131 for alignment is displaced to a different position in the direction of ejection “a”, thereby firmly gripping the trailing edge of the sheet S ejected on the tray 12.

Abstract: A sheet reverse controller is equipped with a reverse unit to convey sheets conveyed from the first conveying means in the second direction differing from the first direction; a second conveying means to convey the sheets in the second direction; a sensor provided to the second conveying means to detect the sheets; and a controller to decelerate or accelerate the sheet conveying velocity of the driving rollers based on the detected result of this sensor.

Abstract: The invention discloses a transporting apparatus provided with a air-supplying-type support device for supplying purified air toward a lower surface of a transported object to contactlessly support the transported object in a horizontal orientation or a substantially horizontal orientation, a drive force application device for applying a drive force in the transporting direction to the transported object, a first transport member, a second transport member, and a relay transport member that links the first transport member and the second transport member. The drive force application device applies a drive force by contacting a lower surface of the transported object that is supported by the air-supplying-type support device. The relay transport member changes at least one of the transporting direction and the transporting orientation of the transported object.

Abstract: A method and system for correcting the skew in mail-related items, which are caused to move by a driving mechanism in the mailing machine. The driving mechanism comprises at least two driving belts to drive the mail-related items by friction. A plurality of openings are provided on the driving belts so that air pressure can be applied to the mail-related items in order to change the friction between different driving belts and the mail-related items. The air pressure can be positive or negative and it can be applied on the left or right side, or on both sides but with different pressures.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for de-skewing media when using an automatic media feeder comprising a registration guide and a registration tab disposed to cooperate with the registration guide in providing de-skewing of media when an edge of the media passes over the registration tab and is deflected thereby toward the registration guide.

Abstract: An alignment device for aligning a manually loaded media sheet to a printer feed path has at least one registration feature disposed to register the trailing edge of the media sheet to the feed path. By aligning the trailing edge, an orthogonal media sheet is loaded into the printer without skew ensuring that the printed image is precisely aligned to the media sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a printing material sheet includes a holding crossmember for holding the printing material sheet and a traveling-wave motor for driving the holding crossmember. The traveling-wave motor has a first traveler and a second traveler for mounting the holding crossmember. The holding crossmember is mounted through a spring suspension. The spring suspension can be, for example, a flexible joint in the form of a flexible bellows.

Abstract: A method and system for correcting paper registration skew. A skew or paper registration error of a sheet moving in a feed path is detected. A coarse adjustment, or copy paper registration, using full steps is performed until the registration error is reduced to a minimum value, below a full step. The frequency of one motor with respect to the other, or a reference, or reference motors, is adjusted for a fixed period to enable a fine adjustment to correct the registration error.

Abstract: An optical sensing assembly (20) detects media (32) carried by a traveling mesh or suction belt (34) having material portions (82) that define therebetween open portions (84). An emitter (22) is disposed opposite and spaced apart from the first side of the belt (34). The emitter (22) emits light in a direction from the first side toward the second side of the belt (34). A detector (24) is disposed opposite and spaced apart from the second side of the belt (34) and generally opposite the emitter (22). A portion of the light emitted by the emitter (22) passes through the open portions (84) of the mesh belt (34) and impinges upon the detector (24). The detector (24) issues a detect signal (DET_SIG) indicative of a reduction in the detected portion of light. The detect signal (DET_SIG) is filtered to reject reductions in the detected portion of light that are not due to the presence of media (32) on the belt (34).

Abstract: A sheet transporting device includes an enclosure having a first guide part at least a part of which can be exposed to outside, wherein another sheet transporting device is attached to the enclosure, the another sheet transporting device has a second guide part at least a part of which is exposed to outside, and at least a part of a sheet transporting passage includes the first guide part and the second guide part. An image forming apparatus includes an enclosure including a first guide part at least a part of which can be exposed to outside, wherein a sheet transporting device is attached to the enclosure, the sheet transporting device includes a second guide part at least a part of which is exposed to outside, and at least a part of a sheet transporting passage includes the first guide part and the second guide part.

Abstract: A machine for processing printing material sheets has a signal generator for position monitoring and a sheet delivery. The sheet delivery has a first conveying device, for example with a holding crossmember, for leading sheet ends and a second conveying device, for example with a holding crossmember, for trailing sheet ends. The signal generator is disposed in the sheet delivery.

Abstract: Feeding roller pairs are respectively constituted of a capstan roller and a nip roller. The nip roller is movable between a nip position and a release position. When movement timing of the nip rollers overlap, a pulse motor for moving the nip rollers is successively driven. For example, a drive-pulse speed for the pulse motor is detected at the moment that the downstream nip roller is moved to the nip position (at the moment that a predetermined time has passed after detecting a recording-paper sheet with a position sensor). And then, the drive-pulse speed is changed in accordance with the detected drive-pulse speed to drive the pulse motor at a prescribed speed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the vacuum distribution in an exposer for recording printing originals. The recording material for the printing originals is held firmly on a supporting surface by negative pressure. The recording material being attracted by suction by a vacuum pump via suction grooves machined into the supporting surface and via suction ducts connected to the suction grooves. For opening and closing the suction ducts, valves are provided, the valves being closed by the mechanical action of force from an actuator on a piston rod and opened by the action of compressed air on a piston in the valve. For opening the valve, an outlet opening for the compressed air is integrated into the actuator. In a printing plate exposer with an exposure drum, the suction ducts and the valves are located in the exposure drum, and the actuator is located outside the exposure drum.

Abstract: A paper handling apparatus is disclosed, having a first path that guides paper to a processing tray; a second path in which the paper is set aside; and a transportation unit that transports the paper. The paper handling apparatus sets aside a preceding sheet of the paper in the second path, and transports the set-aside preceding sheet of the paper with a following sheet of the paper. The paper handling unit includes: a branching unit that, when the paper is transported in the second direction, leads the paper to the second path; a paper detection unit provided in a more upstream position than the branching unit; and a control unit that determines timing in which the paper is transported in the second direction based on an output of the paper detection unit, and causes the transportation unit to transport the paper to the second path.

Abstract: A game table with rotationally convertible table faces, including a table body having a rectangular frame body and a rectangular table board mounted in the frame body. The top and bottom faces of the table board are respectively arranged as two different game table faces. Two ends of the table board are pivotally connected with two opposite sides of the frame body, whereby the table board can be rotated within an interior space of the frame body. The game table further includes two locating boards which are elongated slat bodies. The bottom long sides of the locating boards are pivotally connected with the other two opposite sides of the frame body, whereby the locating board can be swung on the frame body. When the two locating boards are positioned in an upright position, the top ends of the locating boards abut against two sides of the bottom face of the table board to locate the table board. The game table faces of the game table are convertible by means of turning and locating the table board.

Abstract: The present invention is a gaming machine in which a plurality of medal accumulating parts 20a through 20d are disposed so that these parts are sequentially disposed and ranged along the medal discharge opening 17, the medals that are paid out from the respective medal accumulating parts 20a through 20c are moved sequentially and accumulated in the medal accumulating parts 20b through 20d that are adjacent on the side of the medal discharge opening 17, and the medals that are paid out from the medal accumulating part 20d located closely to the medal discharge opening 17 can be given to the player, wherein this gaming machine comprises drawing means which perform a drawing used to determine the presence or absence of a jackpot when medals are detected, notification means 23a through 23d which make a notification of the drawing results of the drawing means, and pay-out means 21a through 21d which pay out medals from the medal accumulating parts 20a through 20d.

Abstract: A system that includes a plurality of toy blocks and a method for reconfiguring one or more of the plurality of toy blocks. The method including taking off a first removable wrap from the one of the plurality of toy blocks so as to separate the first removable wrap from a core of the one of the plurality of toy blocks. The first removable wrap includes content associated with a first area of subject matter. The method also includes placing a second removable wrap around the core, the second removable wrap including content associated with a second area of subject matter. In variations of the invention, some of the cores include an instability feature, which imparts an instability when the toy block is positioned in a predetermined orientation with respect to one or more other toy blocks.

Abstract: A method of playing a game that requires a plurality of players to interactively communicate. The method includes: providing a player-in-turn with a hypothetical situation; the player-in-turn presents an analysis of what should be done in the hypothetical situation and provides reasoning supporting the analysis to at least one player-out-of-turn; each of the at least one player-out-of-turn evaluates the analysis and the reasoning of the player-in-turn and assigns a score to the player-in-turn based on the evaluation; and using the score to generate a ranking of the player-in-turn at the end of the game.

Abstract: An educational game to be played by two or more players. The game is intended to teach the players to solve problems and address opportunities through collective and individual responsibility. The players work as a team. The game includes a game board marked with a playing track. The track is divided into four sides with four corner spaces. Each side consists of a sequence of spaces and the sides are distinctly labelled. A game token for the team is moved sequentially along the track. A plurality of cards is shared by all players of the game to be drawn by the team. The cards are in at least four subsets distinctively marked, preferably with the moniker “define”, “explore”, “innovate” and “incubate” respectively. The team rolls a dice to obtain an indication of how they should move their token on the track. The side on which the team token is located directs which subset of cards the team should draw from.

Abstract: Card games for two or more players using a deck of cards having a common theme are disclosed. Each card of the deck is printed on one side with a different image of a person or thing that is a member of a class of items related to the theme of the game. Players score by comparing cards from each player's hand and subjectively deciding which cards prevail in a round of cards. The decision as to the best card is determined by agreement of a majority of players. If a majority of players cannot agree, a neutral nonplayer may be consulted to subjectively decide the best card for a round. If a neutral nonplayer cannot decide or is not available, the players resort to an alternative basis for determining the winner of an undecided round. Additional aspects of game play may be decided by using textual information printed on the cards.

Abstract: A card game device is disclosed for use by a plurality of players in which the players endeavor to determine the title of a movie from a brief quote excerpt therefrom. The game device includes a plurality of ticket cards with each card of the plurality of ticket cards belonging to a category of a group of movie categories. A plurality of quote cards is provided with each quote card having a first and a second side. The first side of the quote card has the brief quote excerpt thereon, the brief quote excerpt belonging to one category of the group of movie categories. The quote cards firstly are shuffled with only the second side of the quote cards facing towards the players. Secondly, the shuffled quote cards are arranged in a stack with only the second side of the quote cards facing towards the players. The stack has a top and a bottom end so that the first side of the quote cards with quote excerpts thereon are hidden from the players.

Abstract: An upper bar and a lower bar are parallel with respect to each other and are separated by a distance. A slanted bar, vertical bar, and side bar form a triangular frame with one end of the slanted bar and one end of the vertical bar connected to one end of the upper bar. The opposing end of the vertical bar is releasably connected to one end of the side bar while the opposing end of the side bar is connected to the lower bar. Another slanted bar, vertical bar, and side bar are similarly connected at the other end of the upper and lower bars. The upper bar, lower bar, and two slanted bars include releasably connected tubular members. And both ends of the slanted bars are connected with rotatable joints. Netting may be woven onto the upper bar, the lower bar, the vertical bars, and the side bars.

Abstract: A three-prong integrally formed resilient seal for sealing the juncture of three gasketed members. The seal has a common region having an embedded strain distributor of stiffer material than the remainder of the seal which is integrally formed, preferably by insert molding as a one-piece member.

Abstract: A thin walled crushable capsule filled with curable sealant is disposed over a pocket formed between adjacent gaskets sealing between structural members. Upon assembly of the structural members the capsule is crushed and sealant flows into the pocket as the gaskets are compressed.

Abstract: An outer air seal assembly for use around rotating fluid guide components, such as rotating blades within a turbine engine, is disclosed. The seal includes features that reduce radially-directed leakage while increasing operational life of the seal and providing additional turbine section cooling without reducing engine performance. The seal employs boundary members that cooperatively prevent leakage within the turbine section of an associated gas turbine engine. The boundary members are spaced apart by interface gaps having radially-skewed portions that protect blocking panels disposed within the gap and extends the life of seal. The interface gap may also include a radially-aligned portion, and partition members may extend into the gap to form a flow-slowing serpentine-shaped pathway within the gap. Conduits disposed within the boundary members allow cooling fluid to enter the interface gap, providing supplemental cooling benefits without reducing engine operating efficiency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing steam swirl in a steam turbine. A plurality of seal segments (14) are circumferentially juxtaposed to form a seal ring (12) encircling the turbine shaft (10), each seal segment (14) supporting a plurality of circumferentially disposed annular seal fins (20) to limit axial steam flow along the shaft (10). A plurality of flow dams (40) are disposed within grooves (42) defined in the plurality of seal fins (20) and seal segments (14) for limiting circumferential steam flow and thereby reducing rotor instability.

Abstract: A piston ring having a first coating of nodular thin dense chromium is disclosed. The first coating is preferably provided on upper and lower radially extending surfaces of the piston ring. Further, the first coating is provided on a radially inner vertical surface of the piston ring. A radially outer vertical surface of the piston ring preferably includes a second coating of a thermal spray. The first coating provides improved wear resistance and a smooth surface for piston rings received in piston grooves.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a sealing element, preferably for sealing quick couplers of fuel lines, particularly in automotive vehicles, comprising a supporting section which is made at least in part from an elastic material, and a sealing section which is made from a material differing from the elastic material, the sealing element being provided on its circumference with at least one contact surface and at least one sealing surface. Such a sealing element can thereby be produced in an installation-friendly and inexpensive way in that according to the invention at least one contact surface is formed by the supporting section and at least one sealing surface by the sealing section.

Abstract: A dough dispenser is provided that has an elongated stem body terminating in a dome configured cavity with a downwardly opening mouth. The upper end of the stem body is associated with a reciprocally moveable plunger body. The stem body holds a subassembly of spirally extending shaft, base block and finger that extends downwardly from the base block and into and along side wall portions of the cavity. A biasing spring urges the plunger body into an upward position. When the plunger body is depressed into the stem body, a driver disk fixed to the plunger body slidably moves over the shaft and causes the base block and finger to rotate. The finger wipes cavity surfaces and releases dough therefrom.

Abstract: A radial shaft seal with a sealing element made of a non-woven fabric impregnated with an active material, particularly PTFE. The shaft seal is disposed between a stationary machine part and a rotating shaft. In the axial direction, the sealing element consists of at least one layer of non-woven fabric impregnated with a PTFE dispersion and laminated under pressure and heat.

Abstract: A preload is applied to a thermoplastic seal to induce deformation of the seal. As the seal undergoes deformation (e.g., cold flow), it completes the seal. Thermoplastics such as PEEK, PEK, PPS, PEKEKK, and PET are examples of materials that may be used in the seal. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: The invention provides a sealing gasket for mounting in a passage (5) of a support plate (4) to surround the end of a tubular-shaped filter element (3) provided with at least one fluid flow channel (31), the channel lying within a flow section Sc, the gasket being constituted in the form of a sleeve: possessing a height h not less than the height hps of the passage (5) in the support plate (4); and presenting an overlap bore (15) for the filter element (3) defined between one end (16) of the sleeve and a shoulder (17) which co-operates with the other end of the sleeve to define a channel bore (19) for the fluid, the shoulder (17) possessing a surface for acting as an abutment for the terminal portion of the filter element and presenting dimensions that are adapted to extend outside the flow section Sc so as to avoid impeding fluid circulation, the overlap bore (15) being provided with a groove (28) adjacent to the shoulder (17) in order to allow the gasket to creep.

Abstract: A valve gasket for sealing a fluid dispenser device comprising a valve, in particular a metering valve, mounted on a fluid reservoir, said gasket being characterized in that it comprises an alloy of vulcanized ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and/or of butyl (IIR) or of vulcanized halobutyl (CIIR or BIIR) with one or more materials selected from the group constituted by polyoctene ethylene (POE), ethylene propylene (EP), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and chloroprene rubber (CR), all of these materials being vulcanized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chuck for gripping workpieces having an outer chuck body rotatable about a chuck axis and defining a cavity. The chuck includes a collar, coupled to the outer chuck body, having a slot with a slot axis angled relative to said chuck axis. An inner chuck body located within the cavity is movable along the chuck axis relative to the collar and the outer chuck body. The inner chuck body includes a bore having a bore axis angled relative to said chuck axis into which the jaw rod is disposed, with the jaw rod being coupled to the collar.

Abstract: The piston 10 is constituted so as to rotate relative to the first cylinder 8 while moving relative to the first cylinder 8 in the axial direction when fluid is supplied to and discharged from the interior of the first cylinder 8, and the piston 16 is constituted to be incapable of rotation relative to the second cylinder 9, but capable of movement relative to the second cylinder 9 in the axial direction. Hence when fluid is supplied to and discharged from the interior of the first cylinder 8, the piston 10 is caused to rotate relative to the first cylinder 8 while moving relative to the first cylinder 8 in the axial direction, and the piston 16 is caused to move relative to the second cylinder 9 in the axial direction but prevented from rotating relative to the second cylinder 9. As a result, torsional elasticity is generated in shaft portions 4a and 5a.

Abstract: A trailer having a front and a rear. The trailer includes a frame constructed to receive a bed and a hitch attached to the frame at the front of the trailer. A tube is pivotally connected to the frame between the front and the rear of the trailer. First and second support arms are connected to the tube. Each wheel support arm has an axle and a wheel located at its distal end. The trailer further includes means for rotating the tube. In one embodiment, the trailer has an inclining feature and a shoe for ground engagement. The shoe is located vertically below a central axis of the tube and longitudinally between the wheels and the front of the trailer. In a second embodiment, the trailer has an inclining and elevating feature. In this second embodiment, the hitch is pivotally connected to the front of the trailer and there is provided means for rotating the tube and rotating the hitch relative to one another to elevate, incline, or decline the bed.