Abstract: A vacuum operated wood pellet management apparatus, systems and methods thereof, capable of handling, transferring, dispensing and filtering wood pellets. The pellet management apparatus and systems comprising a housing having a motor and a vacuum fan, a power supply, wherein the power supply controls an output of the motor, a pellet chamber connected to the housing, wherein the pellet chamber includes an inlet port configured to receive a plurality of wood pellets from a source of wood pellets and an outlet port regulated by a self-closing hinge.

Abstract: Method for treating outlet air in a pneumatic waste conveying system, in which the outlet air is at least partly the conveying air to be used in waste conveying. In the method in a first phase additional air is brought into the body of conveying air in the partial-vacuum generator of the pneumatic waste conveying system before the output aperture of the partial-vacuum generator, and that in the method in a second phase additional air is brought into the body of outlet air as a consequence of the suction effect brought about by the outlet air in such a way that the outlet air and the additional air mix with each other at least partly. The invention also relates to an apparatus.

Abstract: The automatic layer picking assembly for a warehouse comprises a movable layer transporter comprising layer positioner that is operable to position the movable layer transporter with respect to the predetermined pallet positions separately from a pallet transporter during a pallet layer mixing operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a removable sheet support tray. The sheet support tray includes a sheet support surface providing a sheet support area above the sheet support surface. The support tray also includes a stopper portion movable between a restraining position and a non-restraining position that is a different position from the restraining position. In a state where the stopper portion is located at the restraining position, the stopper portion includes a surface disposed adjacent to and downstream of the sheet support area in a first direction, the first direction extending along at least a portion of the sheet support surface.

Abstract: Needle gripper features a gripper unit with a gripping surface facing a workpiece to grip, and a needle carriage with a gripping needle. The needle carriage moves into an active position extending the gripping needle beyond the gripping surface by one needle stroke depth, and in a passive position retracting the gripping needle, and features a drive unit with a drive actuator driven forward/backward along a drive direction that couples to the needle carriage so it moves into the passive/active positions by driving the drive actuator forward/backward. A setting device for setting the needle stroke depth includes a guide carriage displaceable perpendicularly to the drive direction along a guide direction, and a stop for the guide carriage. The drive actuator couples via connection arm to the guide carriage so when the drive actuator moves backward, the guide carriage moves in the direction toward the stop, which prevents further backwards movement.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus is equipped with a stacking portion on which sheets are stacked, a rotator conveying a sheet by rotating in a contact state with the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a separating member pressing the rotator and separating the sheets one by one at a contact portion where the rotator and the separating member contact each other, and a holder holding the separating member. A guide portion is rotatably provided with the holder and capable of guiding a front end of the sheet to the contact portion, and a regulating portion regulates the guide portion from rotating in a direction approximating the rotator in a state where the guide portion contacts against the regulating portion. The guide portion can be rotated in a direction separating from the rotator in a state where the separating member presses the rotator.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that, even when a paper feeding cassette is open, positively performs paper feeding from a manual feed tray, and yet shortens the printing interrupt time. Image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding cassette, guide member, paper feeding changeover determining part, and system control part. Paper feeding cassette is detachably loaded in an apparatus main body. Guide member is temporarily fixed in apparatus main body above paper feeding cassette, constituting a carrying passage for a paper sheet from manual feed tray. If paper feeding cassette is drawn out from apparatus main body, paper feeding changeover determining part determines whether or not paper feeding can be changed over to that from manual feed tray. If the result of determination by paper feeding changeover determining part shows that changeover is possible, system control part causes paper feeding from manual feed tray to be performed.

Abstract: Provided is a transport device including a transport section by which a recording medium is interposed and is transported while rotating, a driving section that drives the transport section, a control section that performs control so that the recording medium enters a predetermined position of the transport section in a rotation direction, a detection section that detects a load of the driving section during a period of time in which the recording medium is transported by the transport section, and a derivation section that derives a thickness of the recording medium based on the load.

Abstract: A rotation detecting unit includes a light emitting device, a light receiving device, an output device, a rotatable plate, and a discriminating device. The rotatable plate includes a first portion and a second portion which are alternately provided along a circumferential direction, a third portion provided between the first portion and the second portion, and a fourth portion provided between the second portion and the first portion. When a region of the first portion is irradiated with light emitted from the light emitting device and received by the light receiving device, received light quantity of the light receiving device is a maximum. When a region of the second portion is irradiated with the light, the received light quantity is a minimum. When the third or fourth portion is irradiated with the light, the received light quantity is larger than the minimum and is smaller than the maximum.

Abstract: A transport mechanism for a peripheral device and an operating method including the same are provided. The transport mechanism includes a tray, at least a transport roller, a detector, a trigger component and a processor. The tray includes an opening extending through the tray. The transport roller is rotatably installed in the opening and protruded from the tray to transport a flexible object to move along a transport path. The detector near the tray has a detecting area. The trigger component is located in the opening and spaced apart from the flexible object on the transport path. The flexible object deviated from the transport path presses the trigger component to enter or leave the detecting area and triggers the detector to transmit an abnormal detecting signal. The processor receives the abnormal detecting signal to stop the transport roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated aerating and handling a sub stack of a stack of rectangular paper sheets where the sub stack is gripped near or at opposed corners of a common edge of the sub stack by means of two robotic grippers (A, B) having two opposed gripping fingers (A1, A2, B1, B2), lifting and rotating the corners in mutually opposite first directions such that the work stack achieves an upwards concave form, gripping the corners by the robotic grippers (A, B), and rotating the grippers in second directions opposite to the first directions such that the upper sheet of the sub stack has a curvature smaller than the bottom sheet of the sub stack, preferably a substantially plane form.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for aligning a bill supplied to a transfer path with a center line of the transfer path. The apparatus may include: a first centering roller arranged at one side of the transfer path and applying a frictional force to a portion of the bill positioned at one side of the transfer path so that the bill is moved to the center line, the first centering roller having a first driven wheel formed in a border part to face one edge line of the transfer path; and a second centering roller arranged at the other side of the transfer path and applying a frictional force to another portion of the bill positioned at the other side of the transfer path so that the bill is moved to the center line, the second centering roller having a second driven wheel formed in a border part to face the other edge line of the transfer path.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for holding down a sheet on a feed table of a sheet-processing machine include a lowerable smoothing bar which can be driven according to a speed profile in time with the sheet-processing machine, which results in a targeted deflection of the smoothing bar. The deflection is preserved for the purpose of smoothing the sheet from the middle to the side.

Abstract: A roll-shaped medium transport device includes: a medium supply unit that keeps a roll body formed by winding a roll-shaped medium on a support shaft, and unwinds and supplies the roll-shaped medium; a transport unit that transports the roll-shaped medium unwound from the roll body; a rotation detecting unit that detects rotation of the support shaft; a rotation unit that rotates the support shaft; and a determination unit that determines abnormality of a transport state of the roll-shaped medium on the basis of the rotation detecting unit when the rotation unit rotates the support shaft, when the rotation detecting unit does not detect the rotation of the support shaft in a state where a transport operation of the roll-shaped medium is performed by the transport unit.

Abstract: A rotary paper money conveying device applied to a note in and out port (1) of an automatic teller machine.

Abstract: A sheet stacking tray that includes a single pneumatic baffle which uses the pressure differential caused by the flow of air across a cross process curved bottom surface of the pneumatic baffle to hold the lead edge of sheets driven by an input nip into the sheet stacking tray above a stack especially for longer and lighter weight sheets as they are driven by the input nip to a registration wall.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes a first tray, a second tray, a first member, and a second member. The first member presses a first portion of a sheet toward the second tray when the sheet is moved from the first tray to the second tray located below the first tray. The second member is interlocked with the first member, and when the sheet is moved from the first tray to the second tray, presses a second portion of the sheet toward the second tray, the second portion being located downstream of the first portion in a transport direction of the sheet to the first tray.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path; a discharge tray configured to support the sheet discharged from the conveyance path; a sheet presser movable toward and away from a support surface of the discharge tray and configured to press the sheet being discharged, onto the support surface; a first stopper configured to limit a spaced distance between the sheet presser and the support surface to a first distance when the first stopper is located at a first position, and configured to allow the spaced distance to become greater than the first distance when the first stopper is located at a second position; and a position change mechanism configured to change a position of the first stopper between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An arrangement in a warehouse and a method for forming narrow rolls are disclosed. The narrow rolls are formed from a jumbo reel. At least two slitting machines are used for forming the narrow rolls. The jumbo reel has an axial direction when positioned on the slitting machine. The narrow rolls are transferred to the warehouse in the axial direction. The at least two slitting machines are positioned overlapping.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for folding sheets comprising a curved conveyance path along which the sheets are moved successively in first and second opposite directions, the curved conveyance path being such that the sheets cannot naturally register to reach a folding position by simple effect of gravity, wherein to register the sheets before to fold them transport rollers having loaded the sheets in the first direction moves back in the second opposite direction for compressing the sheets against an adjustable low stop member to generate an elastic deformation of the sheets sufficient to compensate friction in the curved conveyance path and automatically register the sheets.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to manufacturing elastomeric laminates that may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic material located between the first substrate and second substrate. Methods and apparatuses may be configured to automatically isolate elastic strands that may break during the assembly process. As discussed in more detail below, the apparatuses may include a snare member extending adjacent to and across a travel path of elastic materials in a converting process. Thus, during the manufacture process, stretched elastics strands may advance past the snare member without contacting the outer circumferential surface of the snare member before being joined with a substrate. In the event that an elastic strand breaks, an upstream end portion of the elastic strand may retract back toward the snare member, wherein the upstream end portion wraps partially or completely around the outer circumferential surface of the snare member.

Abstract: A capstan includes a lift motor, a flexible lifting member, and a tether assembly. The lift motor is operatively connected to a shaft. The flexible lifting member includes a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the shaft. The flexible lifting member connects a lift assembly to the lift motor via the shaft. The tether assembly includes a switch arranged between a portion of the flexible lifting member and a portion of the capstan. The second end is connected to the tether assembly. The switch acts as a safety in case of a broken flexible lifting member and allows for an automated unloading cycle.

Abstract: A bobbin changing device for feeding bobbins to and/or removing bobbins from a processing device which can wind a strand-form material onto a bobbin and/or from a bobbin, wherein the bobbin changing device has at least one conveyor device, wherein the bobbin changing device has a swivel fork which is suited for feeding bobbins to and/or removing bobbins from such a processing device and for feeding bobbins to and/or removing bobbins from the conveyor device.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatuses for determining the movement of a synchronous machine are provided. An apparatus for determining the movement of a synchronous machine includes a determination for at least one electrical magnitude of the synchronous machine; a determination of the position error of the rotor of the synchronous machine, which is fitted to determine the position error of the rotor on the basis of the aforementioned at least one electrical magnitude of the synchronous machine; and also a correction of the movement signal of the incremental sensor, which is fitted to correct the read movement signal of the incremental sensor on the basis of the aforementioned determination of the position error of the rotor of the synchronous machine.

Abstract: An elevator includes first and second elevator units vertically movable in a hoistway and interconnected by at least one belt-shaped hoisting rope. Each of the belt-shaped hoisting ropes is moved and passes around a drive wheel and includes consecutively a first rope section extending between the drive wheel and the first elevator unit, and a second rope section extending between the drive wheel and the second elevator unit. The elevator further includes non-driven cambered diverting wheels, each said first and second rope section being arranged to pass around and rest against a cambered circumferential surface area thereof. A monitoring arrangement monitors displacement of the first and second rope sections of the wheels in the axial direction. When one or more of the first and second rope sections is displaced in the axial direction of the wheels away from a predefined zone, rotation of the drive wheel is stopped.

Abstract: An exemplary device for protecting an elevator travelling cable connected to an elevator car comprises a deflector that is configured to be secured to one of an elevator car or the travelling cable. The deflector allows the travelling cable to extend below an associated elevator car a first distance from a bottom of the elevator car when the elevator car is at least a selected height above a bottom of a hoistway. The first distance is at least equal to a natural dynamic bending radius of the travelling cable. The deflector facilitates the travelling cable extending below the bottom of the elevator car a second distance that is less than the natural dynamic bending radius when the elevator car is below the selected height.

Abstract: An elevator belt comprising a belt body made of a first material, a reinforcement arrangement having at least one reinforcement provided on the belt body, and a tube arrangement made of a second material having at least one tube, the at least one reinforcement of the reinforcement arrangement being provided in a tube of the tube arrangement.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a tensioning arrangement for a traction means of an elevator, which arrangement comprises at least an elevator car configured to move up and down in an elevator hoistway and at least one or more compensating weights, which are for their part connected to support the elevator car by the aid of their own support means, such as by the aid of ropes or belts and also of diverting pulleys, and a hoisting machine provided with at least one traction sheave or corresponding, and also at least one traction means (7) such as a belt, rope or chain, which is configured to transmit the rotational movement of the traction sheave into movement of the elevator car and of the compensating weights. The traction means (7) is fixed from at least one of its ends to a fixing means (1) providing an essentially constant tensioning force.

Abstract: An elevator arrangement includes two or more hoistways, at least one more elevator car than a total number of hoistways, and at least one more belt system than the total number of hoistways. At least one belt system may be provided between each pair of hoistways. At least one elevator car may be provided in each hoistway. Each elevator car may be connected to at least one belt system. The belt systems may provide a direct transfer of mechanical energy between the elevator cars. As a first elevator car moves downward in a first hoistway, mechanical energy may be generated via the belt systems to lift a second elevator car upwardly in a second hoistway.

Abstract: A stairlift and/or a method of supporting a user on a stairlift in which the seat is configured to positively retain the user and in which the seat-to-footrest height is set so as to reduce flexure of the knee joints as well as to reduce the intrusion of the passenger into the stairway.

Abstract: An elevator ventilation fan assembly for hazardous operating environments and comprising a fan disposed within an enclosure to be carried on an elevator cab roof. The fan may be suspended by a fan support framework from at least three non-co-linear suspension locations of the enclosure lid. The assembly may include a vibration isolation element disposed between the fan motor and the enclosure lid, a cover panel supported by a cover support framework on the enclosure lid, a fan guard screen carried by the enclosure lid, a fan motor junction box carried within the enclosure by the lid and accessible via a removable side panel of the enclosure, and/or a fan duct surrounding the fan.

Abstract: A system for protecting an elevator including a plurality of wall panels. The system includes a first plurality of hangers each having a suspension portion and a hanger portion. A protective sheet having a plurality of holes along an edge thereof is fastened to the suspension portions by a plurality of snap fasteners inserted through both the aperture of a hanger and a hole of the plurality of holes. The hanger portion engages an upper edge portion of a wall panel of the plurality of wall panels. In some uses, the protective sheet is positioned between the suspension portion and the wall panel of the plurality of wall panels. The hanger portion may be embodied as a hook and the snap fasteners may be embodied as plastic rivets.

Abstract: An elevator door control device includes: a car door panel and a hall door panel that open/close, respectively; a motor that drives the car door panel to open/close; jointing means for mechanically jointing the car door panel and the hall door panel to each other so that the panels open/close in an integrated manner; a closer device that provides a self-closing force in a door close direction to the hall door panel, and controller controlling the motor. The controller includes a torque detection unit that detects a torque of the motor in at least one of door closing and door opening of the panels when the panels are jointed to each other, and a diagnosis unit determines whether or not the hall door panel can self-close via the self-closing force when the panels are not jointed to each other, based on the torque detected by the torque detection unit.

Abstract: A turning system for a belt transport system, wherein the belt of the same is formed by a plurality of pallets and the transport system has a turn input stretch and a turn output stretch, arranged on the same horizontal plane. The turning system has a curved stretch, which connects the turn input and output, the curved stretch being arranged on the same horizontal plane as the turn input and output.

Abstract: The present invention is a controllable hook assembly having an actuator operably connected to an arm motor assembly and a drive assembly configured to move independently a plurality of hook arms between an open and closed position capture and release a load. A controller is configured to operate each drive assembly to move the hook arms cooperating with screw threads in said actuator to provide rotation about a pivot point to drive each of the hook arms between an open and a closed position so as to allow for independent actuation of each of the hook arms.

Abstract: A sacrificial polymer pole guide cover for the use of covering one or more pole guide tongs in a pole guide. The pole guide cover has a generally arcuate body presenting a length and that is curved along the length. The pole guide cover further presents a concave interior surface along the length and a convex exterior surface along the length. A channel is formed in at least a portion of the length of the convex exterior surface. The channel is shaped to complementally receive at least a portion of a pole guide tong. The pole guide cover also has a mounting assembly for removably mounting the pole guide cover to the pole guide tong.

Abstract: Provided is a brake device (2) which has reduced manufacturing cost, is compact, and can generate sufficient braking force. Also provided is a crane (1) which comprises the brake device (2). The brake device (2) is installed in a movable body (1) which travels. The brake device (2) is provided with a receiving section (22) affixed to the movable body (1) and is also provided with a brake shoe (21) disposed below the receiving section (21). The brake shoe (21) has a brake shoe upper surface (24) provided with sloped sections (24u, 24d). The receiving section (22) has a receiving lower surface (26) corresponding to the brake shoe upper surface (24) and provided with sloped sections (26u, 26d). The brake device (2) is configured so that, when the brake device (2) is activated, the brake shoe (21) drops, and the receiving section (22) rides over the brake shoe upper surface (24) when the movable body (1) moves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a swivel comprising a static portion (1, 2, 124, 126) and a rotating portion (3, 120), which portions are coaxially rotatable about a longitudinal axis, wherein the static portion (1, 24, 124, 126) and the rotating portion (3, 120) electrically contact each other for transmission of electricity and/or signals/data between said portions, and which comprises an hole (30), which is centrally arranged and which runs coaxially along said longitudinal axis, for passage of a fluid, wherein the static portion comprises a housing (1) and a bottom (2), and the rotating portion comprises an axis part (3), which comprises an integrated bottom part (36) supported by said bottom (2), and that said axis part (3) comprises an integrated bottom part (36) which is supported by said bottom (2), and that said axis part (3) comprises a tubular upper part (32) extending upwards from said integrated bottom part (36), with said centrally arranged hole (30) for passage of a fluid is arranged.

Abstract: A winch assembly is described and shown herein. The winch assembly may include a first housing member having a first retaining member formed therein and a second housing member having a second retaining member formed therein, the second housing member secured to the first housing member forming a winch housing. The winch assembly may further include a drive system generally positioned within the winch housing, and a winch drum operatively coupled with the drive system and rotationally secured with the first and second retaining members.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to rope drives working with high-strength fiber ropes such as crane hoists, boom adjustment gear, trolley traveling gear, etc. The invention in this respect in particular applies to hoist drums for the rope hoist winch of such a fiber rope drive having a drum jacket body which is provided with grooving at the peripheral side and having two guard plates adjacent to the drum jacket body at the end sides. The invention further relates to a rope pulley for such a fiber rope drive having a rotatably supported pulley body whose jacket surface has at least one rope groove. In accordance with the invention, the rope grooves have a flat-pressed, round groove contour which differs from the circular and which has a larger radius of curvature in the region of the groove base than in the region of the groove flanks adjacent thereto.

Abstract: The present jack apparatus is particularly adapted for heavy duty lifting. The jack apparatus includes a base; a pair of screw jacks; a yoke supported by the screw jacks; a lifting tube supported on the yoke; a shaft coupler coupling the screw jacks; a power unit driving one of the screw jacks and through the shaft coupler also driving the other screw jack; and a housing covering the screw jacks and other components. The pair of screw jacks each have threaded lifting shafts designed to eliminate risk of unexpected lowering of the jack's lifting tube even if power is lost. A jack system is described including two or more of the jack apparatus controlled by a single control for simultaneous operation.

Abstract: A safety apparatus configured for attachment to a manlift and configured to prevent objects falling over the side of the manlift from striking objects and people beneath the manlift. One embodiment includes a frame configured to support netting that is disposed on the platform of an open-sided manlift and angled outward to intercept objects falling vertically outside the surface area of the platform. Another embodiment includes a frame that extends beyond the lip of a dosed-sided manlift and contains netting configured to catch objects falling outside of the surface area of the closed-sided manlift.

Abstract: A machine for filling a container having a longitudinal axis is disclosed. The machine comprises a conveying device, and at least one handling unit moved by the conveying device along a path. The at least one handling unit comprises a support device configured to receive and retain the container, and at least one filling device configured to feed a pourable product into the container as the at least one handling unit travels along the path. The machine further comprises an actuator configured to rotate the container about the longitudinal axis while the container is filled with the pourable product by the at least one filling device.

Abstract: Devices and methods for extraction of a beverage from a beverage bottle, such as a wine bottle, using an extraction device. The bottle may be supported by a bottle support sleeve that surrounds all but the neck and closure at the bottle opening. The extraction device may be secured to the neck and a needle, such a pair of needles or a two-lumen needle, may be inserted through the closure to inject pressurized gas into the bottle and to remove beverage from the bottle by the needle. The support sleeve may support the bottle during beverage extraction, e.g., by compressing the bottle exterior.

Abstract: A delivery system includes a transportation container for cooking oil carried by a delivery vehicle for filling a storage container located at a restaurant. A flexible conduit is temporarily connected between the transportation container and the storage container. The oil is pumped from the transportation container to the storage container. A pressure sensor, carried by the vehicle downstream the pump, monitors pressure in the storage container. A processor operates with the pressure sensor for determining a pressure level in the storage container and controls delivery of the oil for limiting a pressure level to a preselected value. The system waits a period of time and tests the pressure to allow the pressure in the storage container to equalize so that pressure in the conduit at the vehicle is the same as pressure in the storage container. The pressure level is used to establish the amount of cooking oil delivered.

Abstract: Microstructure plating systems and methods are described herein. One method includes depositing a plating-resistant material between a microstructure and a bonding layer, wherein the microstructure comprises a plating process base material and immersing the microstructure in a plating solution.

Abstract: Bulk acoustic wave filters and/or bulk acoustic resonators integrated with CMOS devices, methods of manufacture and design structure are provided. The method includes forming a single crystalline beam from a silicon layer on an insulator. The method further includes providing a coating of insulator material over the single crystalline beam. The method further includes forming a via through the insulator material exposing a wafer underlying the insulator. The insulator material remains over the single crystalline beam. The method further includes providing a sacrificial material in the via and over the insulator material. The method further includes providing a lid on the sacrificial material. The method further includes venting, through the lid, the sacrificial material and a portion of the wafer under the single crystalline beam to form an upper cavity above the single crystalline beam and a lower cavity in the wafer, below the single crystalline beam.

Abstract: Deep via technology is used to construct an integrated silicon cantilever and cavity oriented in a vertical plane which creates an electrostatically-switched MEMS switch in a small wafer area. Another embodiment is a small wafer area electrostatically-switched, vertical-cantilever MEMS switch wherein the switch cavity is etched within a volume defined by walls grown internally within a silicon substrate using through vias.

Abstract: Various embodiments produce a semiconductor device, such a MEMS device, having metallized structures formed by replacing a semiconductor structure with a metal structure. Some embodiments expose a semiconductor structure to one or more a reacting gasses, such as gasses including tungsten or molybdenum.

Abstract: A monolithically integrated multi-sensor (MIMS) is disclosed. A MIMs integrated circuit comprises a plurality of sensors. For example, the integrated circuit can comprise three or more sensors where each sensor measures a different parameter. The three or more sensors can share one or more layers to form each sensor structure. In one embodiment, the three or more sensors can comprise MEMs sensor structures. Examples of the sensors that can be formed on a MIMs integrated circuit are an inertial sensor, a pressure sensor, a tactile sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a microphone, a force sensor, a load sensor, a magnetic sensor, a flow sensor, a light sensor, an electric field sensor, an electrical impedance sensor, a galvanic skin response sensor, a chemical sensor, a gas sensor, a liquid sensor, a solids sensor, and a biological sensor.