Abstract: A web tensioner, a web slitter, a method of tensioning a web, and a method of slitting a web are provided. A corrugated edge nip is used in the tensioner, the slitter, and the methods of tensioning and slitting. The corrugated edge nip can provide a crossweb tension to a suspended web or film in a web line. The corrugated edge nip can be used in conjunction with, for example, a rotary shear slitter to improve slit edge quality.

Abstract: A steering system (30) comprises two radially oppositely arranged drive wheels (1; 3) for steering a tubular object (5) positioned between the drive wheels (1; 3). The drive wheels (1; 3) each have a wheel rotation axis (40; 42) and each include a plurality of rollers (7) distributed around the wheel rotation axis (40; 42). The rollers (7) are rotatably arranged, each roller having a roller rotation axis (44) and an outer drive face (58) concavely vaulted in a direction corresponding to its roller rotation axis (44). The roller rotation axis (44) is obliquely oriented in relation to the wheel rotation axis (40; 42) and the rollers (7) of each drive wheel (1; 3) form together a steering periphery for the tubular object (5). The steering system enables continues rotation of a tubular object without danger that the object will lose the contact with the rollers. The steering system (30) may be incorporated in a catheter system which comprises a catheter (5).

Abstract: A drive roll for advancing a wire is provided. In certain embodiments, the drive roll includes a body having a wire feed portion, a mounting portion, and a central aperture through the body. In one embodiment, the feed portion includes an outer circumferential surface of the drive roll and a plurality of grooves for receiving and advancing various wires, while the mounting portion includes mounting features that are each uniquely associated with only one of the grooves. Various wire feed systems and welding systems are also provided.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to an apparatus and/or a method for moving an round flexible member into and out of a well bore, and particularly, to an injector with two or more gripping members which bind the outer surface of the round flexible member; two or more actuators which cause the gripping members to bind or release the round flexible member; and at least one reciprocator for translating a gripping member to move the round flexible member, or for repositioning the gripping member. A method of translating a round flexible member is also provided which includes the steps of binding the outer surface of a round flexible member with at least one gripping members by engagement with an actuator, and translating a gripping member by reciprocator to move the round flexible member.

Abstract: The arrangement is for the axial driving of a supply hose (11) for pressure medium or application medium in the form of fluid, gaseous or solid, granule-formed or powder-formed, material. The supply hose (11) is connected to a displaceable cartridge (42) provided with at least one spray nozzle (43). The cartridge (42) is arranged in a guide tube (41) along an object that is to be sprayed. The arrangement has three driving wheels (21), where at least one driving wheel (21a) is driven by driving means and where each driving wheel (21) has a concave jacket surface (27) congruent with the supply hose (11). The concave jacket surface (27) surrounds the supply hose to at least 100° degrees of the circumference of the supply hose (11).

Abstract: A wire guide, for a drive assembly of a wire feeding assembly, of a welding system, has an elongate body which has with an outer surface, a length, and first and second ends. An elongate bore extends along the length of, and through, the elongate body. An aperture extends through the elongate body, generally transverse to, and intersecting, the elongate bore. In some embodiments, the elongate body includes first and second body portions which can axially, laterally, and/or rotationally move with respect to each other. A generally arcuate recess can extend transversely into the outer surface of the elongate body, and can communicate with the aperture which extends through the elongate body, in a direction transverse to the elongate bore.

Abstract: A wire guide (16), for a drive assembly (56) of a wire feeding assembly (16), of a welding system (10), has an elongate body with an outer surface, a length, and first (296A) and second (296B) ends. An elongate bore (255) extends along the length of, and through, the elongate body. An aperture (265) extends through the elongate body, generally transverse to, and intersecting, the elongate bore (255). In preferred embodiments, at least one generally arcuate depression (260, 262) extends into the outer surface of the elongate body, communicating with the aperture (265) which extends through the elongate body, in a direction transverse to the elongate bore (255).

Abstract: There are described drive roller assemblies for pulling print media within, or in conjunction with, a printing apparatus. In one embodiment the assembly includes a rigid drive roller having a hard outer surface in conjunction with a pressure roller having a deformable surface. In another embodiment the assembly has a rigid drive roller in conjunction with a plurality of pressure rollers which are adapted for pressing print media against the drive roller over substantially different portions of the drive roller length.

Abstract: Front end portions of respective bands drawn out of two band reels are guided in substantially parallel relationship by means of band guide 11. When the band reel in use becomes empty, band feeding unit 30 is driven in reverse to thereby discharge a rear end portion of the band and, further, a front end portion of other band in stand-by condition is moved to a position of use by means of band changeover unit 20. An automatic band charging device can be provided which enables rapidly replacing an empty band reel with a spare band reel and which has a simple structure and realizes a reduced number of constituent parts, thereby contributing to the miniaturization of the packing machine.

Abstract: A device for removing a plurality of cables from a plurality of reels and thereafter feeding or advancing the cables to, for example, a conduit. The device includes a pair of rotary members positionable relative to each other such that the cables are frictionally retained therebetween. Each of the rotary members has a generally flexible peripheral surface which frictionally contacts the plurality of cables and generally at least partially conforms thereto. A motor is connected to at least one of the rotary members, and the motor rotates the rotary member thereby causing the rotary members to pull the cables from the reels and thereafter advance or feed the cables to, for example, a conduit.

Abstract: Lateral elastic deformation of Drive wheels (12) is used to grip and to push or pull elongated members by powered rotation of Drive wheels (12). This arrangement allows two wheels on a single shaft to be used in place of more cumbersome arrangements of multiple shafts and their support and drive systems as is used when the elongated members are contacted by the peripheries of the tires. The device Is also modular allowing the prime mover and initial gear reductions (Portable Power Drive (13)), the Drive wheel Assembly (20), and the attachment to the primary support to be installed as units.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a continuous web in a continuous processing operation wherein the web incorporates therein one or more stretched elastic-type elements having retractive forces active in the cross-machine direction, and limiting shrinkage of the web in the cross-machine direction to no more than about 5%. Shrinkage in the width dimension is controlled using methods including transporting the web on a sequence of rolls having on their outer working surfaces protuberances which interact with edges of openings in the web, inhibiting lateral movement of elements defining the edges of the openings, and thereby stabilizing the web in the width dimension.

Abstract: An electrical wire length measuring apparatus is capable of minimizing any error of the wire feed amount of respective wire per each measurement cycle and can realize more accurate length measurement of the wires. The measuring apparatus includes a plurality of wire length measuring roller assemblies that are arranged in parallel arrangement to each other, but extend perpendicular to the wire feed direction. Each of the wire length measuring roller assemblies feed a single wire independent of each other. Each of the wire length measuring roller assemblies are driven by a corresponding toothed belt which in turn is driven by an associated motor. The arrangement of the motors permits the wire measuring roller assemblies to be positioned nearer the outlet end of the apparatus to minimize feeding error.

Abstract: A pushing device which includes a frame supporting at least one powered train of wheels the drive surface of which is made from rubber for driving a plastics tubing through friction and for imparting thereto a continuous motion inside of a metal piping to be renovated, the invention being applicable to the renovation of systems of fluid-conveying buried metal pipings.

Abstract: A sectional door (20) having a plurality of panels (21, 22, 23, 24) including, a body portion (25) of the panels spacing and joining longitudinal edges (40, 50), one of the edges (40) between adjacent panels on a first panel having a substantially concave curvilinear surface (45) in vertical cross-section, the other of the edges (50) between adjacent panels on a second panel having a substantially planar surface (52) in vertical cross-section, longitudinally-spaced hinges (65) interconnecting the first and second panels for pivotal movement.

Abstract: An improved tuck roll apparatus includes a drive roll, backup roll and tuck roll driven by clutch for tensioning and driving a pouch web without slippage on said rolls and for feeding the web to a filler wheel of a pouch filling machine. The tuck roll apparatus drives and tensions the web directly from the vertical sealer and upstream web supply of a pouch forming, filling and sealing machine without requiring any other web drive between the sealer and the filler wheel. All drive slippage is accommodated in the clutch driving the rolls, and not by slippage between the web and the rolls.

Abstract: During the feeding of offset continuous collated business form webs to the slow rollers of a burster, it is important to insure that the top web properly passes through the slow roll section. By providing a number of puller wheels having aluminum cores and sawtooth rubber coverings atop conveyor belts passing over crowned pulleys which are oversped relative to the web speed, proper feed to the burster is provided. Form deflecting fingers extending from the puller wheels to the burster also help. In order to prevent the conveyor belts from running off the crowned pulleys an aligner is provided which has a number of vertical dowel pins with plastic sleeves covering and rotatable with respect to the dowel pins, disposed on each side of a conveyor belt associated with a crowned pulley and puller wheel. The aligner is provided immediately upstream of a rubber covered drive roll for the conveyor belts.

Abstract: An apparatus for coiling webs of material, more particularly webs of material (5) arriving from a ribbon casting machine, and for coiling the webs of material (5) if necessary. For the purposes of guiding and coiling, brush rollers (20, 21, 23-26) are used consisting of axially spaced-out annular disc-shaped brush elements between which guide elements (27) extending in the direction in which the ribbon runs are disposed, which prevent the web of material (5) of low rigidity from becoming wound around a brush roller (20, 21, 23-26).

Abstract: A tension apparatus for imposing a predetermined tension on a wire-like member which is used for a stator or a alternator. First and second rollers are rotatably supported on a supporting means in such a manner that a space between the first roller and the second roller is smaller than a diameter of the wire-like member. When the wire-like member is passed through a space between a first roller and a second roller, the wire-like member is deformed, and after all, a predetermined tension is imposed on the wire-like member. The tension of the wire-like member can be changed in accordance with the space between the first roller and the second roller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bar guiding device for bar feeders of machine tools. The device is composed of at least one group of wheels angularly distributed around the bar and rotatably supported so as to be peripherally in contact with the bar.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for transporting a rapidly quenched ribbon from a cooling roll to a winding reel by a pinch roll are disclosed. The pinch roll comprises a brush roll and a solid roll for transporting the ribbon such as to maintain an adequate tension in the ribbon without any transversal displacement and breakdown of ribbon. The tension is controlled within a range of 2.about.8 kgf by adjusting at least one of an amount of pressing of the brush roll against the solid roll, a pressing force on the brush roll and a ratio between circumferential speeds of the pinch roll and the cooling roll.

Abstract: A pinch roller driving mechanism used in a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including a rotary head comprises: a pinch roller arm driving member provided on a pinch roller pull-out gear to rotate in the same direction as the gear; a pivotable pinch roller arm connected to the pinch roller arm driving member; and a pinch roller link having one end pivotably linked to one end of the pinch roller arm and the other end pivotably linked to a pinch roller block which supports a pinch roller and moves along a guide groove to bring the pinch roller into close contact with a capstan shaft.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer employs a relatively small diameter platen roller 20 flanked by a pair of sprockets 3c which support endless timing belts 2. A clamp 7' for gripping the leading edge of a sheet 6 to be printed is mounted laterally across and between the belts. The attendantly small radius of curvature of the roller at the printing station prevents any contact by components and structure mounted to the reciprocable printing head 1.

Abstract: A yarn conveying apparatus is disclosed, and which comprises a pair of circular discs, each having a yarn engaging front surface. The discs are mounted for rotation about respective axes which are inclined with respect to each other, and such that portions of the respective yarn engaging front surfaces are disposed in a closely adjacent opposing face-to-face relationship and define a yarn advancing zone therebetween. The discs are resiliently biased toward each other at the yarn advancing zone, and so that the discs are adapted to engage and advance a yarn which is guided through the advancing zone, without substantial slippage.

Abstract: A roller guide assembly for guiding rolled material between the passes of previous and subsequent roll stands, the assembly being provided with a pair of guide rollers supported for rotation about parallel axes for engaging opposite sides of the rolled material. A sensor detects engagement pressure transmitted to the guide rollers by the material and provides a correlating output signal for adjustment of the guide rollers to maintain constant engagement pressure against the material, thereby permitting compensation for any wear of the guide rollers and previous roll stand pass when the material enters the subsequent roll stand pass.

Abstract: A mechanical figure eighting apparatus is disclosed which permits a fiber optic cable to be deposited on the ground in a random or figure eight configuration. Fiber optic cable is passed over a rotating drive wheel and is held in frictional engagement with the peripheral rim portion of the drive wheel by a pressure wheel mounted thereover. The fiber optic cable is passed or pushed outwardly through a tubular member extending outwardly from the drive wheel. The fiber optic cable is deposited on the ground in a random fashion or figure eight fashion as it is discharged from the tubular member.

Abstract: In a device for the guiding of a moving web (1) that has on its inner side a contact-sensitive surface (3), the web (1) separates two zones (13, 14) in the guide region from one another. The outer zone (14) is formed by a housing (7) connected with a reduced pressure source (P). The inner zone (13) is connected with the atmosphere. To seal the housing (7) against the atmosphere, sealing elements (16, 17) extending across the width of the web at the beginning and end zones of the guide region interact with the outer side of the web (1). As a result of the pressure difference, a gap is formed between the guide surfaces (8, 9) of a support (6) and the web, so that the contact-sensitive surface is not supported in the guide region.

Abstract: A mechanical figure eighting apparatus is disclosed which permits a fiber optic cable to be deposited on the ground in a random or figure eight configuration. Fiber optic cable is passed over a rotating drive wheel and is held in frictional engagement with the peripheral rim portion of the drive wheel by a pressure wheel mounted thereover. The fiber optic cable is passed or pushed outwardly through a tubular member extending outwardly from the drive wheel. The fiber optic cable is deposited on the ground in a random fashion or figure eight fashion as it is discharged from the tubular member.

Abstract: An XY recorder in which a recording paper is moved on a platen along the X axis in accordance with one variable and a stylus is moved along the Y axis in accordance with another variable, employs a controller to control the paper movement in several different modes. In a paper draw out mode, the paper is drawn out from a paper-feed roll pinched on the platen between pinch rollers and drive rollers, and during a time interval when the paper-feed roll exerts a backward tension to the paper, the paper is intermittently allowed to slip on the platen by disengaging the pinch rollers from the drive rollers. The tension to the paper backward from the paper-feed roll automatically aligns the paper.

Abstract: A printer such as a thermal printer includes a reversible motor, a paper feed driver angularly movable through a desired angle in response to operation of the motor, a paper feeder rotatable for feeding a sheet of paper, and an electromagnetic clutch operatively connected between the paper feed driver and the rotatable paper feeder. The electromagnetic clutch comprises a first yoke, a second yoke disposed in confronting relation to the first yoke normally in spaced relation thereto, and an exciting coil wound around one of the first and second yokes, the first yoke being coupled to the paper feed driver, the second yoke being coupled to the rotatable paper feeder, the arrangement being such that when the paper feed driver is turned in a direction to feed the sheet of paper, the exciting coil is energized to attract the first and second yokes magnetically to each other for thereby causing the paper feed driver to rotate the rotatable paper feeder to feed the sheet of paper through the electromagnetic clutch.

Abstract: The driving arrangement for a magnetic tape is comprised of a drive shaft having a smooth surface and a pressure roller having a high surface friction coefficient. The circumference of the drive shaft is provided with a thin layer of the borides, nitrides or carbides of a hard metal, which increases the friction resistance of the shaft. This measure reduces the slip, without affecting the proper uniform travel of the tape.

Abstract: A strip media drive system has a pair of rotatable strip media packs for reeling the strip media therebetween. An endless belt couples the rotation of the media packs together. A belt tensioner creates a greater tension in a portion of the endless belt leaving than in the portion entering the belt tensioner. The belt tensioner includes at least first and second rotatable rollers. The first roller has a hard outer periphery and the second roller has a viscoelastic outer periphery. The first and second rollers are forced together on opposite sides of the endless belt so that as the belt is drawn therebetween, rolling friction between the rollers creates the higher tension in the portion of the belt leaving the tensioner.

Abstract: A cable storage device having an operating pulley which is driven by a spring for retraction of cable which is payed out from the device is provided with a friction clutch interconnecting the spring and the pulley so that the clutch slips when the spring has been fully tensioned by paying out of the cable thereby to permit further paying out of cable without further tensioning of the spring.

Abstract: A transport apparatus for tape-like recording media in which a central capstan having a resilient peripheral portion simultaneously drives two tape reels. According to the invention, this peripheral portion has regions of different resilience produced, for example, by an elastically deformable annular insert which may be helical in shape. The tape transport apparatus of the invention can be advantageously used with all kinds of tape-like recording media, especially magnetic tapes for the recording/playback of high frequency signals, especially color video signals.

Abstract: Pre-twisted multiple wires having N twisted sections per full-twist pitch, where N is a predetermined constant integer, are juxtaposed to a roller which carries plural conformal seat means in a circumferential manner. The arcuate spacing between adjacent seat means is correlated with 1/Nth of the full-twist pitch of the particular twisted wires. Associated with the roller is ratchet means which allows the roller to be indexable in increments correlated with a full-twist pitch of the particular multiple twisted wires. As a result, the twisted wires are fed out in full-twist linear increments and, hence, with the same orientation of the wires for each incrementing step. Moreover, by judiciously seating one of the N possible adjacent twist sections of the twisted wires with respect to the seat means, the twisted wires can be fed out selectively with N possible orientations.

Abstract: A rotating yarn control element comprises a hub portion with a number of pins spaced around the periphery of the hub portion to define for the yarn a zig-zag path which degenerates with increasing distance from the axis of rotation of the element into a line path lying in a reference plane of the element. In use, with the element rotating about its axis and the yarn passing through the path defined by the guide surfaces, the total area of contact between the guide surfaces and the yarn will depend on the distance of the yarn from the axis of rotation of the element. This in turn determines whether the element operates in the "freewheeling" mode, the "positive grip" mode or the "yarn metering" mode. Other embodiments are described in which the element is formed by an injection moulding technique and the zig-zag path is presented by tooth like projections or by a channel in a drum member. A means for varying the amount of wrap around the element is also described.

Abstract: A fast forward cartridge tape player includes the conventional cartridge receiving cavity and cylindrical capstan. The capstan is rotatably driven about its vertically positioned longitudinal axis by a motor actuated flywheel, and it is located to forcibly engage the cartridge pressure roller on cartridge insertion into the cavity. Crescents, having a concave face, a convex face, and a vertical dimension are positioned to rotate about the capstan. The concave face encircles greater than 180.degree. of the capstan circumference while revealing a substantial arc on the capstan surface. The convex face is of predetermined curvature providing a desired fast forward speed/normal speed ratio. The vertical dimension of each crescent is fixed to allow each crescent access to the pressure roller. In the normal mode play a means decouples capstan rotation from the crescents and aligns the crescents to allow the pressure roller access to the revealed capstan surface.

Abstract: A method of generating constant tape tension in a tape transport apparatus of the type in which the supply and take-up reels of tape are simultaneously driven by surface engagement with a driving capstan.The method involves the utilization of a flexible but relatively inelastic belt around the periphery of resilient capstan material to introduce reel size-related supply and take-up reel velocity adjustments to counteract the similar but opposite velocity adjustments which inherently occur through the use of a resilient capstan and which, if uncompensated, result in undesirable tension variations during the course of the tape transporting operation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a feed device for feeding rod or striplike material, the device having two or more feed members which are arranged to lie behind one another along a feed path of the material. Each of the feed members carries a plurality of grippers arranged at equal angular intervals around a central axis of the feed member and is connected with a gearing which imposes on the feed member a rotational motion about its axis and, simultaneously, a circular motion about a fixed axis parallel with its own axis. The arrangement is such that said rotational and circular motions are coordinated so that the grippers of each of said feed members describe a trochoidal path which includes a substantially straight-line section along the feed path.

Abstract: A plurality of yarn feeding assemblies are mounted about a circular multifeed knitting machine. Each assembly comprises a U-shaped hanger bracket and a shaft is rotatably mounted in the arms of the bracket. On each shaft one or more yarn feeding units are mounted for rotation therewith about the shaft axis. Each unit is comprised of a pair of toothed wheels, one of the wheels being fixed to the shaft and the other one being axially movable along said shaft in order to vary the spacing the wheels. Means are provided for selectively varying the spacing between the front faces of the wheels. Each wheel is constituted by a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced apart ribs, the front faces of the ribs of one wheel facing the front faces of the ribs of the other wheel. The ribs of each wheel are receivable within the spaces between the ribs of the other wheel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding a filler cord for insertion into and through a longitudinal space defined by successive convolutions of a coiled slide fastener element, the filler cord being looped in the course of its travel from a bobbin to a mandrel holder so that a proper back tension is imparted to the cord and the cord is supplied at a rate corresponding to the amount of withdrawal of the fastener element that has been shaped into a helical coil.

Abstract: A semicircular thrust arm has an anvil at one end and a rotatably mounted idler wheel at the other. The arm is pivotally mounted at its central portion in a predetermined tape player locale. A pushbutton activated lever mounts on the player and is aligned to forcibly engage the anvil on pushbutton depression. Anvil engagement causes the arm to rotate and forces the idler wheel into the cartridge pressure roller-player capstan interface whereby capstan rotation couples through the idler to the pressure roller. The idler thus reverses the rotatable drive to the pressure roller thereby reversing tape direction.The rate of tape drive is controlled by selecting a particular ratio of idler wheel diameter to pressure roller diameter. The pressure roller consists of two cylinders fixed to rotate on a common shaft. The first cylinder is of selected diameter for normal tape speeds and the second cylinder, which is engaged by the idler, has a smaller diameter for increased speeds.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of feeding record webs or sheets and apparatus for carrying out the method. The record feeding apparatus is shown in conjunction with a printing apparatus having a print head assembly, platen structure, a mechanism for severing a printed record from the remainder of the record and an inking mechanism. The record feeding apparatus includes an edge guide, a rotatable feed wheel having a planar frictional surface which engages one face of the web to exert a resultant drive force on the record when driven, the resultant force being comprised of a force vector of large magnitude extending in the longitudinal direction for feeding the record longitudinally and a force vector of small magnitude extending in the lateral direction for causing the record to be driven laterally to cause its side edge to be in guided contact with the edge guide.