Abstract: To prevent external acceleration or deceleration forces from affecting the linear speed of a tape of a tape transport mechanism, counter-rotating masses are formed by the counter or pressure roller (13) engaging the tape and pressing the tape against the capstan (4'), the respective moments of inertia about the respective axes of rotation, and the respective radii being selected in accordance with the relationship ##EQU1## wherein j.sub.1 is the moment of inertia of the drive system about the axis of rotation of the drive capstan (4');r.sub.1 is the radius of the drive capstan (4');j.sub.2 is the moment of inertia of the counter or pressure roller (13) about its axis of rotation (14); andr.sub.2 is the radius of the counter or pressure roller (13).

Abstract: Bidirectional tape drive systems have first and second tape drive capstans and first and second tape drives for rotating, respectively, the first and second tape drive capstans. The first capstan is angularly movable relative to the first capstan drive and a first elastic coupling restrains relative angular movement between the first capstan and the first capstan drive. Similarly, the second capstan is angularly movable relative to the second capstan drive and a second elastic coupling restrains relative angular movement between the second capstan and the second capstan drive. In this manner, tape tension is maintained above zero when the bidirectional tape drive changes directions, and excessive tension upon application of the tape assembly to the tape drive is avoided, while tape slack upon removal of the tape assembly from the tape drive is automatically taken up.

Abstract: An adjustable high speed marked tape-feeding system which includes a larger drum and a smaller drum having greater circumferences than a predetermined length of tape arranged in tangential contact for transporting tape therebetween, a variable diameter drum adapted to rotate at a constant speed and a transmission mechanism for selectively connecting the variable diameter drum to either one of the other drums. A control system controls the diameter of the variable diameter drum and the transmission mechanism to speed up or slow down the tape transport depending upon whether the tape is being overfed or underfed.

Abstract: An improvement in a high speed tape feeding apparatus comprising a pair of cylindrical drums rotatable in tangential contact so as to pull a tape out of the roll of tape by frictionally driving the tape therebetween, one of the pair of drums being mounted for free rotation on a first drive shaft and having a circumference slightly longer than the length of one section to be cut from the tape, the tape having identical patterns and check marks printed thereon and to be cut into sections bearing one printed pattern, the other drum being mounted for free rotation on the second drive shaft and having a circumference slightly shorter than the length of one section to be cut from the tape, an electromagnetic clutch between the first drum and the first drive shaft, a unidirectional shaft between the other drum and the second drive shaft, photoelectric sensing apparatus for detecting two successive check marks on the tape, and producing signals, and a mechanism for bringing the electromagnetic clutch into and out of

Abstract: A tape drive capstan has a porous ceramic matrix in the form of a cylindrical shell using spherical ceramic particles bonded together to form a network of interstitial pores which are substantially uniform in size and interconnected. A urethane elastomer is impregnated into the pores to form a tape driving surface on the outside surface of the cylinder. The outer surface of the capstan is finish-ground to an outside diameter suitable for use in a tape drive apparatus. The particles occupy approximately 70% of the internal volume of the shell and the elastomer occupies the remaining 30%. The shell is attached by an epoxy to an outside surface of a drive shaft suitable for driving the capstan.

Abstract: A tape transport system for cassette tape recorders wherein a member engages the drive belt between the two flywheels and exerts a dragging action, such that the belt lengths each side of the member will be respectively tight or not tight according to the direction of rotation of the drive pulley thus increasing the traction on the tight length of the belt. The corresponding pulley will rotate at a slightly higher speed than the other pulley and the tape length between the two transport units will always be automatically tightened up.

Abstract: The drive shaft 30 of a printer 10 engages a tractor 16 which, in turn, moves a paper web 12 across a print mechanism 14. Located on the drive shaft 30 is a drive shaft advance cam 78 which is fixed to drive the shaft 30 and rotate therewith. Additionally, located upon the drive shaft 30 for limited rotational movement with respect to the drive shaft advance cam 78 is a paper advance cam 90. The shape of the drive shaft cam 78 is similar to the shape of the paper advance cam 90. The paper advance cam 90 carries an O-ring 102 defining a high frictional surface for engaging the paper web 12. The door 50 of the tractor 16 carries a paper pressure roller 104 having a circumferential groove 106 positioned for cooperation with the O-ring 102. During normal paper web 12 drive, the cams 78, 90 are out of registration and rotate in unison.

Abstract: First and second capstans are rotated at respective speeds by first and second motors. The speeds of revolution of the first and second motors are detected as detection signals, and the revolution speed of at least one of the first and second motors is controlled in accordance with a difference between the detection signals. An offset voltage is added to one of the detection signals corresponding to the revolution speeds of the first and second motors for the control of tape tension.

Abstract: In a device for high speed feeding and stopping of an article which comprises a shaft, a drum fitted for carrying said article fitted to said shaft, a first clutch having an external cylinder and being mounted on said shaft, a high speed crank for driving said drum at a high speed linked to said shaft with said first clutch, a second clutch on said shaft, and a low speed crank for driving said drum at a low-speed linked to said shaft with said second clutch, the improvement which comprises a brake disk integral with said shaft, a steel ball containing cylinder integral with the external cylinder of said first clutch for high speed driving, a plurality of steel balls arranged between said brake disk and said steel ball containing cylinder, and a plurality of projections positioned closely to said steel balls interposable between said brake disk and said steel balls, whereby said steel balls are detached from said brake disk during the backward stroke period of the external cylinder of said first clutch for hig

Abstract: A bi-directional feed mechanism for webs, especially for plotting and generating special characters, forms and shapes on the webs, uses twin pairs of tractors which feed a web around a loop which may contain a platen roller. Each pair of tractors is mounted on and driven by its own drive shaft. The drive shaft of one of the tractor pairs is driven from the drive shaft of the other tractor pair through a manually releasable clutch which may be mounted on, and movable along the axis of, the driven shaft. The tension in the loop may be adjusted by releasing the clutch so that one of the tractor pairs may be driven while the other is stationary. Webs and other documents which may vary in length and require tension adjustments may readily be fed by means of the mechanism. The arrangement of the tractors also enables the webs to be easily loaded from the top.

Abstract: A compact welding wire feed device is provided capable of being mounted directly on a welding head carriage. The device comprises a ball bearing having an inside race with tangential entrance and exit guides to the race adjacent to opposite axial ends of the bearing. A hub member has an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the race so that the hub member can be coaxially received in the race and a welding wire passed through the entrance guide and wrapped around the hub and out the exit guide. By now side-loading or expanding the hub against the inside of the race and driving the hub rotationally, the welding wire is continuously fed out the exit guide. The coaxial relationship of the hub and race provides for a very compact structure thereby permitting mounting of the wire feed directly on a welding head carriage adjacent to a weld head or even permitting the feed wire itself to be used as an electrode in a MIG welding system.

Abstract: A high precision strip film drive, typically for microfiche film, that includes two spaced-apart drive rollers, separately driven by two servo electric motors. The motors are biased against each other and so maintain a constant tension on the film, while it is stationary or moving.The motors are logic controlled through a pair of rotary encoders. Each encoder is driven by one roller. The outputs of the encoders are combined to give a single servo control signal, devoid of film squew, for accurately spacing the frames upon the microfiche.The encoder electrical outputs are differently handled to provide film velocity information, and still further differently handled to provide direction of motion of the film information.Transverse orthogonal motion of the film is provided by a carriage that supports the rollers, a linear encoder, and a cable system actuated by a third servo motor.The encoder electrical outputs are even further differently handled to accurately finally position the film, as preselected.

Abstract: A fuser roll apparatus in a toner fixing station associated with an electrophotographic or xerographic device for fixing a toner image onto a copy sheet by the application of heat and pressure. The fusing apparatus includes a heated fuser roll and a pair of smaller, spaced backup rolls, each of the backup rolls having a peripheral surface covering of a different elastic modulus from the other. The backup rolls are arranged so as to cooperate with the heated fuser roll to define two fusing nips through which a copy sheet sequentially passes. The downstream roll has the harder peripheral surface covering. As the copy sheet passes through the two nip areas in succession, the downstream backup roll tends to pull against the upstream backup roll. Thus, the copy sheet is tensioned as it passes over the portion of the surface of the heated fuser roll between the two backup rolls.

Abstract: A mechanical film drive utilizes a rotatable drive shaft which abuts a flat surface of motion picture film to be driven. The film is pinched between the drive shaft and a rubber idler roller, and the drive shaft can be coupled to and uncoupled from a speed-regulated drive motor by means of an electrically-operable clutch. A flywheel is driven by the motor. Since the inertia of the flywheel is much greater than the inertia of the drive shaft, clutch operation has only a negligible effect on drive speed, enabling film movement to be accomplished with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: A tape feeder in a tape recorder comprising, a pair of reel support drive gears mounted on a pair of reel supports, a pair of tape winding gears capable of being brought into or out of mesh with the corresponding reel support drive gears, a pair of capstans driven by a motor for rotating the corresponding tape winding gears, a pair of pinch rollers connected to a head base plate and capable of being brought into and out of pressing engagement with the corresponding capstans, a pair of reverse action members rotatably supported on the corresponding capstan bearing, a pair of springs provided to the corresponding reverse action members, said springs being adapted to press the pinch roller against the capstan when the head base plate advances and at the same time urge the tape winding gear to mesh with the reel support drive gear, and a slider member slidably provided between the pair of reverse action members.

Abstract: A web transport apparatus includes a driving member which may be selectively positioned to advance a web from a reel or to rewind the web onto the reel. When positioned in the web advancing position, the driving member advances the web between the driving member and a pressure roller or other suitable pressure member to unwind the web from the reel. When moved to the web rewinding position, the driving member is coupled to and drives the reel to wind the web onto the reel. A flexible coupling provided between the driving member and a unidirectional drive motor permits the driving member to be selectively positioned by selector means to advance, rewind, and neutral positions. Through appropriate controls, the driving member may be deactivated when in the neutral position.

Abstract: A multi-module system for advancing an electrode wire from a supply location to a field welding station via a plurality of spaced conduit sections is described. Each conduit section is succeeded and preceeded by a plurality of wire-advancing heads, with the front-most head adjacent the welding station being driven at constant speed and the remaining heads being driven at a variable tension. The tension in the variable-tension heads is initially set to advance the wire through the conduit sections in a continuous serpentine-like path. When the tension in the wire downstream of the forward-most head increases to impart a "straightening" component to the advancing wire, the forward-most head generates a control signal which is fed back via a regulator on the rear-most head to successively vary the tension in the successive rear heads in a successively decreasing manner corresponding to the decrease in total resistance of the wire tension seen by such successive heads.

Abstract: A tape transport mechanism for dual capstan type tape recorders, which is designed so that a drive motor can be located at any desired position and rotational irregularities such as wow can most effectively be prevented. This mechanism includes a first flywheel provided with a first capstan for transporting a magnetic tape, and a second flywheel provided with a second capstan for imparting a back tension to the magnetic tape being transported. The first flywheel comprises a smaller-diameter portion on which said first capstan is provided, and a larger-diameter portion which is integrally provided on the bottom of the smaller-diameter portion. The larger-diameter portion of the first flywheel is coupled to the drive motor through a first belt, and the smaller-diameter portion thereof is connected to the second flywheel through a second belt.

Abstract: A film development machine, having plural film treatment tanks capable of containing fluids therein for the development of a film transported therethrough by plural transport roller racks, which are small in size, capable of use in areas of limited access by permitting the film to be introduced into, and to be delivered from the machine, from the same side, and especially well adapted to develop films which are relatively small in length and width. The roller racks have a plurality of rollers forming an essentially non-linear film travel path between machine inlet and outlet. The rollers are closely spaced so that films of relatively small size can safely and reliably pass therethrough. Close roller spacing is maintained by providing rollers of different diameters, which compensate for the curvature of the path of film travel, and a gear drive system which drives nip forming pairs of rollers from alternating sides of the roller rack.

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 rotary drive device for effecting, for example, displacement of a printing roller towards or away from a pressure roller in a printing press, is formed by a direct current or alternating current high speed motor coupled mechanically to a permanent magnet low speed motor. Fast movement is effected with the permanent magnet motor being pulled by the high speed motor, while slow movement with rapid braking is effected, at high torque, with the permanent magnet motor excited and pulling the other motor, to bring the printing roller gently into contact with the pressure roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding yarn during a single stitch of a needle such that the mean rotational frequency of a yarn feeding drum connected to a first and second driving member is changed during the single stitch of the needle so as to regulate and control the feeding of the yarn and provide a maximum and minimum yarn length in the resulting stitch or selectively provide a yarn length between the maximum or minimum length.

Abstract: The device for feeding yarn in a textile machine comprises a set of feed driving rollers rotating at a speed exceeding the maximum yarn processing speed in the machine, a first yarn brake downstream of the driving rollers, a first swing support upstream of the rollers, a second yarn brake and a second swing support. Each swing support includes a movable member exerting by its weight a tension against the yarn which causes the latter to engage frictionally the driving rollers. The frictional force exceeds the force of the first yarn brake and advances the yarn about a length which is sufficient to cause the moving member of the first swing support to abut against a fixed stop member so that the tension is released from the yarn and the holding friction changes to a sliding friction which is lower than the braking force of the first brake and thus stops the decoiling of the yarn.

Abstract: A magnetic-tape cassette machine of the type including a horizontally extending tape drive shaft and a loading platform designed to hold the cassette upright during tape transport. To prevent the horizontally extending tape drive shaft from shifting axially during tape transport, one end of the shaft is supported against a first axial bearing secured to the machine housing and the other end is supported by an axial bearing secured to the loading platform. Alternatively, a single axial bearing is used limiting axial shifting of the tape drive shaft in one direction, and a permanent-magnet arrangement pulls the tape drive shaft in the same direction to prevent the shaft from shifting axially in the opposite second direction.

Abstract: Each corrugating roll on a single facer machine is separately driven at substantially the same speed without the corrugating rolls being geared directly together and without transmitting driving torque through mating flutes on the rolls whereby the rolls may corrugate a web passing therebetween with minimal tension of the web.

Abstract: A controllable drive mechanism for tape recorders which utilizes the rotating motion of a flywheel for effecting movement of the various parts of the tape recorder selecting the various operating modes of the tape recorder. The mechanism includes a gear disposed for integral rotation with the flywheel, toothed sectional wheel which meshes with the gear, a cam rotated by the toothed wheel, and a link driven for angular movement by the cam.

Abstract: The accurate and uniform indexing of paper business forms with line hole punched margins. The index drive overcomes any possible accumulation of errors. A pawl and ratchet device is employed in the feeding of the paper form. The ratchet is rotated approximately one-half tooth beyond the ultimate desired stop. A spring urged arm then pulls the ratchet wheel back that one-half tooth turn so the pawl rests solidly in a single ratchet tooth. It is this same spring arm that pulls back the over-fed paper form. The form pull back is permitted by reason of a magnetic one-way clutch being momentarily released at the end of the mechanical feed-out. The present device is a combination of a mechanical drive with a magnetically releasable clutch to effect a constantly accurate feed out of paper forms resulting in identical positioning of each of the series of continuous paper forms.

Abstract: A unidirectional, needle outside, reel-type catheter placement unit is disclosed. The unidirectional unit obviates severing of the catheter by the needle, which can occur when the catheter is retracted in bidirectional units. Preferably, the catheter placement unit comprises an overcap or cover which is only coupled to the reel of the reel-type catheter placement unit by a ball clutch when the overcap is rotated in a direction that advances the catheter from the unit.

Abstract: A planetary wheel advance for a meltable welding cable includes planetary wheels clampable against the cable by a pressure arrangement with their axes being at an angle to the cable axis, with the wheels attached to one end of a two armed wheel holder lever hinged to a motor operated rotating support and movable by the pressure arrangement, and the pressure arrangement having a spring which reacts against the support and which exerts a definite force on the other lever arm to effect the clamping pressure.

Abstract: A combination jam-clearing and torque sensing traction wheel assembly and strap feed stopping mechanism is disclosed for use in a strapping machine which feeds strap in a chute about an article to form a loop and subsequently tensions the loop tightly about the article. The strap is fed into the chute by a rotating traction wheel which is driven through a torque sensing assembly comprising a driven plate, a spring-biased driver plate, and drive motor. Feeding of the strap is intermittently stopped and started as the driver plate is forced out of engagement with the driven plate when the torque increases beyond a predetermined amount in response to increased strap feed resistance resulting from an obstruction in the chute. In one embodiment, the strap feed stopping mechanism includes a permanent strap end abutment member located just past the strap overlap region in the strapping machine.

Abstract: A body is provided defining an elongated handgrip and an elongated support projecting angularly outwardly of one end portion of the handgrip. A motor is carried by the body and a pair of generally parallel peripherally engaged side-by-side rollers are journaled from the end of the support remote from the handgrip for rotation about axes extending transversely of the support and disposed on opposite sides of a plane extending longitudinally of the support. The end of the handgrip remote from the support rotatably mounts a spool of ribbon therefrom and the handgrip includes guide structure for guiding a ribbon being unwound from the spool along the handgrip and, at the end of the handgrip remote from the spool, toward the rollers.

Abstract: A low-mass, short loop transport wherein the span of tape passing the inter-leaved head assembly is close-coupled and unsupported, with the turn-around points for the tape being at the beginning and end of the span in either direction of travel, thereby reducing head wear, skew, flutter and other undesirable characteristics. The tape is passed from the supply reel through a vacuum tensioning chamber over a pair of relatively large diameter low-mass drums defining the span or section of tape adjacent the head assembly to a second vacuum tensioning chamber and thence to the take-up reel. The drums are directly driven by peripheral contact with a capstan in both the record/read mode and the fast transport lift mode of operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically dispensing material from a roll comprising a base and a cover pivotally mounted thereon, a roller for rotatably supporting a roll of material, and material engaging roller for automatically dispensing the material from the roll for at least two preselected time intervals under the control of an adjustable resistor-capacitor timing control circuit.

Abstract: A tape transport includes a fixed support for receiving a tape cartridge having a tape drive roller engaged with a bi-directional capstan. The capstan, together with a reversible capstan drive motor and a heat sink surrounding the motor, comprise an integral unit which is mounted to the cartridge support through biasing springs which enable the unit to pivot about its center of gravity relative to the support. The capstan, through its c.g. mount, applies a constant force to the tape drive roller indpendently of external forces acting on the tape drive unit. The electrical drive circuit for the capstan motor includes power transistors which are an integral part of the heat sink for maximizing use of the heat sink as a means for dissipating heat generated by operation of the capstan drive motor and power transistors.

Abstract: A force-adjustable wire advancing mechanism for converting rotations of a motor shaft to a linear advance of a wire electrode into an arc-welding system is described. A pair of skewed rollers are carried in the front part of a two-part feed housing on a pair of radially reciprocable pistons, which in their innermost positions are effective to engage the rollers with the wire to advance the wire as the housing is rotated. In order to bring the rollers into operative position, a motion-translating element fixedly connected to the rear part of the housing and to the motor shaft is threaded onto a rear surface of the front part of the housing, and includes an integral outer conical guiding element that is cooperable with like ends of a pair of two-armed levers pivotally supported in the housing.

Abstract: The magnetic tape cartridge transport includes a belt capstan which is accessible through the front edge of the cartridge for receiving rotary motion from a drive roller which is coupled to an electric motor. The electric motor extends through a motor opening in the base plate of the transport. A tape drive assembly includes an attachment bracket which is secured to the motor about its center of gravity and which extends laterally therefrom. The attachment bracket includes three apertures through which three shoulder bolts extend. The three shoulder bolts are positioned in a generally triangular spaced relationship about the motor opening of the base plate and are secured to the lower portion of the base plate. A pair of pivot pins are disposed between the lower surface of the base plate and the attachment bracket to permit the attachment bracket to pivot the tape drive assembly in a plane lying perpendicular to the front edge of the cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved capstan which is used in a magnetic tape transport system, to accelerate a length of magnetic tape. The capstan includes a cylindrical post, adapted to be connected to a drive shaft of a capstan motor in a magnetic tape transport system, a pair of discs, each of which has a set of outer holes disposed adjacent to and distributed about its periphery and a set of inner holes disposed adjacent to and distributed about its central axis, coupled together by the cylindrical post disposed about their central axes. The capstan also includes a first set of cylindrical posts, coupling the inner holes of one disc to the inner holes of the other disc, and a second set of cylindrical posts, coupling some of the outer holes of one disc to some of the outer holes of the other disc. The capstan further includes a cylindrical tape band, which has a set of grooves running concentrically with the discs and the other edges of which are joined to the peripheries of the discs.

Abstract: A device for achieving a continuous forming of a metal rod or bar as it emerges from an extruder to impart desired repeating design characteristics therealong. The device includes a pair of co-acting motor driven forming rollers with complementary design portions formed in their engaging peripheral surfaces to engage the rod therebetween and to impart the forming roller design thereto. The forming rollers and variable speed drive motor are mounted on a carriage trolley movable on a track toward and away from the extruder in alignment with the extrusion emerging therefrom. The piston rod of a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly is fixed to the carriage to impart a predetermined degree of pressure thereto in alignment with and in the same direction as the pressure forces of the metal rod extrusion. The drive motor is operated at a predetermined R.P.M. to create a condition whereby the driven forming rollers engagement with the extrusion substantially counterbalances the combined P.S.I.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for receiving material supplied to it from a source at a constant rate and conveying it at a constant rate and tension to a variable location on a material receiving means. The apparatus includes a main frame, a carriage which is movable on the frame, and means for moving the carriage back and forth relative to the frame. An endless belt having a predetermined speed is supported on the frame and engages a material drive means that is supported for movement with the carriage and preferably includes a drive wheel which engages the belt and a roller which moves linearly with the carriage and supplies the material to a variable location on the material receiving means.

Abstract: In an apparatus for hauling a cable or other elongate body, the cable or other body is gripped between a plurality of pairs of traction wheels, each pair being mounted tandem fashion relative to the other pair of pairs. The wheels of each pair are resiliently biased into contact with the cable and at least one of each pair of wheels is driven by its own motor. A mechanical coupling is provided constraining one wheel of one pair to rotate conjointly with one wheel of another pair.In one embodiment the apparatus includes two pairs of traction wheels, each wheel being driven by a respective motor. The wheels on each side of the cable are mounted on a respective bogie. The bogies are carried on supports to move the wheels towards and away from the cable path and the wheels are resiliently biased into contact with the cable by an hydraulic jack connected from one support to the other.

Abstract: In a hot melt glue dispensing gun, apparatus is constructed to feed a flexible rod of glue to a heated melt chamber. This apparatus includes two motor driven gears which engage the glue rod and feed the glue to the melt chamber. This feed mechanism is mounted on a sliding frame which is spring biased to retract when the appliance is idling, thereby partially withdrawing the glue rod from the melt chamber.

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: Apparatus for feeding continuous stationery or other web material or items thereon to be processed comprises a machine bed, drive means for feeding the web material over the machine bed and a framework adapted for mounting at least one of a range of units above the machine bed whereby a variation of processing steps may be carried out on the web material or said items. The web material may be driven over the machine bed intermittently to provide at least one moving period during which the web material or at least one of the items thereon may be processed by a printing unit, and at least one dwell period during which the web material or at least one of the items thereon may be processed by a numbering unit and/or a punching unit.

Abstract: A fast forward drive for a cartridge tape player comprises upper and lower crescents which increase the effective capstan diameter in the fast forward mode. At normal playing speed the crescents index with respect to a received tape cartridge such that the capstan's surface forcibly engages the cartridge's pressure roller.When the fast forward mode is desired a clutch couples the upper crescent to the capstan for rotation therewith. Rotational drive of the upper crescent is coupled to the lower crescent, at a predetermined phasing relationship, through a pin and trough arrangement, whereby fast forward is effected. On return to the normal play speed the upper crescent is fixedly indexed, resulting in a decreased lower crescent rotational drive and thus an increased chance of improper lower crescent alignment.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing elongated photographic films, wherein a processing film is fed through a number of paired film feed rollers which are located along a predetermined film passage over a number of treating baths including at least a developing bath, a fixing bath and a washing bath. The paired film feed rollers are driven sequentially from the preceding pair at suitable time lags for forming loops of draped film in each of the developing fixing and washing baths to effect the whole film processing operations automatically.

Abstract: A capstan drive motor having a integrated motor armature and driving capstan assembly with the capstan being mounted directly in one end of a rotatable center shaft of the motor with the other end of the shaft supporting an armature of the motor. The center shaft is rotatably supported on bearings positioned by adjustable mounts and with one of the bearing mounts having a cantilevered structure for temperature compensation of the shaft and bearing support system.

Abstract: Tractive apparatus for longitudinally moving elongated material providing opposed tractive assemblies for gripping material therebetween by opposed and balanced gripping forces. Each tractive assembly provides a plurality of tractive members in end-to-end relation confined to circulation in a closed path and the apparatus is characterized by the provision of means for holding the tractive members in abutting relationship at least during the time they grip the material.The apparatus is further characterized by the reduction of frictional forces on the tractive members by forcing the latter against the elongated material by sets of rolling bodies, each set of which circulates in a closed path within a respective tractive member path. Each tractive member has a material gripping face and each face is maintained in assembled relation with its tractive member by magnetic attraction to provide for ready removal and replacement of such faces.