Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods related to an automated footwear platform including motor control techniques. The motor control techniques can include operations such as segmenting a pre-defined travel distance, defining a plurality of moves, creating a plurality of motion profiles, and commanding movements. The plurality of moves can utilize the segmented travel distance for a drive mechanism associated with the footwear platform. Each motion profile of the plurality of motion profiles can include one or more moves from the plurality of moves. Commanding movement of the drive mechanism can be based on selection of one or more motion profiles from the plurality of motion profiles.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

Abstract: An improved system for handling delicate linear media and in particular to a method and apparatus for winding delicate linear media such as superconducting wire or optical fibers onto a spool. A combination of direct closed loop control and media routing design facilitates the handling of the delicate media without causing damage. The axial tension in the linear media may be closely controlled during winding by means of feedback control loop using tension measurements to control the rotation speeds of the wind-from and wind-to spools. Further, during winding, the delicate linear media is only exposed to large radius bends with no reverse bending.

Abstract: A roll arrangement for determining a web tension profile of a web. The roll arrangement includes a roll having a peripheral surface for guiding the web, which peripheral surface is provided with a plurality of openings, and a plurality of sensor arrangements. Each of the plurality of openings are arranged to receive one sensor arrangement of the plurality of sensor arrangements to thereby sense forces applied by the web to the roll. The roll arrangement is adapted to suspend the sensor arrangements in the respective opening.

Abstract: A method and arrangement are provided in connection with a continuous material web, which runs from an unwinder to a winder, at least one of which being a center winder. The method includes providing an initial value for density of a material on the center winder, calculating a moment of inertia for a roll of material on the center winder, determining tightness of the material web, producing a correction term for torque calculation based on a material web tightness reference, the material web tightness and the moment of inertia of the roll of material, calculating a torque reference based on the produced correction term and the calculated moment of inertia of the roll of material, and controlling the torque of the center winder based on the torque reference. The method also includes correcting the density value of the material on the center winder based on the produced correction term.

Abstract: A winding apparatus providing steady tension includes: a loading unit rotatably supporting a roll of a sheet, releasing the sheet, and outputting an angle signal and a torque signal; a winding unit adapted to collect the sheet into a roll form; a dancer roller and a tension sensing unit separately arranged between the loading unit and the winding unit and outputting a shift signal and a tension signal respectively; and a control module having a calculating unit and a command unit. The calculating unit electrically connects with the loading unit, the dancer roller and the tension sensing unit to receive the signals and generates a torque command signal. The command unit electrically connects with the calculating unit and the loading unit to receive the torque command signal and produces a control signal by the torque command signal or a velocity signal.

Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The tensioning system may be used with various sensors to determine how the motorized tensioning device should be controlled.

Abstract: An apparatus for the reeling up of fiber bundles, in particular of hollow fiber membrane bundles, and in particular for the manufacture of dialysis filters, includes a reel carrier rotatable around a main axis. The apparatus includes at least two reels which are rotatably supported on the reel carrier, with the axes of rotation of the reels being perpendicular to the main axis of the reel carrier. The apparatus can be used for the wrapping of a fiber bundle with a film, having a receiver of first and second side elements and a flexible channel fastened between them for the reception of the film and the fiber bundle. A drive is provided to move at least the first side element transversely to the channel, and at least one folding device movable transversely to the channel for the folding of the film around the fiber bundle.

Abstract: A tape drive comprising two motors, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of the motors, and a controller. The controller controls the energization of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports. The controller is configured to store a plurality of motor control data items, each data item being associated with a respective tension value. The controller is operative to monitor tension in a tape being transported between spools mounted on the spool supports; read a motor control data item based upon the monitored tension; generate a motor control signal based upon the read motor control data item; and apply the motor control signal to at least one of the motors.

Abstract: The present invention avoids a problem in that wound-up banknotes are located unevenly on substantially the same position on a winding drum. The paper sheet processing device is configured to process paper sheets.

Abstract: A spindle stopping mechanism for a yarn machine including a magnetic field assembly which when energized by a signal from a yarn breakage sensor causes a spindle gripping mechanism to grip and stop a spindle. A locking mechanism is also provided.

Abstract: Method and device for producing a web of tissue. In the method, the web of tissue is led over at least one drying cylinder, doctored off the latter with a creping doctor and then wound up by way of a winding device. The web of tissue is supported at least largely over the entire distance between creping doctor and winding device on one side by a transfer device, so that there is only a short free web draw, while its other side is free. The device includes at least one drying cylinder, a creping doctor arranged on the drying cylinder and a winding device that winds up the web of tissue. Between the creping doctor and the winding device, a transfer device at least largely bridges the entire distance which supports the web of tissue on one side. There is a short free web draw, but its other side is left free.

Abstract: A device for the automatic coiling and/or uncoiling on reels (28) of a flexible tape carrier of electronic components (60), the device comprising a coiling location (80) where a reel (28) can be connected to a rotation actuator, and retractable tape guides (35), consisting of articulated jaws (35) that can be closed together forming a channel to guide the flexible tape (60) and connect a free end of the flexible (60) tape (60) to a hub (29) of the reel (28), the device further having a stopper element (87) that engages with the slot in the reel hub, in order to stop the reel in a position in which the slot is aligned with the tape guide.

Abstract: A transporting device for transporting a wheelchair directly on a motorcycle or recreational vehicle, the device being configured to include a frame attachment portion for attaching the bracket to a frame portion of a motorcycle or recreational vehicle, a spaced-apart portion configured to receive and secure a portion of a foot rest of a wheelchair, and a spaced-apart wheelchair axle receiving and securement portion located at a level above the frame attachment portion and the portion for receiving and securing a portion of the foot rest.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the cross-directional nip profile of a reeling nip in a reeler, in which the reeling nip is arranged by means of a reeling core or a growing machine reel and at least one loop of an endless supporting member continuous in the direction of the axis of the reeling core. To control the cross-directional nip profile of the reeling nip, variables proportional to the tension of the supporting member are measured, cross-directional tension profile of the supporting member is determined on the basis of said variables, and further, a cross-directional nip profile of the reeling nip is determined, said nip profile being controlled by adjusting the determined cross-directional tension profile of the supporting member.

Abstract: A ratchet-driven mechanical winch that is adapted to measure the force applied to a cable, wire, or other tether through the operation of Hooke's Law. The device operates by compressing a pair of linear springs as increasing force is applied to the cable, wire, or other tether.

Abstract: When an elongate film is initially wound around a core, it is wound under a low winding tension command value T1 corresponding to the length of the core. Then, after the tension is progressively increased at a predetermined rate, the elongate film is wound while its tension is gradually lowered from a high winding tension command value T3.

Abstract: A winding mechanism for winding a narrower web has a drive shaft with a torque transmitting member fixedly mounted thereon, and a holder rotatably mounted on the drive shaft with a spring disposed around an outer circumferential surface of the holder with cushioning members interposed therebetween. Stoppers are disposed respectively in three chambers defined in the holder. A groove is defined in an inner circumferential surface of a winding core around which the narrower web is wound, and the cushioning members are fitted in the groove. A pressing force of the spring is applied through the stoppers to the winding core which is mounted on the holder.

Abstract: A tape-like medium running device realizes a reduction of a fast-forwarding time and a rewinding time by running a tape-like medium at a high speed up to a marginal point near a leading end or a tail end of the tape-like medium during a fast-forward and a rewind operation. For this purpose, rotating speed of a motor is gradually slowed down with the lapse of time from a high target speed and then settled at a low target speed, if an irregularity detection unit determines there is an irregular condition based on an output of a wound-up diameter detector. The invention can thus allows a setting of a wound-up diameter comparison reference value at the marginal point near the leading end when rewinding (or, the marginal point near the tail end when fast-forwarding), and minimize a time during which the motor rotates at the low target speed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring a winding hardness of a winding roll when winding a material web. A series of marks are placed on the material web at a first location as it is wound onto the winding roll. The distance between two successive marks is detected at a second location. The detected distance of two successive marks is used to determine a stretch of the material web.

Abstract: A device (5) for swinging a roll (4) for a moving web (15) consists of a shaft (6) extending through the roll (4), with provision made for gearings (7, 8) on the ends of said shaft. A servo-drive (10) engages the gearing (7), putting the shaft (6) into rotation and displacing its end (9). Gearing (8) on the counter end (12) of the roll (4) translates the rotary motion of the shaft (6) into a motion of thrust of the counter end (12) in the opposite sense, so that shaft (6) is swiveled by the single servo-drive (10) around its central point (13). Roll (4) is rotatably supported on shaft (6) and is jointly swiveled with the latter (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A constant tension is maintained on cord of a robot by determining whether the cord is being extracted or retracted and the extent of such extraction or retraction, and increasing or decreasing a spring force applied to the cord by an amount suitable for maintaining a constant tension on the cord.

Abstract: A method of sensing tension changes in a sheet of material in a processing line, the material having a mass flow balance in the processing line. The method includes using a dancer roll for engaging the sheet and an actuator for mechanically and momentarily introducing changes in the mass flow balance of the sheet. A sensor is provided for detecting sheet tension at a location near that at which the sheet engages the dancer roll and for producing signals indicative of sheet tension. An algorithm is provided for processing the signals in a manner that determines the dynamic relationship between tension variations near the location of the roll and at other locations in the processing line. The signal processing is effective to identify the presence of the magnification of variations in sheet tension so that the causes of such magnification can be identified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which reduces tape stiction during tape acceleration and deceleration. Tape tension is adjusted to eliminate the effects of tape stiction when the tape is either accelerated from a stationary position to a steady state velocity, or decelerated from a steady state velocity to a stationary position. This method uses tape tension, tape velocity, and tension reference profiles stored in a microprocessor to dynamically adjust the tape tension during tape acceleration and deceleration. The tape tension is adjusted as a function of tape velocity by the use of both a current generated by the tension reference profile and a feedforward current. The feedforward current is determined by the sum of the tape velocity and tape tension profiles. This dynamic adjustment of tape tension essentially eliminates tape stiction in tape start and stop operations.