Abstract: Apparatus for directing and feeding wire (W) such as for a welder includes first and second, generally planar, guide plates (108) which are slid in a direction parallel to the movement path of the wire (W) into a slit (74) of a mount (68) and a slot (64) of an adapter element (44). A driven roll (20) penetrates an opening (112) in the first guide plate (108). A pressure roll (82) is pivotably mounted to mount (68) between a drive position where it penetrates an opening (112) in the second guide plate (108) and sandwiches wire (W) against the driven roll (20) and a disengaged position. The pressure roll (82) is removably held in the drive position by abutment of a washer (104) with the bracket (84) to which pressure roll (82) is rotatably mounted. The washer (104) is slideable upon a shaft (98) and biased toward the bracket (84) by a spring (106), with the shaft (98) being pivotably mounted to a connecting block (24) between a latched and unlatched position.

Abstract: A strapping machine having an inertial rotating system allowing for strapping materials to be continually fed to the feed wheel of the device is provided. The inertial rotating system allows the strapping machine to continue to feed strapping material such that loops of excess material are not generated upon the cessation of pull force on the strapping material. The inertial rotating system includes a twisted belt allowing the motor shaft to be placed approximately perpendicular to the pulley attached to the reel of strapping material such that the pulley and strap may be housed within the housing of the strapping machine. The use of a twisted belt allows for the use of a motor having a single drive shaft, thus simplifying the motor used in the strapping machine. The inertial rotating system further provides a means to rewind and recover strapping material from the strapping machine.

Abstract: A wiping paper dispenser for hand towels and toilet paper includes a housing having a gantry which tilts relative to the housing and receives an idle roller in contact with a contained reel of paper material for ensuring a dual function of pressing and braking the reel and preventing curling. The gantry is linked to a hinged flap at the front base of the housing countering a spring, the flap being adjustable in relation to a rotatable drum. The drum and the idle roller are rotatably driven in response to the user's pull on an extending paper strip from the reel of material.

Abstract: A dispenser sequentially dispenses web material from a working web roll and then a reserve web roll. A web sensing mechanism senses the presence of the working web at a back side of the main feed roller and introduces the leading end of the reserve web roll to a feed nip defined by two feed rollers immediately after the trailing end of the working web roll passes over a back side of the feed roller. Web sensing, and controlled introduction of the leading end of the reserve web to the feed nip, are carried out by a simple and effective interaction of a grooved main feed roller, and a pair of pivotable lever arms—a web sensing arm mounted at the backside of the rollers, and a transfer arm mounted at the front side. The mechanism avoids double feeding of web by sensing the presence or absence of web at the back-side of the main feed roller.

Abstract: A printer in which a cover to the roll paper holder in which roll paper is held can be easily opened even when such problems as a roll paper jam occur. Opening and closing a cover (30) to the roll paper loading mechanism (2) of the printer is detected by a photointerrupter (288) detecting whether the locking lever (280) is in a locked or unlocked position. When the lock is unlocked, an cover unlocked signal is asserted to the drive control unit (39). The drive control unit (39) then drives a solenoid (62B) to switch the drive motor (61) torque transfer path from the roll paper gear train to the slip form gear train. This disengages a first gear (71) on the printer and an engaging paper.

Abstract: A tape guide for guiding a carrier tape in a component mounting machine, a tape magazine for receiving the tape guide, and a system including the tape guide and the tape magazine. The carrier tape carries components that are positioned in sequence on the carrier tape and are covered by a cover tape. The tape guide includes an exposure mechanism for exposing the components at a picking position, wherein the exposure mechanism includes a separator for separating and lifting a lateral portion of the cover from the carrier tape, leaving the remaining portion of the cover at least partially attached to the carrier tape, and for bringing the lifted portion of the cover aside. The tape guide also includes a lock for enabling ready and quick attachment and detachment of the tape guide to and from the component mounting machine, a guiding for guiding the carrier tape towards a picking position, and a retainer for preventing accidental displacement of the carrier tape along the tape guide.

Abstract: An apparatus for the intermediate storage of a strap to be supplied and delivered discontinuously in a machine is provided with a supply arrangement for the strap; a storage drum, which is disposed downstream thereof and which comprises an inlet for the strap, an ensuing helical storage channel for the storage of the strap, the radial extension of which exceeds its axial extension, which corresponds to the width of the strap, as well as an outlet, which adjoins the storage channel; and a discharge arrangement for the strap, which is disposed downstream of the storage drum.

Abstract: A towel dispenser comprising an electronic power system, which includes an array of one or more photovoltaic cells for energizing a control circuitry which, in turn, controls operation of the dispenser. The control circuitry is responsive to a sensing device, comprised of a motion detector, which senses rapid changes in light, which in turn, activates the dispensing of a length of paper towels when an object, such as a user's hand, is moved in front of the sensing device.

Abstract: Storage and dispensing device for elongate strand material including a spool, a tubular delivery system incorporating an integral finger-actuable friction element rotatively mounted for contact with strand material and urgement forward.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping net about bales formed in the baling chamber of a large round baler is arranged such that the net material supply roll is pressed directly against the driven wrap material feed roll by a pressure roll carried by a pair of transversely spaced lower arm portions of a lower arm section of a vertically swingable pressure arm assembly that also includes a separate, upper arm section. The force pressing the pressure roll against the supply roll originates with gas springs coupled to a linkage that is in turn coupled to transversely spaced upper arm portions of the upper arm section, these arm portions carrying respective force transfer rollers that engage respective intermediate sections of the lower arm portions.

Abstract: A welding wire feeding system feeds welding wire from a barrel to a welding gun. The system includes a feed mechanism for drawing welding wire from the barrel and advancing the welding wire toward the welding gun. A free-wheeling wheel is disposed between the barrel and the feed mechanism and is freely rotatable about an axis. The welding wire is wound around the wheel, whereby a curvature is imparted to an otherwise-straight welding wire. Also, any twists generated in the welding wire at the welding gun will be stopped at the wheel before reaching and fouling the barrel.

Abstract: An extension guide unit 30 is provided on a side portion of a recording medium conveying passage. An extension guide 36 is held in a wound state in an extension guide holder 31 of the extension guide unit 30. In order to convey a recording medium, the extension guide 36 is drawn out, by which the recording medium is guided. This enables the recording medium to be smoothly conveyed.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing sheet material from a roll of sheet material includes a rotatable sheet material engagement member having an outer surface for engaging the sheet material. A pivoted shaft is mounted adjacent to the sheet material engagement member having a feed roller mounted thereon. The shaft and feed roller are pivotally moved toward the sheet material engagement member and the feed roller is rotated to transport the sheet material over the outer surface of the sheet material engagement member. Spaced tucker members are connected to the sheet material engagement member and simultaneously rotate and pivot upon depletion of a primary roll of sheet material to position the lead end of a reserve roll between the sheet material engagement member and the feed roller.

Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.

Abstract: Dispenser apparatus for dispensing paper toweling from a roll of paper toweling includes a paper toweling feed roller and a guide partially surrounding the feed roller having a curved guide surface spaced from the paper toweling feed roller. The feed roller and the guide form a curved passageway through which paper toweling passes during transport from a roll of paper toweling to a location external of the dispenser housing. Automatic transfer to a full roll of paper toweling takes place upon depletion of another roll.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying photosensitive material includes a core for holding a roll of photosensitive material in a paper magazine, drive rollers disposed in a conveyance path of the photosensitive material, two sets of nip rollers disposed to oppose the drive rollers at upstream and downstream locations relative to the forward direction of photosensitive material conveyance, rewind nip rollers disposed to oppose the upstream set of nip rollers, and a controller for controlling the drive rollers. When the photosensitive material is wound back into the paper magazine after use, the control means causes the drive rollers to rotate in reverse until the leading end portion of the photosensitive material is located between the upstream nip rollers and the rewind nip rollers. This enables the leading end portion of the photosensitive material to be held straight (without bowing), thereby protecting it from curling.

Abstract: A wire guide nozzle 1 is provided by a single member. The wire guide nozzle 1 is provided by a piece of long-size body 5 which has a nozzle 2 formed to penetrate the body 5 in the longitudinal direction and a wire check pin 4 assembled so as to cross the nozzle 2 and slide in the lateral direction. Provided at proper intervals in the longitudinal direction of the long-size body 5 are a plurality of wire nipping spaces 6, 7, 8 which allow rollers for interposing a wire 3 to enter the spaces.