Abstract: A locking, hand-held holiday light storage and dispenser device, comprising a base, a rotating tube coupled to the base, and a locking mechanism adapted to lock the rotating tube in position relative to the base in order to permit the storage and dispensing of holiday lights in a tangle-free manner.

Abstract: A paper roll supporting device for an image forming apparatus includes a pair of flange members to be inserted into opposite ends of a paper roll. Each flange member includes a flange body made up of a flange portion and a cylindrical support portion that is to be inserted into a tubular core included in the paper roll. A claw member has a plurality of claws capable of protruding from the outer circumference of the support portion. A biasing member exerts a pressure on the claw member. Pressing means is slidable in a direction in which the biasing member is compressible. The pressing means receives one end of the biasing member and contacts the inner circumference of the support portion. A lock/release lever is capable of being brought down for causing the pressing means to slide. The claw member causes its pawls to flare in the radial direction when pressed in the axial direction of the support portion. The device with this configuration can be easily locked to the paper roll.

Abstract: A tape reel assembly for use with a data storage tape cartridge. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, a tape reel pin, the tape reel assembly, and a storage tape. The tape reel assembly is rotatably associated with the tape reel pin and includes a hub, a spherical piece and a sleeve. The spherical piece is insert molded within an axial bore of the hub and provides a thrust surface. The sleeve is also insert molded within the axial bore of the hub and provides a journal bearing surface. In accordance with a method of the present invention, the tape reel assembly is formed as part of an injection molding process, whereby a core pin precisely positions the spherical piece and co-axially centers the sleeve relative to an outer, tape winding surface of the hub.

Abstract: Holder for rolls of web-shaped materials, for example paper, nonwoven or foil, the holder including a shaft (7) intended to be inserted into the centre hole (5) of the roll (2), so that the roll can rotate around the shaft for unrolling the web-shaped material. In order to provide a braking of the rotation of the roll the shaft (7) is provided with at least one resilient member in the form of a leaf spring (10) having one end attached to the shaft and having a free portion (12) which in unloaded position projects radially from the shaft for increasing the radial dimension thereof, the resilient member can be brought to spring towards the spindle.

Abstract: A core/hub assembly for a printing device that provides for easy alignment and insertion, and maintains a secure interface to prevent slippage of the core during printer operation, is disclosed. A hub includes keys mounted at a proximal end which serve to transmit torque when engaged with a core. The hub further includes splines configured to be received within a core and provide longitudinal support thereto. A core includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs that cooperate to form channels configured to receive the splines of the hub. A portion of the ribs include compliant radially oriented leaf springs which center the core on the hub and provide a physical fit of the core on the hub by engaging the keys at the proximal end of the core when properly inserted therein.

Abstract: A rewinder mandrel system for winding paper into rolls on a mandrel is provided. The system includes a turret assembly having at least one mandrel rotatably affixed thereto. The rewinder mandrel system can also include a gas circulation system that can aid in the positioning, loading, and removing of paper or paper cores located on the mandrel. In particular, the gas circulation system can contain one or more gas flow control devices configured to provide positive pressure and a suction force. In one embodiment, a gas flow control device rotatably affixed to the turret interacts with a second stationary gas flow control device to provide air circulation to the mandrels.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing yarn from a skein for knitting and crocheting includes a base, a support, and a spool which carries the yarn. The spool includes a hollow elongated tube which is positioned over the support. In one embodiment, the support has a tapered upper end and the upper end of the elongated tube is closed. So positioned, the spool rotates about the support as yarn is drawn by the user. The spool also includes a platform near the lower end for holding a skein of yarn. The components are sized such that the spool has sufficient length to accommodate skeins of varying lengths. The overall length of the support is at least slightly longer than the overall length of the spool. In a preferred embodiment, the support is removable to allow varying support and spool combinations to be used if desired. The invention presents an apparatus which is easy and convenient to use and which provides for the tangle free delivery of yarn as needed by the user.

Abstract: To prevent disalignment of the edges of a folded sheet by smoothly feeding the sheet to a packaging unit while keeping tension fluctuations to a minimum when the sheet is unwound from a paper roll set in a paper feed unit even though the paper roll diameter decreases gradually as the sheet is unwound. A sheet length measuring sensor or rotary encoder is provided in the paper feed path through which the packaging sheet is fed toward the packaging unit. An angle sensor is provided which includes Hall element sensors provided on a support shaft and magnets provided on a core pipe of the paper roll. Any change in the signals from one of these sensors relative to the signal from the other sensor is used to calculate the paper roll winding length, and the sheet tension is adjusted to an optimum, constant level by controlling the sheet braking force stepwise according to the roll diameter measured by the sensors.

Abstract: A coupling between a spool and a brake drum includes: a metallic base having a first axial opening formed therein for extension of a spindle therethrough; a metallic rim disposed about the first axial opening and integral with and extending in a generally axial direction from the base, with the rim including an edge having a discontinuous planar surface disposed substantially orthogonal to the axial direction; and a magnet integral with the base that magnetizes the discontinuous planar surface of the rim of the magnetic chuck. The edge has a stepped profile resembling a rectangular wave; the rim is circular and coaxial with the axial opening in the base; and the magnet includes a second opening formed in register with the first opening in the base for extension of the spindle therethrough. The magnetic chuck is disposed on the spindle between the spool and the brake drum. The magnetic chuck is secured by fasteners to the brake drum for rotation therewith about an axis of the spindle.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing toilet tissue alternately from two rolls includes a housing and roll support spindles for supporting the rolls in coaxial spaced relationship relative to the housing. A sliding cover is slidably positioned on the housing. The roll support spindles are mounted on a pivoted support frame and a pivotally mounted engaging member extends from the support frame and is located in the space between adjacent roll ends. The cover includes detents which cooperate with the pivotally mounted tissue roll engaging member to prevent the cover from being moved from one position in which one of the tissue rolls is exposed to a second position in which the other tissue roll is exposed until the one tissue roll is depleted or substantially depleted.