Methods are described for mechanically scraping surfaces of boards, such as flooring boards, to impart random-looking scraped profiles therein. An apparatus for mechanically scraping boards to form the scraped board products also is described. A board, such as a flooring board, having a random-looking scraped appearance that includes overlapping multiple scrape patterns is described. Boards, such as flooring boards, having a simulated rustic or distressed appearance made with the methods and apparatus also are described.

An apparatus and method for spooling wire or cable from a reel assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly for spooling wire from any surface. In another embodiment, wire is spooled from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly.

One aspect of the disclosed subject matter is seen in a wire access line drum assembly, comprising a tubular drum, first and second end portions, and a shaft. The tubular drum includes a first end, a second end, and an inner diameter of a first preselected size. The first and second end portions are coupled to the first and second ends of the tubular drum, and the shaft extends at least partially within the tubular drum. The shaft has an outer diameter of a second preselected size substantially similar to the first preselected size. Another aspect of the disclosed subject matter is seen in a drum storage system. The drum storage system is comprised of a plurality of wire access line drums and a rack. The plurality of wire access line drums each have a wire access line pre-spooled thereon, and the rack is designed to receive the plurality of wire access line drums in a configuration to permit one or more of the wire access lines to be retrieved from the rack and transported to a job site.

A tape dispenser includes a hollow body and a blade unit. The body has a frame, a blade seat and an opening. A reception portion is formed between the body and the frame so as to accommodate the tape. The opening communicates with inside of the body and the blade unit is located in the blade seat. The blade unit has a blade for cutting the tape.

A belt retractor has a frame (10), a belt spool (12) that is rotatably mounted in the frame (10), and a force limiter (22) that is adapted to reach a force limiting position. A guide-in mechanism (26) is provided which causes the force limiter (22) to reach the force limiting position as a function of the length of belt webbing withdrawn.

A wire electric discharge machining apparatus according to embodiments includes a wire electrode, a wire supplying unit that supplies the wire electrode, a collecting motor that collects the wire electrode at a predetermined speed, a tension motor that controls a tension of the wire electrode between the wire supplying unit and the collecting motor, a speed calculating unit that calculates a traveling speed of the wire electrode at a predetermined time interval, a speed storing unit that stores the traveling speed calculated by the speed calculating unit, a differential speed calculating unit that calculates a differential speed between a current traveling speed output from the speed calculating unit and a past traveling speed stored in the speed storing unit, and a breakage detecting unit that detects breakage of the wire electrode by comparing the differential speed with a predetermined threshold.

A roll sheet supporting apparatus includes a pair of rotation shafts which are respectively fitted into end portions of the hollow portion of the core tube and configured to support the roll sheet rotatably and capable of being drawn out, an engaging member movable between a projecting position and a retracting position, wherein the engaging member projects from an outer circumferential surface of the each rotation shaft abutting on the core tube to engage with the core tube at the projecting position and retracts inward from the outer circumferential surface of the each rotation shaft at the retracting position, and an engaging member moving unit configured to move the engaging member between the projecting position and the retracting position.

A length-adjustable wrap film dispenser includes an outer tube member having a sleeve connection portion and a first engagement portion, and an inner tube member having an insertion portion axially movably and rotatably inserted into the sleeve connection portion of the outer tube member and a second engagement portion for engagement with the first engagement portion. When rotating the inner tube member relative to the outer tube member to disengage the second engagement portion from the first engagement portion, the inner tube member can be moved axially relative to the outer tube member to adjust the length of the length-adjustable wrap film dispenser. After adjustment, the inner tube member is rotated again to force the second engagement portion into engagement with the first engagement portion, locking the inner tube member and the outer tube member.

A paper transport system for transporting a web in a printing system includes a stationary bar positioned such that the web slides over a portion of an exterior surface of the bar, a rotatable source roller for supplying unused cover material, and a rotatable take-up roller for receiving used cover material. Cover material extends between the source roller and the take-up roller and is disposed over the portion of the exterior surface of the bar that the web slides over. A locking mechanism can be used to maintain tension in the cover material.

A retractable cord winder device, which has a front cover with center shaft, a spiral spring, a spool with a spool divider with flanged hook dividing the spool chamber into equal halves for efficient and minimal noise cable coiling, oval sliding positioning sliding disc, and a rear cover with concave recess to hold the oval positioning sliding disc with positioning stopper. The front cover is mounted with the rear cover through the center shaft via a center hole of the rear cover where there are symmetrical openings on both ends for cords folded in half to be attached to the flanged hook and retracted upon pulling down.

A locking retractor is disclosed, as are stretchers and cots using the retractor to secure a patient. The retractor includes structure for locking the retractor spool to prevent rotation in both directions. However, a cam is coupled to the shaft and is arranged relative to the locking structure to prevent the spool from locking during an initial portion of the spool's rotation, until a first locking point is reached. Once the first locking point has been reached, a clutch prevents the locking structure from engaging while the spool is still rotating, but the locking structure will engage to lock the spool in both directions once active rotation stops. A user-actuatable lever is provided externally that disengages the locking structure when actuated to allow the spool to extend and retract freely.

A hose deployment and retrieval system is described that includes a modular reel assembly. The modular reel assembly includes a reel having a hub around which a hose may be wound and a wheel assembly on either side of the hub and spaced to accept the hose there between. The reel assembly also includes an axle in the center of the hub around which the hub can spin and a base holding the axle. A deployment fork assembly includes a reel assembly mount for engaging with the modular reel assembly and a drive mechanism to spin the reel when the deployment fork assembly is engaged with the modular reel assembly, wherein the deployment fork assembly is adapted to mount to a vehicle.

A method and device for winding a rotor or a stator (2), of a rotary electrical machine, having a series of teeth (21) which are delimited by notches (22). In each notch there are inserted M continuous electric wires (3) constituting a turn; M being equal to 1 or more, characterised in that n×M wires (3) are wound simultaneously in a number n of notches (22), n corresponding to the number of phases and being ≧2. The assembly of the M wires (3) constituting a phase, being inserted in a single notch (22). The device for winding has at least two carriages (4, 5), with a series of teeth, delimited by n notches (40, 50). And, likewise corresponding to the winding, each set of M continuous electric wires (3) constituting a turn, is characterised in that M×n wires (3) are inserted simultaneously in the extension of the n notches (22) of the rotary electrical machine in the n notches (40, 50) in the respective carriages (4, 5). All of the M×n wires (3) are bent together at least twice by bending the carriages (4, 5) relative to one another, and all of the M×n wires (3) thus bent are folded back in the following successive n1 notches (22) of the rotary electrical machine.

To provide a medium storing and advancing apparatus for inhibiting rotation of a drum when tapes are completely rewound from the drum. The apparatus includes reels supplying and winding up the tapes, a drum winding up the tapes supplied from the reels or rewinding wound-up tapes to supply the tapes to the reels, and an inhibiting mechanism inhibiting further rotation of the drum in a direction of rewinding the tapes when the drum completely rewinds the tapes, whereby the inhibiting mechanism inhibits the rotation of the drum.

A system and process is described for producing spirally wound products. According to the process of the present disclosure, two or more webs are conveyed together in a superimposed relationship. The webs are then separated such that one web goes to a first winding module while a second web goes to a second winding module, etc. In this manner, at least two spirally wound products can be produced simultaneously. The process and system of the present disclosure are particularly well suited for processing tissue webs, such as paper towels and bath tissue. The process of the present disclosure can effectively at least double throughput on existing winding systems.

A system for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose. A first portion of the hose is disposable about the drum and a guide arm engages a second portion of the hose. An actuator assembly rotates a cage and the guide arm so that the guide arm rotates relative to the cage such that the hose is rotated. Relative rotation in one direction causes the first portion of the hose to uncoil from the drum and displace along the guide arm and causes a third portion of the high pressure hose in an output port to displace out of the output port away from the guide arm. Relative rotation in an opposite direction causes the second portion of the high pressure hose to coil about the drum and causes the third portion of the high pressure hose to displace into the housing.

A fishing line reeling apparatus for loading a spool of fishing line about a reel of a fishing pole includes a clamp capable of being anchored to a ledge of an existing support surface, and a bracket attached to the clamp wherein the bracket has a dowel capable of rotatably receiving and suspending the existing spool of fishing line above the existing support surface. An arm is located subjacent to the dowel and statically mated to the bracket. The arm has an eyelet attached to a distal end thereof such the fishing line is downwardly guided from the spool and urged along a longitudinal length of the arm prior to passing through the eyelet.

A device is provided that is adapted for mounting on a vertical support, such as a stud at a construction job site, to hold a spool of wire off the floor, allowing the wire to be dispensed easily, yet providing sufficient drag on the reel to avoid excess unspooling of the wire. The device is adapted for mounting on a stud or comparable vertical support without the use of tools or fasteners so it can be moved quickly from location to location. The device is conveniently disassembled into two smaller assemblies for storage and transport to the job site.

The present invention provides a technique which can disassemble a mandrel having a substantially cylindrical shape and being dividable into a plurality of segments, easily and efficiently. The disassembling method comprises, in the mandrel adhesively attached with a composite material structure on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a rotation step of rotating the pair of support rings along with the mandrel to position a segment which is a detached target to an uppermost portion; and a segment detaching step of detaching the segment which is the detached target positioned at the uppermost portion, from the pair of support rings; wherein in the segment detaching step, the segment which is the detached target is moved in a vertically downward direction to a position inside of the mandrel, between the pair of support rings, and is carried out from between the pair of support rings.

A desktop dispenser includes a stationary base including a bottom member defining a bottom open chamber, a vacuum mount including a suction disc positioned in the bottom open chamber and an actuation rod extended from the top wall of the suction disc, and a carrier coupled to the stationary base and biasable between a first position and a second position. When the carrier is in the first position, the actuation rod of the vacuum mount is in an initial position; when the carrier is in the second position, the driving member lifts the actuation rod of the vacuum mount to an acting position. Thus, the desktop tape dispenser can be adhered to the top of a desk.

A method of manufacturing an electrical device comprises the steps of providing a substrate, providing an electrical component on the substrate, providing a first electrical contact on the substrate that is electrically connected to the electrical component, and providing an electrochemical cell on or integrating the substrate for providing electrical energy to said electrical component. The electrochemical cell comprises at least one electrochemical layer comprising a cured or dried ink and a first electrode contact electrically connected to said at least one electrochemical layer. The method further includes the step of securing the electrochemical cell to the substrate through an electrically conductive connection that provides both a structural connection and an electrical connection between the first electrical contact and the first electrode contact.

The present invention relates to a tape guiding mechanism (10) of a tape device (100). The tape device (100) comprises a strip of tape (20) having supply tape (22) and take up tape (24); a spool portion (130); a supply spool (40) disposed at the spool portion (130) for winding the supply tape (22); a take up spool (50) disposed at the spool portion (130) for winding the take up tape (24); an application tip (12); and a spool mechanism (70) for allowing the supply and the take up spools (40 & 50) to rotate such that the tape travels from the supply spool (40), around the applicator tip (120), and to the take up spool (50).

In a webbing retractor, the center of a rack and rack-teeth in an axial direction of a pinion is placed on the opposite side of a leg plate side with respect to the central axis of a cylinder. The piston is acted upon by a tilting-force toward the leg plate side from the pinion. A stop portion of an upper stay is placed on another leg plate side of the leg plate. Even when the piston is acted upon by the tilting force toward the leg plate side from the pinion, the stop portion can stop the movement of the leg plate toward the other leg plate side, and tilting of the piston and the cylinder toward the leg plate side can be suppressed. Moreover, the need to increase the strength of a frame and so forth can be eliminated, so the webbing retractor can be made compact and lightweight.

A webbing take-up device that is both capable of promoting reductions in size and weight and capable of excellently maintaining coupling strength between a pawl member and a ring portion. A clutch plate and a lock ring of this webbing take-up device are coupled by plural teeth provided at the clutch plate meshing with plural teeth provided at the lock ring. This lock ring is specified to have a lower material strength than the clutch plate. A tooth height H2 of the plural teeth of the lock ring is specified to be lower than a tooth height of the plural teeth of the clutch plate. Thus, when the lock ring and the clutch plate mesh, tooth tips of the plural teeth of the clutch plate come into contact with tooth bottoms of the plural teeth of the lock ring.

A sheet conveyance unit for transporting a sheet unreeled from a roll of paper includes a roll holder including a pair of supporters to support both axial end portions of the roll, movable in an axial direction of the roll, a pair of first conveyance rollers, a pair of second conveyance rollers, a tensioner to tension the sheet, disposed between the first conveyance rollers and the second conveyance rollers, and a tension adjustment unit. The tensioner includes a contact plate to press against the sheet, extending over an entire width of the sheet and pivotably supported on a casing of the sheet conveyance unit. The tension adjustment unit changes the tension of the sheet by adjusting a force to press the contact plate against the sheet and includes a first adjuster to change the tension of the sheet in conjunction with the interval between the supporters.

A coiled roll container including a base having opposed one and other sides and an outlet slot through which an edge of the coil roll extends. A pair of elastic cords each having opposed one and other ends is provided with the one end fixed at one side of the base and the other end releasably attached to the other side of the base. The elastic cords are for looping over the coiled roll to secure the coiled roll in place. The container also includes a cord locking mechanism at the other side of the base for receiving and securing the elastic cords about the coil roll.

A filament winding apparatus prevents a fiber bundle supplied to a liner from interfering with other fiber bundles and fiber supplying guides. First and second guide units include a plurality of fiber supplying guides arranged radially and extending and contracting in a direction approximately perpendicular to a liner central axis. When a fiber bundle supplied from a first supplying guide of the first guide unit crosses between a second supplying guide of the second guide unit and the liner, the distance from the second supplying guide to the liner central axis is made larger than the distance from the first supplying guide to the liner central axis, and in the reverse case, the distance from the first supplying guide to the liner central axis is made larger than the distance from the second supplying guide to the liner central axis.

A web rewinding apparatus having a mandrel cupping assembly for releaseably engaging unsupported ends of a plurality of mandrels is disclosed. Each of the plurality of mandrels extends generally parallel to the web winding turret assembly axis. Each of the mandrels is driven in a closed mandrel path about the web winding turret assembly axis. The mandrel cupping assembly comprises a cupping arm turret having a cupping arm turret central axis, a mandrel cup cooperatively associated with each mandrel of the plurality of mandrels, at least three motion limiting devices disposed upon the cupping arms, and a first actuator.

A roller for a sheet product dispenser includes a roller shaft, a roller frame molded onto the roller shaft, and a plurality of flexible rubber portions overmolded onto the roller frame and spaced along a length of the roller frame. The rubber portions are configured to contact a sheet product for dispensing from the sheet product dispenser. A dispensing mechanism for a sheet product dispenser includes a chassis and a roller positioned within and coupled to the chassis. The roller includes a roller shaft, a roller frame molded onto the roller shaft, and a plurality of flexible rubber portions overmolded onto the roller frame and spaced along a length of the roller frame. The rubber portions are configured to contact a sheet product for dispensing from the sheet product dispenser.

The wire winding apparatus includes: a wire feeding member provided to a supporting member so as to be operable, for feeding a wire; a lock mechanism capable of inhibiting an operation of the wire feeding member; a winding mechanism for rotating a core about an axis thereof to wind the wire fed from the wire feeding member around the outer circumference of the core; a feed mechanism for moving the supporting member in an axial direction of the core in synchronization with the winding performed by the winding mechanism; a proximity sensor for detecting a movement amount of the wire feeding member with respect to the supporting member; and a control section for controlling an operation of the feed mechanism to adjust a movement amount of the supporting member moved by the feed mechanism based on a detection output from the proximity sensor.

A fly reel comprises a housing having a back plate, a spindle extending from the back plate, a spool rotatably mounted on the spindle, an adjustable drag assembly fixed to the spool and rotatably mounted with the spool, the adjustable drag assembly is adapted to provide controlled friction against the spool during rotation of the spool, a crank member for rotating the spool in a first direction, and a one way clutch operatively associated with the spindle for permitting rotation of the crank member in the first direction only whereby the spool is adapted to rotate independent of the crank in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. In addition, the drag adjustment knob of the reel is disposed on the same side as the reel crank handle and the drag components may be sealed within a cartridge.

The present invention relates to a small lightweight hand held cable reel comprising a spool configured to rotate around a central ergonomic handle, wherein the spool comprises of two winder knobs for rotating the spool around the central ergonomic handle; smaller, larger locator holes and larger elongated slotted holes on the outer spool face for attaching a cable. The hand held cable reel further comprises elongated slotted holes on inner spool face for attaching to a webbing strap of clothing or equipment.

A media spindle apparatus for supporting a media roll having media to be delivered to a printing apparatus. The apparatus includes a spindle configured to support the roll. The spindle defines an axial direction about which the roll rotates relative to the printing apparatus to deliver the media to the printing apparatus. A guide member is supported by the spindle and guides the media to the printing apparatus. The guide member is positionable in a first configuration in which a securing mechanism is disengaged and the guide member is translatable substantially in the axial direction relative to the spindle. The guide member is pivotable about the axial direction relative to the spindle to move to a second configuration and thereby engage the securing mechanism to inhibit the guide member from translating in the axial direction relative to the spindle and pivoting from the second configuration to the first configuration.

A spool assembly includes a drum having a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end. The drum includes an inner surface that defines a bore that extends through the first and second axial ends. A drum support is disposed in the bore of the drum. The drum support includes a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The drum support has an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the drum support and the inner surface of the drum define a plurality of channels. A first flange is engaged to the first end of the drum support. A second flange is engaged to the second end of the drum support.

A filament winding apparatus prevents a fiber bundle supplied to a liner from interfering with other fiber bundles and fiber supplying guides. First and second guide units include a plurality of fiber supplying guides arranged radially and extending and contracting in a direction approximately perpendicular to a liner central axis. When a fiber bundle supplied from a first supplying guide of the first guide unit crosses between a second supplying guide of the second guide unit and the liner, the distance from the second supplying guide to the liner central axis is made larger than the distance from the first supplying guide to the liner central axis, and in the reverse case, the distance from the first supplying guide to the liner central axis is made larger than the distance from the second supplying guide to the liner central axis.

An extensible cord lead comprising a casing (11) containing a winding wheel (13) equipped with housings (15) intercepted by a pushbutton (16) to allow the partial or total blocking of the cord, the pushbutton (16) being equipped with a forward position blocking device consisting of a cursor (20) which slides or rotates in a transverse direction with respect to the axis of the pushbutton (16) in which it is inserted, said cursor (20) being activated by a thumb-turn (21) located on the head of the pushbutton (16), said cursor (20) being able to move from a blocked position to free sliding of the pushbutton, entering and exiting transversally to the sliding axis of the pushbutton (16), in a housing (22) in the box-like casing (11) of the winding device.

A trough is cut in the ground surface by a rotating member. The rotating member displaces soil upward with respect to the ground surface and rearwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the rotating member. While the soil is in the air, slurry is deposited into the trough. The soil is then redirected downward to the trough to cover the slurry with the soil.

A method and apparatus are described for creating a pass marker in a field. During planting, planting of seed is stopped and started on pass marker rows differently than on adjacent rows to create a visible offset to assist a harvester or applicator to find and drive down the right row to prevent skips and overlaps.

Methods for fumigating soil include providing a fumigant including at least one volatile substance into or onto soil and applying over the soil a multilayer polymeric film to form a vapor barrier between the fumigant-treated soil and the atmosphere to at least partially contain the fumigant. The multilayer film includes at least one barrier layer comprising at least one vinylidene chloride polymer and protecting layers on each side of the barrier layer. The multilayer film preferably has at least one UV protecting layer and optionally at least one reflective layer.

An agricultural implement system that includes a control system configured to receive a first signal to initiate seeding operations, to transition a ground engaging tool toward a working position at a first time after receiving the first signal, and to activate a product delivery system at a second time, different from the first time, after receiving the first signal.

A system for controlling air flow within an agricultural product metering system is provided. One system for distributing an agricultural product includes an air conveyance system having a blower configured to provide an air stream for moving metered product toward a distribution device. The air conveyance system is mounted on an air cart. The system also includes control circuitry mounted on an agricultural vehicle, and configured to adjust a speed of the blower based at least partially on a product flow rate from the air cart.

A stack-fold implement having a central bulk fill hopper assembly is provided. The bulk fill hopper assembly is mounted to the center frame section of the stack-told implement and does not affect the narrowness of the stack-fold implement when it's in a stacked, transport position, The hopper assembly includes a pair of bulk fill hoppers or tanks supported by cradle that is in turn supported by a pair of wheels. The cradle is removably coupled to the center frame section by a plurality of rigid frame members.

A double shoot coulter assembly for an agricultural implement includes a packer wheel. The packer wheel is disposed behind a soil engaging blade. The packer wheel is configured to press soil displaced by the soil engaging blade into trenches formed by the soil engaging blade and a disc blade. A centerline of the packer wheel extends adjacent to a soil displacing side of the soil engaging blade.

A method and apparatus for automating some of the tasks that heretofore required operator action at headland turns or similar events are provided. The present invention automates operation of lift assist wheels and/or gull wings, such as those found on a stack-fold implement, based on the position of the tractor hitch to which the implement is coupled. An operator may control the position of the implement, such as at a headland turn, by raising and lowering the tractor hitch using a remote control. The invention enables the planter to compare the tractor hitch position relative to an implement position and control operation of the implement accordingly without additional user inputs.

Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow are provided. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.

A planter row unit is disclosed having an active downforce control system for the closing wheels. This separate control of the downforce pressure for the closing wheels is provided from the row unit downforce control. A single operator input is used to set a desired downforce for all row units. The control system then operates to produce the desired downforce. Alternatively, the control system may display a downforce load to the operator who then manually makes adjustments as desired.

A metering system for a seeding machine is provided. The metering system includes selectively powered metering sections operable to individually allow or restrict seed dispensation. A damper arrangement is also provided so that pneumatic conveying of the particulate within the machine is consistently maintained when particulate flow is varied between the metering sections.

A seeder implement (125) includes a fork (146) having a first spindle support arm (150) that supports a first spindle (164) and a second spindle support arm (152) that supports a second spindle (168). A first disk (160) is supported on the first spindle (164), wherein the first spindle (164) is oriented in a first orientation and at a first acute angle relative to a lateral line. The first disk (160) is oriented at a second acute angle relative to the ground surface. A second disk (166) is supported on the second spindle (168), wherein the second spindle (168) is oriented in a second orientation and at a third acute angle relative to the lateral line. The second disk (166) is oriented at a fourth acute angle relative to the ground surface. The first disk (160) is longitudinally offset ahead of the second disk (166), and there are no structural components between the first and second disks (160, 166) other than the first and second spindles (164, 168). In one embodiment, a packing wheel (142) is disposed to close and compact furrows opened by the disks (160, 166) and is disposed in the same orientation as one of the disks (160, 166).

An agricultural device includes a number of row units that each includes a seed furrow opener that creates a furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit is mounted to a toolbar of the device by a four-bar linkage which allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contour of the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar. The four-bar linkages include one or more springs which work to transfer weight from the toolbar to the row unit. An actuator varies the tension in the spring thereby adjusting the down or up force applied to the row unit.

A dynamic supplemental downforce control system for a planter row unit. The system includes closed-loop feedback circuit that cooperates with a downforce actuator to dynamically control fluid flow to the downforce actuator to maintain balance between the actual gauge wheel downforce and a desired gauge wheel downforce during planting operations.