Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight. The launch and retrieval system includes a modular multicopter, a storage and launch system, an anchor system, a flexible capture member, and an aircraft-landing structure. The multicopter is attachable to the fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launching the fixed-wing aircraft into free, wing-borne flight. The storage and launch system is usable to store the multicopter (when disassembled) and to act as a launch mount for the fixed-wing aircraft by retaining the fixed-wing aircraft in a desired launch orientation. The anchor system is usable with the multicopter, the flexible capture member, and the aircraft-landing structure to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight.

A wire pulling guide includes a body and multiple hardened rods spaced apart on the body, the rods positioned to contact a wire being guided by the guide.

A unit for applying first and second tabs, obtained from first and second webs, to a chassis web includes an applicator drum rotatable about an axis and including a main body. A plurality of carriers is movable between a lowered position close to the axis and a raised position away from the axis, each including a suction portion. A first carrier first suction and non-suction portions aligned along the axis. A second carrier includes second suction and non-suction portions aligned along the axis. The first suction portions alternate with the second non-suction portions and the first non-suction portions alternate with the second suction portions. A first system holds the first web on the applicator drum upstream of a cutting device. A second system holds the second web on the drum upstream of the cutting device.

A conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance device including a sheet-bearing member having a curved sheet-bearing surface, the conveyance device conveying a sheet by bearing the sheet with the curved sheet-bearing surface of the sheet-bearing member, and a blower to blow air onto the sheet. The carved sheet-bearing surface of the sheet-bearing member is formed by a plurality of wires defining gaps through which the blower blows air.

A media conveying device includes: a delivery cylinder to rotate on an inner circumferential surface side of a medium conveyed along a curved conveyance path; a first guide disc to rotate integrally with the delivery cylinder on an inner circumferential surface side of the curved conveyance path, the first guide disc having an arc-shaped guide surface to come into contact with a first peripheral area of the medium in a width direction of the medium; a second guide disc to rotate integrally with the delivery cylinder on the inner circumferential surface side of the curved conveyance path, the second guide disc having an arc-shaped guide surface to come into contact with a second peripheral area of the medium in the width direction of the medium; and a slide mechanism to slide the first guide disc and the second guide disc in the width direction of the medium.

A conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance device including a sheet-bearing member having a curved sheet-bearing surface, the conveyance device conveying a sheet by bearing the sheet with the curved sheet-bearing surface of the sheet-bearing member, and a blower to blow air onto the sheet. The carved sheet-bearing surface of the sheet-bearing member is formed by a plurality of wires defining gaps through which the blower blows air.

The invention relates to a guide wheel arrangement for guiding two-dimensional material webs, in particular for guiding material webs or material sheets. The guide wheel arrangement comprises a guide wheel comprising an inner central hub section and an outer guide ring, which is connected to the inner hub section in a rotationally fixed manner for guiding the two-dimensional material elements, as well as an insert bushing which is to be arranged on a shaft and is concentrically inserted into the inner hub section, wherein the insert bushing is connected to the guide wheel in a rotationally fixed manner.

This measurement apparatus includes measurement markers (2) disposed on the outer circumferential surface of a drum (3), a band-shaped member (10) being arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the drum (3), at least one measurement sensor (4) that acquires position information on at least a portion of the measurement markers (2), and a calculator that calculates the position of the measurement markers based on measurement information on the measurement markers (2) acquired by the measurement sensor (4) and calculates misalignment between the actual position of the measurement markers (2) measured in advance and the calculated position of the measurement markers (2).

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight. The launch and retrieval system includes a modular multicopter, a storage and launch system, an anchor system, a flexible capture member, and an aircraft-landing structure. The multicopter is attachable to the fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launching the fixed-wing aircraft into free, wing-borne flight. The storage and launch system is usable to store the multicopter (when disassembled) and to act as a launch mount for the fixed-wing aircraft by retaining the fixed-wing aircraft in a desired launch orientation. The anchor system is usable with the multicopter, the flexible capture member, and the aircraft-landing structure to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight.

A guide-equipped belt includes: a flat belt portion; a guide portion that is made of an elastic material and protrudes along a longitudinal direction on a surface of the flat belt portion face to a pulley; and a guide covering material that is made of a knitted fabric, includes a dense mesh such that the guide covering material is not embedded in the elastic material constituting the guide portion, and covers a surface of the guide portion, in which at a top portion of the guide portion where the guide covering material is exposed to an outside, a recess gently inclined from corners of the top portion to a center of the top portion is formed along the longitudinal direction.