A drive gear assembly for a roll that is detachably supported in a machine body, the assembly comprising a drive gear mounted for a rotation about a stationary axis in the machine body, a driven gear mounted on an end portion of the roller, and a bearing formed in the machine body for supporting said end portion in an operative position in which the drive gear meshes with the driven gear, the assembly further comprising by a safety cover that is pivotally supported on the machine body to be movable between an active position in which it covers at least a part of the periphery of the driven gear, except a portion where the drive gear meshes with the driven gear, and an open position in which it permits an insertion of the end portion of the roll into the bearing, the cover being elastically biased into the open position and having an engagement surface arranged to be engaged by at least one of the roll and the driven gear for holding the cover in the active position as long as the roll is in the operative position.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spring loaded retractable device comprising a frame, a movable part hinged to a first pin and comprising an opening radially aligned to the first pin, wherein a strap is movable through the opening, and wherein the movable part is configured to move from a first position into a second position by rotating around an axis of rotation due to friction between the movable part and the moving strap.

A method for moving a stack of products by a robot. The robot has an articulated arm and at least one gripper disposed on the articulated arm for gripping the stack of products. The stack of products is turned, before being moved by the robot, with a pivoting device that is separate from the robot. The stack of products is turned about a horizontal axis and the stack of products, while out of the horizontal orientation, is aligned and/or straightened in one direction and/or straightened in two mutually orthogonal directions and/or vibrated and/or aerated and/or modified from a fanned-out stack of products to become an unfanned stack of products. The robot then takes the stack from the pivoting device and subsequently moves the stack.

A method moves a stack of products by a robot. The robot has an articulated arm and at least one gripper disposed on the articulated arm to grip the stack of printed products and the stack of products selectively being turned. The method includes pivoting the stack of products through an effective angle ?1< >180? and subsequently pivoting the stack through an effective angle ?2=180???1 or pivoting the stack back through an effective angle ?2=??1. This method of moving stacks of products is performed in an automated way and in particular of depositing them in a turned or unturned arrangement.

A tape applicator including a main frame, and a knife arm assembly. The knife arm assembly may include a magnet mounted in a stationary position relative to the main frame, and a knife arm pivotally mounted to the main frame. A blade may be mounted to the knife arm. A guard may be rotationally connected to the knife arm and configured to rotate between a closed position covering the blade and an open position exposing the blade. A spring may bias the guard toward the closed position. A catch may be associated with the guard comprising ferromagnetic material. The catch may be attracted to the magnet to open the guard as the knife arm swings to a cutting position.

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion, a sheet conveying portion, a first airflow generating portion, a setting processing portion, and a first drive processing portion. The fixing portion heats a sheet on which a toner image has been transferred to fix the toner image to the sheet. The sheet conveying portion conveys a sheet along a conveyance path that leads to a sheet discharge port via the fixing portion. The first airflow generating portion includes a first fan and generates an airflow flowing upstream from the fixing portion in a conveyance direction of the sheet. The setting processing portion sets a drive speed of the first fan based on either or both of a sheet size, and a conveyance interval at which the sheet conveying portion conveys the sheet. The first drive processing portion drives the first fan at the drive speed set by the setting processing portion.

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion, a sheet conveying portion, a first airflow generating portion, a setting processing portion, and a first drive processing portion. The fixing portion heats a sheet on which a toner image has been transferred to fix the toner image to the sheet. The sheet conveying portion conveys a sheet along a conveyance path that leads to a sheet discharge port via the fixing portion. The first airflow generating portion includes a first fan and generates an airflow flowing upstream from the fixing portion in a conveyance direction of the sheet. The setting processing portion sets a drive speed of the first fan based on either or both of a sheet size, and a conveyance interval at which the sheet conveying portion conveys the sheet. The first drive processing portion drives the first fan at the drive speed set by the setting processing portion.

A rapid reaction hood system includes at least one linear conveyor and a hood attached to the at least one conveyor and including a slot configured to collect dust emissions. The rapid reaction hood system also includes at least one proximity sensor positioned on the hood and configured to detect a distance from the hood to a roll of material. The conveyor is configured to move the hood linearly in response to a detection by the at least one proximity sensor.

A sheet dispenser system having a roll of sheet material and a housing to receive the roll. The roll of sheet material comprises a first end portion incorporating a key, and the housing comprises a mounting portion arranged to support the first end portion of the roll and a support portion arranged to support a second end of the roll. The mounting portion comprises a tilting member pivotally coupled to the housing to define an operative position, in which the mounting portion and the support portion are aligned to support the roll in the housing, and a loading position, in which the mounting portion and the support portion are unaligned to inhibit support of the roll in the housing. The mounting portion comprises a block arrangement which is movable between a blocked condition, in which movement of the tilting member from the loading position to the operative position is inhibited, and an unblocked condition, in which movement of the tilting member from the loading position to the operative position is permitted. The mounting portion is arranged such that the roll is movable between an engaged condition, in which the key engages the mounting portion, and a disengaged condition, in which the key is disengaged from the mounting portion, such that, when the roll is moved from the disengaged to the engaged condition, the first end portion of the roll moves the block arrangement into the unblocked condition, thereby permitting movement of the tilting member from the loading position to the operative position.

A card reader may include card insertion port; a plurality of types of pulling-out detection mechanisms; and a pulling-out prevention mechanism. The pulling-out prevention mechanism may include a lock member having a prevention part configured to contact with the card and prevent pulling-out of the card; and a moving mechanism structured to move the lock member between a contact position and a retreated position. The plurality of types of the pulling-out detection mechanisms may the abnormal pulling-out of the card by methods different from each other. The lock member is moved to the contact position from the retreated position to prevent pulling-out of the card when the abnormal pulling-out of the card from the card insertion port is detected by the plurality of types of the pulling-out detection mechanisms.