Abstract: This is a cutter assembly for linerless strip media having an uncovered adhesive backing. There is a cutter for transverse movement across the media and a backing bar with at least two cutting edges. The backing bar can be rotated to place one of the cutting edges in contact with the cutter. A cleaning station cleans the previously used cutting edge as the bar is rotated. Rotating and fixed cutters can be used. The cutter is replaceable and can be supplied in combination with as associated media for which it is designed. The cutter may partially cut the media to make it separate without fouling the cutter with adhesive. A self-healing "solid" roller is also disclosed.

Abstract: An easily findable 2-dimensional bar code is disclosed comprising a 2-dimensional bar code; and, a 1-dimensional bar code directly associated with the 2-dimensional bar code at a known distance and orientation with respect to a starting location of the 2-dimensional bar code whereby the 1-dimensional bar code acts as a locator for the 2-dimensional bar code. In one embodiment, the 1-dimensional bar code is incorporated as part of the 2-dimensional bar code into a hybrid bar code. The 1-dimensional bar code may contain information defining decoding of the 2-dimensional bar code. The 2-dimensional bar code may contain information supplemental to information in the 1-dimensional bar code. The 2-dimensional bar code may also contain information redundant to information in said 1-dimensional bar code. Further, the 1-dimensional bar code contains information required for decoding of the 2-dimensional bar code whereby a greater percentage of the 2-dimensional bar code is available to contain data.

Abstract: This is a printer for printing on a printing face of a strip media having adhesive on a back face opposite the printing face. There is a moving surface of a release material which does not bond to the adhesive extending linearly between an entrance and an exit of a print zone to provide a temporary liner supporting strip media within the print zone. A drive mechanism moves the strip media through the print zone in combination with the temporary liner. A printhead is located within the print zone for printing on strip media within the print zone. Finally there is a member which non-contactingly releases strip media emerging from the print zone from the temporary liner.

Abstract: A hand-held, dual-mode barcode scanner for two dimensional barcodes. A supplemental switch activatable by the user changes the function being performed by the scanner. In one implementation, the barcode data is used to reprogram the scanner's logic when the supplemental switch is activated. The preferred embodiment employs a light-activated switch that is turned on by the user placing his/her finger/thumb over an opening in the scanner case. An infrared-activated version of the switch is also shown.

Abstract: This is a cutter assembly for linerless strip media having an uncovered adhesive backing. There is a cutter mounted for transverse movement across the media and a backing bar with at least two cutting edges. The backing bar can be rotated to place one of the cutting edges in position to cooperate with the cutter to cut the media. The backing bar is rotatable about a transverse axis simultaneously with feed movement of the media at a rotational speed equal to the feed speed of the media. This causes the media to ride up on a pointed portion of a cutting edge without dragging across the cutting edge as the cutting edge moves into a use position in which the media is supported by a support surface of the cutting edge. A cleaning station cleans the previously used cutting edge as the bar is rotated. Rotating and fixed cutters can be used. The cutter is replaceable and can be supplied in combination with an associated media for which it is designed.

Abstract: This invention relates to printers for printing on and cutting linerless, adhesive-backed, strip media. Described and claimed are methods and apparatus related to--(1) bridges for bridging a platen roller to minimize its exposed surface to the adhesive, (2) a printing station wherein the printhead moves over stationary media, (3) media having non-activated adhesive and a printer which activates the adhesive only after printing on and cutting the media, and (4) media having the adhesive in strips with non-adhesive gaps between and a cutting or tearing station for separating finished labels at the gaps.

Abstract: In a building having a roof with multiple spaced rafters sitting on side walls, this is apparatus for holding the roof on the side walls both vertically and horizontally during high side wind forces. There are plurality of attachment fixtures carried by respective ones of opposite ends of adjacent rafters along a length of the roof. A plurality of ground anchors are disposed at respective ones of ends of the rafters opposite the opposite ends carrying the plurality of attachment fixtures. Finally, a plurality of straps are connected between respective ones of the plurality of attachment fixtures and the plurality of ground anchors. The straps are releasably attached so that they can be stored and only be attached when a hurricane or the like is likely. The attachment fixtures distribute forces to the whole rafter end and avoid rafter-splitting forces.

Abstract: A lightweight stacking table with folding legs. There are a pair of unitary plastic H-shaped legs each having a pair of leg portions separated by a cross-piece. There is a unitary plastic top having a flat top surface and a waffle-patterned under-structure. The under-structure has a pair of mirror imaged H-shaped slots therein holding the pair of H-shaped legs. The top has side edges which angle down and slightly outward from a top edge at the periphery of the top surface and has a curved bottom edge which grips the top edge of a second table when two tables are stacked one upon the other. The H-shaped legs are separately pivotable between stored positions within the H-shaped slots and support positions out of the H-shaped slots supporting the top by four pivot pins through bores in the under-structure and bores top ends of the leg portions.

Abstract: A printed wire electrostatic printing transducer having two or more rows of styli together defining the recording stylus configuration and an associated method for producing such a transducer by printed circuit techniques. Provision is made for the integration of counter electrodes and multiplexing circuitry with the transducer in a single package.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for determining edges of tags/labels carried by a backing strip over a fixed surface. The method comprises the steps of, disposing a sensor above the fixed surface measuring the distance to a surface passing beneath it and outputting a first signal reflecting the distance; receiving and amplifying the first signal to a usable level second signal and outputting the second signal; and, receiving and comparing changes in the second signal to a pre-established threshold amount and outputting a third signal indicating an edge has been found when the second signal changes more than the pre-established threshold amount. Contacting and non-contacting approaches to accomplishing the measurement are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing passive protection against accidental needle-stick for a hypodermic needle extending from a hub. There is a tip protector comprising a cross-piece disposed transverse to the needle having an elongated first bore therethrough through which the needle passes and having a bell-shaped tip-guard extending from the cross-piece concentrically about the first bore and covering a tip portion of the needle with the tip protector in an extended position. The tip protector is slidably moveable along the needle supported by the elongated first bore between the extended position and a retracted position with the tip portion of the needle exposed for use. Guide apparatus guides the tip protector between the extended position and the retracted position. A coil spring biases the tip protector to the extended position. A releasable lock automatically and releasably locks the tip protector in the extended position when the tip protector moves to the extended position from a position retracted therefrom.

Abstract: A unitary shipping label, product information label, and packing slip for an article to be shipped comprises an adhesive label strip having a first panel portion, a second panel portion, a third panel portion, and a fourth panel portion. Addressee information and product identification information are printed on the first panel portion and packing list information is printed on the remaining panel portions as necessary. The releasable liner has perforations and slits therethrough defining the panel portions and top and bottom removable strips for the second and fourth panel portions. In use, the top and bottom removable strips for the fourth panel portion are removed, the fourth panel portion is folded over the third panel portion, and the fourth panel portion and the third panel portion in combination are folded over the second panel portion adhesively attaching the fourth panel portion to the second panel portion along their top and bottom edges.

Abstract: An adjustable printhead-carrying yoke for a printer which permits dynamic adjusting of the printhead's fore and aft and skew positions. There is a fixed yoke portion carried by the printer and a movable yoke portion carrying the printhead. There is also fore and aft adjusting apparatus for moving the movable yoke portion thereby adjusting the printhead's fore and aft position while the printhead is printing and skew adjusting apparatus for moving the movable yoke portion thereby adjusting the printhead's skew while the printhead is printing.

Abstract: This invention provides a family of improvements to video security systems. In a first embodiment, a television set employed for normal television viewing is switched to be the monitor of the security system only upon the happening of a security violation event as sensed by a sensor. I one variation thereof, the switching capability is built into a dual-deck VCR along with the ability to reset the system to normal television watching by means of the remote control for the VCR. In another embodiment, the video cameras of the system are made easily adjustable and relocateable by the use of a bi-directional wireless transmission system linking the cameras to the base station and monitor. Video is sent from the cameras and control signals to adjust the field of view of the cameras are sent without the need for connecting cables.

Abstract: A device for indicating the phase of the a full-frequency alternating current (AC) magnetic field signal transmitting from the pointing device of a cordless digitizer and for determining if the phase of a half-frequency alternating current (AC) magnetic field signal transmitting from the pointing device is approximately the same or approximately inverted from an immediately preceding half-frequency signal from the pointing device. The indication of the phase of the full-frequency pointing device signal is used by the digitizer logic circuits to determine the location of the pointing device on the tablet's sensing surface. The information concerning the change in phase of the half-frequency signal is used by the digitizer logic circuits to decode the status of various pointing device buttons. If the phase in the induced half-frequency signal is unchanged from the last, this no-change condition represents one binary state. If the phase has changed, the condition represents the other binary state.

Abstract: In a mechanical device in which a member is moved by an electrical actuator through an electronic and mechanical linkage, apparatus for compensating for changes in system gain to allow precision movement with non-precision components. There a sensor for accurately determining positions of the member, control logic connected to provide a control signal to the actuator, and an adjustable gain control for adjusting the gain of the control signal. Compensation logic is connected to receive positional signals from the sensor, for applying a control signal to the actuator to move the member to a target position closest to a desired final position, for adjusting the gain of the control signal with the adjustable gain control until the member is located at the target position within acceptable tolerance limits, and for then employing that gain to move the member to the desired final position. The method associated with the apparatus can be done in real-time or by pre-calibrating in advance.

Abstract: Apparatus and an associated method for ascertaining the operational status of a pen in a vector plotter in which a pen is moved into contact with a paper web at a test location, the pen is moved relative to the web and an optical detector is used to determine whether or not the pen is drawing a line on the web. The web is moved from a supply roll to a take-up roll to move the test area on the web to an optical testing location. The absence of a line after a pre-determined period of web movement time signals the inoperative status of the pen and the detection of a line by the pen within that pre-determined period of movement time signals that the pen is operative. Quality and proper line width of the line can also be determined.

Abstract: A torso-covering tube garment capable of selectively fully-covering or partially-covering the lower torso of a wearer. There is a torso-covering tube garment of a foldable material having a bottom portion covering the wearer's torso and fasteners for releasably holding the lower portion of the bottom portion against its upper portion to expose the wearer's torso for ventilating. In one version, the bottom portion folds over upon itself in thirds and exposes an outer surface of a bottom one third of the bottom portion when in the raised position and a message is on the outer surface of the bottom one third of the bottom portion whereby the message is visible when the bottom portion is in the raised position and the lowered position.

Abstract: This is a pen cursor structure for a positional digitizing device such as a digitizing tablet or a pen-driven computer. It comprises a structure of an electrically insulating material having a plurality of areas for receiving and carrying electrical components, an inner structure having a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the areas and a plurality of electrical traces interconnecting the plurality of electrical contacts. The structure is curved about a longitudinal axis to fit within an outer, hollow, pen-shaped housing.

Abstract: An integrated voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit which utilizes the relative capacitance ratio between capacitors and the relative resistance ratio between resistors in an integrated circuit (IC) to output a signal having a predictable frequency for a given control signal voltage. The VCO output frequency will not vary more than 3.0% from one IC chip implementing the VCO circuit, to the next. This low variance between IC chips is derived from the phenomenon whereby the respective ratios of capacitance and resistance between capacitors and resistors in the IC will not vary more than .+-.1.5% from the ratios of like capacitors and resistors on other IC chips. The integrated VCO circuit includes a control signal subcircuit, integrator subcircuit, filter subcircuit, and comparator unit subcircuit.