Abstract: A method is disclosed for establishing heat treatment of a weld or glue connection between two mutually adjacent surfaces of components, for instance tubes, using respectively an adhesive material, for instance plastic, more particularly epoxy resin. Heat is supplied around or close to the weld surfaces for connecting. In order to measure the correct quantity of supplied heat and prior to the heat supply, a test loop (10) is arranged around the weld. The loop is provided with a temperature-sensitive interrupter (13) and an electric fuse (14) connected in parallel thereto. A predetermined time after the interrupter has responded as a result of the correct temperature being reached, a current surge is passed through the safety fuse in the loop, so that it is possible to determine precisely whether the welding has been carried out for a sufficiently long time and with sufficient heat.

Abstract: A scanning device has a field-replaceable antenna provided in a door/antenna module. The housing of the device has an outer shell defining an interior space and an access opening extending through the shell and communicating with the space. The door is removably secured to an outer surface of the shell and covers the access opening. An antenna is carried by the door and has a cable extending therefrom into the space. The cable has an outer end with a connector configured to engage a component located in the space. The door is attached to the shell by means of a pair of screw fasteners. The antenna may be externally and pivotally mounted on the door or mounted internally in the door. Preferably, the door has a gasket that seals against an outer surface of the shell to seal the access opening.

Abstract: A hand-held scanner incorporates a cellular telephone module. The scanner communicates with a host which serves as a reading or data distribution device. This permits the use of a cableless scanner for low powered and secure wireless transmission. The scanner is able to take advantage of the existing design features of a local cellular network. One mode of operation allows the connection to be limited to an amount of time corresponding to that required for transferring of the data.

Abstract: A dual technology printer includes first and second print stations having a polychromatic print engine and a monochromatic print engine, respectively. The print engines are preferably an ink jet print engine and a thermal print engine. A variable length media queue is formed between the two print stations. The queue may be formed by a guide roller that defines a loop of media between the stations and that is movable to adjust the length of the loop and thereby the length of the queue. Preferably, the second print station has a predetermined pixel addressability and a resolution substantially equal to the addressability to produce sharp borders for machine readable symbologies. In a printing operation, the printing of color images at the first print station may be carried out ahead of demand for a particular batch printing operation during which monochromatic images are printed at the second print station.

Abstract: A lollipop comprises a ball of hard candy and an edible stick having a first end extending into a cavity in the ball. The stick comprises pressed candy and a multiplicity of confectionary chips interspersed in the pressed candy. The stick is preferably received into a plastic sleeve to provide a lollipop assembly in which the stick is protected from direct contact while the candy ball is being eaten. In the manufacture of the lollipop, a plurality of book molds are positioned in a line and linked together for simultaneous opening and closing. A plurality of nozzles inject hot syrup into the molds. When the syrup has cooled and the sticks have been anchored therein, the molds are inverted and opened to allow the lollipops to drop out. The manufacture operation is automated and synchronized for maximum efficiency.

Abstract: An ejector is operable to move an ejector member against a data card in engagement with a connector to move the card along a pathway into an ejected position out of engagement with the connector. A latch member is mounted on the connector and has a blocking portion with a latch position in which it extends into the pathway to block movement of the card. The ejector includes a slide button that engages a lever to pivot the lever so that one end of the lever pushes on the card to push the card toward its ejected position. The positive latch action of the latch member prevents such movement unless the latch member is disengaged. The latch member preferably includes a leaf spring having a spring force that resists movement of its free outer end from a blocking position. A projection on the spring may be engaged to depress the spring into an unlatch position.

Abstract: A plurality of scan lines is used to detect characteristic features of a checkerboard structure or similar pattern structure of symbology within a field of view. The scan lines cross leading edges of the symbology which provides signals to a plurality of processors. The processors detect instances wherein sequential leading edges exhibit angular shifts corresponding to a pattern of the symbology. A further processor is used to detect when a coincidence of these angular shifts occur, thereby providing an indication of the location of the symbology within the field of view.

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: A hand-held scanning device, such as a pistol-type bar code reader, has a housing having an outer shell defining an interior space. An outer opening in the shell communicates with the space. A tray has an inner portion and an outer closure portion with a sealing surface. The inner portion is sized and shaped to be introducible into and removable from the interior space through the opening. The outer closure portion is dimensioned to close the opening when the inner portion is in the space. The sealing surface sealingly engages an outer surface of the shell to protect the interior space and a component mounted on the inner portion from environmental contamination. The tray is easily removable from the device housing, and the component is easily demountable, to allow for quick and easy replacement of the component and/or tray. The closure portion may be provided with an access opening for a memory card to provide an interface between the component and other elements of the device carried by the housing.

Abstract: A sounding toy has a sounding member body that defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced internal cavities (12), each of which is enclosed except for a side opening (10) communicating therewith. A pair of flexible cords (30) extend axially through a center portion of the body (2). The cavities (12) and side openings (10) are configured to produce a whistling sound when the sounding member (2) is caused to rotate by winding and then tightening the cords (30). The geometry of the body (2) is chosen to force air into the cavities (12) when the body (2) is rotating in either direction about its axis.

Abstract: A confection device includes a body of confection, such as hard candy, pivotally mounted on a housing. The candy pivots between a position in which it is in a carrying space defined by the housing and a position in which it extends from an end of the housing ready for consumption in the manner of a conventional sucker. When the candy is in the carrying space, the open side of the housing is preferably closed by a cover to protect the candy against contamination.

Abstract: A vibration resistant mounting bracket has a base attachable to a support structure by bolts. Isolator bushings are positioned in the mounting holes in the bracket to isolate the bracket from shocks and vibration. A pair of arms project perpendicularly from the base. Each arm has a round opening and an arcuate opening concentric with the round opening. A first fastener pivotably connects a terminal to each arm of the bracket at a pivot axis defined by the round openings. A second fastener has a shaft extending through the arcuate opening and into a second threaded opening in the terminal. The second fastener may be tightened and loosened to secure the terminal in a pivot position relative to the bracket and release the terminal from the pivot position to change to a different pivot position.

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: A raised road marker has a flat bottom surface with an outer periphery. At least one cavity opens onto the bottom surface laterally inwardly of the periphery and extends upwardly into the marker body. A venting groove extends along the bottom surface from the cavity to the periphery to provide a vent for air trapped in the cavity when the marker is urged into a pool of adhesive to secure the marker to a roadway. The venting of air provides a stronger bond between the marker and adhesive. Markers having a rounded top surface may be provided with a flat bottom portion with abutment surfaces to facilitate movement of a line of the markers in an automated system.

Abstract: A building component suitable as ceiling, wall, roof and/or floor element, wherein the element is embodied as heat exchanger provided with guide ducts for a heat-bearing fluid, a plate carrying the ducts and fixing means, which building component can be assembled with more than one in a frame into a construction module such that a space for bounding can be provided at random with a heatable or coolable floor, wall or ceiling construction.

Abstract: A printer has a print station and a guide path extending from a media roll station to the print station. Guide apparatus includes an inner edge guide extending along and defining an inner side edge portion of the path. In one embodiment, lateral tracking of the media through the print station is provided by a retractable outer edge guide. The outer edge guide automatically retracts when media is moved into the path through the outer side thereof. The outer edge guide is adjustable to firmly grip the opposite edges of the media between the inner and outer edge guides. In another embodiment, there is no outer edge guide. Instead, one or more tracking wheels are urged against a face of media moving along the path. The wheels are canted in order to provide a laterally inward force on the media. The laterally inward force automatically urges the media against the inner edge guide in both directions of media motion.

Abstract: A raised road marker has a flat bottom surface with an outer periphery. At least one cavity opens onto the bottom surface laterally inwardly of the periphery and extends upwardly into the marker body. A venting groove extends along the bottom surface from the cavity to the periphery to provide a vent for air trapped in the cavity when the marker is urged into a pool of adhesive to secure the marker to a roadway. The venting of air provides a stronger bond between the marker and adhesive. For markers having a rounded top surface, there is preferably an indexing projection on the top surface and a complementary recess on the bottom surface. This enables interlocking of a plurality of markers in a vertical stack to prevent tilting of the markers.

Abstract: A lollipop has a stem configured to represent a creature, which may be a distorted monster. A gripping portion of the stem extends between a lower base and an upper head portion. The upper head portion is surrounded by a body of candy that makes the actual size of the head portion appear to be larger. The base preferably has a flat bottom surface to enable the lollipop and/or stem to stand by itself on a flat support surface. The body of candy is preferably spherical with a reduced diameter lower cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A device for strapping a plurality of packets with a band includes a frame and a lying conveyor belt supported by the frame for moving the packets forward. A pair of band clamping and guiding jaws move toward and away from each other transversely of the belt. A band supply reel is associated with the jaws. A welding device coacts with the jaws for welding band portions together. Each jaw has a clamping surface that runs transversely relative to the forward direction and coacts with a counter-surface of an intermediate body carried by one of the jaws. A portion of the clamping surface and the counter-surface extend obliquely relative to the forward direction. One of the surfaces has tooth-like protrusions.

Abstract: A tool rack has a vertical mounting member securable to a vertical surface of a support structure, such as a wall. A horizontal support wall projects forwardly from a lower portion of the mounting member. The support wall is bifurcated and has a vertical opening extending therethrough configured to receive the handle of a tool to allow the head of the tool to be moved into a position in which it is supported by a top surface of the support wall. The rack has side walls extending downwardly from opposite side edge portions of the support wall. Each side wall is substantially coextensive with the support wall in a forward direction and has a rear vertical edge that is a continuation of a rear edge of the mounting member to provide a vertically continuous line of support above and below the support wall.