Abstract: A machine for grinding the peripheries of ophthalmic lenses to predetermined outlines is characterized by a head having a rotatable workholder for moving an edge of a lens against a rough grinding or finishing wheel and a pattern holder positioned vertically above the workholder for controlling movement of the lens toward and away from the grinding wheel. The head is mounted for horizontal, vertical and pivotal movement, is allowed to freely pivot during finishing or bevel edging of a lens but not during rough grinding, and is automatically locked against pivotal movement upon completion of bevel edging so that the lens may, if required, be returned to the same position against the finishing wheel.

Abstract: A plural component air spray gun is characterized by a spray head assembly that has a pair of hemispherically shaped fluid outlet orifices, the straight sides of which are facing, parallel and separated by a relatively thin wall. Each orifice receives a respective one of two liquid materials delivered through associated liquid supply passages, and the passages are inclined so that streams of liquid emitted from the orifices come together a short distance beyond the orifices. Air emitted from an atomizing air orifice surrounding the two fluid orifices mixes and breaks up the liquid material streams into an atomized conical spray. To form the conical spray into a fan-shaped pattern, an air cap directs air jets against opposite sides of the spray.

Abstract: An ice portion control for an ice dispenser is characterized by a chute having an upper end for receiving ice and a lower end. With the chute filled with ice, to vend a desired quantity of ice a dispensing gate at the lower end of the chute is opened for a selected one of a plurality of timed periods of durations selected to dispense from the chute associated predetermined quantities of ice. Adjusting the lengths of the timed periods varies the quantities of ice vended.

Abstract: A double talk detector for echo cancellers monitors the ratio of four wire transmit in energy to transmit out energy (ERLE), along with the change and direction of change of an estimated impulse response, to control updating of the estimated inpulse response. When the ERLE is low and the directional change of the impulse response is high, indicating an end path switch, the double talk detector enables the estimated impulse response to be updated. If the directional change of the impulse response and the ERLE are both low, indicating the occurrence of double talk, the detector inhibits updating of the impulse response until either the ERLE becomes sufficiently high, indicating single talk, or the directional change of the impulse response becomes sufficiently large, indicating an inconverged state of the canceller. The arrangement allows convergence of the echo canceller to be properly controlled both in response to double talk and to changes in the impulse response of the end path.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system has a plurality of dispensing faucets, each of which is supplied with carbonated water (soda) and a selected flavor of syrup. The syrups and soda are chilled upstream of the faucets, and after chilling the soda is introduced into a manifold from which it is distributed to each faucet. In order that a warm beverage will not be dispensed from a faucet as a result of the soda becoming warm downstream from the point of chilling upon the system standing idle for a period of time, soda is withdrawn from the manifold either continuously or periodically to maintain the soda downstream from the chilling point in a cold state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for machine polishing plastic ophthalmic lenses to a translucent finish using a polishing wheel with 7 micron or less sized diamond particles held in a binder, such as a resin or bronze. The polishing wheels of the present invention may be in the form of a wheel for polishing edges of the lenses, or a wheel called a generator tool or bell for polishing the optical surfaces of the lenses. Either form of wheel may also be used on glass lenses. Each form may be used on a special ophthalmic machine adapted for its use, which may be capable of automatic or semi-automatic operation, to easily and quickly produce finished lenses. With the generator form polishing wheel of the present invention, a new type ophthalmic machine may be made using generator tools for both forming or cutting and finer finishing or polishing the optical surfaces of either, or both, plastic and glass lenses.

Abstract: A floor maintenance machine has a base, an electric motor on the base for moving a floor treating element and a handle connected to the base. Carried by the handle are an electric switch for connecting electric power to the motor, a pair of manually movable hand levers for controlling actuation of the switch, and a safety latch and an interlock mechanism for preventing and enabling movement of the hand levers to actuate the switch. The safety latch normally blocks movement of the hand levers from off to on positions to actuate the switch, but may be manually moved to a release position out of blocking relationship with the hand levers.

Abstract: A barrier fabric is provided which is impermeable to liquids and permeable to vapor. A polymer film is laminated to a porous fibrous web. The composite web is then needled repeatedly with fine conical needles to provide micropores through the film.

Abstract: An adjustable comb and buttplate assembly for shoulder firearms, such as shotguns, having a stock and a recoil reducing or absorbing means at the butt end of the stock, comprises a buttplate slidably and removably mounted at the rear of the stock in engagement with the recoil absorbing means, a comb slidably mounted on the stock and interengaged with the butt plate for retaining the buttplate on the stock, the comb and buttplate being slidable as a unit relative to the stock so that the comb and buttplate may remain stationary relative to the shooter's head and body when the firearm and its stock recoil upon firing of the firearm, the comb being capable of disassociation from the buttplate to accomodate removal of the buttplate and replacement of the same by another buttplate providing a different stock length and/or a different pitchdown angle for the firearm, and means accessible from the exterior of the firearm and the stock, comb and buttplate for varying the elevation of the comb relative to the stock, t

Abstract: Batter-based baked goods, such as brownies, are produced by subjecting a microwave-transparent pan containing unbaked and non-frozen batter to microwave energy in a microwave oven. The oven has a klystron transmitting energy at a frequency having a wave length, in inches, equal to .lambda.. The pan, which is free of sharp corners, has bottom and side walls and an open top for receiving the batter, and has its bottom wall and thus the batter spaced apart from the interior bottom wall of the oven by a microwave transparent spacer means. The bottom and side walls confine the batter in the pan to predetermined height, width and length dimensions such that each dimension is a multiple of the quarter wavelength .lambda./4 of the frequency of the microwave energy applied to the batter; preferably such that one dimension, in inches, is a .lambda./4, where A is an odd integer from 1 to 15, another one of the dimensions is B .lambda./4 where B is an even integer from 2 to 12, and the remaining dimension is C .lambda.

Abstract: A weatherproof roofing membrane, and method for constructing the same, comprises a plurality of layers of extensible reinforcing fabric bonded together with an elastomeric polymer, at least the bottom layer, but not the top layer, of the layers of fabric being spot anchored to the roof to form a continuous weatherproof membrane that is durable, light weight, flexible and fire retardant, and has a high degree of solar reflectivity.

Abstract: A machine for grinding the peripheries of ophthalmic lenses to predetermined outlines is characterized by a head having a rotatable workholder for moving an edge of a lens against a rough grinding or finishing wheel and a pattern holder positioned vertically above the workholder for controlling movement of the lens toward and away from the grinding wheel. The head is mountd for horizontal, vertical and pivotal movement, is allowed to freely pivot during finishing or bevel edging of a lens but not during rough grinding, and is automatically locked against pivotal movement upon completion of bevel edging so that the lens may, if required, be returned to the same position against the finishing wheel.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus for use with prerecorded media or material, such as audio or video tape, to be selectively played through a conventional player/recorder, such as an audio or video tape player, is disclosed. The play of the prerecorded material in the conventional player is controlled by a token operated unit which contains switching circuits to selectively connect the player to a monitor, such as a speaker or ear or headphones, in the case of an audio message, and a television type monitor in the case of a video message. The prerecorded material and tokens interrelated with other game paraphernalia, such as a game board, etc., as desired to provide a game which includes an audio and/or video output as part of the game engineering.

Abstract: A brake bleeder valve which is adapted to be temporairily and releasably connected to a standard brake bleeder screw and/or to a threaded outlet opening in a master cylinder for quickly bleeding a wheel cylinder or caliper and/or the master cylinder is disclosed. The bleeder valve may be molded in one piece body of a flexible or resilient material, such as rubber or the like, and may utilize a duckbill type one-way valve formed therein to permit the flow of air and fluid from the item being bled, but prevent the return of any air. The bleeder valve is particularly useful in bleeding automotive, aircraft or other brake systems.

Abstract: A partial or full length sail batten includes a pair of elongated flexible members disposed on opposite sides of the sail together with fasteners to secure the members together through the body of the sail.

Abstract: A joystick controller for generating analog signals representative of coordinate positions is characterized by a pair of members movable in orthogonal directions by a handle. Each member carries at least one wiper contact adapted to slide linearly along an associated linearly extending resistor carried on a circuit board to generate the signals representative of coordinate positions. The use of linearly extending resistors for generating the signals, as compared with rotary potentiometers, provides for a reduction in size of the joystick controller, economies in its manufacture, and a high degree of linearity between handle positions and the signals generated.

Abstract: A coater for applying liquid coating material onto a paper web carried across an upstream dip roll applicator that applies an excess layer of coating onto the surface of the web, is cahracterized by an improved downstream doctor assembly for metering and leveling the coating of the web. The doctor assembly includes a doctor blade having a top extended agianst and across the web, and a shear plate just upstream of the blade. The shear plate has a surface facing toward but spaced from the web and a ramp on the surface extending toward the web. As the coating layer on the web contacts the doctor blade, excess coating removed from the web by the blade bounces back off of the blade, flows across the shear plate surface and is deflected by the ramp against the web to rewet the excess coating layer on the web before it reaches the blade.

Abstract: A hopper and agitator assembly for an ice dispenser is characterized by an ice storage hopper having at least two ice dispensing openings and dual rotary agitators in the hopper for urging ice bodies through the openings during dispensing operations. The agitators are mounted side by side for rotation in a common plane and have radially extending arms, the ends of which sweep past the dispensing openings. By using dual agitators, the hopper may have a length considerably greater than its width, so that even when the dispensing openings are toward opposite ends of the hopper, the ends of the agitator arms still sweep closely past the openings to efficiently urge ice through the openings.

Abstract: A modular color changer provides selected paint colors for spraying and recirculates nonselected colors. A module is provided for each paint color to be selected, and each module has an inlet for connection with a respective supply of paint, a recirculate outlet, a delivery outlet and a single valve member. The valve member may be selectively engaged with either a first or a second seat, depending upon whether paint at the inlet is to be directed to the recirculate outlet for return to the supply or to the delivery outlet for flow to a paint applicator. Solvent and air purge valves are upstream of the modules for cleaning the color changer of one color of paint in preparation for supplying another.