Abstract: A method of obtaining by use of a laser measuring apparatus position measurement error information of a body to be moved under computer control in a volumetric space along paths having designated measuring points for position error evaluation or correction. The method in a preferred form includes the steps of directing a laser beam in a given direction in said space and placing a laser beam reflector on the body to be moved in directions non-parallel to said direction, the reflector being sufficiently large that it will receive and reflect said directed laser beam back to said apparatus for actual reflector distance measurement along the beam path as said body is so moved. Then, with the computer of said system moving said body along said non-parallel paths measuring and recording with said apparatus the actual positions of said reflector along said beam path as the body reaches said various measuring points.

Abstract: The degree of accuracy a machine tool or the like is moved along a given path is determined by a unique preferably laser beam directing measuring system directing simultaneously or in sequence a laser beam parallel to the orthogonal axes of the two or three dimensional space in which the spindle or other object is to be moved in a path which can diverge appreciably in directions other than the directions of these axes. The beam directing means includes means which provides a measure of the actual positions the object has at various sampling times relative to the axis along which the beam is directed. This actual path position data is compared to the desired path position data used to program the object moving machine to determine the path position error at the sampling times involved.

Abstract: A system to build and provide an immediate electronic reward to a consumer's PC, Web-TV, Pager (or other electronic media) in return for some action taken by the consumer on the Internet. Typically the reward is manifested in the image of an Electronic Phone Card that contains free long distance calling minutes. The amount of the reward and the nature of the accompanying marketing message (printed and audio) are built in real time according to the consumer's actions or answers to survey questions on the Internet, thus making this an “intelligent” system. Free long distance calling may be added to an existing card or may be delivered in the form of a new card.

Abstract: A water backup monitoring system for a buried sewer line is provided, the sewer line being provided at a given point therealong with at least one overflow opening into which opening water which cannot be handled by the sewer line will rise and overflow. A manhole extends between the sewer line and the surface and surrounding said overflow opening to permit a man to gain access to the area of said overflow opening. A standpipe in the manhole communicates with the overflow opening, into which standpipe water rises when backflow conditions exist in the sewer line. A backflow-indicating tube is provided outside of this standpipe, and into which backflow water flows from the overflow opening so that the water in the backflow-indicating tube and the standpipe are at the same level. The tube provides an indication of the level of the water therein. A one-way valve in the tube permits water to rise in the tube, but prevents it from draining therefrom.

Abstract: A wall mountable frame comprises a rectangular pan-shaped frame including a main rectangular vertical rear wall having forwardly extending magnet-attracting marginal walls defining with said main wall a rectangular sign or poster receiving recess. Screw head-receiving holes are provided in said main vertical wall for receiving the heads of wall mounting anchoring screws which will be fully recessed in said holes, the defining walls of said holes being formed by rearwardly projection portions of said main vertical wall. Magnet bars are insertable along the inner margins of the marginal walls of the frame to hold the margins of sheet material upon said rear wall. Spacers are preferably in the form of double adhesive coated synthetic plastic foam strips are positioned behind said frame to extend along the margins of the rear wall of the frame. The strips space the hole-forming projecting portions of the rear wall from the mounting wall surface of the frame.

Abstract: A fuse comprises a housing filled with arc-quenching material, terminals at the opposite ends of said housing, and a fuse element assembly in the housing connected between the terminals. The fuse element assembly has at least one short circuit blowing section and a center-melting slow blowing section, both disposed within an unpartitioned space in the housing, so that the entire body of arc-quenching material affects the short circuit blowing section of the fuse. The slow blowing fuse section has a surrounding layer of thermoplastic material which prevents the oxidation thereof and becomes plastic at the melting temperature of the time delay element. During the fuse element melting attendant to blowout, plastic deformation allows necessary geometric change in fuse element shape and facilitates collapse of the slow blowing fuse section.

Abstract: A stacking machine includes a pair of gripping jaws that are openable and closable to grip a leading edge of an article and move it to a stacking position. The jaws are moved between a gripping position and a release position by a fluid cylinder assembly and are automatically moved to an intermediate position when the jaws are moved to receive an article. Air flow is used to straighten the trailing part of the article on the stack. The gripping jaws are moved between an article receiving position and an article discharge position by a pneumatic cylinder assembly that will accommodate variations in stack height.

Abstract: A hangrod system, suspended from one or more generally vertically disposed standards having a plurality of vertically spaced bracket support apertures, comprising one or more brackets, each preferably having a tubular main body portion supported by and extending horizontally from a standard. At the rear end of each bracket body portion is a preferably plate-like, hook-forming insert member which interfits with one or more of the slots in the standard. The front end of each of the brackets includes means, such as a vertically oriented plate-like support member with an upwardly extending tongue, which fills the corresponding interior space of either a tubular hangrod which interfits therewith, or a stop member when the bracket is to form a hangrod, for hanger-supported garments. The hangrod or stop member has a suitable slot to permit the tongue portion of the support member to interfit therewith.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to assemblies and sub-assemblies for incorporation into a chair, to a chair kit that comprises these assemblies and sub-assemblies, and to the chair itself. It includes substantially rectangular seat and back cushion sub-assemblies for incorporation into a chair. The seat and back cushion sub-assemblies may be readily removed from and replaced onto the chair itself, thereby facilitating the replacement of a rigidifying inner foam pad. The invention also includes a novel means of securing cushions to the chairs. This means comprises a rigid, substantially rectangular seat frame member having laterally opposed slots along its inner portion. At least one fixedly secured and at least one movably secured screw-receiving leg is attached to this seat frame member.

Abstract: The caliper system in a booklet collating system automatically measures a new zero position before measuring the thickness of a following booklet or booklets to eliminate a zero-offset error otherwise occuring from build-up of ink contaminants on the caliper rollers. The caliper rollers are preferably cylindrical and completely round. A reference roller projects into a window in a skirt of the conveyor. A measuring roller engages the reference roller through the window and is carried on one end of a pivoted, lightweight arm that reduces the inertia required to be moved to effect the measurement. The free end of the arm is coupled by a string-pulley arrangement to a shaft encoder producing electrical position signals corresponding to the movement of the measuring roller caused by the thickness of a booklet between the caliper rollers. The position signals are received by a caliper controller that subtracts the zero position signal from each thickness signal received, usually ten for each book.

Abstract: A tape looseness preventive device comprises a tape takeup reel base for rotation in response to insertion of a cassette pack into a tape player, a tape supply reel base, a head getting in pressure contact with a tape in the cassette pack a predetermined time later than the starting of rotation of the takeup reel base, and a braking mechanism locking the tape supply reel base unrotatable before full advancement of the head to the tape travelling path and unlocking the tape supply reel base upon the full advancement of the head.

Abstract: An improved fuse holder for cartridge electrical fuses features snap-in terminal clips which engage the side barrier walls of a unitary insulating mounting base. The barrier side walls partially shroud the clips from accidental contact by external objects. The metal rivet normally used to secure a fuse clip to a base is eliminated, permitting a lower fuse holder profile for a given voltage requirement. Optional additional subsequent hot-forming of a clip-engaging post on the base provides extra pull strength to the structure. A limited rotation capability of the clips facilitates fuse insertion without breakage.

Abstract: A modular fuseblock furnishes dovetail joint grooves and ridges that are accessible from above on both sides of the fuseblock. This provides for interlocking or joining additional fuseblocks on either side of a panel mounted fuseblock without unfastening the mounted fuseblock. Pilot grooves and ridges extending upwardly respectively from the dovetail grooves and ridges aid in engaging the dovetail groove and ridge joint means. Locking tabs on the sides of the fuseblock body detent joined fuseblocks to maintain them fixed in vertical position and end walls that ride in vertical tracks in the two side walls of the fuseblock prevent intrusion to the fuse clips and electrical connections from the ends of the fuseblock. An adapter provides mounting the fuseblock on a channel member while using the dovetail joint grooves and ridges. The adapter mounts on the channel member through rotational movement, and the fuseblock mounts on the adapter through translational movement.

Abstract: A fuseholder socket assembly including a side terminal with preferably a pair of helical knob contact finger-engaging surfaces for initially guiding a knob for movement in both axial and circumferential directions toward a locking position where a pair of J-shaped knob contact fingers can interlock with a socket body side terminal with not more than about one-half turn of the knob. The assembly includes a pair of axially inwardly facing abutment shoulders preferably formed by a pair of rigid channel-forming fixed fingers projecting from the side terminal and against which knob contact fingers are urged by a biasing means when the knob is turned into a final locking position and then released. Good electrical contact is preferably achieved by a pair of body side terminal outwardly axially projecting, radially outwardly deflectable resilient contact arms.

Abstract: A bayonet lock for retaining the knob of a fuseholder to an axial-insertion fuseholder body is formed by camming surfaces disposed in the walls of grooves formed in the walls of the insertion passage and on the surfaces of a knob extension which enters the passage. The engaging surfaces of the lock are of insulating material. Axial insertion and rotation of the knob retains an inserted fuse. Camming surfaces are provided so that upon rotation of the fuseholder knob in an unlocking direction, these camming surfaces cause an automatic outward ejection of the fuseholder knob. Additional camming surfaces are provided to assist in insertion so that when operator pressure is released from the knob, the knob compression spring forces the knob axially outward into engagement therewith, the surfaces being configured to provide a force urging the knob in the locking direction.

Abstract: A polarization fringe scanning digital interferometer includes an encoder r performing a phase polarization encoding on the wavefront coming from the optical component under test as it passes through the encoder. The encoded wavefront then passes through an analyzer into a video camera to produce electrical signals representing the interference pattern. The encoder includes in sequence, a polarizer having an adjustable polarization axis, a polarization film providing a polarization pinhole through the film and a quarter wave plate that preferably is a Fresnel plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for directing operators to a plurality of locations to gather data in a portable data collection apparatus. The method provides for data compression for efficient utilization of solid state memory in the apparatus and allows for the data describing the multiple accounts to be in variable numbers of fields and field lengths. The apparatus keyboard provides for sequential and random accessing of the accounts for data entry and display, and for listings of the different types of areas to be visited. Additionally, it provides for searching missed accounts and for locating a desired account in the record. Capabilities are provided for storing new accounts and identifying their location in the record. Specifically, the application for utility meter reading is disclosed, in which, data read from a plurality of utility meters is stored in the apparatus by the meter reader, and later transmitted to a data processor for billing purposes.

Abstract: An eject mechanism for ejecting automatically the tape cassette in a tape player, in which one of two switching gears disposed on both the sides of a gear plate and engaging with a forward/backward rotating gear is selectively engaged with an intermittent gear by said forward/backward rotating gear and said intermittent gear drives the driven mechanism for the eject operation, said intermittent gear being so constructed that it is locked only in the forward rotational direction.

Abstract: A simplified miniature camera features a spring-actuated shutter-striking slider member having a film-engaging finger integral therewith for engaging a film during film advance to move the striker member to an energized position. The slider member energizing spring is disposed to provide not only translational urging to the slider member, but also rotational urging to provide such film engagement. The film engaging member, as well as an arresting pawl configured to arresting engage the takeup spool gearing drive are all integral in a one-piece slider member slidably mounted to a post in the camera body. Exposure is initiated by operator actuation of a rotatable control member rotating the sliding member to disengage the film-engaging finger from its captured state in a film perforation, thereby releasing the slide to strike an impulse shutter.

Abstract: A substantially shortened camera for use with the 110 cassette is achieved by removing the customary dispensing spool chamber from the camera entirely, and by configuring the outer surface of the imaging station wall to closely correspond to the confronting wall of the dispensing chamber of the cassette. The rear portion of the camera is completely open to allow direct insertion of a cassette, and the customary loading door is completely eliminated. A storable slide is insertable to be captively retained by slide-engaging grooves so that the slide when inserted covers the otherwise open back of the camera. The slide retaining grooves are configured to lie in the film plane of an inserted cassette so that an inserted slide will strike a film-engaging cocking lever to actuate it to a cocking position. Insertion of the slide thus cocks the system for testing shutter operation with the cassette removed.