Abstract: The cover and case of fusible material forming the enclosure for a semiconductor chip are provided with a hermetically sealed joint in the form of a "stitch" weld along the marginal edge of the cover by multiple impulse, overlapped spot welding, with the heat of the welding current confined to a zone spanning the distance between a pair of pressure-imparting electrodes and transmitted transversely of the side wall of the case, thereby avoiding heat transfer across the case with consequent damage to the circuitry, electrical devices, semiconductor material and other contents of the case. A special carrier provides a mount for the case and, through use of a template on the carrier and a drive associated with the template, the case and cover are advanced or indexed in small increments after each resistance weld cycle, relocating the package in readiness for the next succeeding welding step.

Abstract: A router is coupled to a pair of pivotally connected arms for free swinging movement about a horizontal plane in a space between a template and a workpiece. The router has an upwardly extending guide pin that is engageable with the template and a downwardly extending cutting bit which is concentric to the guide pin and engageable with the workpiece below. The template is in parallel, opposed relationship to the workpiece such that as the guide pin is moved about the template, the cutting bit simultaneously mills the workpiece to produce the sign. In preferred forms, a mirror carried by the router reflects an image of the guide pin to the machine operator during engagement with the template, and the mirror is also located in disposition relative to the operator's line of sight toward the cutting bit such that both the bit and the guide pin may be simultaneously observed.

Abstract: Compact, easily installable apparatus is disclosed for attachment to a conventional domestic hot water heater tank using only the preexisting threaded drain valve opening normally provided, in order to convert the heater into a simple storage tank and effect water heating externally of the existing heater in an indirect heat exchanger coupled to, for example, an existing boiler forming a part of a space heating system. In this fashion energy savings can be realized inasmuch as boiler water is used for heating the domestic water supplies, as opposed to separate firing of the hot water tank.

Abstract: A practice device for improving the shooting skills of basketball players is provided which effectively trains players in proper arm movement and follow-through for free throws and provides a realistic shooting "feel." The practice device advantageously includes a basketball rotationally coupled to an elongated support arm, the latter being pivotally mounted to an upright, adjustable frame. A shooting arm guide is also provided adjacent and generally below the basketball in the form of a pair of laterally spaced apart upright plates. In use, the shooter positions himself with his shooting arm within the guide and his hands in engagement with the ball in the normal shooting fashion. The ball is then pushed upwardly as in free throw shooting with the shooter's arm being maintained in a desirable upright orientation. The rotational mounting of the basketball also permits the shooter to practice the proper follow through as the ball leaves his hands.

Abstract: An offset printing press is provided with a novel dual form planetary inker having improved printing characteristics. In use, a plate cylinder rotates to initially contact an ink/water form roller and subsequently contact a second form roller which is devoted exclusively to ink. The ink form roller is operable to insure that voids caused by lint, dust and other debris in the ink train are covered by the second form roller; additionally, the ink form roller provides a second working nip through which a second layer of ink is averaged with the previously deposited ink layer, such that ghosting is substantially eliminated. Both of the form rollers as well as numerous distributor rollers are rotatably carried by a shiftable frame which is pivotally interconnected with a support that carries the plate cylinder.

Abstract: An improved method of growing acid-producing microorganisms (bacteria) used in cheese making is provided which gives enhanced bacterial counts and activities, and yields proper coccus/rod ratios in the case of mixed cultures used for making Italian cheeses such as mozzarella. The preferred method involves inoculating a starter medium with the appropriate microorganisms, followed by initial incubation until the pH of the medium drops to about 3.9-5.5; at this point the pH is raised to about 5.5-7.5, typically by the addition of a base such as sodium hydroxide. The medium is then allowed to further incubate to completion. In particularly preferred forms, the starter medium includes sweet whey, nonfat dry milk, and a minor proportion of lecithin, inasmuch as this medium gives enhanced results when used in conjunction with the improved method.

Abstract: Low cost, readily dispersible, phage-resistant cheese starter media are described which include milk-derived nutrients (e.g., nonfat milk and whey) along with a minor proportion of preferably free or unbound lecithin. The media also may advantageously include sodium tetraphosphate which assists in the dispersion of whey solids. The media of the invention can be used at significantly lower levels as compared with nonfat dry milk solids (e.g. 7 percent versus 12 percent), while nevertheless obtaining essentially equivalent results in terms of culture growth and final culture properties. A method of producing the media is also disclosed, involving liquid preblending of phosphates and lecithin, followed by addition thereof to milk-derived nutrients and reaction of the phosphates to tie up free calcium ion. Preferably, reaction is carried out for about 1 to 12 hours while agitating. The final step involves drying of the mixture to yield a substantially homogeneous, reconstitutable powder.

Abstract: A low profile, externally controlled, variable pitch fan blade hub assembly is disclosed which is especially useful in high humidity environments such as are encountered in the fan induced, hot air discharge section of an industrial water cooling tower. The hub housing has central hub means including a member which is telescoped over the drive shaft therefor to limit the overall height of the assembly. The hub member is biased axially of the hub by a series of peripherally located springs contained within the housing. A fluid such as air may be introduced into the housing under pressure to shift the hub unit in a direction against the spring bias thereon. The housing has a plurality of radially extending bores each of which rotatably receives a respective fan blade axle provided with an elongated arm on the innermost end thereof within the housing positioned such that a cam follower on each arm is received in a cam track forming a part of the hub unit.

Abstract: An upright silo has a U-shaped central discharge opening in the floor and a cavity below the floor in vertical alignment with the opening. A hopper in the cavity has an upright wall terminating at an upper edge and a smooth, inclined slip ramp contiguous with the edge and rigidly secured to the floor along the opening. The horizontal configurations of the opening, the cavity, the wall and the ramp are identical. The silage falls freely from a cutter arm above the floor into the hopper such that unloading time is substantially decreased. In one embodiment, a rake is movable within the cavity adjacent the ramp and is operable to break up otherwise lodged silage. In another embodiment, a somewhat similar rake has an outer segment which is pivotal about a vertical axis for retraction when not in use.

Abstract: A high speed rotor in the chute of a forage harvester is used to crack kernels in chopped forage impelled to the rotor. The rotor itself has four or more rows of elongated, spaced-apart plates provided with blunt cracking edges, and a deflector, disposed upstream of the rotor, is adjustable for a wide range of positions and diverts the flow of material to allow control over the degree of cracking.

Abstract: A low cost, variable, modular, web-fed offset lithographic printing unit or tower is disclosed which allows significant economies in production and maintenance, and can be easily and quickly modified in the field using interchangeable modules so as to vary printing characteristics. The printing tower, in the straight-through variable perfector form thereof, is preferably provided with a printer module having upper and lower web-printing blanket rollers; in addition, the tower has corresponding upper and lower inker modules for the respective blanket rollers. The upper inker module is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis so that it can be shifted between a normal inking position over the printer module to a retracted, printer module-clearing position allowing removal and/or replacement of the printer module by essentially vertical shifting of the printer module.

Abstract: A disposable face mask is made up of molded fibrous sheet material which is formed to define a generally cup-shaped main body having two spaced, generally parallel, integral, interior nose portions filter-seals which are strategically located to engage opposed sides of the nose of the wearer. The mask body also desirably has an elongated, integral interior chin portion filter-seal which is positioned to engage the face underneath the wearer's chin. The nose and chin filter-seals cooperate to prevent passage of contaminated air beneath the peripheral edge of the mask and the user's face. The elongated nose filter-seals are especially effective in preventing passage of contaminated air along paths of travel which extend from the nose bridge encompassing part of the mask to the user's nostrils of mouth. The same is true of the chin filter-seal. The nose and chin portions preferably interconnect to form a continuous filter-seal around the periphery of the mask.

Abstract: An improved masking device for optical-type radiations (e.g., infrared visible or ultraviolet) is provided and employed in improved optical apparatus, such as spectrometers, requiring alterable radiation masking. The masking device involves no movable parts, is adapted to operate in a fixed position and has radiation transmission and/or reflection characteristics which are selectively alterable merely by controlling electrical excitation applied to the device. The masking device typically has a plurality of separated and predisposedly offset, coplanar zones of solidified, electrooptically active material carried upon a typically transparent substrate and bounded by areas of an opaque material.

Abstract: An intraocular lens for use following extracapsular cataract extraction is provided with an optic that has one or more resilient haptics secured at the inner end thereof to the optic and normally extending outwardly from the optic, terminating in a free outermost end spaced from the peripheral edge of the optic. Prior to lens implantation the elongated haptic is placed under tension until its outer end is adjacent the optic, forming a loop, and the outer end is adjacent the optic, forming a loop, and the outer end of the haptic is then releasably attached to the optic, maintaining the tension and the loop. After implantation of the lens the outer end of the haptic is detached from the optic and, by virtue of the memory retaining characteristic thereof, the position fixation haptic returns toward its normal position extending outwardly from the optic, eliminating the loop.

Abstract: The pumping system employs horizontal shaft pumping units, each of which may be vacuum primed by a priming chamber which is mounted on the discharge outlet of the pump volute at a position above the volute itself. Preferably, each of the pump volutes has its discharge passage inclined within the vertical plane of the volute so that friction losses at points of connection to other piping of the system is minimized and space occupied by the system is likewise reduced. The inclination of each discharge passage is such that no portion of the internal pumping chamber of the volutes is higher than the point of intersection between the discharge passage and the chamber, whereby to avoid trapping air within the chambers. Specially configured and arranged ball check valve assemblies downstream from each pump unit are designed to provide a pool of liquid submerging the seat for the valve of each assembly when the system is in an idle or standby condition whereby to promote an effective, air-tight sealing action.

Abstract: A gun sling in the nature of an elongated, flexible strap, worn over one shoulder of the user, has a front end portion which depends from the shoulder and is provided with a buttonhole for coupling with a stud mounted on the gun. A rear end portion of the strap extends downwardly at an angle from the shoulder along the back of the torso to a waistbelt worn by the user. A ring connected to the rear portion receives an S-clip which hooks over the waistbelt. Consequently, the shotgun in the carrying position is supported substantially by the strap yet may be easily and rapidly shifted to a firing position wherein the strap hangs in loose, non-binding relationship to the gun without detachment therefrom.