Abstract: A chimney damper is provided with a locking mechanism which prevents the chimney damper from closing in the event of a chimney fire.

Abstract: A sorter uses pushers to push products over angled idler wheels in order to sort the products off of the main conveyor path.

Abstract: An espresso apparatus having a brew head which is in liquid communication with a heat exchanger that is positioned within a boiler and a secondary heater for supplng additional heat to the water in the boiler, the second heater being turned off when the pump supplying water to the heat exchanger is on. The brew head has a thermostat component and an electric heating element positioned about the brew head infusion chamber. The thermostat component is independent of the heater coil in the boiler, set at a predetermined temperature level, and is responsive to changes in the temperature of the brew head and appropriately opens or closes the circuit connected to the electric heating element.

Abstract: A coffee bean grinding and brewing apparatus having a control circuit for initiating grinding and brewing cycles. The control circuit has a brew basket sensing switch that is positioned adjacent the brew basket retaining arms and is engaged into an open position by one of the arms when no basket is positioned between the arms and becomes closed when a basket is positioned between the arms. The control circuit does not initiate any cycle as long as the sensing switch is open avoiding the problem of grounds being delivered accidentally when no basket is present. Additionally, the control circuit has a grind-only switch and a brew-only switch that respectively permit an operator to select a grind-only or a brew only cycle when a basket is held properly between the arms. Finally, the circuit may be provided with a partial and full brew selector switches that permit an operator to select a full and predetermined amount of ground coffee and/or hot water to be delivered to the brew basket or a lesser amount, e.g.

Abstract: A local area network for the simultaneous, bi-directional transmission of video bandwidth signals includes an economical switching matrix. The switching matrix defines upstream connections, downstream connections, and user connections and a plurality of switching points in order to provide bi-directional switching capability between every user and every upstream connection, between every user and every downstream connection, and between every user and every other user connected to the matrix, while using fewer than half of the usual N.times.N number of switching points, where N equals the number of user connections plus the number of upstream connections plus the number of downstream connections.

Abstract: A modular conveyor system includes modular conveyor units and modular transfer units, which are driven by the driveshafts from adjacent modules. The transfer units include a first driveshaft segment extending below the conveyor frame and first and second multi-direction wheels mounted on the shaft segment such that when the first driveshaft segment rotates, it drives the first wheel in a forward direction and the second wheel in a backward direction, the wheels being independently shiftable relative to the top surface of the conveyor frame so as to either convey a product or not convey a product.

Abstract: A conveyor includes electrification rails and modules mounted on those rails to provide electricity to a pallet, so that appliances being carried on the pallet can be plugged in as they travel along the conveyor. The modules include an improved T-shaped shoe for contacting the bottom surface of the pallet, toe bars which prevent the shoe from pivoting sideways as the pallet pushes on the shoe, and a switch for turning power to the shoe on and off, depending upon whether there is a pallet on top of the shoe.

Abstract: A device for preventing eye drops disposed in the human eye from entering the nasolacrimal system includes at least one pad to be located over the exterior surface of the inside corner of an eye covering the juncture of the upper and lower eyelids of the eye in the area of the nasolacrimal ducts located on the inner surfaces of the upper and lower eyelids of the eye for occluding the nasolacrimal ducts while allowing the eye to remain open so that eye drops can be deposited in the eye.