Abstract: Devices and systems for producing rotational actuation are described. More specifically, hydraulic and pneumatic actuators that can produce and control rotational or joint-like motion are described. An actuator may be configured to allow parallel coupling of multiple actuators, and thus increase the range of rotation of the actuators when considered collectively.

Abstract: Robotic grippers and robotic gripping systems are disclosed. A robotic gripper includes one or more gripping members, one or more tactile sensors on or in the one or more gripping members, and one or more processors. The one or more tactile sensors are configured to take geographic measurements of an object gripped by the one or more gripping members. The one or more processors are configured to create a numeric model of at least a portion of a surface of the object gripped by the one or more gripping members using the geographic measurements from the one or more tactile sensors. The one or more processors are also configured to adjust a location of the object gripped by the one or more gripping members by controlling the one or more gripping members based on the numeric model of the at least the portion of the surface of the object.

Abstract: A displacement measuring cell may be used to measure linear and/or angular displacement. The displacement measuring cell may include movable and stationary electrodes in a conductive fluid. Electrical property measurements may be used to determine how far the movable electrode has moved relative to the stationary electrode. The displacement measuring cell may include pistons and/or flexible walls. The displacement measuring cell may be used in a touch-sensitive robotic gripper. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may include a plurality of displacement measuring cells mechanically in series and/or parallel. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may be include a processor and/or memory configured to identify objects based on displacement measurements and/or other measurements. The processor may determine how to manipulate the object based on its identity.

Abstract: A dispensing system includes a replenishment container. The replenishment container includes a container door, a container lock for the container door, and an identifier to indicate an identification of the container contents. The system also includes a dispenser to receive the replenishment container. The dispenser includes a dispenser door to selectively communicate the dispenser with the container, a container detector to continuously detect a presence or absence of the identifier and provide a signal corresponding to the identification of the contents of the container, a switch to detect when the dispenser door is not fully closed, and a controller. The controller receives the identification signal from the container detector, compares the identification of the contents of the container with an expected identification, unlocks the container lock if the identifications match, and prevents the dispenser from dispensing if the identifications do not match or if no identifier is detected.

Abstract: A displacement measuring cell may be used to measure linear and/or angular displacement. The displacement measuring cell may include movable and stationary electrodes in a conductive fluid. Electrical property measurements may be used to determine how far the movable electrode has moved relative to the stationary electrode. The displacement measuring cell may include pistons and/or flexible walls. The displacement measuring cell may be used in a touch-sensitive robotic gripper. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may include a plurality of displacement measuring cells mechanically in series and/or parallel. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may be include a processor and/or memory configured to identify objects based on displacement measurements and/or other measurements. The processor may determine how to manipulate the object based on its identity.

Abstract: A rotational hydraulic joint may include an extension chamber and a retraction chamber. Each chamber may include an end cap and a piston that moves relative to the end cap. One or more ports may add and remove fluid from the chamber. The rotational hydraulic joint may rotate in a cyclical direction when fluid is added to the extension chamber and in a countercyclical direction when fluid is added to the retraction chamber. The chambers may each include a torus-shaped cavity. Bladders may prevent fluid from leaking out of the rotational hydraulic joint. Stationary and movable electrodes may be coupled to the end cap and piston respectively. A plurality of rotational hydraulic joints may be combined to create a compound joint.

Abstract: A displacement measuring cell may be used to measure linear and/or angular displacement. The displacement measuring cell may include movable and stationary electrodes in a conductive fluid. Electrical property measurements may be used to determine how far the movable electrode has moved relative to the stationary electrode. The displacement measuring cell may include pistons and/or flexible walls. The displacement measuring cell may be used in a touch-sensitive robotic gripper. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may include a plurality of displacement measuring cells mechanically in series and/or parallel. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may be include a processor and/or memory configured to identify objects based on displacement measurements and/or other measurements. The processor may determine how to manipulate the object based on its identity.

Abstract: A robot skeletal component may be configured to support and power a robot. The skeletal component may include an elongated inner core and a battery coupled to and substantially circumscribing the inner core. The robot skeletal component may be configured to connect to a joint via a quick release flange. A casing may enclose the battery. The casing may be configured to seal punctures. The robot skeletal component may include a heating element to heat the battery. The robot skeletal component may be configured to transport fluid, data, and/or electrical power. The inner core may include a plurality of surface elements to transfer data and/or electrical power. The inner core may include a hollow interior, and the hollow interior may include a plurality of non-interconnected chambers configured to transfer fluid. The inner core may include insulators to insulate the inner core from the surface elements and/or the fluid.

Abstract: A displacement measuring cell may be used to measure linear and/or angular displacement. The displacement measuring cell may include movable and stationary electrodes in a conductive fluid. Electrical property measurements may be used to determine how far the movable electrode has moved relative to the stationary electrode. The displacement measuring cell may include pistons and/or flexible walls. The displacement measuring cell may be used in a touch-sensitive robotic gripper. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may include a plurality of displacement measuring cells mechanically in series and/or parallel. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may be include a processor and/or memory configured to identify objects based on displacement measurements and/or other measurements. The processor may determine how to manipulate the object based on its identity.

Abstract: A hard hat suspension is provided for use in a hard hat for protecting a wearer's head. The hard hat comprises a rigid outer shell. The suspension comprises a central portion for resting on the wearer's head, and a plurality of resilient impact absorbing corrugated strap members depending from the central portion. At least some, or all, of the strap members comprise a corrugated segment and terminate in an uncorrugated attachment end that is configured for attachment to an inner surface of the rigid outer shell. The suspension may be of unitary construction or may be formed of separate strap members.

Abstract: An aqueous coating composition which can be applied to a cured rubber surface, such as the white sidewall, colored sidewall, raised white lettering or raised colored lettering of a tire, to provide a protective coating against staining and scuffing. The composition includes (a) polyvinyl alcohol, (b) ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (c) one or both of (i) a silicon emulsion in an amount sufficient to provide increased scuff resistance to a coating prepared from the composition, and (ii) a thickening agent of a type and in an amount effective to render the composition shear-thinning.

Abstract: A convertible sign mechanism is provided which comprises a convertible sign member that is rotatable about an axis. The convertible sign member is capable of rotating at a variable velocity. A motor is operatively connected to a drive shaft, which is connected to a cam follower. The cam follower is slidably connected to a member receiving the cam follower, with the receiving member being connected to an output gear. The output gear is connected to a drive gear, which together provide a reduction ratio of at least 2:1.

Abstract: There is disclosed a light diffusing device that includes a transparent base layer with a diffuser layer over it. The diffuser layer is formed of multiple light diffusing elements. These elements are preferably diamond-like in shape and are substantially in alignment. The diffusing elements, arranged in this manner serve to uniformly diffuse light, typically as emitted from fluorescent tubes, to which the device or devices is/are typically attached, such that areas of greater intensity, known as “hot spots” and areas of lesser intensity, known as “shadows” are eliminated, and viewers have difficulty determining the direction of the fluorescent tubes. The device can be flat, and when combined with adhesive forms a tape, that may include a backing member, inert to the adhesive, for storage. Tubular devices are also permissible.

Abstract: There is disclosed a socket adapter for a receiving a socket, the socket designed to receive fluorescent tubes. The socket adapter is of a configuration that can receive a portion of the socket in a manner such that the distance between center of the socket, as taken from a second socket portion where the fluorescent tube attaches to the edge of housing, where the socket is mounted to a surface, is minimized. This socket adapter structure contributes to reducing the distance between the rear wall of the cabinet and the center of the socket (or center of the bulb, e.g., fluorescent tube, when the bulb is electrically connected in the socket), when compared to the prior art "tombstone" sockets, assisting in and allowing for the creation of "low profile " signs.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl acetate-based composition which can be applied to a cured rubber surface, such as the white sidewall of a tire, to provide a protective coating against staining and scuffing. Preferably, the aqueous composition includes a polysiloxane agent for increasing the scuff resistance and high humidity resistance.

Abstract: A removable masking tape suitable for protecting a surface on a substrate that has irregular curvatures and contours, the masking tape containing a polymeric tape that is flexible and deformable to conforming to the contour, or curvature of the surface. After the masking tape has been applied to the surface of the substrate, the masking tape is capable of maintaining the contour and the curvature in the position it is applied over time without departure.

Abstract: A variable speed drive mechanism (4) is disclosed for use in conjunction with multi-sided prismatic convertible sign elements (22). A drive gear (32) driven at constant speed causes a mounting gear (23) to rotate at an angular velocity both slower than the angular velocity of the drive gear (32) and at a varying angular velocity. An idler gear (38) guides a flexible tension supporting element (31) as it travels between an equalizer gear (35) and the drive gear (32). A series of the drive trains (21) may be mounted adjacent to each other so as to permit a plurality of prismatic sign elements (22, 47, 48) to create a convertible sign.

Abstract: Recoverable, peelable masking films prepared from an aqueous emulsion of polyvinyl acetate resins are disclosed. The aqueous composition is an admixture about 70 to 80 wt-% an aqueous vehicle; about 20 to 30 wt-% of a polyvinyl acetate film-forming resin; about 0.1 to 5 wt-% of a plasticizer; about 0.1 to 5 wt-% of a water soluble polysaccharide gum; less than about 1 wt-% of an emulsifiable thickening agent; about 0.01 to 1 wt-% of a release agent to render a film formed from the aqueous composition peelable from a substrate; and about 0.1 to 1 wt-% of a defoaming agent. The composition can then be dried to form a peelable film consisting essentially of a single layer comprising about 70 to 99 wt-% of polyvinyl acetate resin; about 0.1 to 15 wt-% a water soluble polysaccharide gum; about 0.1 to 15 wt-% of a emulsifiable thickening agent; and about 0.01 to 5 wt-% of a release agent to render a film formed from an aqueous composition peelable from a substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible sign assembly that includes a frame having a front edge which defines a sign area. A flexible sign material, having a front side and a back side, has a sign body that approximately spans the sign area, and a sign periphery that is releasably secured to the frame. The sign periphery is wrapped around the perimeter of a retaining member with the front side of the flexible sign material contacting the retaining member. An L-shaped extension of a tensioning member is configured to engage a U-shaped channel on the retaining member, thereby capturing a part of the sign periphery therebetween. The tensioning member has a catch that mates with each of a series of ridges on the frame, which ridges are substantially parallel to the front edge of the frame.