Abstract: A dispensing apparatus and method are disclosed for dispensing sheet material from at least one roll of the sheet material. Dispensing is transferred from a stub roll to a reserve roll automatically in response to sensing a predetermined quantity of the stub roll. An isolating element is provided to lift the reserve roll out of contact with dispensing rollers during dispensing of sheet material from the stub roll, and a nipping element is provided to nip sheet material of the reserve roll when dispensing is transferred from the stub roll to the reserve roll. A cam controls movement of both the isolating element and the nipping element. Structure is also provided for sensing the diameter of the reserve roll of sheet material and providing an indication when the reserve roll is a predetermined diameter. The dispenser is quiet and capacity efficient.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus and method are disclosed for dispensing sheet material from at least one roll of the sheet material. Dispensing is transferred from a stub roll to a reserve roll automatically in response to sensing a predetermined quantity of the stub roll. An isolating element is provided to lift the reserve roll out of contact with dispensing rollers during dispensing of sheet material from the stub roll, and a nipping element is provided to nip sheet material of the reserve roll when dispensing is transferred from the stub roll to the reserve roll. A cam controls movement of both the isolating element and the nipping element. Structure is also provided for sensing the diameter of the reserve roll of sheet material and providing an indication when the reserve roll is a predetermined diameter. The dispenser is quiet and capacity efficient.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus and method are disclosed for dispensing sheet material from at least one roll of the sheet material. Dispensing is transferred from a stub roll to a reserve roll automatically in response to sensing a predetermined quantity of the stub roll. An isolating element is provided to lift the reserve roll out of contact with dispensing rollers during dispensing of sheet material from the stub roll, and a nipping element is provided to nip sheet material of the reserve roll when dispensing is transferred from the stub roll to the reserve roll. A cam controls movement of both the isolating element and the nipping element. Structure is also provided for sensing the diameter of the reserve roll of sheet material and providing an indication when the reserve roll is a predetermined diameter. The dispenser is quiet and capacity efficient.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus and method are disclosed for dispensing sheet material from at least one roll of the sheet material. Dispensing is transferred from a stub roll to a reserve roll automatically in response to sensing a predetermined quantity of the stub roll. An isolating element is provided to lift the reserve roll out of contact with dispensing rollers during dispensing of sheet material from the stub roll, and a nipping element is provided to nip sheet material of the reserve roll when dispensing is transferred from the stub roll to the reserve roll. A cam controls movement of both the isolating element and the nipping element. Structure is also provided for sensing the diameter of the reserve roll of sheet material and providing an indication when the reserve roll is a predetermined diameter. The dispenser is quiet and capacity efficient.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus and method are disclosed for dispensing sheet material from at least one roll of the sheet material. Dispensing is transferred from a stub roll to a reserve roll automatically in response to sensing a predetermined quantity of the stub roll. An isolating element is provided to lift the reserve roll out of contact with dispensing rollers during dispensing of sheet material from the stub roll, and a nipping element is provided to nip sheet material of the reserve roll when dispensing is transferred from the stub roll to the reserve roll. A cam controls movement of both the isolating element and the nipping element. Structure is also provided for sensing the diameter of the reserve roll of sheet material and providing an indication when the reserve roll is a predetermined diameter. The dispenser is quiet and capacity efficient.

Abstract: A hand-held vehicle exhaust analyzer for testing gas content in exhaust emitted from a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle exhaust analyzer is of a size and weight to be held in a user's hands. The system includes a housing with an inlet receiving exhaust emitted from the vehicle. A sensor assembly is disposed in the housing, receives the exhaust emitted from the vehicle through the inlet, and determines the content of a plurality of different gases in the exhaust. A control system is disposed in the housing and is operatively coupled with the sensor assembly to regulate operations of the sensor assembly and to receive and interpret results of operations of the sensor assembly. A power supplying apparatus is disposed in the housing to deliver power throughout the system. The housing, and all components disposed in the housing have a combined weight of no greater than about five pounds.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing toilet tissue alternately from two rolls includes a housing and roll support spindles for supporting the rolls in coaxial spaced relationship relative to the housing. A sliding cover is slidably positioned on the housing. The roll support spindles are mounted on a pivoted support frame and a pivotally mounted engaging member extends from the support frame and is located in the space between adjacent roll ends. The cover includes detents which cooperate with the pivotally mounted tissue roll engaging member to prevent the cover from being moved from one position in which one of the tissue rolls is exposed to a second position in which the other tissue roll is exposed until the one tissue roll is depleted or substantially depleted.

Abstract: A vehicle gas analyzing system for testing gas content in exhaust emitted from a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle gas analyzing system is of a size and weight to be held in a user's hands. The system includes a housing having outer dimensions no greater than about 12".times.8".times.3", and has an inlet receiving exhaust emitted from the vehicle. A sensor assembly is disposed in the housing, receives the exhaust emitted from the vehicle through the inlet, and determines the content of a plurality of different gases in the exhaust. A user interface is disposed on an outside surface of the housing, allowing a user to input instructions to the system and to perceive output from the system.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing toilet tissue alternately from two rolls includes a housing and roll support spindles for supporting the rolls in coaxial spaced relationship relative to the housing. A sliding cover is slidably positioned on the housing. The roll support spindles are mounted on a pivoted support frame and a pivoted plate depends from the support frame and is located in the space between adjacent roll ends. The cover includes detents which cooperate with the pivoted plate to allow sliding of the cover on the housing to expose a different roll of toilet tissue only when one of the rolls is substantially depleted.

Abstract: A machine for slicing a food product in the three dimensions in a single continuous cycle to produce an end product having a determined size and shape. The machine incorporates a first slicing station for slicing a determined length of a first slice off the food product by a first cutoff knife and a second slicing station to slice the first slice in two dimensions by a set of gang knives and a second cut off knife to produce a cube of a determined size and shape. The machine has a conveyor system for conveying the food product on a continuous basis through the machine. The rotation of the cut off knives are variable to establish the desired dimensions of the end product. The first slice is transferred on the conveyor of the second slicing station in a manner to accommodate slicing the first slice in the other two dimensions by the second slicing station.

Abstract: A compact, substantially vibration-free binocular mounting assembly for supporting large binoculars during astronomical observations. The binocular mounting assembly is adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis during altitude adjustment, with the binocular eyepieces closely following the eye position of a seated astronomical observer as the altitude of observation is varied from horizon to zenith.

Abstract: A machine for slicing a food product in the three dimensions in a single continuous cycle to produce an end product having a determined size and shape. The machine incorporates a first slicing station for slicing a determined length of a first slice off the food product by a first cutoff knife and a second slicing station to slice the first slice in two dimensions by a set of gang knives and a second cut off knife to produce a cube of a determined size and shape. The machine has a conveyor system for conveying the food product on a continuous basis through the machine. The rotation of the cut off knives are variable to establish the desired dimensions of the end product. The first slice is transferred on the conveyor of the second slicing station in a manner to accommodate slicing the first slice in the other two dimensions by the second slicing station.

Abstract: This invention relates to a portable air support device having a plurality of air inflatable cells, arranged within a conveniently dissembled air support bag. The portable device comprises a novel air distribution manifold, control console and air distribution valve assembly to inflate a novel air flow quilt which provides an upward flow of air to a patient reclining thereon, to provide comfort and promote patient healing.

Abstract: A conveying system for an automatic food slicing machine is disclosed. The conveying system has a floating upper conveyor positioned above a lower conveyor. The conveyors cooperatively feed the food item to be sliced an incremental length into the slicing knives during the feed cycle and retain the remainder of the food item during the cut-off cycle. An indexing mechanism, adjustable to provide different feed length increments and timed to the rotational cycle of the cut-off knife, drives the conveyors. The indexing mechanism only drives the conveyors during the feed cycle and the conveyors remain static during the cut-off cycle. The food item to be sliced is captively held between the upper and lower conveyors during both the feed cycle and the cut-off cycle. Small diameter rollers at the exit end of the conveyors are utilized and are positioned in close proximity to the travel path of the cut-off knife providing retentive capability throughout the feed length range.

Abstract: Improved efficacy and color rendition at white color temperatures is achieved in an electrodeless metal halide arc discharge lamp with a novel combination of arc tube fill materials, including sodium halide, cerium halide, and xenon. A preferred lamp structural configuration imparts further efficacy improvement at higher lamp operating temperatures and isothermal lamp operation.

Abstract: High pressure xenon is used as a buffer gas in place of mercury in a high pressure sodium iodide arc discharge lamp. Xenon buffer gas has a more favorable influence than mercury on the sodium D-line spectrum and does not react with halides in the lamp fill. The use of xenon buffer gas increases the efficacy of the high pressure sodium iodide arc lamp.

Abstract: An electrodeless arc lamp comprises an outer jacket hermetically sealing and thermally protecting an arc tube inside which has an upwardly convex bottom center section. The absence of chemically reactive electrode material makes it possible to use metal halides other than iodides. The tube contains chlorides, bromides or a mixture thereof of scandium and sodium in a nearly equimolar relationship in addition to mercury and an inert gas. Good color balance can be obtained at reduced reservoir temperature and with less power loss. Reduction in wall temperature makes it possible to attain longer lamp life.

Abstract: Halides of aluminum or tin, or other metals, in combination with sodium chloride in the presence of mercury and excess aluminum or tin metal are used as a fill material in a solenoidal metal halide arc lamp. This fill results in very good color and a high efficacy.

Abstract: An amalgam is disposed within the arc tube of a high intensity arc discharge lamp so as to stabilize the electrical power being supplied to the lamp against variations in line voltage. The vapor pressure of mercury in the arc tube varies as a function of the lamp temperature which depends in turn on applied lamp voltage. The resulting change in arc voltage due to corresponding changes in mercury pressure operates to restore the power input to its approximate original value.

Abstract: A lead-tin-bismuth alloy is disposed within a solenoidal electric field lamp to control the mercury vapor pressure. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the alloy is placed within the tip-off region of the lamp envelope. The alloy is fixed within the tip-off region by a means of wetting the alloy to a metal wire structure such as a helix or a cylindrical screen. Alternatively, the alloy may be placed on an interior surface of the envelope by first wetting the glass with a layer of indium or other metallic wetting agent. Additionally, methods for wetting the lead-tin-bismuth alloy to the metal wire include firing the alloy in contact with the wire in a hydrogen atmosphere at a sufficiently high temperature to wet the alloy to the wire. The present invention permits the control of mercury vapor pressure in solenoidal electric field discharge lamps.