Abstract: An apparatus for bundling truss plates includes a unit for forming a plurality of truss plates and a unit for forming these truss plates into a unitized bundle that is easily shipped, stored, and handled. The apparatus can include a station for orienting each of the plurality of truss plates so that the backing members are substantially parallel to a predetermined plane, an aligning station for aligning the oriented truss plates so that the peripheries of their backing members are substantially aligned, a stacking station for stacking the oriented and aligned truss plates, and an interconnecting unit for interconnecting the stacked truss plates into a unitized bundle.

Abstract: A check valve 200 has an elongate cylindrical tubular body 202 which provides mounting for a main flap valve 204. Mounted below the main valve 204 is a smaller multi-leaf flap valve 206. The smaller valve 206 is mounted on a housing 208 which is axially movable relative to the body 202. The housing 208 and valve 206 are normally biased upwardly and in this position a sleeve 214 formed on the upper end of the housing holds the main valve 204 open, and encloses the valve 204 within a valve recess 216 defined in the body 202. The sleeve 214 also extends across the main valve seat 218. Thus, during normal operation of the valve, with flow in a first direction, the sealing surfaces of the main valve 204 and the seat 218 are protected from the fluid by the sleeve 214.

Abstract: A system for performing chemical mechanical planarization for a semiconductor wafer includes a chemical mechanical polishing system including a chemical mechanical polishing slurry. The system also includes a device for measuring the electrochemical potential of the slurry during processing which is electrically connected to the slurry, and a device for detecting the end point of the process, based upon the electrochemical potential of the slurry, which is responsive to the electrochemical potential measuring device. Accurate in situ control of a chemical mechanical polishing process is thereby provided.

Abstract: A spin system for thermoplastic yarns is provided with a melt line, in which the main flow of the melt is transported to a distributor pump. The distributor pump comprises several individual pumps, which divide the main melt flow into several partial flows. Each partial melt flow is supplied to a spinneret. Arranged on one of the driven shafts of the pump are mixing elements. The main melt flow is supplied to the pump via a chamber, in which these mixing elements are arranged.

Abstract: An apparatus for bundling truss plates includes comprises means for forming a plurality of truss plates and means for forming these truss plates into a unitized bundle that is easily shipped, stored, and handled. The apparatus can include means for orienting each of the plurality of truss plates so that the backing members are substantially parallel to a predetermined plane, aligning means for aligning the oriented truss plates so that the peripheries of their backing members are substantially aligned, stacking means for stacking the oriented and aligned truss plates, and interconnecting means for interconnecting the stacked truss plates into a unitized bundle.

Abstract: An integrated circuit data output buffer which may be used in an integrated circuit memory device, includes a data output circuit which is responsive to a data input signal to generate a data output signal, using a boosting data signal. A pulse generator generates a pulse in response to a control signal. A power supply sensing circuit is connected to the pulse generator, and generates a power supply voltage sensing signal in response to the pulse. A clamp circuit is connected to the power supply voltage sensing circuit and to the data output circuit, to clamp the boosting power signal after a predetermined time in response to the power supply voltage sensing signal. Accordingly, output data is buffered by generating a pulse in response to a control signal and generating a power supply voltage sensing signal in response to the pulse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electro-magnetically testing surface regions of elongated test objects for irregularities, such as flaws, and which is particularly suitable for testing test objects with non-circular or elliptical cross sections. Testing is performed by at least one coil, particularly an eddy current coil, through which a test object passes. The test coil has a coil plane passage of predetermined cross-section, and a modification of the passage cross-section of the test coil can be obtained by tilting the test coil. The test coil can optionally be rotated about an axis defined by the travel direction of the test object, and may also be moved in directions perpendicular to the travel direction. A disclosed apparatus for performing the method has several tiltable and rotatable and/or slidable test coils which are successfully arranged in the travel direction in the form of a coil group.

Abstract: The present invention relates mainly to an optimized method of applying an outer wrapping to a load, in particular a palettized load, and to transporting the load as wrapped by said method.A method of the invention includes the following steps:a) determining the forces that the load must be capable of withstanding and the resulting maximum acceptable deformations;b) selecting a general outer wrapping configuration as a function of the load to be wrapped, the method of transport, of handling, and/or of storage for the load, and also the available wrapping machines; andc) determining the disposition of the film to be implemented using the minimum quantity of film to achieve wrapping having the configuration as determined in step b) and capable of withstanding without dislocation or unacceptable deformation the stresses as determined in step a).

Abstract: A security bag includes an electronic memory device which may be read remotely using non-visual means. A method of processing such a bag comprises the steps of encoding information onto the tag in non-visible form, retaining the device on or in the bag, and subsequently retrieving the information. A variant provides the memory device of the electronic tag and the electromagnetic or inductive coil being separately located and connected across the seal of the bag by a conductor designed to break upon attempted opening of the bag.

Abstract: A metal cutting apparatus which comprises a longitudinally moveable gantry and a transversely moveable carriage which is mounted on the gantry. The carriage in turn mounts a laser cutting head and a plasma arc cutting head mounted in a parallel, side-by-side arrangement. The apparatus may thus be programmed to operate either the laser cutting head or the plasma arc cutting head as the gantry and carriage move in a predetermined path above the underlying workpiece. The laser generator is mounted in the gantry so that the beam is transported to the laser head with minimal bends and turns. The apparatus may also include a second carriage, which mounts a second laser cutting head and second plasma arc cutting head, so as to permit simultaneous cutting along two cut lines.

Abstract: An apparatus for recycling previously used agricultural plastic film mulch in which the plastic film mulch is fed by a conveyor along a predetermined path of travel, while being agitated and shaken on the conveyor to dislodge and remove dirt, debris and the like therefrom, shredding the plastic film mulch into discreet pieces in a shredder while removing additional dirt, debris and the like therefrom, conveying the shredded plastic film mulch through a vertical separator along a second, tortuous path of travel, while drying the shredded plastic mulch by heated air and agitating the plastic film mulch by projections extending into the second path of travel to dislodge and remove still further dirt, debris and the like therefrom, and extruding the cleaned and shredded plastic film mulch into a reusable form in an extruder, which melts the plastic film mulch, screens solids from the molten plastic, and extrudes the molten plastic into a reusable form, such as pellets.

Abstract: A cell culture apparatus includes a substrate, and an inorganic film on the substrate and having a relatively smooth surface for cell growth thereon. Moreover, the relatively smooth surface has a relatively low predetermined surface roughness so that cells grown thereon adhere by chemical adhesion rather than by mechanical interlocking. In other words, the predetermined surface roughness defines surface indentations smaller than a size of corresponding cells to be grown thereon. Accordingly, the interaction between various inorganic materials and cells may be studied based upon chemical adhesion rather than mechanical interlocking. The predetermined surface roughness is preferably less about 10 .mu.m root-mean-square, and more preferably less than about 1 .mu.m root-mean-square. The relatively smooth growth surface is preferably obtained by thermal vacuum evaporation and deposition, followed by annealing of the as-deposited film.

Abstract: A system for identifying bundled truss plates is disclosed. The truss plate bundles include visual indicia that indicate the thickness and material composition of the material from which the truss plates are constructed. Methods for packaging such truss plate bundles and constructing trusses with truss plates from such bundles are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cationic polycondensate dye fixing agent prepared by reacting (a) a mono- or polyfunctional amine having at least one reactive --NH or --NH.sub.2 group, or a salt thereof, with (b) a polycondensate-forming cyano compound at a temperature of at least about 260.degree. C.The present invention also provides a process of improving the fastness of dyed materials using the cationic polycondensate dye fixing agent of the present invention.

Abstract: Printed product supplements (20) are arranged in a folded newspaper (10) which serves as outer part of a printed product unit. An adhesive-tape portion (24) connects the two legs (18) of the newspaper (10) to one another in order to stop the supplements (20) from slipping and prevent them from falling out of the newspaper (10). A process and apparatus for producing such printed product units are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for gapping a zipper having a pair of slide fasteners stringers such that each fastener stringer has a continuous row of fastener elements secured to an edge thereof. The apparatus includes a support which has a substantially flat surface for supporting the stringers in a generally parallel alignment. An indexing wheel having a plurality of serrations located along a periphery thereof cooperates with the support to engage the fastener elements of each of the pair of fastener stringers for incrementally advancing the pair of fastener stringers a predetermined distance along the support. The hinged block is connected to the support. The hinged block is a pair of grooves formed along the surface thereof so as to be positioned in a path of the advancing fastener stringers for respectively receiving the fastener stringers in the area to be gapped.

Abstract: A device for filling shooting heads (1) with molding materials (2), the device being provided with a filling assembly (6) that comprises a storage hopper (3) for the molding material (2), an outlet member (4) for discharging the molding material (2) into the shooting head (1), and a gate (5) for closing the outlet member (4). The filling assembly (6) being mounted on a machine frame (7) for vertical movement, so as to immerse the outlet member (4) into the shooting head (1), and it is constructed for filling the shooting head (1) in an exact, reproducible manner. For this purpose a noncontacting sensor (8) is mounted to the outlet member (4), the sensor (8) being directed into the shooting head (1) so as to detect therein the filling level.