Abstract: Printing members comprising a mosaic printing head are driven by flexural bending elements which are electrically actuated to produce a desired printed pattern. The bending elements may take the form of piezoelectric strips or diaphragm pieces which are supported by bearings located at nodal oscillation points of the elements. The printing members when actuated protrude from a bore in one end of a printing head housing. The printing head housing is mounted for transverse movement along guide rails.

Abstract: A plurality of printing needles forming an array are mounted in a printing head and are periodically driven to impact a printing ribbon onto a recording medium. The printing head contains a brake for each needle so that selected needles can be prevented from striking the printing ribbon allowing the formation of a desired character matrix pattern on the recording medium. Each brake may be driven by a piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A playing surface for a billiard type of game comprises three straight ball rebound sides and one parabolic ball rebound side extending upwardly, inwardly and around the periphery of the playing surface. The playing surface and all sides have a nap or felt covering. A number of fixed obstacles on the surface are located at strategic locations to compound playing difficulty. Counting discs are threaded to rails outside of the playing surface, attached to the rebound sides and are used to keep score.

Abstract: A connector used in terminating a flat multi-conductor cable comprises a contact support and a pressure cap. The contact support houses a plurality of insulation displacement contacts, each contact comprising a boxlike end and an elongated electrical contacting section. Two opposite sides of the boxlike end include a longitudinal slot which receives the conductive elements of the cable to establish a four point contact therewith, and the remaining two sides are peaked to form a structure for piercing the insulation of the cable. The box is seamed along a longitudinal corner thereof and is reinforced by a recess in the contact support in which the box is located. The pressure cap comprises an array of apertures which correspond to the array of displacement contacts housed by the contact support.

Abstract: A flat cable connector includes a contact support with an integrally molded latch and a pressure member which mates therewith. The latch comprises a folded beam and a latching bar which cooperate with a two-position catch on the pressure member. The folded beam gives the latch a greater flexibility than would normally be possible and avoids excess strain which could cause beam failure.

Abstract: A mechanism for winding a ribbon on a take-up spool effects a constant winding rate as the diameter of the wound ribbon on the spool increases. A wrap spring intermittently drives a gear which rotates the spool in a stepwise fashion, the free end of the wrap spring being reciprocated by the stroke of an actuating arm. The amount of ribbon which is wound on the spool is sensed by a diameter sensor, which sensor controls the point on the free end of the wrap spring which is contacted by the actuating arm.

Abstract: A circuit for use in charging a battery from a current source, such as a solar cell, includes a Zener diode, a current limiting resistor in series with the Zener diode, and a switch which shunts the resistor. In periods of high current output from the solar cell, the resistor is shunted allowing the Zener diode to limit the charging current to the battery in order to prevent damage thereto. In periods of low current output from the solar cell, the resistor limits the power consumption of the Zener diode to insure sufficient power delivery to the battery.

Abstract: An injection molding machine having a safety gate slidable to a closed position to block access to a mold space includes a lever and a latch which cooperate with an adjustable safety bar mounted on a movable platen of the molding machine to prevent the safety gate from being opened during a machine cycle. The lever and the latch also prevent the machine from operating when the safety bar is not properly adjusted.

Abstract: A resistance element comprises an insulating cylinder having a helical thread groove on the outer surface thereof. A resistive channel is supported by the groove and a multi-strand wiper is guided by a follower which rides in the root of the channel. The resistance material on the sides of the groove may be notched for purposes of calibration.

Abstract: A metal clip provides a two position latch for a flat cable connector. In the first position of the latch, an upper pressure member is held spaced from a lower contact support. After the cable has been placed in the connector, pressure on the two connector halves will cause a joining thereof to the cable and the catching of the latch to establish the second position. The metal clip provides a latch which is stronger than one made of plastic and which additionally aids in reinforcing the pressure member.

Abstract: The work done by a sucker rod pump is read through the use of a pendulum potentiometer mounted on the walking beam of the pump and a load sensing pin located at the lower end of the wire line which is suspended from the horsehead. Meters mounted in a portable reading instrument show the maximum rod pull, the minimum rod pull, the stroke of the pump, and the area of the force-versus-stroke diagram. A display of the shape of the force-versus-stroke diagram may be given through the use of an X-Y plotter.

Abstract: In a module which is usable in a wide band DC to UHF range, a vernier connection is employed in a slip ring and brush assembly. A source is connected to a ring by four slip ring feeds and a load is coupled to the ring by three brush leads. The unequal number of feeds and brushes reduces the standing wave reflections on the ring enabling the module to perform satisfactorily at high frequencies.

Abstract: A roll and pitch servomechanism for use in an attitude indicator is shown having an expanded scale in which a nonlinear electrical circuit is combined with a nonlinear mechanical indicator to produce an accurate indication of pitch attitude over an expanded range. The circuit includes an operational amplifier circuit connected in one leg of a balancing circuit which is connected in a delta configuration across the windings of a control transformer whose windings are connected in a Y-configuration.

Abstract: A mount for a consumable electrode printer comprises a member which slidably receives an array of consumable electrodes which are biased to a printing position, a clamp for gripping the electrodes to prevent the sliding thereof, and a release for the clamp to allow the biased electrodes to advance to a printing position.

Abstract: A seedling sprouter comprises a base which supports a screen therein and a complimentary cover. The cover and base lock together by means which allow the cover to be spaced from the base when the sprouter is being drained. A closure on the cover is rotatable to three positions in which water may be added to the sprouter, water may be drained from the sprouter without the loss of the sprouted seeds therein, or the sprouter may be sealed.

Abstract: A transparent seedling container has disposed therein a dry mass of material which is capable of absorbing water and a sproutable seed. Water is added to the mass and the germination of the seed is visible through the container walls. Means are provided for the suspension of the container which may be worn as an article of jewelry.

Abstract: A uni-directionally rotated clutched driving gear having arcuate segments of gear teeth acts sequentially on two idler gears to effect a two-speed bi-directional rotation of a driven gear. The driven gear may be attached to the drive shaft of the character wheels in a recording calculator.

Abstract: A conical compression spring having the characteristics of a cylindrical spring of much greater free length. The spring is characterized by wire whose diameter diminishes from base to apex end and by coils whose pitch diminishes from base to apex end such that the ratio of mean coil diameter to wire diameter is constant from coil to coil. Further, each coil diameter is preferably dimensioned to fit within the next larger coil permitting a spring to be designed which exhibits a small solid compressed height.

Abstract: An improved brush block assembly is shown for use within an electric motor wherein each terminal associated with the brush block functions as a terminal and, in addition, as a locating device for the brush block, a current path between the brush and terminal, and a latch for securing the brush block in the motor. The brush block assembly includes a cartridge subassembly having a latch receiving notch and a latching terminal subassembly for engaging the notch. The latching terminal subassembly incorporates the motor terminal in an insulated bushing. The arrangement allows the motor to be mechanically tested before the cartridge subassembly is snapped into the motor for final electrical checkout.

Abstract: A constant voltage battery charger comprising a voltage regulator adapted to be supplied with D.C. voltage having a predetermined, constant level, means for establishing a regulator output voltage predetermined to define, at a selected temperature, a charging voltage equal to the charging voltage of a battery at that temperature including an operational amplifier means for supplying a predetermined voltage to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier, and variable means for supplying voltage as a function of regulator output voltage to the inverting input of the operational amplifier, the variable means being selectively variable over a given range so that the predetermined output voltage can be defined at the selected temperature.