Abstract: A method and apparatus of supplying material from a storage hopper (12) to a weighing hopper (16) where the material is fed at a controllable rate by a sliding plate member (104) that acts as a shutter for the storage hopper (12), which includes an aperture (154) for receiving material gravity fed from the storage hopper (12). As the plate (104) is reciprocated horizontally at a preselected frequency, material is conveyed at a controlled rate from the storage hopper (12) to the weighing hopper (16).

Abstract: A method for positioning an egg in preparation for decorative dying and painting of the egg exterior includes providing annular disk having circular inner and outer peripheries with circular cross-section beads extending circumferentially continuously around the entirety of the disk of the inner and outer disk extremities, positioning the disk lying flat on a planar surface and positioning the larger radius egg and facing substantially downward in the interior of the disk thereby permitting the egg to rest on the disk in an upright position.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing granular material to a loading hopper preparatory to processing, provide an at least partially transparent receptacle for receiving material prior to processing machinery supplied by the hopper with the receptacle having a top, a valve for selectably connecting the receptacle to vacuum or to ambient air, vacuum drawn in the receptacle, a conduit connecting the receptacle to a supply of granular material, a valve selectably permitting material flow from the receptacle into the hopper and control temporally adjustably closing the first valve and opening the second valve responsively to visually detected presence of a suitable amount of material in the receptacle.

Abstract: Apparatus for clearing lumens of thrombolytic material, comprising a motor including a control therefor operable using one hand holding the motor; an elongated wire connected to the motor for rotation by the motor; a catheter for enveloping a length of the wire; and a grip facilitating manual rotation of the catheter by the one hand independently of the wire as the wire is rotated by the motor at a speed sufficient to create a standing wave in a portion of the wire extending from the catheter.

Abstract: A bivalve peeling-off method and apparatus and a before-separation heating device are disclosed. The bivalve peeling-off apparatus includes a heating means 6 for heating the surface of one of shells 2A of a starting bivalve 2, so that an edible part 2a in the starting bivalve 2 is maintained in a raw state. Thus, the edible part can be efficiently separated from the shell of the starting bivalve in a state in which a quality suitable for use in raw eating is maintained.

Abstract: A gravimetric weigh scale blender having a plurality of hoppers 41, 42 and 43 discharging into a weigh chamber 14. The hoppers are funnel-shaped, each terminating in a discharge opening which permits flow of material from the hopper through a metering device 19 or 38 into a weigh chamber 14. Two of the hoppers are mounted for horizontal sliding displacement in the frame of the blender and a valve is provided at the bottom of each hopper to automatically close the hopper when it is moved horizontally. The valve consists of a shoe 53 slidable on the bottom of the funnel of the hopper to be operated by a saddle 51 on the frame so as to allow flow through the opening when the hopper is in its operating position but is displaced to close the opening when the hopper is moved away from the operating position.

Abstract: A gravimetric blender including a frame, a weigh bin, a device connected to the frame for sensing weight of the bin and any material contained therein, a mix chamber below the bin, connected to the frame, a piston for selectably releasing material in the bin downwardly into the mix chamber and an elastomer connecting a sensor device to the frame and damping transfer of vibration and shock motion therebetween. The method includes metering solid resinous materials until preselected weight of the respective materials are at the weigh station, metering liquid color until a pre-selected weight of color is at the weigh station, and providing the metered solid resinous materials and metered liquid color material to a mixing station for manufacturing processing via molding or extrusion.

Abstract: The lift chair has a base frame, an extendable/retractable chair occupant positioning apparatus attached to the base frame, a reversible D.C. motor for extension and retraction of the chair occupant positioning apparatus relative to the base frame. A control means is connected to the D.C. motor for actuation of the chair occupant positioning device. A power supply is connected to the control means for motor control. A chair occupant carriage is supported by the base frame. The carriage has a seat and a back portion.

Abstract: An orthopedic protective device to protect limb extremities against injury. The device is typically used in conjunction with a cast, and encloses the limb extremity, while providing airflow within the device to reduce the risk of infection. A combination of gripping strips and gripping straps provide an easy means to attach and remove the device from the extremity. The device can also be used in combination with a surgical boot to protect the device and the cast from damage that may occur when the patient walks.

Abstract: A method for detecting suicidal predisposition in a person by securing an utterance from the person, identifying the person as being suicidally predisposed if the utterance decays substantially non-instantaneously upon conclusion and identifying the person as being suicidally predisposed if signal amplitude modulation during the utterance is low and identifying the person as being suicidally predisposed if variation in fundamental frequency during the utterance is low and identifying the person as being suicidally predisposed if frequency of amplitude modulation during the utterance is low.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for selectively blocking respiratory airflow to a pediatric lung or a single lobe thereof. The apparatus comprises an endotracheal tube adapted for passage of a bronchoscope therethrough and a second flexible tube which is parallel with and fixedly contacting said endotracheal tube. A bronchial blocker assembly, having a pair of axial passageways therethrough, is provided which is insertable into and movable along the length of said second flexible tube. One of said axial passageways receives a stylet, said stylet being movable along the length of and rotatable within said axial passageway. Said stylet being sufficiently flexible to guide said endotracheal tube and said bronchial blocker assembly along a pediatric patient's windpipe. Means are provided for fixing said bronchial blocker assembly relative to said second axial passageway when said bronchial blocker assembly is resident therewithin.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector having a heat resisting spacer sleeve covering the exposed end portion without covering member of optical fiber. The outer end surface of said spacer sleeve is inclined with respect to axial direction of the optical fiber, the inclined end surface being made so as to diffuse any high-power laser beam portion diverted from the end surface of optical fiber and reaching on said end surface. At least outer end surface of the spacer sleeve and its inner surface opposed to the optical fiber are made such as to diffuse high-power laser beam. The optical fiber and inner surface of the spacer sleeve opposed thereto are opposed directly to each other without any intermediate substance therebetween.

Abstract: A device for detecting a primary fault current at a three phase current system and converting the detected fault current into mechanical action for breaking the circuit includes circuitry for breaking the circuit in response to a selected secondary current substantially instantaneously rising to a predetermined level and a device for adjusting the predetermined level.

Abstract: Dried tobacco leaves evenly spread by a vibrator, cleaned and sorted out, are directed through the opening of two converging cylinders, and tightly held on between two belts.Now, the belts carrying the leaves, enter into a hot wash basin full of warm water at a temperature of 40 degrees C. They are washed for 4-5 minutes and moved thereafter into a second basin with water heated at 100 degrees C. The bathing of the leaves takes 6-8 seconds and immediately thereafter they are moved into a third, filled with cold water. The three consecutive baths cause the removal by extraction of resins, tars and nicotine. Dissolved by the water and washed away also the are pesticides.The cold water washes away the nitrogenous substances. Hydrolysis removes the textrines. If stronger intervention is desired, the leaves after the first bath may be directed into freezing dry chamber.The wet leaves fall now into another system of reversible conveyors, located in a heated tunnel.

Abstract: A device for measuring changes in human joint strength including an open cell body of light weight, low density polyurethane foam body, an air tight flexible skin sealed about the foam body, the skin including a multilayer vinyl material having an opening to permit passage of air into and out of the foam body, a hose sealed about the opening with a rubber seal, one end of the hose extending into a center portion of the foam body remote from the opening, the hose channeling air passing in and out of the opening, and a gauge connected to the hose for measuring the force of air passing through the hose upon application of force against the foam body.

Abstract: In a device for providing stand-by power to an electrical apparatus, such as a telephone switching system, the battery contained therein is maintained at a positive plate polarization of about 20 to 40 millivolts per cell.

Abstract: A coating feeder system is disclosed herein. The coating feeder system comprises, in close vicinity to an outer peripheral surface of a gravure roll, a coating container or vessel defining a reservoir for storing a coating under a pressurized condition and a stirring mechanism for stirring the coating within the reservoir. The stirring mechanism may be a stirring and feeding roll mounted within said reservoir. The stirring and feeding roll includes forcedly stirring means formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof for forcedly stirring the coating.