Abstract: One of a number of automatic vending machines run by one or more operators accepts payment for the goods it dispenses by creditable and debitable cash card, also called smart card. The machine includes a currency acceptor that writes on the card the sum in bank notes received by the currency acceptor. With each purchase, the given price of selected and dispensed goods is deducted from the card. The amount of payment received by the currency acceptor and the price charged are recorded by the machine and communicated to an account clearing house that debits the operator's account with the sum received and credits it by the charged price. A large number of goods and service providers using this type of automatic vending machines can accept the same universal card for the convenience of their customers.

Abstract: An adjustable support structure for temporary sign displays formed from a vertically oriented rigid panel having a plurality of length and angle adjustable support arms. Each arm has a distal end thumb screw attachment to a T-nut on the sign. The arm is adjustably anchored to the panel by a bolt extending from the panel through a longitudinal oval slot in the arm to engage a wingnut. Additional hardware prevents loss of movable parts. Sign stiffening battens are tethered to the panel. A stiffening tray parallely spaced apart from the back of the panel further bears against and secures the support arms.

Abstract: Useful byproducts are recovered through the pyrolytic processing of biomass material such as vegetation, paper, or worn tires. The process is conducted in a sealed enclosure under vacuum or other controlled atmosphere. The biomass material is ablated and burned by crunching between counter-rotating rollers whose inner walls have been exposed to a highly heated fluid. The biomass material is preheated by injecting into the feeding duct super-heated: dry steam. A condenser within the enclosure reduces resulting vapors into oils that can be drained from the enclosure pan. Solid combustion residue is abstracted from the enclosure by an Archimedes screw.

Abstract: A collapsible and foldable canvas structure has only two structural panels, each formed by a piece of fabric material spread across and secured about its periphery to a resiliently flexible wire frame. One of the panels is laid flat on the ground or other supporting surface; the other rises vertically from a median section of the first and is held by straps or by sheets of fabric material not structured or framed by any wire but joined to the top of the vertical panel and to the outer edges of the flat one. A window cut on the center of the vertical panel provides access from one side to the other. The panels are substantially commensurate. They can be brought back together and twisted along with the remaining components of the structure into a compact package.

Abstract: A disposable liquid specimen collector and testing device can be manipulated to distribute a quantified portion of a liquid specimen to separate chromatographic strip-mounting testing stations while shielding the remainder of the specimen from cross-contamination by the immunoassay reagents present in the testing strips. In the resting state, the device exposes the testing station to a desiccant. A separate test station provides for a quick revelation of any adulterating component in the sample specimen. The geometry of the test station and fluid distribution channels assures isobaric conditions throughout the testing areas.

Abstract: A device for quantitively collecting, preserving and mailing a fresh and wet specimen of fecal or other biological matter for later analysis comprises a tubular vessel defining a chamber closed at one axial end by an openable, machine replaceable plug and restricted at the opposite end by a narrow aperture. A stopper for closing the open end of the vessel extends into a stick for dipping into and retaining some of the biological matter. The shank of the stick is dimensioned to seal the aperture once the stopper has been screwed upon the open end of the vessel. A cover caps the plug to provide additional sealing and protection of that end of the vessel during transportation. The vessel has a tapered shape to be carried closely packed with other similar vessels in a test carrier.

Abstract: A rack for contiguously storing and displaying a stack of symmetrical objects having parallel and planar opposite faces such as compact discs jewelcases. The rack comprises a toggling mechanism at the bottom of each storage location that raises the object above the adjacent others in response to a light pushing movement in order to facilitate pulling the object our of the rack.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically assessing the quality of a printed circuit board assembly using digitized video image analysis. The apparatus integrates with existing relatively low precision automated surface mount technology (“SMT”) manufacturing systems as an inspection station insertable at various steps in the assembly process or as a separate manually loaded station. The inspection station includes a high resolution video imaging system and a video image analyzer comprising an onboard master computer that generates control signals to reposition the camera mounted within a screen on a movable carriage and/or reposition the circuit board, and adjust the lighting; and generates individual board status data to be archived, graphically displayed on monitors or otherwise utilized by a rework station.

Abstract: A versatile modular building element, made from the agglutination of three pairs of symmetrical prisms in three overlapping tiers, provides an arched component that can be congruently meshed with a similar one in several different ways. The prism may have rectangular or obliquely parallelogrammic sides or a combination of both while keeping their triangular end walls equilateral and side walls of the same width allowing for up to eight different configurations of the building element. Elements of the same or different types can be combined to construct and infinite variety of structures exhibiting high compressive strength, stability and resistance to multi-directional stresses.

Abstract: A system for filing applications with an institution from a plurality of remote sites, and for automatically processing said applications in response to each applicant's credit rating obtained from a credit reporting service comprising a series of self-service terminals remotely linked via a telephone line to a first computer at the institution and to a second computer at the credit reporting service headquarters. Each remote terminal comprises a video screen and a video memory which holds image-and-sound-generating information arranged to simulate the aspect and speech of an application loan officer on the video screen. The simulated loan officer is used to acquire loan request data from the applicant by guiding him through an interactive sequence of inquiries and answers.

Abstract: A remote sensor and associated data processor, performs concurrent analysis of backscattered signals from a multi-beam acoustic Doppler emitter/receiver positioned against the inside wall of a conveying pipe or channel. Range-gating of the return signals allows independent analysis of discrete volumes of backscattered signal data corresponding to the distribution, concentration and travel velocity of small individual volumes or bins of water and suspended solids. Velocity is derived from the measured Doppler frequency shift for each bin. Relative solids concentration is estimated as a function of the measured intensity of the backscattered signals.

Abstract: A bag for storing small objects such as stretch cords, tie downs, bungee cords and the like, that are used in personal, occupational, recreational and marine pursuits. The bag may be made in an appropriate size and color so that it is capable of being used as a warning flag for attachment to objects to call attention to them, such as on a long load or the like. A rigid header bar is attached to the storage bag along an upper edge thereof to maintain the shape of the bag, especially when it is used as a flag. A handle is attached to the rigid header bar to carry the combined flag and bag, and hook-receiving openings are formed in the header bar for attachment of a handle or tie-down straps to secure the combined flag and bag to an object.

Abstract: In a paintball gun in which projectiles are admitted into the breech from a feed port through a radial aperture, sensors positioned in line with the aperture detect whether a projectile is completely or partially inserted into the breech, or totally missing. An electronic logic circuit allows the firing of the gun only when the projectile is fully inserted, and prevents the firing when the projectile is only partially inserted into the breech. A dry firing of the gun is enabled if the breech remains empty of any projectile for a short period. The dry firing is intended to dislodge any projectile jammed in the feed port.

Abstract: A combination wrap-around mask and goggle is made from a single transparent and flexible plastic material monolithically formed in a single cavity mold. The structure is devoid of any cavities or protrusions that could interfere with the easy withdrawal of the device from the mold. Front to back oriented ribs, gussets and fins are used to impart rigidity to various areas of the structure.

Abstract: An intriguing and educational display structure (1) appears to be spinning upon itself without any apparent drive mechanism, power supply or bearing. The structure comprises two concentric hollow spheres (3, 5) spaced apart by a transparent fluid (6). The outer sphere is totally transparent, immobile, and may rest on a tripod (2) or other type of support. The inner sphere may be partially transparent or translucent and carries over its surface, a design such as a map of the world (7). The inner sphere rotates within, and independently from, the first outer one. The internal, that is self-contained, drive mechanism uses either a conventional electrical motor (8) with its own field winding and commutator, or one made of a rotor comprising a cross-array of electromagnets (AC, BD) that interact with an ambient magnetic field such as the earth magnetic field.

Abstract: An intriguing and educational display structure (1) appears to be spinning upon itself without any apparent drive mechanism, power supply or bearing. The structure comprises two concentric hollow spheres (3, 5) spaced apart by a transparent fluid (6). The outer sphere is totally transparent, immobile and may rest on a tripod (2) or other type of support. The inner sphere may be partially transparent or translucent and carries over its surface, a design such as a map of the world (7). The inner sphere rotates within, and independently from the first outer one. The internal, that is self-contained drive mechanism is referenced to either a compass, a light angle detector, or a gravity sensor, and uses either a conventional electrical motor with its own internal field winding and communitator, or one made of a rotor comprising a cross-array of electromagnets (AC, BD) that interact with the earth magnetic field.

Abstract: A device for quantitively collecting, preserving and mailing a fresh and wet specimen of fecal or other biological matter for later analysis comprises a tubular vessel defining a chamber closed at one axial end by an openable plug and restricted at the opposite end by a narrow aperture. A stopper for closing the open end of the vessel extends into a stick for dipping into and retaining some of the biological matter. The shank of the stick is dimensioned to seal the aperture once the stopper has been screwed upon the open end of the vessel. A cover caps the plug to provide additional sealing of that end of the vessel during transportation. The mail transportation of the vessel device with a sealable shipping capsule that is essentially leakproof. A disposable telescoping handle mounts to the stopper to allow the user to stab at matter such as feces in a toilet without contacting the toilet water.

Abstract: A tether based connector for locating, identifying, inventorying, controlling and helping to ensure the retrieval of one or more items packaged within a container loaded with potentially obscuring packaging materials. The connector is formed from a stratified body having a die-cut upper sheet layer to form one or more extractable tethers, each of which terminates at a fastener at one end for releasably fastening to an item, and at an easily located terminus at the other end. The terminus may be formed as an anchorment for anchoring to the container. A single anchorment may be adapted to serve a plurality of tethers for fastening to a plurality of items. A badge carrying item identifying information can be associated with a connector.