Abstract: An improved pressure activated control apparatus is provided for sensing fluid pressure and triggering one or more switches in response to the fluid pressure, as desired. The apparatus is designed to be placed within a fluid of a reservoir. The apparatus includes a first resilient member, such as a pliable rolling diaphragm or bellofram, having an outer surface exposed to the fluid and responsive to the fluid pressure. The pressure activated control apparatus includes a second resilient member, such as a spring with a chosen spring constant, k, that provides a biasing force against the diaphragm that is opposite the fluid pressure. A transducer is operative to monitor changes in pressure of gases within the apparatus causes by movement of the diaphragm. A controller is responsive to the transducer and selectable fluid level thresholds to activate pumps and/or valves for adjusting the level of the fluid in the reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing golf club grips. The apparatus (10) includes a body (12) with an integral handle (14). The body further includes a shaft guide (16) with concave portions (18) and (20) for guiding the apparatus along the shaft of the golf club. The apparatus includes a pair of brackets (26) and (28) that are operative to releasably and adjustably hold inwardly curved blades (30) and (32). The apparatus is used to remove golf grips by placing the end of the golf club on the ground. The shaft of the club may then be placed adjacent the concave portions of the shaft guide. By pushing the apparatus along the club shaft the blades are operative to create two parallel slices in the grip along the club shaft. The cut out portion of the grip between the parallel slices is directed away from the shaft by a ramp (56).

Abstract: A method and system for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses comprising a computer (102) and a CNC machining platform (104) in operative connection with the computer. The CNC machining platform includes a mounting stage (110), a block (106) in releasable connection with the mounting stage, and a machining tool (112). When an unfinished lens blank (108) is properly mounted on the block, the computer is operative to direct the CNC machining platform to perform both back surface generation and patternless edging of the lens blank in one machining cycle. The computer is further operative to direct the CNC machining platform to machine a lap tool for each lens and machine a block for receiving each lens. The block is machined by the platform to include scribe lines for facilitating proper alignment of lens blank.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the construction of analytic instruments and can be used for analyzing natural and industrial water, biological samples, geological samples and air. The purpose of this invention is to reduce substantially the power used by the atomizer and the analyzer, and to increase the number of objects that can be analyzed. To this end, the method for the thermionic atomization of a sample involves carrying out an ionic sputtering of the sample from the cathode in a low-pressure discharge. The cathode is heated by the discharge to a temperature of between 800 and 1400° C., while the ballast gas consists of Kr or Xe under a gas pressure of 10 to 15 torrs. The thermionic atomization device includes an atomizer arranged in a gas-discharge chamber filled with an inert gas. The atomizer is made in the form of a hollow, cylindrical, metallic and thin-wall cathode.

Abstract: A method of developing platform specific applications for automated banking machines is provided. The method comprises generating source code for an automated banking machine application. A portable medium is placed in operative connection with a computer. The computer is configured to execute a compiler from the portable medium which corresponds to a first one of a plurality of targeted automated banking machine platforms. The source code for the first one of the plurality of targeted automated banking machine platforms is compiled with the compiler being executed from the portable medium responsive to a standard make instruction set. The standard make instruction set is adapted for use with each of the plurality of targeted automated banking machine platforms. The standard make instruction set is operative to direct the compiler to build an application component that includes code which corresponds to the first targeted automated banking machine platform.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the construction of analytical instruments and may be used for analysing naturel or industrial waters, biological samples as well as geological samples. The method for detecting elements in solutions comprises pulverising the samples using pulses, ionising the pulverised atoms during Penning's collisions and recording the ions thus formed during a mass spectral analysis while carrying out a separation of the ion time-of-flight. The pulse pulverisation of the sample is carried out from a surface which is heated at a temperature of between 1000 and 1500% C. and on which the sample dried in a flow of ballast gas forms a dry residue. The ballast gas may consist of Kr, Xe or mixtures thereof wich Ar under a pressure of between 1 and 2 torrs. The device for detecting elements in solutions comprises an ionising device which is arranged in a gas-discharge chamber filled with an inert gas.

Abstract: An automated teller machine (ATM) (10) includes an input device (16) a card reader (20), a cash dispenser (24), and an output device (18). The ATM is operative to read account information from a card with the card reader and validate a user PIN input through the input device. The ATM may also be operative to dispense cash with the cash dispenser and dispense digital content with the output device responsive to user input selections. The ATM may be further operative to charge a user fee to an account associated with the card for the dispense of cash and digital content. Digital content dispensed by the ATM may include sound recordings such as MP3 files, video files, books, graphics, photographs, and other digital data. In cases where the ATM dispenses visual content the output device may include a printer that is operative to output printed photographs.

Abstract: A beehive (100) for honey production comprising a movable top entrance (104) positioned above a brood chamber (102). The movable top entrance is operative to releasably mount to the top of the brood chamber. In addition, the movable top entrance is operative to releasably support one or more honey supers (106) on top of the movable top entrance. The movable top entrance includes an outer frame (112) with at least one aperture (116) therethrough. the moveable top entrance further includes a baffle (122) in supporting connection within the outer frame. The baffle includes a cavity (126) adjacent the aperture in the outer frame. The aperture and the cavity have a size and shape which are sufficiently large to enable honeybees to pass through the aperture and the cavity to a location either above or below the baffle. The baffle has a surface area which fills the majority of the space between the outer frame and is operative to generally prevent the queen honeybee from moving to the honey super.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generation of a protective sleeve against infections for a percutaneous lead through human or animal skin. The percutaneous lead (1) includes an extrusion port (7). When the lead extends through a body (3) of a patient, a pump (9) in operative connection with the lead is operative to move biocompatible liquid polymer material from a reservoir (10) through the extrusion port. As the polymer material comes in contact with body tissues of the patient it forms a protective sleeve against infections (5). The protective sleeve must be periodically clipped as it continuously or intermittently grows in an upward direction (6) outside of the body. The continual formation of the protective sleeve prevents the formation of a biofilm on the percutaneous lead that can cause the body tissue to separate from the percutaneous lead.

Abstract: A headspace sampling apparatus (10) operates to provide a sample of a vapor phase of a substance being analyzed under conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium. The substance is held in a vial (14). The vapor phase of the substance (18) is moved through a sample loop (34) between a first variable volume chamber (22) and a second variable volume chamber (40). A constant volume and temperature is maintained within the variable volume chambers, the sample loop and the headspace of the vial. An aliquot of the equilibrated vapor in the sample loop is passed to an analytical instrument (54) for analysis. The sample is obtained under conditions in which the sampling process does not affect the makeup of the sample because thermodynamic equilibrium is maintained.

Abstract: A small lightweight yet strong frame (12) housing multiple flexible axles (22) which in turn support foam rubber roller balls (16), which roll about an axis creating: massage, intersegmental traction, trigger point therapy, and active exercise to the back of the user. These axles (22) are made more efficient by the placement of bushings (26) where they are contained by frame (12). Foam rubber balls (16) contain sleeves (30) which promote free rotation. A sliding head rest (38) is provided for comfort and is also used to facilitate optional concomitant neck and back treatment and multiple tension adjustments (46) (36) are provided for varying resistance to glide.

Abstract: A post valve yoke (35, 150) is operative to engage with a tank or cylinder (154) for placing the tank in fluid communication with a high pressure source of gas. The yoke includes a yoke body (148). The upper ends of the yoke body include a bore (160). A plunger (158) is operative to slide through the bore. The yoke body includes an opening (146) that is operative to receive a post valve (152) of the tank. The yoke is operative to urge the post valve with the plunger into sealed engagement with a passageway (144) in the lower end (174) of each yoke responsive to the movement of a lever arm (156) in pivoting connection with the plunger. A trigger lock (176) is operative to lock the lever arm in an engaged position to prevent the yoke from accidently disengaging with the post valve.

Abstract: A hydraulically operative post valve yoke mounting system. The system (10) includes one or more hydraulically operated yokes (41-44). Each yoke is operative to engage with a tank or cylinder (21-24) for placing the tanks in fluid communication with a high pressure source of gas (50). Each yoke includes a yoke body (140). The upper ends of each yoke body include a bore (116). A pin (104) is operative to slide through each bore. Each yoke body includes an opening (124) that is operative to receive a post valve (108) of a tank (110). Each yoke is operative to urge the post valve with the pin into sealed engagement with a passageway (142) in the lower end (114) of each yoke responsive to hydraulic fluid pressure. The hydraulic pressure may be supplied by a hydraulic pump (28) in fluid communication with hydraulic yoke.

Abstract: A headspace instrument (10, 70) operates to equilibrate a vapor phase of a headspace sample in a sample loop (40, 74). The sample is equilibrated by flow through the headspace between variable volume chambers (28, 50, 86, 90). The volume of the variable volume chambers are changed in coordinated relation so that a constant total volume is always maintained. An aliquot of the equilibrated sample in the sample loop is delivered to an analytical instrument. The headspace instrument enables delivering a vapor sample from a headspace under conditions which do not disturb the thermodynamic equilibrium between the vapor phase and the non-vapor phase of the sample and avoids having the sampling process impact the results of the analysis. Alternative forms of the headspace instrument enable the conduct of concentration dependent processes and absorption and desorption experiments.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (12) is operative to conduct transactions in response to HTML documents and TCP/IP messages exchanged with a local computer system (14) through an intranet (16), as well as in response to messages exchanged with foreign servers (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 96) in a wide area network (18). The banking machine includes a computer (34) having an HTML document handling portion (76, 80, 82). The HTML document handling portion is operative to communicate through a proxy server (88), with a home HTTP server (90) in the intranet or the foreign servers in the wide area network. The computer further includes a device application portion (84) which interfaces with the HTML document handling portion and dispatches messages to operate devices (36) in the automated banking machine. The devices include a sheet dispenser mechanism (42) which dispenses currency as well as other transaction devices.

Abstract: An automated transaction machine includes a sheet dispensing path verification system and method. The machine includes a sheet handling mechanism (17, 192) therein, including a sheet transport path (42). Devices for sensing and moving sheets are positioned adjacent to the transport path. The machine includes a control circuitry (44) which controls the various devices in response to inputs by customers. Upon receiving a transaction request from a customer which requires the dispensing of sheets, the machine verifies whether the sheet transport path to the customer is unobstructed. A test sheet is sent along the transport path to a delivery position. At least one sensor is used to verify whether the test sheet may successfully travel through the transport path. After verification that the transport path is unobstructed the sheet dispensing transaction is completed by moving further sheets to the delivery position.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting a secondary source of a medical gas to a medical gas supply system which enables uninterrupted gas supply without backfeeding. A control panel (10) is connected in the system fluidly between primary supply sources (44, 45, 46) holding types of medical gas and gas outlets (54, 55, 56) for the delivery of the respective types of medical gas to devices in a medical facility. For each gas type the control panel houses a respective shut off valve (24, 25, 26). The shut-off valve may be closed to isolate the upstream source from the downstream components. The control panel also houses for each gas type a respective secondary gas inlet port (68, 69, 70). The inlet ports have connections specific to the type of gas which may be received therethrough. Check valves are provided to enable fluid flow only into the inlet ports. A removable cover or face (11) is normally installed on the control panel. The face can only be installed when the shut-off valves are all open.

Abstract: A financial transaction processing system (10) enables processing transactions from various types of card activated terminal devices (12) which communicate using a variety of electronic message formats. The transaction processing system includes among its software components message gateway routers (MGRs) (24, 164) which operate using information stored in the relational database to convert messages from a variety of external message formats used by the external devices and authorization systems, to a common internal message format used within the system. The system further uses database information to internally route messages to message processing programs (MPPs) (108, 138) which process messages and generate messages to the external devices and authorization systems. The MGR also converts the outgoing messages from the internal message format to the external message formats which can be interpreted by the external devices and systems to which the messages are directed.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (12) is operative to conduct transactions in response to HTML documents and TCP/IP messages exchanged with a local computer system (14) through an intranet (16), as well as in response to messages exchanged with foreign servers (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 96) in a wide area network (18). The banking machine includes a computer (34) having an HTML document handling portion (76, 80, 82). The HTML document handling portion is operative to communicate through a proxy server (88), with a home HTTP server (90) in the intranet or the foreign servers in the wide area network. The computer further includes a device application portion (84) which interfaces with the HTML document handling portion and dispatches messages to operate devices (36) in the automated banking machine. The devices include a sheet dispenser mechanism (42) which dispenses currency as well as other transaction devices.