Abstract: An automated bagging system fills and closes a bag by delivering an air jet to open the bag. A pair of horns engage the inner surfaces of the bag wherein the bag is subsequently filled. A bag transfer mechanism engages the outer surface of the bag with pinch belts and the pinch belts transfer the bags to a bag closing apparatus to close the filled bag.

Abstract: In a high speed injection molding machine the injection "shot" size is controlled by driving the injection piston by an injection cylinder activated by a precisely known predetermined volume of hydraulic fluid thereby precisely limiting the travel distance of the injection piston during the injection process.

Abstract: A sawing system is provided having a material conveyor for moving lengths of wood stock through the sawing system. According to one aspect of the invention, the material conveyor is preferably inclined upward from a frontal loading end to facilitate the loading of wood stock. The material conveyor is also preferably adjustable to accommodate different lengths of wood stock. According to another aspect of the invention, the sawing system has at least first and second power saws on one side of the material conveyor and at least third and fourth power saws on the opposite side of the material conveyor. Each of the four power saws is supported for independent angular movement of its saw blade about a pivot axis that is offset from the plane of the saw blade and parallel to the direction of the movement of the lengths of wood stock on the material conveyor. At least one of the first and second power saws is supported for horizontal movement relative to the material conveyor.

Abstract: A gantry press adjustment apparatus for vertically adjusting a parallel gantry press (10) with respect to a work surface (77). The gantry press has a rigid frame with a first side frame portion (12) and a second side frame portion (14), and a press roller (16) mounted therebetween. Each side frame portion has first and second generally parallel vertical members (28, 30). The adjustment apparatus has first and second planar members (40) which are adapted to receive and support the axle (60) of the press roller. The planar members are slidably mounted along a vertical axis of the frame portions. First vertical adjustment members (100, 200) are connected to the first side frame portion and to the first planar member, and second vertical adjustment members (300, 400) are connected to the second side frame portion and to the second planar member. A drive (134) is connected with each of the adjustment members to adjust each member at a substantially equivalent rate.

Abstract: A fold-up treadmill apparatus for in-place walking, jogging, and running exercise is provided. The treadmill apparatus includes a base assembly and a treadmill assembly. The treadmill assembly has a forward end and a rearward end. According to the presently most preferred embodiment, the forward portion of the treadmill assembly is pivotally mounted to the base assembly and the rearward end is free. The treadmill assembly includes a means for raising and lowering the forward end of the treadmill assembly, whereby the incline of the treadmill assembly can be adjusted between about zero degrees to the horizontal and about fifteen degrees to the horizontal when the rearward end of the treadmill assembly is supported on a floor.

Abstract: An ergonomic palm and forearm support device is provided for computer interface controls. The device supports the palm and the forearm of a user's hand and arm during the user's operation of a cursor control, keyboard, or other computer interface. The device has a base, a raised palm support portion between a forward end and a rearward end of the base, a forearm support portion that is inclined from the rearward end of the base toward the raised palm support portion, whereby, when the user's palm and forearm are placed on the device, an angle of greater than or equal to 180 degrees is created between the top of the user's hand and the top of the user's forearm. For a cursor control interface, the device has a cursor position control surface portion that is declined from the raised palm support portion toward the forward end of the base. For a keyboard interface, the device has a keyboard interface surface portion that is declined from the raised palm support portion toward the forward end of the base.

Abstract: A pitch break connector is provided. The pitch break connector has an outside and inside rigid member. Each member has a first generally U-shaped channel defined by a spine member between first and second legs. Each member has a first and a second pivot end portion. A hinge pivotally connects the inside and outside members through the pivot end portions in a generally longitudinally opposing position. In this configuration, the first and second end portions of the inside member can be pivotally accepted into a cavity defined by the generally U-shaped channel of the outside member when the members are pivoted about the hinge.

Abstract: Disclosed is the method and apparatus for preventing algae growth in open-topped cooling tower reservoirs and the like which utilizes a porous flexible sheet material placed over the open top of the water reservoir, such sheet material characterized by the fact that it has an effective shade factor to prevent the growth of algae in the reservoir but is porous to allow cooling air--water interaction.

Abstract: A fold-up treadmill apparatus for in-place walking, jogging, and running exercise is provided. The treadmill apparatus includes a base assembly and a treadmill assembly. The treadmill assembly has a forward end and a rearward end. According to the presently most preferred embodiment, the forward portion of the treadmill assembly is pivotally mounted to the base assembly and the rearward end is free. The treadmill assembly includes a means for raising and lowering the forward end of the treadmill assembly, whereby the incline of the treadmill assembly can be adjusted between about zero degrees to the horizontal and about fifteen degrees to the horizontal when the rearward end of the treadmill assembly is supported on a floor.

Abstract: The connector plate has a rigid, planar base, and a plurality of adjacent elongated slots defined in said metal plate. The slots are offset in a sinusoidal pattern having at least one cycle with a maximum amplitude slot position, minimum amplitude slot position and at least two zero-point slot position. Each slot has first and second reverse-oriented mirror-image teeth extending from the plate at opposing ends of each slot.

Abstract: An energy saving controller for an air conditioning system comprising a temperature sensor or sensing and measuring the temperature in an area to be controlled, a memory device for storing a first set and a second set of reference temperatures, each set of reference temperatures including a heating reference temperature and a cooling reference temperature, and a controller in communication with the memory device for selecting one of the first and second sets of reference temperatures in the memory and for comparing the selected set of reference temperatures to the measured temperature of the area. The controller is adapted to select one set of reference temperatures when the area is unoccupied by a person and to select the other set of reference temperatures when the area is occupied by a person. The occupancy information is provided to the controller by an occupancy detector. A system switch is provided that communicates with the controller and selects between a heating mode, a cooling mode, and an off mode.

Abstract: An improved fastener securing framing members to metal studs is provided. The fastener has rigid shank, an integral head, a self-tapping or drilling tip, and a first and a second spaced apart buttress threads. The shank has a generally circular cross-section and a longitudinally extending axis. The head integrally extends a first end of the shank and has a top portion and an underside. The self-drilling tip is extends from a second end of the shank. The first buttress thread is formed in said shank and is adjacent the head and partially traverses the shank, terminating from the shank's second end. The second buttress thread is formed in the shank and sufficiently spaced apart from the first buttress thread such that the first thread does not continue to threadingly feed the shank through an aperture formed by the self-drilling tip, the second buttress thread terminating adjacent the tip.

Abstract: A gate for twin shaft mixer having a partial cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, first and second outer wall portions, and first and second end walls. The first outer wall portion extends between the first and second end walls parallel to the longitudinal axis forming a first working surface. The second outer wall portion extends from the first end wall parallel to the longitudinal axis to a terminal end spaced apart from the second end wall, forming a continuous discharge passage in the partial cylindrical body between the terminal end and the second end wall. The first and second end walls are provided with shafts which extend along a common axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, defining an axis of rotation for the gate. A pair of actuator assemblies are provided that support the discharge gate below the discharge opening of a mixer and impart rotation to the gate through the first and second shafts.

Abstract: An adjustable hanging bracket having an elongated spine with a longitudinal axis. The spine has a first portion and a second portion. First and second opposed ears extend from the first portion of the spine in a direction transverse to the axis. Each of the ears have distal ends. First and second opposed flanges extend from the spine in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and are adjacent to the first and second ears. The first and second flanges form an arcuate taper towards the second portion of the spine. A first and a second seat tab extend longitudinally from the second portion of the spine in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and forman acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spine. Each of the seat tabs have distal ends. The flanges define a plurality of fastener openings. The openings are aligned about a plurality of vertically spaced axes.

Abstract: A resealable container including a body portion with front and rear panels on which interlocking closure strips are mounted to facilitate opening and resealing the container. A handle is formed by a pair of handle pieces, one of the handle pieces being secured to each of the resealable closure strips such that application of force to the handle pieces for lifting the container does not result in application of forces of sufficient magnitude for separating the closure strips which would result in opening the container. One or more handles are formed on the bottom of the container to facilitate pouring contents of the container.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for distributing and controlling distribution of externally and locally generated communications signals to and between a plurality of subscribers. A photonic distribution apparatus for a home area network having a plurality of subscribers has an optical transmission medium for conveying a communications data signal containing a plurality of distribution instruction segments, a microcontroller circuit, and a communications routing circuit. The optical transmission medium has at least one transmit and one receive pathway. The communications routing circuit responsive to a distribution instruction from the microcontroller circuit.

Abstract: A gantry press adjustment apparatus for adjusting a vertical orientation of a parallel gantry press with respect to a work surface. The gantry press has a rigid frame with a first side frame portion and a second side frame portion. Each side frame portion has a first and a second generally parallel vertical members. The first and the second side frame portions are spaced sufficiently apart to accept a press roller. The adjustment apparatus has a first and a second planar member which are adapted to receive and support the axle of the roller press. The planar members are slidably mounted along a vertical axis of the frame portions. A first vertical adjustment member is connected to the first side frame portion and to the first planar member. A second vertical adjustment member is connected to the second side frame portion and to the second planar member.

Abstract: A system for producing realistic tactile feedback forces in a tool operation simulator. Sensors sense the location and direction of movement of a simulated tool in a simulated landscape environment to produce electrical signals representing three dimensional location and direction of movement. These electrical signals are processed by re-programmable processors to produce control signals that are fed to pneumatic bi-directional piston-type actuators to impart realistic forces similar to forces that would be encountered in corresponding real-life movement of the simulated tool.

Abstract: A track fitting assembly for removably securing a seat through a swivel bearing to a generally channel-shaped track secured to the fuselage of an aircraft. The track fitting assembly includes a forged body member having spaced track lugs projecting laterally from a narrow finger portion. The body member has a socket which receives a threaded shear plunger adjusting screw such that a head on the adjusting screw moves into the socket to indicate when the shear plunger is properly seated to lock the track lugs in the track.

Abstract: A method for increasing a negative bias of a ferrous-metal based pipeline having a connection to a ground plane for reducing the tendency of paraffins to accumulate on an inner surface of the pipeline. An electromagnetic field generator is provided. The electromagnetic field generator is connected to a positive terminal of a power supply. The electromagnetic field generator is also connected the ground plane spaced apart from the ground plane connection of the pipeline. A negative terminal of the direct current power supply is electrically connected to the pipeline.