Abstract: A food processing machine having a product cleaning drum and an encircling product carrier shell disposed to define an annular product cleaning space therebetween. A waste collecting bell is concentrically mounted about the carrier shell to provide a waste collecting space therebetween and the carrier shell and collecting bell are interconnected. Separate mechanisms drive the cleaning drum and the interconnected carrier shell and collection bell to alter the magnitude of the centrifugal force that moves the products through the cleaning space and controls the amount of surface pressure applied to the products by abrading members carried on the periphery of the cleaning drum. Centrifugal force and the abrading members coact with frictional surfaces provided in the product movement path to move the products through the machine, while centrifugal force moves waste material from the cleaning space into the waste collecting space and out through a waste discharge mechanism.

Abstract: A two-lever toggle mechanism operates in conjunction with a conventional toggle bracket of an I/O station to prevent the incorrect loading of a DLT cartridge into a dedicated pass-through slot. A rotating front lever includes a leading protrusion facing the slot and a front wing that cooperates with the toggle bracket to prevent its closure when an incorrectly loaded cartridge is present in the slot. A rotating rear lever similarly incorporates a trailing protrusion facing the slot and a shank slidably coupled to an elongated groove in the front lever, such that the two levers rotate together. Therefore, the trailing protrusion provides an additional safeguard to ensure that only a DLT cartridge that is placed correctly into the slot permits the closure of the toggle bracket.

Abstract: Disclosed is a library of hard disk drives with transparent emulating interface. The hard disk drives are shelved in associated storage locations in the library. A library controller translates the logical address of a requested hard disk drive known to the requesting host computer to a physical address or location within the library. A picker preferably mounts the requested disk drive to a destination receptacle which may be part of a backplane of the library, and the controller accesses the hard disk drive. Library operation is transparent to the host computer, the library emulating a selected type of storage device.

Abstract: A digital storage medium for use with a computer system for producing a Dynamic Object Model interposed between FPGA hardware (including hardware platforms and FPGAs) and software applications. Hardware functional units are represented by unique Dynamic Objects. Dynamic Objects allow functional units to abstractly advertise their functionality and attributes directly to software applications as objects. Software applications can utilize these abstract functions and set functional unit attributes without specific knowledge of the physical composition of FPGA hardware. A Dynamic Object Model includes a software environment front end program component and a hardware environment back end program component. Additionally, a Dynamic API allows the front end program component to effectively communicate with the back end program component.

Abstract: An arrow extraction device includes a clamp and a lever-actuated push rod. An arrow shaft is held by the clamp while removal force is applied through the lever-actuated push rod, thereby facilitating easy recovery of a whole arrow embedded in a target.

Abstract: In the process of converting an interferogram phase map to a surface profile, in the absence of tilt, a histogram of occurrences of phase values is created from phase data. Useful data are identified in bins with contents that exceed a threshold value. Where useful data wrap around the end of the histogram, a selected amount of phase shift is added to the phase data to move them all within the ends of the histogram. Where tilt is present, the phase data are differentiated to produce slope data and a histogram of occurrences of slope values is created. A best-fit amount of tilt is determined from the slope histogram by selecting the bin at the average between two points on the histogram curve that are a predetermined percentage of the maximum height of the curve. Thereafter, the best-fit tilt is subtracted from the original phase data to eliminate tilt.

Abstract: A golfing aid includes an elongated cylindrical member having a passage which runs the length thereof. One end of the cylindrical member is provided with a resilient cup-like element designed to grip a golf ball. A rod extends through the cylindrical member and projects from the other end thereof. The projecting part of the rod is formed with a knob which is urged away from the cylindrical member by a spring. When the spring holds the knob away from the cylindrical member, the rod is in a retracted position in which the end of the rod opposite the knob is inside the cylindrical member. The knob can be depressed against the action of the spring to move the rod to an extended position in which the end of the rod opposite the knob projects into the cup-like element to eject a golf ball therefrom. A magnetic or magnetizable button on the knob holds a magnetic or magnetizable washer serving as a marker.

Abstract: A paint drying system for drying a painted body (4), such as a painted motor vehicle, includes a spraybooth (1) having an enclosure (2) through which air flows from an air inlet (6) to an air outlet (16, 18). The spraybooth (1) may also have columns of air jets (34) mounted in respective corners of the enclosure (2) to direct air obliquely at surfaces of the vehicle body (4). The system includes ionization members (33) for electrically charging this air supply. In a preferred embodiment the air is negatively charged by ionization members comprising one or elongate rods (33) mounted parallel with the columns of air jets (34). The spraybooth (2) may also have a control system (210) for controlling the paint drying system (4). The control system (210) has user-operable controls (234) to pre-select a predetermined parameter/combination of parameters and thus control the characteristics of a respective drying stage or cycle which parameters, e.g. temperature, vary with time.

Abstract: A reactive test strip having a pre-exposure color is used to measure and indicate the concentration of copper ions in brake fluid in terms of a readily visible color change. The strip is immersed in the fluid within a brake fluid container and any resulting color change is compared to a color chart and a known test standard representative of the maximum metal concentration determined empirically to correspond to a boiling point considered safe for normal operation. If the color change indicates a higher copper concentration than the known test standard, then the fluid is considered inadequate for safe operation and thus recommended for replacement without any further tests. Similar copper or metal strips can also be used in a similar test to determine iron or zinc concentration within the brake fluid so as to also determine suitability of the brake fluid for ensuring safe operation.

Abstract: A ventilated sport bag having a permeable inner layer and a detachable impermeable outer layer is disclosed. The permeable inner layer allows moisture to evaporate so that the sport item will not become mildewed, discolored, or rust. When a wet sport item is placed in the bag, the impermeable outer layer is detached so that the item can dry. The inner layer is comprised of two portions of material that are formed in the shape of the bag. The outer layer is comprised of two cover portions that cover the two inner layer portions. The outer cover portions are attached to the inner layer portions by an attachment device such as a zipper. When the outer cover wears out it can be replaced without having to purchase an entire new bag. A handle and a detachable shoulder strap are also provided.

Abstract: A new and improved safety outlet includes of a one-piece structure which is installed on a standard electrical receptacle in place of a standard receptacle cover. The electrical plugs installed in the outlets of the electrical receptacle are completely enclosed within the fire resistant and electrically insulating structure; baffles are incorporated into the rigid base to prevent an infant or young person from inserting a rigid object through the passages in the structure for electrical cords and thereby preventing contact with the electrical supply voltages; and three tabs spaced on three sides of the cover portion must be simultaneously pressed to allow the structure to be opened for access to the electrical plugs, thereby preventing access to the enclosed region and preventing contact with the electrical supply voltages.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hard disk drive picking device and method for transferring a disk drive from one of a plurality of storage bins in a library to a destination wherein the disk drive may be electrically interconnected to a computer. The picking device includes a backplane adapted to provide power or I/O interconnections between the disk drive and the destination during transfer of the disk drive.

Abstract: A heterogeneous blend of small electron-donor organic molecules and polymerizable monomers is flash evaporated to provide a molecular-level vapor-phase mixture, which is then condensed and cured in-line as a homogeneous liquid layer on a flexible web containing an anodic layer. The procedure is repeated with an electron-acceptor organic substance, which is deposited over the electron-donor layer. A metallic cathode is then deposited over the electron-acceptor layer and the composite OLED product is packaged. The electrical characteristics and the thickness of the metallic cathode and the composition of the polymer layers are selected such as to produce the gasification of elemental carbon generated by dielectric breakdowns and the oxidation of any exposed cathodic surface, thereby providing a built-in mechanism to prevent the propagation of the damage caused by electrical shorts.

Abstract: A coil has foil conductor windings which are formed into self leads and provide a stable mount to a printed circuit board or the like. End portions of the foil windings are cut and formed into stacks. The stack configuration forms the self leads of the foil winding and facilitates the winding's exits from the coil. The self leads extend from the coil and are formed to reach to the printed circuit board (PCB). The self leads are strong enough to mount the coil to the PCB. The ends of the self leads are trimmed to fit through holes in the PCB. After insertion, the layers of the self leads are bent in opposing directions to substantially block the hole, prevent extraction, and prevent solder from flowing through the holes. The self leads are then soldered to the board. A bobbin having discontinuous flanges facilitates the exits of the self leads from the coil. The invention is useful in coils, inductors, transformers, and the like.

Abstract: Interferometric measurements are carried out in conventional manner to produce a correlogram corresponding to successive scanner steps. An approximation of the actual scan-step size between frames is calculated from multiple-frame intensity data collected around the frame of interest using common irradiance algorithms. The scan-step size so measured is then used in standard PSI, VSI or PSIOTF algorithms, instead of the scanner's nominal phase step. According to one embodiment, the invention utilizes a five-frame PSI algorithm to produce an average scan-step size of four scan steps. According to another embodiment, the phase step between frames is calculated directly utilizing a novel five-frame algorithm that produces an approximation of actual phase step for a given frame, rather than an average value of four steps around the frame. The method requires reduced data processing and can advantageously be applied “on-the fly” as intensity data are acquired during scanning.

Abstract: A reference signal is used to track the actual behavior of the scanner in an interferometer to produce scanner-position data that can be used to correct errors introduced by scanner nonlinearities and other error sources. A narrow-band light source is advantageously utilized to cover the entire range of operation of the scanner. Because of the independent reference channel, the invention is suitable for implementation with all types of conventional interferometric techniques. The concept is preferably implemented by utilizing an additional light source and the same scanner used for the measurement, so that the OPD varies in synchronization of both the reference-signal and data-collection procedures. Alternatively, a high temporal-coherence filter may be used with the same light source and optical path used for the interferometric measurement.

Abstract: A strip with an exterior sticky surface is judiciously selected for its ability to entrap dust and other loose debris without interfering with the operation of moving parts contacted thereby. The strip is attached to the sides of a magnetic tape cartridge, with the sticky surface facing outward, in places contacted by rollers and/or belts during the process of handling the cartridge in an automated system. Thus, any loose debris in the rollers or belts is retained by the tacky surface of the strip as the cartridge passes through the rollers and belts of the robotic system. The strips of the invention may be removably adhered to the data cartridge, or may be permanently attached. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the strips may be incorporated into a cleaner cartridge for the periodic maintenance of loading equipment.

Abstract: A mold for the continuous casting of beam blanks is provided with a casting passage which, as seen in a transverse plane of the mold, has two lateral portions for forming the flanges of a beam blank and a central portion for forming the web of the beam blank. The thickness of the mold wall is reduced in the central portion of the casting passage in order to improve heat transfer.

Abstract: A bi-directional autonomous truck. The truck includes a drive-train including one or more drive wheels, the drive-train having drive characteristics that are substantially the same whether the drive wheels rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The drive characteristics may consist of the ability to reach a maximum rotational speed of the drive wheels, but may include other characteristics, such as the ability to steer corresponding pairs of drive wheels that are situated at opposite ends of the truck. Preferably, the truck includes a dump bed that is adapted for dumping in either of two opposite directions.

Abstract: An impeller and shield for a mixing apparatus. A mixing member has upper and lower opposite faces and one or more apertures therethrough. Each of the apertures has an upper periphery defined by an edge of the lower face and a lower periphery defined by an edge of the upper face. The mixing member is preferably an otherwise substantially planar disc having a hole through the center for receiving a motor driven shaft. Preferably, a separate shield member having upper and lower opposite surfaces and an aperture therethrough for receiving the shaft of the motor driven impeller is provided. The impeller and shield are used in combination to minimize the escape of particulate matter into the surrounding air during a mixing operation.