Abstract: A self-supporting display stand comprising a rigid base, a pair of upstanding rod-like support masts mounted on the base, and a corresponding pair of tension cables which connect the upper ends of the masts to the base. The upper end of each cable is connected to the upper end of the corresponding mast by means of a first connector which co-operates with the upper end of the mast. The lower end of the cable is connected to the base by means of a second connector having a body which is adapted to be retained in a suitably shaped socket or aperture in the base.

Abstract: A longitudinal sealing (20), which, as a rule, extends below the rotating tube (30), is proposed to increase the heating efficiency in a rotary tubular kiln, in which a rotating tube (30) is surrounded, like a bowl, by heating tunnel (32) and is indirectly heated by a heating medium. It is designed in the shape of a separation wall between the entry side (38) and the exit side (40) for the heating medium in the heating tunnel and consists of a rigid part (22) and a flexible part (24), situated thereon and adaptable to the rotating tube profile.

Abstract: Error is distributed to pixels neighboring a pixel of interest based on a ranking of the neighboring pixels. The ranking is based on pixel values of the neighboring pixels. Optionally a spatial weighting is applied to the pixel values before ranking, to provide a preference for pixels closest to the pixel of interest or to a particular portion of a related halftone screen. Rank order based error diffusion provides compact halftone dots without patterning artifacts. An image processing system operative to perform rank order error diffusion includes a pixel ranker and an error diffuser. In a xerographic environment the image processing system includes a xerographic printer.

Abstract: A key cutting machine for the cutting of keys includes a spindle adapted to be driven rotatably about an axis thereof. The spindle has an axially extending throughbore. A milling cutter is selectively mountable in the throughbore for corotation therewith. A carriage for supporting a clamp assembly is movable relative to the spindle in a plane that is orthogonal relative to the axis. A key blank is clamped in the clamp assembly for cutting by the milling cutter. A securing mechanism is disposed on the spindle for rigidly mounting the milling cutter to the spindle when the milling cutter is positioned adjacent a first spindle end. A stem is selectively receivable in the throughbore by axial insertion into a second spindle end to position the milling cutter adjacent the first spindle end. The stem is removable from the throughbore after the milling cutter is rigidly mounted to the spindle by the securing mechanism.

Abstract: A printshop contains resources that are utilized to complete print jobs. The resources are partitioned into autonomous cells. Each autonomous cell is capable of completing at least one class of print job. Print jobs are assigned to the autonomous cells for completion. An autonomous cell may subdivide a print job into smaller sized lots and process the smaller size lots in parallel. This approach enhances the efficiency of the shop, decreases the work in progress, labor and inventory costs associated with running the print jobs and increases the utilization of the printing equipment in the printshop.

Abstract: A self-propelled appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner includes a magnetic field sensor and magnet. A relative position between the magnetic field sensor and the magnet can be changed by a user of the appliance. The magnetic field sensor generates a signal indicating a magnetic field sensed by the sensor. Therefore, the magnetic field sensor signal indicates the relative position of the magnet to the sensor. This relative position signal is interpreted as a speed and direction request for a means for propelling the appliance. The magnetic filed sensor is, for example, a Hall effect sensor. The means for propelling includes, for example, a brushless d.c motor, sensorless motor or switched reluctance motor. Forward and reverse propulsion is provided without the use of a clutch. The appliance includes a reduced number of wearing components.

Abstract: A method for separating individual optoelectronic devices, such as LEDs, from a wafer includes directing a laser beam having a width toward a major surface of the semiconductor wafer. The laser beam has an image with a first portion of a first energy per unit width and a second portion of a second energy per unit width less than the first energy. The laser beam image cuts into the first major surface of the semiconductor wafer to produce individual devices.

Abstract: An embedded data code comprises periodic tiles having occlusions. In one embodiment, each tile is comprised of glyphs encoding a first code system. The occlusions are comprised of information, such as glyphs encoding a second code system, graphics, or text. The occlusions may occur periodically in each tile. A reading device may be used to capture an image of a portion of the substrate that includes a tile. A processor then analyzes the image to determine the tile code pattern and decode the tiled code.

Abstract: A waste collection device includes a body including a housing defining an opening. The housing opening allowing an open end of an associated bag to be folded thereover and a housing receiving a closed end of the associated bag therein. A pulling mechanism is connected to the body and removably connected to the associated bag for selectively pulling the associated bag into the housing. To use, the open end of the bag is positioned adjacent waste material to be collected. The pulling mechanism then pulls the bag into the housing and the waste material is simultaneously transferred into the bag.

Abstract: A system architecture and method are provided for synchronizing the slave clock of one or more resources with the master clock of a controller in a document processing system. The method includes: a) saving a value of the master clock (615); b) generating a discrete clock synchronization interrupt signal and distributing the interrupt signal to the resource(s) via the control bus (625); c) receiving the interrupt signal at each resource (630) and saving a value of the slave clock (640); d) sending a message to the controller via a network to request the value saved for the master clock (645); e) sending the value to the resource (660); f) receiving the value (665); and g) subtracting the value saved for the slave clock from the value saved for the master clock to determine an error value between the clocks (690) and using the error value in an adjustment algorithm to synchronize the slave clock with the master clock (695).

Abstract: A sprocket includes a hub and a plurality of teeth projecting radially outwardly from the hub. At least one cushion ring is located adjacent the teeth, and the cushion ring defines a plurality of compression pads separated from each other by transverse grooves. Each of the compression pads is defined symmetrically about a circumferential mid-point. When part of a sprocket with symmetric tooth spaces, the cushion ring is being operable identically in first and second opposite rotational directions. In one arrangement, the compression pads each include a planar outer surface having a leading and a trailing end, wherein the leading end and trailing end are located a common radial distance from a center of the hub about which the sprocket rotates. The tooth spaces of the sprocket can be symmetric, asymmetric and the root surface can be relieved. The sprocket can include multiple tooth profiles distributed randomly about the hub.

Abstract: Main job production progress is monitored so that sample copies of parts of the main job that are designated critical or representative of the job as a whole can be produced on a regular interrupting basis. The samples are used to monitor production quality. Digital printing system modules are arranged and configured to provide a sample job destination separate from the main job destination.

Abstract: An apparatus for ventilation systems includes an element for the transfer of heat from warm exhaust air (taken from inside a building) to cooler exterior fresh air which is drawn into the building. The present invention in particular provides an apparatus whereby, during a defrost cycle, interior air may circulate through both of the fresh air and exhaust air paths for delivery back into the building, i.e. the warm interior air, used as defrost air, may be able to circulate from the interior of the building into the ventilation apparatus and back to the interior of the building. The apparatus can thus use interior air as defrost air while diminishing or avoiding the creation of a negative air pressure in the building.

Abstract: A bit holder for a ploughing bit, particularly a bottom bit of a coal plough, includes an insert pocket 12 which is open at the top side 11 for receiving and supporting a bit stem of the ploughing bit and which pocket 12 is bounded on its edges by two lateral supporting walls 20, 30, a front supporting wall 13 and a rear supporting wall 14 with the rear supporting wall 14 projecting above the front supporting wall 13. In order to minimise the wear effect on the contact surfaces between bit stem and bit holder, the lateral supporting wall 20 facing away from the working face when the plough is in use projects above the front supporting wall 13 and the other lateral supporting wall 30 and forms an extended lateral support for the bit stem with respect to the other supporting wall 30.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises two substrates facing and spaced from each other, at least one of the substrates being transparent; an electro-optical material filling a first portion of the space between the substrates, the electro-optical material comprising molecules whose spatial orientation can be altered by application of an electric field across the two substrates; and a polymeric material filling a second portion of the space between the substrates, the polymeric material having been polymerized in situ between the plates, wherein the polymeric material forms a multiplicity of microscopic polymer columns extending between the two substrates, and the columns provide both a structural bond between the two substrates for maintaining the spacing between the substrates and alignment of the molecules of the electro-optical material, with the alignment resulting from the close spacing of the microscopic columns.

Abstract: A die assembly for use on a press and adapted to form a plurality of features on a strip of material. The die assembly includes a first die section and a second die section. The first die section is supported on the press and has a first tooling surface for forming a first feature. The second section is moveably supported on the press relative to the first section and has second and third tooling surfaces. The second tooling surface engages the first feature and locates the second die section relative thereto. The third tooling surface is for forming a second feature. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tube and float system for use in separation and axial expansion of the buffy coat is provided. The system includes a transparent, or semi-transparent, flexible sample tube and a rigid separator float having a specific gravity intermediate that of red blood cells and plasma. The sample tube has an elongated sidewall having a first cross-sectional inner diameter. The float consists of a main body portion and one or more support members protruding from the main body portion to engage and support the sidewall of the sample tube. The main body portion and the support members of the float have a cross-sectional diameter less than that of the first cross-sectional inner diameter of the tube when the sample tube is expanded, such as by centrifugation. The main body portion of the float together with an axially aligned portion of the sidewall define an annular volume therebetween.

Abstract: A vacuum pump includes an inlet port (14) and an exhaust port (86, 88). Gas from an enclosure connected to the inlet port is pumped to the exhaust port by first and second rotors (18, 52, 254) which are mounted on first and second shafts (30, 60) extending through a pump chamber (112). The rotors are connected with shaft sections (140, 150, 240, 250) which include a lobe (142, 172, 242, 242?) extending from the shaft sections and a mating channel (152, 182, 252, 252?) defined in the other. The lobes matingly engage the channels during rotation of the rotors to form a suction section (154). The suction section (154) compresses a volume of gas entering the pump from the inlet port (14) reducing the power consumed to move the volume of gas through the pump chamber more easily and increase pump efficiency.

Abstract: A semi-rotary unit for continuously cutting or printing articles from sheets or from a continuous web, includes a rotary cylinder for supporting about its circumference a removable plate and defining a cutting or printing station, a conveyor for sequentially conveying sheets or a continuous web past the rotary cylinder, and a motor for driving the rotary cylinder and the conveyor. The unit further includes means for determining a correction factor for plates which are originally manufactured for use on a rotary cylinder having a different diameter to that of the unit, and control means for varying the speed of the rotary cylinder relative to the sheets or continuous web in accordance with the correction factor.