Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for continuous in-line labeling of flexible walled bottles of predetermined height, having a pair of substantially continuous lower and upper conveyor members substantially longitudinally aligned to provide an inlet end and an outlet end. The upper conveyor member includes a substantially endless chain supporting a plurality of downwardly depending compression wedges spaced therealong, whereby successive bottles to be labeled are received at the inlet end in partially compressed relationship between the top surface of the lower conveyor and the compression wedge. The apparatus can be selectively adjusted such that the vertical spacing between the top surface of the lower conveyor and the wedges of the upper conveyor appropriately compressively accommodate bottles of various heights.

Abstract: A merchandising system for display of items for sale. The merchandising system constitutes display units each comprising a rectangular base assembly and an upright frame assembly mounted thereon along the long axis thereof. The base assembly comprises a pair of end members joined together by a pair of parallel spaced outer tubular members defining the base sides and by an interior tubular member intermediate the outer tubular members. The base assembly is provided with casters and a replaceable cover providing the base with a smooth upper surface. The frame assembly comprises at least a pair of upright frame members removably affixed to the base intermediate tubular member and joined at their upper ends by a horizontal frame member. The frame assembly is capable of supporting standard hardware and accessories such as bracket-supported shelving, horizontal hangbars, faceouts, waterfalls, and the like.

Abstract: This process for obtaining bitumens containing at least one elastomer comprises two steps according to which, in the first step, a homogeneous dispersion is prepared consisting of elastomer and of selected bitumen containing a low percentage of saturated products and of asphaltenes by blending the said elastomer and the said bitumen until a master solution containing a high concentration of elastomer is obtained and, in the second step, the said master solution is diluted with a roadmaking bitumen until a homogeneous product is obtained in the form of an elastomeric bitumen.

Abstract: A sugar composition consisting of from 90 to 99% by weight sugar and from 10 to 1% by weight of a non-gelling water-soluble dietary fibre. The sugar composition has substantially the properties of normal sugar, but contains a significant amount of dietary fibre, with consequent health benefits. A novel type of soluble fibre derived from sugar beet and a method for preparing it are disclosed. The composition may take the form of a concentrate or syrup, or may be in particulate form. The particulate form may be used as a direct sugar substitute. The fibre used may be a novel fibre obtainable by treating sugar beet with water free from chemical reagents at ambient pressure and at an elevated temperature, for example from 95.degree.-98.degree. C.

Abstract: A hydraulic pilot valve unit constructed with an aim of controlling the flow rate of fluid under pressure in proportion to the stroke of the operating lever, irrespective of the speed of operation of the lever, and adapted for use in supply of pilot fluid under pressure by a pilot fluid actuated type changeover valve or the like arranged to be actuated for switch-over by pilot fluid under pressure. This hydraulic pilot valve unit includes valve spools 23 each being slidably movable between a first position where the pilot fluid under pressure supplied by a pilot pressurized fluid supply pump (27) is allowed to flow into outlet ports (26) formed in the valve body (1), and a second position where the outlet ports are allowed to communicate with a reservoir port (30) formed for drainage purposes.

Abstract: Improved, low-cost coating compositions, comprising lightweight, non coated hollow, glass microspheres having high isostatic crush resistance, low specific gravity and low oil absorption, are disclosed for use as cathodic coatings for prevention of corrosion in metallic substrates; and for use as conductive coatings for attenuation of EMI/RFI interference in electronic components, the conductive coatings being suitable for application on metallic and non-metallic substrates.

Abstract: There is provided an improved exchangeable medicament dosing system and method which includes a reuseable integral patient dispensing frame which supports a plurality of reuseable cartridges. Replaceable blister packages having a plurality of individually sealed spaced pockets are slidably inserted into the reuseable cartridge and aligned with a predetermined number of dispensing openings therewithin. The blister packages are specifically designed to mechanically interact with the cartridge as they are slidably inserted to properly align the spaced pockets with corresponding dispensing openings of the cartridge. One or more cartridges are releasably locked at least partially within the dispensing frame, and a plurality of dispensing frames can be placed in a frame container for convenient exchange and use with medication carts.

Abstract: The polysaccharide araban is extracted from sugar beet by a novel modification of the known alkaline extraction process in which, after neutralization of the alkaline liquor, the liquor is ultrafiltered and the retentate is dried to obtain dry araban. Araban, obtained by the above process or otherwise, is incubated with .alpha.-L-arabinofuranosidase to cleave most or all of the branches from the araban. The debranched araban forms an aqueous gel which has the properties of a fat mimetic and may be used as a fat substitute in foods. Isolated debranched araban derived from crude sugar beet araban is a novel substance. Araban itself may be used in the novel applications of emulsification and encapsulation of oils, for example flavor oils.

Abstract: The present invention relates to alloys having substantially uniform aggregate distribution, a method of making such alloys, and centrifugally cast members made from such alloys. The alloys of the present invention utilize aggregates of tungsten carbide, vanadium carbide and titanium carbide so formulated to allow them to be uniformly distributed throughout the alloy matrix.

Abstract: A wind rotor is disclosed for turning electrical generators or other mechanical equipment. The wind rotor contains multiple curved blades which are in a single plane of rotation, and which are spaced closely together so as to maximize the efficiency of the captured wind. The open blades are designed to overlap one another to an extent that there are always at least two blades positioned to capture the wind regardless from which direction the wind is blowing. The curved blades allow the rotor to always rotate in the correct direction regardless of the direction of the wind without the use of moving vanes or housings to help direct the wind at certain portions of the wind rotor. If the rotor is made to turn in the incorrect direction, it will, as wind from any direction blows against it, slow down, stop momentarily, and then begin to rotate in the correct direction.

Abstract: A valve lockout assembly for preventing mistaken operation of a valve includes an outer hub and an inner collar that are concentrically disposed about the actuating shaft of a valve. The outer hub engages the valve cover which prevents the hub's rotation. The inner collar, which is coupled to the actuating shaft, is also coupled to the hub at selected angular positions corresponding to fully opened and closed positions of the valve.

Abstract: A high gain and high torsional stiffness servo axis drive system for machine tools is described as providing improved stability. This system includes a servo motor mounted on a base and connected to a C-Axis spindle drive arrangement via a toothed drive belt. A first damping means is attached to the spindle drive pulley and tuned for damping torsional oscillations of the servo output shaft, belt, and spindle when the system is not fitted with a workpiece. An independent second damper is attached to the driving pulley of the servo motor and tuned for damping torsional oscillations of the entire servo drive system when the system is loaded with a workpiece. The resulting servo axis drive system features improved stiffness and can be adapted to a variety of predetermined loading conditions by convenient retuning of the second damper. At least the second damper is provided as a combination of a damper mass ring attached to the servo motor pulley by a plurality of visoelastic damping elements.

Abstract: A method and instruments for replacing the articulating surfaces of a knee joint in which the diseased area is restricted to one of the medial and lateral compartments. A femoral intramedullary rod is placed down the center of the femur. A femoral cutting block is affixed at one side to the rod and at the other side to an outrigger attached to the femur by smooth pins. The cutting block is adjustable rotationally and in the anterior-posterior plane. The cutting block is provided with surgical saw guide slots for the posterior and distal articular surface cuts and the chamfer cuts, all of which are made with the cutting block in place. The cutting block is removed and a drill guide is used for drilling two holes in the distal articular cut surface for receipt of the mounting pegs of the femoral unicompartmental prosthetic implant.

Abstract: A seal for a shaft in a structural body. The seal is configured to surround the shaft within said structural body. The seal has a flange making a gasket seal with the structural body. The seal has at least one portion distorted and stretched into a tapered configuration and into a tension-related sealing association with the shaft. The seal is made of a memory-retainable material. This memory urges the distorted and stretched tapered portion towards its original configuration, thereby enhancing the sealing association with the shaft.

Abstract: A flexible tape drive system of the type having a flexible yet relatively longitudinally rigid perforated drive tape which is reciprocated by a toothed cog drive arrangement to provide both push and pull driving power. The drive system includes a substantially circular cog wheel having an outer base surface of a predetermined diameter and a plurality of radially extending cog teeth spaced about the periphery of the outer base surface. A cog wheel surround includes an outer guide track having an inner cog race with an inner surface of a diameter slightly larger than the base diameter of the cog and spaced substantially parallel therewith. A pair of oppositely disposed peeler tips are situated adjacent the top of the cog wheel surround between the outer guide track and the cog wheel, each including a peeler edge which has an arcuate inner face extending from the edge at a non-parallel orientation relatively to the base surface of the cog.

Abstract: A refrigeration control system is disclosed for operating a refrigeration system in a very efficient manner by controlling the refrigerant pressure in the refrigerant line between the liquid receiver and the evaporator at a pressure which is just above that at which bubbles ("flashgas") occur. An electronic sight glass is used to detect such flashgas bubbles in that liquid refrigerant line thereby indicating that more cooling capacity is required to properly operate the refrigeration system. The system controller can efficiently control various refrigeration components such that the electrical power drawn by the compressor motor is at an optimal or near-optimal rate of consumption at any given cooling requirement within the refrigeration system's cooling capacity. Some of the devices that can be controlled by the system controller include condenser fans, pressure control valves, reciprocating compressors, and screw compressors.

Abstract: A method for butt welding metallic sheets along a relatively long common seam line by providing a plurality of laser welding devices aligned above the common seam line, and effectively spaced from one another along a longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment, each welding device is independently adjustable in a direction parallel to a transverse axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The metallic sheets are aligned on the upper surface in abutting relationship along the seam line and clamped for welding. Each laser welds only a portion of the sheets along the seam line, and the length of the relative movement between the welding devices and the sheets is greater than the effective spacing distance between welding devices to insure that a continuous weld bead is provided along the common seam line.

Abstract: A perishable fluid container assembly is disclosed as including a timing mechanism in conjunction with a coffee pot, wherein a visible indicator device is energized while the coffee within the pot remains fresh. When the coffee pot is filled with fresh coffee, the visible indicator device first becomes energized, and stays energized even though the coffee pot is temporarily tipped on its side for the dispensing of coffee. After the predetermined time duration has expired, the visible indicator device is de-energized to indicate that the character or freshness of the coffee has expired. Additionally if the coffee pot becomes empty, the visible indicator device becomes de-energized after a short time delay.