Abstract: An apparatus and method for sheet folding and sealing to produce mailable letter-like objects, each from a single preprinted sheet, comprises a feed mechanism for the feed of sheets in seriatim while continuous beads of adhesive are applied to each sheet along lateral portions thereof. The sheets are fed into a buckle folder which makes one or more transverse folds in each sheet while transversely-spaced spots of adhesive are applied along a transverse line across the sheet. The buckle folder is structured so that it has fold pans on one side; and, both the input and output are on the other side. The folder also includes folding and sealing rolls that seal folded-over sheet portions to close and seal the sheet into a letter-like object. A perforator perforates the object so that tearing along the perforations facilitates opening.

Abstract: A unit for the treatment of electrophoretic strips mounted on a frame comprises at least one pair of basins (10a, 10b) and a feed, forced circulation and emptying circuit comprising as many tanks (23, 24) as there are different treatment liquids, a single tank (25) containing a rinsing liquid, a single tank (26) for discharging the treatment liquids and at least one pair of pumps (29, 30).

Abstract: A sensor comprising a heating element and a temperature detecting element used to measure a temperature of the heating element are both held out of contact with each other within a sensor protecting tube. For fluid exhibiting slow changes in its state as time elapses, a fluid state is measured on the basis of a differential temperature between temperatures prior to and during heating of the heating element. For the fluid exhibiting rapid changes in its state as time elapses, the sensor is caused to generate heat while the temperature of this sensor is measured, and a separate temperature measuring sensor measures the temperature of the fluid. The fluid state is determined on the basis of the differential temperature between the temperatures of the sensor and the temperatures of the fluid.

Abstract: An in-line rotary inserter device comprises an envelope feed station (30) and insert feeding modules (20,22,24,26), an inserting station (32), a sealing and stacking assembly (38,40,42), and various diverters (33,36,56). The envelope feed station (30) withdraws envelopes from a hopper-held envelope stack )66,94) and conveys them to the inserting station (32). Each insert feeding module comprises a hopper-held insert stack disposed above, along, and in line with an insert conveyor (34). The conveyor, along its track, carries inserts dispensed from the hopper-held insert stacks to the inserting station (32). Diverter stations for diversion of envelopes and inserts in various locations along their feed paths are provided for normal operational purposes and for rectification of sensed fault conditions. Subsequently to inserting, insert-filled envelopes are conveyed from the inserting station (32), are sealed, turned, stacked, and processed through operations that are customary in preparation of mailable items.

Abstract: A rolling container for stacks of egg trays, comprising a wheeled frame including interconnected upright sections and sidewalls, and presenting a plurality of storeys separated by shelves with a relatively low front edge, characterized in that the container has a completely open front and the shelves are fixedly mounted, the arrangement being such that adjacent stacks can be taken out all at the same time.

Abstract: A timepiece including a ring (6) which assures a quadruple function: that of a water-tight packing between the crystal (1) and the ring; that of securing the caseband (3) to the ring; that of a casing ring for the movement (5) and finally that of securing the back cover to the ring. To this effect the caseband exhibits a cylindrical internal wall (4) entirely overlaid by the ring, said ring exhibiting a first accommodation (8) in which the crystal is engaged, a second accommodation (10) in which the movement is engaged and a lower zone (11) including means (18, 19) for securing the back cover.

Abstract: A luminous panel (1) with light channels (3) and wherein the light source preferably is based on gas discharge, comprises a gas tight, shockproof, impact resistant, transparent or translucent material, the light source being designed as a light channel (3) in a matrix (2). The matrix is doped with at least one phosphor, the phosphor having a controlled distribution in the matrix. The light channel (3) is designed integral with the luminous panel (1) and made substantially of the same material as this. The matrix (2) of the luminous panel (1) may be surrounded by sheets or layers (5) of hardened, shockproof, impact resistant, transparent or translucent material. The matrix (2) is preferably of glass, polymer or ceramic material.

Abstract: A cable monitoring system is arranged such that a light source is disposed within a chamber containing the hostile environment through which the cable is moving, and a light detector determines the condition of the cable by sensing the amount/position of light not occluded by the cable and passing through a window in the chamber to its exterior where said detector is disposed.

Abstract: In this invention a watch case is attached to a support by means of an arrangement permitting separation of the case from its support whenever desired. To this effect the case includes a projection in the form of a bracket the riser of which is fastened to the case and the cross member is hollowed out to provide a spherical housing extended by two holes the diameters of which are less than that of the spherical housing. The frontal face of the cross member is provided with a slot. The support is equipped with a stem terminating in a ball. The ball is dimensioned in order that it may be forced into the spherical housing within which it may move freely with a slight amount of play. This attaching system enables coupling a pocket watch to a chain as well as a watch to a display support.

Abstract: A non-reusable syringe comprising a syringe body having a lower extremity closed by a base provided with a cone to receive a needle and a shaft terminated by a piston sliding tightly in the syringe body. A resilient flexible plate having a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the syringe body and thus inducing through its curvature a weak frictional force enabling the displacement of the shaft in a first direction and a strong frictional force opposing displacement of the shaft in the other direction is mounted in the shaft. To avoid attempted reuse of the syringe, a zone of weak resistance to breakage by traction is provided on the shaft. This zone break under a traction lower than the strong frictional force, but greater than the weak frictional force.

Abstract: Apparatus and metyod for making a gatefold in a central portion of a sheet along a gatefold line. The apparatus includes a fold pan (30) for receiving a sheet with a first outer leaf folded, and for folding a second outer leaf of the sheet inwardly toward a central portion as the sheet passes between associated rolls (20, 22). A gatefold pan (32) receives the sheet from between the rolls (20, 22). The gatefold pan (32) includes a deflector (62). The deflector (62) is movable, under control of actuators (64, 68), from a retracted position to an extended position into a path of travel of the sheet from the fold pan (30) to the gatefold pan (32). In its extended position, the deflector (62) serves to deflect the first outer leaf of the sheet toward the central portion of the sheet. Sensors (82, 84) are provided in the respective fold pans (30, 32) and are connected to actuator control means.

Abstract: A book stiffener comprises a relatively flat, thin, elongated, ridged, rotatable strip (32) having a length dimension (38) substantially greater than a width (44) of a back binding (22) of a book cover (16) but less than a length (46) of the book cover and a width dimension which is less than the length (40) of the back binding and a swivel attachment (34, 30) for attaching the rotatable strip to a rear surface of the book cover so as to allow rotation of the rotatable strip relative to the book cover whereby the rotatable strip can be rotated to a position in which it extends across hinge seams (24, 26) of front and back flap covers (18, 20) of the book cover with the back binding off the book to thereby impinge upon the front and back flap covers to prevent them from being opened substantially beyond an approximate common plane.

Abstract: In a ski boot comprising a rigid shell to the sides of which a leg portion is pivotally connected, a rear closing device is provided permitting the blocking position of the leg portion with respect to the shell to be adjusted, whereby the leg portion inclination is also adjusted.

Abstract: An adjustable table top (7, 105) is supported movably on a trestle having at least one abutment (5, 104) fixed thereto beneath the table top. The abutment coacts with a wedge-shaped intermediate piece (9, 106) which is displacable in an opening direction of its wedge angle, substantially parallel to the table top, and which can be introduced to a lesser or greater extent into a space between the abutment and the table top so that a distance between the table top and the abutment and, thus, the position of the table top relative to the trestle, are determined by the position of the intermediate piece.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlling a shuttle shift transmission may be programmed while the gearshift lever is in neutral to preselect a forward and reverse gear into which the transmission is shifted when the gearshift lever is moved to a forward or reverse position. The microprocessor may also be programmed so that, in shifting between forward and reverse, the forward and reverse gears selected differ by a preprogrammed amount. The microprocessor may be programmed to control vehicle deceleration by selecting gears in the transmission so that the transmission and/or the vehicle engine become a load for decelerating the vehicle. In a diagnostic mode, the microprocessor executes a routine to develop a clutch calibration value which may later be used to insure uniformity of clutch operation in different vehicles, or in the same vehicle over a period of time. The normal speed ratio matching which normally takes place when shifting gears may be manually overriden by operator manipulation of the gearshift lever.

Abstract: A hopper subjected to a suction effect of a vacuum source such as a vacuum pump is connected by a hose to a suction nozzle thrown into a container for grainy material and an ejector is provided to supply the suction nozzle with pressurized air, and thereby a smooth pneumatic conveyance of the grainy material is achieved. A cap laterally provided with openings is slidably put on an open end of the suction nozzle and a total opening area of the lateral openings is adjusted by axially sliding the cap on the open end of the suction nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) and method is provided for front loading of cartridge (100) of magnetic information storage medium into a read/write relationship with a read/write unit (32). The apparatus includes a cartridge-supporting tray (24) which is accommodated in a frame (22). A door (26) is pivotally connected to the frame (22) for enclosing the cartridge in a cavity (30) defined by the frame (22). The frame (22) has a pair of guide slots (62, 63) provided on opposing frame sidewalls. Orientation pins (60, 61) provided on the tray (24) extend through the guide slots (62,63). The guide slots (62, 63) define a path of travel for the tray (24) and the cartridge that includes counterclockwise motion about a first pivot point (64) followed by clockwise motion about a second pivot point (66). The drive door (26) has a linkage (70) which engages the tray orientation pins (60), whereby closing and opening the drive door (26) causes the dual pivoting action of the cartridge and tray into a fully loaded position.

Abstract: The watch case (1) of this invention includes a caseband-bezel (2) of plastic material overlaid with a metal cap (5). The cap is a metallic leaf formed to match the relief of the bezel (15) and caseband (16) which it overlays. The cap is secured to the caseband-bezel by tabs (50) folded into receptacles (51) provided by the caseband-bezel.