Abstract: A carding engine equipped with a series of movable flats (1), each flat being clothed with a plurality of carding elements (2) and having a downwardly facing supporting face (13) at each end of the flat. Each end of each flat is secured to a support member (5) lying below the supporting face, the support member including a support surface (18) engageable with a bend (16) of the carding engine. The flat (1) and support member (5) have been secured together so that the support member is spaced from the supporting face (13) e.g. by a shim (23, 24), such that the distance between the support surface (18) and the plane of the tips of the working carding elements (2) is equal, within a given tolerance, at both ends of all of the flats.

Abstract: A process of packaging goods, especially foodstuffs, comprising enclosing the goods in a sheet of thermoplastics material, preferably a bag, so as to form a package which presents two unsealed juxtaposed surfaces. The package is then placed in a container, one wall of which is made of deformable sheet material, preferably a sheet made of a silicone resin, which is stable at the sealing temperature of the thermoplastics material. The container is then connected to a source of vacuum and when the pressure has been reduced in both the container and the bag sufficient heat is applied to the deformable sheet in the vicinity of the juxtaposed surfaces to cause them to become sealed together. In a further embodiment of the invention vacuumization of the container including the bag is followed by the injection of a preserving gas such as carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine has a workpiece feed mechanism which includes first and second side supports located to opposite ends of the needle bar. A plurality of shafts extend between the side supports at locations spaced from the front region progressively rearwards towards the rear region of those supports. A plurality of transversely spaced endless belts pass around front and rear rollers rotatably mounted on foremost and rearmost ones of the shafts. Intermediate shafts carry respective front and rear guide rollers which guide an upper run of the conveyor belt to lie adjacent to a lower run of that belt and below the needle bar. The belts are driven so that the lower runs thereof travel from the front towards the rear of the side supports.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a crease-setting composition for setting a crease in textile material in which the composition is forced out of a nozzle at a controlled delivery rate while the nozzle is guided along the crease line.

Abstract: A process for defining isolation structures between active regions of an integrated circuit is disclosed. The technique includes first forming a thermally grown silicon dioxide layer. A polysilicon layer is then deposited over the silicon dioxide layer and a silicon nitride-I layer is deposited thereon. A photo-resist mask is then formed on the top of the laminate and selective anisotropic dry etching is used to remove the unmasked silicon nitride-I and polysilicon layers. This step is followed by an isotropic dry etching to undercut the polysilicon beneath the silicon nitride-I layer. After the photo-resist masks and unmasked pad oxide are removed, a layer of silicon nitride-II is deposited. Thereafter, an anisotropic dry etching step is performed to remove the unmasked silicon nitride-II completely. An implantation step is then optionally performed.

Abstract: Halocarbons are readily bonded to a variety of substrates, including metals, polyolefins, styrenics, polyamides and thermoplastic polyesters, by treating the surface(s) to be bonded with a neoalkoxy zirconate compound. The articles produced by the aforesaid process resist delamination. Applicable fluorinated compounds include fluorinated polymers such as Teflon. The specific zirconate compound preferred is dependent on the particular substrate and the halogenated organic compound to be bonded. Preferred are organo-zirconates having one of the following formulas: ##STR1## wherein R, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each monovalent hydrocarbon groups or substantive derivatives thereof; the A groups are independently selected from diester phosphates, diester pyrophosphates, oxyalkylamino, oxyalkylarylamino, or sulfonyl groups; B is an R'.sub.2 C group or a carbonyl group; R' is a hydrogen group or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and n is 1 or 2.

Abstract: Polychlorobenzenes are selectively dechlorinated to dichlorobenzenes and monochlorobenzene in the vapor phase in the presence of a sulfided palladium or platinum catalyst. The reaction may be carried out at a temperature of from 225.degree. C. to 450.degree. C., preferably at atmospheric pressure, with an equimolar ratio of hydrogen and polychlorobenzene, and a space velocity of 0.5 to 5 wt. feed/wt. catalyst-hour. Only small amounts of benzene are formed.

Abstract: High molecular weight polymers are produced in a high yield by polymerizing inorganic acid salts of monoallylamine or N-substituted monoallylamines in a polar solvent in the presence of a specific azo type radical initiator.

Abstract: An eardrum pressure equalizer for the treatment of middle ear impairment having a source of compressed air for supplying dry room temperature air at a pressure of an order of magnitude of aproximately 3.5 kgs. per square centimeter. The air is supplied to a storage tank and from there, by way of a second storage receptacle to a disposable applicator tip adapted to be inserted into a nasal passage. The apparatus includes electronic circuitry having a microprocessor for accurately controlling the pressure of the air in the storage tank and for permitting the apparatus to be selectively used in either a continuous flow or an interrupted flow mode while allowing the pressure to be maintained at any chosen value, with a resolution factor of approximately 1/10 kg. per square centimeter.

Abstract: A method of producing a continuous fiber reinforced bent resin pipe, including winding a continuous reinforcing fiber on the outer surface of a tube-like flexible core mold while such core mold is straight in shape, the flexible core mold which is straight when unloaded being capable of keeping a cross section defined in radial direction when the core mold is bent. The core mold on which the continuous fiber has been wound is then bent and placed into a cavity defined by an outer mold formed of split molds each having an inner surface forming the predetermined outer configuration of a bent pipe. A liquefied synthetic resin is caused to be cured between the outer and the core molds to integrate both the fiber and resin. Thereafter the molded product is removed from the outer mold and the core mold is removed from the molded product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying an interlaced image on a plurality of display screens in which the lines of two fields of the image are replicated a plurality of times in a memory to produce an enlarged image but determined lines are not read out of the memory for the production of the display screen signals, in order to maintain the original spatial relationship between the lines of the two fields. The addressing of the memory may be varied in order to obtain various special effects in the image on the display screen.

Abstract: A process of packaging goods particularly foodstuffs in which the goods are placed in a first container for example a plastics bag or a tray having a deformable lid, sealing the container except for an aperture provided by an open valve. The container is then placed in a second container having rigid walls. A vacuum is then created in both containers after which the inner container is completely sealed by for example closing the valve whilst preventing the entry of undesireable substances. In a preferred process an inert or preserving gas is introduced into the first container prior to sealing.

Abstract: A fuse for an alternating current power circuit in the medium voltage (3.3 kV to 38 kV) range. The fuse comprises a sealed chamber and a first electrode (41) is mounted within the chamber, the first electrode having a substantially circular periphery (42) and being electrically connected to a first terminal (3) to which a first conductor may be connected. A second electrode (35) is arranged with a conductive surface internally of the chamber, the conductive surface being spaced from the first electrode. A coil (10) is connected in an electrical path between the second electrode (35) and a second terminal (18) to which a second conductor may be connected. An additional electrical contact (44) is mounted within the chamber and in direct electrical connection with the second terminal, and a fusible element (43) directly electrically connects the first electrode (41) and the additional electrical contact (44). An electronegative halogenated medium fills free space within the chamber.

Abstract: A pretreatment system for wheat to be floured comprises a plurality of friction type wheat polishing machines disposed in series relation to form a continuous wheat polishing process line. Each polishing machine includes a perforated tubular polishing member mounted on a frame and a frictionally polishing roll rotatably mounted on the frame. The polishing roll is disposed with the polishing member and cooperates therewith to define therebetween a polishing chamber. Upon the rotation of the polishing roll, it causes wheat grains supplied into the polishing chamber to be agitated and brought into frictional contact with each other to strip a pericarp from each wheat grain, to thereby polish the same. A moisture supplying device supplies moisture to the polishing chamber of at least one of the polishing machines, to add the moisture to the wheat grains flowing within the polishing chamber, to thereby increase a frictional contact force between the wheat grains.

Abstract: A method of detecting oil aerosol in an air flow. The contaminated air is passed between an electrode (11) and an electrically conductive catalyst (14), and an electrical discharge therebetween causes electrostatic precipitation of oil on to the catalyst. Air flow and discharge are stopped, and the catalyst is heated with the air substantially stagnant until the catalytic combustion temperature of the oil is reached. The heat generation due to such combustion is sensed and used to produce an output signal indicative of the quantity of deposited oil.

Abstract: A flexible bulk container comprises a tubular side wall structure (1 to 4) of woven fabric, lifting means (13) at an upper end of the side wall structure, and a base (14) closing the lower end of the side wall structure. The base is in the form of a polygon having an even number of sides and comprising a plurality of thicknesses of said woven fabric. Each thickness is formed by two joined flaps of woven fabric forming integral extensions of the side wall structure and each extending from one side of the polygon towards the opposed side thereof. In each thickness of the base, each flap is of substantially right-angled triangle shape having a first adjacent side lying along one side of the polygon and a second adjacent side extending at right angles from said one side to the opposed side of the polygon, and the two flaps are secured together substantially along the hypotenuses thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a fusible interlining which comprises a base fabric having naps distributed thereon, the surface of tip portion of the naps is applied with heat adhesive synthetic resin powders. Particle size of the powders is preferably 80.mu. or less. A method for production thereof is also provided.

Abstract: An improved ophthalmic lens for presbyopia is disclosed in which the refractive power is progressively changed to provide a natural visual target arrangement. In the opthalmic lens, rotation of the head of a wearer for binocular lateral vision is taken into account to permit comfortable binocular lateral vision closer to vision with the naked eyes.

Abstract: A bi-focal contact lens having a first lens portion for distance viewing, a second lens portion for near viewing and capable of being shifted, on the eyeball, between a first position in which the first lens portion is seated and centered on the cornea and a second position in which the second lens portion is seated and centered on the cornea.