Abstract: A system which is physically oriented in a vertical plane, is attached to a wall, and has a hinged keyboard. The keyboard is attached to the system solely by a hinge which has at least three positions. The hinge has a closed position to minimize space when the system is not used, an open position during normal use, and a breakway position to release the keyboard when excessive pressure is applied. The breakway keyboard eliminates damage caused by excessive pressure placed on the keyboard due to a person leaning on the board.

Abstract: An underground shock-resistant structure comprises a vaulted roof having a ring configuration as viewed from above and a ring-shaped base member, such as a flat floor, joined to the inner and outer edges of the vaulted roof. The external surface of the vaulted roof has a continuous convex configuration with a slowly varying radius of curvature and no change of signal such that over pressures and shockwaves striking the external surface of the vaulted roof apply compressive pressures to the vaulted roof and are deflected by the surface. Optionally, there may be one or more basement levels below the flat floor which are enclosed by inner and outer walls having a ring configuration which are joined to the inner and outer edges of the vaulted roof. In another option the flat floor may be replaced by an arch with its concavity facing upwards joined to the inner and outer edges of the vaulted roof.

Abstract: A wrapping machine, particularly for wrapping cigarette packets in wrapper film, includes a series of endless band conveyors (148, 152, 156, 166, 170) carrying pushers (150, 154, 158, 172) for moving successive packets (191) along a straight wrapping line. One of the pushers (158) is heated to seal a wrapper seam. Opposed heated band conveyors (166) simultaneously seal end folds of the wrapper. Packets are gripped between opposed conveyors (145, 148) immediately after intercepting a wrapper (100). Partially-wrapped packets are arranged to slide relative to surfaces (149, 153, 157, 180) to attain wrap tightness. Successive conveyors (e.g. 156, 170) are independently driven to allow phasing of the conveyors to vary the position at which packets are transferred between them.

Abstract: A bone biopsy instrument kit includes a hollow needle with an annular cutting edge which is rotated to cut a core of bone sample which is retained in the internal passage of the needle. A semi-circular portion of the needle wall is removable to withdraw the core sample without compressing or otherwise changing the consistency of the sample. The annular cutting edge has a sawtooth configuration with a side rake angle causing bone dust to be expelled radially without contaminating the core sample. An elongated obturator and an elongated trocar may be inserted through the needle to direct the annular cutting edge through tissue and to center and guide the instrument into the surface of the bone.

Abstract: Chip performance is measured using LSSD logic to propagate a signal through the LSSD scan path of the chip. The measurement data is compared to tabular data which is used to classify the AC chip performance. The use of the LSSD scan path provides an accurate overall measurement of an entire chip. The circuitry is internal to the system and does not require external test circuitry. No unique test patterns are required for a given chip design. The chip measurements can be made after installation of the chip in a field operational environment as well as during a manufacturing and testing environment. The chip measurements can be made by local execution of the testing or controlled from a remote location.

Abstract: Single cigarette rejection, particularly in a passage (10) between vanes (12) in a cigarette packing machine hopper, is performed by axial ejection of faulty cigarettes using suction generated by exhausting high pressure air adjacent an ejection aperture (22) in an end wall (16) of the passage. A short cylindrical casing (24) is located around the aperture (22) and defines a duct (28) through which the cigarette is ejected. The casing (24) includes an annular pressure chamber (32) and venturi orifice (34) for generating suction in the duct (28).

Abstract: A combination door and door frame primarily designed for blast shelters wherein the hinged door, which in locked position is designed to withstand external overpressures resulting from detonation of either nuclear or conventional weapons, swings inwardly when opened, thus avoiding the objection of outwardly opening doors which can be blocked by rubble, debris, soil, etc. projected by the force of the explosion piling up against the door resulting in the occupants becoming entombed in the shelter.

Abstract: An electro-acoustic connector for use with a musical instrument, such as a guitar, connected to an electronic amplifier and adapted to receive electrical signals from a transducer associated with the musical instrument and to receive and transmit soundwaves to a microphone incorporated therein. A three-position switch in the electro-acoustic connector controls the transmission to the amplifier of electrical signals from the transducer associated with the musical instrument and/or electrical signals from the microphone.

Abstract: Moving cigarettes are inspected, particularly in the passages (10, 30) between the vanes (12, 32) in a cigarette packing machine hopper, by an optical ends inspector (74, 76) which is switched by a position detector (84, 86) responding to passage of individual cigarettes. Faulty cigarettes are arrested by a suction aperture (26) or an arrestor are (122, 222) and subsequently rejected from the passage, either in an axial direction or sideways through an opening (116, 244) in the vane. The position detector (84, 86) may activate the suction or arm for arresting the faulty cigarette.

Abstract: A dual digital signal processor (DSP) provides real time links between multiple time division channels of a digital carrier system (e.g. T-1) and a host data processor. Operating only on digital signals, internally and at its interfaces to the carrier and host systems, the DSP exchanges data and control signalling information with the carrier system and data and control information with the most processor, converting the data in passage to different digital forms. At the interface to the carrier system, signals are received and transmitted in a form adapted to diverse terminal equipment of users remotely linked to the carrier system via the switched public network. At the host interface, signals are transferred and received in a form suited to the data process requirements of the host system (e.g. data bytes directly representing alphanumeric characters). Thus, the DSP acts as the equivalent of multiple different types of modems in performing required conversions.

Abstract: A special purpose circuit unit, responsive to a special BBD instruction, provides for more efficient execution of program branches required in poll and test type routines used by data processors. This unit can easily be added to almost any contemporary processing system to speed up performance of priority branch operations. It includes: a stack of registers loadable with branch addresses designating locations of branch target instructions, an input register for holding bits representing branch conditions accessible from immediate (programmable) storage, and a programmable priority encoder responsive to the BBD instruction to select an address from the stack in accordance with the position in the input register of a highest priority one of the bits representing an active request for instruction branching. The selected address is used to fetch an instruction representing the start of a program segment for attending to the selected branch condition.

Abstract: A device for conveniently sampling and testing oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine comprises a tubular member, installed in the dipstick guide tube of the internal combustion engine and having a chamber above the guide tube inlet, and a vacuum filled sample receptacle having a seal which, when the receptacle is inserted in the chamber, is opened causing oil from the crankcase to be drawn into the receptacle. When the receptacle is withdrawn from the chamber the seal automatically closes, providing a convenient container for the oil sample to be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Optionally, to test the oil for acidity at the time the sample is received in the receptacle, the receptacle may contain a reagent which will indicate by color the pH of the oil sample.

Abstract: A frame comprising upper, lower, and side bars outlines a space to display a license plate. At least one of the bars, preferably the lower, has a depressed track in which a number of message elements or strip is carried which bear message indicia on its front surface. The track has upper and lower lips depending from and extending up from respectively the upper and lower margins of the track. A resilient, transparent cover slipped between the lips holds the message elements in place against the track back and with the indicia exposed to view. The lips may be frangmented into one or more sections, and only one lip may serve. The number of message elements may be reduced to a single, integral strip.

Abstract: An extensible handle bar for tools has on its outer tube a sleeve-shaped body made of thermoplastic material and provided with an external thread. The body has an extension provided with longitudinally extending slots and an external taper. A sleeve-shaped threaded nut is guided on the external thread of the body and has an internal taper which cooperates with the external taper of the extension. For improving the clamping of the inner tube of the handle bar in the sleeve-shaped body, the angle of inclination of the internal taper of the sleeve-shaped threaded nut is smaller than the angle of inclination of the external taper of the extension of the body provided with an external thread.