Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing enhanced digital imaging for printing data, in flexographic and other types of printing environments, combines halftone screens which represent continuous "gray tone" (grey tone) levels, wherein the transition from one screen to the other is not visually detectable by an observer of the reproduction results. The digital processing method includes combining an (FM generated) dispersed dot screen with an (AM generated) cluster dot screen, with an overlay interval of both screens of acceptable resultant dot size (percent coverage), to obtain enhanced overall definition over the grey scale range of 1 to 100 percent (i.e., where 100 is equal to "255" in 8-bit environment), specifically over the more visually perceptive gray scale range of 1 to 20 (i.e., out of 0-255 value). The apparatus which implements the method algorithm is positioned intermediate a desktop publishing system and an image setter.

Abstract: A bunk-style boat tailer is made with aluminum side rails and aluminum cross beams. A wheel and axle assembly is attached to the side rails near the rear of the trailer. The bunk beams are positioned so that approximately 3/4 of the length of the bunks is rearward of the axle mounting position. A front support of the bunk beams is attached to the side rails just forward of the axle mounting position. A rear support of the bunk beams is attached to the side rails at their rearward end. This cantilevers approximately 1/3 of the length of the bunks beyond the rear of the end of the side rails. A truss assembly structure transfers the load from the bunk supports to the wheel and axle assembly thereby reducing further the bending forces on the trailer side rails. This truss assembly also boxes the bunk support region of the trailer frame to reduce torsion forces. A wiring harness channel extends the length of at least one side rail.

Abstract: A visionary replacement (substitute) back panel for a commercially available television cabinet is provided which permits a security inspection of the interior of the television cabinet without the removal of any cabinet walls or the opening of the cabinet members. The substitute back panel conforms to the shape, electrical and structural standards of the O.E.M. (original equipment manufacturer) back panel. Optically clear viewing planes are provided. Ultraviolet (U.V.) light filtering may be incorporated. Tamper resistance attachment may be included. An auxiliary light source may also be included which is selectively activated. A method of inspection of the interior of the cabinet is easily conducted from the outside thereof.

Abstract: A registration system for a packaging machine, which machine seals tray tops with thermoplastic film. The trays are carried through the machine on a moving conveyor and the sealing film is fed in a ribbon from a feed roll to move in a position above the line of trays carried on the moving conveyor. The film ribbon carries printing or decorations, in repetitive segments, which must each be centered on a respective tray top when the film is sealed thereto. Repetitive registration marks carried on the film ribbon indicate the position of each film segment as it moves toward a heat seal station. The registration marks are optically sensed in time with the timing pulses of the packaging machine. When miss-registration is sensed the film position, relative to the leading edge of the tray adjacent to and next to enter the heat seal station, is indexed forward a predetermined increment by a downward operating blade and then a heat bar contacts the film and tacks it to the leading edge of that tray.

Abstract: A method for the nonlinear calibration of digital image data without the introduction of tonal loss is applied to image data in a computer-to-printing press system. Apparatus for implementing this method is provided. Computer processed graphics, provided from the computer in 8-bit format, are converted into 16-bit format. This 16-bit image data is then calibrated to compensate for anticipated press gain. The calibration translates the image data according to a desired nonlinear cutback (value reduction) curve of gray value reduction. Calibrated image data is then passed through 16-bit halftoning screening, the output from which is provided to the imagesetter. The implemention may include a general purpose computer with specific software resident therein, or dedicated hardware including a series of encoders and look-up table implementaion devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing enhanced digital imaging for printing data or reproduction process data (digital camera data) from the combination of dot size (amplitude) and dot density (frequency) halftone screens, whereof each halftone screen represents continuous "gray tone" (grey tone) input image levels. The method includes creating a dot frequency modulation (FM modulation--dispersed dot technique) in lighter areas which otherwise would require a dot size which is below user definable "dot size limit". This dot frequency modulation randomly deletes dots from the dot area modulation screen (AM modulation--cluster dot technique) in these lighter areas. The percentage of frequency modulation is graduated over the range of gray values which reduces objectionable visual transitions. Enhanced overall definition over the gray scale range of 0 to 100 percent (i.e., where 100 is equal to "255" in 8-bit environment), specifically over the more visually perceptive gray scale range of 0 to 20 (i.e.

Abstract: A gate assembly, for a dedicated feeder sub-system in a pharmaceutical product packaging system, includes a flexible gating structure. Product feed tubes leading from a product bin to a packaging web loading station carry slots in which flexible bands operate to intercept product within the product feed tubes. A drive mechanism controls the position of the flexible bands to intercept the line of flow product units and to index a single product unit at a time from each feed tube. The indexing of individual product from each feed tube is simultaneous thereby loading a matrix of product onto the packaging web in a single load operation. The operation of the drive is timed in synchronism with the operation of the packaging system. Change over adjustments are available for different product shapes, sizes and characteristics.

Abstract: A visionary replacement (substitute) back panel for a commercially available television cabinet is provided which permits a security inspection of the interior of the television cabinet without the removal of any cabinet walls or the opening of the cabinet members. The substitute back panel conforms to the shape, electrical and structural standards of the O.E.M. (original equipment manufacturer) back panel. Optically clear viewing planes are provided. Ultraviolet (U.V.) light filtering may be incorporated. Tamper resistance attachment may be included. An auxiliary light source may also be included which is selectively activated. A method of inspection of the interior of the cabinet is easily conducted from the outside thereof.

Abstract: A carrier for doll-type toys is provided having a pocket like enclosure for carrying the doll-type toy in a partially displayed position. The enclosure includes a double wall section forming an envelope or bag, in which the doll-type toy is carried, and a single wall section, against which the doll-type toy is partially displayed. This single wall section extends beyond and above the double walled section. Carrying straps permit the enclosure to be carried on the back of a child, in back-pack fashion. The carrying straps are attached adjacent to the free end of the single wall section and at the side of the double wall section. A second and smaller pocket enclosure may be attached to the front face of the carrier.

Abstract: A screening process and apparatus for flexographic printing press control is implemented in hardware and computer software to provide increased tonal range output at the press thereby providing enhanced direct press control, without adjustment based on press output. The image data from a desktop publisher is processed through a software resident interpreter which translates that data pursuant to a pre-developed enhanced language. This interpreter language has been is generated from imperially predetermined image setter and press factors and a stochastically based tone area algorithm. Calibration factors selected as a function of the image setter and press equipment being controlled are input to modify the interpreter language generated.

Abstract: A play toy for animals is provided of reasonable weight and size to be handled by the animal for which it was designed. The toy is of any of a number of regular and irregular shapes, including rectangles and squares, having a plurality of tabs or other members intended to be grasped by and held in the animal's mouth. The toy's configuration is non-rigid, pliable, and safe to the animal by which it is intended. The structure contains a filling which forms a soft pillow or cushion like structure from which the tab members extend. A covering holds the filling and forms the outside surface of the toy. This covering is of a pliable, non-abrasive, and strong material which will greatly resist tearing and which is tough enough to withstand continuing use by the animal. The filling material is of a non-toxic, non-harmful nature, and is selected from a class of materials which will not injure the animal if ingested or inhaled.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering pharmaceutical product from blister packs and a method for doing same is provided. Pharmaceutical product blister pack cards, which are unsuitable for sale, are straightened, if necessary, and stacked in a magazine. Individual blister cards are indexed from the magazine stack onto an operations chain conveyor at a loading station by a finger indexing subsystem. The chain conveyor carries the blister card to a cutting station where the back face of the card receives a peripheral cut at the location of each blister pocket and inside the wall of the pocket. The chain conveyor then carries the blister card to a punching station where each product on the card is forced through the back face of the card utilizing moving the respective cut section of the card back, thereby discharging the product into a collection bin. The emptied blister card is moved to a discharge region where it is separated from the chain conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering pharmaceutical product from blister packs and a method for doing same is provided. Pharmaceutical product blister pack cards, which are unsuitable for sale, are straightened, if necessary, and stacked in a magazine. Individual blister cards are indexed from the magazine stack onto an operations chain conveyor at a loading station by a finger indexing subsystem. The chain conveyor carries the blister card to a cutting station where the back face of the card receives a peripheral cut at the location of each blister pocket and inside the wall of the pocket. The chain conveyor then carries the blister card to a punching station where each product on the card is forced through the back face of the card utilizing moving the respective cut section of the card back, thereby discharging the product into a collection bin. The emptied blister card is moved to a discharge region where it is separated from the chain conveyor.

Abstract: A shock absorber is incorporated into a tether line to provide a take up device for adjusting the effect of certain instantaneous stress forces in the tether line. This shock absorber is formed as part of an assembly and is positioned in transverse orientation to the longitudinal axis of the tether, to control a designated payout of the tether itself. The tether remains as one continuous lineal structure. The shock absorber, while operating on lineal stress forces in the tether, does not become a necessary support link of the tether. The tether may be of flexible line and the shock absorber structure is comparatively compact, thereby allowing the flexible tether line to be coiled and easily stored without the removal of the shock absorber mechanism. Upon reuse, care is not needed for orientation of the shock absorber, as stress is applied to the tether line.

Abstract: A hand-held ice skate blade sharpener tool is provided which includes a configuration for honing, concurrently, the hollow groove and the side walls of an ice skate blade, to dress the edges of the blade in situ, at any convenient time. The tool has a guide to accept the blade's hollow surface and its edges, and to align same with the honing surfaces of the tool. An extruded housing of plastic or like material surrounds the honing surfaces and is of a shape to provide a grasping surface while protecting the hand from the sharp edges of the skate blade. The entire assembly is relatively light weight and relatively small, thereby rendering the device reasonably inexpensive to manufacture. The tool is intended to be disposable.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a plurality of pharmaceutical product simultaneously onto a matrix of formed blister webbing is provided. The dedicated feeder structure is held within a housing which incorporates a plurality of hanger plates for easy manual exchange and replacement of the feeder component subsystems called "change parts". These components include a reciprocating bin carried on a platform for simultaneously delivering a plurality of product in a desired matrix format. A plurality of entrance chutes, assembled into the matrix formation simultaneously feeds the product downward from the bin. A horizontally operated shuttle gate having a plurality of product orifices operates to simultaneously open and close each chute and to transfer the respective matrix of product to a release guide structure which may be implemented as a template or a plurality of release chutes. The release guide structure feeds the matrix of formed blister webbing.

Abstract: A calculator, packaged in a wristwatch-style housing, with wrist strap, is usable by the player of a card game, such as blackjack, in obtaining a game strategy decision or prompt, and contains a keyboard on the wrist housing unit, by which the card game player enters card value and hand designation information. This keyboard drives a display on the wrist housing, and has a microprocessor powered calculator within the housing where the calculator performs the game decision calculations. The results of the calculations drive an output display prompter on the wrist housing to prompt the game player on blackjack decisions.

Abstract: An ultrasonic signal drive/sense circuitry is provided, which circuitry is adaptable to a variety of automated or manual fastener tightening operations. This circuitry operates for measuring tension in a fastener as a function of change in time of flight of an ultrasonic wave. A microcontroller directs the operation of circuit components to generate high amplitude, high repetition rate, drive pulses with these amplitude and repetition rate factors being electronically adjustable to compensate for fastening tool and fastener acoustical properties and tightening rates. Software driven timing circuitry calculates, calibrates and adjusts pulse echo detection window width and center location and also optimum echo detection threshold. This timing circuitry is implemented by digital techniques to measure pulse time of flight and incorporates analog interpolation of data between digital counts. Sampling rates of the echo pulses are adjusted to tool speed.