Abstract: A web of flattened, tubular, heat-sealable bag material travels above and at the speed of a moving belt. Above the belt is a seal shaft which rotates a heated seal bar. The working edge of the seal bar may be adjusted inward and outward relative to its shaft. The edge causes a transverse seal to be made on the web at intervals. A rotary perforating knife is driven at the same speed as the seal shaft and, at a subsequent station, perforates the web proximate the seal. The linear speed of the edge of the seal bar is at the speed of the belt at the time of sealing contact (about 65.degree.). The speed of the seal shaft for the remaining 295.degree. is adjustable and thereby the distance between seals and perforations is adjustable.

Abstract: To indicate the number of uses of a card of the type which is magnetically encoded for plural uses, a hole is punched in the card, the distance of the hole from one end of the card progressively increasing with each use. Since the card is continuously moving as it is being punched, the punch element is pivoted to an actuating lever and pivots against the force of a spring as the card moves. The spring returns the punch to initial position when the card has passed the punch station. A solenoid pivots the actuating lever. Provision is made for adjustment of the distance of penetration of the punch. A resilient roller engaging the face of the card opposite the punch backs up the punch.

Abstract: Earthquake tremors dislodge a pedestal-mounted ball which then blocks the outlet passage of a casing installed in a gas line. To make the device more sensitive, the pedestal is spring-supported in the casing. Further, several balls may be suspended from wires in such position that, when they sway because of tremor, they knock the shut-off ball from the pedestal. The ball may be knocked from the pedestal in an emergency by kicking or rapping it. Additionally, the pedestal may be mounted on horizontal ball bearings with an adjustable compressive force which makes the shut-off ball especially sensitive both to vertical and horizontal tremors. In a severe emergency, such as an earthquake, the device saves lives and property by minimizing potential leakage and explosion from ruptured pipes.

Abstract: A machine for plucking feathers from game birds, such as ducks, may be made in a home workshop from readily available components. A housing is assembled from pieces of plywood and has a base, sides and a top. A square block is drilled from a shaft which is welded to plates on the ends of the block. Plucking fingers are lengths of hose formed with a series of notches near their ends. The fingers are received in holes in the sides of the block and retained by screws inserted through the block intersecting the fingers. The shaft is journalled in pillow blocks fastened to the base and is turned by a pulley drive from a motor mounted on the rear of the base.

Abstract: A cuff having a casing and an inflatable diaphragm is slipped over a portion of the body of the user, preferably a thumb or finger. The diaphragm is connected by a conduit to a pressure source and to a manometer. A preferred pressure source is as a cylinder similar to that of a syringe. A plunger in the syringe inflates the diaphragm. The pressure in the cuff is slowly increased until the subject first notices a slight localized throbbing sensation within the artery inside the cuff, the pressure corresponding to diastolic blood pressure, and this pressure is read. Use of a transducer or even a stethoscope is unnecessary. Further, it has been found that if the cuff is properly designed, pressure corresponds very closely to diastolic blood pressure measured at the brachial artery with a standard arm cuff using a stethoscope. For other cuff structures the pressure in the cuff may be calibrated to that in an arm by using these subjective sensations.

Abstract: An improvement on commercial machines which bind documents using plastic strips. The punch mechanism may be automatically actuated when the paper sheets are properly aligned on a punch platen or actuated manually at the user's discretion. Distance of the holes from the edges of the sheets may be indexed.

Abstract: To align pipe mill rollers and the like both vertically and axially, targets are clamped to the rolls. Each target carries a block formed with a hole, which hole is a fixed distance above the surface of the target which engages the edges of a roll. The block is mounted for transverse movement and carries a horizontally movable indicator which may be aligned with a mark on the center of the roll. A laser instrument is located so that its beam is horizontal and will pass through each hole of each block of each target when the rolls are properly aligned. The targets carry level bubbles to insure vertical positioning of the targets and also may carry supports which engage opposite sides of the roll flanges to insure that the targets are vertical. The workman observes the point where the beam shows on the block and adjusts the bearings for the roll vertically so that the beam is at the level of the hole.

Abstract: A hand-held, trigger-actuated tool heats solder to be removed from a workpiece and draws the melted solder into the distal tip of the tool by vacuum. From the tip, the molten solder is drawn into a relatively large diameter, thin-walled, extended tube in which the solder hardens into pellets which may be removed as required by removing a plug in a chamber at the near end of the tube. A solenoid in the handle of the tool operates a plunger in a cylinder which communicates with the top of the chamber through a duct. The plunger has a one-way valve in its head which has a sealing disk which "floats" in the head, and on the return stroke of the plunger permits air trapped in the cylinder head to escape.

Abstract: Beams of coherent microwaves or other frequencies of highly directional electromagnetic radiation are passed through the living human body to detect and provide a quantitative analysis of functional activity in the central nervous system and/or in muscle tissue such as that of the heart. Organs to be analyzed are situated in the space of an electrostatic field of oscillating intensity. The directional beam is passed through a body organ situated in this way. The method is of use in detecting degenerative subcortical disease in the brain (e.g., Sulphatide Lipidosis), tissue damage to nerve fibers due to toxic chemicals, and other types of tissue-based functional abnormality. Functional condition of brain and heart generally can be readily analyzed without exposure to ionizing radiation.

Abstract: Commercially available seed planters have V-wings mounted immediately in front of the seed openers to sweep clods away and skim off the top player of the bed. However, V-wings are not effective in trashy and sticky soils. The attachment of the present invention is mounted on the V-wing and has downward-rearward directed fingers extending below the V-wing. The fingers push clods and trash away and assist in maintaining uniform depth in all soils.

Abstract: For recording precipitation at a remote station, a vertically mounted pipe is divided into an upper section (into which rain and snow fall) and a lower section. In the upper section is an overflow module consisting of a casing having openings in its bottom communicating with liquid in the upper section so that liquid level inside the casing is at the same level as in the upper section. An overflow pipe extends up from the lower section and through the bottom of the casing. A float and bellows is fixed to the upper end of the overflow pipe and an upper extension pipe is fixed above the bellows. Wires fixed to the upper extension pipe are attached to bi-metallic spirals which work against the bellows. Thus the elevation of the liquid inlet at the upper end of the upper extension pipe is temperature responsive. The upper member is initially partially filled with an anti-freeze solution to the level of the liquid inlet.

Abstract: An improvement on commercial machines which bind documents using plastic strips. The punch mechanism may be automatically actuated when the paper sheets are properly aligned on a punch platen or actuated manually at the user's discretion. Distance of the holes from the edges of the sheets may be indexed.

Abstract: Gate valve having in-line ports has a closure member which slides in an elongated casing between an operative position between the ports to a retracted position remote from the ports. When in operative position, the closure has a seated or expanded position against the ports and a collapsed position out of contact with the ports. Movement between collapsed and expanded positions is accomplished by oscillation of a portion of the closure member relative to plates which seat against the ports as balls which are seated in detent depressions in the plates are forced out of the depressions. The same actuator linkage which moves the closure linearly also casues oscillation.

Abstract: This electronic scoring device allows scores for different players of a game to be kept and shown on separate displays. The device, preferably in hand-held form, has a plurality of score entry keys and a plurality of function keys. First and second display means of the device are assignable to opposing sides of a game. Circuit means is connected to the score entry keys, the function keys, and the display means to receive score information, carry out functions on the score information and display a resulting score on one of the displays for which the score information is entered. The device preferably operates under control of a suitable program incorporating scoring rules for a particular game being played. Game information is then entered by the keyboard, the resulting numerical score computed by the device, shown on the appropriate display, and entered into memory for the final game score.

Abstract: A valve is located below the frost line in the water supply line for a drinking fountain or the like. When the valve is opened, a piston is raised by the water pressure, compressing a spring. When the valve is closed, the spring retracts the piston, sucking the water in the line down below the frost line. Water is retained within the valve and not drained into the surrounding earth. Hence, danger of pollution is reduced.

Abstract: Turret-type tool holders for metal lathes, especially when used for production, conventionally have no vertical adjustment for the individual tools (e.g. tool bits). To provide for such adjustment, a first member which rests on the base of the tool holder has an arcuate surface and a second member with complementary arcuate surface rests on the arcuate surface of the first member. The tool rests on the second member. Two conventional tool holder set screws engage the top of the tool to clamp the assembly in adjusted position. By tightening one screw and loosening the other, the tool and second member "rock" relative to the first member to adjust the elevation of the working tip of the tool.

Abstract: A balance beam has a fulcrum, at least one bellows (connected to a source of pressure or vacuum) acting on the beam and a connection to the armature of a differential transformer at one end. A poise is mounted for movement along the beam by rollers riding on shoulders formed on the beam. A carriage having a connection to the poise at the elevation of the axes of the rollers moves the poise and is, in turn, driven by a screw turned by a servomotor controlled by the differential transformer. Provision is made for minimizing temperature error both longitudinally and transversely of the beam. The fulcrum and bellows may be moved to different locations relative to the beam, using spaced drilled holes in the beam and the base plate. Various readouts may be connected to the screw, and recorders and control devices may also be driven by the screw.

Abstract: A decorative plate consists of an outer part having a base with curved sides terminating in a peripheral lip. This part may be suitably decorated. An inner part is formed complementary to the interior of the outer part, and is preferably of a clear material, such as a plastic. On the back of the inner part there is preferably a foil ring. Prior to assembly of the inner part and the outer part, a photograph may be prepared and inserted inside the foil ring. Thereupon the inner part is pressed toward the outer part until the edge of the inner part snaps under the lip. The completed dish may be used as a decorative plaque, tray, ash tray, or for other purposes.

Abstract: Levelling systems (e.g., scrapers) are laser-controlled by use of a sending station emitting a rotating, pulsed, laser beam in a plane either horizontal or inclined relative to the horizontal and a receiving station at the scraper which has a mast carrying one or more sensors. The sensor signals either signal the operator to raise, lower or change the angle of the blade or control the blade by hydraulic or electric actuations. The same mast mounted on a scraper (with blade raised to inoperative position) or other vehicle may be used for surveying a field. It is necessary in either case to raise and lower the mast so that the sensor intercepts the laser signal. This has heretofore been done in various ways hydraulically, electrically or mechanically (e.g., worm drive).

Abstract: A circuit for a servo-amplifier saves power when the position servo has reached balance. The servo input is a high frequency differential transformer having its armature positioned by mechanical means driven by a servo motor controlled through amplifier circuitry. The power to the amplifier is turned off in the vicinity of the servo null point.