Abstract: A pick and place device includes a lift head and a build platform. Both the lift head and the build platform include flexible aprons. An item layer is constructed on the build platform and the lift head is moved into position over the build platform. By slipping the lift head apron under the layer while concurrently pulling from under the layer the build platform apron, support for the layer passes from the build platform to the lift head. The lift head then moves to a place site and the lift head apron is pulled from under the layer and the layer falls from the lift head onto the place site. Under one form of the device, the layer may be constructed directly upon the lift head apron and then moved to a place site and deposited thereat by pulling the lift head apron from thereunder.

Abstract: A top-picking palletizer and de-palletizer moves pallet layers along a fixed path by use of a single-dimension actuation system and top-picking lift head. The illustrated system includes an actuation assembly operated by a single reversible motor moving drive chains selectively in first and second directions. In a first direction, the lift head moves along the fixed path towards a first pick and place site and in the second direction moves along the fixed path toward a second pick and place site. By selectively engaging and disengaging the lift head, layers of items to be stacked or unstacked may be moved from one site to the other site, i.e., such as by palletizing and de-palletizing operations.

Abstract: Electroacoustic battery sonication rehabilitates a battery by decreasing metallic shorting across battery elements through sonication. Sonication may be produced by application of an electrical signal of selected frequency to the terminals of a battery, thereby establishing a resonant condition within the battery. Alternately, sonication may be provided by transducers placed within a battery and receiving a drive signal of selected frequency to establish a resonant condition within the battery. By removing metallic shorting, e.g., lead hydrates in the case of a lead acid battery, undesirable electrical conduction between battery plates diminishes and battery charging efficiency and capacity increase.

Abstract: An acoustic transmission line speaker enclosure with concentric cylindrical structures establishes acoustic coupling between a rear-traveling sound wave and a surrounding air mass. Inherent rigidity or high bending resistance of the cylindrical structure allows use of very thin walled cylinders without a massive and large overall enclosure. An audio amplifier tunable to a listening room removes very low narrow frequency band components of an audio signal. Listening room cavity resonance is measured by injecting a frequency-varying sound wave into the listening room while detecting peak sound energy within the room. The filter the eliminates from audio signal frequencies associated with listening room cavity resonance.

Abstract: Digital product dissemination and sale occurs across a broad spectrum of distribution platforms making available a packaged digital product for wide spread public distribution. Execution of a packaged digital product on a purchasing consumer's personal computer provides opportunity to the user-consumer for purchase and delivery of the digital product. The user-consumer triggers a purchase step conducted automatically and directly between the personal computer and a bank network. A publishing merchant need not be involved in the purchase step other than receiving credit for the purchase in the credit card bank network. Delivery of the digital product following purchase occurs automatically and without use of cumbersome encryption keys.

Abstract: A plastic bearing and plastic conveyor guide track include a lubricating site formed by an oil saturated polymer. In a plastic bearing, a lubricating strip resides in contact with a shaft rotatably supported by the shaft. In the guide track, oil saturated polymer elements are inserted prior to machining and are exposed at selected guide features during machining. Enhanced lubrication results without sacrificing the load bearing capabilities of the plastic material forming the bearing or guide track body.

Abstract: A smoking pipe includes a rotatable coupling between a base including a bowl and mouthpiece. The mouthpiece rotates to a first position covering the bowl and to a second position distant from the bowl for use of the smoking pipe. The collapsed form of the smoking pipe may be more easily carried in one's pocket without loss of debris from the bowl.

Abstract: A heater includes an aluminum die cast body defining an enclosure and an adaptor block. A heating element within the enclosure activates, under control of an associated heat sensing device, a heating element within the enclosure to transfer heat energy into the adaptor block. The adaptor block, including features specific to a given mechanical device, e.g., pneumatic valve or pump, transfers the heat energy into the mechanical device to avoid a frozen condition resulting from, for example, sudden expansion of air when passing through the device.

Abstract: A scalable coherent interface (SCI) architecture delivers a high speed unidirectional signal from one SCI node to a next successive SCI node. The signal includes a data portion, e.g., SCI symbol, and a clock portion, e.g., a symbol separator. The clock portion indicates when the data portion may be sampled when collecting a sequence of SCI symbols. Relative timing between bits of the data portion and between the data portion as a whole and the symbol separator clock becomes skewed during transmission. The receiving node introduces delay in the clock portion as a function of detected stability in a synchronizing packet. A plurality of data registers are cyclicly written in response to the delayed clock portion whereby a single one of said registers at a given time is concurrently clocked and enabled. A control device monitors enable signals applied to the registers and in coordinated fashion cyclically reads SCI symbols therefrom.

Abstract: A timing light adapter includes first and second light transmissive channels. The first light transmissive channel injects light into an engine case and illuminates a timing mark therein. The second light transmissive channel carries light reflected from the timing mark out of the engine case. The timing light adapter thereby isolates a body of oil within the engine case while allowing visibility of the timing mark without light energy interference from a timing light source.

Abstract: A ceiling structure for retaining air filter panels having a grid of interconnected rails. Each rail has a recessed channel for containing a light fixture so that the light fixture does not hang below the ceiling surface. The structure may also include hanger hooks attachable to the rails for suspending fixtures, wall panels, and pivoting wall headers to permit angled arrangements of wall panels. The light fixture attached within the channel is an extruded panel that snaps into the channel and which includes standard light tube connectors.

Abstract: A phosphor binding material and process is shown and described for LCD backlight systems. The improved process provides a residual phosphor binding material transparent to UV light. No UV light energy is lost to absorption in the binding material and more UV light energy is used to produce visible light. Because the UV light is better utilized in the production of visible light, overall lamp efficiency is improved.

Abstract: A game element, a game and a method for playing a game employing a plurality of game elements. The game element comprising a body that is disposed in contact with a playing surface and in an upright position relative to the surface. Incorporated in the body is a sound emission assembly which emits a sound component directly from the body when the body moves from the upright position in a predetermined displacement. The game comprising a plurality of game elements having respective sound components and being disposed uprightly to form an array so that, when toppled in cascade, they emit the respective sound components sequentially along the array to generate one or more sound sequences.

Abstract: A self-inflating air mattress includes an air chamber and a foam panel therein. The air chamber is defined by top and bottom sheet panels and a valve allowing air passage into and out of the air chamber. The foam panel includes apertures therethrough, and the top and bottom sheet panels are mechanically coupled directly together via the apertures in the foam panel. As a result, the foam panel need not be mechanically connected to the top and bottom sheet panels and improved air flow within the chamber results. Furthermore, by virtue of the direct mechanical coupling between top and bottom sheet panels distributed throughout the air mattress, the top and bottom sheet panels are limited in their relative spacing and the air mattress tends to better support any weight placed thereon, there being no pillowing of the air mattress in response to weight placed thereon.

Abstract: A jack base for electrical musical instrument, e.g., electric guitar, improves mounting stability and makes easier the placement of an electric jack therein. The jack base presents a concave surface accepting and guiding the jack into the jack hole without protrusions or interfering surface structures. The jack base mounts to a standard jack base mounting hole, but offers opportunity for mounting of screws at angled orientation with great resistance to loosening thereof.

Abstract: A load balancing arm is shown and described as having improved control including a programmable control element and electronic air regulation to provide precise and controllable lifting force on a load. The disclosed load balancing arm responds to slight operator applied force to aid in movement of the load in overcoming system hysteresis, friction and load inertia without requiring the operator to apply a sufficiently large magnitude force to overcome such counteracting forces in the system. The disclosed load balancing arm further includes automatic load weight detection sensors for accommodating variation in load weights while applying a lifting force to the load which substantially equals the weight of the load. This allows the operator to move the load freely throughout a work space.

Abstract: Washing of a fibrous mat as disclosed herein, including both rinsing and drying steps and apparatus, occurs within an enclosure receiving a source of aqueous solution and mounting the fibrous mat rotationally therein. While water jet streams produce a first rotational force, a second rotational force, such as by hand crank or electric motor, of greater magnitude moves the mat in a direction opposite that of the water jet streams to produce significant relative velocity between the mat and the water jet streams. Following rinsing, a drying step includes rotating the mat to drive water therefrom.

Abstract: A ceiling structure for retaining air filter panels having a grid of interconnected rails. Each rail has a recessed channel for containing a light fixture so that the light fixture does not hang below the ceiling surface. The structure may also include hanger hooks attachable to the rails for suspending fixtures, wall panels, and pivoting wall headers to permit angled arrangements of wall panels. The light fixture attached within the channel is an extruded panel that snaps into the channel and which includes standard light tube connectors.