Abstract: An offset press unit which has a main frame defining a pair of spaced apart walls having bores therein, a pair of plate cylinders are disposed within the frame and are rotatably supported in spaced apart relation, and a pair of blanket cylinders are disposed within the frame each is rotatably supported for rolling contact with the other and with one of said plate cylinders, internal support means are secured to one of the walls and include at least one cylinder supporting bearing, external support means are secured to the other of said walls including at least one cylinder supporting bearing and one of the printing cylinders is rotatably supported by the cylinder supporting bearings.

Abstract: A bowling ball, rather than being engraved with a decoration, is printed with the decoration, relying on graft polymerization chemistry by which the printing fluid, offset to the ball in decoration form, is effectively bonded to the ball which may be rubber or other polymer capable of participating in graft polymerization.

Abstract: Signature gathering machine in which signatures are extracted by an extracting cylinder successively from a hopper, released at a register gauge, opened by grippers on opposed opening cylinders and then those grippers are opened to drop the signature onto a saddle conveyor; wipers rotate with the extracting cylinder and are actuated in timed relation to arrival of the signature at the register gauge so as to force the free edges of the signature into the space between the opening cylinders.

Abstract: A mechanism for molding food patties from a fibrous food product (e.g. poultry breasts, fish fillets, large pieces of pork muscle, etc.) uses a conventional mold plate positioned between a fill plate and a breather plate and cyclically movable between a fill position and a discharge position; the fill plate has fill ports, one for each mold cavity in the mold plate, through which the food product is pumped under pressure, each mold cavity having a substantially larger area than its associated fill port. Each fill port has a transitional rim, past which the food flows with an appreciable change in direction, that is smoothly rounded to avoid damage to the food fibers. Each fill port also has a cutting rim, past which a part of the filled mold cavity moves on its way to a discharge position; the cutting rim shears off any food fibers along part of one face of the patty. Preferably, the breather holes in the breather plate are confined to the periphery of each mold cavity position.

Abstract: A manual actuation mechanism for a solenoid having a plunger with one end connected to an external apparatus, such as a diesel engine fuel pump energization of the solenoid coil drives the plunger axially from an initial position to an actuation position. The manual actuation mechanism comprises a retraction rod that extends axially through the solenoid and is movable from a normal position disengaged from the plunger to a retraction position; in moving to its retraction position the rod drives the plunger to its actuated position, simulating energization of the coil. The manual actuation mechanism further includes a retainer comprising a spring clamp mounted on the housing and projecting into firm, resilient gripping engagement with the rotary actuator to preclude vibrational or other incidental rotation of the actuator regardless of its position. The spring clamp also serves as a strain relief for electrical connections to the solenoid.

Abstract: The disclosed passive solar heater system defines a three dimensional tube array for conveying liquid between an inlet and an outlet, including a serial flow path through a heating stage, and possibly also a preheating stage. The heating stage has adjacent substantially straight parallel runs, with alternate ends interconnected to define a cage-like serpentine pattern. The straight heating stage runs of the tube array extend in vertical orientation, substantially over the full height of the tube array; and are in a generally cylindrical pattern, annularly and outwardly spaced from any preheating stage. Several embodiments of preheating stages are disclosed; and of the manner of enclosing the tube array for yeilding high thermal outputs. The tube array is enclosed in a transparent housing that may be adjustably vented.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a hearing aid including a microphone, an adjustable amplifier, and an acoustic transducer positioned within a first, large acoustic chamber defined by an in-the-ear housing. The acoustic transducer is in communication with a sound outlet passage which leads into the user's ear canal. The acoustic transducer includes a sound generating diaphragm driven by an acoustic driver. The diaphragm and driver are mounted in the acoustic transducer, with the diaphragm dividing the transducer into second and third acoustic chambers. A vent passage is provided between the first and third acoustic chambers. An acoustic resistance is mounted in the vent passage to modify the operating characteristics of the hearing aid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a discharge trough for use in combination with a discharge gate of a railroad hopper car. The discharge gate has slanted side walls terminating in spaced, longitudinally extending lips which define a longitudinal discharge opening. The longitudinal trough has a somewhat rounded or circular cross section and merges with the lips of the slanted side walls to define the discharge opening. The slanted side walls are generally flat in the area adjacent the lips, with the lips having a rounded contour merging into the somewhat rounded inner wall of the trough. There is a rod-like discharge valve positioned within the trough adjacent and slightly below the lips to control the flow of material through the discharge opening.

Abstract: This is concerned with a surface cleaning machine such as a burnisher or scrubber and is more particularly concerned with a quick connect/disconnect holding and centering structure for high speed brush and pad use which is specifically constructed to accurately center a brush or pad and dampen any vibration so that the brush or pad may be operated at a high speed without special balancing, as well as to allow for each and quick connect or disconnect. The holding and centering structure comprises an opening in the center of a surface cleaning element adapted to receive a driven hub fitted down in the opening. A circumferential formation in the opening is adapted to interferingly bypass a complementary circumferential formation on the hub. One of the circumferential formations is uniformly distortable.

Abstract: In a scanning acoustic microscope of the reflection type, in which an object is insonified with a series of ultrasonic acoustic pulses in accordance with a preselected scanning pattern and reflected acoustic echo pulses are received and employed to generate an initial electrical signal comprising a sequence of electrical pulses having amplitudes and polarities representative of the magnitudes and phases of the echoes, a directly readable unified interpretative display image is produced from the entire electrical signal; that image includes the usual scanning position and depth information determined by timing of the electrical pulses, together with complete transition information regarding the nature of acoustic impedance changes, based on both the amplitudes and the polarities of those pulses. A compared dual integration method and system, with related gating and display enhancement techniques, comprises the preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A security unit is to be fitted to a goods container to be secured, normally to the load doors, and will transmit a radio signal when it is interfered with to a radio receiver which gives the alarm. Where the container is part of or is loaded on a vehicle, then in addition to this security for the container itself, the alarm system will have to be immobilized by an authorized driver before the vehicle can be driven by inserting two different keys in a predetermined time sequence before the vehicle can be operated.

Abstract: A laser with distributed feedback utilizes an active laser medium, especiy a dye solution contained in a cell, excited by a pump radiation beam that passes through an optical grating or like device, and an optical imaging system arranged between the optical device and the laser medium; the imaging system, in combination with the optical device, forms a striped pump radiation pattern in the laser medium. The optical imaging system contains a microscope lens in retro position, or another scale reducing or demagnifying lens system, and may optionally, include a variable-focus lens for altering the imaging scale and, therefore, the wavelength of the laser emission.

Abstract: An electromagnetically operable valve, comprising a coil and an electromat containing an armature, the armature of which impinges an actuating member connected to or forming an active member of the valve in operating connection and a lever mechanism arranged between the armature and the valve member for the step-up or step-down transmission of the stroke.In valves of this kind known from prior art a considerable expense in construction is incurred for the accommodation of the lever mechanism which offsets the savings with respect to the costs and the constructive area in long-stroke magnets; this is avoided by a novel construction incorporating the lever mechanism into the electromagnet and between the armature and the actuating member.

Abstract: A press for converting work pieces into finished parts has an endless conveyor for carrying work pieces into and out of the area of the press tooling. Work pieces rest in openings formed in the conveyor. A vacuum box on the lower side of the conveyor's forward run applies a vacuum to the work pieces to retain them on the conveyor. The conveyor has a plurality of transverse beads located intermediate the work piece openings. The beads stiffen the conveyor, thereby reducing deflection of the belt due to the load placed on it from the underside by the vacuum box.