Abstract: An article repositioning apparatus for an injection stretch blow molding machine is disclosed for simultaneously molding a plurality of containers from plastic parisons. Between work stations, the apparatus repositions articles from a compact, evenly spaced first position to an extended, unevenly paired second position. After insertion of the articles into receivers slidably mounted on tracks, the receivers are moved by a servo motor to various separations by sliding movement along the tracks, the receivers attached to aligning ribs threadably engaged with ball screws. Simultaneously, the tracks are moved by a second servo motor to uneven paired separations by attachment to movable scissors having large and small scissor portions.

Abstract: An apparatus for serially molding articles from a plastic resin material includes an extruder having an output for producing a stream of plasticized resin material. A circular array of molds is arranged about a central area and a runner system coupled between the extruder output and the circular array of molds maintains the stream of plasticized resin material at a temperature suitable for molding. A valve is connected between the runner system and an input leading to an accumulator chamber of each mold of the circular array for sequentially directing the plasticized resin into each of the molds to form a molded article therein. A molded article extractor sequentially removes the molded article from each of the molds, and a molded article handling apparatus coupled to the molded article extractor arranges the molded articles in a series for removal through the central area.

Abstract: Quassinoid compounds, compositions, and methods of using them for treating cells and solid tumors, and inhibiting plant growth.

Abstract: An exercise and amusement device for animals for providing repeated audio stimulation to an animal in response to the animal taking hold and pulling upon a portion of the device. A housing containing a audio unit may be mounted to a base or a stationary support, with playback of a series of sounds stored within the audio unit initiated by an attached tension-activated switch attached to an external cable graspable by the animal. The audio unit is provided for storing a series of sounds in a memory, directing a series of sounds stored in the memory to an audio speaker whereby the series of sounds is played, deleting a series of sounds from the memory, receiving a new series of sounds from a microphone, and adding the new series of sounds to the memory.

Abstract: An integrated plastic injection mold and blow mold machine includes an injection mold assembly having a cooled exterior mold assembly connected to a plastic injector for injecting plastic. A cooled core assembly is positionable within the cooled exterior mold assembly to define a mold cavity for accepting injected plastic from the plastic injector to form a parison. To allow transfer of the parison to a blow mold assembly, the cooled core assembly is movable with respect to the cooled exterior mold assembly. A thread split holds the parison and is used to first form the neck of a parison, and then move the parison from the injection mold assembly to the blow mold assembly. In addition, the parison is formed by use of a removable cooled core that is movable with respect to the thread split.

Abstract: A closure is intended for use on a container having an opening defined by a rim portion and a finish including a ledge situated below the rim portion. The closure includes a central body portion sized to cover the container opening and a peripheral portion adapted to contact the rim portion of the container. A plurality of tabs are unitarily fixed to the peripheral portion, each tab including a tang adapted to engage the ledge of the container finish. Each tab also includes a thinned, stressed portion between the tang and the rim portion which is reactive to an application of heat to cause shortening of the tab length. The thinned portion also acts as a hinge to permit flexural displacement of the tab with respect to the body portion. The closure when applied to a container is completed by a band which encompasses the tabs, the band also being reactive to an application of heat to cause contraction of the band to insure continued engagement between the ledge and tangs.

Abstract: A pressure indicator regulator assembly for a gas flow control device is disclosed for indicating the pressure of gas in a container. The pressure indicator regulator assembly includes a regulator housing integrally formed with a gas flow control device attached to a high pressure gas container. A tubular spiral coil pressure indicator is disposed within a recessed notch defined by the regulator housing and is in sealed fluid connection with the gas container through a stepped bore bushing disposed in a stepped bore passage. A cover having a transparent outer surface is removably attached to the housing at the notch, and forms a smooth, essentially continuous surface with respect to the exterior surface of the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the concentration of an analyte present in a biological fluid is disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying NIR radiation to calibration samples to produce calibration data, analyzing the calibration data to identify and remove outliers, constructing a calibration model, collecting and analyzing unknown samples to identify and remove outliers, and predicting analyte concentration of non-outliers from the calibration model. Analysis of the calibration data includes data pretreatment, data decomposition to remove redundant data, and identification and removal of outliers using generalized distances. The calibration model may utilize principal component regression, partial least squares, multiple linear regression, or artificial neural networks, and reduction using principal component analysis or partial least squares scores.

Abstract: A modular display system is disclosed for displaying a map, graph, chart or other planar graphic representation in a plurality of planar modules capable of being disposed in a planar contiguous array having a smooth, markable surface. Each module is formed of a generally rectangular planar base portion having a plurality of planar projecting tongues and planar grooves, a rectangular portion of a map, graph, chart or other planar graphic representation, and a rectangular planar transparent cover portion. The aligned attachment of a base portion, a graphic portion, and a cover portion using adhesive forms a module. By temporary interlocking planar arrangement of modules, with tongues and grooves of each base portion in mating disposition with the grooves and tongues of other base portions, a planar surface is provided with the graphic portions capable of being viewed through the cover portions.

Abstract: A retractable signage device attachable to a rearview mirror of a vehicle or vessel is disclosed for indicating to the occupants that a certain important condition exists. A housing and flexible strap are attached to the non-reflective portion of the rearview mirror, and an arm having a signage portion is rotatably attached to the housing and strap. The arm may be disposed in a retracted postion where the signage portion is substantially unobservable to the occupants, or in an actuated position where the signage portion is generally parallel with and proximate to the reflective portion of the rearview mirror.

Abstract: A cutting drum adapted to be mounted in a roadway surface reclaiming machine includes a cylindrical surface rotatably driven about its axis in a cutting direction. A plurality of cutter bit holding elements are distributed in a pattern over and fixed to the cylindrical surface, each cutter bit holding element having a base portion including a first opening and a second opening. A first cutter bit is received in the first opening and a second cutter bit is received in the second opening. The first and second openings are positioned so that the second cutter bit trails immediately behind and is aligned with the first cutter bit when the cylindrical surface is rotated in the cutting direction, the first and second cutter bits being inclined forwardly in the cutting rotation direction. The first and second openings are situated at two different heights so that the second cutter bit is situated at a greater radial distance from the rotation axis of the cylindrical surface than is the first cutter bit.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a recyclable container includes a mechanism for holding a reusable shell, fitting a liner preform over the reusable shell, and blow forming the liner preform within the reusable shell to provide a disposable liner for the reusable shell. The disposable liner is removable to permit recycling of the reusable shell. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanism is an integrated injection mold and stretch blow mold machine that both creates the liner preform and blow forms the liner into reusable shell.

Abstract: An educational mechatronics apparatus comprises a plurality of circuit boards respectively corresponding to blocks appearing on a block diagram of an automatic control system, the circuit boards being arranged along the direction of signal transfer, each of the circuit boards being provided with circuit components including input and output terminals and having a center area and opposite end portions, and a transparent protective plate covering the center area of the circuit board to inhibit a learner to touch the circuit components other than the input and output terminals located in the end portions of the circuit board. The input and output terminals located in the center portion of the circuit board are wired in advance of assembly of the apparatus, and the input and output terminals located in the end portions are adapted to be wired for learning by leads.

Abstract: An entity-relation database is disclosed to include a plurality of entity fields containing arrays of data elements, the data elements being related to each other in predefined sets, with each predefined set including data elements in at least two of the entity fields. At least one linked list defines the relationship between data elements between each of the predefined sets and provides a means for retrieving all of the elements of any selected predefined set from the two entity fields. The linked list consists of two distinct portions, namely, a head portion associated with each member of one entity field and a continuation portion associated with each member of another entity field, while each entry consists of a pair of addresses thereby forming a doubly linked list.

Abstract: An alignment assembly for aligning heating lamps in a heating lamp assembly intended for use in an oven of a blow molding machine, the heating lamp assembly having a chassis removably positionable in at least one preselected location in the machine and including a vertical array of generally horizontally disposed lamps held in position by a lamp holder coupled to each end of each lamp. The alignment assembly has a baseplate including a coupling for coupling the chassis to the baseplate. A pair of standards are coupled to another plate movable relative to the baseplate projecting upward therefrom for holding a vertical scale and a plurality of vertically positionable and horizontally reciprocable gages indicate the relative position of the lamp holders.

Abstract: A manifold assembly for supplying plastic material from a plastic source to a mold assembly in an injection molding machine includes a flexible manifold having an interior conduit connected between the plastic source and the mold assembly. The flexible manifold is configured to define an input connector, a first curved segment attached to the input connector, a second curved segment, an output connector attaching the second curved segment to the mold assembly, and an intermediary segment connecting the first and second curved segments. This provides the flexible manifold with a generally S-shaped configuration that flexes with temperature changes to maintain a substantially constant positioning between the input connector and the output connector, preventing thermally induced movement of the mold assembly with respect to the input connector as heated plastic is injected through the conduit.