Abstract: A heating cabinet includes a fan (24) by means of which air is drawn out of the inner housing into an air chamber (22). From the air chamber (22) the air is directed through a preheating chamber (28) of U-shaped cross-section, comprising a heating element (34), enclosing the inner housing, and is directed back into the usable space through apertures (36) in the side walls (16) of the inner housing. Air guidance plates (38) are attached externally on the side walls (16) which compel the air to flow along the entire length of the heating element (34) before it can pass out through the apertures (36). In this manner, temperature differences between the air passing through the different apertures (36) are avoided and localized temperature variations in the usable space are minimized.

Abstract: A plant production bed is provided in which a slotted drain pipe extends longitudinally between a pair of slab components of a soaking bed. The slabs slope downward from their outer edges toward the slotted drain pipe, but are substantially level in a direction parallel to the slotted drain pipe. The slotted drain pipe is oriented horizontally. Because of the slope of the slab components, substantially less nutrient solution or water is required than in known flat bottomed systems. In a preferred embodiment, two complementary slabs are provided on opposite sides of a central swale and are tilted so as to provide a "vee" shape when viewed in cross-section, with the top of the swale being at the apex of the "vee". Several parallel soaking beds are arranged opposite sides of a central walkway under which a common flume pipe extends for providing nutrient solution or water to the beds or receiving same from the beds.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a scanner for scanning a plurality of document so that n images corresponding to the documents are obtained, n being an integer greater than 2, an image generating means for successively generating m number images different from each other, m being an integer greater than 2, an image composition circuit for combining an i-th image (i=1, 2 , . . . , and n) obtained by the scanner and a j-th number image (j=1, 2 , . . . , and m) with each other so as to output a composite image I.sub.ij, a printing mechanism for printing the composite image I.sub.ij on a recording sheet, and an output unit for outputting the recording sheet having the composite image I.sub.ij formed thereon.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for electrostatically forming a latent image on an image carrier by driving optics in response to multi-level image data. Before the start of an actual image recording operation, a latent image in the form of a test pattern having a plurality of tones is formed on the image carrier by pulse width modulation. A table for correcting image data is generated on the basis of sensed surface potentials of the test pattern. A semiconductor laser included in the optics is driven such that the tone data and the latent image potential remains in a constant relation.

Abstract: Maintenance unit for modular public telephone, the unit being made up based on a microprocessor, a block for communication with the modular telephone, a rotating switch to take measurements and a condenser charger for the modular public telephone, with a rapid condenser charger to feed the modular telephone that will load the logic and the activators, allowing the unit to communicate through any telephone situated on a line protected by a validation and identification unit, and carrying out the same through the selection of the identification number on turning switches. The unit also has circuit blocks to measure feed condenser voltage, line current, alternative voltage with respect to grounding and the state of the battery.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis catheter has annular cuffs at one or more locations along its length. The cuffs are of a woven material to promote tissue ingrowth and thereby anchor the catheter to the body. The catheter has internal channels extending from ports located outside the body to deliver disinfecting fluid to the space between the cuffs and the catheter exterior, preventing infections from reaching the cuffs and reducing the frequency of new implants.

Abstract: An operations manual generation apparatus for use with a host system. The apparatus has an input for receiving ordering input data when an operator places an order following a prescribed procedure for requesting an operations manual from the host system. The apparatus has a first memory which stores first information needed to prepare the requested operations manual. The apparatus also has a second memory for storing instruction information which includes a set of guidance text data which describes the minimum number of operating steps needed to be carried out by an operator. Finally, an edit controller is provided for analyzing the first information to select a suitable combination of guidance text data, so that an operations manual may be output which has been automatically optimized to minimize the number of steps which the operator must take to cause the host system to perform the desired function.

Abstract: A two part tubular wall or ceiling hanger mounted behind the same having means to determine the correct height from wall or ceiling and carriage bolts to fit square holes for easier assembly of the hanger plate or pan.

Abstract: A alphabet word input system includes a word dictionary for the object texts written in the alphabet, a search part for searching the word dictionary, and a replacing part for replacing word input using a wild card character for one portion into the character string of the word searched by the search part and therefore input character strings of alphabet words replaced by the replacing part.

Abstract: A chair has a removable back portion and a base portion connectable by unique female/male tapered connectors attached to the base portion and back portion with the base portion being shaped and dimensioned to be received in a carton having a tapered rear portion provided by diagonal vertical panels on opposite sides of a rear vertical wall panel with the base carton being shaped and dimensioned so that the sum of its girth and height do not total more than 130 inches so that the carton can be shipped by a parcel service shipping company such as UPS rather than by regular freight with the back being separately shipped in a separate package so that total shipping charges are much less than regular freight charges.

Abstract: A gas storage and dispensing system is described for the substantially reversible storage of a gas. The system comprises a material (4) having open voids occupied by a liquid. The liquid is a solvent of the gas and such occupation of the open voids by the liquid, with the gas dissolved therein, forms a reversible sorption gas storage system. The system tends to sorb increasing quantities of gas in increasing ambient gas pressure and desorb previously sorbed gas with decreases in ambient gas pressure. The system may be used in a pressure pack dispenser for dispensing a product (11) under pressure of a propellent gas, where the system provides the source of pressurised propellent gas.

Abstract: An elastomeric damper comprises a hub section configured for connection to a rotational shaft requiring damping in an internal combustion engine, and an inertia ring fitted within the hub section. The hub section includes a central region, an annular radially extending section extending radially outwardly from the central region, and an annular axially extending section extending axially with respect to the radially extending section. The axially extending section includes a radially inwardly directed portion.

Abstract: This structure relates to storage devices and in particular to lockers in particular for luggage such as those to be found at airports and railway stations. The lockers of the present device comprise a door, preferably with no moving parts, which, when the locker is not in use, is permanently biased open and thus in an unlocked position. When the locker is in use the door can be secured merely by shutting the door of the locker. A number of lockers of the present invention can be incorporated into columns of lockers under the control of a central control unit which dispenses appropriate receipts and tickets in exchange for money.

Abstract: A speed reduction device for steering devices comprises a first rotary shaft supported by a housing and rotatable by an external force, a second rotary shaft axially movably fitted to the first rotary shaft and nonrotatable relative thereto, a movable member attached to the housing axially movably but nonrotatably and fitted to the second rotary shaft axially movably and rotatably relative thereto, a first ball screw connecting the second rotary shaft to the housing, and a second ball screw connecting the movable member to the second rotary shaft.

Abstract: A boom includes a plurality of boom sections joined end to end. Each boom section includes two or more parallel inflatable chambers which are joined with a weighted curtain which is reinforced for strength. Boom sections are stored compactly on respective reels. A substantial number of reels are arranged compactly in the hold of a carrier vessel which is smaller in size and has greater speed and maneuverability than vessels carrying known oil spill containment systems. Boom sections are consecutively unwound from their respective reels and connected end-to-end as they are deployed to form a continuous boom. The boom sections unwind naturally from the reels as the carrier vessel moves through the water away from a tender vessel holding the first end of the boom. The boom's deployment is controlled by a brake on an idler roller and a hydraulic crane's drive wheel on the reel, thus limiting manual handling to lighter-weight tasks.

Abstract: A method of encoding two-dimensional original image data through fast cosine transformation FCT, the method including steps of inputting each block of N.times.N picture elements from the image data and transforming the block into N.times.N values of the first FCT coefficients by a first N.times.1 FCT circuit. The first N.times.1 FCT circuit uses multiplication factors of prescribed butterfly operations, the factors being multiplied by .sqroot.2. The method further includes storing the first FCT coefficients in a memory and transforming the first FCT coefficients into N.times.N values of second FCT coefficients by a second N.times.1 FCT circuit, the second N.times.1 FCT circuit using multiplication factors of prescribed butterfly operations, the factors being multiplied by .sqroot.2. The method further includes quantizing each of the second FCT coefficients using one of N.times.N corresponding values from a quantization table, the corresponding values being multiplied by 2.