Abstract: An improved closure for a pressure gauge includes a stem or a sleeve which selectively provides a vent path when set by the end user. The closure device provides an automatic venting if in the normally closed condition by means of an overpressure valve arrangement in the sleeve. Therefore the two functions are incorporated in the single closure device.

Abstract: The apparatus for curling eyelashes comprises a handgrip which can be comforably held in the hand. A shaft is rotatably mounted on the handgrip and has a brush mounted on the shaft which is rotatable with the shaft using, for example, a thumbwheel attached to the shaft to enable the user to twirl the brush. As the brush engages and twirls the eyelashes, the lashes are groomed, curled and separated.

Abstract: The apparatus for mixing cement includes a shaft connected to an engine for rotating the shaft. The shaft has mounted thereon a plurality of paddles for providing a pushing force and arranged so as to channel the flow of cement mix about the shaft to allow complete and efficient mixing. In one embodiment the paddles are arranged with faces parallel to the axis of the shaft and apertures are cutout for controlling the flow. In another embodiment, the paddles are notched plates that are bent to provide pushing surfaces and formed so as to channel the flow about the shaft.

Abstract: A novel modeling medium comprises a mixture of an organic ductile wax binder and a mica platelet filler which is mechanically worked while the material is in a semisolid state to evenly distribute the mica platelets throughout the mixture. The material exhibits the characteristics of non-ferrous metal with less density than conventional modeling mediums. It provides the bi-color visual characteristic of metal and may be worked at convenient temperatures.

Abstract: The document or substrate containing the information to be protected is covered with a liquid crystal or other such material capable of being made transparent using a process such as heating it to a higher temperature than ambient room temperature. In this manner the information on the substrate is normally invisible and thus not accessible to individuals without special equipment. For copying, the coated substrate is then placed on a copier machine in which the transparent glass plate of the copier is heated, for instance by electrical resistance heating, to a temperature matching the temperature-transparency window of the coating on the document. The information on the substrate may also be made visible for viewing by covering the coating with a transparent plate heated to the proper temperature. A second coating of different color but substantially the same temperature transparency may be selectively applied to the first coating to provide normally visible information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide encryption, decryption and authentication of messages using dynamical systems. The method and apparatus preferably operate on an information stream which may comprise message information, authentication information, and random or pseudo-random information. The initial secret keys of the system are a collection of dynamical systems, at least one of which is irreversible. These keys operate on states of the dynamical systems into which the message has been encoded. To initialize the encryption, a subset of the secret keys are selected to be current keys, and the desired message is encoded into the initial states. Encryption continues over a plurality of cycles. During each cycle the current keys are applied either backward or forward in time to their current states, over a plurality of sub-cycles.

Abstract: A trocar system comprises a trocar housing, a pointed stylet arranged so that the pointed tip can be selectively extended outwardly (distally) from the trocar housing, a return spring in the trocar housing for retracting the stylet into the housing and a piston and piston latch system disposed within the trocar housing for restraining the stylet from retracting. The piston includes a cam element for de-latching the piston from its latched position to allow the return spring to retract the piston into the housing. The stylet engages the piston in a slot to permit limited longitudinal movement of the stylet into the housing. A distally-biased element which carries an engaging pin and is forced to move proximally by the tissue resistance experienced as the trocar is forced to puncture a body cavity wall, automatically moves to its original distal location after the tip of the trocar has completely passed through the wall.

Abstract: A dispatch goods label consists of a loop section and an adjoining section which are both detachably connected with one another via a perforation. A respective adhesive layer of the loop section and the adjoining section ends at a distance from the perforation line. Both of the ends of the covering strip are uncoated and adhere directly to the respectively opposing adhesive layer of the loop section and the adjoining section. They are foldable at the transition to the respective adhesive layer about the transition line. The covering tape is provided at the level of the perforation line of the loop section and the adjoining section with a cut line connection which brakes open upon folding both sections about the perforation line.

Abstract: An electrode for electroretinography comprises a plastically deformable, self-supporting, filamentary electrically conductive member having first and second electrically insulated zones between which a portion of the member is exposed as an electrical contact.The member preferably forms an endless loop.

Abstract: A postage meter includes a printwheel setting mechanism which allows shortest path setting of the printwheel. Stepper motors are provided for each printwheel which drives the printwheels through a transfer gear having a large diameter and greater number of teeth so that there are multiple positions of the transfer wheel which correspond to a particular character to be printed by the printwheel. The stepper motors are microprocessor controlled and a routine calculates the shortest rotational path of the setting of a new character for printing.

Abstract: An encoder for a wheel or other devices with relative movement comprises in the use of a printwheel, a linear Hall-effect sensor and magnet mounted in a non-ferrous metal shaft with a flux conducting spiral ring molded in the printwheel and encircling the shaft. The angular position of the printwheel is absolutely determined by the magnitude of the signal relative to the transition point of the spiral. The values are converted to digital information and stored in non-volatile memory for comparison to the values measured as the wheel is positioned during operation of the wheel. In another embodiment, a second Hall-effect sensor is placed on the shaft opposite the first sensor to provide an enhanced signal.

Abstract: A postage meter die in a postage meter includes a printwheel assembly for printing ZIP CODE or other location information in place of the CITY-STATE information normally required for Post Office licensed postage meters. The printer assembly is accessible by authorized personnel to allow the ZIP CODE to be changed to correspond to the ZIP CODE location of the meter user.

Abstract: An encoder for a wheel comprises a linear Hall-effect sensor and magnet mounted on a non-ferrous metal shaft. A ferrous metal ring having a toothed structure extending inward such that each tooth ends at a point on a spiral curve is molded into the printwheel encircling the shaft. The Hall-effect sensor output provides a determined output when each tooth is positioned over the sensor to enable an absolute position determination while the signal drop off between the teeth as the wheel is moved allows for counting the steps between settings for relative encoding and redundancy.

Abstract: An improved locking apparatus for preventing access to the print die of a postage meter which is protected by a shutter when it is removed from its base include a carriage and slide crack which are reciprocated by a solenoid in a direction transverse to the deadbolt which locks the shutter from moving. The operation of the carriage and slide crank prevent the deadbolt from being reciprocated by force applied to the deadbolt. A groove in the deadbolt interlocks with a slot on the shutter to allow the solenoid to be deactuated. A return spring in the solenoid is sized to prevent acceleration forces from moving the deadbolt.

Abstract: An electronic postal meter has an accounting unit with redundant nonvolatile random access memories controlled by a microprocessor system. The redundant random access memories have separate groups of address and data lines to minimize identical errors in data stored therein. The data transfer may occur at different times to and from the memories, with respect to any given byte of data. The system may incorporate redundant microprocessors, and critical parameters may be checked at periodic intervals in the main program of the accounting microprocessor system.

Abstract: A counter mechanism for a postage meter includes a number of sections each having a number wheel (14) repesenting the respective order of accounted value, transfer mechanisms in the form of Geneva gears connecting the number wheels (14) to provide carry-over movements between adjacent sections. A ratchet mechanism is provided in the number wheel (14) to allow rotation of the number drum (16) as a result of an account input from the postage meter, even when a carry movement gear (18) of the number wheel (14) is locked by the Geneva gear. The ratchet mechanism includes an internally-profiled surface on one part (16) having ratchet steps (70) separated by portions (76) of relatively low gradient. Projections (74) are provided on a central member (72) of another part (18), the projections extending substantially tangential to the internally-profiled surface so as to engage in the ratchet steps (70) in the event of attempted rotation in one direction and to stop such rotation.

Abstract: An electronic postage meter has an improved memory selection circuit wherein custom memory map decoder circuit with resolution down to a single byte location is used to provide selection enabling signals to insure the selection of an appropriate device only when the addresses appropriate to that device are communicated. In accordance with the invention, at least two nonvolatile memories are provided. Writing to either of these nonvolatile memories is inhibited unless one and only one memory is selected. The circuit also prevents the selection of either of the nonvolatile memories in the event that the write strobe signal to the memories is held active.

Abstract: A printwheel encoder comprises a non-ferrous shaft having a magnet strip and a flexible Hall-effect sensor arrangement affixed thereon. Molded printwheels including a flux conducting ring having an inner spiral surface are rotatably mounted on the shaft in respective juxtaposition to each Hall-effect sensor. The wheels are mounted adjacent to each other so that the rings form a nearly continuous flux conducting sheath which protects the Hall-effect sensors from external magnetic fields.

Abstract: A postage meter having a rotable print drum also has a control arrangement ensuring that power is fed to the motor which drives the print drum via at least two parallel paths. One of these paths is operative to cause the motor to be driven until an envelope trip switch signifies that the envelope is fully discharged from the meter, irrespective of whether the other path is electrically conductive or not.

Abstract: A postage meter module is removable from the mailing machine base. In order to protect the print die, a shutter is provided to cover the die. The cover can be moved to expose the die only when the meter is installed on an appropriate meter base. At all other times the shutter is locked in position to cover the print die.