Abstract: The present invention in its preferred embodiment, is a circuit board storage apparatus (6) including a clamping mechanism (10) having two jaw handle members (12), and a pair of contact jaw portions (18 and 20) which are held in a hinged juxtaposition by a hinge pin (14). The clamping mechanism (10) is adapted to grasp a printed circuit board (8). The apparatus (6) is further provided with a support and protective structure (30) which includes a pair of parallel rails (32), having notches to support the structure (30) on a frame (50), and a pair of protective sheets (38) for preventing physical abrasion and electrical damage to the circuit board (8). The entire apparatus (6) is adapted to be enclosed in a drawer (60) or cabinet for easy storage of multiple boards (8). The primary usage of the apparatus is in situations where an inventory of circuit boards must be maintained for quick retrieval, primarily in the electronic manufacturing and maintenance industries.

Abstract: The invention is a unitary solid interface adapter for placement at the bottom of a wok. The adapter is made from a thermally conductive material and has an exterior shape substantially in the nature of a frustum of a cone. The upper surface of the adapter is concave in the shape of a sector of a sphere such that a traditional wok will nest therein with approximately equal contact over the entire interface therebetween. The bottom surface of the adapter is substantially flat for maintaining a solid stable perch on either electrical stove elements or gas range lattice support structures. The bottom of the adapter may be provided with anti-slip protrusions which prevent the adapter from sliding on the top of the range element. The side of the adapter is angled outward in a conical fashion such that the heat generated by a smaller area of element at the bottom surface of the adapter may be delivered to a greater area of the wok surface for maximum usable cooking area.

Abstract: An improved method of warm folding polymeric sheet material and apparatus for accomplishing the method. The method involves applying conductive heat to both sides of the material prior to folding and is accomplished in steps including: (a) positioning the sheet material; (b) positioning a mandrel plate so as to define a fold line for the sheet material; (c) positioning an exterior heater against the material along the fold line; (d) positioning an interior heater element against the material opposite the exterior heater; (e) and (f) applying preselected amounts of heat to the fold line area through the heaters; (g) retracting the interior heater; (h) mechanically folding the sheet material along a fold line; and (i) annealing the fold by applying additional heat through the exterior heater. The process may also be augmented by adding additional steps.The primary use of the invention is in folding polyvinyl chloride jackets for use in enclosing floppy disks.

Abstract: The present invention is an impact print bar assembly (10) adapted for installation in a typewriter, character printer or other device adapted for linear application of printed characters to sheet material. The assembly (10) includes an impact print bar (12) which is adapted to be held within a bar holder (14) in any of four different orientations, each of the orientations presenting a different print surface. The impact print bar (12) provides a solid, non-rotating, surface for the sheet material to reast against during printing. The impact print bar (12) includes a central support rod (28) having a resilient, usually plastic, body (36) formed thereabout. The degree of hardness of the body (36) may be varied, depending on the application desired. The support rod (38) has a square cross-section such that it will fit into the hollow frame (52) of the bar holder (15) in any of the four orientations.

Abstract: The invention is an improved performance step motor (10) including a shorted turn mechanism in the nature of a conducting ring (32) or one or more closed loop conductive strands (50) circumferentially disposed about a ring-shaped exposed magnet zone (48) in the rotor assembly (18) of a conventional hybrid synchronous inductor type step motor. The shorted turn device operates to interact with the magnetic fields created in a rotor magnet (40), a first rotor yoke (42) and a second rotor yoke (44) with the induced magnetic field generated in a stator assembly (24) including a plurality of stator pole pieces (62). The insertion of the shorted turn device results in a balancing of the magnetic fields in such a manner that the oscillation time required to bring the motor to stop at a desired position with standard back phase damping techniques or with no additional damping techniques is substantially reduced.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved brushless direct current (DC) motor for use in various applications, including disk drives in data processing applications. The improved motor includes a rotor portion, containing a ring magnet with alternately radially polarized zones, a shaft portion, a stator portion, having a stator stack, and conducting windings and power and control circuitry. The stator stack includes a plurality of poles, each pole having a greater amount of magnetic material at one end than the other end. The structure of the stator stack poles urges the rotor portion to detent positions from which it is magnetically driven to rotation upon application of winding current and further urges rotation upon current application regardless of rotor position. The improved motor provides an economical, reliable starting rotation motor which functions in an unimpeded fashion at normal operating speeds and is adaptable as a rotational motion source for a variety of applications.

Abstract: A tachometer assembly is provided for use with electrical rotary magnetic motors. The assembly includes a conventional brushless DC motor (12) having a radially polarized main field ring magnet (24) forming the rotor (16) about a stator (18). The tachometer portion includes a commutator ring magnet (26) formed on one edge of the main field magnet (24) and an axially displaced circuit board (14) including one or more unbranched conducting traces (40). The commutator ring (26) includes a plurality of alternately axially polarized segments (27) which induce sinusoidal signals in the conductive traces (40) as the rotor (16) is rotated with respect to the circuit board (14). The tachometer assembly is utilized to generate rotational velocity and analog positional data for manipulation and control of the motor (12). The primary uses are in servo control mechanisms in the data processing and computer peripheral industries.

Abstract: A dust and contamination free packaging container is provided. A method of producing contamination free packaging is also included. The package includes mating exterior frame members and spacing blocks for displacing a packaged product from the interior walls of the frame. The interior frame surfaces are coated with a contact adhesive which captures and retains particulate matter with which it comes into contact. Prior to use the contact adhesive surfaces are protected by cover sheets or elements which are readily removed at the time the product is to be inserted into the container. The predominant usage of the containers and method is in the electronic and optical industries and particularly in the packaging of photomask pellicles.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved sealable vial for storage of materials. The vial includes a tubular body portion sealed at one end and provided with an aperture at the opposite end. The tubular body is further provided with a male spiral thread about the aperture end and a tapered section extending inward from the aperture. A sealing insert is attached to the body for positioning in either a closed position wherein it seals the aperture or an open position wherein the aperture is open. A cap fits over the sealing insert in the closed position and seals the vial. The cap includes female threads which mate with the male threads of the tubular body to secure the closure.The vial is particularly adapted for cryogenic storage of organic samples. The vial is also adaptable to other applications wherein complete sealing is required under wide temperature and pressure range conditions.