Abstract: A spiral meat slicing apparatus and method having a lower meat support assembly including a rotatively driven lower shaft and an upstanding lower spike for receiving the major longitudinal end of a cut of boneless meat, the lower spike being carried by the lower shaft. An upper meat support assembly is provided and includes a rotatively driven, vertically adjustable upper shaft and an upper spike for receiving the minor longitudinal end of a cut of boneless meat, the upper spike being carried by the upper shaft. The upper spike is in coaxial alignment with the lower upstanding spike to thereby define an axis of rotation for a cut of boneless meat supported therebetween. A vertically indexable knife is positioned relative to the axis of rotation so as to enable a continuous spiral cut to be made therein.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the automatic generation of code which will enable a user-developed client application to initiate and participate in a transaction across multiple hardware platforms. In a preferred embodiment, one of the platforms is an enterprise OLTP (On-Line Transaction Processing) system, and another one of the platforms executes within the Microsoft ® Transaction Server (MTS).

Abstract: A flat (40) for containing a plurality of nestable pots (20). Flat (40) includes a like plurality of “cells” (42) each sized and configured to frictionally hold one of the pots (20). Each cell (42) includes a frame (44) and a plurality of “struts” (54), each strut including a top portion (58) and a bottom portion (60). The top and bottom strut portions have different angles, so that only the strut bottom portions, which are angled at approximately the same angle as the sides of the pots (20), actually grip the pot(s); whereas the strut top portions (58) angle away from the pots and do not frictionally grip same. Preferably, the strut bottom portions (60) grip the bottom portion of the lower pot (of a stack of nested pots) in register with the “dead space” (32) between the nested pots.

Abstract: A method and device for producing feed stuff or organic fertilizer from edible waste material, such as domestic and commercial food waste products in addition to marine, livestock and agriculture by-products resulting from the commercial production of food items, through a low temperature, natural fermentation and drying process is disclosed. In an embodiment, two mixing/crushing screw feeder units are inclinedly arranged within a chamber with the inclining directions of the two units being opposite to each other. Two mixing screw feeder units individually and downwardly extend from the overlapping inclined end of one of the two mixing/crushing units to the underlapping declined end of the other mixing/crushing unit. In another embodiment, two oppositely rotatable screw feeders, individually consisting of a drive shaft with two helical screws rotating upon the shaft in opposite directions, are horizontally arranged in the chamber.

Abstract: A continuous separation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from glycerol in a low pressure dry transesterification process for vegetable oil is provided. Improved purity of the FAME and the glycerol fractions are achieved via the use of continuous decantation so as to thereby eliminate the need for a water wash step for the FAME fraction. Excess methanol from the FAME and the glycerol fractions is readily recovered in a dry vacuum extraction process. Water which has been inadvertently introduced into the process is removed from the recovered excess methanol by desiccant columns equipped with molecular sieves instead of the traditional energy and capital intensive fractionation processes practiced for this purpose.

Abstract: Apparatus for a swiveling a tray mounted in the back of an aircraft seat. The apparatus has a tube oriented transverse to the seat back around which the tray swivels. A tray is pivotably attached to the tube. A pair of bushes protrude outward from each end os the tube. Each bush ends in a generally mushroom shaped protrusion which is set off by an adjacent undercut defining a stressing and guiding zone. An elastic spring contained within a housing is mounted on the aircraft. The mounted spring has upward directed Y-shaped openings sized to receive and engage the protrusion at the backlash elimination zone and engage the protrusions and the tube. This spring grips and hold the protrusions which secures the tube. This arrangement permits the tube and its attached tray to be quickly and easily attached or removed from the seat. A transmission element in the form of an extending arm is also pivotably attached to the tube.

Abstract: A configuration of surgical drapes for convenient dispensing and handling from a container. The configuration includes a continuous rolled length of surgical drapes having opposing major and minor longitudinal edges. Each drape of the continuous roll is separable from adjacent drapes by longitudinally spaced apart lines of weakness throughout the continuous length of surgical drapes. The continuous rolled length of surgical drapes includes an adhesive strip adjacent the major longitudinal edge of the continuous rolled length of surgical drape. The adhesive strip in turn carries a removable release liner thereover which preferably partially overhangs the adhesive strip. The continuous rolled length of surgical drapes further has an accordion pleat fold to thereby reduce the stored and dispensed width of each drape of said continuous length of surgical drapes.

Abstract: A driving apparatus of a stepping motor has a simplified circuit structure and a bipolar driving system. The stepping motor has two exciting coils, which are driven by respective bridge circuits. Transistors provided respectively on two sides of one of the bridge circuits are commonly used by both of the bridge circuits. Accordingly, the driving circuit is formed with a reduced number of transistors.

Abstract: An assembly for effecting comfortable fitting of a prosthetic appliance over an amputee's limb stump which has an irregular surface. The assembly includes an inner, stump surrounding liner which is at least indirectly connected to an artificial limb, an outer, prosthesis socket receiving liner, and a vacuum pump for evacuating the interstitial spaces between the stump and the assembly and the prosthesis and the assembly. A plurality of pressure-sensitive transducers are further provided and disposed about the stump at locations spaced from each other, in addition to a controller, responsive to pressure reduction sensed by the transducers, to activate the vacuum pump to thereby form fit and adjust the assembly relative to the stump and the prosthesis relative to the assembly as the situation warrants.

Abstract: A heating device for a vehicle's spray nozzle, designed to eject a washing liquid onto an external surface via at least one protruding orifice, with the heating device placed in the surrounding of the spray nozzle. The device has a first variable rating resistor and a second fixed rating resistor which are connected in parallel to a voltage supply. Both resistors are mounted on a support, and arranged such that the second resistor stabilizes the heating temperature of the device.

Abstract: A transfer device for a linear conveyor (1) comprising means for displacing objects (2) along a direction different of the conveying direction (XX′) of the conveyor, whereby a pendulum lever (5) is capable of exerting selectively onto the objects a thrust load (E), whereas the pendulum lever is controlled by a rod (11) brought into rotation by a driving assembly (8), whereby the cinematic link between the rod and the lever is a sliding link, in order to enable pivotless evacuation of the objects (2) outside the conveyor.

Abstract: An adhesive composition having dispersed therein a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent for use in medical applications, such as an adhesive for surgical drapes, wound dressings and tapes. The adhesive is composed of acrylic polymers, tackifiers and a preferred antimicrobial agent, diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone. The adhesive composition is essentially solventless and capable of application in a hot melt process while maintaining stability at elevated temperatures in the range of 275° F. to 350° F., which not only allows hot melt application, but allows for ethylene oxide sterilization under heat stress.

Abstract: A septal defect occluder is provided having first and second occluder panels. Each occluder panel includes a fabric support structure and fabric suspended therefrom. The occluder panels are conjoined at a plurality of discrete points which are located within an area bounded by each perimeter of the fabric support structures, as well as on the fabric, to thereby form a defect conforming region for the occluder.

Abstract: An interconnection device for interconnecting a number of first terminals to a number of second terminals. The interconnection device includes a conductive housing and a number of contacts that are insulated from the conductive housing. This configuration may provide shielding to the number of contacts from outside sources of electro-magnetic interference. Further, a number of conductive ribs may be provided between adjacent contacts, thereby shielding the contacts from cross-talk interference between adjacent contacts. Finally, the impedance of each contact in the interconnection device may be controlled to provide a stable bandpass, and may be programmable to match, or correct for, the input impedance of a corresponding device.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor with a diaphragm sensor chip has lead frames. One of the lead frames has a die pad. The sensor chip is flexibly adhered to the die pad by adhesive. The sensor chip has a diaphragm. The sensor chip outputs signals in accordance with flexure of the diaphragm. The lead frames are molded by a mold member. The mold member define a space about the sensor chip. The coefficient of linear expansion of the mold member is between 1.4×10−5/° C. and 1.8×10−5/° C., and the modulus of elasticity of the mold member is between 100×103 kg/cm2 and 130×103 kg/cm2. Use of the mold member minimizes the ratio of change of sensitivity due to temperature changes, which improves the temperature characteristics of the sensor.

Abstract: Data transfer scheme wherein data transfer rates can be effectively doubled with no increase in the clock speed of the interface. This is accomplished by allowing more than one data transfer to occur on a single clock cycle. This transfer scheme increases the transfer rate of the interface by multiplexing two data groups on the same interface. These data groups are transmitted from a source phase latch at approximately the same time as two strobe signals which have low skew with respect to the data. The master and slave strobe signals are logically combined to create an even latch enable signal and an odd latch enable signal that are used to latch and de-multiplex the multiplexed data groups at a receiving end of a pair of flow-though source synchronous latches.

Abstract: A method of forming a plastic component. The method includes a first step of forming a profile by pulling fibrous material, having been wetted out by a resin, through a first die and curing the composite formed so that it maintains its ultimate shape. The surfaces to be coated are treated to create free radicals (bonding sites) which are then available for bonding of an acrylic compound coating. Thereafter, the acrylic compound is applied to the profile to form a coating directly thereon. Application is effected by passing the cured and treated profile through a crosshead extrusion die. The acrylic compound coating is bonded directly to the profile. The invention also includes a fiber reinforced plastic component manufactured in accordance with the method.

Abstract: A collapsible chair with a table is disclosed. In the collapsible chair, two collapsible chair units are arranged abreast on the chair with a gap being defined between them. A rear vertical guide column extends in parallel to the inside back support column of each collapsible chair unit. The two collapsible chair units are coupled to each other into the collapsible single body by two auxiliary connectors, which are individually mounted to the top portion of both the inside back support column and an associated vertical guide column of each collapsible chair unit. A movable guide member is received in each guide column in a way such that the guide member is movable in a vertical direction under the guide of the guide column. The table is movably coupled to the outside end of the guide members of the two collapsible chair units, thus being rotatable around the two guide members forwardly or backwardly.

Abstract: An insert for use within integrated circuit (IC) chip carriers to provide universality across device types and applications at a low design and fabrication cost. The present invention functions as a generic carrier floor and/or adaptor insert which enables reception of both quad-flat-pack (QFP) and thin-quad-flat-pack (TQFP) ICs within frames of a variety of existing carriers, or alternatively, may allow both QFP and TQFP ICs to utilize a single IC carrier frame, a feature which currently prevailing embodiments would require two unique IC carriers.