Abstract: Hardeners are provided for curing epoxies at lower temperatures than currently available hardeners while retaining superior mechanical and thermal properties. A first component is selected from imidazole, dicyandiamide, or a mixture of polyamines and tertiary amines. A poiyol mixture is then selected. The first component is combined with the polyol mixture to form a hardener. The hardener is combined with epoxy resin and is cured. A method for selecting a hardener to yield an epoxy-hardener system with good properties after curing at a specified temperature and time includes selecting components for the hardener so the glass transition temperature of the cured epoxy-hardener system is not significantly lower than 45° C. above the cure temperature. The method includes steps for adjusting and controlling the ultimate glass transition temperature to maximize the mechanical properties of the epoxy-hardener system. The method regularly produces hardened epoxy systems having about 90% or more epoxy groups reactect.

Abstract: Injection molding apparatus with a stationary mold clamping plate and a moveable mold clamping plate as well as shafts fixed to one mold clamping plate and passing through openings in the other mold clamping plate, at least one of which has at least one thread on its free end, whereby at least on this free end of the one shaft a drive nut as well as an additional nut for the transmission of the closing force are arranged.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for preventing backlash of a spool used in a baitcasting reel, in which the number of brake shoes can be optionally adjusted. The position of the shoe is selected between protruded guides of a shoe holder so as to apply braking force, so that the backlash of the spool is precisely controlled, without decreasing the carry distance of casting.

Abstract: A device (1) is disclosed for providing a hybridization chamber (2), for hybridizing nucleic acid samples, proteins, or tissue sections on a slide (3), which is implemented so that it is movable in relation to this slide (3) and includes an annular sealing surface (4) for sealing the hybridization chamber (2) by being applied to a surface (5) of this slide (3), lines (6) for supplying and/or removing media to and/or from the hybridization chamber (2), and a specimen supply line (7). The devices according to the invention include a media-separating agitation device (8) for moving liquids in relation to samples immobilized on the surface (5) of the slide (3). Furthermore, process units (18) for hybridizing nucleic acid samples, proteins, or tissue sections and corresponding automatable systems including such process units (18) are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a direct flow tap for dispensing drinks, of the type with ball valve and actuated by a handle linked to said ball and provided with means suitable for limiting the rotation of said handle between two end positions, respectively corresponding to the closing and opening of said tap, characterized in that said means suitable for limiting the rotation of said handle is housed into the tap body. Said means suitable for limiting the rotation of said handle comprises a pin (14) provided with a prismatic portion (17) which alternately abuts for opening and closing, against a pair of jig locators (19) and (20) obtained on a fixed portion of the tap body.

Abstract: Method and apparatus with data collection and preprocessing subsystems interconnected by a network, carry out open and secret votes, referenda and public opinion polls. A payment system with communication environment is used with the subsystems and network. A poll data processing center for final processing of the data is connected to the subsystems by the communication environment. Software of the payment system includes functions for carrying out votes, referenda and public opinion polls, for preprocessing the data, for encrypting and decrypting the data, and for placing the data into information blocks to carry out the votes, referenda and polls. To exchange electronic messages containing these information blocks between the subsystems and the processing center, the software of the center includes functions for exchanging the messages, for decrypting the blocks and for accumulating and analyzing the data in the blocks.

Abstract: A flame-retardant wick holder for a candle is made of a material having a UL-94 vertical burn test rating of at least V-0, including polymers and ceramics. The wick holder supports a wick at the bottom of a candle. The wick holder material causes the flame on the wick to extinguish when it reaches the holder, thereby preventing flashover of the residual candle fuel at the end of the candle useful life. One version of the holder has a cylindrical sleeve fit over a wick clip holding the lower end of the wick. The cylindrical holder is well adapted for use in pillar-type candles.

Abstract: Process for the control of an injection-moulding machine and optionally at least one handling apparatus allocated to same in which, in a form guiding the operator, the operating parameters required for an injection cycle to run are entered via an input unit into a data processing unit storing these operating parameters and then one or more injection cycles are carried out according to the stored operating parameters, safety conditions for the protection of machine parts by means of which certain movement sequences of the injection-molding machine or the handling device are forbidden or allowed, being specified prior to the start of injection, there being provided on a screen an input mask on which one of several, preferably graphically displayed, basic movement modules is selected in each case and on which then, for every selected basic movement module, a safety condition in the form of logical, preferably Boolean operations is adjusted or adopted from the state of one or more different basic movement modules

Abstract: A scanner has plasma loop or plasma window antennas for selectively scanning for ID tags along distinct radials of the scanner. Scanner elements are made electromagnetically invisible to adjacent elements by removing power or lowering plasma densities so that the scanner elements do not interfere with its own operation. Activatable ID tags and a shipping container suitable for scanning with electromagnetic energy are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tamper-evident device for a closure assembly adapted to be applied to a mouth of a container, for example, a neck of a bottle. There has been identified a need for an improved tamper-evident device which does not have any parts which are removed upon initial opening and which are liable to be reattached by counterfeits or the like. Accordingly the present invention provides a tamper-evident device comprising a sleeve member which comprises a first portion associated with a second portion by a frangible portion therebetween, and wherein said first portion is adapted to be applied to a mouth and neck portion of a container, and said second portion is associated with a container closure member, and wherein an initial container opening operation causes said frangible portion to fracture or break such that when the container is reclosed said first and second portions are located in a spaced apart relationship to one another.

Abstract: A mobile has mobile elements made from a solar cell, a hollow beam and a motivator. The solar cell is mounted to a substrate and connected via wires through the hollow beam to the motivator. The hollow beam supports the substrate at one end and the motivator at the other. The motivator may be a small electric fan or valved gas jet. The substrate is a flat plastic panel, such as a CD-ROM disc, a lightweight plastic sheet, and printed circuit board. The mobile elements may be connected as in a traditional Calder mobile, or in an aligned vertical stack. As the solar panels receive sufficient light, power for the motivator is generated, causing the mobile elements to move.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve (21) for a fluid or gaseous medium, with a displaceable valve body (8), by means of which the clear flow cross-section is adjustable. The valve (21), viewed in the direction of flow, comprises a pressure sensor (1) up- or down-stream of the valve body (8), to record the pressure of the medium and the valve body (8) is controlled depending on a signal from the pressure sensor (1) and/or an external controller (2).

Abstract: A known one-cylinder small-diameter circular knitting machine for production of sock goods is modified for closing the toe directly in the machine, where the initial rows of the knitwear beginning by reciprocal knitting of toe pouch are knitted on one half of needles 1, into which needles 1 elastic thread S drawn from a bobbin C is inserted by a thread guide 2. The machine is further provided with a plate brake 3, which plate brake 3 is placed in the path of the elastic thread E in front of the thread guide 2. In front of the plate brake 3 a controlled blocking brake 4 is then positioned in the path of the elastic thread E. In front of the blocking brake 4 a positive feeder 5 is positioned.

Abstract: A hinge device comprises: an attachment member attached on an apparatus body side; a supporting member pivotally supported by the attachment member through hinge pins; a document press-contacting plate attached to the supporting member; compression springs elastically provided between the supporting member side and the attachment member in such a manner that the supporting member is enforced to pivot in a direction that the document press-contacting plate is opened; a damper set inside the compression springs and provided between the attachment member side and the free end side of the supporting member so that an abrupt pivoting at and from a predetermined angle measured from the supporting member is buffered.

Abstract: A method and architecture for efficiently solving complex distributed problems uses coevolutionary agents incorporating evolutionary algorithms located at different nodes in a distributed network. The coevolutionary agents conduct localized database searches and evolve at their respective nodes while sharing information with other coevolutionary agents working the same problem. Results or solutions to the problem posed are available at each network node containing a coevolutionary agent working the problem.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arc source or a source for vaporizing or sputtering of materials and a method for operating a source. The source comprises an insulated counter-electrode and/or an AC magnet system. Thereby, dependent on the requirement, any desired potential can be applied to the counter-electrode and/or the source can be operated with different magnet systems, in particular as arc or sputter source.

Abstract: An reconfigurable array of variable conductive elements is provided for reflecting, filtering and steering electromagnetic radiation across a wide range of frequencies. The reconfigurable array is combined with a transmitting antenna to make a steerable antenna. The reconfigurable array surrounds the transmitting antenna and reflects all transmissions except on selected radials where apertures in the reconfigurable array are formed for permitting transmission lobes. The reconfigurable arrays can be arranged in stacked layers to make transceiving multiband antennas. Communications networks using the steerable antennas nas and arrays are also disclosed.

Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine produces less noise and has a longer life and includes a transmission element for actuating an electric motor. The transmission element has two independently coaxially seated components—a stop pin and an engaging bar. The engaging bar is positioned between a pinion of the motor and the stop pin. The stop pin is seated in an internal shoulder in a cavity of the armature shaft of the electric motor and through the shoulder of a fixed core. A narrow portion of the stop pin is seated in an engaging spring positioned in the cavity of a mobile core of a disengaging electromagnet. The stop pin bears with a second front surface against a washer secured in the mobile core, where the length of the mobile core cavity is greater than the length of the narrow part of the stop pin by a predetermined distance c.