Abstract: Convenient access for quick and thorough clean-out and maintenance of an openable mixing chamber and both rotors in two-rotor continuous mixers for plastic materials is advantageously achieved by making each rotor in three separate pieces: a drive journal, a rotor body (also called a "rotor section" or a "rotor") and a driven journal. These three separate pieces of each rotor are axially aligned, with the rotor body being positioned between the drive journal and the driven journal. Each rotor body is disengageably coupled to its respective drive and driven journals. The drive and driven journals are rotatably mounted in bearing assemblies which are separate from the mixing chamber barrel (also called a "mixing chamber housing").

Abstract: Character recognition processing wherein each of a batch of documents is scanned to produce corresponding scan data signals forming a rectilinear data array of binary bits at the intersections of a rectangular coordinate grid. These signals are stored and processed by a recognition algorithm to produce identity signals for recognized characters. Groups of non-recognized characters are presented simultaneously to permit rapid identification by inspection. The identification of recognized characters is verified at high speed by simultaneously presenting the character images as respective groups sorted to have the same recognized identities.

Abstract: There is provided a method for preparing biodegradable films from plant-based raw materials in the form of carbohydrates which method is continuous and carried out in one step. In the process the plant-based raw materials are modified and plastified and the films are prepared without interruption and in one step. The advantages of the invention reside in reduced shear stress of the starch molecules and thus in the improved properties of the films as well as in the cost-efficient, time-, energy- and space-saving manufacture.

Abstract: A random access memory (RAM) having an array of memory cells the signal lines to which are activatable by corresponding current sources. The memory is divided into "pages", and control pulses are produced to turn on the current sources involved in activating the signal lines to any page of memory cells being accessed and to turn off the remainder. The control pulses are directed through a pipelined pair of registers, and a look-ahead logic circuit examines the two pipelined control pulses identified as the "present" and "next" pulses. This logic circuitry serves to turn on the current sources for the page of memory to be accessed during the next clock time, and to maintain in an on state the current sources for the page of memory presently being accessed.

Abstract: Device for thermally treating loose materials, such as earth, sand, sewage sludge, gravel etc, and, in particular, for sterilizing garden soil and sand used for playing with. The device has a reception device with a surface arrangement having at least one surface section inclined with respect to the horizontal. On this surface section, the loose materials are continuouly supplied by a supply arrangement. A burner arrangement is provided above this surface section which directly fires materials to be treated.

Abstract: Thermoplastic resin powders of cellulose acetate esters in which essentially 80% or more of the particles pass through a 100 mesh screen (U.S. Sieve Series) and essentially 50% pass through a 200 mesh screen (U.S. Sieve Series) are desirable and useful as a filler material for investment casting waxes. The cellulosic thermoplastics resin powders are environmentally safe when used as filler material for investment casting wax compositions since the powders produce essentially no carcinogenic materials on combustion. The powders are as effective as acid fillers and set relatively fast thus improving cycle time in the die but do not produce an adverse effect of shell cracking nor react with the slurry.

Abstract: A method for cryogenically treating skin lesions employing a device for applying cryogenic refrigerant in a liquid pool contacting the area of the skin lesion at a temperature and for a time such that permanent, irreversible rupture of the cellular membrane of the skin cells occurs, wherein the device employs a synthetic plastic foam applicator at the distal end of a tube which may be connected to an aerosol or pressurized container containing the cryogenic refrigerant.

Abstract: A roller bearing knee replacement joint is provided in which a femoral component attached to the surgically prepared distal femur is positioned for articulation on a tibial component, which simulates the articulating surface of the natural tibia. The articulating surface has replaceable roller bearing units which provide the contact with the femoral component. A bearing mounting member has spaced bearing unit receptacles which are adapted to receive the bearing units laterally and permit the lateral removable therefrom. The roller bearing units reduce friction between the components and may be replaced with less extensive surgical procedures than in other replacement procedures. A patella component has a patella button which rides in a central concave groove in the femoral component and is mounted on radial roller bearings to provide rotational movement for the patella button to emulate the motion of a natural patella.

Abstract: Proposed is a double-walled formwork element comprising two large-area panels suitable for use as mould shuttering, particularly in the concrete construction industry. The two panels are joined to each other by force-locking, liquid-tight and gas-tight engagement, and form between them a cavity. The invention secures the two layers of shuttering against slippage and ensures the discharge of any leak liquid produced. The invention also enables shuttering systems to be assembled cheaply and simply for constructions of various shapes.

Abstract: A multistage pipelined algorithmic A/D converter digitally calibrated to avoid errors due to charge injection, offset and capacitor mismatch. To perform this calibration, measurements are made at the converter to determine the degree of capacitor mismatch for each stage to be calibrated. In the embodiment disclosed, only one stage is calibrated. The remaining stages of the converter are employed to develop the digital calibration data for the stage being measured. This calibration data is stored in a memory forming part of the converter. The stored data is thereafter used during each conversion to cancel the errors due to capacitor mismatch.

Abstract: A process and device are disclosed for positioning the wire while the drum packs of a drum pack winding device are exchanged. Storage fingers are provided for retaining the wire windings around a winding core while the drum packs are exchanged. In order to avoid the falling of the collected windings into the empty drum pack from being obstructed due to the connection between said windings and the filled drum pack, a wire positioning device brings the hanging wire into a position located below the storage fingers, which position is well-suited for the changing of the drum packs. The wire is held in this position until the new drum pack is in the winding position. The wire positioning device is then brought back to its initial position and the wire can fall into the empty drum pack without any obstructions.

Abstract: An adjustment crank is mountable to the underside of a table top by a bracket in which it is both rotatable and translatable. The crank includes a tube which carries internal splines. An adjustment shaft extends into the tube and carries mating splines. The crank is translatable between an adjustment position wherein the two sets of splines engage and a stowage position wherein the splines are disengaged.

Abstract: Continuous 3-D forming machine using upper and lower revolving endless, flexible, forming belts produces three-dimensional patterned products from heated thermoplastic material. The mold belts revolve synchronously in elongated oval paths around their respective carriages moving in opposed face-to-face relationship defining one or more travelling mold channels progressing from an entrance to an exit. Formable heated thermoplastic material feeds into the entrance, and attractive 3-D products proceed from the exit. Revolving mold surfaces are operated at least 25.degree. F. above room temperature, for example in a range of 110.degree. F. to 140.degree. F., for providing aesthetic surface qualities on products having content which may be foamed to densities in the range of about 0.9 to about 0.4. Thermoplastics in such travelling mold channels are appropriately chilled when differentials .DELTA.

Abstract: Process for cleaning wafer substrates of metal contamination while maintaining wafer smoothness by contacting the wafer substrates with a cleaning composition comprising an aqueous, metal ion-free base and an amphoteric surfactant and optionally a metal complexing agent and a propylene glycol ether organic solvent.

Abstract: A mechanism for folding the T-leg of a table is contained within a tubular housing carried by the end of the pedestal portion of the leg. Spring-loaded cams at each end of the housing slide in slotted frames mounted to the underside of the table. A locking shoulder at one end of each slot retains its cam in a locking position and a lever associated with each cam unlocks it and allows the leg to fold.

Abstract: A table top is provided with a vertically adjustable keyboard support platform which is suspended on a parallel linkage assembly. The parallel linkage rotates about a pair of rotatable pivot rods carried by the underneath side of the platform. A gas spring is connected to the linkage to block its rotation when the platform is in a desired lowered position and to aid in returning the platform to a position flush with the table top.

Abstract: Multi-screw, extrusion-compounding machines having co-rotating screw assemblies incorporating sets of modular mixing elements of non-symmetrical geometries with relatively large wing tip clearances. These sets of non-symmetrical modular mixing elements are removably mountable at any suitable axial locations along their respective rotationally-driven screw shafts for optimizing performance in relationship to particular plastic material and particular additives being compounded. The non-symmetrical geometries provide dynamic wedging pressurization for repeatedly propelling relatively large circumferential flows of the plastic material through large shear clearances. Due to the relatively large shear clearances, the plastic material is mixed at less elevated and more uniform temperatures than usually occurs with use of prior symmetrical kneading blocks or kneading discs. At less elevated temperatures most plastic materials exhibit increased viscosities.

Abstract: The impact tool is provided with a piston (15) oscillating within a cylinder (10). For selecting, with which piston impact surface the piston (15) impacts on the head (7) of a tool holder (2) and accordingly for the selection whether the impact tool generates forward or rearward strikes, respectively, the cylinder (10) is displaced pneumatically between two positions. The displacement occurs depending on the position of a switch (21). This changing of the impact direction is simple and makes it possible to fix the tool holder in the housing (1) making the impact tool sturdy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport device and process for loading and removing the part to be soldered in a vapor-phase soldering equipment, in which a support for the part to be soldered is taken in its original direction into and out of a medium container for vapor-phase soldering and a plurality of sealing doors prevent soldering vapor from escaping. The advantages of the invention lie in the simple and economical manufacture of the transport device and low soldering medium consumption.

Abstract: A two-handle collar for a baby bottle for helping a baby hold and support the bottle while drinking through a nipple, wherein the bottle has a neck with a mouth at one end and a bottom at the other end. An attachment on the neck is used for mounting a nipple on the mouth. The two-handle collar includes a ring removably mountable on the neck with two handles extending from the ring in first and second directions generally radially outwardly relative to a central longitudinal axis of the bottle. These handles are angularly spaced around the axis by an angular spacing B for convenient grasping by the baby's hands positioned comfortably near opposite sides of the baby's face. Oval-shaped handles provide grasping regions spaced outwardly away from the neck of the bottle for baby's hands to hold onto these grasping regions each of which is oriented at acute angle A relative to the bottle axis. In FIG.