Abstract: A toilet roll dispenser comprising a casing having a loading compartment which has a lid openable to enable a toilet roll to be loaded therein and a dispensing compartment to enable paper to be dispensed from a toilet roll. A locking means is provided to prevent the lid being opened when there is a toilet roll present in the loading compartment. Means is also provided to inhibit a toilet roll being removed from the dispensing compartment until substantially all of the paper has been dispensed from the roll.

Abstract: A food processing apparatus is disclosed which includes a food conditioning enclosure having opposed end and side portions, with conveyor inlet and outlet openings formed therein. An endless conveyor is provided which includes a first section located outside of the enclosure with portions thereof passing through the inlet and outlet openings. The conveyor includes a second main portion located within the enclosure which follows a generally spiral path of travel including a first sequential set of spiral flights having a generally continuously increasing elevation rising in the enclosure to a predetermined elevation, a second set of spiral flights having a generally continuously decreasing elevation in the enclosure, with the flights of said second set being located between the flights of the first set.

Abstract: A program shutter drive system has an ultrasonic motor for controlling an opening size of a shutter according to a programmed schedule of operation according to a brightness of a subject to be photographed. The ultrasonic motor drives the shutter to open and close according to a proper exposure determined for a subject based on a brightness of the subject by an exposure determining device. A control signal generator provides a position indicating signal and a speed indicating signal which are determined to perform a programmed schedule of operation of the shutter according to the proper exposure output. A detector is provided to output an actual position signal representing an actual opening of the shutter and an actual speed signal representing an actual speed at which the shutter opens to the actual opening size. The position and speed indicating signals are compared with the actual position and speed signals, respectively, so as to control rotation of the ultrasonic motor.

Abstract: A retractable arm assembly (10) suitable for use on a refuse vehicle for loading refuse comprises a first arm (11) and second arm (12) pivotally connected to each other and the vehicle so as to extend and retract substantially tranversely of the vehicle to engage a bin (56) and in a reciprocating motion empty the bin into a hopper on the vehicle. A guide in the form of a guide rail (27) located in a guideway (35), stabilizes the arm assembly (10). The arm assembly (10) is under hydraulic control and can be operated by a single operator from within the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: A sight flow indication apparatus with multi-sealing protective arrangements includes: an upper and a lower flange coupling member, each member having a stuffing box formed therein; a first and a second gland member each having a gland pipe portion formed in conjunction with the stuffing boxes; a transparent sight flow tube, the periphery of which has a layer of a thin film of a transparent protective material disposed thereon, tightly secured in the stuffing boxes between the upper and lower flange coupling members through the first and second gland members and a plurality of gasket members; and a plurality of gland packing members respectively disposed in the stuffing boxes in connection with the first and second gland members and the transparent sight flow tube; whereby, when the first and second gland members and the transparent sight flow tube are tightly fastened between the upper and lower flange coupling members, effective means of sealing protection are achieved accordingly.

Abstract: A magnifier lens assembly mounted within a lamp head including a barrel housing and a first, second and third lens, each of the lenses having a convex surface, an opposing substantially planar surface and a center axis of symmetry of the convex surface; the first, second and third lenses being mounted successively and coaxially within the barrel housing with the convex surface of the first lens facing the convex surface of the second lens, and the substantially planar surface of the second lens facing the convex surface of the third lens wherein the barrel housing includes means for securing the lenses in relatively fixed relation to each other and means for securing said magnifier lens assembly within said lamp head.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic recording tape or disk is demagnetized by applying a saturating magnetic field to the magnetic recording medium, then applying an unsaturating magnetic field to the magnetic recording medium in a direction opposite to the direction of the saturating magnetic field, and finally applying an alternating magnetic field to the magnetic recording medium to remove residual magnetism which has been produced on the magnetic recording medium by the unsaturating magnetic field. The saturating, unsaturating, and alternating magnetic fields are generated respectively by a first DC erasing head, a second DC erasing head, and an AC erasing head, which are arranged at spaced intervals in the order named in the direction in which the magnetic recording medium is continuously moved.

Abstract: An automatic service water tap is disclosed in which a battery operated motor is provided for controlling a water supply valve in response to the presence or absence of an object positioned within the range of an infrared generating and detecting system mounted in the tap. The valve operates using only a small amount of electric power under the control of a circuit which draws no electric power once the valve is moved to its opened or closed condition. Thus the consumption of the electric power is minimized to almost zero and the valve can be utilized for a long period of time only with a small single battery.

Abstract: An automatic door bottom is disclosed in which a channel member has a drop bar assembly mounted therein with an adjustable length push rod connected to the drop bar for cooperation with a spring means to selectively lower and raise the drop bar in response to opening and closing the door. A pair of magnets are placed within the channel on the drop bar and in the channel for effecting movement of the drop bar to insure that the bar drops in a sizzle-like manner, with the end closest to the door hinge dropping down and lifting up, before the end away from the door hinge.

Abstract: A stethoscopic apparatus with a plurality of improved chestpieces is disclosed. Each chestpiece in the stethoscopic apparatus of the invention includes a base member and a resonance membrane connected to the base member. The resonance membrane has a plateau-shaped protrusion formed thereon which forms a sealed resonance chamber between the base member and the resonance membrane. The resonance membrane is preferably made of plastic polymers and the periphery of the resonance membrane is thermal set to form a relatively stiff rim for engaging with the base member of the chest member. Since the resonance membrane provides a compulsory resonance chamber during the operation of the stethoscopic apparatus, the resolution ability of the chestpiece is greatly improved.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has first and second elastically vibrating rotatable means and third rotatable means interposed between the first and second rotatable means. The first and second rotatable means, which are made elastic disk members, generate mechanical vibrations by means of an electrostrictive effect of piezoelectric elements cooperating therewith. Locking means is provided in association with the first to third rotatable means so as to selectively engage with the first to third rotatable means, whereby allowing the rotation of at least one of the first to third rotatable means.

Abstract: A balustrade includes a top and bottom rail, and a plurality of plug members respectively fixed in aligned grooves of the top and bottom rails. Each of the plug members includes a U-shaped portion and two flap portions extending respectively from the U-shaped portion. Each of the U-shaped portions of the plug members has a guiding slot with two enlarged ends formed therein. A plurality of balusters of equal length are parallelly mounted between the top and bottom rails. Each of the balusters has two end portions respectively and rotatably received in one of the plug members on the top rail and one of the plug members on the bottom rail. Each of the end portions of the balusters has a retaining member fixed thereto which is slidably retained in the guiding slots to prevent the end portions of the balusters from separating from the plug members of the rails.

Abstract: A variable power reflectory type overhead projector for forming a projected luminous beam by lighting a reflecting mirror from the projecting lens side. A transparent film-to-be-projected support is provided between a regular position of the film to be projected and the projecting lens, and an auxiliary lens is included for focusing the projecting lens on the support.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of transferring water from gases generated by combustion to air of combustion when burning hydrogen-containing or moist fuels, in which the combustion gases are cooled to temperatures beneath or in the proximity of their dew point temperature. Subsequent to this initial cooling, the gases are further cooled by means of a regenerative exchange of heat with the incoming air of combustion, such that water vapor is condensed on the combustion gas side and revaporized on the air of combustion side, both heat and water vapor being transferred from the combustion gases to the air of combustion. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method is effected in a combustion engine, such as a diesel engine or Otto-cycle engine.