Abstract: A formaldehyde-free curable composition useful for binding nonwovens comprises(a) a polyacid comprising at least two carboxylic acid groups, anhydride groups, or salts of the polyacid thereof;(b) an active hydrogen compound containing at least two active hydrogen groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, primary amino, secondary amino, and mixtures thereof; and(c) one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of cyanamide, dicyandiamide, 1,2-mono- or di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl) substituted-3-cyanoguanidines such as ethyl-3-cyanoguanidine, 1,2-diethyl-3-cyanoguanidine, and 1,2-diisopropyl-3-cyanoguanidine, and 1,2-mono- or di-(C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl) substituted-3-cyanoguanidines, such as phenyl-dicyandiamide; and, optionally(d) an accelerator;wherein the ratio of the number of equivalents of said carboxylic acid groups, anhydride groups, or salts thereof to the number of equivalents of said active hydrogen groups is from 1/0.

Abstract: Gift free coating with improved tannin stain blocking, nicotine stain blocking, efflorescencee resistance, and water spot resistance are disclosed. Pre-treated ion exchange resins are incorporated into the coating compositions to achieve the improvements.

Abstract: An array antenna is steered by moving a set of optical fibers of different optical length between a number of light signal sources and an array of antennas. By changing the lengths of the optical paths of the different light signals sources, the wave front can be steered. The light signal traverses three sections of optical delay lines with at least one selectable optical length. In the first section, light signal from a point source travels through a first optical delay line and a lens to diverge and collimate the light beam with increased cross section. The collimated light beam is focused by second lens and incident one second optical line of selectable optical length. The light beam exiting from the other end of the second optical line is collimated again by a third lens to face a third optical line. The collimated light exiting from the second optical line is focused again by a fourth lens to feed the third optical line, which is connected at the other end to one element of the antenna array.

Abstract: A manifolded multiple wand spray apparatus with internal cleaning brushes and a flush valve that is activated when the rods carrying the cleaning brushes are rotated is disclosed. Valves that redirect the flow of water away from the manifold for a brief period during which spray orifice cleaning can be accomplished and an air intake valve that will admit air into the manifold to speed the flushing and create a negative pressure in the spray wands so as to draw obstructing materials into the spray wand during flushing is also disclosed.

Abstract: The number of external column driver chip can be reduced to one in an active matrix liquid crystal display with column input multiplexing driving scheme. At least two sample and hold circuits are used for each column with alternate sampling and holding periods. Video signals are sampled and held at least twice during one line scanning time. These sample and hold circuits are all integrated in the driver chip.

Abstract: The collecting tray of a ink-jet printer is equipped with a guard to prevent the paper immediately after exiting from the printer to fall to the bottom of the tray. The guard is much narrower than the width of the tray so that the guard tilts the paper. A succeeding sheet of paper pushes the tilted paper until the tilted paper is pushed beyond the end of the guard and falls to the bottom of the tray after a time delay for the ink to dry.

Abstract: A stand-alone, real-time voice recognition system, which converts an analog voice signal into serial digital signal, then preprocesses in parallel the digital signal to detect the end-point, and output fixed multi-order prediction coefficients. In this recognition system, these multi-order prediction coefficients are stored as the reference pattern in the training mode. In recognition mode, these multi-order prediction coefficients are adapted by dynamic time warping method, which is modified by a symmetric form. This symmetric form is implemented with a one-dimensional circular buffer for dynamic programming matching instead of the traditional two-dimensional buffer to save memory space. Finally, these adapted coefficients are compared with reference pattern to output the result of recognition.

Abstract: A swivel mount for mounting strap swivels to flexible structures is provided. The mount is formed of molded plastic material that is flexible in thin sections and rigid in heavy sections. A swivel mounting post having a heavy section is formed to project from a base that has a thin section, thereby providing a flexible mounting for securing the rigid post to a flexible structure. The preferred method of securing the swivel mount to the flexible structure is with an adhesive foam tape.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for use in enticing baby pigs (42) to rest and sleep at a safe distance from a sow (38) includes an elongated partition (12) with first and second elongated cuddle surfaces (16) that are disposed on opposite sides of the partition (12), first and second pig blankets (18) with first and second comfort surfaces (44). A base mat (20) that extends under the partition (12) and both pig mats (18), cooperates with cuddle walls (14) of the partition (12) to enclose a space (26) that extends below both pig mats (18) and their comfort surfaces (44), and between the cuddle walls (14) and their cuddle surfaces (16). One or more radiant panel heaters (46 or 52) having constant watt density per square meter are disposed in the enclosed space (26), being kept in a generally planar shape, or being curved to generally conform to the combined shape of the comfort (44) and cuddle (16) surfaces.

Abstract: The surface of an integrated circuit, which uses reactive ion etching to pattern metal interconnection, is protected with two insulating layers on the surface. The first layer is a conventional silicon dioxide. The second layer is a photosensitive polymer which is the same as the material used for subsequent metalization of interconnection using the reactive ion etching technique. When the second layer is used, the reactive ion etching cannot attack the silicon dioxide.

Abstract: In a "flat cell" read-only memory with a matrix of memory cells, each memory cell is a MOSFET of either a low threshold voltage, which can be turned on when accessed, or a high threshold voltage which cannot be turned on when accessed. Each memory cell is connected between two adjacent columns of local bit lines. These local bit lines are alternately connected to a upper bank selection switch which is connected to a main bit line, and a lower bank selection switch, which is connected to a main virtual ground line. Since these local bit lines are fabricated with diffusion layers which are resistive, the path length, hence the resistance, to access any memory cell in the matrix from the main bit line to the main virtual ground is made the same by this alternate, interdigital local bit line layout. Thus, the access time is made uniform.The layouts of two adjacent banks are mirrored, so that the bank selection switches of two adjacent banks can share a common selection line.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of 5-methylchroman-6-carboxylic acid, a useful intermediate in the preparation of chroman-containing diacylhydrazines which are useful as insecticides, by reacting a Hagemann's ester with a propargyl derivative in the presence of a base and a solvent to produce a propargyl ether, rearranging the propargyl ether by application of heat with a suitable catalyst being present, with or without a solvent, to produce a cyclic ether type compound and isomerizing the cyclic ether type compound with a catalyst in a suitable solvent to produce a chroman ester. The propargyl ethers and the cyclic ether type compounds produced by the process of the present invention are new.

Abstract: An air-curing composition is disclosed which contains an acetoacetate functional polymer and an end-blocked polyformaldehyde chain. The composition is stable to reaction until the formaldehyde is released from the polyformaldehyde chain.

Abstract: This invention provides a flat-edge scanner capable of scanning a thick book without any distortion at the protruding binding edge. The binding edge of the book is placed at the corner of a scanning glass window and the frame supporting the glass window so that the book can lie snugly over the window. The scanning window area is extended to the edge of the frame supporting the scanning window. All the optical system and the driving mechanism lie inside the boundary of the scanning window to increase the scanning range.

Abstract: A detachable bag-carrying handgrip device for hand carrying a shopping bag by its handles which due to the wide distribution of the carried weight over the fingers of the carrying hand is more comfortable to use than previous such devices. The hand grip comprises a flexible outer casing with two flexible edges for insertion of the carrying straps of the grocery bag to be carried. Upon insertion of the carrying straps, the carrying straps settle into a rigid channel which is open at the top and which provides the rigidity for a handgrip which is to be used to carry heavy shopping bags or packages for long distances. Due to this construction of the hand-grip, it remains with the straps of the carried bag even when the bag is set down.

Abstract: A polymer blend useful as a binder in an aqueous coating composition containing no coalescent is provided. The polymer blend comprises from about 20 to about 60 weight percent of a hard emulsion polymer, having a glass transition temperature greater than about room temperature, and from about 80 to about 40 weight percent of a soft emulsion polymer, having a glass transition temperature less than about 15 degrees Centigrade.

Abstract: This invention provides a flat-bed scanner capable of scanning a thick book without any distortion at the protruding binding edge. The scanning window forms an obtuse angle with the frame of the scanner supporting the scanning window. The obtuse angle allows the binding edge of the book to rest snugly over the window. The slanted structure of the frame also makes room for the image reading head to scan to the very edge of the page of the document.

Abstract: A self-cleaning knob water faucet that includes a hollow water faucet housing, a water valve assembly, a knob, and water showering apparatus. The hollow water faucet body has an interior space and a spout from which water can exit. The water valve assembly is disposed in the hollow water faucet housing and has a distal end that extends outwardly therefrom. The water valve further has a closed position in which water does not exit the spout of the hollow water faucet body and an open position in which water exits the spout of the hollow water faucet body. The knob is disposed on the distal end of the water valve and is rotatable by a hand of user for moving the water valve assembly through the closed position of the water valve assembly and the open position of the water valve assembly.

Abstract: A safety device and a supply power controller of a machine tool providing bidirectional communication for determining whether the safety device is appropriate for the particular machine tool, and whether the safety device is properly worn. The communication means used allow to associate one safety device to a plurality of machine tools and a plurality of safety devices to one machine tool, as well as relating safety devices to a specified work zone including a plurality of machine tools.

Abstract: Acrylic impact modifiers for polar thermoplastics such as poly(methyl methacrylate), polyamides, and poly(vinyl chloride) are prepared from emulsion polymer particles with hard methacrylate-rich domains in a continuous polyacrylate network.