Abstract: A book marker insertion apparatus includes a cartridge assembly, a separator assembly, a gripper assembly, an elevator assembly and a page spreader assembly. The cartridge assembly holds a roll of marker material including a plurality of markers on a backing sheet and advances the material to the separator assembly. The separator assembly includes jaws and a peel bar for removing the endmost marker from the backing sheet. The gripper assembly includes rotatable arms which grip the separated end marker and position the separated end marker for insertion into the book. The elevator raises and lowers the gripper assembly from the position for gripping the separated end marker to the position for inserting into the book. The page spreader assembly includes a V-arm with a slot formed therein-for receiving the gripper arms and the separated end marker.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of multiple items includes a platform upon which one or more items may be placed and a detector positioned with respect to the platform to receive an image of a profile of the one or more items on the platform. The detector is configured and arranged to generate a signal corresponding to the profile. The signal indicates whether multiple items are on the platform. The detector may be, for example, a moving point detector, a linear detector, or a two-dimensional array detector. This apparatus can be used in conjunction with an inventory control device, such as an automated library check-out device, to prevent the unauthorized removal of inventory items.

Abstract: A pavement marker has an unpotted upper shell and a lower base plate that together define a housing. A number of ribs are disposed in the housing interior oriented substantially perpendicular to the inner wall of the base plate. The upper shell has inclined end faces, an upper face, and is made of a plastic material having moderate to high flexural modulus and a high impact strength. The lower base plate has a planar inner wall and an opposed planar, pavement-engaging outer wall, and is made of a material having a Young's modulus of at least approximately 300,000 PSI (20.7.times.10.sup.8 Pascal). The ribs are formed unitarily with the inner wall of either the upper shell or the base plate, and extend upwardly from the inner wall of the base plate to the inner wall of the shell. A retroreflective lens is positioned on at least one of the first and second opposed side faces of the marker. The pavement marker resists delamination from a roadway surface when secured to the road with a soft adhesive.

Abstract: An article is disclosed having both holographic and retroreflective features. The article includes a holographic layer that is perceptible under normal lighting conditions and substantially imperceptible to the unaided eye under retroreflective lighting conditions, a retroreflective layer perceptible under retroreflective lighting conditions, and means for bonding the two layers together.

Abstract: A security card comprising a backing, a cover film, and a security image, the security image being located between the backing and the cover film, the backing and the cover film being laminated together without an intermediate adhesive layer, wherein the backing comprises an amorphous copolyester or polyvinyl chloride, and the cover film comprises the other of polyvinyl chloride or an amorphous copolyester. Also, a method for making such security cards.

Abstract: An Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) marker is adapted for direct application to optically recorded media such as compact disks, CD-ROM's, laser disks, digital video disks, and the like. The marker includes a support sheet and one or more marker elements which are positioned such that the mass distribution of the marker is symmetrically disposed about the center of the marker. This ensures that when the marker is properly positioned on the optically recorded media, the marker does not adversely affect the mechanical balance of the media.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for activating and deactivating an electronic article surveillance marker carried by an article. The apparatus includes a housing having a platform for supporting the article. The apparatus also includes a first magnet positioned within the housing adapted for producing a magnetic field of sufficient strength to deactivate the marker. Additionally, the apparatus includes a translating mechanism for translating the first magnet between first and second positions along the platform. The electronic article surveillance marker is deactivated by placing the article onto the platform and translating the first magnet between the first and second positions. The first magnet can also be part of an alternating decaying array of magnets adapted for either activating or deactivating the electronic surveillance marker.

Abstract: A multilayer film including multiple polymeric layers designed and made to enable the film to reflect light in the near infrared (IR) portion of the visible spectrum. Depending on the amount and range of red light that is reflected, the film of the present invention appears under certain conditions to exhibit a visible color, commonly cyan. The film appears to be substantially clear when viewed against a diffuse white background from approximately a zero degree observation angle, and appears to be cyan when viewed against that background from an observation angle that is greater than a predetermined shift angle.

Abstract: A document (10) is covered by a laminate (13) comprising a layer of microspheres (16) over an adhesive layer (14) covering a source image (12) such as a photograph, printed matter, or a bar code arranged on a substrate (11). Light impinging on the document (10) is split by the optical properties of the microspheres (16) and underlying specular reflectors. The remaining light passes through the microspheres (16), through the adhesive layer (14) and strikes the substrate (11) or source image (12) on the document (10), and is reflected (18) and scattered (20). Alternatively, the laminate (13) can comprise a plain or clear layer of polyester without microspheres over the adhesive layer (14). Light impinging on the laminate (13) passes through the polyester and laminate (14) to strike the substrate (11) or source image (12) where it is reflected and scattered. A first light source (24) directs light to the document (10).

Abstract: A demagnetization apparatus for use with magnetically based electronic article surveillance systems having a dual status anti-theft marker containing at least one demagnetizable control element which when demagnetized allows the marker to be detected by the system when the marker is present in an interrogation zone. The apparatus includes an elongated magnetic section contained within a housing which exhibits a succession of fields of alternate polarity and at least a portion of which exhibits exponentially decreasing intensities at the working surface of the housing along that portion of the section. The section and a cover plate are orientated such that the external fields near the working surface are sufficient in intensities to demagnetize the demagnetizable element of the marker positioned proximate thereto while being rapidly attenuated a short distance from the section.

Abstract: A marker insertion apparatus automatically removes a marker from a roll of marker material and applies the marker to an applicator. The markers mount to a backing sheet and are peeled from the sheet by passing over a peel bar. Jaws are positioned near the peel bar and configured for gripping an end marker. An applicator member inserts intermediate the jaws and has the end marker pressed onto the applicator and torn from the roll. In a first embodiment, the applicator is a paddle applicator for inserting markers between opposing pages, and in a second embodiment the applicator is a bayonet applicator for inserting markers into the spine of a book.

Abstract: For qualification for traffic preemption an area is defined and if the vehicle is in the area it can obtain preemption. The vehicle's position is determined, in one embodiment, by use of differential GPS.

Abstract: A pavement marking tape having a scrim, wherein the scrim is extensible to enable the tape to conform to irregularities in a road surface, and thereby bond more securely to that surface.

Abstract: A reflective plate (10) is disclosed, comprising a substrate (1), a retroreflective sheet (2) adhered to the surface of said substrate and having substantially flat base portions (3) covered with said retroreflective sheet (2), the retroreflective sheeting having retroreflective elements and a light transmissive cover layer; and a plurality of projections (4) covered with said retroreflective sheet and present on the corners of regular polygons that are arranged to form a regularly repeated pattern, wherein the arrangement of the projections (4) satisfies the relationship 0.05<h/P<0.60.

Abstract: An Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) marker is adapted for direct application to optically recorded media such as compact disks, CD-ROM's, laser disks, digital video disks, and the like. The marker includes a support sheet and one or more marker elements which are positioned such that the mass distribution of the marker is symmetrically disposed about the center of the marker. This ensures that when the marker is properly positioned on the optically recorded media, the marker does not adversely affect the mechanical balance of the media.

Abstract: A flexible, durable, cube-cornered retroreflective article capable of accommodating the expansion and contraction of the underlying polymeric substrate where such article has a pillowed or curved microstructured member bonded in a regular pattern to a sealing member. The retroreflective article has normal and stressed states. In the normal state, the microstructured member is substantially parallel with the sealing member. In the stressed state, the microstructured member is either compressed or elongated and the sealing member is substantially flat. The retroreflective article may be attached to traffic control devices, such as polymeric barrels, cones, or tubes to direct and guide motorists through road construction areas.

Abstract: The present invention discloses signage articles having a layer of fused dry toner powder which is fused by employing a tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive and low compression. Suitable tacky pressure-sensitive adhesives include alkyl acrylate polymers or copolymers, alkyl vinyl ether polymers or copolymers, polyisobutylene, polybutadiene, and butadiene-styrene copolymers. Such signage articles further comprise a transparent cover layer disposed over the fused dry toner powder-bearing surface. Also disclosed are methods of forming signage articles, one method comprising the steps of applying dry toner powder to a first substrate surface, applying a composition including a tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive to a second substrate surface, and laminating the two substrates to admix the dry toner powder and the tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive. Either the first or second substrate may be the transparent cover layer of the resulting signage article.