Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognizing and counting coins is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus is battery powered and includes a magnet which moves between two positions upon a coin moving along a coin path. Movement of the magnet activates a reed switch that wakes up a microprocessor controlled circuit from a low power quiescent state. The circuit is then operable to count the coin and to then take appropriate action. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a second magnet located near the coin path and opposite a second reed switch. This magnet keeps the contacts of the reed switch closed until a ferromagnetic object passes therebetween and shunts the magnetic field away from the reed switch. A photointerrupter is used to detect U.S. coin currency and other non-ferromagnetic objects not detected via the second reed switch. Thus, the apparatus can distinguish ferromagnetic objects from U.S.

Abstract: The invention provides an impact beam assembly and method for making the same. The method includes (a) deforming a tubular beam to provide an arcuate channel that extends inwardly from one end of the beam and that has a depth which decreases with increasing distance from the end of the beam, and (b) securing the beam to a mounting fixture near the deformed end of the beam. An arcuate channel and mounting fixture can also be provided at the other end of the impact beam. The arcuate channel provides a tapered profile to the end or ends of the impact beam, while preserving much of the beam's inherent tube strength.

Abstract: A process of making an enriched artificial rice product comprising by dry weight 50% to 98% of at least one starch or starch derivative, 2% to 45% of at least one enriching material, and 0.1% to 10% of at least one gelling hydrocolloid whereby the enriched artificial rice product can be prepared with the cooking water being at least twice the volume of the rice.

Abstract: The machinery transport trailer (10) includes a main frame (12) with a pair of fore and aft extending parallel beams (34 and 36). A pair of axle assemblies (14) support the rear of the main frame (12) transverse beams (22) are attached to the bottom of the main frame (12) to provide a support platform. A torque tube (48) is attached to the front ends of the parallel beams (34 and 36) of the main frame (12). A goose neck (16) with right and left beam assemblies and a transverse frame member 58 are connected to the torque tube (48). The goose neck (16) defines an open area (66) which is sufficiently wide to allow the elevator of a combine harvester separator 24 that is being transported to pass between the right and left beam assemblies and to allow the front wheels 30 of a combine harvester separator to move forward to a position at the front of the main frame 12.

Abstract: A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) including a conduit (12), and a motion transmitting core element (14) moveably supported by the conduit (12). A terminal (22) is attached to one end of the core element (14) for attachment to a member to be controlled. The terminal (22) adjusts the effective length of the core element (14) by manually locking the terminal (22) into any one of various locking positions and includes three members. The first member (24) includes a first (46) and second (48) plurality of teeth (50) inclined away from one another and is attached to the core element (14). The second member (26) is attached to the control member. The third member (28) includes a first (46') and a second (48') plurality of teeth (50') adapted for matingly interconnecting the first and second members (24, 26) and is moveable between an unlocked position, allowing relative movement between the first and second members ( 24, 26) and a locked position for preventing such relative movement.

Abstract: A reusable cassette assembly (14) for an ambulatory medical infusion pump (10) with a reservoir bag (22) has a pump plate 16 removably attached to the shell (18). The pump plate includes a retainer (30) and latch (50) that have distal ends (44) and (56) spaced from the upper surface (26) of the pump plate to allow the tube (22) of the reservoir bag (22) to be laterally engaged or disengaged thereunder. The plate has a slot (25) that is opened or closed by a removable wall section (63) of the shell (18) to allow the tube to laterally disengage from the slot (25).

Abstract: A thermal wrap is disclosed for application to body members, especially joints and limbs. It comprises a pouch for containing a thermal medium and which is constructed of a flexible elastic cloth. The pouch is mounted on a support member, also constructed of a flexible elastic cloth, which is adapted to wrap around a limb or joint. The support member is provided with a wrap fastener such as a hook and loop fastener which is adjustable to establish the desired degree of compression on the affected area. The wrap is provided with cinch bands which encircle the limb at locations above and below the pouch. This arrangement provides compression under the bandwidth of the pouch which is independently adjustable relative to the compression under the cinch bands. Additionally, a pressurized air bladder may be provided to independently adjust the compression under the bandwidth of the bladder.

Abstract: A motion transmitting remote control assembly 10 of the type for transmitting motion along a curved path comprising a conduit 12, a flexible motion transmitting core element 14 movably supported within conduit 12, and an adjustment member 16 connected to one of the conduit 12 and core element 14 for adjusting the effective length thereof. The adjustment member 16 comprises an adjustment housing 24 having a first opening 30, a slider member 26 movably disposed in the housing 24, and a locking member 28 movably disposed in the first opening 30 between a locked position to prevent adjustment of the slider member 26 relative to the housing 24 and an unlocked position to allow adjustment of the slider member 26 relative to the housing 24. The housing 24 has bridges 74 extending across the first opening 30 for alternatively holding the locking member 28 in the locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: A method for Gram staining a specimen containing bacteria includes the steps of staining Gram positive bacteria in the specimen, fixing the stain to the Gram positive bacteria, and simultaneously decolorizing and counter-staining Gram negative bacteria in the specimen.

Abstract: A molding method for molding a shaped plastic trim panel from a wet moldable composite includes a blade for trimming the molded plastic trim panel while it is still in the molding apparatus. The lower mold member has an annular severing slot and annular clamping shoulders inwardly and outwardly of the severing slot. The upper mold member has an annular slot that is aligned with the severing slot of the lower mold member and annular clamping shoulders on either side of the slot. These shoulders cooperate with the clamping shoulders of the lower mold member to clamp the margin of the molded plastic trim panel that is shaped in the molding members. An annular cutting blade having a serrated cutting edge disposed in the slot of the upper mold member moves down vertically into the severing groove to cut through the clamped margin and trim the molded plastic trim panel.

Abstract: A drop test apparatus (10) for testing the resiliency of playground surfaces (12) includes a drop module (14) and a release mechanism (16) for holding the drop module (14) at an elevated reference height and releasing the drop module (14) to fall to the surface (12). Vertically-extending guide elements (18) guide and maintain the drop module (14) in a constant attitude from release until surface (12) impact. A support structure (24) extends between the guide element's upper (20) and lower (22) ends and holds the guide element (18) in a generally vertical orientation above the surface (12). Both the guide element (18) and support structure (24) comprise a plurality of interconnecting collapsible and disassemblable parts allowing a single person to rapidly convert the support structure (24) and the guide element (18) between the operational surface-testing configuration and a compact configuration for convenient transport.

Abstract: An automotive interior trim component is constructed by placing a cast polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vacuum formed or sprayed thermoplastic/thermoset cover stock, or a cloth/fabric outer shell in a closeable mold, spraying a coating of urethane foam forming materials onto a back surface of the shell, closing the mold with a lid so that an insert is held in spaced relation to the shell and clamping the lid shut while the foam forming material react to provide a shaped foam cushion that is between and bonded to the shell and the insert.

Abstract: A parking lot traffic control and fee collection system is disclosed for use in stadium type parking lots. A vehicle counter installed in a portable traffic pylon is provided at the entry point for each entrance lane of the parking lot for marking the station of the parking attendant. The vehicle counter is installed in a tamper-proof arrangement and the cumulative count of vehicles is presented on a display device which is viewable without opening the enclosure provided by the pylon. A parking supervisor may read the cumulative count at any time and pick-up the receipts from the parking attendant during or at the completion of the parking process. The amount of the receipts collected is compared with the reading on the display device and discrepancies are noted by the supervisor. The vehicle counter is provided with a tamper-proof reset switch.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for applying a thermal spray coating onto a substrate (24) includes a chamber (16) having an open bottom portion (18), a gas source for releasing a gas lighter than oxygen into the chamber (16) and displacing the oxygen from the chamber (16), and a spray gun (30) for spraying coating through the gas in the chamber (16) and onto the substrate (24).A method is also provided including the steps of displacing oxygen from the chamber (16) with the gas, and spraying the coating through the gas and onto the substrate (24) disposed within the chamber, the gas preventing oxidation between the substrate (24) and layers of the coating.

Abstract: An electronic interlock for locking a file cabinet (10, 100) and for limiting the number of drawers (14, 114) to be accessed at any given time. An input keyboard (20, 120) receives an input code to be compared with a prestored access code. If the codes do not match, an unlock signal is not produced. If the input code matches the access code, a processor (28, 148) renders the storage assembly (10, 110) accessible. The processor (28, 128) will receive a drawer selection number from the input keyboard (20, 120) user and will unlock a lock (16, 116) associated with the selected drawer (14, 114). Sensors (34, 134) sense the position of the drawers (14, 114) and disable the processor (28, 128) when one of the drawers (14, 114) is in the open position.

Abstract: A drug delivery system includes a first capsule half having an inner chamber for containing a drug therein. A plug is disposed in a passageway of the capsule half for plugging the opening thereof. The plug is releasable from the passageway opening upon the application of pressure from within the inner chamber. A pump mechanism causes an increase in pressure within the inner chamber and forces the plug out of the passageway to release the drug from the inner chamber and out of the passageway thereby providing a second pulse of drug release at a predetermined time after initial ingestion of the capsule. The invention further provides a method of manufacturing the drug delivery system and method by which the drug delivery system provides the drug to the body.

Abstract: A portable container 10 for containing liquids has a circular top wall portion 12, a circular exterior bottom wall portion 14, and a cylindrical side wall portion 16 extending vertically between the top wall portion 12 and exterior bottom wall portion 14. The container 10 includes a plurality of forklift tubes 18 attached to the exterior bottom wall portion 14 for receiving the forks 20 of a forklift vehicle 22. The side wall portion 16 has a drain opening 24 and a valve 26 disposed therein for draining the liquids from the container. The container 10 is characterized by an interior false bottom portion 30 abutting the side wall portion 16 and sloping downwardly toward the drain opening 24 for causing complete drainage of the liquids contained within the container 10.

Abstract: An adjustable automotive vehicle seat is equipped with a height adjust mechanism that includes a U-shaped frame having laterally spaced side members and a round front cross member that is mounted on the front ends of the side members for rotation about its centerline. A plurality of bow shaped leaf springs are spaced across the width of the seat with their front ends secured to the round front cross member. The rear ends of the leaf springs are secured to a slidable rear cross member. An electrically powered, reversible ball screw actuator translates the rear cross member in the longitudinal direction so that the height of the seat is adjusted by adjusting the curvature of the bow shaped leaf springs.

Abstract: An aluminum object is manufactured by a process including chromate conversion coating of the aluminum object; sequentially applying a primer coat to the outer surface and thereafter applying a dielectric substrate basecoat; vacuum metallizing a corrosion prone metal, namely indium, on the dielectric substrate basecoat to form "islands" of the indium that are top coated with a clear resinous layer to encapsulate and insulate the islands, one from another. The indium islands are less than one thousand angstroms thick and have an average diameter of less than three thousand angstroms. The island structure is etched following the growth of the metal as it is deposited between the nucleation stage and the stage of channelization of formation of an electrically conductive film. The etchant is selected to clear channels between island structures to improve adhesion of a dielectric resinous top coat to the dielectric substrate by order of magnitude to adhesion to the islands.