Abstract: A robot system for exterminating termites living in wood structural members under the floor of an architectural structure. The robot system comprises a robot including an onboard computer which is electrically connected through radio communication with a host computer located outside the robot. The robot includes a main body and is equipped with a locomotive mechanism including a pair of caterpillars located on the opposite sides of the main body. The caterpillars are driven by driving motors mounted on the robot and can be independently operated. The robot includes a mechanism for controlling the vertical positions of various sections of the main body relative to the caterpillars. A nozzle mechanism for spraying chemical or insecticide and a CCD camera are mounted on the main body. The onboard computer and host computer are operatively associated with each other to control the driving motors, the vertical position controlling mechanism, the nozzle mechanism and the CCD camera.

Abstract: Structures and fabrication methods for achieving multiple wavelength, dual polarization laser diode arrays using single or multiple quantum well (QW) active regions that are able to support either TE-or TM-mode operation are described. Multiple wavelengths are obtained from either separate active regions, or by forcing a long-wavelength structure to oscillate at a short wavelength through bandfilling of the QW active region. By using tensile-strained QW active regions with or without separate confinement structures, multiple-wavelength dual-polarization lasers and laser arrays can be formed from a single active region.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a shield for use in operating dental hand tools outside of a patient's mouth while preventing escape of any matter ejected from the hand tool into the surrounding vicinity, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing the risk that the ejected matter may otherwise contaminate nearby people or equipment. The shield has an enclosure within which the end of a dental hand tool is placed and operated. The shield is removably coupled to a waste line or the like typically already present in a dental office, such as a high volume suction line, a saliva ejector suction line or a cuspidor. The shield contains therein any matter ejected from the hand tool during operation thereof, and such matter is carried away by the waste line. When the enclosure is coupled to the waste line, escape of the matter ejected from the end of the hand tool is substantially prevented except through the waste line. The shield is preferably disposable.

Abstract: A bed system with an excreting mechanism of the present invention includes a front base for receiving the upper half of a patient's body and having a first front portion capable of being tilted up or down, a rear base for receiving the lower half of the patient's body and having a second front portion capable of being tilted up or down, a pot seat for supporting the patient's buttocks, a chamber pot for receiving the patient's excretions, and a posture regulating mechanism for regulating the patient's posture. In tilting up of the second front portion of the rear base, the pot seat is positioned between the rear end of the front base and the front end of the rear base, and the chamber pot is positioned under the pot seat. The second portion of the rear base is tilted up or down around the rear edge of the second front portion as a supporting shaft and can be tilted up or down around the front edge of the second front portion as a supporting shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting a trocar/cannula assembly through a wall of an anatomical cavity of a patient, the apparatus including a housing for holding a trocar/cannula assembly, a spine having a longitudinal axis, the spine having proximal and terminal ends, the housing coupled to the spine for movement along said axis, holding means on the housing for holding a trocar/cannula assembly, and drive means coupled to said housing and spine for driving said housing axially on said spine toward said terminal end thereby moving said housing from an initial position to a final position, whereby the trocar/cannula assembly carried by said housing is moved axially along said spine.

Abstract: A buoyant crane is disclosed which moves loads that are entirely out of a liquid body such as water, in response to buoyant forces acting on an expandable and contractible chamber located in the liquid body. Buoyant forces acting on the chamber are produced in relation to the volume of the chamber. The chamber is movably supported in the liquid body so that it may rise and sink in accordance with buoyant forces acting on the chamber responsive to changes in the volume of the chamber. A compressed gas source supplies compressed gas (e.g., air) to the chamber to selectively change its volume. A rope and pulley system couples the chamber to a load for moving the load, which is entirely out of the liquid body, in response to movement of the chamber within the liquid body in turn responsive to the buoyant forces acting on the chamber.

Abstract: Process for carbonitriding a steel comprising:0.75-1.1% by weight of C;up to 1.0% by weight of Si;less than 0.015% by weight of P;up to 0.5% by weight of Mo;up to 1.2% by weight of Mn;0.5-2% by weight of Cr,the remainder being Fe,by exposing it at elevated temperatures to an atmosphere comprising at least carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen and added ammonia. This is carried out by exposing it, between 780.degree. and 900.degree. C., for from 1 to 10 hours, to an atmosphere comprising at least carbon monoxide, hydrogen and ammonia with a carbon activity between 0.90 and 1.10 and a nitrogen potential between 0.10 and 0.60% N.

Abstract: A sealing device automatically seals a gap between a door bottom and a floor in response to closing movement of the door. The sealing device includes a support element attachable to the door bottom, a seal actuating element movably supported from the support element by spring elements, and a sealing element carried by the seal actuating element. The sealing device may be mounted to the inside or outside of a door, or mortise-mounted in the door, and may be mounted to left- or right-opening hinged doors, or to sliding or articulated closures, and may be provided as an after market or OEM device. The spring elements in the preferred embodiment are one-piece and are integrally connected to both the support element and the seal actuating element, thereby forming a one-piece sealing device preferably made of plastic.

Abstract: A toy apparatus and method for making vacuum formed articles wherein a thin sheet of plastic is secured on a mold in a first position the mold is moved to a second position adjacent a heater for heating and softening the plastic sheet and a vacuum is applied to the mold and heated sheet either while it is in the second position or after it is moved back to its original first position. The apparatus includes a transparent safety cover and a shuttle lever which in combination reduce the possibility of a child operator of this toy from burning his or her fingers. The safety cover, if open, bars movement of the mold to the heater and bars entry of fingers toward the heater, and if closed, bars touching the mold, plastic sheet or heater. Following closure of the safety cover a first lever may be moved to drive the mold to the heater and a second lever may be moved to actuate the vacuum pump. The safety cover cannot be re-opened until the shuttle lever is returned to its start position.

Abstract: A toy oven has a heating compartment accessible through an aperture in a front wall of a housing of the oven. A door is provided which is manually movable to close off the aperture. IN one embodiment, the door is slidably mounted and in another embodiment it is pivotally mounted. A mechanical interlock engages the door to prevent it from opening if the electrical power switch is on. Another mechanical interlock prevents the door from opening when the heating compartment is at a high temperature. The oven is thus safe to use by children in normal play. A fan may be provided to cool the heating compartment when the power switch is turned off and is thereafter automatically turned off after a predetermined time or when the temperature in the heating compartment falls to a safe level. A timer may also be provided to automatically switch power off after a predetermined time of inactivity.

Abstract: In order to allow header-less connector pins to be directly surface mounted to a PCB, using a standard pick and place machine, a novel pin holder is used to hold the pin while in pockets or holes of a reeled tape and during its pick and placement by the suction head of the pick and place machine supplied with the reel. The holder is configured to permit standard pin spacings of a row of pins to match standard female connectors, and to allow observation of the pin during the placement process. Novel pin designs for use with the holder are also described.

Abstract: Serial printer having a printing support conveying lid formed by a rigid plate hinged to the printer and extending for the whole lenght of the print line the plate being provided with a resilient lip having a free edge located immediately dowstream of the print line, spaced apart from a platen for a rest position of the lid and in contact with the platen for an active position of the lid, the lid being held in rest position by resilient bias means and driven in working position by the interference with the lid of pressure pads steady with the printing head slidable along the print line, when the printing head is located along the print line in a position other than a travel end position, in which interference does not occurr.

Abstract: A system for searching and sensing reinforcing steel in reinforced concrete is provided. The system comprises a means for magnetizing the reinforcing steel in the reinforced concrete with lines of magnetic force generated by a magnetic field and a means for sensing the lines of magnetic force radiated from the magnetized reinforcing steel to detect an existence and a condition of the reinforcing steel in the reinforced concrete. The sensing means includes a coil for sensing a magnetic force and the magnetizing means is positioned remote from the sensing means.

Abstract: A multi-user multi-device system enables a plurality of users to control a single screen. Each user has one or more input devices, which can be used to control one or more stored applications. At any time, the system produces a consistent view of all applications on the single screen. The input from each user produces a response customized to the preferences of that user. Each user can inform the system of which devices that user is using. Inputs to the system initiate the building of Event Records that are queued and then directed to specific applications. The screen is updated, and the coordinates of child applications are determined, only during pauses in the operations of all applications.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser source using a strained active layer of GaAsP or InGaAsP or AlGaAsP to obtain semiconductor laser sources that emit TM-polarized light in the wavelength range of 600-870 nm. Preferably, the active layer is flanked by confining layers of AlGaAs or (AlGa).sub.0.52 In.sub.0.48 P. The active layer under proper conditions can also emit TE-polarized light. Hence, arrays of side-by-side orthoginally-polarized emitters, or switchable polarized emitters are feasible.