Abstract: An improved paint ball gun and improved rotary breech, regulator, control valve, power piston and power valve assemblies for utilization in paint ball guns or related devices. The paint ball gun eliminates moving metal to metal surfaces to provide a consistent operation and easy regulation. The paint ball gun has a rotary breech to minimize damage to paint balls utilized in the paint ball guns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for manually collecting, containing and disposing of waste material, such as animal excrement. The device of the present invention provides an ambidextrous glove having individual compartments for receiving the fingers and thumb of the hand. The glove has a sleeve portion with a pair of handles which are used to secure the sleeve portion on the forearm of the user. The handles are also used for turning the glove inside out to contain the collected material, and for sealing the device. The glove is provided with an absorbent, non-absorbent or abrasive contact means on the palm portion for contacting and removing the material to be collected from the surface upon which it is found.

Abstract: A fastening system comprises a driving tool formed with a rectangular-shaped bit at its driving end, and a fastener such as a screw whose head is formed with a recess defining a central slot and four spaced undercuts each having parallel upper and lower walls and a side wall perpendicular thereto. The bit of the driving tool is inserted within the central slot of the recess and then rotated such that the side edges of the rectangular bit contact the side walls of two of the undercuts, and the top wall and bottom surface of the bit frictionally engages the upper and lower walls of such undercuts. Frictional engagement between the undercuts and the driving tool bit provides a positive, temporary interlock therebetween, and contact between the side edges of the driving tool and side walls of the undercuts permits the transfer of torque over a large surface to reduce wear.

Abstract: A zig-zag folding apparatus which includes a swing chute movable in a forward and rearward direction to transmit narrow sheet material between spaced, forward and rearward folding stations. A sheet folding device is located at each of the folding stations which includes a chain carrying a series of paddles, and a drive train which rotates the chain and paddles with respect to the folding station. In the course of moving in a forward and rearward direction, the swing chute transmits the narrow sheet material into contact with beaters or knock-down fingers located at each folding station which direct the sheet into a folding position where the paddles carried by the chain operate to fold or crease the sheet material along its perforations and thus form a stack of zig-zag folded sheets.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining an angular location on a round object during a current operation in order to facilitate positioning the object for subsequent operation. At a first station, an angular location identifying feature is sensed, and an angle at which a predetermined desired angular location is located with respect to the feature is determined. At a second station, the feature is sensed, the object is indexed from the feature in an amount equal to the angle, and the object is marked at the relocated predetermined desired angular location. Another method eliminates the marking step at the second station, and the subsequent operation is performed instead. Apparatus comprises a first station means and a second station means. The first station means includes means for sensing an angular location identifying feature on the object and measurement means for determining an angle at which a predetermined desired angular location on the object is located with respect to the feature.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring electrically conductive coating materials such as water-based paint from a source to an electrostatically charged dispenser includes first and second shuttle devices and two large reservoir, piston pumps each having structure for preventing contamination of the coating material and pressure build-up at their piston heads. The first shuttle device is movable between a neutral position wherein it is electrically isolated from a filling station connected to the coating material source, and a transfer position wherein coating material is transmitted to one of the piston pumps through a coupling device which connects the filling station and first shuttle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and dispensing a coating material formulation or solution containing a liquid coating composition and a fluid diluent such as a supercritical fluid comprises a supply for the liquid coating composition, a supply for the fluid diluent, a mixer for combining the two components to form the coating material solution or formulation, and a control system for monitoring a parameter of the formulation which can be correlated to the fluid diluent content and/or liquid coating composition content of the formulation, and for monitoring the pressure of the formulation at selected locations within the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring electrically conductive coating materials, such as water-based paint, from at least one source to one or more coating dispensers or spray guns for discharge onto a substrate includes two "parallel" flow paths, each having a large reservoir pump, which transmit coating material to a common valve which, in turn, switches flow to the coating dispensers from one flow path to the other. Each parallel flow path provides a voltage block between one or more sources of coating material and the electrostatically charged coating material discharged from the spray guns to ensure that there is never a completed electrical path between the source of conductive coating material and the charged coating material during a coating operation. Additionally, a rapid and efficient color change capability is provided for the entire system which permits different colored coating materials to be dispensed from the apparatus herein with minimum downtime of the coating operation.

Abstract: A tire building drum having a plurality of alternating wide and narrow drum segments bearing shells matable to form a cylindrical tire-building surface includes a shaft and concentric hub rotatable relative one another to expand and collapse the drum. In a preferred embodiment, blocks coupled to each respective segment via springs are mounted for bidirectional radial movement in rotationally-fixed relation to the shaft. Links nestable when the drum is collapsed connect the blocks with the hub to drive the blocks radially and function as over-center toggles stabilizing the drum when expanded. Variable-engagement slides associated with the blocks most effectively resist non-radial forces exerted by the links when their relative magnitude is greatest. Dimensional stability and precision of the drum are facilitated by radial and angular stops which are not subject to sliding wear.

Abstract: Tires are measured for a parameter correlated to a tendency to contribute to steering pull when used on a vehicle. A group of the measured tires is then ranked into a successive series by ordering the parameter measurements of the tires in the group non-decreasingly or non-increasingly. A set of at least two tires of substantially consecutive rank are then selected for mounting on the same vehicle in order to reduce steering pull.

Abstract: Steering pull to which a vehicle is subjected due to tire non-uniformity is measured accurately even in the presence of wind. An anemometer mounted in proximity of and in positionally fixed relation to the vehicle measures the speed and direction of wind apparent to the vehicle. Those measurements are used by a computer to determine a wind correction quantity which is subtracted from the steering pull measured at the steering wheel.

Abstract: A clamp for holding an article to an object including a base means for adhering the clamp to the object, a flap, securing means for securing the flap to the base means with the article positioned therebetween and resilient pad means having an adhesive surface for contacting the article. The securing means includes a first holding means for holding a first portion of the flap and a second holding means for holding a second portion of the flap. Both holding means may be releasable. The second holding means is spaced from the first holding means a sufficient distance along the flap for the article to lie between them. Resilient adhesive surfaces are provided on the flap and base means for contacting and adhering the article.

Abstract: A tire uniformity inspection machine is calibrated by applying to at least one force measuring channel thereof a signal which simulates the application of a force of a magnitude greater than any force actually applied to the machine during calibration. That signal, which is preferably of a magnitude appropriate to simulate the largest forces encountered during actual tire testing, can be generated by connecting the channel, preferably at its input, to an energy source through an impedance. The response of the channel to the signal is measured and a calibration factor is determined based on that response. Such calibration factor accounts for the actual behavior of the channel more truely than prior art calibration techniques which relied solely upon the relatively small signal excitation conditions achievable by applying a relatively small actual force to the machine. Thus, the invention affords tire uniformity measurements of improved accuracy.

Abstract: A microencapsulated pharmaceutical is formed by vapor depositing a polymeric film about an active pharmaceutical agent. The film thickness of the vapor deposited film is controlled to provide effective controlled release of said pharmaceutical agent subsequent to application. In a preferred embodiment the pharmaceutical is an orally ingestible pharmaceutical formed by vapor deposition of a poly-p-xylylene polymer about a core comprising an active pharmaceutical agent. The pharmaceutical agent exhibits surprising controlled release activity inspite of the extreme inertness of vapor deposited films such as Parylene films.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transferring electrically conductive coating materials, such as water-based paint, from at least one source to one or more coating dispensers for discharge onto a substrate. One voltage block is provided to avoid the creation of an electrical path between one or more sources of coating material and the coating material which is electrostatically charged during a coating operation, and a secondary voltage block is provided between each of a number of individual spray guns and the charged coating material so that each spray gun can be electrically isolated from the charged coating material when not in use. The apparatus is optionally provided with a color changer, and/or a heater which is electrically isolated from the charged coating material and is effective to elevate the temperature of the coating material prior to discharge from the spray guns.

Abstract: The whereabouts of a pet or other animal are controlled using one or more transponders to established a boundary. The transponders receive an incident signal from a transmitter and generate a distinguishable return signal which, when the animal moves into proximity of the boundary, is received by a unit affixed to the animal to initiate application of an aversive stimulus which deters the animal from traversing the boundary. The transponders can be active or passive and can be located to establish either fixed or mobile boundaries.

Abstract: The mass of a tire/wheel assembly is altered to apply a static imbalance to the assembly in a manner which reduces the overall tendency of the assembly to cause vibration in the plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation when in use. The applied imbalance, combined with any static imbalance initially inherent in the tire/wheel assembly, results in a desired net static imbalance oriented so as to induce a centrifugal force which opposes, and therefore tends to cancel, at least one component, such as the first order harmonic, of radial force variation characterizing the assembly. The magnitude of the net static imbalance is limited and is preferably selected to substantially equal the lesser of either: (a) a predetermined maximum limit, or (b) the amount of static imbalance required to generate at a designated highway speed a centrifugal force whose magnitude substantially equals that of the aforementioned radial force variation component.