Abstract: A data processing switching system is disclosed including system units comprising processing units and memory banks and at least one storage input/output control governing the information traffic between the processing units and the memory banks via communication channels. The system contains an input control and an output control establishing links for the traffic. A plurality of communication paths for the information traffic is governed by these controls, the controls being characterized by means for grouping the processing units (VE) and the memory banks (SB) into a plurality of groups in number equal to the number of the communication paths currently available for seizure between the processing units and the memory banks or between the memory banks and the processing units. The processing units and memory banks include means for sending input or output requests to said input or output control, respectively.

Abstract: In a perforated tape reader, the tape is sensed by detecting elements rotatable on one end of rocker arms. The other end of the rocker arms is provided with a fork. A flat spring urges on the upper arm of the fork and a conductive resilient element is engaged between the arms of the fork. When the detecting elements sense a perforation on the tape, the conductive element abuts against a fixed electric contact in a intermediate position between the arms of the fork; when the detecting elements sense no perforation the lower arm of the fork lifts the conductive element in order to open the electric contact.Since the space between the arms of the fork is greater than the thickness of the conduction element, but less than the shifting of the fork, any small amplitude movements of the rocker arms in not transmitted to the conductive element.

Abstract: The invention relates to an hydraulic octopus grab having a distributor head to which are pivoted in star formation grab blades and corresponding hydraulic operating cylinders. The distributor head is suspended at the bottom of a shaft which is positively rotatable by hydraulic means within a rotary head having a suspension eye mounted thereto at its upper end for suspending the grab.

Abstract: A small-motion test device especially useful as a welding aptitude test and primary training device comprises a target movable along a linear track, and switch means for defining a multi-dimensional envelope of freedom of movement of said target. A wand held by the test subject must affirmatively position the target within the envelope, and maintain it there throughout the time of the test while the target moves along the track at a preprogrammed rate. Success of the test is indicated and accounted for as a function of the percentage of the total test time that the target remains within the test envelope.

Abstract: This mixer is for a manullay mixing mortar, concrete or the like in relatively small batches. A rotatable mixer barrel is supported on a wheeled frame by a bearing at its closed end and a circular guide wheel engaging grooved support wheels at its open end. The mixer barrel is rotated by means of the guide wheel. It can be dumped by manually tilting the frame.

Abstract: Creatinine amidohydrolase and creatine amidinohydrolase can be obtained by culturing a strain belonging to Genus Flavobacterium, Genus Micrococcus or Genus Corynebacterium and having an ability to produce creatinine amidohydrolase and creatine amidinohydrolase in the presence of creatinine, creatine or a mixture thereof and separating creatinine amidohydrolase and creatine amidinohydrolase from the cultured fluid.

Abstract: In an office machine keyboard comprising a layer of elastic material provided with individually depressible reliefs representing the keys, each having a top fingering surface, the characters are composed of a second elastic material moulded in accordance with the shapes of the characters and superimposed on the fingering surface.The elastic keyboard is obtained pressing under heat a mould in which are inserted the two elastic materials.

Abstract: An anchor having an elongated hollow body with a plurality of flukes pivoted to the lower end thereof. A stem inside the body has an upper end projecting through the upper end of the body connected to an anchor line. A connecting member couples a slideable plug held within the body to the stem for movement between a first position, where the plug holds the flukes in an extended operative position, and a second position, where the flukes are released from engagement with a surface. The connecting member, of which there are two embodiments, includes a spring tensioned as the stem is raised to an elevated position by a pull on the anchor line, the spring biasing the plug to its second position. A holding element locks the stem in its elevated position whereby a release of the pull on the anchor line will cause the spring to move the plug to its second position to release the anchor flukes. In one embodiment, the flukes may be moved to a storage position parallel to the body.

Abstract: A bland protein product having a texture and mouth feel simulating animal meat is prepared by forming a dough-like mixture of protein material and water, and extruding a continuous tubular shell of the protein dough, while simultaneously injecting steam into the interior of the tubular shell, whereby the tubular shell of protein is blown into discrete pieces of irregularly shaped protein material by the steam flow. The steam flow then propels the protein pieces into and through a confined treating zone in which further texturization is accomplished. Finally, the protein material is passed through a back pressure maintaining means and recovered in usable form. Apparatus for performing this process comprises an extrusion assembly consisting of a screw feed chamber communicating with an extrusion die assembly which produces a continuous tubular shell of extrudate. The extrusion die is provided with means for injecting steam into the interior of the tubular shell of extrudate formed.

Abstract: A bland protein product comprising large diceable chunks of texturized protein having a texture and mouth feel simulating animal meat is prepared by forming an aqueous slurry containing 40 to 50% of a protein material having a protein content of at least 70% on a solids basis, injecting steam into the slurry to propel it through a cooking tube containing a restriction means, passing the protein material through a pressure letdown pump at the discharge end of the cooking tube, and recovering the textured product in a collection zone. The injection steam pressure is chosen to maintain a product temperature of 310.degree. to 350.degree.F. and a back pressure of about 60 to 80 psi in the cooking tube. The protein material also may be subjected to further texturizing treatments after the pressure letdown pump. The process is particularly useful in the co-texturization of meat and vegetable protein mixtures. Apparatus for performing this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bland protein product having a texture and mouth feel simulating animal meat is prepared by forming an aqueous slurry containing 40 to 50% of a protein material having a protein content of at least 70% on a solids basis, injecting steam into the slurry to propel it through a cooking tube, passing the protein material through a back pressure valve at the discharge end of the cooking tube, and recovering the textured product in a collection zone. The injection steam pressure is chosen to maintain a product temperature of 310.degree. to 350.degree. F. and a back pressure of about 60 to 80 psi in the cooking tube. Between the back pressure valve and the collection zone the protein material is subjected to an agglomeration and stretching treatment accomplished by passing the protein and steam mixture through a restriction means, or by injecting a stream of cold water at right angles into the cooked protein and steam mixture, or by both of these steps. Apparatus for performing this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: An orbital engine having a piston member mounted eccentrically upon a shaft journalled in a housing so that the piston member orbits within the housing as the shaft rotates. A control member supported in the housing to describe an orbital path corresponding to the desired path of the piston member and restrained to move in this path by a plurality of secondary cranks of the same eccentricity as the shaft. The control member being connected to the piston member by a tongue and slot connection which will not permit relative movement between the piston member and the stabilizer plate in the circumferential direction, but will permit relative movement in the axial and radial direction.

Abstract: In combination, a drawing apparatus and a crimping apparatus. The drawing apparatus comprises integral first and second draw rolls, with attendant separator rolls, and a draw pin. The final draw roll is fluted around its peripheral surface. The draw rolls are driven from the same source as the crimp feed rolls, and in order to control yarn tension at the crimp feed rolls a variable drive means is provided for the draw rolls, to alter their speed with regard to the speed of the feed rolls. A yarn heater is positioned between the final draw roll and the crimp feed rolls, or in the alternative, between the final draw roll and its separator roll.

Abstract: A fixing device for a type-carrier disk in which the selection shaft includes a selection shaft, a flange defining a rotation plane and a conical end. The type-carrier disk comprises a central part cooperating with the flange and a conical seat for housing the conical end of the shaft. The central part of the disk has two apertures disposed symmetrically with respect to the conical seat for housing fixing members pivotally mounted on the flange. Resilient elements cooperate with the fixing members for holding the central part of the disk tight against the flange and the conical seat tight against the conical end of the shaft. A knob of the central part is adapted to remove the disk from the selection shaft against the action of the resilient elements.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of paraformaldehyde in which concentrated formaldehyde solution is formed into powdery paraformaldehyde by spraying the solution into a spray cooling and drying chamber and contacting the sprayed solution with a stream of inert gas such as nitrogen or air having a temperature of about 30.degree.-40.degree. C. The particulate product, which may be slightly sticky and agglomerated, is transferred from the spray cooling tower to a multistage fluidized bed each stage of which is fluidized with air of temperature higher than that of the preceding stage. Inert gas used to fluidize the particles enters the first stage, which is preferably a vibratory fluidized bed, at a temperature in the range 45-70.degree. C. Particles in the first stage are simultaneously cured, dried, and concentrated to preferably about 90-91% formaldehyde concentration.

Abstract: A vehicle washing apparatus particularly adapted for use in closed bays comprising a stationary frame carrying a plurality of brushes to wash the vehicle as it moves through the unit in a forward direction and to rinse the vehicle as it backs out of the unit in the reverse direction. The brushes include two opposed warp-around brushes, a top brush, and two opposed ledge brushes. The warp-around brushes and the top brush are movable between an operative vehicle washing position during the forward movement of the vehicle and an inoperative retracted position during the reverse movement of the vehicle. The stationary frame carries detergent and rinse spray arches. A control circuit is provided to automatically control operation of the brushes, the detergent arch and the rinse arch pursuant to the passage of a vehicle through the unit.

Abstract: An arrangement for driving a printing head along a printing line of a recording medium comprises a reversible direct-current electric motor which is coupled to the head for moving the latter forwards and backwards along the printing line. The head prints only during the forwards movement and during this movement the motor is supplied with a first voltage which causes the forwards movement of the head at a first substantially constant velocity. After the printing of a last character the head is moved away from the recording medium by an electromagnet and the motor is supplied with a second voltage which causes the backwards movement of the head at a second substantially constant velocity, greater than the first velocity. During the backwards movement of the head two rollers advance the recording medium and held it tensioned in correspondence with the printing line.

Abstract: This invention relates to liquid crystal display devices. One aspect of the invention concerns the electrolytic growing of projections on one plate of the device so that the projections register with the tin-oxide segment array on the other plate; another aspect concerns utilizing similar projections as internally placed spacers. An insulative sheet is deposited over the segment array in order to filter D.C. components, according to a third aspect of the invention, and, according to a fourth aspect, a spacing technique is disclosed which utilizes alumina particles in a glass matrix as an edge spacer. Further, a light concentration technique, utilizing a one-way mirror and a prism or fiber optic assembly, is disclosed.

Abstract: A ribbon feed device for a ribbon in a cartridge, comprises means for supporting the cartridge with spools therein engaged on hubs of the device, guide means for guiding a length of ribbon looped out of the cartridge, and a single control member operable from a normal position to an operated position to shift the guide means transversely of the length of the ribbon to a position of greater accessibility for fitting the ribbon therein. The ribbon feed device is capable of accepting either an inked ribbon cartridge or a carbon coated cartridge and includes a pair of sensing levers urged by a spring adapted to sense the inked ribbon wound on the two spools respectively through apertures in the inked ribbon cartridge and to control means for effecting reversal of the movement of the inked ribbon. Moreover, the feed mechanism includes a feed roller and counter-roller for unidirectionally feeding the carbon coated ribbon.

Abstract: An interface control unit is included in a digital computer system for controlling the transfer of sets of characters between a main memory and a peripheral unit of the mass storage type. The information is transferred in parallel by the interface control unit at the speed of the main memory, independent of the speed of the mass storage. A buffer memory adapted to store a pair of characters is provided; it alternately operates by writing a first and at the same time by reading a second set. The first character of the burst is always transferred to the memory by the microprocessor and the following by the interface control unit.