Abstract: This invention provides a method and associated apparatus in which decorative ribbons of varying thickness, width, and material can be automatically produced, curled, grouped, and combined in a decorative element which is packaged for distribution. The apparatus serves to impart a helical curl to at least one of a plurality of ribbon strands, meters the strands into preselected lengths, separates the lengths from the ribbon stock, and packages the resulting coiled ribbon arrangements for distribution to customers. The apparatus includes one or more roll stands for storing rolls of ribbon stock, a feed unit for advancing the ribbon through the apparatus and imparting a tendency to curl the strands, a tension regulator unit for accumulating metered lengths of the stands and regulating the advancement of the ribbon strands through the apparatus, and a packaging unit for attaching the ribbon on a placard, to form a decorative element having a cluster of curled ribbon strands.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and associated apparatus in which decorative ribbons of varying thickness, width, and material can be automatically produced, curled, grouped, and combined in a decorative element which is packaged for distribution. The apparatus serves to impart a helical curl to at least one of a plurality of ribbon strands, meters the strands into preselected lengths, separates the lengths from the ribbon stock, and packages the resulting coiled ribbon arrangements for distribution to customers. The apparatus includes one or more roll stands for storing rolls of ribbon stock, a feed unit for advancing the ribbon through the apparatus and imparting a tendency to curl the strands, a tension regulator unit for accumulating metered lengths of the stands and regulating the advancement of the ribbon strands through the apparatus, and a packaging unit for attaching the ribbon on a placard, to form a decorative element having a cluster of curled ribbon strands.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic medical device, and in particular to a blood cell analyzer which by manual or automatic operation withdraws and analyzes a minimal amount of blood that is stored in open or sealed vials. The analyzer includes a manually operated self cleaning sampling device for open vials and an automated self cleaning sampling device for sealed vials fitted with a pierceable cap.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle that includes a fuselage with a partial toroidal forward portion, and an aft portion. A duct is formed through the fuselage and extends from the top to the bottom of the fuselage. Two counter-rotating rotor assemblies are mounted within the duct for providing downward thrust through the duct. The rotor assemblies are supported by a plurality of support struts. At least one engine is mounted within the fuselage and engages with the rotor assemblies. A pusher prop assembly is mounted to the aft portion of the fuselage. The pusher prop assembly is designed to provide forward thrust along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The pusher prop assembly includes a drive shaft that is engaged with the engine. A plurality of propellers are attached to and rotated by the drive shaft. A shroud is mounted to the aft portion of the fuselage around the propellers and is operative for channeling the air passing through the propellers in a substantially aft direction.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for sprinkling a preset quantity of granted material, such as table salt. The dispenser comprises a granulated material reservoir, an enclosure, a metering cup, a cap, a collector and a diffuser. The reservoir has a side, a top and a bottom wall. The enclosure encases the reservoir side wall and is closed at one end by a cap adjacent to the reservoir bottom wall. The metering cup is positioned in the cap and an opening in the reservoir bottom wall communicates with and fills the metering cup. A collector is positioned adjacent to the top wall of the reservoir. A passageway formed between the reservoir sidewall and the enclosure communicates with the metering cup and collector. The diffuser is positioned adjacent to an opening in the collector and opposite the collector. When the dispenser is in the upright position, granulated material from the reservoir fills the metering cup.

Abstract: A noise reducing blanket for use in an aircraft cabin for reducing acoustic noise transmission from an aircraft airframe to a cabin interior. The blanket includes a mass barrier portion, a foam portion having at least one cavity formed in it, and a vapor barrier which is disposed about the foam portion The mass barrier portion includes a plurality of vinyl layers that are attached to one another at spaced apart locations. The spaced attachment allows the layers to move substantially independently from one another. The layers are preferably attached to one another by stitching that includes between approximately three to five stitches per inch. There are preferably at least two layers in the mass barrier portion, and, more preferably, between 2 and 4 layers in the mass barrier portion. The cavities in the foam portion are designed to increase the noise absorptive properties of the blanket.

Abstract: A composite electrode for an electrochemical device wherein the current collectors and carriers are incorporated into at least one of the electrodes, which are used in alkali metal electrochemical devices, and alkali metal-ion electrochemical devices, which current collectors and carriers are a net of metallized glass or ceramic fibers which may be plasma etched prior to metallizing, and which are woven or non-woven.

Abstract: A jewelry display stand including a vertical post assembly mounted on a base. A plurality of arms, serving as hanger elements for jewelry or other merchandise, radiate from the post. The arms co-operate with anti-removal elements on the post that prevent merchandise from being removed from the spokes. In one embodiment a ring engaging the tips of the arms provides the anti-removal elements. In another embodiment the anti-removal elements are a set of spokes above the arms. Either the arms or the spokes are movable up and down and are spring-biased upwards, to a position in which the arms are separated from the anti-removal elements and merchandise can be removed from or placed on the arms. A cap on the post engages the movable elements, holding them down, and keeping the arms engaged with the ring or spokes. A slot in the cap allows one arm or spoke to rise to the non-engaging position, and the cap is rotatable about a vertical axis so that the slot can be aligned with any selected arm or spoke.

Abstract: This invention is a retractable registration apparatus (10) mounted on a printing machine (12) for aligning a screen printing frame (28) with an image platform (14). The apparatus (10) has a pair of registration mechanisms, such as pins (64), for coupling with the screen printing frame (28) and a registration appendage (56) which carries the registration mechanism (64). The registration appendage (56) is rotatably mounted to the printing machine (12) for allowing rotation of the registration appendage (56) from a registration position to a retracted position. A locking mechanism, such as a detent (102), retains the appendage (56) with the registration mechanism (64) in the exact registration position.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for decorating a flat self-supporting article which is turned for decoration thereof on both sides, the article is firstly removed from a horizontal position in an article holder by being lifted by a first pivoting means and then pivoted into a vertical intermediate position from which the article is moved by a second pivoting means producing a pivoting movement of the article into a horizontal position with its previously upward surface facing downwardly. The article is then lowered into an article holder again.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the transport of cargo in containers, especially cargo which would usually be transported as bulk cargo, for example coils of sheet steel. The problem of securely loading cargo within a container is overcome by the present invention by utilizing a plurality of pallets which in combination occupy the floor space of a container and using the required number of pallets, whether loaded or not, to provide pallet load location and restraint. For the anticipated bulk cargo comprising loads of up to 10,000 kg, and between 10,000 and 25,000 kg, two pallet sizes are envisaged a longer size being twice as long as a shorter size. The preferred pallets have a width equal of the width of the container.

Abstract: A method of inputting print-destined data in rewritable card read/write apparatuses of a card utilization system very conveniently. A message edited by a computer (20) for rewritable card users is stored in a memory (23) provided in association with a magnetic head energizing means (21; 5) of a rewritable card read/write apparatus by way of an external-input interface (6). A magnetic card having at least one magnetic track for storing the message is inserted in the above-mentioned rewritable card read/write apparatus to thereby create a message card carrying the message from the magnetic card.

Abstract: Gel electrolytes for electrochromic and electrochemical devices wherein in one embodiment polymeric gelling agents/atactic or syndiotactic, and isotactic PMMA, and a lithium salt in a suitable solvent are dissolved at a temperature above the gelation point and cooled to form a gel electrolyte. In another embodiment a preelectrolyte film is formed by casting a solution of a mixture of stereocomplexed PMMA with a plasticizer (a complexing low molecular weight polar solvent) in a non-complexing volatile solvent (e.i., CClH3), followed by the activation of the film in a liquid electrolyte which includes a lithium salt and low molecular weight complexing solvents to form the completed gel electrolyte.

Abstract: A waveguide structure is fabricated by patterning active elements on a semiconductor wafer (21). The upper surface of the wafer (21) and the active elements are then coated by a dissolvable positive resist polymer. The polymer is etched using conventional techniques to produce a former for the structure of die waveguide channel and subsequently the polymer former is coated (26) and electroformed (27) using a suitable metallic material. Finally, the polymer former is dissolved leaving an open channel (25) the boundaries of which are defined by the electroformed stucture. The waveguide structure has the advantage that die active elements are integral with the waveguide structure and lie in a common fabrication plane which means that if the depth of the waveguide varies the active elements remain in the same plane. The waveguide structure is particularly suited for use at terahertz frequencies.

Abstract: A method for finishing a workpiece is disclosed. The method involves placing a ferrofluid finishing material into a vessel. The ferrofluid finishing material including a ferrofluid and a dispersed or colloidally suspended abrasive media. Placing a workpiece in the vessel so that the workpiece is submerged in the ferrofluid finishing material. A magnetic field is then applied in the vicinity of the vessel. The magnetic field produces an increase in viscosity of the ferrofluid. The increased viscosity generates a clamping force on the workpiece that results in increased surface resistance over the entire workpiece. Also, as the viscosity increases, it forces the workpiece to move relative to the ferrofluid. The relative motion between the abrasive media and the workpiece and increased surface resistance causes the abrasive media to finish the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: An infant pacifier is provided including a nipple, a bond ring and a handle. The nipple has a shaft and a base, each made of a flexible membrane and formed integrally with one another. A rim is formed on the base of the nipple adjacent its outer periphery. The bond ring is generally planar and annular shape and engages the rim. The handle includes a mounting ring and an elongate grip located concentric with the mounting ring. The mounting ring engages the bond ring and the rim. The bond ring and the mounting ring are attached to the nipple, preferably by overmolding the nipple and bond ring to one another and sonic welding the handle to the nipple.

Abstract: Vaccines comprising peptides from a fusion junction present in a mutant human EGF receptor and methods of using these vaccines in the inhibition of tumor formation and enhancement of tumor regression are provided. Cell lines which overexpress a Type III mutant EGF receptor and methods of producing these cell lines are also provided. In addition, antibodies raised against peptides expressed by these cell lines are provided. Further, antisense oligonucleotides targeted to a mutant EGF receptor which decreases expression of a mutant EGF receptor are disclosed.

Abstract: A heat curable bonding composition of the present invention comprises an aqueous solution containing phosphate ion (PO4−3) and chromium(III) ion (Cr+3, or trivalent chromium) and is substantially free of hexavalent chromium ions. The bonding composition may further contain at least one secondary cationic species. The bonding composition has a pH in the range of about 1 to about 3.5.