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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: A method of automated scan compensation in a target acquisition system for reducing areas of potential threat surrounding an aircraft. The target acquisition system is located on an aircraft and adapted to receive data from a plurality of sensors. The target acquisition system includes a scanning device with adjustable scan limits for scanning a desired area in the vicinity of the aircraft. The method involves determining the aircraft's current position, altitude, and heading. The terrain in the vicinity of the aircraft is then scanned and a line of sight between the aircraft and the scanned terrain is determined. Changes in the terrain which prevent other areas of the terrain in the vicinity of the aircraft from being scanned are also determined. The method then involves determining adjustments to the scan limits on the target acquisition system to reduce the size of the unscanned areas, and adjusting the scan limits as the aircraft flies over the terrain.

Abstract: A mechanical latch relay started by a current pulse is disclosed which comprises an electromagnetic generating unit, a connecting mechanism and a mechanical locking mechanism, and which can maintain the existing operation state when the current pulse starting the relay disappears, and it changes its operation state when another current pulse is provided, and then it keeps the operation state even if the pulse disappears so that it can provide a stable operation state of current on/off unnecessary to be provided with a current for a long time, which enables to provide an effective control for current on/off.

Abstract: A magnetically interactive substrate is provided for a book. The book includes a plurality of interactive substrates in the form of a sheet or a panel of material. Each of the interactive substrates includes magnetizable areas or portions printed thereon. The magnetizable areas are printed using a magnetic ink formulated by magnetizable particles added to an ink formulated for a preselected printing process. The magnetizable particles are shaped and sized to be compatible with the preselected printing process. A plurality of removable play pieces are adapted to be attracted to the magnetizable areas on the substrate. Each of the removable play pieces includes a substrate or support member on which magnetic material is applied. The magnetic material allows the play piece to be selectively positioned on the magnetizable areas.

Abstract: Chronic fatigue syndrome is diagnosed through detection of an about 30 kDa RNase L molecule under native conditions in cellular extracts of RNase L-containing cells such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Proteins are fractionated according to molecular weight under nondenaturing conditions. The fractionated proteins are assayed for the presence of the about 30 kDa protein having 2-5A-dependent RNase L enzyme activity. The severity of the affliction may be determined by testing for the presence of RNase L molecules having approximate molecular weights of 30 and 80 kDa. The presence of the about 30 kDa RNase L, and the absence of the about 80 kDa RNase L molecule, correlates with severe chronic fatigue syndrome. The presence of both RNase L molecules indicates a less severe chronic fatigue syndrome affliction. Under denaturing conditions, and in the presence of protease inhibitors, chronic fatigue syndrome may be diagnosed through the detection of an about 37 kDa 2-5A binding protein.