Abstract: An insulating sack for carrying beverages and other items includes an inner fabric bag having an open mouth and a closed bottom, an outer bag connected to the inner fabric bag along said mouth, means defining a first drawstring pathway adjacent said mouth, a first drawstring inserted along said pathway and having ends extending outside of the pathway whereby the first drawstring can be tightened to purse the mouth, and a second drawstring passing circumferentially around the inner bag and inside of the outer bag, whereby the second drawstring can be tightened to reduce the effective diameter of the inner bag at a position more than halfway from the mouth to the closed bottom of the outer bag, thus enabling one to custom-fit the sack to items of various sizes.

Abstract: An optical instrument is described in which a diffractive element (25) is located at a focal or image plane (3) of the instrument and the diffractive element (25) is effective to produce an array (6) of a plurality of exit pupils at a viewing position for the instrument and thereby to form an enlarged exit pupil for the instrument.

Abstract: An ink jet printing device is disclosed in which a bore providing a nozzle for the ejection of droplets of ink is closed by a pin to prevent ejection of ink. The pin is movable into a retracted position in which the pin is withdrawn from the bore to permit ejection of droplets of ink from an ink chamber in communication with said bore. The pin is connected to a piston movable within a chamber. A spring acts on the piston to urge the pin into the bore. Withdrawal of the pin from the bore is effected by pressure of ink acting, against the spring force, on the piston. Ink is supplied selectively under pressure to the ink chamber from an ink supply. Alternatively the piston may be moved by selective application of positive and negative gaseous pressure in the chamber.

Abstract: Printing apparatus is disclosed for printing on articles of non-uniform thickness. The printing apparatus includes a thermal transfer print head to print on the article and the article is pressed toward thermal printing elements of the thermal print head by a line of individual impression rollers each individually resiliently biased toward the print head.

Abstract: Methods are described for the rapid synthesis in satisfactory yield of methyl ecgonine phenylphosphonates as analogues of transition states for the hydrolysis of the benzoyl ester of an ecgonine derivative, namely cocaine, and their linking to carrier proteins, for the purpose of using them as immunogens. The resulting immunogens elicit the formation in experimental animals of antibodies able to promote the hydrolysis of cocaine. Both these catalytic anti-cocaine antibodies and the immunogens themselves are potentially useful for the treatment of individuals seeking to avoid the pharmacological effects of cocaine and in diagnostic applications.

Abstract: A carriage with a stretched function is provided for being used in an image scanning apparatus. The carriage includes a first part, having a first contact surface and a second contact surface and movable between a start position and an end position of a scanning area of the image scanning apparatus, for disposing thereon the light source and initial reflector of the image scanning apparatus, and a second part having a third contact surface and a fourth contact surface for disposing thereon a reflector set of the image scanning apparatus, wherein the second contact surface is separated from the fourth contact surface by a distance and the first contact surface will contact the third contact surface when the first part is positioned on the start position, and the second contact surface will contact the fourth contact surface and the first contact surface is separated from the third contact surface by the distance when the first part is positioned on the end position.

Abstract: An engineering drawing plotter includes a feed roller for moving paper lengthwise bidirectionally with respect to one or more plotting pens. A counter installed on the plotter includes a pulse switch for measuring absolute lengthwise paper displacement, a direction transducer for determining paper movement direction, and a counter responsive to the measuring device and direction indicating device, for determining and displaying cumulative net paper displacement.

Abstract: Niobium, Nb, is refined from FeNb by electron beam melt refining. The amount of the impurities in the FeNb which form suboxides with oxygen is optionally determined. Sufficient oxygen is added to form oxides with these impurities. The electron beam melt refining process is carried out at a sufficiently high temperature and under a sufficiently low vacuum so that the impurities are removed as oxides from the liquid Nb and the purified Nb is recovered. Preferably the oxygen is added as an oxygen-containing compound such as Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5. The recovered Nb can be subjected to additional electron beam melt refining cycles to obtain the desired purity.

Abstract: A pliable centrifuge tube array includes a number of tubes having collars which are interconnected by flexible tethers that permit the tubes to diverge when they are placed into holes in a centrifuge rotor. The tubes have a noncircular cross section providing grooves or apexes in which pellets of dense material preferentially collect. In some embodiments, the tethers or tubes have a latching mechanism such as mating projections and sockets which, when engaged, hold the tubes together in close array. The tubes may have individual lids which can be opened and closed simultaneously with a prying tool specially designed for the purpose.

Abstract: A detonation cycle gas turbine engine includes a turbine rotor contained within a housing. Exhaust ports of respective valveless combustion chambers on opposite sides of the rotor direct combustion gases toward the turbine. The chambers are connected by a valveless manifold fed with fuel and oxidizer. When combustible gases are detonated by an igniter in one of the combustion chambers, the back pressure from the detonation shuts off the fuel and oxidizer flow to that chamber and redirects the fuel and oxidizer to the opposite chamber, where detonation occurs, the process repeats cyclically. Power is taken off the rotor shaft mechanically or electrically.

Abstract: Apparatus, for example postage metering apparatus is described as being provided with tamper detection means. The tamper detection means may comprise an electrically conductive or resistive first layer extending between a wall of a secure housing and components critical in the proper functioning of the apparatus. An indicator may include a second electrically conductive layer extending adjacent and electrically isolated from the first layer and means responsive to completion of an electrical path between the layers or means responsive to change in resistance of the resistive layer. In an alternative construction, the tamper detection means includes a sealed enclosed space containing gaseous substance at a pressure above ambient air pressure and means responsive to a decrease in the pressure in the space to permit a mechanical interposer to engage an operable mechanical element of the apparatus to inhibit operation thereof.

Abstract: The cosmetic preparation contains: (a) an oil-soluble active ingredient that is suitable for skin cosmetics, (b) a partial fatty acid ester of polyoxyethylene sorbitan, (c) at least one phospholipid, (d) ethanol, and (e) water as a carrier liquid. The phospholipid is dissolved in ethanol, and then the partial fatty acid esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitan and the active ingredient are added. The oil phase that is obtained is added to water and stirred. The preparation is obtained in the form of a nanodispersion.

Abstract: A postage meter provided with a credit register is also provided with a debit register. When credit value in the credit register is insufficient for a postage charge to be applied to a mail item in a franking operation, the debit register is incremented by an amount equal to the excess of the postage charge amount over the credit value. Accordingly the postage meter is enabled to be operated even when there is insufficient credit.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an electronic data access and retrieval system comprising at least first and second smart cards, a first card being encoded with digital data fields representative of predetermined information and a second card including authorization codes for enabling access to and authorized retrieval of selected information from digital data fields of the first card, and includes computer means including display means for displaying the access data. A method is also disclosed of operating an electronic secured access verification display system for displaying an indication of permissible and non-permissible access to a facility of authorized personnel and for verifying the identity of such personnel by providing IDENTITY SMART CARDS, one for each authorized person, and an ACCESS SMART CARD to each authorized operator of the system.

Abstract: High molecular weight surface proteins of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae which exhibit immunogenic properties and genes encoding the same are described. Specifically, genes coding for two immunodominant high molecular weight proteins, HMW1 and HMW2, have been cloned, expressed and sequenced, while genes coding for high molecular proteins HMW3 and HMW4 have also been cloned, expressed and sequenced.

Abstract: A brisket barrier for milking parlors includes a transverse bar mounted for sliding movement on vertical supports. The bar has a release position at floor level, a retaining position at brisket level, and an index position where it presses rearward against the brisket. The arrangement provides for uniform positioning of cows in standard stalls, regardless of the cows' size. The cows simply step over the lowered bar to exit the stall.

Abstract: A ring binder assembly includes a folder comprising front and rear flaps interconnected by a spine, a pair of low-profile receptacles attached to an inner surface of the spine, and a ring mechanism whose tubular rivets have mushroomed feet designed to be seated in the receptacles. The receptacles open in opposite directions so that the ring mechanism is installed with a swiveling motion. A method of shipping the binders, unassembled, is to place a stack of a number of folder opened flat in a box, leaving just sufficient head space for a corresponding number of ring mechanisms arranged side-by-side in a single row at the top of the box. The binder assemblies can be quickly completed by the retailer, or by the end purchaser.

Abstract: Thermal transfer printing apparatus is provided with a driven impression roller movable into an operative position to urge a print receiving medium into engagement with an ink layer of an ink transfer ribbon and the ribbon into heat transfer engagement with a thermal print head. Rotation of the impression roller feeds the ribbon and print receiving medium past the print head. A drive roller for a ribbon take-up drive is located so as to be engaged directly by the impression roller or by the print receiving medium when the impression roller is in the operative position so as to impart drive to the ribbon take-up.