Abstract: A mail item is disclosed comprising a cover for carrying contents and formed of flexible electrically insulating material. The cover acts as a substrate on which semi-conductor elements and electrical connections are formed or deposited. The electronic circuit comprises semi-conductor elements interconnected to provide at least a memory and an interface to said memory and electrical connections are formed to be flexible. Mail handling apparatus is disclosed for communicating with the interface of the mail item and for writing information to and reading information from the memory via the interface.

Abstract: A device for protecting the fingers while applying stretch film under tension from a roll of film wound on a core by braking the core manually from within. The device is a unitary flexible plastic body including a generally cylindrical hollow body sized to fit within the core, and a flexible brim at one end of the body. The brim has substantial width, so that it can be folded over the end of the core, and braking force can then be delivered to both the inside and to the outside of the core by inserting at least one finger into the device and then squeezing the core between the thumb and finger.

Abstract: A pre-fitted optical fiber section (2) is held in a plug ferrule (1) in such a way that it extends from a face (3) up to a lateral fusion access aperture in the plug ferrule (1). From the direction of an entry surface (7) at the cable-end, a bore (6) running coaxially to the optical fiber section also leads into the fusion access aperture. Within the fusion access aperture, the pre-fitted optical fiber section can be welded to the optical fiber (27) of an optical fiber cable (24) in the field. The plug ferrule is assembled from at least two components, of which one (8) possesses the outer jacket serving to center the plug ferrule and the other (10) possesses the fusion access aperture (4) and the bore (6). Both components comprise differing materials, which considerably facilitates manufacture.

Abstract: A reflective pavement marker includes a hollow, hermetically sealed base having a flexible top wall defining at least one downward recess. The base is installed in an opening in a roadway, with the top wall flush with the surface. In each recess there is provided a reflector unit which includes an upper portion projecting upwardly above the top of the base, and converging upwardly so that impact from a moving object will cause a camming action that urges the reflector unit downwardly. The reflector unit includes at least one light-reflective component supported and protected by the upper portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for franking mail items is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a computer with a diskette drive for receiving magnetic diskettes for the recording of data therein and a device having the external shape and form of a magnetic diskette located in the diskette drive in place of a magnetic diskette. The device includes an interface magnetically coupled to a magnetic head of the diskette drive and includes a processor and memory for carrying out accounting functions and storing critical accounting data respectively. A printer is connected to the processor.

Abstract: A postage meter having facilities for departmental accounting is disclosed. A non-volatile department memory is provided for each department, each department memory storing data relating to a specific department. An additional single non-volatile memory is also provided. During each franking transaction in respect of a department, current data is read from the associated department memory and is written to the additional memory. Current data from the department memory is updated in respect of the transaction and the updated data is written to the department memory. The provision of the single additional memory enables department data in respect of each department to be recovered in the event of a fault occurring during the transaction.

Abstract: On a sectional warping machine, the dividing-shed formation for introducing a dividing element is controlled in such a way that at least one yarn sensor (18, 18') is introduced transversely to the running direction of the shed warp (11, 12) into the opened dividing shed (15). The yarn sensor generates a control signal on detecting an incorrectly arranged yarn (34) in the feed area. The yarn sensor is preferably introduced into the dividing shed (15) together with a motor-driven element transporter (13), wherein the drive of the element transporter can be switched off and/or reversed by the control signal.

Abstract: A drain pan is provided for removing copper ions from condensate water produced by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit. The pan defines a volume having two closed ends and an open top so that water can evaporate from the pan. At least one copper removing agent is placed in the pan, and a baffle is provided between the ends of the pan, for routing water entering the pan at one end through the removing agent en route to an outlet at the other end. The removing agent may include mossy zinc and/or activated charcoal.

Abstract: A method of identifying a franking machine used to print franking impressions is disclosed. Ink used by the franking machine contains an identification tag unique to each franking machine, or to a group of franking machines, and the impression printed by the franking machine is sensed to determine the identity of the tag and hence to determine the identity of the franking machine used to print the impression. The tag may be chemically unique or may be physically unique. The physically unique tag may have a unique shape or size or may bear a unique marking.

Abstract: A milking machine retractor includes a pair of rails affixed to a stall, the rails defining a path along which a carriage rides. The carriage has an arm extending away from the path, and a rod mounted on the arm is tethered to the milkers so that as the carriage moves away from the udder, the milkers are removed from the teats.The rails twist about the path so that the arm swings from a substantially vertical orientation at the lower end of the path to a substantially horizontal orientation at the upper end of the path. As a result of the resultant twisting carriage motion, the milkers are initially pulled down, off the teats, and then are withdrawn from the stall without touching the floor.

Abstract: There is provided the combination of a corrugated solar collector panel and a building surface to which it is attached, in spaced relationship. At least some of the panel corrugations are flat and located such that they face in the general direction of the sun during at least a portion of the daylight hours. Generally uniformly distributed apertures are provided in the panel, and specifically at flat areas in the corrugations. The combination further includes photovoltaic cells mounted to the corrugations at flat portions thereof containing the apertures, with the cells being supported substantially parallel with and adjacent to but spaced apart from the flat surfaces, thus leaving air passages between the photovoltaic cells and the solar collector, whereby air can enter and leave the enclosed space by flowing through the air passages and along the undersides of the photovoltaic cells, thus removing excess heat build-up from the voltaic cells.

Abstract: The position of foreign matter in a bale pattern after its separation in a separating device (10) may be evaluated in that the relative position of the opening device (1) and the transport time of the fibers between the opening device (1) and the separating device (10) is determined in each relative position. Given a separating procedure, taking account of the mentioned variables, the position of the opening device (1) at the point in time of opening the foreign matter (28) is evaluated. The determined opening position of the foreign matter on the fiber bales (27) is stored as a signal and subsequently preferably graphically represented. The method permits conclusions on the degree of contamination of the fiber bales.

Abstract: A system is provided for burning gaseous fuel in a burner which defines a first combustion zone and a second combustion zone, the zones being in communication so that materials from one zone can have access to the other. First and second conduits deliver gaseous fuel to the first and second zones, and are provided with first and second flow control valves, respectively. A third conduit allows pressurized air from a source of air to flow through the first combustion zone such as to discourage materials from the second combustion zone from entering the first combustion zone, and a fourth conduit does the same for the second combustion zone. The third and fourth conduits have third and fourth control valves, respectively.

Abstract: An optical arrangement and a process for transmitting and converting X-ray images generated on a two-dimensional primary image array (21a) with light emission within the visible spectrum contains a plurality of optical systems (17) for reduced imaging of a sectional image (19) corresponding to an individual segment (19) of the primary image (20). The imaging is effected through an optical image guide (22). At least two image guides (22) are joined to combine sectional images into first images (19b). Each first image then contains at least two segments (19, 19a) of the primary image (20). The image guides (22) on the output side are connected to the input of a converter (28) by which the light signals are converted into processable electrical signals.

Abstract: A thermal print head has thermal print elements located along an edge of a substrate between two faces thereof. An impression roller resiliently urges a print receiving medium, for example a mail item in a postage meter, into ink transfer engagement with an ink layer of a thermal transfer ink ribbon and urges the ink ribbon into heat transfer engagement with the thermal print elements. The print head is mounted to be adjustable as to location of the line of print elements relative to the impression roller and the angular disposition of the print head. The resiliently pressure exerted by the impression is adjustable. Adjustment of the print head and of the pressure may be effected automatically in response to sensing of compressibility of the print receiving medium.

Abstract: A module for a web-processing machine includes a sub-frame to which are mounted an operating roll (such as a die roll), and means urging the operating roll in one direction. The sub-frame can assume a position in which the operating roll is juxtaposed against and parallel with a driven anvil roll, and a further position in which the sub-frame is released, allowing the operating roll to move away from the anvil roll, so that the operating roll can be quickly and easily removed for replacement or maintenance. Preferably, the sub-frame is hingedly connected to the machine for rotation between the above positions.

Abstract: A postage meter system including a postage meter is provided with recognition means to recognise a personal characteristic. The recognition means is operated in an initial phase to read a personal characteristic of a person and generates and stores a personal code corresponding to that personal characteristic. In operation of the postage meter the recognition means generates an input code in respect of the personal characteristic of a potential user of the meter and compares the input code with previously stored personal codes. If the input code matches one of the previously stored codes the postage meter is enabled for operation to carry out postage transactions. Information including the personal code may be included in a printed franking impression on mail items which can then be checked by the postal authority.

Abstract: There is disclosed a briquette and a method of making the briquette, wherein the briquette includes a first quantity of carbon fines and a second quantity of a material in powdered form which contains iron or a similar metal, or an oxide thereof, the second quantity being sufficiently large that the slippery nature of the carbon fines is suppressed, and the overall density of the briquette is increased.

Abstract: Apparatus for franking mail items is disclosed. The apparatus includes a display constructed for co-operation with a photocopier in which the display is controlled to display a franking pattern to be printed, the display being located as an original image in the photocopier, and the photocopier is operated to copy the displayed pattern and to print the pattern as a franking impression on a mail item. A sensor detects scanning of the display by the photocopier and the output of the sensor is utilised to control the display to ensure that only a number of mails items are franked with postage which has been accounted for.