Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for use in weighing products having circular or oval footprint or an outwardly projecting flange. A conveyor having a pair of parallel conveyor elements arranged to underengage the footprint or flange only adjacent the periphery thereof transports the products one at a time across a weigh pan or scale device, whose length in the direction of conveyor movement is selected as the lowest value required to achieve a desired settle time for the weigh pan. Preferably, the length of the weigh pan is chosen to be essentially equal to the diameter of products to be weighed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microscope, in particular an operating microscope with a remote controlled adjustment system (32) for an ocular (8); the adjustment system preferably facilitates automatic adjustment of the ocular to match the optical characteristics of the user's eye (1). A further development also facilitates automatic adjustment of the separation of the eyepiece tubes in a stereomicroscope.

Abstract: An athletic equipment drying rack comprises a leg assembly which is operable between an open freestanding condition and a relatively more compact closed condition, and a torso assembly adjustably connected to the leg assembly. The torso assembly includes a transversely extending shoulder member, a pair of foldable arms, and a helmet member vertically extendable from the shoulder member. In a first embodiment, the torso assembly is pivotally connected to the leg assembly by a hinge for folding along a transversely extending axis between a drying position and a storage position. In a second embodiment, the torso assembly is connected to the leg assembly by a pair of vertical side rails engaging a transversely extending upper member of the leg assembly, whereby the torso assembly may be moved vertically relative to the leg assembly between a drying position and a storage position.

Abstract: A cradle for holding and feeding a stack of sheets in a printer or copier which compensates for non-uniformities in the stack, and especially non-uniformities in the central portion of the stack, thereby presenting a level top sheet to a sheet feeder regardless of how many sheets are in the stack. The cradle broadly comprises a rectangular base plate and four support posts arranged proximate the corners of the base plate. Two extension springs are arranged diametrically with respect to one another, each spring supported at its ends by the support posts, with the springs intersecting one another at approximately the center of the base plate. The extension springs support a plastic sheet, upon which the stack of sheets is laid.

Abstract: A method of mapping a substring of a bit stream to a symbol selected from a set of symbols, comprising: determining if the numeric value of an n bit substring of the bit stream is below a threshold; selecting the symbol from a first subset of symbols if the numeric value is below the threshold; selecting the symbol from a second subset if the numeric value is equal to or greater than the threshold and the next bit of the bit stream is a 0; and, selecting the symbol from a third subset if the numeric value is equal to or greater than the threshold and the next bit of the bit stream is a 1.

Abstract: A futon frame includes a seat having a pair of electric motors mounted at opposing sides thereof for driving a pair of pinions arranged to engage inclined toothed racks mounted on each side of the frame for automatically and continuously adjusting the seat and a pivotally connected back between a sofa position and a bed position. The back is connected to opposing sides of the frame by upper and lower follower bearings arranged for travel within corresponding upper and lower guide channels in each opposing side of the frame. A motor controller is mounted to the underside of the seat for connecting a user interface to the motors.

Abstract: A gauge for visually indicating travel of a brake operating rod having one end pivotally connected to a slack adjuster including a plate bearing indicia, which is mounted for movement with the one end of the brake operating rod, and a pointer pivotally supported on the slack adjuster and arranged to point to the indicia, wherein the pointer is coupled to the plate to cause the pointer to pivot relative to the adjuster and swing relative to the indicia, during travel of the brake operating rod.

Abstract: A coaxial dipole antenna element which has omni-directional radiation characteristics in azimuth and can be incorporated into linear antenna arrays to shape the radiation pattern in the vertical dimension is fed by coaxial conductors built into a electrically integral center support extrusion.

Abstract: A safety rail system for installation about the perimeter of a rooftop work site comprises a plurality of stanchion-supporting bases for attachment to existing building structure, a plurality of stanchions removably held by the bases and having cable-receiving links thereon, and a pair of wire rope cable safety rails supplied by a pair of winches fixed to at least one of the stanchions. The bases include a pair of plate members connected by a hinge for adjustable attachment to a vertical wall surface of the building and another structural surface forming an edge with the vertical wall surface. A vertically extending sleeve is fixed to the plate member which attaches to the vertical wall surface of the building for slidably receiving a bottom portion of a stanchion, and a transversely extending locking pin is used to retain the bottom portion of the stanchion within the sleeve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring refractive properties of a refractive optical system by fitting measurement data points to a derived function are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment relating to an automatic objective optometer, each data point represents a peak signal amplitude extracted from a scan of a plurality of pixels on an area detector array receiving light from the illuminated refractive optical system at a particular optometer position. The derived function describes a relationship between the peak pixel signal and optometer position based on changing focusing conditions of light at the detector array, which correspond to focusing conditions at an image plane of the refractive optical system under a confocal arrangement.

Abstract: A height adjustable mechanism for supporting a work support for vertical movement relative to a base includes a counterbalance mechanism for providing a force opposing a downward force tending to lower the work support; a lock mechanism for releasably retaining the work support in a desired vertical position; and a manual operator for selectively releasing the lock mechanism to permit vertical movement of the work surface, while preventing operation of the lock mechanism if the counterbalance force and the downward force are out of balance by some given extent. In the preferred construction, the lock mechanism is pivotally supported by a pin normally supported for axial sliding movement under the control of the manual operator, and the lock mechanism applies loading to the pin, when the counterbalance force substantially differs from the downward force, sufficient to constrain the pin against sliding movement, and thereby prevent release of the lock mechanism by the manual operator.

Abstract: A surgical drill (1), comprising a rotating head (2) having a drill bit (3) suitable to bore a body (4) and support means (7) to which the head (2) is pivotally connected. An actuating unit (10) of the movement of the drill bit (3) with respect to the body to bore (4) is provided for, comprising a first support (11) comprising the head (2) and a second support (12), suitable for resting directly upon the body (4) and translating with respect to the first support (11) parallel to the drill bit (3). The movement between drill bit (3) and body (4) is caused by the relative movement between drill bit (3) and second support (12). Means (21) for the detection of the force acting on the drill bit and means for the control of the drill bit displacement in function of the drilling force are provided for. The drill, manually holdable, presents both a reference with respect to the patient body and allows a precise control of the drill bit displacement.

Abstract: A mechanism for supporting an auxiliary surface for vertical movement relative to a primary surface includes a pair of link elements having opposite ends pivotally connected to auxiliary and primary surface mounting elements or brackets, a first bias for opposing downwardly directed swinging movement of the link elements relative to the primary surface mounting element, a second bias for opposing pivotal downwardly directed movement of the auxiliary surface mounting element relative to the link elements, and a locking mechanism for releasably constraining swinging movement of the link elements and pivotal movement of the auxiliary surface mounting element. The locking mechanism features a roller and an operator arranged to engage with the roller when moved into a locking position to effect clamping together of the link elements and the auxiliary surface supporting element.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microscope, in particular an operating microscope with an autofocussing system that adjusts focus based on the user's gaze. A sensor tracks pupil position and this information is evaluated to determine a specific area in the user's field of vision to which the user's gaze is directed, and the autofocussing system brings the specific area into focus.

Abstract: A beam scanner is disclosed for confocal microscopes. The beam scanner is provided with a disc-shaped, rotary-driven base unit which largely prevents disruptive optical scattering. The beam scanner is so designed that at least one main surface of the base unit is provided with a reflecting grid; light is reflected only by those regions of the main surface which correspond to the meshes of the reflecting grid, or only by those regions which correspond to the lattice of the reflecting grid.

Abstract: A gamma camera quality test pattern having a substrate which is substantially transparent to gamma radiation, the substrate having four quadrants, each quadrant containing a set of spaced L-shaped grooves filled with a material that is essentially opaque to gamma radiation.