Abstract: A continuous web of sheet material is fed through the nip of a first pair of driven pull rolls around a series of idler rollers and through the nip of a second pair of driven pull rolls. The pairs of pull rolls are selectively rotated to exert a desired tension on the web in a tension zone formed between the pairs of rolls. One pair of pull rolls operates as feed rolls to advance a preselected length of the web to a rotating cutter mechanism so that envelope blanks of a selected length are cut from the web for each revolution of the cutter mechanism. The feed rolls are operated by a servo-controlled motor responsive to an operator initiated signal to adjust the feed length without interrupting the feed of the web to the cutter mechanism. The second pair of pull rolls operates as tension rolls and is servo-motor controlled to maintain a preselected tension on the web fed to the cutter mechanism.

Abstract: Refractory material is applied to the interior surface of a vessel by advancing a boom carriage on a frame positioned externally of the vessel through an opening in the vessel. The boom carriage supports a collapsed telescoping mast and a nozzle boom. The carriage supporting the mast and nozzle boom is advanced through the opening to an elevated position within the vessel. At the end of travel of the boom carriage, the telescoping mast is pivoted through approximately 90.degree. to a vertical position and the nozzle boom is pivoted to a position perpendicular to the mast. The mast is progressively extended as the nozzle boom is rotated and refractory material is sprayed from a nozzle assembly on the end of the boom onto the vessel interior surface. The nozzle boom is transversely and pivotally movable on the mast to adjust the position of the nozzle assembly to follow the irregular contour on the interior surface as the mast is telescopically advanced or retracted.

Abstract: A web of cardstock divided by transverse score lines includes card segments having apertures oriented with respect to an optical center point of each card segment. The web is continuously fed from a supply of cardstock by engagement of a tractor feed device with tracks of holes extending along the longitudinal edges of the web. A selected one of the holes serves to locate the optical center point of each card segment as the web is fed to a film mounting station. Film negatives cut from a strip of developed film are sequentially positioned in registry with the optical centers in the apertures of the card segments as the web advances through the film mounting station. An adhesive releasably secures the negatives in overlying relation with the apertures on one side of the cards to expose through the apertures a selected composition of the negatives.

Abstract: A battery holder for containing an electric storage battery is transported by a lift unit on a mobile vehicle. The lift unit is pivotally mounted at a rearward end portion of the vehicle to move into surrounding relation with the battery holder positioned on the ground. The lift unit is pivoted upwardly to raise the battery holder to a preselected elevation within the minimal lateral and overhead clearance available in an underground mine. The lift unit includes a pair of lifting forks extending in spaced parallel relation from the vehicle within the lateral dimensions of the vehicle. The lifting forks have a configuration adapted to permit downward movement of the forks into engagement with the ground to pick up a battery holder positioned on the ground. The lifting forks extend laterally of the battery holder and engage the holder for vertical movement to an elevated position that does not exceed the uppermost position for transportation of the battery in areas of minimal overhead clearance.

Abstract: Upon completion of dislodging and transporting mine material from an underground mine, the mine is converted to a repository for the disposal of hazardous waste. The mine includes a network of connected chambers each formed by surrounding sidewalls into which parallel spaced boreholes are drilled to dislodge mine material from a seam in the rock formation. For use as repository, each borehole is lined with a layer of water permeable material. Drums containing hazardous waste are encapsulated within spherical cement modules. The modules are positioned in spaced relation within the boreholes. Shock absorbing reinforcing material fills the voids within the boreholes surrounding the modules to protect the modules from damage due to seismic disturbances in the underground formation. Each of the cement modules is ventilated to dissipate heat through an air plenum into the central chamber.

Abstract: An elongated channel beam for supporting the surface of an underground rock formation includes a base portion with a bearing surface for contacting the rock strata and an opposite surface having a longitudinally extending central rib and flanged edges for resisting deflection and bending of the channel beam under the load of the rock strata. A plurality of openings spaced a preselected distance apart extend through the central rib. A bearing plate is positioned in overlying abutting relation with each opening in the channel beam. The bearing plate includes embossed areas and longitudinally flanged edges that overlie in abutting relation the central rib and flanged edges of the channel beam. The bearing plate is restrained from longitudinal and lateral movement on the channel beam. Anchor bolts extend through the aligned openings in the bearing plate and channel beam into bore holes drilled in the rock formation.

Abstract: A low pass filter for use in an image band pass filter of a photoelectron spectromicroscope incorporating a virtual potential surface for reflecting electrons below a particular energy and a special charged particle trap or super dump for unwanted electrons. The filter construction with the super dump reduces the proportion of elastically and inelastically scattered high energy electron escaping the filter.

Abstract: An elongated rod fabricated of polymeric material for use in reinforcing an underground passage includes an integral structure of a shaft portion, washer element and torque receiving end portion. The shaft portion is fabricated of a preselected polymeric material as required to meet the strength requirements of the rod in reinforcing the rock formation surrounding the passage. For use in reinforcing the side walls of a passage, the rod is fabricated of plastic material recycled, for example, from plastic beverage containers. The integral construction eliminates the need to thread the end of the rod to receive a nut. The washer element seats against a bearing block compressed against the side wall. When used with a resin system, the rod is anchored in the bore hole to maintain the bearing block compressed against the side wall to support the surrounding rock strata.

Abstract: A control area is imaged on photo-sensitive graphic arts material to be evaluated for the sharpness of images printed on the material through the various stages of the reproduction process. The control area includes a light transmitting image divided into a plurality of segments where the image is a sharp-edged line element of a fixed preselected width. The line element is repeated from segment to segment in a preselected pattern of line elements separated a preselected distance apart by a space. The first segment of a control area has a solid optical density. At the opposite end of the control area is positioned a second segment having a substrate optical density. An intermediate segment includes a plurality of sections in which the line elements in each section are spaced apart the same distance, and the spacing between line elements varies from one section to the next. Thus, a range of spatial frequencies of repeating line elements is provided in the control area.

Abstract: A pair of truss brackets are secured to the roof of an underground passage adjacent to opposing ribs of the passage. The truss brackets each include a roof engaging surface and a truss supporting arm member extending from the roof engaging surface. A pair of U-bolts are supported by the arm members of the truss brackets. Each arm member extends horizontally from the truss bracket to an enlarged end portion of the arm member. The U-bolt is horizontally movable in a vertically hanging position on the arm member and is restrained by the enlarged end portion from disengagement from the arm member. The U-bolts are pivoted on the truss brackets to a horizontal position for connection to truss members which are connected to each other and tensioned to apply an uplifting force to the roof. As the truss members are connected and tensioned, the U-bolts are retained for a range of horizontal movement on the arm members to facilitate adjustments in the position of the U-bolts on the truss brackets.

Abstract: A mining machine is controlled by a fiber optic controlled remote control system that includes one or more fiber optic cables that extend from a remote control station through a hose supplying water to the mining machine. The fiber optic cables exit the water hose for connection to electrically operated equipment onboard the mining machine. Connectors having sealing glands with apertures therethrough allow for insertion of the cables into the water hose and exiting of the cables from the hose at the mining machine while preventing the escape of water from the hose at the points of insertion and exiting. The fiber optic cable is supported and positioned for movement in the hose to relieve tension on the cable when the hose is stretched.

Abstract: An elongated channel member for supporting the surface of an underground rock formation includes a base portion with a bearing surface for contacting the rock strata and an opposite surface having a longitudinally extending central rib and flanged edges for resisting deflection and bending of the channel member under the load of the rock strata. A plurality of openings spaced a preselected distance apart extend through the central rib. A bearing plate is positioned in overlying abutting relation with each opening in the channel member. The bearing plate includes embossed areas and longitudinally flanged edges that are complementary in shape with the central rib and flanges on the channel to securely engage the bearing plate on the channel member. Thus, the bearing plate engages the channel member to restrain longitudinal and lateral movement of the bearing plate on the channel member and stiffen the channel member to resist bending.

Abstract: A battery holder for containing an electric storage battery is transported by a lift unit on a mobile vehicle. The lift unit is pivotally mounted at a rearward end portion of the vehicle to move into surrounding relation with the battery holder positioned on the ground. The lift unit is pivoted upwardly to raise the battery holder to a preselected elevation within the minimal lateral and overhead clearance available in an underground mine. The lift unit includes a pair of lifting forks extending in spaced parallel relation from the vehicle within the lateral dimensions of the vehicle. The lifting forks have a configuration adapted to permit downward movement of the forks into engagement with the ground to pick up a battery holder positioned on the ground. The lifting forks extend laterally of the battery holder and engage the holder for vertical movement to an elevated position that does not exceed the uppermost position for transportation of the battery in areas of minimal overhead clearance.

Abstract: A web of cardstock divided by transverse score lines includes card segments having apertures oriented with respect to an optical center point of each card segment. The web is continuously fed from a supply of cardstock by engagement of a tractor feed device with tracks of holes extending along the longitudinal edges of the web. A selected one of the holes serves to locate the optical center point of each card segment as the web is fed to a film mounting station. Film negatives cut from a strip of developed film are sequentially positioned in registry with the optical centers in the apertures of the card segments as the web advances through the film mounting station. The negatives are adhesively, releasably secured in overlying relation with the apertures on one side of the cards to expose through the apertures a selected composition of the negatives.

Abstract: An entry system for a longwall panel for the mining of coal and the like by a shearer-type cutter includes a single entryway developed by a boring type mining machine. Intake air and return air passageways are formed in the entryway by a mine stopping between the mine roof and floor to permit circulation of the air within the entryway as it is being developed. One of the passageways conveys the intake air into the entryway and the return air passageway serves to direct the dust laden air away from the mine face and receives conveyor apparatus for transporting the dislodged material out of the mine.

Abstract: A first duct system extends longitudinally on one side of a mining machine frame from an air inlet adjacent to a cutter drum carried on a boom rearwardly to an air outlet at the rearward end of the machine frame. A fan assembly is mounted on the machine frame adjacent the inlet and induces flow of dust laden air generated during the material dislodging operation into the first duct system. A scrubber and demister positioned in the first duct system upstream of the air outlet remove the dust particles from the airflow through the duct system for discharge of the airflow from the air outlet substantially free of dust particles. A second duct system is positioned parallel to the first duct system on the opposite side of the machine and extends rearwardly from an air inlet to a crossover point where a transverse duct connects the first and second duct systems.

Abstract: The marking device has a housing supporting a marking head for movement longitudinally and laterally preselected amounts controlled by a pair of stepper motors. The marking head has a plurality of marking pins that are air actuated and controlled by appropriate solenoids. The marking device is arranged to move the head longitudinally in a raster pattern so that each of the pins is actuated to form a portion of a character upon longitudinal movement through a selected distance. The marking head is then moved to a parallel y axis and subsequently moved longitudinally in a reverse direction. During the movement in a reverse direction, all of the pins are actuated to form other portions of the characters in the array. With this arrangement, a plurality of characters are simultaneously formed by impressing dots on an object until the marking head moves forward and backward on different y axes to simultaneously form all of the characters in the array.

Abstract: An expansion assembly for use with resin on a mine roof bolt includes an expandable shell and a camming plug having a first end wall spaced from a second end wall by a tapered body portion. Four equidistantly spaced grooves extend longitudinally in the tapered body portion. Pairs of grooves are connected across the second end wall by transverse grooves that form resin flow channels. A rib formation extends outwardly from the side wall adjacent to and removed from a groove. The rib formation defines the edge of the groove and abuts an edge of one of the fingers of the expandable shell to align the grooves of the plug with the respective slots formed between the shell fingers. This alignment assures unobstructed flow of the mixed resin downwardly through the plug grooves and shell slots into surrounding relation with the expansion assembly for secure bonding of the assembly with the walls of a bore hole.

Abstract: A pair of telescoping members include interconnecting end portions having a preselected configuration that facilitates the insertion of one tubular end portion into the other tubular end portion. The surface configuration of the interconnecting end portions is complementary so that the surfaces on an inner member engage the surfaces on the outer member to permit the transmission of rotation from one telescoping member to the other while permitting relative longitudinal movement therebetween. The inner and outer connecting members are spaced apart to form an annulus therebetween and provide a degree of tolerance greater than the tolerance provided with conventionally machined telescoping connecting end portions. The tolerance is taken up by the injection of a thermosetting resinous material at an elevated temperature into the annulus, completely filling the annulus.

Abstract: A pair of pull rolls unwind web material from a roll and advance the web at a preselected linear feed rate to a web cutting mechanism. The pull rolls are rotated at a preselected speed to generate the desired linear speed rate for cutting the web at selected intervals to produce blanks of a preselected length. The feed rolls are driven by a servo-motor which is operated by a controller that is microprocessor controlled. The controller is electrically connected to an encoder that is drivingly connected to a rotating knife cylinder of the web cutting mechanism. A selected length of blank to be cut from the web is inputted by the operator through a keypad to transmit a corresponding signal to the controller. In addition, the controller receives a signal from the servo-motor that drives the pull rolls, which signal is representative of the rate of rotation of the pull rolls.