Abstract: A method for hermetically sealing a bulk article wherein a strip of wrapping material is initially positioned onto an article such that extending ends of the wrapping material strip extend from away from an edge of the article, each end having a different length. The article is rotated to cause the ends of the strip to cover an uncovered side of the article with a fin-like section extending therefrom away from the article which can be sealed without contacting the article. The fin-like section is cooled and folded onto the top of the article so as to form an axial seam. Lateral ends of the wrapping material strip are then sealed to complete the hermetic sealing process.

Abstract: An inshot gas burner having an overall length of less than four inches that is capable of delivering between 5,000 and 5,800 Btus per unit length of burner per hour. The burner venturi section with a flame retainer positioned at its outlet that produces a firing rate of at least 9,900 Btus per inch of diffuser length.

Abstract: A gas furnace responsive to a thermostat includes a thermal switch wired in series between the furnace power supply and the thermostat. A microprocessor connected to the thermal switch detects when the switch opens and closes, carrying out prearranged programs in response thereto. The thermal switch is mounted so that it opens when an over-pressure in the furnace draft system is detected, as evidenced by hot flue gasses passing over the thermal switch probe. The switch is allowed to cycle at least one time before the furnace is disabled. After a certain period of the time, the combustion cycle is reinitiated and the above steps are repeated if the thermal switch again resets.

Abstract: A horizontally level raised terrace floor system for mounting over a non-level or irregular substructure that includes a plurality of spaced apart support pedestals that are fabricated of a heat shearable foam material. Each pedestal is mounted upon the non-horizontally level substructure and the pedestals are heat sheared so that the top surface of each pedestal lies in a common horizontal plane above the substructure. A plurality of flat grates are placed directly upon the pedestals in an edge to edge relationship. A plurality of interlocking paving blocks are laid down over the grates to provide a tight deck over the grates.

Abstract: A monitoring system particularly useful for monitoring food located at one or a plurality of food serving or storage location includes a sensing subsystem and a processing subsystem. The sensing subsystem may include at least one sensing device and the processing subsystem may include a personal computer. The processing subsystem may be adapted to encrypt received data to the end that data stored in memory is substantially impervious to data tampering.

Abstract: A method of making a soft, well cushioned, fabric suitable for use in an automotive interior, furniture and upholstery. The fabric which is formed by depositing a coating of a high temperature adhesive having a viscosity of 6×104 to 75×104 centipoise at its application temperature on one surface of a felt cloth followed by laying down a layer of a second material on top of the adhesive-coated surface of the felt cloth to form a composite. The composite is then passed through a hot pinch point to firmly bond the second layer to the felt cloth.

Abstract: A non-contacting seal which includes a stationary tooth that radially overlaps a tooth on a rotatable shaft, with the sealing action resulting from controlled clearance both radially between stationary tooth and the shaft, and axially between the stationary tooth and the shaft. The seal may also be in the form of a stationary tooth that is approximately in the same radial plane as a tooth on a rotatable shaft, with the sealing action resulting from both a controlled clearance gap between the two teeth and from the momentum of liquid traveling outward from the rotating tooth making it difficult for the liquid to turn to go axially through the gap between the rotating tooth and the stationary tooth. The seal may also comprise the combination of the two seals described above or a pair of the same seals, i.e., two radially overlapping or two in the same radial plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical reader that includes a color imaging assembly that generates color imaging data. An image analysis circuit determines if the acquired image should be characterized as a color photograph or as including a graphical symbol. A processing circuit processes the imaging data based on the image analysis circuit's determination of whether the image is a graphical symbol or a color photograph. The present invention allows a user to acquire and process both color images and graphical symbols, such as bar codes, text, OCR symbols or signatures. The optical reader of the present invention is also configured to associate an acquired image with at least one other acquired image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a powdered beverage mix, comprising i) flavor(s), ii) calcium hydroxide, iii) citric and/or malic acid and, iv) a sugar selected from sucrose, fructose, glucose, and combinations thereof, wherein the ratios of acid/sugar and sugar/calcium are selected such that the calcium in the powdered beverage mix dissolves rapidly with very minimal calcium sedimentation when stirred by hand for less than about 60 seconds.

Abstract: A digital reproduction signal processor relating to the present invention is provided with an analog/digital converter 4 for sampling an analog reproduction signal at a period which is longer than a digital recording channel rate, to convert to a low rate digital reproduction signal having a period which is longer than a recording channel rate, a coefficient setting unit 6 for performing a digital filtering with keeping the low rate, to generate a digital equalization signal, and an interpolator 7 for interpolating a reproduction data of the digital recording channel rate, and a half-rate Viterbi decoder 8 for taking out data. According to the digital reproduction signal processor constructed as above, even when a digital read channel employing a PRML is employed, the analog/digital converter 4 or a digital circuit operated at a channel rate can be eliminated, thereby to provide a reproduction signal processor operating with low power consumption and of low cost.

Abstract: An imaging module in one embodiment includes at least one multiple color emitting light source comprising a plurality of different colored LED dies each independently driveable so that the overall color emitted by the light source can be controlled and varied. The multiple color emitting light source can be controlled so that the color emitted by the light source is optimized for imaging or reading in a present application environment of the module. Further, the module can be configured so that control of the multiple color emitting light source automatically varies depending on a sensed condition, such a color present in a field of view of the module, the distance of the module to a target, and/or a predetermined criteria being met so that feedback is provided to a user. The module in a further aspect can include illumination light sources and aiming light sources which project light in different wavelength emission bands.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system which includes in combination a blower, a hot air furnace and an air conditioner unit with interconnected ducting and a filter/purification member positioned on the upstream side of the blower. The filter/purification member functions to mechanically filter solids with the purification component functioning to act as a catalyst for UVPCO when exposed to ultraviolet light. The filter is a mechanical filter which further contains a titania component and a source of UV light adjacent the filter to facilitate UVPCO.

Abstract: A probe controller is integral with a gripper for the probe's insertion tube. The gripper is easily operated with one hand, permitting a user to hold, release, and insert the insertion tube with the same hand that operates the controls on the controller, thus freeing the user's other hand to feed the insertion tube into the opening, perform other operations, or optionally to operate the controls.

Abstract: The invention is a hand-held eye viewing device adapted to be readily positioned in an operative radial displacement, angular orientation and axial standoff position relative to an eye. The eye viewing device includes an eye cup extending from a patient end of the device having a patient end adapted to be received at a patient's eye orbit. By allowing the eye viewing device to be stabilized against an eye orbit the eye cup eases the task of maintaining an operative position once an operative position has been achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a phase-locked loop circuit and a data reproduction apparatus, which can reduce a processing time that is required for initial adjustment in the data reproduction apparatus. In a digital data reproduction apparatus having two control functions, i.e., phase and duty adjustments for binarized data, the phase comparison with one edge is performed only at the phase adjustment by means of a phase-locked loop circuit 33 having an edge switching means 4 which controls the phase comparator 1. The phase comparator 1 inputs the binarized and a bit synchronous clock, and switches the output between a comparison result with one edge, i.e., a rising edge or a falling edge of binarized data, and a comparison result with both edges.

Abstract: A de-icing and anti-icing composition in the form of an aqueous solution which includes sugars, and an inorganic freezing point depressant in the form of a chloride salt.

Abstract: In a single row evaporator coil having a last tube receiving refrigerant in a superheated condition, at least one baffle is provided to divert the flow of air passing over the superheat tube such that it also passes over a nonsuperheat tube so that air can be dehumidified by the cooling effect of the nonsuperheat tube prior to the air being passed downstream.

Abstract: A temperature measuring apparatus includes a releasable probe chamber for housing a thermometry probe in which the chamber is isolated from the remainder of the thermometry apparatus. Preferably, the probe chamber is releasably attached to the apparatus and causes engagement or disengagement of at least one control switch of the apparatus depending on whether a probe is being removed or inserted into the probe chamber.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor is disclosed that includes a variable capacitor transducer that varies its capacitance with changes in an environmental parameter. The present invention is adapted to measure any linear parameter such as pressure, force, or distance. The sensor the present invention is compact, inexpensive to make, and easily fabricated using commonly available components. Furthermore, it is not susceptible to errors caused by vibration, acceleration, and its orientation to the earth's gravitational field. The output of the capacitive sensor does not substantially drift with changes in temperature.