Abstract: An optical-electronic demand meter using an optical metering outfit (MOF) is disclosed.

Abstract: A homogeneous composition for forming on firing a film of precious metal, which is one or more of platinum, palladium, gold and silver, on a substrate, for instance to decorate table ware, comprises polymeric resin and a solution, in water and a co-solvent, of thiolate of the precious metal, the composition containing 3-22% by weight of the precious metal as the thiolate, and the co-solvent, resin and thiolate being such that as the composition on a substrate dries and is progressively heated in firing, the water evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the resin and thiolate in the co-solvent, then the co-solvent evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the thiolate in the resin, and then the thiolate decomposes to the precious metal while the resin volatilize.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermosetting decorative laminate (11), primarily intended as flooring laminate, comprising two or more layers (3, 4, 5), whereby at least one layer is a decorative layer (4) comprising a decor paper (9) provided with a bar pattern comprising a plurality of parallel rows of bars (14), whereby the bars (14) in adjoining rows preferably are mutually offset in the longitudinal direction. The bar pattern allows said laminate (11) to be divided into m longitudinal units or panels each consisting of p rows of bars (14), whereby said unit or panel comprises m.times.p rows of bars (14). The pattern of each left end bar (A1-A9) matches the pattern of corresponding right end bar (B1-B9) of each unit or panel and the pattern of these bars matches the pattern of corresponding end bars (A, B) in corresponding rows of all m units or panels.

Abstract: Tetrafluoroethylene oxidation process at temperatures comprised between -100.degree. C. and -40.degree. C., in absence of Uv radiations, and by operating in the presence of a chemical initiator containing at least one F--X bond, wherein X is oxygen or halogen, in the presence of a solvent comprising an amount of COF.sub.2 higher than 8% by moles.

Abstract: When a car is to enter a parking lot, an image of a number plate of the car is picked up by an image pickup device, and a car number of the car is recognized. The recognized number and the entry time are stored in a central processing unit, and a parking ticket is dispensed for the car, and the car is allowed to enter the parking lot. If there is any service to be offered to customers at the time of parking, service information is inputted to the central processing unit directly from a service counter, and therefore the central processing unit effects a service processing such as a parking fee discount processing. The image of the number plate of the departing car is picked up, and the car number is recognized, and it is judged whether or not the car is entitled to the fee adjustment.

Abstract: An image reading and printing apparatus having a housing, a printing part located in the upper part of the housing, an image reading part located in the lower part of the housing, a sheet feeding part located in the lower part of the housing below the image reading part and receiving thereinto a sheet inserted from the lower part of the front face of the housing, a C-like shape sheet conveying path through which the sheet is led from the sheet feed part to the printing part, and is discharged outside of the housing from the upper part of the front surface thereof, and a C-like shape document conveying path through which a document inserted from the lower part of the front face of the housing is led to the image reading part, and is then discharged outside of the housing from the front face of the housing, the C-like document conveying path being surrounded by the C-like sheet conveying path, thereby making it possible to miniaturize the image reading and printing apparatus and to absorb a shift between the ti

Abstract: In order to facilitate the maintenance and enable to update a program, data, etc. anytime, a POS system has a plurality of registers for entering orders and processing accounts, and a controller for sales management, connected by a communication line to each of the registers, for managing sales of the whole store and setting items, unit prices, etc., wherein the controller for sales management has a maintenance control block including a section for setting and storing maintenance data, a section for detecting that the power supply to a register is turned on to execute an opening process, and a section for sending, when the turning on of power is detected, maintenance data to the register to update the executable program and/or various setting data of the register in the case where there is the maintenance data.

Abstract: A method for predicting motion compensation for determining of an input image based on a motion vector of the input image from this input image to a reference image which has been sampled at a first set time, and the method includes calculating a motion vector of the input image based on a move, at a second set time, of a block unit which is a part of the input image and consists of a plurality of pixels, and calculating a motion vector of the reference image based on a move, at the first set time, of a block unit which is a part of the reference image and consists of a plurality of pixels. Move compensation of the input image is calculated both from the motion vector of the input image and from the motion vector of the reference image, to thereby realize a method for determining motion compensation with high precision.

Abstract: A joining tool for automatically joining or intertwining two or more items, preferably reinforcement rods (23). The joining tool advances a joining wire (6) in a not predetermined length through a track (5) in a ring-shaped head (2). The advancing movement of the joining wire (6) stops when the wire has completed the turn and the wire is then held at its free end by a holding pin (10) whereupon it is pulled back until it is tight around the reinforcement rods (23). Upon tightening the joining wire (6) is held by another holding pin (12) whereupon two cutting sleeves (14 and 15) cut the joining wire (6). After cutting, a turning head (7) is rotated until the desired joining strength is obtained. The desired joining strength is determined by a U-shaped brace (19). When the desired joining strength has been obtained, the joining wire is released by the holding pins (10 and 12).

Abstract: Method for presenting short films, whereby short films during or in between which at least one quiz question is to be inserted, the short films are stored, and at least one quiz question and the correct answer are inserted during or in between the short films, answers to the quiz question are entered for comparison of the entered answer with the stored, correct answer. The winners of the quiz game are determined by a storage device, the storage device being controlled by the input device. After entry of the correct answer into the input device, a display is divided into fields for the presentation of the individual consumer goods, the winning certificates of the selected supplier are printed out. After pressing a play key, a prompt for the player appears on the screen and after choosing the correct answer, the player is requested to choose between two envelopes which are displayed on the screen.

Abstract: As a nickel electrode for alkaline storage batteries, an electrode plate comprising a plurality of electroconductive substrates and a plurality of active material layers which are alternately laminated and integrated is used, whereby mutual electric conductivity of the active material and the electroconductive substrate in the direction of thickness is increased, and active material utilization, discharge voltage characteristics as batteries and charge-discharge repetition life are improved. The nickel electrode comprises a plurality of electrode leaves each of which comprises an electroconductive substrate coated with an active material and which are laminated and integrated so that the electroconductive substrate and the active material layer are alternated with each other, a plurality of said electroconductive substrates being electrically and mechanically connected through a part of the respective electroconductive substrates, said electroconductive substrate having a thickness of 5-60 .mu.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for improving the characteristics of foundry cores which includes adding to the foundry aggregate mixture one or more biphenyl compounds.

Abstract: A method and a plant for combined production of electricity and fresh water in a stand-alone plant of the wind/diesel type. The method enables the simultaneous production of electricity and fresh water with optimal use of the various units of the plant under all conditions of operation by optimally utilizing the wind energy and minimizing fuel consumption. A continuously operating diesel engine controls the line frequency and the power supply without any energy being accumulated. A preferred embodiment of the plant includes a first closed fluid circuit and a second open fluid circuit, the first closed circuit including at least an electric heating unit receiving energy from a wind turbine, an internal-combustion engine, preferably a diesel engine, and a distillation unit. The distillation unit constitutes a unit common to the first closed and the second open circuits.

Abstract: Optically active biphenyl derivatives including optically active biphenyl carboxylic acid derivative, hydroxybiphenyl derivative, alkoxybiphenylalkanol derivative and alkoxybiphenylalkanol derivative have the following structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group of 3-20 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group or alkoxyalkyl group of 1-20 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted with at least one halogen atom. X represents --O--, --COO-- or --OCO--, m represents 0 or 1, n represents an integer of 1-6 and p represents 0 or 1, and the * mark represents an asymmetric carbon atom. These optically active biphenyl derivatives are useful as a ferroelectric liquid crystal material or its component having a sufficient spontaneous polarization and by which a high speed response is possible and which further exhibits a ferroelectric liquid crystal phase in a temperature region around room temperature.

Abstract: A method of calibrating and using a device for the determination of the concentration of an active gas in a mixture of gases wherein the device incorporates a gas sensor (4) and has gas diffusion barrier means (A) and (B), one of which may be closed by a valve (12). The signal from the sensor is recorded at first and second times after closing the valve, and a value for the concentration of an active gas is calculated from the signals and the time difference.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique method and system for automatically controlling the motion of a rotary ring twisting and winding device, provided with a rotary ring member rotatably mounted on a holder by way of a bearing mechanism, which is utilized for textile machines having a so-called ring traveller twisting and winding mechanism. The present invention is characterized in that the rotational speeds of the rotary ring member and spindles are continuously detected, and the detected rotational speed of the rotary ring member is compared with the desired rotational speed of the rotary ring member which is calculated by multiplying a predetermined ratio by the detected rotational speed of the spindles, and if it is detected that the rotational speed of the rotary ring member is out of control, the rotational speed of the rotary ring member is electrically controlled to return to a condition of satisfying a predetermined allowable controlled condition.

Abstract: An electronic part is tacked to a circuit board, leads of the electronic part being made into contact with cream solder built up on the circuit board, and thereafter, the circuit board is heated up so as to melt the cream solder in order to solder the electronic part to the circuit board. In this procedure, the melting temperature of a hardener in the tacking bond, that is, the hardening temperature of the tacking bond--is higher than that of the cream solder, thereby making it possible to prevent hindrance to sinking of the lead terminal of the electronic part into the melted cream solder.

Abstract: Apparatus for increasing pasta production and for ensuring a more uniform and quality pasta product which includes heating the die face of a die by positioning on the die face an electric resistance heater.

Abstract: A rudder bar system for a helicopter controlled in yaw by acting on the tail rotor or an equivalent device has a capability, as a function of the parameters representative of the current flight status of the helicopter, of either automatically continuously recentering the forces on the rudder bar, which cancels out the residual static forces and gives the pilot a tactile sensation close to that given by a friction-type rudder bar, or allowing the pilot fully to feel the countering action of an elastic return device such as a spring.

Abstract: A device for drilling into the ground for the in-situ production of columns of stabilized and compacted soil, which comprises at least two parallel shafts, each shaft driving in rotation one auger, each auger being fitted with a loosening drill head. The shafts and the shanks of the augers include a bore and at least one orifice for discharging a filler material, the augers having opposite hands and being driven in counterrotation, and which furthermore have a drive for reversing the direction of rotation of the augers, said device including an even number n, at least equal to 4, of augers and in that, as seen in cross-section, the axes of the augers are centered at the vertices of a regular n-sided polygon.