Abstract: A retrieval system for rapidly removing articles from a plastic molding machine or other manufacturing process includes a pair of lightweight carbon fiber tubes arranged for telescoping motion into and out of an open mold. The telescoping tubes are driven by a low inertial cable drive system. A high volume, low pressure vacuum is supplied to the telescoping tubes and, in turn, to a set of receivers mounted on the pair of telescoping tubes to rapidly draw molded articles from the mold as they are conventionally ejected therefrom. A differential vacuum sensing system provides confirmation that all of the molded articles have been drawn from the mold by the receivers. Withdrawal of the pair of telescoping tubes, with the molded articles just retrieved, from the open mold is then initiated simultaneously with initiation of closure of the mold in preparation for a new molding cycle.

Abstract: A seismic sensor platform comprises an open frame and a plurality of seismic motion sensors vertically positioned in a common horizontal plane in spaced relationship around the periphery of the open frame. A spike associated with each of the sensors extends beneath the open frame for anchoring each of the sensors in the earth. The frame includes a shield for protecting the sensors from physical damage and for shielding them from seismic noise. Second and third pluralities of horizontally positioned sensors may be provided on the frame, orthogonally positioned with respect to each other to sense orthogonal components of reflected seismic waves. The sensors may each be of a different natural frequency to optimize the multifrequency output of the sensor array.

Abstract: A tracking system employing global positioning system (GPS) satellites provides extremely accurate position, velocity, and time information for vehicles or any other animate or inanimate object within any mobile radio communication system or information system, including those operating in high rise urban areas. The tracking system includes a sensor mounted on each object, a communication link, a workstation, and a GPS reference receiver. The sensor operates autonomously following initialization by an external network management facility to sequence through the visible GPS satellites, making pseudo range and delta range or time difference and frequency difference measurements. No navigation functions are performed by the sensor, thereby permitting significant reductions in the cost thereof. The raw satellite measurements, with relevant timing and status information, are provided to the communication link to be relayed periodically back to the workstation.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer cassette mapper detects the presence absence of a semiconductor wafer in a particular corresponding pair of slots of the wafer cassette, as well as a cross slotted condition in which a wafer is not aligned in a corresponding pair of slots. The wafer cassette mapper includes a base member for receiving a standard slotted wafer cassette, the base member including transmitter and receiver modules on opposite sides thereof. The transmitter and receiver modules include like pluralities of inwardly facing, aligned light apertures. Each of the light apertures in the transmitter module contains a light emitting infrared transmitter, and each of the light apertures in the receiver module contains an infrared receiver. Control circuitry selectively activates the light emitting transmitters for a predetermined period of time and selectively interrogates the infrared receivers during that period of time to determine if a particular receiver has received light transmitted by a selected transmitter.

Abstract: A stirrup attachment is fabricated for quick and easy positioning on a standard adult saddle so that the standard saddle may be safely used by youthful riders. The stirrup attachment includes a dome-shaped leather central section having an aperture therein through which the saddle horn of a standard saddle is received. The central section includes left and right strap extensions to which conventional adjustment sections and associated youth stirrups may be attached.

Abstract: A microscope stand and armrest system for placement on a conventional desktop includes height adjustment/levelling feet at each corner of a base plate and a top surface hingedly attached to the base plate for receiving a microscope and for tilting the microscope rearward toward the user to a position that allows the user to look directly forward when operating the microscope. Left and right sloping armrests are provided for placement on the desktop at each side of the microscope stand to support the user's forearms in natural positions while operating the microscope.

Abstract: A bumper bowling game, combining the features and required skills of conventional billiards and bowling, includes a V-shaped table having flat outgoing and return alleyways with a concave gutter along each side thereof. The outgoing and return alleyways are joined at their distal ends by a cushioned bumper. A ball starter at the proximal end of the outgoing alleyway may be aimed by moving it laterally and pivotally and includes a starting ramp down which a ball rolls by gravity to gain sufficient speed to propel it in an outbound direction along the outgoing alleyway. When the ball comes in contact with the cushioned bumper, it is deflected and caused to travel in the opposite or return direction along the return alleyway. A number of pins, shaped like conventional bowling pins, are arranged in the same configuration as in conventional bowling at the proximal end of the return alleyway to be knocked down by the ball as it travels along the return alleyway. Scoring is the same as in conventional bowling.

Abstract: A surgical tray system includes an enclosure base, a U-shaped instrument rack removably positioned within the enclosure base and capable of suspending a complete set of surgical operating instruments by their shafts, a flat operative assembly tray that may be locked into position on top of the enclosure base, above the U-shaped instrument rack, for retaining additional surgical instruments in positions that are identified by silkscreened outlines of those additional instruments, and a cover that may be locked into position on top of the operative assembly tray, thereby covering the enclosure base, the U-shaped instrument rack positioned within the enclosure base, and the operative assembly tray. One or more additional trays, such as a diagnostic assembly tray, for retaining additional instruments required in connection with a particular surgical procedure, may be stacked above or below the operative assembly tray or they may be included within a separate tray having its own enclosure base and cover.

Abstract: A solvent based plastics recycling process directly reduces large volumes of post consumer plastic waste materials by up to 500% by volume. Minimal sorting and no cleaning is required, and large percentages of contaminants are tolerated. The process yields a highly adhesive resin which cures to a hard wood or masonry type material. The reduced end product, an epoxy sludge, may be formed to provide a lumber or brick substitute. Large percentages of shredded paper and other waste materials, including metals, may be added to the plastic waste materials, if desired.

Abstract: Minimal energy storage is required in complementary converters, a family of zero-voltage switching circuits which achieve non-pulsating input and output currents by employing a ripple-cancelling technique instead of conventional filtering. The input voltage in these circuits is divided between a primary winding of a main transformer and a primary winding of a second transformer referred to as a complement transformer. The turns ratios of the two transformers are adjusted so that the secondary voltage of the complement transformer cancels the ripple in the rectified output of the main transformer. The symmetry of these circuits allows an AC voltage waveshape to be impressed upon the main transformer, independent of the load current passing through it. If desired, a sinusoidal voltage can be produced across the main transformer with only a small resonant current, which can be achieved with minimal energy storage.

Abstract: An improved video recorder/transceiver with expanded functionality ("VCR-ET") including a capability for storing video and video programs in digital format, editing such programs, transferring such programs onto a hard copy magnetic media, and transmitting such programs to a remote location using a second VCR-ET. The increased functionality is realized through the use of analog to digital conversion, signal compression and intermediate storage in an integrated circuit, random access memory. The recorder/transmitter has capabilities to transmit and receive program information in either a compressed or decompressed format over fiber optic lines, conventional phone lines or microwaves.

Abstract: An instrument for testing the viscoelastic characteristics of fluids, such as blood, exhibits improved temperature regulation of the blood sample under test, includes probe drive circuitry to simplify calibration and signal conditioning, incorporates resonant frequency monitoring to detect mechanical noise disturbances, and provides automated analysis of a graphical signature, over time, of the viscoelastic characteristics of the blood sample, including a visual indication to the user of the activated clotting time period (ACT) and the rate of clot formation (RATE) of the blood sample under test, thereby improving the accuracy of the test results and simplifying operation of the instrument to permit its use by surgical personnel.

Abstract: A stacked container handling system includes an input section having an input conveyor onto which a box, containing a multiplicity of empty stacked containers arranged in a matrix of rows and columns of vertical stacks of containers, is manually or automatically placed in upside down position. Following removal of the box to expose the matrix of vertical stacks of containers, the vertical stacks of containers are moved forward by the input conveyor to a hinged lay-down table that rotates from an upright position in which one row at a time of the stacked containers is received to a horizontal position from which the received row of stacked containers is unloaded. The stacked container handling system may also include an output section having an output accumulation conveyor that serves to move a desired number of horizontal stacks of containers onto a lift table having a hinged bed that rotates from a horizontal position to an upright position.

Abstract: A variable speed shaft drive system for bicycles employs a drive shaft that is generally horizontally coupled between the pedals and the rear wheel of the bicycle. A pinion gear at the forward end of the drive shaft is engaged by a ring gear driven by the pedals to transmit drive power from the pedals to the drive shaft. A drive head at the rear end of the drive shaft frictionally engages a drive pick-up plate mounted to the rear wheel of the bicycle to transmit drive power from the rotating drive shaft to the rear wheel. Infinitely variable speed control is achieved by means of a shifting fork actuated by the user to position the drive head at selected distances from the center of the drive pick-up plate. Alternatively, a second drive head/pick-up ring combination may be substituted for the ring gear/pinion gear combination driven by the pedals to provide even smoother operation.

Abstract: A golf bag contains a plurality of parallel vertical tubes fixedly arranged therein, each of which accommodates the shaft of one of the clubs comprising the set of clubs to be retained in the bag. A tube header retains the top ends of a number of the tubes at one height and the remainder of the tubes at another height. The tubes and header are arranged such that a number of the tubes are centered euqidistantly on a circle within the outer periphery of the tube header, with the remaining tubes positioned inside that circle. Each of the tubes designated for receiving a particular iron club includes an outward facing notch therein that extends downward into an adjacent portion of the tube header to retain the heads of the respective iron clubs in an outwardly directed, fixed position. Each of the notches is shaped in correspondence with the shape of the head of the specific iron club which it is intended to receive.

Abstract: An autoloading apparatus for alternately, sequentially loading magnetic tape cartridges into and unloading them from an adjacent magnetic tape drive includes a vertically oriented tape cartridge chute for containing a manually stacked plurality of tape cartridges to be subsequently sequentially loaded by gravity into the tape drive, an unload storage enclosure for storing a plurality of tape cartridges removed by the autoloading apparatus from the magnetic tape drive, a cartridge unloading mechanism responsive to opening of the cartridge door of the magnetic tape drive and having a hook and cartridge sleeve arrangement for engaging and holding a cartridge resident in the magnetic tape drive and for retractably moving that cartridge to a position where it is released by gravity into the unloading storage enclosure, and a cartridge loading mechanism operative in alternating sequence with the cartridge unloading mechanism for controlling a hinged slide at the bottom of the tape cartridge chute for releasing the

Abstract: An electrical brush contact apparatus for conveying electrical power from a vehicle power source to the wheels of vehicles having dual-tandem pairs of wheels includes a brush ring positioned at the juncture between the inner and outer rims of the front pair of dual-tandem vehicle wheels and the inner and outer rims of the rear pair of dual-tandem vehicle wheels. Each of the brush rings is electrically insulated from the rims with which it is associated by a flat insulating member or an insulating extrusion. Each pair of insulating extrusions and brush ring are coupled for rotation in concert with the wheels of the vehicle. Front and rear support members having idler pulleys thereon are suspended between the inner and outer pair of dual wheels and between the front and rear pair of tandem wheels. A belt, coupled between each one of the brush rings and an adjacent one of the idler pulleys, is driven by the brush ring.

Abstract: A pair of left and right ergonomic keypads may be separately positioned on a desktop or in the armrests of a chair to permit the user to operate the keypads while assuming more comfortable and natural hand and wrist positions than required when using prior art slab keyboards. The separate keypads may be hingedly, interlockingly joined to function as a compact unitary keyboard for desktop use. When so joined for desktop use, the keypads may be rotated about a point of attachment to any desired position from an open position to a closed position. When in the closed position, the keypads form a compact, diamond-shaped unitary keyboard providing improved portability. Whether employed in a desktop or an armrest application, the keypads may be adjusted to any angle that the user finds most comfortable and convenient for operation.

Abstract: A dual mixing gas burner comprises a cylindrical or other shaped housing having a flat front burner surface and a flat rear surface. A fuel gas chamber and two oxygen chambers are located within the housing. A central oxygen jet conveys oxygen gas from the first oxygen chamber to the front burner surface. A fuel gas jet, coaxially positioned with and surrounding the central oxygen jet, conveys fuel gas from the fuel gas chamber to an annular area on the front burner surface around the central oxygen jet. An outer oxygen jet, coaxially positioned with and surrounding the fuel gas jet, conveys oxygen gas from the second oxygen chamber to an annular area on the front burner surface around the fuel gas jet. Any number of the above combinations of a central oxygen jet, fuel gas jet, and outer oxygen jet may be provided to convey oxygen gas and fuel gas to the front burner surface.