Abstract: A system for performing transaction from an account such as a checking account which adds a measure of assurance of payment to the account issuer is provided. The system includes a remote transaction terminal located at the point of the transaction. The terminal reads data on a card which identifies the card holder. The amount and type of the transaction are inputted into the transaction terminal. A transaction processor is provided which accesses two negative data files. One of the negative data files is compiled by the account issuer and the other of the negative data files is compiled by a number of account issuers such as by a number of different merchants. The data identifying the card holder is compared to the data in both of the negative files and an authorization or denial signal is generated in response to the comparison.

Abstract: An image data processing device includes a first memory having a plurality of memory blocks for storing image data, a designator for designating an image data to be erased, an evacuator for temporarily evacuating image data other than the designated image data from a sharing memory block in which at least a part of the designated image data is stored, an erasure for erasing the designated image data from the memory block, and a controller for causing the temporarily evacuated image data and a new image data to restore in an emptied memory position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing ethanol from raw materials, that contain fermentable sugars or constituents which can be converted into sugars, comprising the steps of:a-liquefaction of the raw materials in the presence of an alpha-amylase for obtaining liquefied mash,b-saccharification of the liquefied mash in the presence of a glucoamylase for obtaining hydrolyzed starch and sugars,c-fermentation of the hydrolyzed starch and sugars by yeast for obtaining ethanol, andd-recovering alcohol,a protease being introduced in the liquefied mash during the saccharification and/or in the hydrolyzed starch and sugars during the fermentation.The invention relates also to a composition containing a glucoamylase and an acid fungal protease.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable lavatory assembly includes an outer frame and a carrier frame positioned within the outer frame. The carrier frame is vertically moveable within the outer frame and has a lavatory connected thereto. A lavatory is positioned outside the carrier frame and outer frame, and includes a faucet and a sink basin having an outlet opening therein. A drain line is in fluid flow communication with the sink basin outlet opening and a sewer line, and is adapted to accommodate for changes in the height of the sink basin. A plurality of supply lines are provided for supplying water to the faucet. The supply lines are also adapted to accommodate for changes in the height of the basin.

Abstract: A bracket assembly includes a first bracket having a plurality of spaced apart anchor members extending outward therefrom for insertion into a plurality of corresponding apertures in a vertical member of a wall panel, and a second bracket having a plurality of spaced apart anchor members extending outward therefrom for insertion into a plurality of corresponding apertures in the vertical member. The anchor members are adapted to cooperate with the vertical member to restrain the corresponding bracket from horizontal movement. Locking means are adapted to move one of said brackets relative to the other such that the anchor members cooperate with the vertical member to secure the bracket assembly thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for exposing the interior of containers to controlled environments is provided. In particular, one or more controlled force biased probes are provided for penetrating the contents of a container to inject alternate environments, such as inert gas, to desired locations within the container. The controlled force bias allows the probe to yield should an obstruction be encountered without damaging the obstruction or the apparatus itself. In a particular embodiment, two or more biased probes are provided spaced apart by a distance at least equal to the maximum linear dimension of any anticipated obstruction, so that at least one probe will avoid the obstruction and reach its desired location within the container for processing.

Abstract: The sensing head of a coordinate measuring machine includes sensing pin combinations or sensing pins which are changeably fastened with high precision in respect to their spatial position. The receiver contains an isostatic three-point bearing against which the connecting body of the sensing pin is drawn by a pneumatically operated clamping arrangement. In the preferred embodiment the clamping arrangement consists of a suction cup and arresting elements for maintaining attachment of the receiving device to the connecting body when there is no subpressure acting upon the suction cup.

Abstract: An improved method of combining active ingredients with polyvinyl acetate for use in chewing gum results in significantly less degradation of the active ingredients. After the polyvinyl acetate and one or more active ingredients have been mixed together in an extruder, the mixture is extruded through a die to form a sheet-like extrudate. The sheet like extrudate is then cooled using a series of three chilled compression rolls. The extrudate is pinched between adjacent chilled compression rolls and both surfaces of the extrudate maintain contact with at least one of the chilled compression rolls for a period of time. The extrudate is thereby cooled swiftly and thoroughly, resulting in reduced degradation of the active ingredients.

Abstract: Night vision apparatus, particularly night vision goggles, having a wide field of view. The apparatus includes an objective optical system having a selected field of view for collecting visible and/or infrared light from an object to be viewed and for providing an input image of the object; image intensifying and magnifying means for receiving the input image and for providing a visible, intensified and magnified output image of the input image, and an eyepiece optical system for receiving the visible, intensified and magnified output image and for presenting a visible intensified image of the object to an eye of a user at unity magnification. The image intensifying and magnifying means preferably comprises an image intensifier tube having a fiber optic bundle beam expander therein. The image intensifying and magnifying means permits the eyepiece optical system to have a longer focal length and, hence, to provide greater eye relief than would otherwise be possible.

Abstract: An electric stapler is disposed at the bottom of a tray on which printed sheets are stacked, and is movable along the bottom of the tray. Printed sheets are aligned on the tray along a reference line. The stapler moves along the bottom of the tray and stops at determined points to staple the aligned sheets. A control section is stored with data about the number and location of stapling points proper for each sheet size. The size of printed sheets to be stapled is detected, and the movement of the stapler is controlled so that the stapler can staple at proper points for the detected sheet size.

Abstract: A hockey training device includes a base having a first end and a second end, a side having a bottom end and a top end, a telescoping connector, and at least one locating surface mounted on the hockey training device to support the hockey training device above a playing surface. The bottom end of the side is pivotally connected to the first end of the base and the telescoping connector is pivotally connected to the second end of the base and the top end of the side, such that the base, side and telescoping connector form a triangle.

Abstract: A suspension package of the type having a frame and a hammock tensioned across the frame to enfold and support a product is provided with a brace to prevent the ends of the frame from moving inwardly. This brace simultaneously provides a safety net to protect the product being loaded into the hammock. The hammock is secured to tensor flaps on the frame, and these flaps are provided with tabs which prevent the flaps from rotating inwardly past the plane of the end panels. The hammock is folded in a double fan fold at its ends to facilitate top loading and to accommodate the widest range of product sizes and shapes. Each of the tensor flaps has an inner part and an outer part, and the hammock end is sandwiched between the inner and outer parts and held in place by a double ended rivet which simultaneously operates to secure the tensor flaps in the hammock tensioning position. Cinching devices are used around the hammock to center the product within the frame.

Abstract: The activity of a thiazolinone preservative, in an anti-dandruff shampoo containing pyrithione, is maintained by adding a stabilizer comprising a zinc compound.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning the surface of a photosensitive member with an optical beam emitted from a light source. The optical scanning device has a casing for accommodating a plurality of optical members. The casing is provided with a baseplate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a curved portion integrally formed with the top surface and the bottom surface so as to connect the top surface and the bottom surface. In the casing, the plurality of optical members are dividedly attached to the top and bottom surfaces of the baseplate, and therefore the curved portion is provided with an aperture for transmitting the optical beam therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing a chewing gum with a delayed release sucralose sweetener, as well as the chewing gum so produced. The delayed release sucralose sweetener is obtained by physically modifying sucralose's properties by coating and drying. Sucralose sweetener is dissolved in a solvent and coated onto a cellulose derivative such as hydroxypropyl cellulose by agglomerating the cellulose derivative with the sucralose solution. The agglomerated material preferably includes an absorption material such as silica. The agglomerated sweetener is then dried and preferably particle sized to produce a release-modified sucralose high-intensity sweetener. When incorporated into the chewing gum, these particles are adapted to enhance the shelf stability of the sweetener and/or produce a delayed release when the gum is chewed.

Abstract: A mobile road or rail tanker. The tanker is formed of sheet aluminum which forms an outer shell. The shell encloses a chamber which is divided by a transverse wall. The wall adjacent the shell comprises an annealed heat treatable weldable aluminum alloy which is relatively soft and ductile so that weld material adjacent the wall is stronger than the remainder of the wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous-working process and apparatus for replacing the liquid in a liquid suspension of a fibrous material with another liquid by forming of this material a bed on a moving filter surface and by displacing the liquid present in this bed with the other liquid. The bed of material is formed on a cylindrical filter surface installed in a vertical orientation below the liquid surface in a container and conveys it continuously forward filtration and several successive liquid displacements effected by maintaining a hydrostatic pressure difference across the formed bed, which is conveyed continuously horizontally forward, and through it there flow liquids horizontally during the filtration and liquid displacement.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit having a test circuit built therein is disclosed which consists of an A/D converter to be connected to a peripheral circuit, a digital circuit connected to the A/D converter, a digital signal switching device for selectively connecting to the output of the A/D converter and that of the digital circuit, and a boundary scan output circuit connected to the output of the digital signal switching device, wherein the digital signal switching device connects the A/D converter to the boundary scan output circuit in a normal mode, while the signal fetched in the boundary scan output circuit is outputted therefrom in test mode. Semiconductor integrated circuits having an analog circuit built therein and an analog integrated circuit in which a test circuit is built-in are also disclosed.