Abstract: A method for retaining a stack 1 of removably mutually connected pre-formed plastic bags 2, e.g. in supermarkets, comprises supporting the stack in a dispenser in a laterally (side-to-side) folded-over condition thereby presenting a spine of the fold, with the spine of the fold presented so as to be accessible to be grasped between a thumb and fingers of a person seeking to remove an individual bag 2 from the stack by pulling in direction A. The stack includes a block of lips 3, to which each bag is connected via a line of weakness 8 defining a rim 9 of the bag. A dispenser for dispensing plastic bags in accordance with this method is also described and claimed. The dispenser can suitably include a cantilevered shaft passing through the block of lips 3 via a through-hole 5.

Abstract: A substrate, preferably constructed of a ductile material and a tool having the desired shape of the resulting device for contacting contact pads on a test device is brought into contact with the substrate. The tool is preferably constructed of a material that is harder than the substrate so that a depression can be readily made therein. A dielectric (insulative) layer, that is preferably patterned, is supported by the substrate. A conductive material is located within the depressions and then preferably lapped to remove excess from the top surface of the dielectric layer and to provide a flat overall surface. A trace is patterned on the dielectric layer and the conductive material. A polyimide layer is then preferably patterned over the entire surface. The substrate is then removed by any suitable process.

Abstract: A probe station for probing a test device has a chuck assembly substantially enclosed by an environment control enclosure and laterally movable relative to such enclosure. The environment control enclosure includes a flexible wall assembly interconnected with the chuck assembly to enable such lateral movement thereof along mutually perpendicular directions while maintaining the integrity of the enclosure. The flexible wall assembly has flexible pleats formed therein extending along respective different lateral directions to enable such lateral movement.

Abstract: A low-current probe card for measuring currents down to the femtoamp region includes a dielectric board, such as of glass-epoxy material, forming an opening. A plurality of probing devices, such as ceramic blades, are edge-mounted about the opening so that the probing elements or needles included thereon terminate below the opening in a pattern suitable for probing a test device. A plurality of cables are attached to the card for respectively connecting each device to a corresponding channel of a test instrument. The on-board portion of each cable is of coaxial type and includes an inner layer between the inner dielectric and outer conductor for suppressing the triboelectric effect. An inner conductive area and a conductive backplane that are respectively located below and on one side of each device are set to guard potential via the outer conductor of the corresponding cable so as to guard the signal path on the other side of the device.

Abstract: Molding of relatively large articles such as automobile body parts by gas-assisted injection molding with sequential gating of injected thermoplastic resin into the mold cavity. Elongated ribs in the parts form gas channels and strengthening ribs for the parts. Structural parts are made by adhesively joining two such parts made by gas-assisted injection molding through a combination of hollow ribs and joining flanges at sides of the parts.

Abstract: A system for low-current testing of a test device includes a probing device for probing a probing site on the test device. The probing device includes a dielectric substrate having first and second sides, an elongate conductive path on the first side of the substrate, an elongate probing element connected to one end of the elongate conductive path so as to extend in a cantilevered manner beyond the substrate, and a conductive area on the second side of the substrate. The probe housing is matingly detachably engageable with the probing device. The probe housing is engaged with both a force cable that includes a force conductor surrounded by a guard conductor and a sense cable that includes a sense conductor surrounded by a guard conductor. A first coupler electrically interconnects the force conductor, the sense conductor, and the elongate conductive path on the first side of the substrate when the probing device is engaged with the probe housing.

Abstract: A wafer probe station adapted for low-current measurements provides electrically active upper and lower chuck assembly elements where air gaps are provided between a major portion of either a lower or nonlower surface on the upper chuck assembly element and a corresponding conductive surface on or connected to the lower chuck assembly element thereby minimizing leakage currents therebetween. The chuck assembly elements are preferably enclosed by an environment control enclosure having a sidewall portion relative to which the upper chuck assembly element can move laterally. During such movement, the upper chuck assembly remains in constant spacing with a conductive member that laterally surrounds it so as to stabilize electro-magnetic conditions. Concurrently, the sidewall portion is kept motionless relative to the probe holder which keeps contaminants away from the region immediate to the upper chuck assembly element, including any moisture droplets that have condensed during low-temperature testing.

Abstract: Molding of relatively large articles such as automobile body parts by gas-assisted injection molding with sequential gating of injected thermoplastic resin into the mold cavity. Elongated ribs in the parts form gas channels and strengthening ribs for the parts. Structural parts are made by adhesively joining two such parts made by gas-assisted injection molding through a combination of hollow ribs and joining flanges at sides of the parts.

Abstract: A network for transferring information among a plurality of digital devices includes a plurality of switching nodes interconnected by communication links. Each of the digital devices is connected to one of the switching nodes over additional ones of communication links. Each communication link transfers information in a predetermined one of a plurality of types of communications services, with the network including at least one communication link of each service type. The digital devices and switching nodes transfer information through the network over virtual circuits, with each virtual circuit extending from one digital device, as an originating digital device, to another digital device, as a terminating digital device. Each virtual circuit defines a unitary virtual circuit path extending through at least one switching node over a plurality of the communication links without regard to the service type of the ones of the communication links included in the virtual circuit path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously forming composites comprising filler materials and thermoactive materials, particularly waste cellulosic materials and waste thermoplastics, are described. One embodiment of the apparatus includes either a batchwise or continuous mixer, such as a cyclone, for forming mixtures comprising filler and thermoactive material. The mixtures are conveyed to a continuous consolidation apparatus. Alternatively, the mixtures may be densified in a densifying apparatus before entering the consolidation apparatus. The consolidation apparatus includes a hot-gas distribution system having plural paired gas cells, such as rollers or hoods, for applying hot air to the charge. A first cell of each pair applies gas to the mixture. The second cell of each pair operates at a pressure less than that of the first cell, thereby creating a pressure differential across the charge.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing individual pre-formed bags from a stack of pre-formed bags has a body part and an anchor part for the stack of bags. The anchor part includes a catch for engaging the stack, whereby the stack of bags depends from the catch, and may be grasped for removal. A stack restraining member bears against the stack to restrain the stack of bags, but can be deflected against a gravitational restoring force when one side of the first bag of the stack is drawn past it to open the first bag for loading prior to removal from the stack.

Abstract: A container according to a first embodiment includes a first panel bonded to all but a segment of an opposing second panel wherein the first and the second panels define an interior chamber and wherein the unbonded segments of the first panel and the second panel define a first opening having a maximum area. Present in the first opening is a two-part linear fluid impervious closure constructed of flexible material. The first part is bonded to the first panel segment of the first opening and the second part is bonded to the second panel segment of the first opening. A spout is bonded to at least the first panel to provide fluid communication between the interior chamber and the environment, and to define an orifice having an area less than the maximum area of the first opening. In a preferred embodiment, interlocking fastener strips are used as the closure.

Abstract: A branch gasket for a tapping sleeve is disposed about the side branch aperture in a main fluid conduit and between and in sealed contact with the main fluid conduit and an outer sleeve connected to the side branch. The branch gasket is comprised of a flexible, compressible, resilient material and includes a hydraulic lip, a stainless steel insert ring, a first pair of inner O-ring seals in intimate contact with the main fluid conduit, and a second pair of outer O-ring seals in intimate contact with the outer sleeve. A mat gasket for use with a tapping saddle is disposed about an aperture in a main fluid conduit and is further disposed between and in sealed contact with the main fluid conduit and an outer sleeve member. The mat gasket includes an aperture aligned with the aperture in the main fluid conduit and outer and inner portions in sealed contact with the outer sleeve member and the main fluid conduit, respectively.

Abstract: A low-current probe card for measuring currents down to the femtoamp region includes a dielectric board, such as of glass-epoxy material, forming an opening. A plurality of probing devices, such as ceramic blades, are edge-mounted about the opening so that the probing elements or needles included thereon terminate below the opening in a pattern suitable for probing a test device. A plurality of cables are attached to the card for respectively connecting each device to a corresponding channel of a test instrument. The on-board portion of each cable is of coaxial type and includes an inner layer between the inner dielectric and outer conductor for suppressing the triboelectric effect. An inner conductive area and a conductive backplane that are respectively located below and on one side of each device are set to guard potential via the outer conductor of the corresponding cable so as to guard the signal path on the other side of the device.

Abstract: A layer-picking clamp mountable on a truck has clamp arms extending downwardly from and movably mounted to an upper frame section. The clamp arms are linearly movable with respect to the upper frame section in laterally inward and outward directions so that gripping surfaces of the clamp arms retain their substantially vertical orientations as the clamp arms move inward and outward. The upper frame is supported on a first mounting apparatus that is positioned above a second mounting apparatus that supports a load-supporting device. The first mounting apparatus movably supports the upper frame so as to move the upper frame laterally and vertically with respect to the load-supporting device to enable the clamp arms to deposit a load on the load-supporting device. The load-supporting device is capable of supporting a pallet upon which the clamp can deposit the load.

Abstract: An interconnect assembly for evaluating a probe measurement network includes a base, respective inner and outer probing areas in mutually coplanar relationship on the upper face of the base, a reference junction, and a high-frequency transmission structure connecting the probing areas and the reference junction so that high-frequency signals can be uniformly transferred therebetween despite, for example, variable positioning of the device-probing ends of the network on the probing areas. A preferred method for evaluating the signal channels of the network includes connecting a reference unit to the reference junction and successively positioning each device-probing end that corresponds to a signal channel of interest on the inner probing area.

Abstract: A switching node for use in connection with a computer network includes an input interface, a buffer and a control element. The input interface receives cells from at least one input communication link. The buffer buffers selected cells prior to transmission over at least one output communication link. The control element selectively enables cells received by the input interface to be buffered in the buffer. The control element discards cells if the cell occupancy of the buffer exceeds a predetermined threshold level and a credit value indicates that the switching node has loaded a number of cells into the buffer for transmission which exceeds a cell loss ratio guarantee provided by the switching node.

Abstract: A pipe coupling stiffener is adapted for insertion in each open end of first and second pipes being connected in a sealed manner in a water or sewer line for reinforcing the pipe connection without affecting flow characteristics of a medium carried by the connected pipes. The pipe coupling stiffener includes a generally cylindrical member open at both ends and having a slot extending the length thereof, where the slot is defined by first and second spaced inner edges with the first edge extending transversely relative to opposed ends of the cylindrical member, while the second edge is oriented at a non-transverse angle to form a single-tapered slot. The pipe coupling stiffener further includes a single-tapered wedge adapted for tight-fitting insertion in the cylindrical member's lengthwise slot. The wedge includes curvilinear outer and inner plates having the same curvature as the cylindrical member and an intermediate plate disposed between and attached to the outer and inner plates.