Abstract: The object of the present invention is to clip and collect seedlings easily and effectively from runners of a parent plant such as strawberry. To attain this object, a method for raising seedlings comprising; planting a parent plant in a plant bed disposed in a high position, growing plural runners linked mutually to hang from said parent plant in said plant bed, attaching water absorbing block to each rooting part between runners hanging in midair, supplying water to each water block to grow root and seedling from said rooting part, and clipping and collecting the resulting seedlings from runners is provided.

Abstract: A method and relative equipment, applicable to a knitting machine for the production of collars and similar articles, for restraining, during knitting, the terminal portions of cut thread (12, 13) protruding from the edge (5) of said collars by inserting them inside the courses of stitches which compose them. The means for inserting (16) said thread ends (12, 13) between two successive courses of stitches (2,3 and 3,4) while knitting, comprise at least one nozzle (27, 37) producing a fluid current(22, 32). One of the nozzles (37) may be able to rotate from a first direction (A) of catching the end portion of thread to a second direction (B) aligned with the courses of stitches during the knitting process. Means for inserting can also comprise a first nozzle (27) producing a first jet of fluid (22) for catching the thread end and a second nozzle (37) producing a second jet of fluid (32) for inserting it between two courses of stitches.

Abstract: A motorless floor washing machine comprising a frame carrying a suction pump, wheels carried by the frame for moving of the machine and actuation of the pump to suck up a liquid, a handle for moving the frame and elements carried thereby, thereby to move the wheels and actuate the pump, a recovery tank fed by the pump, and a dispenser carried by the frame for discharging a cleaning liquid in front of the pump, whereby upon manual movement of the machine and discharge of a cleaning liquid carried thereby onto a floor, the cleaning liquid cleans the floor and is thereafter sucked up by the pump.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for opening a slaughtered animal comprising the following steps of:(1) providing a slaughtered animal;(2) suspending the animal from the hind legs;(3) arranging a cut in the belly wall close to the hind legs substantially in the plane of symmetry of the animal;(4) continuing this cut in substantially vertical downward direction; and(5) holding the intestines clear of the belly wall during step (4).

Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for selective cutting of the transverse carpal ligament of a patient. The instrument includes spaced-apart teeth which are supported on a first arm and a press member which is carried by a second arm. The teeth are prevented from contacting tissue when the first arm is inserted into, or retracted from, the carpal tunnel. After insertion of the first arm into the carpal tunnel, the teeth are exposed to the transverse carpal ligament and the first and second arms are moved towards each other to force the teeth into the transverse carpal ligament to perforate the ligament and enable it to elongate.

Abstract: A method for conferring plant tolerance to severe diseases, specifically caused by a viruses vectored by soilborne fungi, wherein a non-virulent or mildly virulent virus is transmitted to the plant and renders the plant tolerant to disease caused by a more virulent virus. The protective virus is transmitted to a host plant via a viruliferous soilborne fungus which is coated onto seed and thereby produces a disease tolerant plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of estriol as the sole active ingredient for the production of a transdermal medicament which continuously releases the active ingredient for the treatment of climacteric osteoporosis. It has been shown according to the invention that estriol, which has up until now been thought ineffective for the treatment of climacteric osteoporosis, develops strong anti-osteoporotic effectiveness upon continuous transdermal application.

Abstract: The invention concerns electrophoresis and methods and electrolyte compositions for decoupling or isolating the dual functions of the electrolyte composition in order to increase separation selectivity or reduce electromigration dispersion, or both. An electrolyte composition is used in electrophoresis to separate a charged analyte having a mobility .mu..sub.a in an electric field. The composition includes a buffer system having an ionic component that controls the pH of the composition and mobility matching ions having a mobility .mu..sub.2 in the electric field, such that .mu..sub.a /.mu..sub.2 equals about one. Alternatively, the buffer system may maintain the composition's pH and a complexing agent may complex with the buffer system to alter the mobility .mu..sub.2 of an ionic component of the buffer system, such that .mu..sub.a /.mu..sub.2 equals about one. The pH of the composition is within a pH range selected based on the analyte to be separated, and .mu..sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the load on a communications link in a common channel signalling system connecting an exchange in a telephone network to regional equipment such as a remote subscriber switch or a remote cellular base station. The length indicator field of each signal unit transmitted over the reserved channel of the communications link is monitored by the exchange to determine the number of bytes of message data being transmitted over the link during a predetermined time period. The load on the communications link is identified by taking the ratio of the determined number of bytes to the number of full value bytes capable of transmission over the communications link during an identical time period.

Abstract: A grid system for supporting panels and adaptable for use in association with a substructure, comprising a plurality of spaced, horizontally disposed main runners and cross-runners arranged perpendicular to each other. The main runners are adaptable for attachment to the substructure, and include (i) a crosspiece having a horizontally oriented surface provided with a plurality of spaced notches and (ii) a downwardly depending member terminating with a horizontally disposed flange. The cross-runners have horizontally disposed flanges arranged in a common plane with the flanges of the main runners, which support the tile panels in a common plane. The cross-runners include connecting means for insertion in the notches upon the perpendicular arrangement, and the connecting means have a horizontally oriented surface for mating with the surface of the crosspiece and disposed for overlapping engagement with the crosspiece thereby supporting the cross-runner and preventing undesired disengagement therebetween.

Abstract: A dimmable fluorescent lamp system embodiment of the present invention comprises a fluorescent lamp with filaments at each end that are continuously heated by independent secondary windings of a transformer. A resonating capacitor is connected in series with a resonating inductor and a pair of DC blocking capacitors are connected from each end of the fluorescent lamp to put it in parallel with the resonating capacitor. A control logic drives the primary winding with a pulse-width or frequency modulated square wave that is controlled by a feedback voltage derived from a pair of rectifiers and a dropping resistor in series with one of the DC blocking capacitors.

Abstract: A dimmable fluorescent lamp system comprises a fluorescent lamp with filaments at each end that are continuously heated by a transformer. A resonating capacitor is connected in series with a resonating inductor and a pair of DC blocking capacitors are connected from each end of the fluorescent lamp to put it in parallel with the resonating capacitor. A control logic drives the resonating inductor with a pulse-width modulated square wave that is controlled by a feedback voltage derived from a pair of rectifiers and a dropping resistor in series with one of the DC blocking capacitors. An error amplifier with two gain settings, e.g., one for a range of 0-20% of maximum light dimming and the other for 20%-100% dimming, compares the feedback voltage to a setpoint. A threshold comparator establishes the switchover point between the two error gain ranges.

Abstract: The invention provides a wall stop or spacer which is mounted on the hospital bed and impinges on the skirting of the wall near the floor should the bed be pushed towards the wall with resulting impact. Also, because the engagement is usually at right angles to the wall, the spacer has a width greater than the distance between the studs in the wall so that the load will be distributed across the studs. Further, because the impact is on the skirting, the impact takes place at one of the strongest pans of the wall where the wall plate and studs meet and the skirting passes over these pans to further reinforce the structure. The wall stop can be placed in a deployed position for engagement with the skirting or manually moved into a stored position under the bed to permit an attendant to walk behind the bed when the bed is moved from room to room.

Abstract: A suction unit (76) provided with a suction pipe (80) having a suction opening (81) for sucking off crushed rock and being vertically and laterally adjustable is allocated to a machine (57) for treating the ballast bed of a track (60) with a machine frame (58) supported on rail travelling undercarriges (59). In addition, there is provided a clearing apparatus (62) disposed at a distance from the suction opening (81) in the longitudinal direction of the machine and provided with an endless clearing chain (64) rotatable by a drive (63) for removing the crushed rock disposed below the track (60). Like the suction pipe (80), it is provided with separate drives (82, 99) for vertical and lateral adjustment independently from one another.

Abstract: A technique for reconfiguring in the field postage meters having a set of features that may be selectively enabled or disabled by software. The technique provides security so that the meter company will always have a correct record of the configuration of the meter in the field. A technique is provided for reconfiguring in the field of external devices in communication with postage meters, the external devices having an external device feature set that may be selectively enabled or disabled by software. A technique for securely adding postage to a remote setting postage meter without the remote setting code is also provided. A technique for detecting the entry of an invalid code for remote setting the meter a predetermined number at times is also provided. Once detected, a security lock flag stored in memory is set which prevents the meter from being reset until the flag is cleared in a separate procedure.

Abstract: A furniture fitting for connecting parts of an article of furniture includes a dowel to be inserted into a hole in one furniture part and an expansion member movable relative to the dowel between a relaxed position, enabling the dowel to be inserted into the hole, and an expanded position, enabling the dowel to be locked in the hole. A holding member is mounted with respect to the expansion member for rotatable movement relative to the dowel to actuate the expansion member to move to or from the expanded position thereof upon such rotatable movement relative to the dowel. The holding member is to be connected to another furniture part.

Abstract: An orthosis for stretching tissue that limits compressive forces on the soft tissue around a joint during movement of the joint. The orthosis includes two relatively pivotable cuff arms with a cuff on each arm. The cuffs clamp onto the body portions on either side of the joint. The pivot axis of the cuff arms is spaced from the pivot axis of the joint, so that movement of the cuff arms to extend the joint results in distractive forces being applied to the joint. The cuffs are selectively moved on the cuff arms, during extension and flexion, to provide the proper amount of distractive forces to the joint and to limit compressive forces on the joint. A mechanical advantage is gained through the use of a gear drive mechanism for transmitting to the joint the force applied by the patient. This allows the orthosis to be relatively small and light weight. The orthosis also provides a portable system for continuous passive motion therapy for a joint.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for stabilizing a microporous marking structure is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of placing a microporous marking structure in conjunction with an absorbent material within a stabilizing device. A positive pressure is then applied to the microporous marking structure within the stabilizing device until a sufficient amount of ink originally retained within the microporous marking structure is forced to flow therefrom into the absorbent material so that the microporous marking structure obtains a substantially stabilized state. The apparatus may comprise a pair of substantially rigid plates arranged for relative movement with respect to each other wherein at least one of the substantially rigid plates is adapted to support a microporous marking structure thereon until the microporous marking structure is arranged between the plates.

Abstract: An actuating system for a variable area exhaust nozzle is disclosed having inner and outer flaps pivotally connected to an airframe whose positions may be varied by a single set of control cylinders. The control cylinders have a case in which is slidably mounted a pair of pistons, each having piston rods extending from one side, which piston rods extend through one end of the cylinder case. The piston rods may be arranged coaxially to minimize the bulk of the actuating cylinder. One of the piston rods is connected to the inner flaps, while the other of the piston rods is connected to the outer flaps.