Abstract: A tape placement head for applying thermoplastic tape to an object includes a heated feeder which guides the tape/tow to a heated zone. The heated zone has a line compactor having a single row of at least one movable heated member. An area compactor is located in the heated zone downstream from the line compactor. The area compactor includes a plurality of rows of movable feet which are extendable toward the tape/tow different distances with respect to each other to conform to the shape of the object. A shim is located between the heated compactors and the tape/tow. A chilled compactor is in a chilled zone downstream from the heated zone. The chilled zone includes a line chilled compactor and an area chilled compactor. A chilled shim is mounted between the chilled compactor and the tape/tow.

Abstract: A tape placement head for applying thermoplastic tape to an object includes a heated feeder which guides the tape/tow to a heated zone. The heated zone has a line compactor having a single row of at least one movable heated member. An area compactor is located in the heated zone downstream from the line compactor. The area compactor includes a plurality of rows of movable feet which are extendable toward the tape/tow different distances with respect to each other to conform to the shape of the object. A shim is located between the heated compactors and the tape/tow. A chilled compactor is in a chilled zone downstream from the heated zone. The chilled zone includes a line chilled compactor and an area chilled compactor. A chilled shim is mounted between the chilled compactor and the tape/tow.

Abstract: A method of calculating a combination of coins to be dispensed as change comprises evaluating different possible combinations and selecting the most favorable one. One combination is determined according to priority, giving higher priority to higher-denomination coins. In other combinations, the number of coins of one or more denominations is one less than would be determined by priority.

Abstract: A transaction system comprises a plurality of components each performing a respective function, the components being interconnected by a serial data bus. Each component can initiate an information exchange operation with any other component. A component may transmit a message consisting of either a general instruction for causing the component receiving the message to carry out one of a plurality of different types of operations depending upon the nature of the instruction, or a message in the form of a direct memory access request identifying a specific location in a memory of the receiving component to which data is to be written or from which data is to be read.