Abstract: A continuously provided ground food product (e.g. meat) is leveled to a particular thickness and then irradiated. The leveler may be formed from two (2) spaced members (e.g., closed loop belts) spaced from each other by a distance progressively decreasing to a distance corresponding to the particular thickness. This distance may be adjustable to define any desired thickness for the food product. The leveler and the radiation source are disposed in a chamber providing shielding against radiation. The belt carrying the food product past the radiation source deposits the irradiated food product in a receptacle. A transport mechanism (e.g. auger) transports the irradiated food product, without exposing the food product to harmful bacteria, from the receptacle to a former which provides the food product in individual configurations (e.g. hamburgers, chubs and case ready) without exposing the product to harmful bacteria. The formed product is thereafter stored in an environment which excludes harmful bacteria.

Abstract: A continuously provided ground food product (e.g. meat) is leveled to a particular thickness and then irradiated. The leveler may be formed from two (2) spaced members (e.g., closed loop belts) spaced from each other by a distance progressively decreasing to a distance corresponding to the particular thickness. This distance may be adjustable to define any desired thickness for the food product. The leveler and the radiation source are disposed in a chamber providing shielding against radiation. The belt carrying the food product past the radiation source deposits the irradiated food product in a receptacle. A transport mechanism (e.g. auger) transports the irradiated food product, without exposing the food product to harmful bacteria, from the receptacle to a former which provides the food product in individual configurations (e.g. hamburgers, chubs and case ready) without exposing the product to harmful bacteria. The formed product is thereafter stored in an environment which excludes harmful bacteria.

Abstract: A method and device for improved assembly to hole-free PCBs of high aspect ratio components or any other components that are not easily assembled to a hole-free PCB by standard surface-mount technology (SMT), such as pins, lugs, tabs, and test points. A metal or other electrically conductive member having one or more holes ("holed component") is mounted to the PCB, typically on a solder pad on the PCB. The said electrically conductive member, will have a low aspect ratio. The hole, which may be round, rectangular, or threaded, is sized to provide an interference fit with the male projection of the component which will be inserted within the hole. The holed component, like other low aspect ratio SMT components, may be delivered on tape and reel and conventional surface mount or pick and place equipment is used to surface mount the holed component on the hole-free PCB, following which the holed component is soldered in place.

Abstract: An improved snowboard having a pair of dual-acting, interchangeable edges. Each dual-acting edge incorporates one inside, inward-facing edge and one elevated outside edge. The inside, inward-facing edges provide stable control of the snowboard while riding it flat on the snow. One of the elevated outside edges is brought into contact with the snow when the snowboard is tilted off its bottom surface and up onto the outside edge for increased carving and turning power.

Abstract: In order to allow header-less connector pins to be directly surface mounted to a PCB, using a standard pick and place machine, a novel pin holder is used to hold the pin while in pockets or holes of a reeled tape and during its pick and placement by the suction head of the pick and place machine supplied with the reel. The holder is configured to permit standard pin spacings of a row of pins to match standard female connectors, and to allow observation of the pin during the placement process. Novel pin designs for use with the holder are also described.

Abstract: A camera for taking a plurality of exposures upon a continuous length of film includes a film transport/registration sprocket mounted directly to the shaft of a first stepper motor for incremental rotation thereby. The film transport/registration sprocket engages sprocket holes along the edges of the film for transporting the film through the camera and registering the film relative to an aperture plate assembly. Guide rollers are provided to guide a portion of the film past the aperture plate assembly through which the film can be exposed. The aperture plate assembly includes an aperture frame which supports a removable aperture mask for selecting the area of film to be exposed. A shutter disk is mounted to a shaft for rotation by a second stepper motor in order to expose the film. A pressure plate controlled by the shutter disk shaft urges the film against registration pins within the aperture frame which engage the sprocket holes in the film during each exposure.

Abstract: A camera for taking a plurality of exposures upon a continuous length of film includes a film transport/registration sprocket mounted directly to the shaft of a first stepper motor for incremental rotation thereby. The film transport/registration sprocket engages sprocket holes along the edges of the film for transporting the film through the camera and registering the film relative to an aperture plate assembly. Guide rollers are provided to guide a portion of the film past the aperture plate assembly through which the film can be exposed. The aperture plate assembly includes an aperture frame which supports a removable aperture mask for selecting the area of film to be exposed. A shutter disk is mounted to a shaft for rotation by a second stepper motor in order to expose the film. A pressure plate controlled by the shutter disk shaft urges the film against registration pins within the aperture frame which engage the sprocket holes in the film during each exposure.

Abstract: An inertia balanced, power regenerative transmission system for vehicles augments the power of the prime mover to the transmission output shaft during acceleration and recovers power from the drive shaft during deceleration. The transmission system includes torque sensitive gearing subsystems for transferring power intermediate a flywheel, the prime mover and the drive shaft. A decrease in rotational velocity of the prime mover output shaft and an accompanying decrease in kinetic energy of the vehicle is inherently coupled to increase the rotational speed and attendant kinetic energy of the flywheel, which energy is immediately available upon renewed acceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A force sensitive suspension unit for vehicles differentiates between the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle and the characteristics of the unsprung weight of the wheel assembly. Consequently, the independent parameters of vehicle isolation and comfort are segregably reconcilable with optimum wheel to ground response.