Abstract: Airlaid paper wiping products are disclosed having improved wipe dry characteristics in conjunction with softness properties. The wiping products are formed from an airlaid nonwoven web containing pulp fibers. The pulp fibers, in one embodiment, may include low coarseness softwood fibers, such as low coarseness softwood fibers. A bonding material may be applied to one or both sides of the nonwoven web. The wiping product can be used as a paper towel, industrial wiper, and the like.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an encoder containing a plurality of registration markings per unit distance for use as a registration reference, for instance for a print head of a printer. The registration markings being aligned in a longitudinal direction. In one preferred method of practicing the invention a polymer substrate on which the encoder is to be imprinted is first provided. An optical imagesetter device is utilized which includes a cylindrical drum and a controllable light source for directing light toward the cylindrical drum. The cylindrical drum includes a surface for receiving the polymer substrate and an axis of rotation. After the polymer substrate is retained upon the drum surface, an image of the encoder is projected upon the retained polymer substrate wherein the longitudinal axis of the encoder being angularly offset relative to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An encoder strip with dimensional stability and ink resistance properties. The encoder strip has a length, width, surface, thickness, and one or more markings per unit of length. A coating having a thickness between about 2 microns and about 4 microns and is distributed substantially uniformly over the surface of the element. The coating is configured on the element as substantially translucent to one or more light wavelengths and is adapted to: (1) form a membrane to substantially prevent ink absorption into the element or adsorption to the surface of the element; and (2) provide dimensional stability to the element resulting from interaction of temperature and humidity.

Abstract: A meter/breaker arrangement having separate covers for the meter side and breaker side. The meter side includes as an extension thereof a rain gutter which underlaps a flange on the breaker cover to provide a rain-proof or water-proof enclosure when both covers are disposed securely on the enclosure. In addition, a locking arrangement is provided so that the breaker cover can be removed without allowing access to the meter region. Alternatively, both the meter cover and breaker cover can be removed. A flexible, partially non-electrically conductive, security member is provided for separating the meter side from the breaker side.

Abstract: This covers a meter/breaker arrangement having separate covers for the meter side and breaker side. The meter side includes as an extension thereof a rain gutter which underlaps a flange on the breaker cover to provide a rain-proof or water-proof enclosure when both covers are disposed securely on the enclosure when both covers are disposed securely on the enclosure. In addition, a locking arrangement is provided so that the breaker cover can be removed without allowing access to the meter region. Alternatively, both the meter cover and breaker cover can be removed.

Abstract: Displaying controls in a toolbar display based on the control's usage. A toolbar displays controls, including a special control for accessing a drop-off well display for those controls not fitting into the toolbar display. A Most Recently Used parameter is associated with each control and is determined by the user's selection of individual controls. When the user selects a control from the drop-off well display, the Most Recently Used parameter associated with the selected control is updated to indicate that it is the control that has been used most recently. Preferably, the toolbar display attempts to expand to incorporate the selected control. If the toolbar display can be expanded, then the selected control is added to the toolbar display and placed in the toolbar displayed in a predefined relational order. If the toolbar display cannot be expanded, then a calculation is performed to determine which controls to display in the toolbar and which controls to place in the drop-off well display.

Abstract: Drop down menus provided by a computer program are provided in two states, a short menu state and a long menu state. When a user opens a desired menu, the menu opened will initially take the form of a short menu of executable commands which are a subset of the total number of executable commands available under the selected menu. The short menu may be dynamically expanded into a long menu which will contain the complete set of executable commands available under the selected menu. The short menu may be adapted to the personal needs of the user when the user selects commands from the long menu which are not contained in the short menu. Usage information is stored and updated on the usage of each menu command added to a short menu. Menu commands are removed from the adapted short menus based on non-use of those menu commands by the user.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an encoder containing the intended integer number of registration markings (and spaces) per unit distance, over the correct length of that entire encoder. The method is practiced by producing a template having the desired number of registration indices at reasonably exact tolerances--but at widths and spacing less than or greater than intended for the registration markings, and therefore having an overall length less than or greater than that of the encoder--and using the template to project an image onto a substrate at a suitable scaling factor to form the encoder having the correct widths and spacing of the registration markings on that substrate. The template may be a wholly computer-generated and memory-resident virtual image, or may be imprinted upon a tangible intermediate medium and transferred to the substrate using a projection technique. The scaling process may be accomplished using mechanical, optical, or photochemical techniques, as well as combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inserting a selected graphic control within a spreadsheet, chart, or dialog sheet. The graphic control can be selected from a Forms button toolbar and then positioned within a desired workspace of a spreadsheet program. The graphic controls provided on the Forms button toolbar include a check box, an option box, a list box, a drop-down box, a combination list-edit box, a combination drop-down list-edit box, a scrollbar, and a spinner. A Format Object properties dialog box is also provided on the Forms button toolbar to enable the user to set various parameters for the graphic control. These parameters include an identification of the cell within the spreadsheet to which the graphic control is bi-directionally linked. If the user manipulates the graphic control, a value in the spreadsheet cell that is linked to the graphic control changes in a corresponding fashion. Similarly, any change to the spreadsheet cell linked to the graphic control is reflected within the graphic control.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a uniform web of dry fibers on a foraminous wire moving at speeds greater than 500 feet per minute including offset suction and air deflecting means within a fiber distributor for imparting a horizontal velocity component to the deposited fibers in the direction of the moving wire, also a method for depositing a uniform web of dry fibers onto a moving foraminous wire including imparting a horizontal velocity component to fibers deposited onto the wire in the direction of the wire by inducing a pressure gradient and baffling the air flow within a fiber distributor.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of fibrous webs comprises a forming wire and a distributor for depositing dry fibers on the wire. The distributor comprises at least one cylindrical chamber having its axis extending transversely of and in a plane parallel to the wire. The lower semicylindrical wall of the chamber is perforate for distributing fibers on the wire and the upper semicylindrical wall includes a fiber inlet. A helically bladed rotor in the chamber has its axis substantially coincident with the chambers axis of curvature, and upon rotation operates to drive fibers through the screen while evenly distributing them across the wire. Disposition of a pair of chambers in tandem with a common central fiber inlet operates further to create a racetrack fiber distribution across the wire.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a uniform web of dry fibers on a foraminous wire moving at speeds greater than 500 feet per minute including offset suction and air deflecting means within a fiber distributor for imparting a horizontal velocity component to the deposited fibers in the direction of the moving wire, also a method for depositing a uniform web of dry fibers onto a moving foraminous wire including imparting a horizontal velocity component to fibers deposited onto the wire in the direction of the wire by inducing a pressure gradient and baffling the air flow within a fiber distributor.