Abstract: A multi-slice hinge-line actuator includes a plurality of actuator slices mounted around a common axis of rotation and arranged to be rotated around the axis of rotation by a drive means in response to a control signal, the slices spaced axially along the axis of rotation. Each actuator slice has a first attachment means for attachment to a relatively fixed structure and a second attachment means for attachment to a moveable structure to be moved by the actuator in response to the control signal. The actuator also includes means for monitoring a strain pattern in the actuator at a plurality of locations along the axial direction of the actuator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine a remainder value are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves, during a compilation phase, causing a processor to multiply a dividend value by a first value to generate a second value associated with a product. The first value is associated with a scaled approximate reciprocal of a divisor value, and the scaled approximate reciprocal of the divisor value is determined using a compound exponent value. During a runtime phase, the processor is caused to multiply a third value from the second value. The third value is generated using at least a subset bitfield of the second value. During the runtime phase, the processor is caused to determine a remainder value based on the third value. The processor is caused to store the remainder value in a memory.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide rounding of a binary integer are described. In one embodiment, a value that indicates whether a divisor divides a binary integer is extracted from a product of the binary integer and a scaled approximate reciprocal of the divisor.

Abstract: Under the present invention, a customized contract is created based on the needs of the parties and is then stored within a secure computer infrastructure. Security within the computer infrastructure is typically provided through encryption such as 128 bit encryption. Moreover, all actions taken with respect to the contract (e.g., approval, execution, etc.) occur within the infrastructure and are recorded so that a record can be provided. Any party taking action will first be authenticated before access to the infrastructure is granted. In order for the contract to be electronically executed, both the originating contract partner and the receiving contract partner must first deliberately approve the contract. Once approval has been obtained, the contract can be electronically executed by both parties. After execution is complete, a final image of the contract is generated that includes the electronic signatures and the date of execution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining a remainder value are disclosed. The methods and apparatus extract a residuary subset bitfield value from a binary value that is calculated using a scaled approximate reciprocal value that is associated with a compound exponent scaling value. The residuary subset bitfield value is part of a range of contiguous bits that is associated with upper and lower boundary bit-position values that are part of the compound exponent scaling value. The methods and apparatus determine the remainder value based on the residuary subset bitfield value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integer rounding are described herein. In one embodiment, exemplary method includes adding a first value with a first constant, resulting in a second value, optionally performing a rounding operation on the second value, resulting in a third value, and extracting at least a portion of bits from the third value to generate an integer component corresponding to the first value, the first constant being selected such that an accuracy of the integer component is independent of a rounding mode of the rounding operation. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A processor based system may convert a mathematical function to a power series converging on that function. One or more sets of coefficients for the power series may be pre-computed and stored in machine readable storage medium. In response to a request to execute the mathematical function, the processor obtains coefficients of the terms of the power series from storage and sums up the terms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a floating point division of a dividend (a) by a divisor (b) to produce a correctly rounded-to-nearest quotient (q′) having a mantissa of P bits in a data processing system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the data processing system computes a current quotient estimate (qm′, where m represents an integer and m>=0) that is within 1 ulp of a true quotient (a/b). Then the data processing system computes a current remainder estimate (rm′) based on the dividend (a), the divisor (b) and the current quotient estimate (qm′). The data processing system also computes a current reciprocal estimate (yn′, where n represents an integer and n>=0) based on a reciprocal intermediate value (E) with a relative error with respect to a true reciprocal of the divisor (1/b) of less than or equal to z/(22P) (where z is an integer derived from error analyses of computations of the current reciprocal estimate (yn′)).

Abstract: The intensity output of a monochrome interlaced video monitor typically used in medical imaging may be tested as follows. The video card of a computer is controlled to output equal video intensity levels of red, green, and blue for a time sequenced series of different levels. These video signals are combined and attenuated such that the peak level of the series is about 700 mV, which is the industry standard for peak white on a monochrome monitor. The sync pulses from the video card are adjusted to about -300 mV, which is the industry standard for sync pulses driving a monochrome video monitor and are combined with the combined video signal to produce an intensity test signal for driving the monitor. The video card is controlled to produce a high line rate to drive video monitors having an (approximately double) high line rate and to produce a low line rate to drive video monitors having (an approximately double) low line rate.

Abstract: Cross cuts for forming the ends of a tab on a sheet, for example a glue tab on a corrugated paperboard container blank, are performed by independent rotary cutter units. Each cutter unit has a spirally convoluted blade which, as it rotates, cuts progressively inwards from an outside edge of the sheet towards an opposite outside edge. As the sheet is conveyed along, a downstream cutter unit cuts the leading end of the tab, and an upstream cutter unit cuts the trailing end. After each cut, the cutter remains at rest with its blade in an inoperative position out of the path of any oncoming sheet. A sensor senses the next oncoming sheet and initiates the cutting via a computer. These rotary cutters mitigate skewing of the sheets while being cut.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a plurality of ink rolls, particularly anilox rolls, for a single printing cylinder at any one of a number of similar and serially arranged printing stations, each station having one ink roll at a time being selected for use in cooperation with either a wipe roll assembly or a doctor blade assembly associated with each station. The various assemblies are surrounded by respective movable cover members which allow the assemblies to either print, or be washed or cleaned, at the same time that a similar printing or cleaning operation is taking place at an adjacent printing station. A movable subframe adjacent the main frame carries the ink rolls and their associated movable cover members as well as both the wipe roll assembly and the doctor blade assembly.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a printing cylinder rotatably supported by a main frame. A subassembly contains a plurality of anilox rolls rotatable about parallel spaced-apart axis with the subassembly being rotatable about an axis parallel to and between these spaced-apart axes. A locking arrangement secures the subassembly in selected positions whereby any selected one of the anilox rolls can be brought into an operative position for cooperating with the printing cylinder for printing. Alternative ink systems supply ink to the selected anilox roll when in the operative position. Preferably the subassembly is supported at its ends by gear casings which are adjustably rotatably mounted in a subframe which itself is pivotally mounted in the main frame. The ink rolls may be anilox rolls with different surface screens.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a rotatable anilox roll engageable with a rotatable print cylinder for transferring ink thereto. A rotatable wipe roll and a doctor blade head are selectively engageable with different portions of the anilox roll to provide alternative wipe roll and doctor blade inking systems. Preferably both inking systems have substantially common ink supply and ink return paths with a valve being selectively operable to direct the ink supply path to either the wipe roll or the doctor blade head. Facilities for effecting a wash cycle may be provided to wash either inking system after use. Preferably an interlock arrangement prevents changing in use between the two inking systems until a wash cycle has been completed.

Abstract: A machine or machine section for squaring folded container blanks has a conveyor for conveying slotted and partially folded container blanks. A folding device completes folding of each container blank while being conveyed by the conveyor. A gauge plate is inserted in a slot in each of the slotted and partially folded container blanks. A mechanism moves the gauge plate in timed sequence with the conveyor, inserts the gauge plate in the slot before completion of folding of the respective blank in order to "square" the folded blank, and then withdraws the gauge plate from the slot. Overlapping flaps of each folded blank may be tacked together during "squaring" by drops of hot melt adhesive which subsequently hold the flat folded blanks square while the conventional slow drying water soluble glue dries. The "squaring" arrangement may be incorporated in a conventional gluer/folder machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a die, particularly a rigid cutting die, on a die cylinder includes having a bubble along a seal on the die to bridge any gaps between the die and the die cylinder when the die is initially positioned on the die cylinder. This bubble seal enables a vacuum to be applied between the initially positioned die and the die cylinder to pull the die down against and into conformity with the surface of the die cylinder, at the same time flattening the bubble seal. A key at a trailing edge of the die locates in an axial keyway in the die cylinder to circumferentially position the die; a bolt is then inserted at a leading edge of the die to establish axial location. During operation the die is held in position by the vacuum. Beam sensors and light reflectors may be incorporated to sense when a wrong die is present and shut down the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a flexible printing plate comprises a printing cylinder having a surface upon which the printing plate is mountable, and a connection for applying subatmospheric pressure inside the cylinder. A plurality of valves selectively apply the subatmospheric pressure to the surface from inside the cylinder. These valves have depressable actuating members protrudable above the cylinder surface. Those actuating members contacted by the printing plate when applied to the cylinder surface are depressed thereby to effect application of subatmospheric pressure to beneath the printing plate to draw the plate against the cylinder. Preferably, grooves are provided in the cylinder surface for distribution of the subatmospheric pressure beneath the plate. Advantageously, the printing plate may have a thin, highly flexible and deformable fringe along its trailing edge to seal the surface grooves, at that location.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a flexible printing plate comprises a printing cylinder having a surface upon which the printing plate is mountable, and a connection for applying subatmospheric pressure inside the cylinder. A plurality of valves selectively apply the subatmospheric pressure to the surface from inside the cylinder. These valves have depressable actuating members protrudable above the cylinder surface. Those actuating members contacted by the printing plate when applied to the cylinder surface are depressed thereby to effect application of subatmospheric pressure to beneath the printing plate to draw the plate against the cylinder. Preferably, grooves are provided in the cylinder surface for distribution of the subatmospheric pressure beneath the plate. Advantageously, the printing plate may have a thin, highly flexible and deformable fringe along its trailing edge to seal the surface grooves, at that location.

Abstract: A vital narrow band-pass filter which operates in a fail-safe manner and includes a single stage input resonant circuit, an intermediate multistage parallel resonant circuit, and an output amplifying circuit for passing a given center carrier frequency signal and for attenuating adjacent carrier frequency signals.

Abstract: A fail-safe "OR" logic gate circuit which includes at least a first and a second level detector each of which has a voltage breakdown device and an oscillating circuit, a separate resonant tank circuit each of which is tuned to substantially the same frequency and being loosely coupled between each other, an amplifying circuit coupled to the output of each oscillating circuit, and a regulating-rectifying circuit coupled to the output of the amplifying circuit and producing a d.c. output signal when a d.c. input signal causes either or both of the voltage breakdown devices to break down and to exhibit a low impedance for causing the respective oscillating circuits to oscillate and supply a.c. signals to the amplifying circuit for rectification by the regulating-rectifying circuit.