Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for tracking the location of assets, such as capitalized fixed assets, for tax reporting and insurance value reporting purposes. In accordance with the invention, each time a transaction occurs with respect to an asset, a tax location finder routine is performed. The tax location finder routine runs through a hierarchical sequence of queries to attempt to classify the asset as one of a plurality of categories corresponding to a customized audit technique that is likely to be able to derive a location for said asset. If and when the asset is correlated to one of the customized audit techniques, that audit technique is applied to attempt to derive a tax location for the asset. If a location can be derived, the location is reported. If the asset cannot be correlated to one of the customized audit techniques or, if it can be correlated to a customized audit technique, but that audit technique cannot derive a location, an error is reported.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a constituent sensing system including a container for holding a flowable product. A moveable member is positioned within the container for moving the flowable product within the container in a manner which simulates a flow of the flowable product. A probe is positioned proximate to the moving flowable product for analyzing the moving flowable product.

Abstract: A micropower transponder operates in conjunction with a constellation of low-to-medium Earth-orbiting communication satellites. The transponder is attached to a person, animal, or object. The location of a missing person, animal, or lost object is ascertained by locating the transponder associated with that person, animal, or object. The transponder may be hidden in the individual's hair, timepiece, jewelry, or article of clothing; may be swallowed by the individual; may be implanted under the individual's skin; or incorporated into an inconspicuous hand-held device such as a cellular telephone, pager, or calculator. The transponder includes a receiver for receiving an interrogation radio signal and a transmitter for transmitting a response radio signal. The transponder transmits the response radio signal in response to the interrogation radio signal if the interrogation radio signal includes a code matching the access code stored in the transponder.

Abstract: The present invention is a digital imaging system for a copier that comprises a full-frame, two-dimensional sensor array to capture a document's image and a full-frame output light valve with backlight to flash expose the image onto a photoreceptor belt. The document is flash exposed to illuminate the page and the full-page image is captured by the full-frame, two dimensional sensor array. The sensor array then reads out the digital image data in response to a driver. The data is then input into the full-frame digital output light valve. The driver provides for the synchronous control of the system. Optionally, an electronic subsystem may perform digital image processing according to user demand--before the data arrives at the output light valve. After image processing (if any), the digital data, supplied to the full-page output light valve, forms a pattern on the display according to the data. The patterned image is then flash exposed by a backlight, through the light valve, and onto a photoreceptor.

Abstract: A foldable clothes line comprises a series of arms (12) which radiate outwardly from a lower cross (13) fixed to a central standard (11), the arms (12) being guided by stays (14) pivotally connected at their outer ends to the arms (12) and at their inner ends to an upper cross (16) mounted at the upper end of the standard (11), wherein each of the arms (12) comprises relative rotatable inner and outer arms portions (18, 19) which are hingedly connected by a hinge mechanism (20) so as to permit relative pivotal movement of the arm portions about a transverse axis, releasable locking mechanism (28) being provided for preventing relative pivotal movement of the arm portions (18, 19) when the arm (12) is in a fully extended position, arranged so that each of the arms (12) is independently movable between a collapsed condition wherein its inner and outer arm portions (18, 19) lie alongside one another and extend approximately vertically adjacent the standard (11) and a fully extended in-use position wherein the ar

Abstract: A bilge pump bracket of generally an "L" shape allows the bilge pump and float switch to be mounted outside of the bilge area, usually in the workshop. The base of the bracket has a location thereon where the pump is to be mounted. In addition, the base also has a raised float switch platform which provides for assurances that the pump will shut off when bilge water is below a predetermined level. Further, the bracket, when made of plastic, can be molded to fit the hull of a vessel by slightly heating the bracket angle to conform to any angle of the vessel's transom area.

Abstract: A system for authenticating a hard copy of an original document. The system employs a special copying machine at the sender's end together with a special ID card (smart card) or other user identification for activating the special machine, and a special copying machine at the receiving end. At the sender's station, the original document and ID card are inserted into the machine. The latter digitizes the document text, to produce a digital signature which incorporates unique information from the sender's ID card. This machine then produces a hard copy of the document to which is added the digital signature. The sender retains the original, but forwards the copy to the recipient or receiver. The receiver then inserts the received copy into the machine at his location, which digitizes and processes the document text and signature and indicates whether the digital signature is valid.

Abstract: An improved interconnecting toy which, through its various uses, provides various educational experiences to the user and which comprises a game piece (1) with joined tubular members comprised of connective ends; and which comprises a game piece (2) with joined tubular member comprised of connective ends. The connective ends may be of the male or female type (7 and 6 respectively). The tubular members may be circumferentially configured in any geometric shape, and may consist of any variety of colors; and the tubular members may be imprinted or decalled with numeric, alphabetic, or logo-type designations, all of which enhance the educational experience that results from use of the invention.

Abstract: Fractionating apparatus especially designed for use in non-adiabatic distillation comprising two series of corrugated horizontally spaced sheets, each of the two series of sheets extending vertically, one series of such sheets being offset vertically from the other series, and forming a plurality of vertically disposed side channels on each side of the adjacent corrugated metal sheets. The side channels provide a tortuous vertical path for upward flow of vapor, and liquid descending from above is split at each offset horizontal fin of the corrugated sheets and mixed with the neighboring stream, thereby providing efficient mixing of the liquid phase as well as the gas phase, such horizontal fins also providing additional liquid holdup, as the descending liquid tends to puddle on the topside of the fins.

Abstract: A frame supports a cross-bar conveyor for advancement over a hamburger patty feeding plate and between upper and lower heated platens. The upper platen is raised by actuators and falls by gravity against adjustable stops in time with advancement of the conveyor. At the discharge end of the conveyor a guide assists in directing a discharging hamburger patty onto a receiving grate.

Abstract: A broiler especially for hamburger patties has an endless conveyor arranged on a frame with the horizontal upper run of the conveyor subjected to the usual supply of heat from above. A stack of initially frozen hamburger patties is arranged above the initial or entry portion of the conveyor upper run, all but the lower patty being confined. Extra heat is supplied from below to the spaced-apart metal rods of the conveyor upper run and to the lower patty lower surface so that the rods burn into the lower portion of the patty. Sufficient interengagement results so that the conveyor readily withdraws the lower patty from the stack.

Abstract: A substantially enclosed and insulated frame has a chain conveyor for carrying patties from one end of the frame to the other. A motor on the frame operates the chain conveyor. A heating element on the frame is effective to increase the temperature within the enclosure and is in position to heat a patty on the conveyor. A thermostat on the frame within the enclosure is subject to such temperature and is effective through a controller to vary the speed of the conveyor in relation to the temperature of the thermostat. Preferably, the speed of advance of the conveyor is increased as the enclosure temperature increases and vice versa. A manual controller permits variation in the ratio of the sensed temperature and the speed of the conveyor.

Abstract: Some commercial broilers have a conveyor extending through the broiler from an entrance opening to an exit opening and have a plurality of burner housings, including end burner housings, arranged above the conveyor and spaced apart with respect to each other and particularly with respect to the entrance opening and the exit opening to leave gaps. To conserve heat, the passageway through the broiler above the conveyor is herein restricted by baffles including an entrance shield of heat-reflecting material formed as a channel frictionally fitting over the entrance burner housing and having a baffle sheet extending from the entrance burner housing through most of the gap toward the entrance opening. Also included is an exit shield of similar material formed as a similar channel fitting over the exit burner housing and having a baffle sheet extending from the exit burner housing through most of the gap toward the exit opening.

Abstract: A patty broiler has a frame on which an openwork patty conveyor is arranged around pulleys to have an upper run and a lower run. Heaters are arranged on the frame above and below the upper run, and multiple reflectors are arranged on the frame above and below the conveyor. A doctor assists in dislodging patties from the far end of the upper run of the conveyor to fall onto a patty slide on the frame leading the patties by gravity toward the feed end of the frame. A bun conveyor is arranged on the frame beneath the patty conveyor. A bun heater transmits heat to buns on that conveyor and to the patty slide. The warmed bun halves are returned toward the feed end of the machine by a bun slide. An enclosing and vented jacket assists in retaining and diverting the heat and fumes and protects the machinery.

Abstract: A frozen patty feeder for a group of individual patties and especially for use with a broiler having a horizontal conveyor run advancing in a predetermined direction includes a first upstanding wall extending transversely of the direction of conveyor advance with the lower margin of the first wall spaced above the conveyor run an amount only slightly more than the thickness of an individual frozen patty. The feeder also includes a second wall extending transversely of the direction of conveyor advance and disposed between a level about even with that of the conveyor and a somewhat higher level, the second wall being inclined in the direction of conveyor advance when considered from the top of the wall downwardly, the first and second walls being spaced apart far enough in the direction of advance to admit of patties of a predetermined diameter when the patties are superimposed upon each other in a staggered, shingled or offset fashion.

Abstract: A cooking and assembly unit is primarily for use in the quantity production of sandwiches, such as hamburger sandwiches including a patty, a bun crown and a bun heel. The unit includes a storage compartment for a number of individual trays each carrying one or more bun heels or bun crowns. The storage compartment is related to a bun grill including a conveyor for trays carrying heels and another conveyor for trays carrying crowns. Both conveyors advance in a predetermined direction and deliver the heel trays and the crown trays to a downstream, exit end of the bun grill. From there the loaded trays are received on an entrance table at the upstream end of a product conditioning tunnel mounted on a straddle frame. The conditioning tunnel is heated and is supplied with steam to hold its contents in a selected atmosphere. A freezer compartment having an access opening to patties stored therein is disposed beneath the straddle frame and adjacent the entrance to the conditioning tunnel.

Abstract: A broiler for hamburger patties and the like has a partially enclosed frame with a feeding opening therein. An endless conveyor on the frame has a generally horizontal upper run accessible through the opening and passing a predetermined distance below a first gas burner on the frame. A radiant energy shield is disposed between the gas burner and the opening. A second gas burner is on the frame below the upper run substantially the same predetermined distance, the lower run of the conveyor running in a path arched upwardly over the second gas burner. Another radiant energy shield is disposed between the second gas burner and the opening. There are also trays on the frame to receive patties from the first conveyor and also to receive buns from a second, separately heated bun conveyor on the frame.

Abstract: A controlled atmosphere broiler has a horizontal tunnel mounted on a frame and enclosing one run of a continuous, open-work conveyor traveling from an inlet end toward an outlet end. An air fan near the inlet end supplies air through a supply air duct to nozzles near the outlet end and discharging into the tunnel, both from above and from below, toward the conveyor. The supply air duct air is heated and provided with hot water vapor. The air is further heated by infrared heaters in the tunnel above and below the conveyor. Infrared radiation is reflected toward the conveyor by a reflector, preferably a common wall between the tunnel and the supply air duct. Air from the tunnel is aspirated through a return air duct by the fan. There is a damper control vent from the tunnel to the atmosphere, and air flow in the supply air duct is also controlled by a damper. The conveyor is supported by water-cooled cross tubes, and there is a drain pan below the conveyor.

Abstract: A patty cooker particularly for use in finishing precooked meat patties having a predetermined transverse dimension has a frame on which a conveyor made up of rather widely spaced, small diameter cross bars advances in a predetermined direction. A nozzle or preferably a plurality of nozzles having outlet openings elongated in the direction of conveyor advance are arranged side by side transversely of the conveyor and close to the patty. A jet of hot air issues from each nozzle and impinges upon the patty in a restricted area. The jets leave untouched zones between such areas. The effect is to provide browned or seared marks or parallel stripes on the patty like grill marks. Preferably nozzles are arranged above and below the conveyor and directed toward the patty from opposite directions, simultaneously to provide sear marks both top and bottom.

Abstract: An electric broiler for hamburgers and the like has a supporting frame on which an endless bar conveyor is arranged to advance longitudinally with the conveyor upper run and the conveyor lower run in generally horizontal planes. A set of upper electric heating rods extends longitudinally and transversely of the frame above the upper run, and a set of lower electric heating rods extends horizontally and transversely of the frame below the lower run. Below the lower heating rods on the frame are longitudinally extending radiation baffle boxes generally rectangular in cross-section and arranged with their diagonals substantially vertical and spaced apart transversely to allow drippings to pass between them. There are radiation reflecting dihedral plates extending horizontally and longitudinally on the frame above the upper rods, the dihedral plates being supplemented by top plates supported by the dihedral plates but being largely spaced above the dihedral plates to provide dead air spaces.