Abstract: An auto-focus system for a DVD reader or other optical access unit which reads and/or writes information from/to at least two information layers on an optical storage medium such as a DVD or DVR. The auto-focus system includes an astigmatic lens. A confocal aperture is placed at the first focal line image generated by the astigmatic lens from light rays reflected from the addressed information layer. The placement of the confocal aperture allows extraneous out-of-focus light rays reflected from non-addressed information layers to be blocked from reaching the photo detector array which then creates a focus error signal (FES). The FES drives a servo assembly connected to an access head of the optical access unit, bringing the access head into focus. In some embodiments, the confocal aperture is “bow-tie” shaped, allowing for simplified assembly and easing in-plane rotational alignment.

Abstract: A method for dispatching input/output access requests to a direct access storage device (DASD) is disclosed. Each of a group of I/O access requests to DASD is assigned into one of at least two I/O access request categories, namely, high priority I/O access requests and low priority I/O access requests. Each of a group of I/O slots within DASD is assigned into one of at least two I/O slot categories, namely, high priority I/O slots and low priority I/O slots. An I/O access request from a first one of the two I/O access request categories is sent to any one of the I/O slots. An I/O access request from a second one of the two I/O access request categories is sent to only a slot belonging to a subset of the two I/O slot categories.

Abstract: A storage format and methods for improving the performance of the symbol table of an encoded vector index. The symbol table comprises a hash table, entries of the hash table storing associated key values and codes for the encoded vector index. Hash table entries store an accumulated count of occurrences of prior and the current key values, which improves the efficiency of responding to a request for a key range count. A binary radix tree is used to locate entries, which comprises a plurality of nodes, corresponding to binary digits of a binary representation of a key value. Codes are assigned to key values for the encoded vector index in a distributed fashion, so there are available code values between existing code values in the code ordering, that can be assigned to new key values, alleviating the need to reorganize the code values upon an insertion.

Abstract: An auto-focus system for a DVD reader or other optical access unit which reads and/or writes information from/to at least two information layers on an optical storage medium such as a DVD or DVR. The auto-focus system includes an astigmatic lens. A confocal aperture is placed at the first focal line image generated by the astigmatic lens from light rays reflected from the addressed information layer. The placement of the confocal aperture allows extraneous out-of-focus light rays reflected from non-addressed information layers to be blocked from reaching the photo detector array which then creates a focus error signal (FES). The FES drives a servo assembly connected to an access head of the optical access unit, bringing the access head into focus. In some embodiments, the confocal aperture is “bow-tie” shaped, allowing for simplified assembly and easing in-plane rotational alignment.

Abstract: A method for dispatching input/output access requests to a direct access storage device (DASD) is disclosed. Each of a group of I/O access requests to DASD is assigned into one of at least two I/O access request categories, namely, high priority I/O access requests and low priority I/O access requests. Each of a group of I/O slots within DASD is assigned into one of at least two I/O slot categories, namely, high priority I/O slots and low priority I/O slots. An I/O access request from a first one of the two I/O access request categories is sent to any one of the I/O slots. An I/O access request from a second one of the two I/O access request categories is sent to only a slot belonging to a subset of the two I/O slot categories.

Abstract: A storage format and methods for improving the performance of the symbol table of an encoded vector index. The symbol table comprises a hash table, entries of the hash table storing associated key values and codes for the encoded vector index. Hash table entries store an accumulated count of occurrences of prior and the current key values, which improves the efficiency of responding to a request for a key range count. A binary radix tree is used to locate entries, which comprises a plurality of nodes, corresponding to binary digits of a binary representation of a key value. Codes are assigned to key values for the encoded vector index in a distributed fashion, so there are available code values between existing code values in the code ordering, that can be assigned to new key values, alleviating the need to reorganize the code values upon an insertion.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a process of manufacturing filled drinking cups closed by cover foil blanks heat-sealed thereto and formed by deep-drawing from a thermoplastic packing material strip, comprising a beaded peripheral flange, with the cover foil blanks being provided with a pull flap.

Abstract: An order picking truck, in particular a high-lift order picking truck, is equipped with a driver's stand (3), a load-picking fork (5) and a wall (11) separating the driver's stand (3) from the load area. The fork (5) is secured on an initial lift device (7, 8, 9, 10) so that it can be moved up and down relative to the driver's stand (3). According to the invention, an additional lift device (17, 18, 20) is provided with which a load on the fork can be raised beyond the highest position of the initial lift device. The fork has two-part fork tines (12, 13) which each have a load picking upper part (13) and a lower part (12) secured to the initial lift device. Each two-part fork tine includes a scissor construction (19) guiding the upper part (13) of the tine parallel with the lower part (12) of the tine.

Abstract: A system for storing a light string and removably coupling the light string to a building. The inventive device includes a hollow tube about which a light string can be wound for storage. Hook and loop fasteners secure the light string to an exterior of the tube and permit a removable coupling of the light string to a building during a holiday season.

Abstract: A method is provided for parallel and cooperative processing of data in a system wherein a coordinator process cooperates with one or more agent processes to which portions of the data processing function is off loaded. The agent processes read and process the data and accumulate a partial result. Each agent process, responsive to statistics collected on the content of the data processed, returns a partial result of the processing to the coordinator process. These steps are repeated iteratively until the processing has been completed. In a specific application, the performance of data processing systems is improved by speeding up database group-by queries. The group-by operation processing is distributed between the host central processing unit (CPU) and the input/output (I/O) processors (IOPs). Essentially, the IOPs are sent group-by requests to be performed on a set of disk blocks (extents), along with a predicate for tuples to be selected for query.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a receptacle made of deep-drawn plastic material, comprising at least two compartments suitable to accommodate dry feedstock, on the one hand, and pasty feedstock, on the other, and a sealing rim flange extending in the plane of the compartments' openings and also extending between the two compartments' openings sealed by a cover foil. To preclude a germinal impairment of the pasty feedstock to be loaded through the dust-developing dry feedstock, the receptacle according to the invention is configured such that between the cover foil (1) and the sealing rim flange (2), a thin intermediate foil (3) is provided and that the same is perforated over the dry feed-stock compartment (4).

Abstract: The packing machine comprising a passageway for continuous strip movement is intended for continuous and cyclical molding, filling, sealing and at least group-wise severing of containers, and comprises deep-drawing stations located along the path of continuous movement of the strip.

Abstract: The dispensing pump is intended for metering pasty products into a group of molding bowls cylically advanced under the dispensing pump. The dispensing pump comprises a plurality of commonly drivable metering piston pumps (2) corresponding in number to the number of bowls disposed in series and in side-by-side relationship, with the pumps being provided with closing and opening elements associated with dispensing nozzles (7). To provide a compact and space-saving configuration with short and rectilinear conveying distances for the feedstock to be metered and thereby to provide favorable cleaning conditions, the dispensing pump is so constructed that the closing and opening elements are disposed in a flat valve block below the metering piston pumps. Feedstock distributor channels for each pump row are provided in the valve block in parallel to rotary slide valves with feedstock carrying channels pivotal by a common drive into the dispensing and metering position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a quill for coordinate measuring machines of square cross-section and guided by a total of eight bearing parts within a guiding part. Three bearing parts which bear against quill surfaces are located adjacent the upper and in the lower ends of the guide surfaces in the guiding part. Two more bearing parts are provided in a Z direction approximately between the upper and lower bearing parts. Due to the special configuration of the bearing parts relative to each other and the horizontally acting springs inserted in certain bearing parts the twisting of the quill is determined and also the specified quill twisting accuracy of two angular seconds max. is obtained.

Abstract: Effective sterilization is obtained in an apparatus for producing a succession of containers from a length of foil, charging the containers and closing the charged containers in a sterile environment, where the deep-drawing station for forming the containers in the foil includes a vertically reciprocable lower portion defining a mold recess for receiving and forming respective containers in the foil and a stationary upper portion associated with the lower portion and defining a chamber in communication with the mold recess.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a negative-working light-sensitive copying composition comprising at least one condensation product of a diazonium salt, at least one water-soluble synthetic polymer and at least one acrylic resin which is soluble or at least swellable in an aqueous alkaline solution, the immprovement that the water-soluble synthetic polymer is a copolymer of a C.sub.3 to C.sub.16 alkyl acrylate and an N-vinyl-N-alkyl carboxylic acid amide, the alkyl and carboxylic acid groups of which contain 1 to 6 carbon atoms each. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a planographic printing foil using the novel light-sensitive composition.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for forming containers having the complete outer surfaces decorated and the bottom surface reinforced as well. In one embodiment a banderole is placed in a deep-drawing mold and length of drawable foil having a bottom blank secured thereto is fed to the mold. In a second embodiment the bottom blank is placed in the mold, together with the banderole prior to the feeding of the drawable foil. Pleating of the peripheral edge of the bottom blank prevents covering of the suction openings in the deep-drawing mold.

Abstract: A label is applied to a cup by superimposing a foil tape on a label tape that has a plurality of transverse breaking lines. The tapes are heated to "floatingly" connect the label tape to the foil tape and are then introduced into a deep-drawing apparatus so that the punch thereof may cyclically sever a single label and at the same time form a cup. If the breaking line is fed to the longitudinal axis of the deep-drawing apparatus, the label will be applied to two sides of the cup. If the label tape is fed so that the breaking line is approximately at the far edge of the deep-drawing apparatus then the label will be applied to only one side of the cup. The label tape may be longitudinally slit so that a plurality of cups may be simultaneously deep-drawn.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photopolymerizable copying composition comprising at least one polymerizable compound, at least one photo-initiator, and at least one copolymer of (A) an unsaturated carboxylic acid, (B) an alkyl methacrylate with at least 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, and (C) at least one additional monomer which is capable of copolymerization with monomers (A) and (B), the homopolymer of said additional monomer having a glass transition temperature of at least 80.degree.C.