Abstract: A method for dispensing a product which comprises electrochemically generating a gas and utilizing the pressure of the gas to dispense the product. More specifically, the method may comprise electrochemically generating a gas by providing an electrolyte mixture which will react in the presence of an electrical current to form at least one gas, providing an electrical current through the mixture to cause reaction to form the gas, using the gas to form an internal pressure against a confined product to be dispensed thus forcing the product through a passage to an area having an exterior pressure lower than the internal pressure. The apparatus for accomplishing the method may comprise an electrochemical gas generator, a container containing a product and structure for utilizing pressure of gas generated by the generator to dispense product from the container. The gas generator comprises an electrolyte mixture which will react in the presence of an electrical current to provide at least one gas.

Abstract: A point-of-manufacture data acquisition system for an industrial facility including a series of work stations through which workpiece units are transferred, comprising a multiplicity of workpiece unit identification members, which may be punched data cards, each bearing scannable workpiece unit identification data, a number of similar production operation identification members, and a plurality of similar operator identification members. There is a data terminal for each work station. Each data terminal includes a simple, manually-operated data scanner; for punched card identification members, the data scanner comprises one LED and one phototransistor. The data terminal also includes a data store, a data display, and a microprocessor which controls entry and retrieval of data in the store and processes that data; each data terminal further includes program means controlling the sequence and acceptability of all data.