Abstract: Apparatus for maintaining tension on a ribbon in a printer used for transferring an image, e.g., thermally, from a print head through the ribbon to a print medium. By maintaining ribbon tension and thus keeping the ribbon essentially without wrinkles, print quality is enhanced. This tension maintenance apparatus uses a pair of torqued reel subassemblies with the ribbon extending between and is of particular significance when used in conjunction with a label stock as a printer medium when the printer mechanism bidirectionally moves the label stock to assist removal of labels from its backing. These torqued reel assemblies are sufficiently loaded such that ribbon tension is maintained between these reel assemblies despite this bidirectional movement.

Abstract: A run-flat radial ply pneumatic tire 10 has a carcass structure reinforced with pairs of elastomeric sidewall fillers 42,46,48 and at least three bead cores 26,26' and 37. At least one bead core 37 lies axially between the lateral edges of the tread 12 and extends radially inwardly of the tread 12 and reinforcing belts 36 and radially outwardly of the first and second bead cores 26,26' and a carcass reinforcing structure 30. In several embodiments improved wet traction tread designs are employed.

Abstract: This invention provides a film or sheet capable of being thermoformed into a shaped article and being formed from a blend of about 60 to 85 parts by weight of a polyethylene terephthalate having an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 0.90, about 15 to 40 parts by weight of a polycarbonate and about 5 to 20 parts by weight of a non-acidic silica filler, such as novaculite, the polyethylene terephthalate portion of the film or sheet having a degree of crystallinity in the range of about 20 to 40%. The present invention also provides compositions for forming such films and sheets and shaped articles thermoformed from such films or sheets, such as cook-in-trays. This invention also provides a process of forming such films or sheets.

Abstract: A flexible disk is automatically coupled to a drive spindle following insertion in the drive, but decoupled and ejected on command. The positioning and ejection control runs through a three-phase cycle which halts at the end of the positioning phase and is terminated at the end of the ejection phase while disk de-coupling and ejection phases follow directly. The ejection device has an override if an obstacle holds the disk in the drive. The three-phase cycle is cam-operated, using a motor drive cam assembly whose shaft extends in the direction of disk insertion and ejection and parallel to the hinge axis of a cam-operated disk positioning hub carrier. A cam pin on the shaft actuates the disk ejection and additional cams control stop switches for the motor.

Abstract: A polyester sheet containing an antiblock agent is produced by uniformly blending a small amount of a degraded polycarbonate containing the antiblock agent. The antiblock agent must have an inherent or adjusted pH of less than six to degrade the polycarbonate to lower its molecular weight upon extrusion compounding. This in turn makes a uniform blend and resulting clear sheet with antiblocking properties. In another embodiment, larger amounts of polycarbonate containing the antiblock agent are used.

Abstract: This invention provides a film or sheet capable of being thermoformed into a shaped article and being formed from a blend of about 60 to 85 parts by weight of a polyethylene terephthalate having an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 0.90, about 15 to 40 parts by weight of a polycarbonate and about 5 to 20 parts by weight of a non-acidic silica filler, such as novaculite, the polyethylene terephthalate portion of the film or sheet having a degree of crystallinity in the range of about 20 to 40%. The present invention also provides compositions for forming such films and sheets and shaped articles thermoformed from such films or sheets, such as cook-in-trays. This invention also provides a process of forming such films or sheets.