Abstract: A process condition measuring device and a handling system may be highly integrated with a production environment where the dimensions of the process condition measuring device are close to those of a production substrate and the handling system is similar to a substrate carrier used for production substrates. Process conditions may be measured with little disturbance to the production environment. Data may be transferred from a process condition measuring device to a user with little or no human intervention.

Abstract: A printing web distortion device for imposing a measured amount of distortion into a moving web of substrate, such as paper, to compensate for lateral stretching of the substrate during a printing operation includes a post, which can be vertically adjusted, having a gas nozzle disposed at, or adjacent to, the tip of the post for generating a cushion of a gas. A support enclosure for the post has a source for pressurized gas. The post is able to slide longitudinally within the support enclosure, so that the tip of the post is either raised in an operating mode, so that the post imposes a stretch compensating distortion or, in an idle mode, the post is withdrawn from the substrate, so that no elevating force is provided on the substrate. In the operating mode, the stretch compensating distortion results from an elevating force provided by the post between the tip of the post and the moving substrate resulting from the cushion of gas, which is preferably a cushion of air.

Abstract: Presented is a method for authenticating mailpieces utilizing cryptographically secured or plain text indicia printed on the mailpiece as evidence of postage payment without the necessity of including recipient address information in the indicia. This reduces the physical size of the required indicia, allowing additional real estate on the face of a mailpiece to be utilized for advertising verbiage, graphics, personal messages, illustrations, etc. Counterfeiting of the indicia is deterred by maintaining a master log database of the printed indicia. The information stored in the master log database preferably associates a transaction or serial number of the printed indicia with recipient address information. Counterfeit indicia are identified through a comparison of the stored information in the master log database with information scanned from the mailpiece itself Counterfeits may also be detected by recognizing the multiple occurrences of identical indicia.

Abstract: Presented is a system and method of applying postage indicia to a mailpiece utilizing electromagnetic storage technology for the indicia. This method obviates the necessity of visual bar coded indicia, and greatly increases the amount of information which may be included in the postage indicia. This method also significantly reduces the physical space required on the face of a mailpiece to contain the postage indicia information, thus allowing the increased use of advertising and personal information and graphics on the mailpiece. The electromagnetic storage media may be in the form of a self-adhesive sticker or label, or may be integrated within the mailpiece or mailing label. Such integration may be accomplished through the use of embedded magnetic storage media, embedded ferromagnetic fibers, or the inclusion of ferromagnetic powder embedded in the mailpiece itself. Also provided is an apparatus for applying magnetically recordable media on a mailpiece.

Abstract: A needle guide for use in imaging analysis having a body with a slot in it. The slot in the body is configured to receive a needle shaft, the slot having first and second interior surfaces positioned opposite one another and configured to retain the needle shaft between the first and second surfaces along a length of the slot. The slot defines a plane of movement in which the angle of the needle can be adjusted.

Abstract: A method for dyeing cellulosic materials with reactive dye by pretreating the fabric with a polycationic polymeric agent which is desirably also polynucleophilic is disclosed. The agent can be a polyquaternary amine material especially a poly(DADMAC) or polyvinylpyridine, particularly one including nucleophilic sites such as primary amino groups, e.g. polyallylamine/DADMAC copolymers and polyvinylpyridines quaternisied with w-aminoalkyl groups. The dyes can react with the nucleophilic centres so dyebath exhaustion can be driven by dye fixation rather than substantivity to the substrate. The need to use of salts to drive substantivity can be obviated and post dyeing washing to remove unreacted/hydrolysed dye is much simplified. Material dyed by the method has the good wash fastness properties of materials dyed using reactive dyes. A wide variety of cellulosic substrates can be dyed including lyocell fibre materials and blend/union materials with polyamides.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for integrated (embedded) semiconductor wafer temperature measurement equipment and processes. An integrated wafer temperature measurement apparatus, comprising: a substrate; a placement resource formed in said substrate; a sensor lead located in said placement resource, said sensor lead having a first end and a second end; a sensor coupled to said first end of said sensor lead and located in said placement resource; and a sensor lead cover coupled to said substrate. The systems and methods provide advantages in that reliability is enhanced, installation and removal are facilitated, and accuracy is improved by obviating any shadowing of the substrate and reducing temperature gradients near the sensor.

Abstract: A method of dyeing cellulosic fibers or fabrics using pre-metallized acid dye by pretreating the fabric with a cationic agent having a plurality of cationic centers and optionally after treating the dyed material with a cationic polymer is disclosed. The cationic polymer is desirably a polyquaternary amine material especially a poly(DADMAC) or polyvinylpyridine. Material dyed by the method has a “washed out” appearance similar to fabrics dyed using the “Jarofast” process, but the availability of a wide range of pre-metallized dyes gives a wider color range, and the method enables a wider range of substrates to be dyed successfully, including lyocell fiber materials e.g. those sold under Courtauld's trademark “Tencel” and blend/union materials with polyamides, easier processing and superior wash and light fastness.

Abstract: An aluminum oxide film is deposited on a heated substrate by CVD from one or more alkylaluminum alkoxide compounds having composition R.sub.n Al.sub.2 (OR').sub.6-n, wherein R and R' are alkyl groups and n is in the range of 1 to 5.

Abstract: A process which comprises submitting a polyamide textile material, which has been dyed with an acid dye and subsequently treated with an acidic syntan, to treatment with a cationic agent having a plurality of cationic centers.

Abstract: An integrated photoelectrolytic apparatus for catalyzing the photodecomposition of a liquid electrolyte, such as water, into its gaseous decomposition products includes a photovoltaic section bonded mechanically and electrically to one surface of a porous electronically conductive barrier section which is arranged to inhibit the evolution of decomposition products at its pore surfaces. A catalyst for the electrolytic evolution of a decomposition product is applied to the opposite surface of said barrier section so that when the bonded-together sections are wetted by an electrolyte and light is incident on the photovoltaic section, one decomposition product evolves at the exposed surface of the photovoltaic section while another decomposition product evolves at the catalytic surface of the barrier section.

Abstract: A muffler is provided for use in conjunction with a jet for treating a running length of yarn. Audible noise which is emitted by the jet is reduced by at least 11.5 .DELTA.dB(A) through the use of a housing to substantially enclose the jet. The housing has openings for the entrance and exit of a yarn and is at least partially lined with sound absorbing material; sound absorbing material also closes the openings in the housing. The travelling yarn abrades through the sound absorbing material at the openings to form an operational passage to and from the jet.

Abstract: A method of producing a fluid absorbent web for the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles is provided, such as diapers, underpads, sanitary napkins or similar articles. The method includes the step of forming a uniform moving web of fiberized wood pulp having a central zone, applying hydrocolloid polymer particles onto the surface of the central zone, and distributing the applied particles into the body of the moving web by air pressure means. Apparatus for producing such articles is also provided featuring means for incorporating absorbent polymer particles within a central zone of a moving web of the matrix.

Abstract: Solid soap such as framed or milled toilet soap, which is conventional in all aspects except that it contains as part of its composition 5 to 100 percent, based upon the weight of free fatty acid components, of at least one "bath oil." The solid soap composition is produced by first saponifying an appropriate fatty acid or mixture thereof in the usual way, solidifying the saponified material by cooling, extruding ribbons of solidified material, drying the extrudate, and then framing the dried extrudate into soap bars. The process hereof differs from this "usual" process in that bath oil, in whatever quantity is desired, is added to the liquid saponification mixture, rather than just prior to the framing step as in the prior art.