Abstract: A method and apparatus of securing and tensioning a printing form in an apparatus having a rotatable drum includes securing a first portion of the printing form to a first means for receiving that is coupled to a surface of the drum, and securing a second portion of the printing form to a second means for receiving that is disposed on a rotatable member that extends over a portion of the drum. The rotatable member is rotated so that the circumferential distance between the first receiving means and the second receiving means is about the same as a length of the printing form. A rotary torque means is coupled to the rotatable member to apply a substantially constant torque on the member and tension the printing form about the surface of the drum. The rotary torque means adjusts torque on the member which adjusts tension on the printing form.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of securing and tensioning a printing form in an apparatus having a rotatable drum, comprising positioning a first portion of the printing form over a first set of pins that are coupled to a surface of the drum. The first portion of the printing form is then stamped onto the first set of pins thereby securing the first portion of the printing form to the drum. A rotatable member having a second set of pins is rotated so that the circumferential distance between the first set of pins and the second set of pins, is about equal to the length of the printing form. The drum is rotated until a second portion of the printing form is positioned above the second set of pins. The second portion of the printing form is then stamped onto the second set of pins.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of securing and tensioning a printing form in an apparatus having a rotatable drum includes securing a first portion of the printing form to a first means for receiving that is coupled to a surface of the drum, and securing a second portion of the printing form to a second means for receiving that is disposed on a rotatable member that extends over a portion of the drum. The rotatable member is rotated so that the circumferential distance between the first receiving means and the second receiving means is about the same as a length of the printing form. A rotary torque means is coupled to the rotatable member to apply a substantially constant torque on the member and tension the printing form about the surface of the drum. The rotary torque means adjusts torque on the member which adjusts tension on the printing form.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of securing and tensioning a printing form in an apparatus having a rotatable drum, comprising positioning a first portion of the printing form over a first set of pins that are coupled to a surface of the drum. The first portion of the printing form is then stamped onto the first set of pins thereby securing the first portion of the printing form to the drum. A rotatable member having a second set of pins is rotated so that the circumferential distance between the first set of pins and the second set of pins, is about equal to the length of the printing form. The drum is rotated until a second portion of the printing form is positioned above the second set of pins. The second portion of the printing form is then stamped onto the second set of pins.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of securing and tensioning a printing form in an apparatus having a rotatable drum includes securing a first portion of the printing form to a first means for receiving that is coupled to a surface of the drum, and securing a second portion of the printing form to a second means for receiving that is disposed on a rotatable member that extends over a portion of the drum. The rotatable member is rotated so that the circumferential distance between the first receiving means and the second receiving means is about the same as a length of the printing form. A rotary torque means is coupled to the rotatable member to apply a substantially constant torque on the member and tension the printing form about the surface of the drum. The rotary torque means adjusts torque on the member which adjusts tension on the printing form.

Abstract: A golf bag is constructed using thin-walled tubes that double as a container for golf clubs as well as the basic structure of the golf bag. The tubes are arranged along their length in a U or horseshoe shape. From a side perspective, it resembles that of a Gatling gun. Platforms at various levels divide the length into storage compartments. Access to the compartments is at the mouth of the U shape. Storage of golf accessories is internal such that no storage compartments need to be external to the bag. Any number of tubes (golf clubs) and storage compartments can be incorporated into this concept. The design also frees up space on the top platform and provides an area for tees and/or golf balls.

Abstract: A performance enhancement device is disclosed comprising a chimney that is secured to an upward-facing air exhaust of the condenser unit of an air conditioning system for directing the hot air discharged from the condenser away from the air conditioning system. A sun screened enclosure may also be utilized for at least partially surrounding the condenser unit and protecting it from solar radiation. When used in conjunction with the chimney, the chimney extends above the uppermost extent of the sun screened enclosure. One or more misting nozzles may be disposed within the sun screened enclosure for dispersing a water mist within the enclosure. The misting nozzles may be controlled individually, or in groups.

Abstract: The invention provides a modular board arrangement that may be easily transported and assembled. The board arrangement comprises a plurality of boards and individual frame members that can be assembled in a variety of ways to provide a desired arrangement. The board arrangement may additionally comprise side frame members and/or a tray. The board arrangement is expandable to a desired length by adjacently adding additional board and frame units. Multiple board and frame units may be connected to one another by a transition piece. A connector may be provided for attaching an object such as the tray to the board arrangement. A removable faceplate may also be provided.

Abstract: This invention provides garden refuse shredding apparatus (10) which has a chipping rotor (20) supported for rotation about a vertical shaft (31) in a chamber (11) which has a hopper (14) which feeds refuse to radially disposed elongate chipper blades (30) which span a major part of the rotor (28). Fan blades (44) are supported on the rotor for creating an airflow through the hopper (14) to assist feed to the chipping rotor and to assist discharge of shredded refuse from the outlet (45). The chipping rotor (20) is driven directly from the vertical output shaft (36) of an electric motor or a petrol engine (21).

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for reducing the amount of contamination that enters the optical path of an optical device are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical device includes a housing containing at least one optical component (active, passive, or both) that is configured to process an optical signal. The optical device also includes a first sleeve that encloses a portion of an optical fiber, an optical path configured to convey the optical signal between the optical component(s) and the end of the optical fiber. A flexible seal contacts a portion of the surface of the first sleeve and contacts the surface of a portion of the housing through which the first sleeve passes.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for locating a source of a signal includes detecting, at a plurality of locations, a near-field signal. The method also includes processing the near-field signal. The method further includes locating a source for the near-field signal based on the processed near-field signal detected at a plurality of locations.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for reducing the amount of contamination that enters the optical path of an optical device are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical device includes a housing containing at least one optical component (active, passive, or both) that is configured to process an optical signal. The optical device also includes a first sleeve that encloses a portion of an optical fiber, an optical path configured to convey the optical signal between the optical component(s) and the end of the optical fiber. A flexible seal contacts a portion of the surface of the first sleeve and contacts the surface of a portion of the housing through which the first sleeve passes.

Abstract: Methods and apparati for screening compounds for agricultural activity has now been developed which employ e.g., intact plants grown in microtiter plates on very small amounts of plant growth media containing a test compound. In comparison to the standard greenhouse screen, the microscreen requires vastly less space, labor, and test compound. However, unlike in vitro screens, responses of intact plants are assayed. Using the microscreen, high-throughput screening of test compounds can be accomplished using whole plant responses as the assay.

Abstract: A multiple dosage feeder for a cage is provided. The multiple dosage feeder includes a frame having a cage-interior side, a food holding member rotatably mounted on the frame, and a food presentation member disposed on the cage-interior side of the frame. The food holding member holds a plurality of measured dosages of food or other substances, and at least a portion of the food holding member extends to the cage-interior side of the frame. The food presentation member permits access to a single dosage of the plurality of dosages by an animal within the cage. At least a portion of the food holding member is rotatable within the food presentation member so as to expose the single dosage of the plurality of dosages, while the food presentation member prevents access to any remaining dosages on the cage-interior side of the frame.

Abstract: A waterproof urinal mat which contains humorous or informational messages printed or coated over with thermochromic inks. The mat is formed to fit in a urinal, such that included text and artwork printed onto the mat with temperature sensitive, thermochromic inks display multiple images at an ambient temperature and upon being contacted with urine or flush water. In alternative arrangements, thermochromic inks of selected activation temperatures are variously printed onto the substrate in relation to an opaque image before coating the substrate with a waterproof covering or laminate. Two or more images are thereby visible upon contacting the mat with urine and flush water. Apertures and protrusions at the mat prevent splashing and direct liquid flow relative to the images.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor structure with an annular collector/subcollector region. The base area with the emitter, is positioned over the collector/subcollector region only, resulting in a smaller base to collector capacitance. Packing density is improved and circuit design flexibility is provided by the ability to change the emitter size without changing the size of the overall structure.

Abstract: A real time monitoring and control system for single or multi-fired combustion systems which permits adjustment of the air fuel ratio in the system for optimized efficiency and minimized pollution content in the exhaust gas, while providing safety control of the combustion process. The system includes a high sensitivity light sensor which is utilized to monitor the combustion flame and provide an electrical output proportional to flame temperature, that is utilized to control the air fuel ratio of the system. The wavelength sensitivity of the sensor is capable of selection, for example by selection of sensor type and/or use of appropriate filters, to monitor a predetermined range or region of the flame emission spectrum in order to enable correlation of the intensity of the emission spectrum of the type of fuel being utilized, i.e., oil or natural gas, with temperature and combustion efficiency.

Abstract: An educational gaming apparatus consisting of a set of numbered blocks, at least six in number and dodecahedron in shape, and a single operator block, also of dodecahedron configuration, each of the number blocks bearing one of the digits zero to nine on each of its faces with an unbiased distribution of the digits zero to nine on the set of numbered blocks, the operator block bearing one or more of the basic mathematical symbols of addition, subtraction, multiplication or division or their equivalent on each of its faces such that at least one of the basic mathematical symbols or their equivalent is present on an uppermost face section of the operator block for any random toss by an individual who can then arrange the blocks in such an order that the uppermost faces of the blocks indicate a mathematical problem and its solution.