Abstract: There is provided a flow rate measuring device which comprises a means for introducing a backward flow of the main passage into the sub-passage through the outlet of the sub-passage of the flow rate measuring device is provided near the outlet of the sub-passage, in order to keep the flow rate measuring element from being destroyed under the presence of dust and water in an intake manifold and which has high reliability for a long period of use and an excellent pulsation characteristic.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor 10 includes spaced apart first and second temperature sensor 12, 14 and a heater 16 which is closer to the first temperature sensor 12 than the second temperature sensor 14. A temperature difference sensing circuit 18 provides an indication of the difference between the temperature sensed by the first and second sensor 12, 14 and more particularly the indication as to when this difference is above a threshold level. The sensors 12 and 14 and heater 16 are disposed within an elongated tube 22 made from a thermally conductive material with sensor 12 and heater 16 a distal end 26 of the tube and the temperature sensor 14 near a proximal end 28. The tube 22 is typically disposed horizontally within a sump. Temperature sensor 14 provides an indication of ambient temperature. Sensor 12 provides an indication of the temperature near the heater 16.

Abstract: A substrate-container measuring device has a kinematic plate 10 having securing pins 12 provided at positions defined by the SEMI standards. There is provided an optical distance-measuring sensor 14, in which a relative position between the optical distance-measuring sensor 14 and the kinematic plate 10 is fixed. A substrate-container measuring jig 20 is placed on the kinematic plate 10. The substrate-container measuring jig 20 has a base plate 22 to be placed on the kinematic plate 10, and a slide plate 24 that is slidable over the base plate 22. The base plate 22 has a group of grooves which uniquely determine a relative position between the base plate 22 and the kinematic plate 10 as a result of being fitted with the corresponding securing pins 12.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel balancer obtains data relative to the imbalance of a vehicle wheel. The wheel balancer includes a rotatable shaft having a free end adapted for extending through a center hole of the wheel, and a proximal end opposite the free end. A locating hub is carried on the shaft, and is adapted for engaging a first side of the wheel to locate the wheel on the balancer. A centering sleeve is carried on the shaft adjacent the locating hub, and is adapted for extending through the center hole of the wheel to center the wheel relative to the shaft. The centering sleeve is releasably locked onto the wheel balancer, such that the centering sleeve remains secured to the wheel balancer upon removal of the wheel from the shaft.

Abstract: A speed measuring device for a beach buggy includes a chain wheel rotated by the engine of a buggy, a connecting tube firmly connected to the chain wheel, a bearing fitted in the connecting tube, a gear set, and a fixing unit combined together. The fixing plate, the gear set, the connecting tube and the bearing are assembled together with an elongate rod with thread formed in the lower end portion and then fixed with the chain wheel. Then a hole base is formed on a rear small diameter portion of the gear set for a cable to extend in to transmit speed of the rotating chain wheel to a speedometer for a user to know the speed of the beach buggy.

Abstract: A ball speed detecting assembly has a detecting device consisting of a bracket adapted to firmly stand on the ground and having an opening; a net securely connected to the bracket to cover the opening; an impact receiving element securely connected to the bracket by sensors which are secured to corners of the bracket so that the sensors are able to detect the impact of the ball which hits the impact receiving element; and a displaying device consisting of a microprocessor electrically connected with the sensors and having data prestored in the microprocessor for matching the impact of the ball; and at least one speaker electrically connected with the microprocessor for sounding according to a signal from the microprocessor.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) is described for economical sensing of angular accelerations, especially for use in biomechanical applications. The device design is inspired by that of the semi-circular canals of the inner ear, utilizing a fluid filled channel and differential pressure transducer. Using modem fabrication techniques, very sensitive angular acceleration instruments may be realized. By combining these fast response sensors with other sensors, such as DC response linear accelerometers, allows broader frequencies of human motion to be monitored.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing degree of compaction includes: a vehicle speed sensing means which senses a traveling speed of the vehicle; a vibration number setting means by which a number of vibrations of the roll transmitted per unit time is set; a reference vibration number setting means by which a reference number of vibrations of the roll transmitted per unit of longitudinal travel of the vehicle is set; a control means controlling electric signals outputted from the vehicle speed sensing means, the vibration number setting means, and the reference vibration number setting means, respectively; and an indicating means relatively and comparatively indicating, as a vehicle speed index value, magnitude relation of a current number of vibrations of the roll transmitted per unit of longitudinal travel of the vehicle relative to the reference number of vibrations of the roll on the basis of an electric signal outputted from the control means.

Abstract: Several associated techniques and fiber optic constructions are disclosed to protect a diaphragm type fiber optic cylinder pressure sensor from the effects of maximum under hood temperatures and to minimize errors associated with rapidly changing under hood and engine temperatures. The techniques include electronic compensation in response to temperature change, fuel system cooling of the optoelectronic interface, construction of the interface and construction of the sensor tip.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for testing the residual seal force of the closure of a container, particularly a container for parenteral pharmaceutical products. An automated and instrumented press collects stress and strain data for a closure of a container for parenteral pharmaceutical products. An algorithm is automatically applied to the resulting data set, determining candidate residual seal forces for several data smoothing spans. Confidence levels are determined for each of the candidate residual seal forces. The candidate residual seal force corresponding to the highest confidence level is selected. The process is repeated and the results averaged to determine a final residual seal force.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement in which a first contact surface (2) for bonding one end (51) of the bonding wire (5) and a piezoelectric actuator (3) are fixed on a support body (1) and a second contact surface (4) for bonding another end (52) of the bonding wire (5) is fixed to the actuator by an unsupported support body (34). The second contact surface moves back and forth in relation to the support body by means of an actuator, at a frequency of between 0.1 Hz and a few KHz and in one or more directions (31, 31′, 31″). The invention is suitable for use in testing the endurance of bonding wire connections.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gas flowmeter comprising a transmit transducer for injecting sonic energy into gas; a receive transducer for receiving the sonic energy; and a spool of pipe having a metallic pipe wall and a liner having a lower sonic impedance than the sonic impedance of the metallic pipe wall, wherein the transmit and receive transducers are mounted on the spool.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump for transporting fluid with a housing, an impeller and a plurality of pressure sensors. Disposed within the housing is a volute section defined by a circumferential path through which a fluid may travel, a discharge section tangentially aligned and in fluid communication with the volute section such that a flowpath is defined by fluid flowing from the volute section and through the discharge section; and a volute lip section defining a bifurcation point between the circumferential path and the discharge section. The plurality of pressure sensors are disposed within the volute section of the housing, and are spaced apart from one another such that pressure difference readings taken between each exhibit a substantially linear relationship with fluid flow rates to ensure accurate flow rate measurement.

Abstract: Described is a calliper for measuring a size of an object and a force applied to the object to measure the size wherein the calliper comprises a scale support (2) comprising a fixed measuring finger (14). A movable mount (1) is slidably attached to the scale support wherein the movable mount comprises a second measuring finger (16) wherein the size is a distance between the fixed measuring finger and the second measuring finger when the fixed measuring finger and the second measuring finger contact the object. A detector (25), attached to the movable mount is capable of determining the distance between the second measuring finger and the fixed measuring finger. A force arm (10) is slidably attached to the movable mount and a sensor (11) attached to both the force arm and the movable mount such that the sensor detects a force applied to the force arm.

Abstract: A multiple pipette X according to the present invention includes a first pipette 1 and a second pipette 2. The first pipette 1 is capable of dispensing a liquid stored in a liquid storing section 17a divisionally a plurality of times each by a constant amount. The second pipette 2 is capable of dispensing a liquid sucked from the outside all at a time. The first pipette utilizes, for example, a ratchet mechanism 12d, 13a for dispensing the liquid divisionally a plurality of times each by a constant amount. Preferably, the first pipette 1 is provided with a cap 19 removably attached to the tip end thereof.

Abstract: A micro perfusion device including a casing, a perfusate supply, an inner cannula forming an inner lumen between a front cannula opening which is distal when the device is subcutaneously positioned and a rear cannula opening, the inner lumen being connected or connectable to the perfusate supply via the rear cannula opening, a perfusion cannula projecting from a lower side of the casing and surrounding the inner cannula, an outer lumen between the inner cannula and the perfusion cannula, a collecting container for the perfusate, and a perfusate outlet connecting the outer lumen to the collecting container, wherein the collecting container has a variable volume and a partial vacuum with respect to a pressure prevailing in the perfusate supply may be generated in the collecting container.

Abstract: A configuration for measuring the concentration of contaminating particles at high time resolution in the mini environments of loading and unloading chambers of processing appliances in semiconductor fabrication includes a probe, a movement unit for the probe, a particle detector, vacuum pump and a control unit. Reaching critical layer thicknesses of disk carriers or boats in ovens, and maladjustments of handling systems for wafers, masks, flat panel displays and other disc-like objects can be detected in terms of the cause and quantified immediately. The movement unit moves the probe to a desired position in the loading and unloading chamber as a reaction to the positioning of the handling system. A method of operating the configuration is also provided.

Abstract: A method for selecting a cover material for use with a vehicle seat component includes establishing a material processability standard for cover materials selected from the group consisting of standards for marking resistance, fabric pattern, pile bind, rippling resistance, laminate wrinkle resistance, raveling resistance, seam puckering, stretch, and elongation; conducting testing of a cover material for compliance with the material processability standard to determine whether the cover material meets requirements of the material processability standard; and considering test results of the cover material before proceeding to utilize the cover material in manufacturing of the vehicle seat component.

Abstract: The invention provides a bushing for insertion into a cylindrical aperture defined by a mounting bracket. The bushing further provides for retention of a cylindrical sensor housing which is enveloped around its circumference by the bushing and positioned adjacent a rotating flux focusing element. The bushing is formed from a sheet of spring metal and shaped into a cylinder. A pair of outwardly projecting retaining brackets extend from a first end of the sheet and are positioned at one end of the cylinder. In addition, a pair of outwardly projecting dimples are formed in the sheet near the edge of the sheet opposite the first edge, the dimples being sized to allow insertion of the bushing into a cylindrical aperture but function to resist extraction for the bushing after passing completely through the cylindrical aperture.

Abstract: A centrifugal force propelling apparatus is provided for propelling, breaking, or shift of direction of vehicles. The apparatus comprises: a frame coupled to the vehicle; a plurality of weight bodies disposed on the frame and rotated along a track; a rotational driving unit for applying a rotational power to the weight bodies; and an angle velocity varying unit for transferring a rotational force of the rotational driving unit to the weight bodies, enabling the weight bodies to rotate in an equiangular velocity about a rotational axis of the rotational driving unit, and allowing the angular velocity to be varied about a moment rotational center.

Abstract: A shifting device is provided for shifting between different operating states of a motor vehicle transmission, with a gearshift lever (1), which is mounted movably in a bracket and can be moved in a first direction between two shift gates (A, B). The gearshift lever (1) can also be moved in a second direction along a first of the said two shift gates (A) into three said shift positions (X, Y, Z). A signal transmitter is provided for sending a transmitter signal (5), and three said sensors (2, 3, 4) are arranged at spaced locations from the signal transmitter and in the form of a triangle for detecting the transmitter signal (5). The sensors (2, 3, 4) and the signal transmitter can be moved in relation to one another by the gearshift lever (1), and electric signals characterizing the particular shift position (X, Y, Z) are sent by the sensors (2, 3, 4) at least indirectly to an evaluating device by which the transmission can be put into different operating states as a function of the electric signals.

Abstract: A gear structure for a figurine comprises a plurality of coaxial gears provided on a shaft, each of the coaxial gears is provided with a plurality of toothed portions at a periphery thereof at suitable positions, with a smooth portion between adjacent toothed portions. At suitable positions facing the periphery of each of the coaxial gears, a plurality of action gear sets are respectively provided to drive at least one joint on a figurine to move such that by rotating the shaft to different angular positions, at least one of the toothed portions on at least one of the coaxial gears engages the corresponding action gear set so as to actuate the action gear set, thereby enabling the figurine to perform at least one action.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular transmission system, comprising in at least one transmission stage with a housing a plurality of transmissions with different multiplications, each having a first transmission step comprising an annular gear with a pinion offset, said pinion off-set being identical for all transmissions of one transmission stage. The modular transmission system is provided with at least one first pinion of the angular gear with a first serrated crown gear in a crown gear serration and a second pinion with a second crown gear in a spiroplan gearing.

Abstract: The invention is a ball screw, comprising: a shaft having a spiral-shaped shaft; a nut having a spiral-shaped nut ball groove and screwed with the shaft via a plurality of balls; and a ball circulation passage for raking the plurality of balls at one end of the ball rolling, wherein an end part of the ball circulation passage is connected to one end part of the ball rolling passage in such a manner that: a gap &Dgr;t formed between a ball contacting part of the nut ball groove contacted with the ball and an inner circumferential surface of the end part of the ball circulation passage is set 0.2 mm or less; and a change of angle in a ball rolling direction is 10° or less, the change caused by raking the ball from the ball rolling passage to the ball circulation passage.

Abstract: A handling mechanism of a gearshift comprises a gearshift provided at a shift fork of an handling mechanism of a manual transmission, projecting from a box of the handling mechanism slightly; a moving mechanism for the gearshift allowing it to move along a H-shaped line substantially, having a mechanism for right-left removing cam allowing to move to the right and left directions and a forward-backward removing link allowing to move forward and backward directions; an handling mechanism allowing the gearshift to shift into reverse, neutral, first-speed, second-speed, third-speed and fourth-speed in order due to allow to operate the link and moving cam mechanism by operating a shift lever to the forward and backward directions, so that the gears can be certainly changed in a shift up, a shift down, a neutral, or the reverse due to only sufficient operation by an operation lever to the forward-backward direction. Moreover, the gear can be changed certainly when it becomes familiar with.

Abstract: A gear shift mechanism has a displacement device, which can be operated by an actuator, for the axial displacing of a sliding sleeve. The actuator is connected with the displacement device by way of at least one joint. Such an articulated connection between the actuator and the displacement device permits a greater freedom with respect to the spatial arrangement of the actuator and thus a very compact construction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pedal unit, comprising a four-bar parallelogram. The pedal unit is made up of an upper retainer piece (8), a lower retainer bracket (11), with footplate (12) attached and two roughly parallel arms (9, 10), which are each rotatably mounted at one end on the upper retainer piece (8) and at the other end on the lower retainer bracket (12). The pedal unit may rotate about a main bearing (B). An adjuster device for the adjustment of the footplate (11), predominantly in the X-direction, is provided. The upper retainer piece (8) and a sliding block (5) are mounted on a guide pinion (6), in a displaceable and adjustable manner. A rod bearing (A) is arranged on the guide pinion (6), whereas the main bearing (B) is arranged on the sliding block (5) and a main bearing tie (3) and a rod bearing tie (4) are provided, one end of each being rotatably connected to a solid bearing block (1) and the other free end, rotatably mounted in the main bearing (B), or the rod bearing (A).

Abstract: In transmitters actuated by the driver's foot, which are for controlling the output of a driving engine, a friction element is provided for generating a friction hysteresis for the purpose of achieving a comfortable driving feel.

Abstract: A vent system for use in a driveline component of an automotive vehicle. The driveline component includes a housing and a cartridge within the housing. The driveline component includes the vent system which has a vent that is secured to the housing at an orifice within a top portion of the housing. The vent system also includes a baffle extending from the housing wherein the baffle is adjacent to the vent orifice. The vent and baffle system also includes a gap that is defined by the baffle, the housing and the cartridge and is of sufficient size to prevent pooling and the forming of a meniscus near the vent assembly. The vent and baffle system is used to allow for venting of high pressures developed during high speed rotation of driveline modules within a drive train system of an automotive vehicle without allowing the expulsion of the lubricating fluid from the oil housing.

Abstract: The particularly durable internal geared wheel of a harmonic drive is made up of individual, identical, essentially solid radial tappets (21) in a link chain-type arrangement, said tappets each being provided with an elastically radially, compressible hollow head (26) and being flexibly linked in such a way that they can pivot, by means of side connecting profiles (30, 31) which can be connected in pairs. The geometry of the tappets can be produced economically on a large scale by plastic injection moulding a rigid, thermoplastic, low-density material, in a technologically uncritical manner and with a considerable degree of dimensional accuracy, so that an internal geared wheel which can be assembled from different numbers of tappets is also characterised by low mass inertia. each tappet (21) has good sliding friction and wear characteristics and is very dimensionally stable in relation to heat when the foot (23) is radially supported on the drive core, due to the combination of materials.

Abstract: The invention concerns an automated gear drive, comprising two main gearshafts (18, 20) bearing drive pinions (22, 24) and linked each by a clutch (E1, E2) to a clutch shaft (10), a gearbox output shaft (12) bearing driven pinions (26) each of which is associated with one-way locking means (28) controlled to be selectively interlocked with the gearbox output shaft (12), said means (28) being controlled by mechanical means (30, 32, 34) common to all the loose pinions (26) of the different gear ratios. The invention enables in particular gear ratio shift with uninterrupted torque transmission to the gearbox output shaft (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in tourmaline known as a functional ore. In particular, the invention provides a composite having a novel formation in which a far infrared radiation function and others among tourmaline's functions are effectively exploited, a novel process for producing the composite, and composite materials to be used therefore.

Abstract: Exchangeable metal ions are removed from an amorphous composite metal oxide and different metal ions are introduced to manufacture a nanomaterial of composite metal oxide. Based on this method, it is possible to reliably form composite metal oxide nanomaterials over a wide range of compositions.

Abstract: Nonstick ceramo-metallic coating for cooking utensils The invention concerns a non-stick coating (4) for cooking utensils (1) characterized in that it is selected among the group comprising (a) ceramics alone selected among titanium oxynitride, titanium suboxides, titanium subnitrides, spinels, mixed spinels ; and (b) ceramo-metallic mixtures wherein the ceramics are selected among titanium oxynitrides, titanium suboxides, titanium subnitrides, spinels, cerium fluoride, silicon carbide, pyrolitic carbon, boron carbide, and the metal is titanium.

Abstract: A biaxially textured alloy article having a magnetism less than pure Ni includes a rolled and annealed compacted and sintered powder-metallurgy preform article, the preform article having been formed from a powder mixture selected from the group of mixtures consisting of: at least 60 at % Ni powder and at least one of Cr powder, W powder, V powder, Mo powder, Cu powder, Al powder, Ce powder, YSZ powder, Y powder, Mg powder, and RE powder; the article having a fine and homogeneous grain structure; and having a dominant cube oriented {100}<100> orientation texture; and further having a Curie temperature less than that of pure Ni.

Abstract: A dense cemented carbide product is described. The product is manufactured from WC with a grain size between 0.1 and 0.4 &mgr;m, fine grain size cobalt and ruthenium powders. The product is used in PCB machining operations where the addition of 10-25% Ru to the binder phase offers up to 25% wear resistant incrases and up to 100% increase in chipping resistance in PCB routing compared to conventional materials (6% cobalt and 0.4 &mgr;m grain size).

Abstract: A method of forming a part from a metallurgical powder, comprises compressing at least a portion of a metallurgical powder, including sponge iron to provide a green compact. The green compact is subsequently sintered to provide a sintered compact.

Abstract: A method of producing a material library of surface areas having different properties is described, in which mixtures of substances are applied to a substrate by a combinatory method so that a combinatory system is obtained. At least two suspensions are used to produce the mixtures.

Abstract: There is provided an in-oil atomization method wherein a solder is fused and dispersed in a heated particle dispersion medium, the method being featured in that even if the quantity of the particle dispersion medium to be employed is relatively small, fine solder particles can be effectively obtained. Namely, this invention provides a method of manufacturing fine particles, wherein solder is fused in the heated particle dispersion medium to obtain a molten solder, which is then dispersed by means of an agitator to obtain molten solder particles which are subsequently cooled and solidify, the method being characterized in that the above dispersing step is performed in the presence of a particle coalescence-preventing agent. This invention also provides a fine metal particles-containing substance and a paste solder composition.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for recovering metal values from Electric Arc Furnace dust, particularly zinc and iron values, by mixing EAF dust and carbonaceous fines to form a particulate mixture; heating the mixture at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to reduce and release volatile metals and alkali metals in a flue gas; collecting the released metals, and removing the metal values from the process as product.

Abstract: A device for feeding gas in a melt of foamable metal by means of at least one pipe for producing metal foam. The gas insertion pipe projects inwardly into the melt and at the projecting end has a gas outlet having a cross section of 0.006 to 0.2 mm2 and a pipe face area of less than 4.0 mm2. A flowable metal foam has gas bubbles defined by walls of a liquid metal matrix with solid reinforcing particles, and the diameter of the largest gas bubbles divided by that of the smallest gas bubbles is less than 2.5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure swing adsorption process for direct reduction of iron wherein a portion of spent reducing gas withdrawn from the direct reduction reactor is subjected to a PSA process for the removal of carbon dioxide from the spent reducing gas. An improved CO2-rejection method using an external natural gas purge stream after depressurization and before the product purge step is described. The PSA process comprises an external purge step with a non-adsorbable gas, which surprisingly reduces the adsorbent regeneration requirements to maintain the selective adsorption of carbon dioxide from the spent reducing gas. The external natural gas purge results in a cleaner bed before the start of each adsorption cycle. Consequently, significantly more CO2 can be rejected and/or higher hydrogen and CO recoveries can be attained. The external purge stream is fully integrated into the DRI production scheme.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing molten metal at low cost and high productivity by melt-reducing a metal oxide and/or a metal hydroxide such as iron ore. To do this, at least the metal oxide and/or the metal hydroxide such as iron ore is preliminarily mixed, preliminarily mixed and granulated, or preliminarily mixed and molded with a carbonaceous material to prepare a mixture of raw materials. The mixture of raw materials is preliminarily reduced in a prereduction furnace of rotary hearth type, rotary kiln type, or the like to average metallization degree of the metal oxide and/or the metal hydroxide from 5 to 55%, which is then charged to a melting furnace for metal smelting, where the mixture of the raw materials is melted and finally reduced using the carbonaceous material as the reducing agent and using the combustion heat of the carbonaceous material and of carbon monoxide generated in the furnace as the major heat source.

Abstract: A high-speed, hand-held attachment for flex rotor shafts of power rotary tools, and also for direct attachment to power rotary tools without flex rotor shafts, that converts rotary motion to reciprocating motion for precision control of cutting, carving, sawing, chiseling, filing, sanding, and engraving on delicate work pieces. The attachment is one assembly comprising a one-piece front housing (20), a one-piece rear housing (30), a high-speed bearing (22), a one-piece rotating piece (40) with integral cam groove, a one-piece reciprocating piece (50) with an integral cam follower on one end and with its other, exposed end accomodating the attachment of a chuck or collet and with geometry to prevent rotation, and a thumbscrew (32). Rotating piece (40) attaches directly to the rotary power source and provides the cam action drive to reciprocating piece (50). Bearing (22) provides rotative support for the other end of rotating piece (40). Reciprocating piece (50) slidably mounts in front housing (20).

Abstract: A tool for selectively holding standard sized washers having a handle having a first end, the first end having a pair of facing ears formed facingly thereon the facing ears having a partial slightly more than a semi-circular inner periphery sized to matingly abut the outer periphery of a standard sized washer; the handle first end further having a relief slot formed between the ears, the relief slot extending along the handle from the first end, the handle further having a thickness approximating the thickness of the standard sized washer.

Abstract: An adaptor for actuating a valve by rotating a handwheel, the handwheel including a series of radially extending spokes. The adaptor includes a socket, an adaptor body, and a plurality of pegs. The socket and pegs are aligned with an axis of rotation of the body, but extend in relatively opposite directions. The pegs are adapted to engage lateral surfaces of the spokes such that, when a ratchet is inserted into the socket and used to rotate the adaptor about the axis of rotation, the pegs cause the adaptor handle to rotate with the adaptor, actuating the valve.

Abstract: A threaded pipe installation tool system for allowing an individual to easily connect threaded pipes without requiring the usage of damaging tools. The threaded pipe installation tool system includes a handle, a female coupler removably attachable to the handle, and a male coupler removably attachable to the handle. The male coupler is comprised of a first body, an external threaded portion for engaging an interior threaded end of a pipe or pipefitting, and an engaging edge that stops the threaded engagement of the external threaded portion to allow for easy removal of the male coupler. The female coupler is comprised of a second body, an interior threaded portion for engaging a threaded end of a pipe or pipefitting, and an interior flange that stops the threaded engagement of the interior threaded portion to allow for easy removal of the female coupler.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a unique torsional cutting apparatus. Two plates, referred to as a stationary and rotating plate member, are positioned and held in place next to each other using any convention means such as spring tensioned bolts. There is a zero gap between the two plate members. A hole in the general shape of the object to be cut is fashioned through the two plate members so that the object to be cut can be placed into and through the hole. The hole is tapered towards the center of the rotary torsion cutting apparatus thereby allowing ease of insertion, a more precise cut, and the elimination of burring.

Abstract: A processing method comprises the steps of providing an electrostatically charged film, placing the electrostatically charged film on a surface such that the film is electrostatically attracted to the surface and processing an item on the film.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for automatic cutting of graphics area(s) from a sheet of material which includes such graphics area(s), the graphics areas having a plurality of registration marks in predetermined positions with respect thereto and including a subset of the marks on no more than one side of the graphics area which are initial-position/orientation-determining marks. The method involves placing the sheet on a sheet-receiving surface, attempting to sense the subset in the field of view of a main sensor, and, when the subset is not in an expected location, automatically determining the coordinate region of the subset on the sheet-receiving surface and automatically repositioning the main sensor to the coordinate region such that the subset is within the field of view of the main sensor.