Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system that uses a plurality of monitors in combination with a plurality of identification tags attached to objects in order to track and monitor those objects. The monitors inductively couple to the identification tags to obtain identification information therefrom. In addition, each monitor is in communication with a network containing at least one database to leverage existing network capacity for increased tracking volume. The network is preferably a peer-to-peer type network to permit direct communication and data sharing among the monitors.

Abstract: An inventory management system utilizes unattended facilities remote from a central warehouse for service parts logistics. Items are placed in inventory in secure enclosures at the unattended facilities by the inventory management service. The unattended facilities may be located near one or more customers to reduce a service technician's travel time and customers' inventory costs. A service technician utilizes a passcode to retrieve needed items. The service technician may order items that are not kept in the inventory of the unattended facility in which case the items may be delivered to the unattended facility and the service technician may receive a notification related to all the items that comprise an order that the order is ready for pick up at an unattended facility.

Abstract: An inventory management system utilizes unattended facilities remote from a central warehouse for service parts logistics. Items are placed in inventory in secure enclosures at the unattended facilities by the inventory management service or are delivered directly to the unattended facility. The unattended facilities may be located near one or more customers to reduce a service technician's travel time and customers' inventory costs. A service technician utilizes a passcode to retrieve needed items. The service technician may order items that are not kept in the inventory of the unattended facility in which case the items may be delivered to the unattended facility and the service technician may receive a notification related to all the items that comprise an order that the order is ready for pick up at an unattended facility.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining an appropriate write current for a magnetic recording medium and to write magnetic information on the magnetic recording medium at the appropriate write current thus determined. When a current value suited to writing on a magnetic recording medium is to be found, a coercive force of the magnetic recording medium is found from a voltage at which magnetic information written on the magnetic recording medium is read, and a traveling quantity of the magnetic recording medium, and a current value corresponding to the coercive force, are found.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus prevents degradation of image quality and a delay in the image reading time which are caused by interruption of reading of image data. A speed at which a host computer reads image-data from an image reading apparatus and temporarily stores it therein is examined. If the resulting speed is lower than a reference value which has been set so that an operation to avoid an overflow of a buffer RAM in the image reading apparatus may not be caused, the sub-scanning speed of the image reading apparatus is set lower, and the image is read at the lower speed.

Abstract: A scanner system and method for improving the capture rate of reading labels with add-ons without sacrificing throughput with respect to non-add-on labels, the scanner including a mode in which the scanner “learns” over time which base label codes will have associated add-ons. At first, the required number of reads of base label information is set to a programmable number that is very low, and is preferably one. As the scanner successfully reads both a base label and its add-on data, the base label data is stored in a list in the scanner's memory and the required number of reads of this particular base label is increased to a second programmable number which is higher than the first and preferably high enough to obtain a reasonable add-on capture rate. Future scans of a base label corresponding to that of one in the list store will result in additional read attempts to ensure the capture of add-on information while the initial low number of reads remains in tact with respect to non-add-on labels.

Abstract: A bar code generating apparatus includes a specimen container holder which holds a container containing a specimen, a holder conveyance device which conveys the specimen container holder, a sensor which senses that the specimen container holder is conveyed to a specific position, a conveyance temporary stop mechanism which operates based on the information output from the sensor and temporarily stops conveyance of the specimen container holder, a rotation control mechanism which rotates the specimen container holder, which stops temporarily, on an axis of the holder, an electronic camera which picks up an image of recording information on the surface of the specimen container held by the rotated specimen container holder, and a bar-coding device which codes the recording information into a bar code based on data of the picked-up image.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes a transmitter that emits light rays. Transmitting optics are installed downstream of the transmitter. An adjustment device is operatively arranged for reversibly adjusting, in three spatial directions, the relative position of the transmitter and the transmitting optics. A receiver receives light rays. An evaluation unit evaluates the received signals that are present at the receiver output.

Abstract: A bar code reader has an arrangement to communicate with a host apparatus. The bar code reader includes a read unit that reads a bar code attached to an article, and outputs bar code information corresponding to the read bar code; a term information acquisition unit that acquires term information included in the bar code information; and a term expiration check unit that checks whether the term of the article has expired based on the term information. A notification unit notifies that the term of the article has expired upon determination by the term expiration check unit that the term of the article has expired.

Abstract: Described is a battery holding portion integrated into a mobile device and a method for its manufacturing. In particular, the battery holding portion may include a battery having an anode and/or a cathode formed in a shape corresponding to a shape of an outer surface of the battery holding portion and a connector connecting the battery to the circuitry of the mobile unit. In addition, the battery holding portion may include a protective material coating a portion of the anode and/or the cathode and a covering material coating the protective material to form an outer surface of the battery holding portion.

Abstract: An optical portable cellular phone having a character recognition function is provided which is capable of reducing a rate of character recognition error or a rate of character recognition failure in case of reading a character string. When a character recognizing section judges a captured character to be unrecognizable (misread or unreadable), a data referencing section judges whether or not incorrect character code due to the unrecognizable character corresponds to any one of feature character strings, referring to information about the feature character strings stored in a memory. When it is judged that the incorrect character code corresponds to any one of the feature character strings, a data correcting section corrects in a manner that a form of the incorrect character code matches up with that of the feature character string.

Abstract: A transaction card sheet product having a plurality of transaction card assemblies. Non-variable data is printed on selected portions of a sheet of material. A strip of removable tape is applied to the sheet of material, and variable data is printed on selected portions of the sheet of material and the strip of tape. The sheet of material is laminated with a transparent material. The laminated sheet of material is cut to define the plurality of transaction card assemblies such that each transaction card assembly includes an information card having variable and non-variable data printed thereon and a corresponding tape receiving portion attached to the information card and having a strip of removable tape attached thereto with variable data printed thereon which corresponds to the variable data printed on the information card.

Abstract: Systems and methods are shown for reading data. One method includes receiving at a first circuit, from a second circuit, a plurality of data input signals and a timing reference signal, generating a plurality of oversampled data input signal and an oversampled timing reference signal, and determining a bit boundary range in the oversampled timing reference signal. The bit boundary range is then applied to the oversampled data input signals to determine a plurality of data words from the plurality of oversampled data input signals.

Abstract: An IC card has a card substrate having semiconductor integrated circuit chips mounted thereon and a plurality of connector terminals formed thereon. The connector terminals are exposed from a casing. The connector terminals are laid out in plural sequences in staggered form between sequences adjacent to one another forward and backward as viewed in an IC card inserting direction. Owing to the adoption of the staggered layout, a structure or configuration wherein the amounts of protrusions of socket terminals of a card socket are changed and the socket terminals are laid out in tandem, can be adopted with relative ease. If a connector terminal arrangement of a downward or low-order IC card is adopted as a specific connector terminal sequence as it is, whereas a function dedicated for an upward or high-order IC card is assigned to another staggered connector terminal arrangement, then backward compatibility can also be implemented with ease.

Abstract: A chip card module is provided for insertion into a card body. The chip card module has at least one component, for example a keypad, fitted on an intermediate carrier configured in the card body. The intermediate carrier is a functional constituent part of the at least one component.

Abstract: A method for producing an ink-spread compensated variant of an existing optical code encodation scheme, wherein the existing encodation scheme has printed areas and spaces having a length in at least one dimension being a function of a given unit length for encoding information. In the method, the pattern of printed areas and spaces for a given data input is determined and a given length is added to the length of each space while the length of the printed areas remains unchanged to enlarge the overall length of the resulting code symbol in the at least one dimension.

Abstract: A thermostatic control valve assembly for use in continuously mixing a hot first fluid with a cold second fluid to continuously produce a mixed fluid at a constant temperature. The valve assembly includes an improved mixing dome defining a mixing chamber that facilitates thorough mixing of the hot and cold fluids over a wide range of flow rates, including rates as low as two gallons per minute. The improved mixing performance is accomplished by a plurality of baffles sequentially disposed along the flow path within the mixing chamber and extending at an angle in opposition to the flow path. Each baffle exhibits a paisley shape and is angularly displaced from the adjacent baffles to turn the fluid flow, thereby optimally mixing the hot and cold fluids over a wide range of flow rates while minimizing the pressure drop between the valve inlet and outlet.

Abstract: An actuator for controlling the position of a damper. It is an adjustable damper actuator that can actuate a damper to have positions that are other than fully open and fully closed. The actuator has adjustable stops for attaining a partially closed or partially open damper as the operator wants. This actuator is useful for zone heating and air-conditioning as well as for providing a continuous supply of make-up air at low flow rates.

Abstract: A temperature sensitive valve (10) includes a body (11) affording a passageway (12) for fluid, a valve member (15) which is moveable relative to the body (11) between first and second positions to control the flow of fluid through the passageway (12), a retaining member (24) movable with the valve member (15) and being engageable with a holding device (21) to retain the valve member (15) in the first position whilst the temperature is below a threshold value, and there being a release actuator (30) movable when the temperature is at the threshold value to disengage the retaining member (24) and holding device (21), to permit the valve member (15) to move from the first to the second position.

Abstract: A low speed cooling fan that is designed to cool individuals located in large industrial buildings. A fan with a diameter between 15 to 40 feet consisting of a plurality of blades, with each in the shape of a tapered airfoil, is driven by an electric motor to produce a very large slowly moving column of air. The moving column of air creates a uniformly gentle circulatory airflow pattern throughout the interior of the building thus promoting the natural evaporative cooling process of the human body at all locations inside the building.

Abstract: A track section that includes a body having a coupling portion is disclosed. In one embodiment, the coupling portion includes a projection extends outwardly from the coupling portion and a recess extending inwardly into the coupling portion. In one embodiment, the recess extends downwardly through the coupling portion. In another embodiment, the recess extends from an upper surface of the body to a lower surface of the body.

Abstract: A toy vehicle slot track is disclosed with at least a pair of toy racing vehicles and at least a pair of guide slots, each guide slot in turn having a pair of exposed power supply rails. The toy vehicles are guided about the track by guide pins affixed to the toy vehicles, the guide pins running within the guide slots. In a first portion of the track, the guide slots are spaced apart at a distance greater than the maximum width of the toy vehicles. In a second portion of the track, the guide slots are spaced apart at a distance less than the maximum width of the toy vehicles. The power supply rails run parallel to and at a uniform spacing from the guide slots in both portions of the track, providing power in both track portions to electric motors contained in the toy vehicles.

Abstract: Concrete railroad ties are made having steel plates cast directly into the concrete railroad tie so that the top surface of each steel plate is even with the top surface of the concrete railroad tie. Fasteners for the rails can be welded to anywhere within the steel plate. Additionally, each steel plate can be cast into one of two different positions of the concrete railroad tie thus, creating more flexibility as to the positions of the rail fasteners on the railroad tie and reducing the length of the steel plate needed by half to three inches. By utilizing this assembly, the amount of concrete the patterns needed in a turnout is reduced.

Abstract: Fixing device for railway rails, comprising a ribbed plate (14) which supports the rail (10), is to be fixed on a rail substructure (18), and has ribs (22) between which the rail is accommodated with its rail base (12), characterized in that the ribbed plate (14) is a drawn sheet member.

Abstract: A method of applying fluid includes feeding fluid to between two faces disposed with a gap maintained therebetween and changing the gap between the two faces by driving of an actuator for intermittently discharging the fluid filled in between the two faces, wherein an input signal in which a high-frequency component and a DC component are superimposed is given to drive the actuator for changing the gap between two faces, so that the fluid filled in between the two faces is intermittently discharged for fluid application.

Abstract: A deodorizing paper towel dispenser includes a housing, with a paper towel roll mounted within the housing for rotation. There may be a drive within the housing which is connected to rotate the paper towel roll. The drive means can be activated either by an infrared sensor or by a manual switch. The paper towel roll includes a generally hollow core and a deodorant associated with the core. A fan is positioned to pass air through the paper towel roll core and outwardly through an opening in the housing. The fan is operated by a drive that rotates with the paper towel roll.

Abstract: The improved sprayer system of the present invention utilizes a docking drogue and probe assembly to quickly and easily allow refilling of the sprayer tanks with a material from an enlarged nurse tank. The coupling of the drogue and probe allows for fluid communication, as well as electronic transmission of material data to a processor in the prime mover. This processor software also receives input regarding field data and crop data, as well as feedback data from the sprayer regarding the material application. A GPS system on the prime mover allows for tracking the spraying operation, while a time stamp in the processor software tracks the timing of the spraying operation. This system thus allows for accurate accountability and traceability for the use of materials during the spraying operation.

Abstract: A lawn and garden sprayer designed for homeowners, landscapers, and lawn-care professionals for the application of liquid organic fertilizers and soil amendments on small to medium sized yards and business landscapes. The lawn and garden sprayer is a lawn mower-like system that holds up to 8 gallons of water soluble fertilizers and soil nutrients which can be dispensed evenly, economically and easily through either two spray nozzles located in front of the front tires which provide a 24 inch overlapping spray directly to the turf, or by a wand sprayer attached to a pump by a 20 foot hose used to spray directly on trees, shrubs, plants, and beds.

Abstract: An assembly for feeding liquid to the inlet port of a liquid spraying device or spray gun. The assembly includes a stiff container that defines an opening into a cavity in the container, and a flexible liner positioned within the cavity in the container has an outer surface generally corresponding in shape to the inner surface of the container, an inner surface defining a cavity in the liner, and an annular lip along the top end of the side wall defining an opening into the cavity in the liner. An included adapter assembly has a central portion with a through opening that is adapted to engage the inlet port of a liquid spraying device, a transverse portion including a peripheral part adapted for engagement within the flexible liner adjacent said top end of the container, and means for sealing the flexible liner around the peripheral part of the adapter assembly. An air supply assembly connected to the container supplies air at a relatively low pressure (e.g., in the range of about 0.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser characterized in that it comprises:

Abstract: A device and method for delivering a pharmaceutical composition. The device includes an electronically controllable jetting device in communication with a source of a pharmacologically active material and a solid or fluidic mixing medium for receiving the ejected pharmacologically active material and directing it toward an end use destination.

Abstract: A hybrid turbine classifier for a coal pulverizer includes a cone disposed within the separator body of the pulverizer. The cone extends downwardly from a base to a frustum which forms an opening for depositing coal particles on the grinding table of the pulverizer. The outer surface of the cone and the separator body define an outer passage for coal/air flow, containing a mixture of smaller and larger coal particles, from the grinding table. A circular, first classifier cage disposed proximate to the base of the cone defines a circumferential passage between the outer passage and the cavity of the cone. The first classifier cage includes static, circumferentially-spaced vanes which direct the coal/air flow in a spiraling, circular flow path within the cavity. The flow path defines a first flow direction. A circular, second classifier cage is coaxially disposed within the first classifier cage.

Abstract: A crusher (10) having a chassis (11) on which a crushing chamber (23) is mounted and having an upper loading opening (26) to receive crushable material and a lower discharge opening (27) through which gravity discharge of crushed material can take place. In the event of material becoming jammed in the crushing chamber (23), an unjamming vehicle (15) having rock breaker attachment (17, 18) is operated, which is clamped to a vehicle support platform (13) mounted on the chassis (11) and which is located near to the crushing chamber (23) so that the rock breaker attachment (17, 18) can reach into the chamber (23) to engage with and to break-up the jammed material.

Abstract: An automatic winding device is provided for a strap fastener. The automatic winding device includes a housing, a reel rotationally received in the housing for winding a strap introduced through the strap fastener and a spring connected between the housing and the reel. A shaft is securely received in the housing for supporting the reel. The spring is a coil spring mounted on the shaft and received in the reel. The spring includes an internal end secured to the shaft and an external end secured to the reel. In an aspect, at least one ratchet wheel is formed on the reel, and a detent is movably mounted on the housing for releasable engagement with the reel. The detent is biased by means of a second spring. The housing defines a slot through which the detent is inserted. The housing includes a stem formed thereon within the slot. The detent includes a groove defined therein for receiving the stem and the second spring. Thus, the second spring is compressed between the stem and a portion of the detent.

Abstract: A manual dispenser for stretch wrap material and having a dispenser body, a handle on the dispenser body and, a roll carrier extending from the dispenser body for receiving a roll of stretch wrap material and being rotatable so as to permit controlled unwinding of the stretch wrap material from the roll. The dispenser may be attached at one end of the core for single handed operation, or two dispensers may be used, one at each end of the roll for double handed operation.

Abstract: A device for rolling up a web of elastic material in sheet form, comprises a frame, a rolling-up member having an essentially regularly curved support surface that is mounted on the frame such that it can rotate, drive elements for making the rolling-up member rotate and securing elements for securing one end of the material in sheet form that is to be rolled up to the rolling-up member. The securing elements comprise two clamping jaws that are oriented axially with respect to the support surface and can be moved between an open position for inserting or releasing the material in sheet form and a closed position for clamping the material in sheet form, in which open position the clamping jaws enclose a slit-shaped opening in the support surface.

Abstract: A web handling apparatus includes a base, a housing, a splicing head mounted in the housing, and first and second non-rotatable swing out roll shafts, each shaft having opposite first and second ends. The roll shafts are normally positioned in the housing substantially parallel to the splicing head so that web can travel through the splicing head to on from web rolls on the roll shafts. A web accumulator mounted to the housing conducts web to or from the splicing head and the housing is movably mounted to the base so that the housing can move relative to the base in either direction parallel to the roll shafts. An actuator connected between the housing and the base moves the housing relative to the base in response to signals from a web position sensor so as to minimize the side lay of web extending to or from the apparatus.

Abstract: A device for unrolling an elastic material in sheet form from a roll has a frame that has a series of roller members, the axes of which are essentially parallel. The series of roller members is arranged in accordance with a curved path that adjoins an out-feed such that the roll can be supported by the series of roller members and the material in sheet form can be unrolled from the roll via the out-feed.

Abstract: A wire spool spinner which holds and dispenses only a single spool of wire typically enables 80% of the wire on a residential building to be dispensed without moving multiple rolls of wire. The wire spool spinner comprises: a base fabricated from two similarly shaped tube portions; and, a spool spindle positioned on and above the base, said spool spindle secured by one and only one end thereof to the base in a generally horizontal position. When a spool of wire is slipped over and onto the unattached end of the spindle then the spool will turn, unrolling the wire, when an end of the wire is pulled. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the spindle slopes so that its unattached end is nominally above its attached end portion. When a spool of wire positioned on the spindle the spool tends to slide down the spindle toward its attached end portion, thereby staying positioned on the spool spinner.

Abstract: A control system for a flying vehicle in an atmospheric environment, the vehicle having an aerodynamic shape including a front end and a rear end including a plurality of attitude control jet nozzles spaced outward from the vehicle near the rear end of the vehicle or a trailing edge of a vehicle part; and a generator for providing a low mass flow of a fluid through the attitude control jet nozzles to create an area of high pressure immediately forward of the nozzles and adjacent the flying vehicle, wherein the location of the attitude control jet nozzles is so close to the rear end of the vehicle that any area of low pressure created by the low mass flow of fluid through the attitude control jet nozzles does not contact the vehicle.

Abstract: A method wherein a vehicle is capable of movement on or over land, and/or on, over, or under water. Various body, wing, tail, and/or outrigger shapes facilitate movement and develop lift. Buoyancy or semi-buoyancy is developed utilizing various chambers to contain controlled volumes of gaseous or liquid substances. Motion is augmented by propulsion or repulsion mechanisms, including pressurized liquid stream jet (PJET) propulsion. The vehicle is capable of modifying its shape and/or the curvature of various parts, such as wings, tails, and/or outriggers, by manipulating the internal skeleton, the internal compartments supporting the external surfaces, and/or the internal pressure of the shape. Control Agents with mechanized or manual support manage the vehicle's operations controlling various movement particular information, as well as baseline algorithms, such as wind speed, currents, and location.

Abstract: A jet propulsion outlet device is disclosed that has a grid plate having a plurality of densely clustered nozzlettes, the nozzlettes of the grid plate being configured to operably couple to a pressurized gas source to efficiently expand the pressurized gas.

Abstract: A guided parafoil system for delivering lightweight payloads provides an accurate, small and low-cost delivery system for small payloads such as chemical sensor packages. The delivery system is adapted to fit along with the payload within a standardized canister. The delivery system includes a parafoil and a guidance control system that includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and an electronic compass to detect a deviation and bearing from a desired target. The parafoil is guided by a single motor that turns the parafoil in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the current direction of travel in response to deviations detected from a desired course. The desired course is initially linear until the system reaches a predetermined horizontal radius from the target and then the course becomes a circular path around and above the target.

Abstract: A vehicle traveling through an environmental media such as air experiences drag. The drag is actively modulated by energy beams which may either increase or decrease the drag. The energy beams may be ultrasonic and provide acoustic energy at a transition region between turbulent and laminar flows or at the leading edge of a laminar flow in order to facilitate the respective increase or decrease in drag. The ultrasonic beams may be placed at various locations of an aircraft in order to provide some flight control. The ultrasonic beams may be placed on an automobile to facilitate desired operating modes of the vehicle. The ultrasonic beams may be a further component of a parametric array for communicating audio signals ahead and behind the vehicle in addition to drag modulation.

Abstract: A vehicle traveling through an environmental media such as air experiences drag. The drag is actively modulated by energy beams which may either increase or decrease the drag. The energy beams may provide either a chemical, acoustic or electromagnetic energy at a transition region between turbulent and laminar flows or at the leading edge of a laminar flow or in the direction of a crosswind in order to facilitate the respective increase or decrease in drag. If the vehicle is a sailing ship, areas of the sails are selectively roughened or widened to enhance the thrust derived from the wind. Furthermore, the keel or hull of the sailing ship may be modified to improve the hydrodynamic characteristics of the sailing ship. If the vehicle is an automobile, the tires or road surface may be selectively heated to improve the traction of the automobile.

Abstract: The invention utilizes a computer-controlled moving band, typically on an airplane, to increase the apparent speed and therefore the lift of any body moving through a fluid. The invention will allow greater precision of control. One benefit is that take-offs and landings can be carried at reduced speeds and with greater loads. This control will also adjust boundary layer to adjust drag thereby allowing more flexibility in wing design.

Abstract: A retracting device to hold a knife block on a barbecue grill has a telescopic rail, a bracket and a cylinder. The barbecue grill has a base, a grill and two wing shelves. The telescopic rail is mounted on the base. The cylinder is secured to the base, and a retractable rod extends from the cylinder. The bracket is attached to the telescopic rail and the bracket and corresponds to a through hole defined in one of the wing shelves. Accordingly, a knife block on the bracket can be lifted to a position where the knives are exposed from the through hole in the wing shelf. The knife block can also be retracted to a position where the knife block with the knives is located below the wing shelf to keep anyone from touching the knives when the knives are not in use.

Abstract: A pipeline support for supporting a pipeline along its longitudinal axis comprised of a first and second longitudinally extending cylindrical supports supported on transversely extending threaded rods. The first support is fixed at one end of the transversely extending rods and the second support is movable along the rods, toward and away from the first support, so that the contact surface between the pipeline surface and the support surface may be moved and adjusted to inspect for corrosion or other defects. The pipeline support is designed so that the space between the first and second supports may be adjusted from one side of the pipeline only.

Abstract: To provide a closed cable drag chain, which is capable of preventing the contact wear powder generated in the holding and guiding the inserted cable or the like from being scattered into an operation space, and of suppressing noises such as sliding contact noise and scattering sounds, and wherein the assembling, maintenance and repair are easy and early wear of the cable or the like can be suppressed.

Abstract: A line hanger for securing lines, such as transmission, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical and other types of lines, to a support structure and a method of mounting and supporting one or more lines from a support structure. The line hanger includes an attachment support provision configured for mounting to the support structure and a pair of spaced-apart clamping arms depending outwardly from the attachment provision. The clamping arms are configured to resiliently separate for slidingly receiving an line and to resiliently relax for applying a clamping force to secure the line. Multiple line hangers may be interlinked or stacked relative to the support structure for support multiple lines.