Abstract: A fastening tool including a housing, a magazine connected to the housing for storing a fastener, a driving mechanism disposed within the housing for driving the fastener into a workpiece, a trigger assembly pivotally attached to the housing for activating the driving mechanism, the trigger assembly comprising a main trigger, pivotally attached to the housing and a supplemental trigger pivotally attached to the main trigger; and a contact trip assembly comprising an upper contact trip contacting the supplemental trigger, a lower contact trip connected to the upper contact trip, wherein the upper and lower contact trips have teeth that mesh together for locking the upper and lower contact trips.

Abstract: A cartridge comprises a container 11 for housing a connected staple, a driving section 21 for driving a staple, a conveying path 25 which extends from the container 11 to the driving section 21, and conveys the connected staple, a feeding member 30 which is disposed in a position remote from a guide member 23 forming the conveying path 25, and reciprocates along the conveying path, feeding claws 31A, 31B having leading end portions which are attached to the feeding member 30, and project in the conveying path 25 from openings 23A, 23B formed in the guide wall 23, and the connected staple being fed toward the driving section 21 by the feeding claws 31A, 31B when the feeding member 30 advances. The cartridge further comprises a link mechanism 50 for moving the feeding member 30 backward when a lid 13 of the container 11 is opened.

Abstract: A handy electric nailing gun includes a firing pin, a firing spring for pushing the firing pin to drive nails into workpiece, an output gear rotatable by a motor through a transmission gear set to retract the firing pin during the first half run of each rotation cycle and to release the firing pin during the second half run of each rotation cycle, and three power switches electrically connected in series between the motor and the power source (AC adapter/rechargeable battery) for operation by the user to control the operation of the motor.

Abstract: A system and method for aligning optical fibers that takes into account variations due to temperature changes and other nonrandom systemic effects. The system includes an alignment tool having a plurality of internal reflection surfaces and located below a vision plane of the first one of the pair of optical fibers, and an optical detector to receive an indirect image of a bottom surface of the first optical fiber through the alignment tool, such an offset between the first optical fiber and the optical detector is determined based on the indirect image received by the optical detector. The method comprises the steps of providing a cornercube offset tool having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces below a vision plane of the first optical fiber, and receiving an indirect image of the first optical fiber through the cornercube offset tool.

Abstract: Two members 11 and 12 are butted against each other, and the butted portion is cut with a cutter 20 to form a slit 14 thereto, and a filler member 21 is inserted to slit 14 using rollers 22, 23 and 25. Then, friction stir welding is performed to weld filler member 21 and two member 11 and 12 disposed on both sides thereof using a rotary tool 35, and the position of a gap formed between an end of filler member 21 at the upstream side in the rotating direction of rotary tool 35 and one member 11b at the upstream side in the rotating direction is detected using an optical sensor 35. Then, half the width of filler member 21 is added to the detected position, and the calculated position is set as the position of the rotary tool 35.

Abstract: A method for assembling an optical disk apparatus involves disposing first and second short-cutting terminals at different faces of a housing and in parallel with a laser diode of the apparatus. In a first state of assembling, the first short-cutting terminal is shorted by a solder applied thereon. Thereafter, the apparatus is inspected in a second state of assembling in which the solder is removed from the first short-cutting terminal. After inspection, the second short-cutting terminal is shorted by a solder applied thereon. Subsequently, the solder on the second short-cutting terminal is removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing and coating heat transfer parts for a heat exchanger such as tubes in an automobile radiator. The tubes are coated with brazing material by thermal spraying, such as plasma deposition or wire-arc deposition. The coating is then melted by application of heat to braze the tubes to the fins and to the headers to complete the formation of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: There is disclosed a blank for forming a wrap-around carrier sleeve comprising a plurality of panels connected end to end, including first and second end panels at opposite ends of the blank configured to overlap and cooperate to form a bottom of the sleeve. The first end panel includes at least one retainer flap struck from the panel. The second end panel includes at least one male supporting tab connected to the second panel. Each male supporting tab has a notch formed along one side, the notch being sufficiently offset from the fold line in the neck so that, when the second panel overlaps the first panel and the male supporting tab extends through an opening formed by the retainer flap in the first panel, the notch in the male supporting tab lockingly engages a raised edge of the retainer flap.

Abstract: The mailbox with sliding tray is a mailbox housing with a tray guided on a pair of tracks to dispose the tray completely outside the housing. Each track has a plurality of slides. One pair of slides is attached to the mailbox housing and another pair is attached to the tray. The tracks are preferably telescopic, ball bearing tracks that glide along each other to dispose the tray completely outside the housing. A door is attached to a front edge of the tray by a hinge. The door serves as a handle to either pull down the door and view the inside of the mailbox or pull down the door and slide the tray forward, away from the mailbox housing, to view the entire length of the tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing for particulate contaminants in deposited mail-like articles includes an enclosure adapted for receiving deposited mail-like articles, a squeezing mechanism located within the enclosure and adapted for pressuring opposite flat sides of said deposited mail-like articles for expelling air along with any particulate matter from said deposited mail-like articles and into the enclosure, and a sensing apparatus operatively coupled to the enclosure and adapted for determining the presence of particulate contaminants in air expelled from the deposited mail-like articles. The apparatus may be embodied in a depository of an automated teller machine.

Abstract: An automated transaction system includes an automated transaction machine (10) for carrying out banking transactions. The machine includes a plurality of customer stations (16, 18, 20) at which customers may conduct transactions. Each of the transactions requested by customers is carried out using a set of transaction function devices (34) positioned within or adjacent to the machine housing. The robotic item handling device (42) is included among the transaction function devices and enables moving items between the customer stations and the transaction function devices included in the machine. The machine is enabled to carry out transactions for multiple users simultaneously. The machine is also readily configured to add and delete transaction function devices, thereby more readily changing the types of transactions which may be conducted.

Abstract: An anti-tether device used in vending machines to prevent retrieval of paper currency that is attached to a tether. The anti-tether device includes a slotted disk aligned with the paper currency path and is caused to rotate after paper currency passes through the slot. A tether attached to the paper currency will inhibit the motion of the disk. If the vending machine control system determines that the disk did not rotate completely or did not rotate within a predetermined time limit, the vending machine will not dispense a product or service and may send an external signal. Alternatively, if a product or service is dispensed despite the presence of a tether, the paper currency will not be retrievable, as the tether will be mechanically wound around a shaft of the anti-tether apparatus.

Abstract: An ATM media cassette includes a self-locking arrangement for a media directing guide. The guide is automatically placed in a locked condition during removal of the cassette from an ATM. The guide is automatically unlocked during reinsertion of the cassette into the ATM. The self-locking arrangement enables the guide to be locked during transport.

Abstract: A system for updating a merchant customer account database is provided, wherein the system may be used to update a merchant's customer database in response to changes made to a customer transaction account. The system provides a remote database location which stores a merchant's customer transaction account information for customers using the transaction account for recurring billing purposes. A server is used to manage the remote database information to update the remote database in response to changes in transaction account information. The updated transaction account information is then periodically provided to the merchant for use in updating the merchant's customer account database.

Abstract: An order is generated by a wireless communication service provider, or an agent of the wireless communication service provider. The order is for a new account, and includes information about the customer as well as provisioning information. The order is transmitted electronically to an order fulfillment center. The order fulfillment center assembles a kit for shipment to the customer, and includes a mobile communication device using an identity card. The identity card is programmed with the provisioning information at the order fulfillment center, and the kit is then shipped to the customer.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for processing lottery sales data comprises the steps of causing display of a table on a computer, the table containing data representing lottery game attributes and lottery ticket sales for a plurality of lottery game types; enabling a user of the computer to query the data in the table based on at least one criterion from a predetermined list of criteria; and forecasting sales of a new lottery game based on results of the query.

Abstract: A dual-sided smart card reader, and method for operating the same, is disclosed. The dual-sided smart card reader permits the simultaneous insertion of at least two different smart cards from opposing sides. The dual-sided smart card reader may additionally include a biometric verification device, such as a fingerprint scanner, for comparing biometric information from an operator of the reader to biometric information stored on a smart card.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide an electronic shopping cart which enables customers scan the products, view the totals and complete the transaction by means of self check-out. This invention relates to an electronic shopping cart which acts as a client in the wireless network environment and communicates with the server by means of an operating system, scan the products selected by the customer, displays the cost of current product and total cost of all the products in the cart and provides various options by means of graphic display and upon completion of product selection, prompts the customers to move to a payment station and complete the transaction by means of self-checkout.

Abstract: An electronic voting system includes a ballot card, accepting apparatus, and at least one voting apparatus. The accepting apparatus issues a ballot card in accordance with a vote acceptance request. The voting apparatus performs voting processing in accordance with a vote request using the ballot card. The accepting apparatus includes an acceptance time recording section which records the acceptance time on the ballot card when issuing the ballot card. The voting apparatus includes a timeout detecting section and unauthorized use warning display section. Before performing voting processing upon reception of a vote request, the timeout detecting section determines whether or not a preset timeout time has elapsed from the acceptance time recorded on the ballot card to the time of voting. The unauthorized use warning display section outputs a warning message when the timeout detecting section determines that the timeout time has elapsed.

Abstract: An optical information reader for settling a commercial transaction reads and decodes with certainty a quick response (QR) code displayed on a buyer's mobile telephone display. A QR code 11 is displayed on the display a plurality of times at a prescribed time interval. The QR code is rotated by 90° every time. Therefore, a part of the QR code which could not have been decoded due to a mirror reflection, stains or scratches on the display can be decoded at the second, third or fourth display, because the QR code 11 is displayed four times at different angles.

Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for acquiring and reading optical codes, the indication of the reading result is carried out projecting a luminous figure onto the optical code, that is to say in the position on which the attention of the operator is focused. The luminous figure can have an information content also more complex than the simple indication of the end of the reading.

Abstract: A planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based device a linear image formation and detection (IFD) module characterized by an F/# parameter mounted on a support platform. The IFD module has a linear image detection array with vertically elongated image detection elements and image formation optics having a field of view (FOV) projected through the light transmission window into an illumination and imaging field external to the hand-supportable housing and in which an object is presented for illumination and imaging. Each vertically-elongated image detection element having a height dimension (H) that is substantially greater than the width dimension (W) thereof. A pair of planar laser illumination arrays (PLIAs) is mounted within the hand-supportable housing and arranged on opposite sides of linear image formation and detection module.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel optical reader device and method for calibrating the device. The device executes a calibration module that locates the actual coordinates for a targeting symbol in a captured image. The coordinates are stored as calibration coordinates in the memory. During normal operation of the reader device, the stored calibration coordinates are used to locate a target, such as a bar code. In order to locate the targeting symbol, the calibration module may overlay a template on clusters that may be the targeting symbol. A reasonable accurate comparison identifies the cluster as the targeting symbol. Alternatively, the calibration module may approach a cluster from four frames of the image and identify the cluster's tangents and perimeter. Geometrical calculations are used to identify the center of an identified targeting symbol.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) data carrier is presented. The RF data carrier comprises at least one diffraction element that has a dimension of the order of a wavelength of RF radiation and is responsive to RF irradiation, the response produced by the diffraction elements in the data carrier being indicative of machine-readable data carried by data carrier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering conditioned air using short duty cycles during which a damper is fully open for a time and fully closed for the remaining time. Conditioned air is continuously supplied to a plenum at low pressure and is applied to the space when the damper is open and blocked when the damper is closed. The proportion of on to off time during each duty cycle is adjusted to meet the load. When several supply terminals serve a space, their duty cycles are staggered to avoid fan instability. A special motor is coupled directly to the damper shaft for fast opening and closing of the damper. A magnetic latch holds the damper open or closed until the motor moves it again.

Abstract: A low cost and easy to install zone climate control system for retrofit to an existing forced air HVAC system, that provides independent minute-by-minute, day-by-day, and room-by-room climate control, including easy to use methods for specifying temperature schedules and providing local temperature control, and providing detailed energy use information so occupants can make informed cost versus comfort decisions.

Abstract: An ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material is utilized in a railroad flangeway to reduce the wear of a railroad crossing base.

Abstract: The invention relates to an injection valve (1) comprising a booster piston (23), said piston delimiting a pump chamber (22) and a booster chamber (29). A valve (14) is provided in the inlet to the chamber (22). The valve is configured as a 3/2-way valve and controls the pressure in the pump chamber (22). The pressure in the pump chamber (22) is converted into a correspondingly increased pressure in the booster chamber (29) and in an injection chamber (34) containing an injection needle (6), by means of the booster piston (23). The use of the valve (14) allows a precise control of the injection times.

Abstract: The pop-up irrigation sprinkler includes a pressure reducing valve, a spring-biased, pop-up riser, and a valve seal of unitary construction adjacent to the lower end of the riser having a valve body, a valve plug at the lower end of the valve body sealing the inlet port while the riser is in the retracted position, and a channel within the valve plug that is in fluid communication with the upper end of the valve body. The pressure reducing valve has a flow tube mounted for limited movement within the riser and lower port of the flow tube. The lower port of the flow tube is normally open when the riser is in the extended, operative position a pressure. The normally open lower port is urged against the upper surface of the valve plug when by a surge of pressurized water. A washer is provided in the lower end of the valve plug for sealing the inlet port from inflow and outflow of water from the sprinkler while the riser is in the retracted position.

Abstract: An air freshener dispenser mechanism is incorporated into a door knob whereby when a door is pushed open, air freshener is dispensed into a room in advance of a person entering the room.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid injection and recovery device capable of spraying a fluid over an object, recovering at least, the sprayed fluid, as well as filtering and recycling the recovered fluid. This fluid injection and recovery device comprises: a main tank capable of containing fluid; a filter unit capable of filtering the fluid contained in the main tank; a fluid sprayer for spraying the fluid filtered with the filter unit over an object; and a recovery unit capable of recovering, into the main tank, the fluid sprayed over the object and the matter removed by the fluid.

Abstract: An airbrush as used for a media delivery system comprises an air pressurizer, a power source and a media reservoir integrated into a single hand held device. The air pressurizer comprises a pump and motor assembly delivering pressurized air by way of first and second air conduits to a nozzle. The media is stored in a detachable reservoir housed within the device and provided with a liquid conduit for conducting the media to the nozzle. Upon actuation of a spray button, the pump and motor assembly causes a stream of air to flow through the first and second air conduits and past an opening in the media conduit. Thus, a negative pressure is induced into the media conduit. The negative pressure draws liquid from the reservoir through the media conduit where it is entrained within the air stream as minute droplets and exits the body of the airbrush through a nozzle.

Abstract: A trigger sprayer includes a sprayer body having a barrel with an internal passage, and a nozzle mounted over an open end of the barrel for rotation between dispensing and non-dispensing positions. The nozzle has a plug that is received in the open end of the barrel passage. The plug has laterally opening windows positioned for selective registry with an internal axial slot in the wall of the barrel passage adjacent to the open end of the barrel. The windows in the plug connect with fluid outlets in the nozzle. The nozzle is rotatable around the end of the barrel selectively for bringing the windows into registry with the slot in the barrel to dispense fluid from the end of the nozzle.

Abstract: A spraying system for the application of fertilizer, insecticides, fungicides, etc. to plants, vegetables, small trees and lawns. The spraying system presents several improvements over the original Lacy Sprayer (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,852) inclusive an improved bladder attachment and improved bladder design, and a new pressure-limiting flow restrictor to ensure safe operation, and a spray discharge fitting incorporating a porous filter to protect the bladder from excessive stresses. The spray hose is connected to this assembly. The improved system facilitates a method of use in which the tank containing the spray solution is placed stationery in an area to be sprayed. The operator attaches a long (30?+ or ?) small diameter spray hose for remote spraying within a radius permitted by the spray hose. The spraying system avoids the need to pump or to carry a heavy tank while spraying.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for distributing gas and/or liquid phase substance from an inlet to multiple outlets with reduced variations and distribution. The apparatus includes a body having an inlet and a plurality of outlets. In one aspect, a rotatable impeller is positioned between inlet and plurality of outlets. The impeller includes a spiral fluid pathway relative to direction of substance through the inlet so that the substance passes through the impeller and is distributed to the outlets through a spinning impeller.

Abstract: A fuel injector adapter for providing nitrous oxide to an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The nozzle has a fuel injector passage, having a central axis and terminating at an injector outlet, for passing fuel from a fuel injector to an engine. The nozzle also has one or more first auxiliary passages, which may be arranged in an annular pattern around the fuel injector passage, and which terminate at first outlets. The nozzle furthermore may have one or more second auxiliary passages, which also may be arranged in an annular pattern around the fuel injector passage, and which terminate at second outlets. The first auxiliary passages and second auxiliary passages are adapted to supply nitrous oxide or other additional combustion reactants to the engine. The nozzle may be attached to an engine intake and may be adapted to fit between a fuel injector and an engine without substantial modification to the engine.

Abstract: A unitized mat to facilitate growing woody plants includes at least two polymeric material layers, an inlet for delivery of fluid, and at least one outlet for dispensing fluid into an area covered by at least one layer. There is an opening in the layers through which the plant extends along with an installation seam with overlapping ends. The mat includes perforations, aligned or off-set, for fluid outlets and may be used in a container, such that a polymeric material layer covers the surface thereof. Flexible extension flaps adjust for container size and shape. The mat is removably affixed to a container and/or can be fed by a water-filled container with a polymeric material layer integral with the container. The mat may be used for woody plants in a row, such as orchard applications. Extension flaps provide continuous cover around and between plants, and perforations provide anchors for fixable positioning.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a vaporizer with positive liquid shut-off. In one illustrative embodiment, the vaporizer is comprised of a body, a liquid inlet and a carrier gas inlet coupled to the body, a nozzle positioned within the body, the nozzle having at least one opening formed therethrough that defines a vaporized liquid exit, and a positive shut-off valve, a portion of which is adapted to engage the vaporized liquid exit of the nozzle. In another illustrative embodiment, the vaporizer is comprised of a body, a liquid inlet and a carrier gas inlet coupled to the body and a plurality of peltier cells coupled to the body.

Abstract: An improved filter assembly for a solenoid-actuated fuel injector having a fuel-resistant porous filter element in a filter retainer tube for disposition in the fuel tube of the fuel injector. Fuel flow through the filter element is axial. The filter retainer tube replaces the calibration tube in a prior art fuel injector, also acting as a seat for the injector spring and being positioned axially within the fuel tube by a press-fit calibration ring. The retainer tube is preferably formed of glass-filled nylon, and the filter element is preferably formed by injection molding of an open-cell polyamide foam. By selecting the porosity and flow characteristics of the filter element material in known fashion, the length and diameter of the filter element may be minimized, permitting reduction in the length and diameter of the fuel tube and also the size and cost of the actuating solenoid assembly.

Abstract: An external mix air assisted spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body, and an air cap for a directing pressurized air streams on a discharging liquid stream external to the liquid discharge orifice of the nozzle assembly for atomizing and forming the liquid into the desired spray pattern. The air cap includes an upstream internal air chamber, an external, downstream liquid discharge and mixing chamber, and a central opening coaxial with the liquid discharge orifice communicating between the upstream and downstream chambers. The air cap further includes a plurality of angled pressurized air discharge passages which communicate with an annular plenum of the air chamber disposed in surrounding relation to the central opening for enabling substantially uniform particle breakdown and distribution at lower air pressures than heretofore possible.

Abstract: A weight component for an irrigation drop tube includes an elongated, hollow core sleeve, the core sleeve having a radially outwardly directed shoulder at one end connected to a radially outer skirt. A weight sleeve is supported at one end by the shoulder, inside the outer skirt, such that a chamber is created between the core sleeve and the weight sleeve. This chamber is at least partially filled with ballast material, and a cap closes the chamber at an opposite end of the weight sleeve.

Abstract: Contaminants are removed from RPET flakes by a process which includes the steps of comminuting the RPET flakes to produce RPET particles and driving the contaminants out from the RPET particles.

Abstract: A paper shredder enables to control power consumption and achieve energy saving by realizing a torque characteristic of low torque at high speed or high torque at low speed keeping an output of a motor within a steady level. This circuit adopts a paper shredder structured with a driving motor for a rotary cutter having an inverted linear flow characteristic between rotation speed and torque and a control circuit composed of a detecting block for said rotation speed of said motor, a voltage control block for restricting a voltage output of said motor within a certain range in accordance with said rotation speed, and a current and voltage detecting block for monitoring a current flow of said motor.

Abstract: An automatic rewinding two-speed fishing reel that utilizes a transmission which includes a post assembly mounted on a driver that is rotatable on a shaft that connects to a recess arrangement formed in a low gear that is also rotatable on the shaft. The post assembly is engaged with the recess arrangement when in the low speed mode and is displaced from the recess arrangement when in the high speed mode. Connecting wall surfaces between the post assembly and the recess arrangement form an angle other than ninety degrees and preferably between ten and sixty degrees relative to the longitudinal center axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A positioning device for a reel is disclosed. The positioning device contains a spring-loaded reeling disc, wherein when the cable or wire is pulled to rotate for a half round, a positioning mechanism is made. A button is used to control either a single step or multiple steps retraction of the cable or wire.

Abstract: A tubular core assembly for a roll of paper or other sheet material has a hollow cylindrical core member of metal or plastic material, the core member having at least one lug projecting radially inwardly from an inner surface thereof adjacent to each end of the core member. Each lug is longitudinally spaced from the respective adjacent end of the core member, and an annular plastic end member is located within each opposite end portion of the core member and is a friction fit therein. Each end member has a notch at its longitudinally inner end receiving the lug adjacent to the respective end of the core member to facilitate transmission of torque and axial chuck pressure from the end members to the core member.

Abstract: To provide a cable or the like protection and guide device, which can guide and move a cable or the like at high speed and at low noise between a link connection mode where the cable or the like is extended on one side and a link connection mode where the cable or the like is extended on the other side by folding it in a vertical plane of the cable or the like on said one side while centering a fixed end of the cable or the like, and can suppress wear of the link bodies, and in which the maintenance for par's exchanging and the like is easy.

Abstract: The amphibious aircraft has two top mounted wings and an engine having a rear mounted propeller. The aircraft also has a tail having two wings mounted in a V-shaped fashion. Each of the wings has a pivotal tip mounted thereon. The aircraft also has a sponson on each side of the fuselage by way of horizontally mounted struts. The struts and thereby the sponsons are mounted to the aircraft in such a manner so that they are adjustable in their horizontal attitude. The pivotal wing tips at the top mounted wings control the yaw of the aircraft while the adjustable wing tips in the V section of the aircraft can control both the horizontal direction of the aircraft as well as the right or left direction. It all depends if both the wing tips are pivoted in the same direction or opposite to each other, respectively.

Abstract: A locking assembly for an aircraft door and which is particularly suited to a Cessna aircraft having floats, the locking system including an interior handle and an exterior handle, each being connected to a central actuator by separate linkage systems, the actuator in turn being connected to first and second locking members each having a distal end arranged to move between engaged and disengaged positions with respect to a frame portion about the aircraft door.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for dispersing fuel 62 within a fuel containment system 60 of an aircraft 30 including utilizing a fuel containment system on an aircraft that is located at least partially within a wing 34 of the aircraft and defines a reservoir portion 42 and a remote portion 44. Fuel is pumped during at least aircraft flight operation from the reservoir portion to the remote portion at a pumped rate 80, while simultaneously fuel that is contained in the remote portion of the fuel containment system is permitted to drain to the reservoir portion at a drainage rate 82. The drainage rate is less than the pumped rate. A fuel mass 64 is accumulated in the remote portion of the fuel containment system because of a difference between the pumped rate and the drainage rate and as a result, a counteractive moment 49 is induced in the aircraft that is opposingly directed to a lift moment 46 caused by wing-lift 45 during aircraft flight.