Abstract: A battery powered transmitter circuit has a LED of a continuously cycling microcomputer transmit a beam of a predetermined number of infrared pulses at predetermined time periods to a sensor of a battery powered receiver circuit. Only a clock circuit of each circuit of the same frequency is continuously powered. The two clock circuits are synchronized each time that the sensor senses the predetermined number of infrared pulses. When an object breaks the beam, the sensor causes a count of the object by a microcomputer of the receiver circuit. The receiver microcomputer is inactivated when the sensor does not sense the predetermined number of infrared pulses during one or more cycles of operation of the receiver microcomputer. There is only one count incremented on a count display after the beam is interrupted until the sensor again senses the predetermined number of infrared pulses.

Abstract: Pivotally mounted doors forming the floor of a railroad car are prevented from opening inadvertently through not allowing air pressure to be applied to a door opening piston until the air pressure exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A battery powered transmitter circuit has a LED of a continuously cycling microcomputer transmit a beam of a predetermined number of infrared pulses at predetermined time periods to a sensor of a battery powered receiver circuit. Only a clock circuit of each circuit of the same frequency is continuously powered. The two clock circuits are synchronized each time that the sensor senses the predetermined number of infrared pulses. When an object breaks the beam, the sensor causes a count of the object by a microcomputer of the receiver circuit. The receiver microcomputer is inactivated when the sensor does not sense the predetermined number of infrared pulses during one or more cycles of operation of the receiver microcomputer. There is only one count incremented on a count display after the beam is interrupted until the sensor again senses the predetermined number of infrared pulses.

Abstract: Pivotally mounted doors forming the floor of a railroad car are prevented from opening inadvertently through not allowing air pressure to be applied to a door opening piston until the air pressure exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A media alignment mechanism of a printer having duplex capabilities has two spaced elements (33, 34) defining a predetermined return feed path. Two reference edge segments (50, 61) are disposed between the spaced elements and separated from each other in the direction of advancement of each sheet of media. The spaced elements have non-linear portions extending between the two separated reference edge segments and shaped to break the beam of the sheet of media. This allows a side surface (68) of each sheet of media to simultaneously engage each of the two separated reference edge segments even though the first reference edge segment is at angle to the second reference edge segment to prevent the leading edge of the sheet of media from engaging the entry end (66) of the second reference segment, which provides the desired alignment of the sheet of media for its return to the printer for printing on its second side.

Abstract: The lowermost of a plurality of vertically stacked cans, which have their longitudinal axes substantially vertical, is held at a first stop. A crush plate is advanced to have a first portion of its front wall engage a mid portion of the lowermost can to fold it about an axis perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. When the crush plate is withdrawn, the lowermost can falls to a second lower stop and the next stacked can is held at the first stop. The crush plate has the first portion of its front wall engage the next can to fold it and a second portion of its front wall engage the entire surface of the folded can to flatten it to enable the flattened can to exit past the second stop.

Abstract: A microprocessor, powered by a low cost battery, controls a wireless transmitter of a communication system. A sensor senses the value of at least one condition at a predetermined location. The transmitter transmits to a wireless receiver a data packet, which includes the value of the at least one condition, at randomly selected transmission time intervals. Closing of a multiple function push button switch activates an inactive microprocessor to cause its controlled transmitter to transmit irrespective of the selected transmission time interval until the next transmission if the switch is opened before a predetermined period of time elapses or to cause inactivation of the activated microprocessor for the longest available inactive period of time if the switch is held closed for the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of passages in a fixture has a piston movable therein and cooperating with a collet therein to simultaneously move each collet to its workpiece retaining position and to release each collet from its workpiece retaining position. A recess in the bottom of the fixture supports a locking nut for each passage. Each locking nut has a circular passage extending therethrough to receive an end of the collet having threads on its outer surface. The circular passage has threads of the same pitch but the threads have an interrupted portion in the circumferential and axial directions. The locking nut has a first portion movable relative to a second portion to take up the pitch clearance in the threads on the collet due to the interrupted portion of threads in the circular passage to prevent rotation of the collet prior to the piston moving the collet to its workpiece retaining position.

Abstract: The write lines of a color laser printer are maintained substantially equal throughout the printer's operation by an electronic control arrangement. At the factory, the write lines on all photoconductors of the color laser printer are calibrated to be substantially equal, and the ratio of each write line to a measuring line for each photoconductor is ascertained. During operation of the printer, the length of each of the measuring lines is periodically determined through counting the number of PELslice clock timing pulses produced from a PELslice clock operating at a fixed frequency determined during factory calibration. The length of the write line is determined by the product of the length of the measuring line and the factory calibrated ratio of the length of the write line to the length of the measuring line.

Abstract: A plurality of female couplers and a plurality of male couplers are simultaneously connected or disconnected by simultaneously applying an axial force along the aligned axes of each pair of female and male couplers. A pushing force is employed for connecting, and a pulling force is utilized for disconnecting. The forces may be employed manually, pneumatically, or hydraulically.

Abstract: After a cutter of a tobacco harvester cuts each tobacco plant, the cut tobacco plant has its stalk penetrated by toothed elements on two chains on opposite sides of the cut tobacco plant to advance it to an elevated position. Just prior to being released by the toothed elements, the stalk of the cut tobacco plant has its butt end engage a ramp to retard its motion to tilt the cut tobacco plant. This results in the cut tobacco plant pivoting to fall by gravity as its leaves are engaged by wheels to advance the cut tobacco plant. The butt end of the stalk falls into an area of a continuously rotating disc so that the cut tobacco plant has a substantially horizontal orientation. The cut tobacco plant is then advanced by chains and cleats to a spearing mechanism where the cut tobacco plant is automatically loaded on a stick.

Abstract: A cycle of operation of an attaching apparatus begins with determining whether an operator's extremity is in an area in which it can be struck by a downwardly moving ram during attachment of two fasteners to each other and to a material therebetween. If it is determined that the operator's extremity is not in the area in which it can be struck by the downwardly moving ram, the remainder of the cycle of operation is completed. If it is determined that the operator's extremity is in the area in which it can be struck by the downwardly moving ram, the cycle of operation must begin again.

Abstract: A fastener apparatus, which attaches a first article to a second article at a setting station, includes a plate-like support, a feed in finger for receiving and engaging a first article at a first predetermined position, and a lever pivotally mounted on the support and pivotally connected to the feed in finger. A spring continuously urges the lever to pivot to move the feed in finger along a substantially horizontal predetermined path from the first predetermined position to a second predetermined position at the setting station. A cam surface of a cam element, which is vertically movable in response to vertical movement of a ram housing, acts on a roller on the lever for rendering the spring ineffective and for moving the feed in finger from the second predetermined position to the first predetermined position.

Abstract: A bar feeder support has two longitudinally spaced swivel mounts for supporting longitudinally spaced portions of a cylindrical body for both sliding and swivel movement. The cylindrical body supports a feed tube for feeding a bar stock to a lathe. The front swivel mount, which is closest to the lathe, also has a clamp arrangement for clamping the cylindrical body against movement. The swivel mounts allow the cylindrical body to swivel sufficiently to slide from a position in which its longitudinal axis is aligned with an axis of a spindle of the lathe and an access position in which a new bar stock may be disposed in the feed tube, the feed tube may be removed from the cylindrical body, and another feed tube may be loaded into the cylindrical body.

Abstract: Two mating fastener elements are attached to material and each other at a setting station through an electric motor. The motor rotates a cam having its profile cooperate with a cam follower on an upper pivotally mounted arm to move a ram, which supports one of the fastener elements, towards a support, which supports the other of the fastener elements. The support is moved by a lower pivotally mounted arm attached to the cam by a crank arm so that it has a harmonic motion. The ram is stopped and held in its stopped position before a controlled setting force is applied through the support to move the other fastener element into engagement with the one fastener element.

Abstract: A multi-component sponge has a central or main foam layer of reticulated single cell polyurethane flexible foam and an outer foam layer adhered to each of its two substantially parallel sides so that liquid can flow between the main foam layer and the two outer foam layers. Each of the two outer foam layers is preferably polyurethane flexible foam having a reticulated double cell structure although each could be a reticulated single cell structure having a porosity in the range of 3-110 pores per inch. The main foam layer preferably has a porosity in the range of 3-30 pores per inch. Each of the two outer foam layers is softer than the main foam layer.

Abstract: A rotary hopper includes a door, which is pivotally mounted on the main mounting plate for pivoting about a vertical axis, having a transparent element to enable viewing of the interior of the rotary hopper. The pivotally mounted door enables easy access to the interior of the hopper. On the opposite side of the main mounting plate from the door, a shaft is supported for rotatably supporting a cone having a gauging ring with gauging grooves mounted thereon. A recess in the cone, the interior of the gauging ring, and the interior of the transparent element on the door form a reservoir in the rotary hopper for the fastener elements. On the side of the main mounting plate having the door, the main mounting plate has a vertical groove to receive the fastener element in each of the gauging grooves when each of the gauging grooves is aligned therewith during rotation of the gauging ring. The vertical groove communicates with a setting station of an attaching apparatus.

Abstract: A compact disc (CD) is inserted into a sleeve as the sleeve is continuously advanced past a load position at which the CD is removed from a vertical spindle by a pivotally mounted lift arm and inserted into an open edge of the sleeve with the arm moving at the same linear speed as the sleeve. Each of the sleeves is supplied from a magazine by timing belts to a conveyor belt. The pivotally mounted arm picks up the CD through an arcuate groove on its bottom surface having a vacuum applied thereto. The arm also has a pressurized air hole for insuring that the open edge of the sleeve is sufficiently open to receive the CD. After the CD is inserted into the sleeve, two linearly spaced push-in units complete full insertion of the CD into the sleeve. If the sleeve does not have a CD inserted, it is automatically removed from the conveyor belt after passing the first push-in unit. The sleeve is held on the conveyor belt by a vacuum and is held by the vacuum against a straight surface of a guide edge.

Abstract: An ink refill device includes a body having a chamber with ink therein. The chamber has one wall formed of a frangible material. The body has a needle communicating the chamber with a reservoir, which has a foam of a controlled porosity therein, in a print cartridge when the needle is inserted in a vent of the reservoir to fill the reservoir. Breaking of the frangible wall of the chamber with the needle extending downwardly enables ink to flow from the chamber at a controlled flow rate to the reservoir in the cartridge. In the preferred embodiment, the needle has one or more notched openings adjacent its distal end to increase its surface area through which ink flows to increase flow of ink to the reservoir.

Abstract: A rotary hopper includes a door, which is pivotally mounted on the main mounting plate for pivoting about a vertical axis, having a transparent element to enable viewing of the interior of the rotary hopper. The pivotally mounted door enables easy access to the interior of the hopper. On the opposite side of the main mounting plate from the door, a shaft is supported for rotatably supporting a cone having a gauging ring with gauging grooves mounted thereon. A recess in the cone, the interior of the gauging ring, and the interior of the transparent element on the door form a reservoir in the rotary hopper for the fastener elements. On the side of the main mounting plate having the door, the main mounting plate has a vertical groove to receive the fastener element in each of the gauging grooves when each of the gauging grooves is aligned therewith during rotation of the gauging ring. The vertical groove communicates with a setting station of an attaching apparatus.