Abstract: An anti-back flow vacuum breaker valve that includes a valve body having a cylindrical internal chamber having an upper portion and a reduced diameter lower portion forming a horizontal valve seat, and having an inlet communicating with the chamber on the underside of the valve seat, and having an outlet communicating with the chamber on the over side of the valve seat. A ball is positioned within the internal chamber for sealing the inlet of the valve body. A valve cap having a lower portion mating with the upper portion of the valve body sealed and securely attached to the valve body, and having an internal conical chamber having a central vertical journal therein, forming a journal vent with a vent seat at the lower end thereof aligned with the valve seat of the body.

Abstract: An anti-back flow vacuum breaker valve includes a valve body having a cylindrical internal chamber with a conical upper portion and a reduced diameter lower portion forming a horizontal valve seat. The body has an inlet communicating with the chamber on the underside of the valve seat, and an outlet communicating with the chamber on the over side of the valve seat. A ball is positioned within the internal chamber having a diameter larger than the diameter of the valve seat for sealing the inlet of the valve. The valve body has a vertical journal vent extending through the conical upper portion of the chamber, and forms a vent seat at the lower end of the journal vent. The chamber has a buoyant vent plug having an upper stem slidably positioned within the journal vent and the vent plug is engagable with the vent seat. Upon flow through the inlet, the ball elevates the vent plug to seal the vent. Upon backflow through the outlet, the ball seals the inlet and the fluid elevates the vent plug to seal the vent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a feeder device. The feeder device receives components end-to-end in a random orientation in a vertical inlet chute and feeds each of the components one-at-time having a desired orientation to an outlet chute. The feeder device includes a rotatable disk having a central chamber therein adapted to receive each of the components, a sensing means for determining the orientation of the component, and includes a releasable gate. The disk and gate function independently, as required, between the inlet chute and the outlet chute, to sequentially release each component having the desired orientation; or to invert each component not having the desired orientation from end-to-end into the desired orientation and then to release the component, whereby each component is released one-at-a-time having a desired orientation for utilization.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a crimping machine having a hopper assembly for receiving loose bulk quantities of elongated components and supplying them aligned end-to-end and in random orientation to a feeder device. The feeder device receives the components in an inlet chute and feeds each of the components one-at-time having a desired orientation to an outlet chute. The feeder device includes a rotatable disk having a central chamber therein adapted to receive each of the components, and includes a releasable gate. The disk and gate function independently, as required, between the inlet chute and the outlet chute, to sequentially release (or invert and release) each of the components one-at-a-time and having a desired orientation for utilization, to a crimping assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a crimping machine having a hopper assembly for receiving loose bulk quantities of elongated components and supplying them aligned end-to-end and in random orientation to a feeder device. The feeder device receives the components in an inlet chute and feeds each of the components one-at-time having a desired orientation to an outlet chute. The feeder device includes a rotatable disk having a central chamber therein adapted to receive each of the components, and includes a releasable gate. The disk and gate function independently, as required, between the inlet chute and the outlet chute, to sequentially release (or invert and release) each of the components one-at-a-time and having a desired orientation for utilization, to a crimping assembly.

Abstract: A system for dispensing components one-at-a-time upon demand for utilization comprises a component handling assembly and a buffer assembly. The component handling assembly receives bulk quantities of the components and when activated, properly orients each component and supplies the components in a randomly timed sequence to the buffer assembly. The buffer assembly comprises a cylindrical upper receiving housing having a plurality of cylindrical through-chambers radially disposed in a circular pattern and rotatable about a central generally vertical axis. A cylindrical lower dispensing member is closely aligned and coaxially rotatable both independently and together with the receiving housing. The dispensing member has a planar upper surface which forms a bottom cover for the chambers in the upper receiving housing and has a single passageway that can be aligned with each of the upper receiving chambers to dispense a component.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning a transducer head in a prescribed relationship relative to a selected track on a recording medium. The apparatus includes a lead screw that is threadedly coupled to a bracket for supporting the transducer head, whereby a controlled rotation of the lead screw functions to move the transducer head along the surface of the recording medium, to the prescribed position. Rotation of the lead screw is controlled by a geneva mechanism that includes geneva wheel coupled to the lead screw and a geneva driver driven by a reversible d-c motor. Each revolution of the geneva driver rotates the geneva wheel, and thus the lead screw, through a prescribed angle, such that the transducer head is moved along the recording medium by a prescribed amount, such as one track spacing.

Abstract: An optical control system for use with a transducer positioning apparatus of a type having a lead screw coupled to the transducer head for controllably positioning the head relative to a selected track on a recording medium, wherein the lead screw is controllably rotated by a geneva mechanism that includes a geneva wheel coupled to the head screw and a geneva driver driven by a reversible d-c motor. The optical control system includes an optical disc that rotates in correspondence with the geneva driver and that has two optical tracks, one utilized in producing an error signal that varies substantially linearly with the angular position of the disc and the other utilized in producing an engagement pulse signal whenever the pin of the geneva driver is engaged in a slot in the geneva wheel.

Abstract: A xerographic copier including a novel photoconductive belt and drive structure is disclosed. The thin metal belt is provided with at least one transverse break or gap and is preferably formed of two belt segments. In use, the break or gap between segments are held in end-to-end relationship by tow bars which captivate the edges of the segments, hold them in position and provide mechanical bias therebetween. The photoconductive belt is driven in a unique manner by means of the tow bars which are drawn about a non-circular path by an inelastic but flexible guide means such as chains and sprockets. The belt passes over drums which support the belt and define it's path but do not drive it. The drums include a low friction surface and provision (a soft layer) for accommodating small foreign objects that may pass between the belt and the drums without hurting the belt.