Abstract: A device for a secure data connection of at least one manufacturing machine (104) has an information-processing system (114), which is subdivided into individual zones (108, 110, 112) interconnected by data diodes (120) such that data originating from the machine control (118) of the manufacturing machine (104) in a data flow can be transferred to other zones (108, 110, 112) without the possibility of a data return flow. The individual zones (110, 112) are ordered hierarchically. Each individual zone has a lower level of data security than the upstream individual zone (108, 110) in relation to the data flow. Every individual zone (108, 110, 112) is formed as an independent computer in the manner of an isolated application. In addition, a manufacturing machine and a production plant includes the device for secure data connection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for a secure data connection of at least one manufacturing machine (104), having an information-processing system (114), which is subdivided into individual zones (108, 110, 112) interconnected by data diodes (120) such that data originating from the machine control (118) of the manufacturing machine (104) in a data flow can be transferred to other zones (108, 110, 112) without the possibility of a data return flow, wherein said zones (110, 112), ordered hierarchically, each have a lower level of data security than the upstream zone (108, 110) in relation the data flow, and in that every zone (108, 110, 112) is formed as an independent computer in the manner of an isolated application. In addition, the invention relates to a manufacturing machine and a production plant.

Abstract: A combination weigher including a dispersion unit adapted to radially disperse product material dropped in from above onto the dispersion unit, plurality of weighing hoppers, plurality of conveyor units arranged around and below a periphery of the dispersion unit. The conveyor units include troughs having infeed ends positioned below the dispersion units and outfeed ends positioned above the weighing hoppers, and spiral shaped members extending from the infeed ends towards the outfeed ends. Spiral shaped members being operable connected to an operation unit for operating a rotational movement of the spiral shaped members conveying the product material from the infeed ends towards the outfeed ends into the weighing hoppers. Conical shaped members are arranged within the spiral shaped members.

Abstract: A system and method for balancing network traffic that includes a master node addressable by an external device, at least one slave node addressable by the master node, at least one filter running on the master node and the at least one slave node, and a clusterware application running on the master node and the at least one slave node. The clusterware application distributes the network traffic between the master node and the at least one slave node. Techniques for using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: In the preparation of a phosphoric acid alkyl ester dichloride by reacting phosphorus oxychloride with an aliphatic alcohol according to the equation ##STR1## in which R represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl,the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction continuously at a temperature of about 10.degree. to 50.degree. C. using an excess of phosphorus oxychloride of about 5 to 40%. The excess phosphorus oxychloride is reacted with the alcohol by continuous mixing, the reaction mixture is cooled, substantially all the hydrogen chloride formed is then separated off in a preliminary degassing stage, the reaction mixture is worked up in a distillation column, the unreacted phosphorus oxychloride and any diluent is separated off over the top and condensed, the condensate is recycled to the reaction and the corresponding alkyl ester dichloride is removed continuously as the bottom product.