Abstract: A sensor arrangement located on a baler for detecting rotation of a dispensing reel of wrapping material and including a rotary element having a textured surface and a sensor mounted on a displaceable mounting bracket wherein the rotary element is rotated by the dispensing reel during baling.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a mechanically self-leveling camera head includes a rear housing assembly, an illumination window, an illumination window retainer having a forward end for holding the illumination window a threaded coupling ring for having the rear housing assembly screwed over a rear portion of the coupling ring and the illumination window retainer screwed over a forward portion of the coupling ring, and a camera module assembly supported inside the housing.

Abstract: A bracket for mounting a processor and a support structure for receiving bracket-supported processors for duster computing are provided. In some embodiments, a bracket may be configured to receive a processor and fasten the processor to the bracket. The bracket may be configured to mount the processor to a support structure. The support structure may be configured to receive an array of brackets. The support structure may be configured to be stacked in combination with additional support structures.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a mechanically self-leveling camera head includes a rear housing assembly, an illumination window, an illumination window retainer having a forward end for holding the illumination window a threaded coupling ring for having the rear housing assembly screwed over a rear portion of the coupling ring and the illumination window retainer screwed over a forward portion of the coupling ring, and a camera module assembly supported inside the housing.

Abstract: A control system of a machine tool with a rotary type spindle and a feed axis which generates feed motion of the spindle, comprising a current detecting part which detects a current through a spindle motor for driving the spindle, a temperature detecting part which detects a motor temperature, a remaining time estimating part which uses a predetermined maximum allowable temperature and a detected temperature value by the temperature detecting part as the basis to estimate a remaining time until the motor temperature would reach the maximum allowable temperature on the assumption that the detected current value by the current detecting part at the time of the detected temperature value would continue to flow through the spindle motor, and a feed speed changing part which changes speed of the feed motion in accordance with the estimated value of the remaining time.

Abstract: A vehicular diagnostic communications system, and components thereof, are provided for an apparatus and technique for communicating vehicular diagnostic information over a cellphone network. The system includes a code reader having a vehicle diagnostic port connector for receiving vehicle diagnostic information from the vehicle diagnostic port. The code reader also has a local connectivity network circuit for communicating vehicle diagnostic information between the vehicle diagnostic port connector and a local connectivity circuit. A cellphone is arranged in communication with the local connectivity network for communicating vehicle diagnostic information between the code reader and a cellular telephone network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a switch spring arrangement for operating a switch, comprising a first spring arm that can be actuated by a card, and at least one second spring arm, with a contact dome at the free end thereof, for operating a switch that is located beneath the contact dome of the second spring arm, wherein the first spring arm can be actuated by the second spring arm.

Abstract: A stacked connector alignment system includes a board with processor and a board connector coupled to the processor. An alignment element is mounted to the board adjacent the board connector. The alignment element includes first alignment members and second alignment members that are spaced apart from the first alignment members. A first component includes a primary first component connector and a secondary first component connector that is located on an opposite surface of the first component from the primary first component connector, and the first alignment members are configured to engage the first component to align the primary first component connector with the board connector. A second component includes a second component connector, and the second alignment members are configured to engage the second component to align the second component connector with the secondary first component connector when the primary first component connector is connected to the board connector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a self-leveling camera head may include an eccentric leveling weight assembly that is supported inside an outer housing for free rotation about an axis. The leveling weight assembly may be removably coupled to a separate camera module assembly supported inside the outer housing for rotation about the axis so that its images will be “upright,” i.e. earth normal.

Abstract: An inertial igniter including: a body having a base; a striker release element rotatably disposed on the body, the striker release element having a first surface; a first biasing element for biasing the striker release element away from the base; a striker mass rotatably disposed on the base along a second axis, the striker mass having a second surface corresponding to the first surface of the striker release element, the first surface obstructing rotation of the striker mass; and a second biasing element for biasing the striker mass such that the second surface is biased towards the first surface; wherein when the body experiences an acceleration profile of a predetermined magnitude and duration, the striker release element rotates towards the base to release an engagement between the first and second surfaces and allow the striker mass to rotate under a biasing force of the second biasing element.

Abstract: A method (100) for assembling a portable device configured with an energy storage device, is disclosed. The method (100) can include: providing (105) a portable device with a controller configured to control the operations of the portable device; configuring (110) the portable device with a multi-mode switch including a temporary active mode configured for simplified testing, a temporarily inactive mode configured for minimizing power drain, and a permanent active mode for normal user operation; and controlling (115) the multi-mode switch from outside the portable device. The method (100) can help to prolong the useful shelf life of the device and can help to simplify testing and calibrating before shipping.

Abstract: A spring assembly is provided for a yoke assembly of an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a pole shaft. The yoke assembly is coupled to the pole shaft and is movable among first and second positions corresponding to the separable contacts being closed and open, respectively. The spring assembly includes a number of first springs having a first spring rate and being coupled to the yoke assembly, and a number of second springs having a second spring rate and being coupled to the yoke assembly. The second spring rate is different than the first spring rate. The number of first springs and the number of second springs bias the yoke assembly toward the second position.

Abstract: A switch assembly (30, FIG. 3) for detecting full insertion of a smart card, is of small thickness and can be mass produced with high precision. The switch assembly includes a molded support (100) forming an upwardly-opening support cavity (114), outer and central contacts (38, 40) mounted on the support and having dome-engaging parts (148, 150) lying in the support cavity, and a tripping dome (36) lying in the support cavity with a center portion lying over the dome-engaging part of the central contact. A cover (32) receives the support in a downward-opening cover cavity (65), and holds an actuating device (42) that can depress the tripping dome to close the switch. The actuating device is of sheet metal, with a heel (67) that is fixed in the rear end of the cover cavity, with a second part (82) substantially engaged with the center portion of the tripping dome, and with a front end forming an actuating lever (88) that extends through an opening (52) in the cover to be depressed by a smart card.

Abstract: An apparatus detects a trailing end of a memory card in a memory card reader. The apparatus has a first driven switch element resiliently displaced by the memory card and a second driven switch element resiliently displaced by the first driven switch element. The first driven switch element includes a first resilient contact piece extending in a direction of insertion of the memory card. The second driven switch element includes a second resilient contact piece likewise extending in the direction of insertion of the memory card. The first and second resilient contact pieces are arranged such that they extend along a surface of the memory and face each other in a direction of the thickness of the memory card.

Abstract: A key activated switch matrix on a mother board that enables a dedicated key when inserted to select a subset of selectable parameters and thereby configure the mother board without further operator intervention. A housing having a slot is positioned on the mother board. An array of conductor pairs is positioned in the slot one element of each pair on either side of the slot with one end of each element of a conductor pair extending through the bottom of the housing to make electrical contact with wiring of the mother board and the other end of each element formed so as to make contact with its mating conductor element. A key is provided that consists of a single electrically insulating body having dimensions for fitting into the slot between the pairs of conductor elements and allowing certain of the conductor pairs to make electrical contact and precluding other pairs from making contact.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is an apparatus for interrupting current flow between a fixed contact and a movable contact. An insulating partition has an aperture, and the fixed contact and movable contact are on opposite sides of the partition aperture. The movable contact is coupled to a first movable electrically insulating member, and the first insulating member is coupled to a second movable insulating member, each member being adjacent the partition. A third movable insulating member is coupled to the partition opposite the first and second insulating members with respect to the aperture. The third insulating member extends partially over the aperture. The first and second member are coupled to the movable contact so that when the movable contact is moved to an open current-interrupting position, the second insulating member covers the aperture, and the first insulating member engages the third insulating member and covers both the second insulating member and the aperture.

Abstract: A face plate assembly has a removable decorator insert card which is retained within a face plate housing without screw fasteners. The face plate housing has an elongated slot which opens into a device cavity in which a touch switch is mounted. The decorator insert card is adapted for slidable insertion into and withdrawal out of the device cavity through the housing slot. The face plate assembly is releasably attached to the yoke strap of a wiring device mounted in a wall box by press-fit connectors. In one embodiment, the decorator insert card can be installed and replaced by releasing the face plate housing from the press-fit connector, and inserting or withdrawing the decorator insert card through a hidden housing slot formed in a back plate portion of the housing.

Abstract: There is provided a temperature control device for a refrigerated container having a plurality of temperature level determining switches for selecting a temperature level. Cut-out portions are provided on the refrigerated container for selectively controlling the temperature level determining switches. A selected temperature level is determined by the selective removal of the cut-out portions from the refrigerated container. A logic circuit coupled to the switches outputs a signal indicative of the selected temperature level. A voltage generating circuit generates a voltage corresponding to the selected temperature level. A comparator compares the selected temperature level with the actual temperature detected by a thermal element in the refrigerated container. A control element controls the operation of the refrigerating apparatus in accordance with an output signal from the comparator.

Abstract: Programming of a communications terminal is carried out by insertable programming members carrying a plurality of actuators. Each actuator has at least one and usually two actuating members which engage with a circuit to modify the electrical characteristics of the circuit. The actuating members themselves may contact conductor paths, connecting them selectively to a ground conductor, or interconnecting two conductor paths. The actuating members may actuate indirectly through an intermediate member. Actuating members can be at predetermined different positions along an actuator. Typically one programming member is associated with a push-button, the programming member, for example having two columns of four actuators. On depressing the push-button, the particular coding is rapidly scanned by the electronic circuitry and the particular service associated with that code is provided.

Abstract: A base with a keyboard for the manual generation of data combinations, e.g. of a code serving to release a lock of a door on which the keyboard is accessibly mounted, has one or more wipers impregnated with a nonvolatile film of liquid such as silicone oil. The wipers are carried on a lid which is pivotally or slidably attached to the base; movement of the lid, or of a detent holding it in closure position, causes the wipers to sweep across coplanar pressure faces of the keyboard and remove any finger marks that could be used by a would-be trespasser to help breaking down the code. The pressure faces are areas of a flexible foil having a rough outer surface for retaining part of the film of liquid spread thereover; the foil may comprise a porous layer underlain by a spongy layer storing some of that liquid.

Abstract: There is disclosed a multiple electrical contact switch which has a comb block whose teeth are inserted into receptacles of a mounting block thereby wedging pairs of electrical spring contacts, which are also inserted into the receptacles, between the teeth and the receptacles without bending the spring contacts. The electrical contacts extend from the receptacles and are activated by an operating card, which engages the extended portions of the electrical contacts to open or close electrical conduction paths. When pressure on the spring contacts from the actuating card is released, the spring contacts then move the operating card to an original position wherein the sequence of open and closed contact springs is as if there were no contact with the operating card and the contact springs.

Abstract: An electrical switch for use as a coding device comprises a plurality of pairs of associated contacts (2, 3) carried in a circular array by a base (1) and enclosed by a cover (5), and a coding key (11) receivable in holes (20, 21) in the base (1) and cover (5) and having removable actuator surfaces (32) the presence or absence of each of which determines the closed or open state of an associated pair of contacts (2, 3).

Abstract: A wholly automatic commercial laundry in which soiled laundry is automatically routed to available washing machines, is automatically unloaded, conveyed, and loaded into one of several dryers which is available, or is conveyed directly to a finishing station when drying is not required. A unique programmable selector permits selecting any of several preprogrammed washing cycles, and modifying these cycles in accordance with the laundry to be washed. The selector also provides the necessary information for routing of the batches of laundry from the washing machines to the dryers, for selecting one of several drying cycles, and for routing the laundry to a desired finishing station.This is a division of application Ser. No. 903,115, filed May 5, 1978 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,498 issued Apr. 1, 1980.

Abstract: In a foodstuffs heating apparatus wherein a plurality of different heating function modes are selectively effected and heating temperature and heating time are settable, when an oven heating function is selected from the plurality of function modes by a selected cooking card, the function of selector switches adapted to select heating function modes other than the oven heating function may be changed from the heating function mode selection to the heating temperature setting, so that the setting of heating temperature may automatically be effected by utilizing the cooking card.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus provided with a card type switch actuator including a card holder having at least an openable cover member and a bottom wall disposed in opposition to the cover member in its closed state, a plurality of push-button switches mounted on the bottom wall of the card holder, a plurality of cards of a substantially same size prepared for various control purposes, respectively, and a chamber provided in the card holder for accommodating a selected one of the cards at a predetermined position. Each of the push-button switches has a push-button head projecting in the chamber from the bottom wall, and each of the cards is provided with through-holes of a size slightly greater than that of the push-button head at locations corresponding to the positions of those push-button switches which are not to be actuated depending on the control purpose assigned to the card.

Abstract: A programmed steering and cutting blade control apparatus for self-contained lawn mowers with a nylon tape having rectangular members disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the nylon tape which extends between two reels where the rectangular members actuate micro switches disposed below the nylon tape and actuate micro switches disposed above the nylon tape where such upper micro switches are connected to a plate which is reversible so as in one instance to reverse the plate and the micro switches are disposed away from the nylon tape and not actuated. Two lower micro switches actuate a turning wheel motor and a third micro switch actuates a brake. The upper micro switch actuates the cutting blades. The movement of the programmed nylon tape is synchronized with the movement of the drive wheels to ensure the self-contained lawn mower moves along the preplanned route.

Abstract: A heating appliance comprises a generation circuit of a magnetron for effecting a series of cooking operations at least one of which requires manual cooking operation by an operator adapted to a foodstuff therein and an indicator for announcing to the operator that the manual cooking operation is to be conducted concerning the foodstuff.

Abstract: An optically coated, flexible glass plate cemented to a sheet of polarizing aterial combine to provide a high contrast, non-glare, polarizing filter that can be used in combination with an illuminated switch assembly such as with conventional membrane switches.

Abstract: A multiple pole switch assembly is disclosed which is a simple structure of a housing having contact means and a metallic conductor comb with a plurality of teeth overlying the contact means. The housing is formed of base means and a cover therefor, which cover slides onto the base means in a first direction substantially parallel to the conductor teeth on the comb. The teeth of the comb extend through apertures in the base means and are clamped in position by the cover, with the cover latched in place on the base. The teeth extending through the base means may then be soldered to the base means, and the back of the comb may be broken off along a weakened area of the comb teeth. Switch actuator means is provided in the form of a thin insulator card having a preselected spacing of apertures in a row. The presence or absence of an aperture in the row establishes switch-open or switch-closed conditions.

Abstract: A circuit programming means for establishing a desired circuit pattern selected from a variety of circuit options comprises a circuit board having a plurality of side-by-side circuit board conductors thereon. A conductive connector clip is mounted on the circuit board in straddling relationship to the conductors and has contact springs extending therefrom which are in alignment with the conductors. A removable insulating program control means is positioned between a number of the springs and their associated circuit board conductors, the insulating means having openings so that at least two of the contact springs are in electrical contact with their associated conductors. The selected circuit pattern can be changed by merely moving the program control means and inserting a different program control means to commonly connect those conductors which will produce the desired circuit option.

Abstract: This apparatus tests the genuineness of a document carrying anticounterfeit protection in the form of a usually invisible, electrically conductive coating on at least part of a surface. The apparatus may be arranged to respond to the presence of a coating anywhere on the surface, or it may be arranged to respond only to a coating of specific contour, in a specific location. The apparatus shown comprises an array of contacts and means for supporting a document to be tested in conductive engagement with said contacts. Certain ones of the contacts engage the conductive layer, and are connected in an electric circuit which is completed through the conductive layer. Completion of the circuit is required to produce an indication that the document is genuine. The conductance of the conductive layer must be within a predetermined range in order to produce a signal indicating that the document is genuine.

Abstract: Indicia sensor apparatus which provides for a ready, low cost, electrical sensing of an indicia, supported on a readily interchangeable membrane, and provided as a coded pattern of aperture through the membrane. An elastomer electrode element, such as a conductive foam rubber, is pressed against the face of the membrane with sufficient pressure so as to induce a protuberance of some part of the relatively adaptive elastomer through each membrane aperture. This protuberance brings about contactual intercourse with a correspondent receptor electrode for each aperture position. The result is an electrical circuit change which may be utilized in a current seeking path to produce different binary logic values in accord with the coded aperture pattern carried by the membrane.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus may automatically cook according to a cooking program fed from a recording card. The apparatus includes a cooking program feeding mechanism detachably holding the recording card and reading a cooking program from the recording and by moving a detection bar with microswitches along the recording card.

Abstract: A system for providing a low cost means for deterring the fraudulent use of lost or stolen credit cards, checks, or other instruments. The system employs low cost means for encoding documents, and a device for determining whether the document user has been issued a secret code corresponding encoding on the document. The device uses manually operated entering means thereby eliminating the need for large and costly document reading means. Further, the device is comprised of hidden switching pairs and is constructed so that the relationship between the switching pairs and the entering means is destroyed if the device is tampered with.

Abstract: A flexible switch with a flexible tail bent downward from the switch inside the edge of the switch and placed through an opening in the frame supporting the switch, the tail carrying conductive leads for connecting contacts carried by layers of the switch to external circuitry, thereby allowing for an uninterrupted peripheral adhesive seal between the switch and the underlying frame.

Abstract: A flexible switch with a flexible lead-carrying tail bent downward from above lower layers of the switch and through slots in the lower layers inside the edge of the switch.

Abstract: This invention relates to electric or electronic musical instruments for the production of audible musical composition ranging from quite simple to very complex arrangements. More particularly this invention is a device for the creation and editing of a musical work produced by the composer or arranger and which enables the immediate rehearsal of the fully or partially completed musical arrangement.The device is designed to be connected to an electronic musical instrument which replays the recorded composition. Such an instrument, for example, can be an electronic organ and/or an electronic musical synthesizer which accordingly either incorporates or is connected to the device.

Abstract: An automatic keyboard operator including a plurality of carriers located over the keys of a keyboard, each carrier having a depending depressor for engaging a respective key and an upstanding tab for engagement by an actuator, the actuator being prearranged to engage preselected tabs for depressing corresponding keys.

Abstract: Illumination control apparatus for supplementing light from solar radiation with light from an artificial light source to compensate for periods of insufficient levels of solar light to maintain a desired illumination level within an interior space comprising an artificial light source connected to an electrical power source with switch means for selectively energizing said light source, actuator means for controlling the on-off operation of the switch means, a light sensor connected to the actuator means for controlling the actuator means in response to the illumination level of the interior space, and a limit switch carried adjacent the actuator for limiting the movement of the actuator within a predetermined range so as to prevent further movement thereof during detection of erroneous illumination conditions.

Abstract: Positioning system for coupling one or more members to a base, which may be used, for example, in an educational device including a mounting board and plates with numbers or letters thereon to be coupled to the board in predetermined positions. The plates and the board have connecting portions arranged in a binary code so that each plate can be placed in only a desired position. The connecting portions can be a plurality of pins on each plate and openings in the board, which are coded to represent the digits of a binary code. Each portion can have one of two configurations which represent the binary "0" and "1" digits of the code. The portions can have the same cross sections, with portions representing "0" digits rotated with respect to portions representing "1" digit, or the "0" digit portions can be displaced with respect to the "1" digit portions.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively enabling and disabling a process depending on the instantaneous value of a measurement made during the process in accordance with a predetermined program recorded by shading adjacent segments on an area of a record means the length of which is an analog of the total range of the measurement with each of the segments representing an interval of the measurement during which the process is to be enabled or disabled. A plurality of memory cores in one to one correspondence with subsegments of the measurement range analog are caused during programming to occupy one of two bistable states in response to a light sensor responsive to the light originating from an incident source and reflected by the program record. After programming, the memory cores are interrogated in accordance with the instantaneous value of measurement and a process control switch is set to a state corresponding to the state of the last interrogated memory core.

Abstract: A timing apparatus comprising a time plate equipped with light transmitting holes or brushes which are positioned, at points representative of times and arranged at equal intervals in at least one row. The light transmitting holes or brushes serve as logical connection elements indicating such times. At least two rotators are coaxially disposed inside the time plate in a rotatable manner and also have light transmitting holes or brushes respectively corresponding with the logical connection elements on the time plate. The relative speeds of rotation of the time plate and the rotators are predetermined in such a manner so that the position of each logical connection element on the time plate and the positions of the corresponding logical connection elements on the rotators come into alignment at a given time indicated by the elements, thereby effecting electrical or optical timing connection at a desired time.

Abstract: A miniature low resistance telescoping spring probe includes telescoping tubular housing and inner plunger. Both the housing and plunger are elongated and of an electrically conductive material. The plunger has a probe head external to the housing. The inner wall of the housing and the outer wall of the plunger are engaged and concentric, providing a sliding electrical connection and a bearing therebetween. A coil compression spring urges the housing and plunger in longitudinally opposite directions. A separate low electrical resistance wiper spring member is affixed to the plunger. A substantially constant low resistance electrical connection is provided between the wiper spring member and the plunger. The wiper spring member has at least one longitudinally extending leg spring loaded outwardly into engagement with the inside wall of the housing.

Abstract: The switch comprises a unitary dielectric support member including a base portion to which the fixed ends of a plurality of pairs of cantilever contact springs are secured. Guide portions of the support member define a channel, and a plurality of cam follower portions integrally hinged to the base portion respectively extend between the free ends of an associated contact spring of each pair and the channel. An actuator positioned within the channel includes cam portions for engaging the cam follower portions of the support member and deflecting them so as to displace the associated contact springs.

Abstract: Control card receiving and sensing assembly including a fixed base plate, a generally U-shaped cover member mounted thereon and card entry defining means of a character such as to permit card insertion therebetween and removal therefrom only under conditions where essentially zero force is exerted on the card control surfaces.

Abstract: In a perforated tape reader, the tape is sensed by detecting elements rotatable on one end of rocker arms. The other end of the rocker arms is provided with a fork. A flat spring urges on the upper arm of the fork and a conductive resilient element is engaged between the arms of the fork. When the detecting elements sense a perforation on the tape, the conductive element abuts against a fixed electric contact in a intermediate position between the arms of the fork; when the detecting elements sense no perforation the lower arm of the fork lifts the conductive element in order to open the electric contact.Since the space between the arms of the fork is greater than the thickness of the conduction element, but less than the shifting of the fork, any small amplitude movements of the rocker arms in not transmitted to the conductive element.

Abstract: A device for electrical connection of marks produced by means of an electroconductive writing substance to a readout device, by applying said marks in electroconductive relationship with pairs of mutually isolated conductive paths on at least one isolating substrate. Said substrate with its pairs of paths is removably connectable to the readout device by means of separate connection elements for each path. A mark bridges the conductive paths in one pair and closes an electric circuit on at least one substrate, whereby readout can take place without mechanical motion, and all electric circuits on such a marked substrate exist at the same time and the marks are readable electrically as well as visually.

Abstract: A switch mechanism is disclosed which is readily adaptable to a multiple pole switch mechanism wherein a removable card is supported in a housing. First and second contacts make up a switch pair and are mounted in the housing for mutual cooperation with the first contact having a mounting portion, a movable contact portion and a movable actuable portion. The removable card provides a selective actuation means to actuate the first and second contacts between open and closed circuit conditions. The card has abutment means to engage the movable actuable portion of the contact blade or blades. Also, the card has alternative areas which do not actuate respective ones of the contacts and this may be provided by apertures in the card so that no material of the card is present to engage the contact blade actuable portion. Accordingly, either open or closed circuit conditions may be achieved.

Abstract: A magnetic card reader for providing an output to a utilization device. A plurality of reed switches are arranged in coplanar relationship and means is provided for maximizing the flux of magnetized spots of a magnetically coded card so that a predetermined magnetized spot actuates a predetermined reed switch of the reader without requiring any internal magnetic biasing. The flux of the magnetized spots is maximized by providing relatively large contiguous areas of a polarity reversed from that of the magnetized spot which actuates a switch.

Abstract: A card reader utilizing an array of magnetically-operable solid state switches for reading magnetically coded cards. Magnets are employed to provide magnetic fields of sufficient strengths from poles of specific polarity to trigger or actuate some or all of the solid state switches. An array or matrix of the magnetically-operable solid state switches are provided in combination with a magnet-carrying block having magnets disposed therein. In several embodiments the magnets are slidably mounted in the block and are adapted to be attracted or repelled by a properly coded card having magnetized spots arranged in a predetermined pattern therein. In two preferred embodiments the card reader is combined with a card-operable magnetic lock. In that embodiment some of the magnets in the magnet-carrying block function as locking elements or tumblers.