Abstract: A missing hole detector to detect a missing or misplaced hole in a (e.g., sheet metal) workpiece. The missing hole detector is preferably located at a punching station within the upper turret of a CNC punch press. A pushing force generated during the downstroke of a ram causes a test probe of the missing hole detector to move towards the workpiece under test. A switching circuit connected to a transmitter is responsive to the movement of the test probe. If the test probe is moved into a hole so as to penetrate the workpiece, the switching circuit is opened and the transmitter is disabled. If the test probe is otherwise moved into contact with but fails to penetrate the workpiece because a hole is absent or misplaced, the switching circuit is closed and the transmitter is energized. The transmitter now transmits a stream of data by way of an RF wireless communication path to a receiver.

Abstract: A device for sorting bent elongated articles, in particular rods or tubes, having a measuring span with an inclined plane, down which the articles roll. A separating system provided at the outlet end of the measuring span sorts the bent articles from the straight articles, whereby a pressure gauge is arranged in the measuring span in order to determine the force of the rolling-off articles onto the inclined plane. The measured force of the rolling-off articles in the measuring span is evaluated regarding a curvature and the articles are sorted by the evaluated signal through the separating system.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting sealed packages having volumetric dimensions includes a frame having an inlet and an outlet side, conveyor means for conveying packages along a path of transport from the inlet side through said frame towards said outlet side, and first inspection means disposed adjacent to said conveyor means and pivotally connected to said frame, such that upon being contacted by a package located on said conveyor means said first inspection means are pivoted around at least a first pivoting point. The first inspection means includes first counteracting means for applying a first load on said package urging said first inspection means against said package to be tested, and means for generating a first indication of the volumetric dimensions of said package.

Abstract: In a machine for testing and sorting miniature electrical inductors of the type having spaced-apart, opposed first and second metal-terminated ends, wherein the machine includes a feed station having an inlet, an outlet and adapted to receive bulk quantities of inductors, a rotatably mounted transport wheel the wheel having an outer rim portion that includes a plurality of separate, spaced-apart compartments adapted to receive inductors from the feed station whereby each of the compartments has a central axis that is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the wheel, a test station including testing apparatus, and a sorting station operatively connected to the testing apparatus whereby an electrical inductor that is within the sorting station can be directed by a transfer means into one of at least two receiving means based on the testing performed at the test station, wherein when an electrical inductor is located in one of the compartments of the wheel.

Abstract: An inspection device for inspecting production threaded members wherein the threaded members are routed to a test station to functionally inspect the thread profile of each threaded member to ensure that when the threaded member is matched with a corresponding threaded hole in an engine block or, in the alternative, a threaded nut, the threaded member will mate properly to serve its intended purpose.

Abstract: A fastener measurement system includes a number of gauge blocks, each having a tapered bore disposed therein. Each gauge block has a number of conical inserts that fit within the tapered bore. The inserts have a central bore of varying sizes to receive fasteners of different shank diameters. The gauge block includes a beveled surface at the point where the bore meets a top surface of the gauge block. The beveled surface reduces wear and allows the gauge block to be easily calibrated. A computer system receives measurements made by a linear transducer that measures the height of the fastener above the surface of the gauge block a correction factor .delta. is added to the height measured to produce an indication of the true head height of the fastener. The computer system prompts the user to test the head heights of a random sample of fasteners and prints a report of the head heights as well as an indication of whether the sample of fasteners meets engineering specifications.

Abstract: The timber (2) passes in a direction of movement (3) between successive clamping roller pairs (27, 26), between which a test roller (48) imposes a flexible bending f.sub.D on the timber (2). The imposed flexible bending f.sub.D is maintained at least approximately constant by controlling a setting drive (70) by means of a computer (83). Any possible natural curvature of the timber (2) is measured by measuring elements (80, 81) and is taken into account. The thickness (d) of the timber is also measured without contact by measuring elements (81, 82). The restoring force is measured by a force measuring device (68) and the position of the test roller (48) transversely to the direction of movement (3) is measured by a distance transducer (77).

Abstract: Apparatus for the quality control of individual, one-piece receptacles, which are open at one end. The individual, one-piece receptacles are preferably aligned, in several groups, side by side, similarly with respect to their spatial orientation. The receptacles are turned over to a conveyor line where they pass through at least one testing station at which measurement results specific to each type of receptacle are obtained. The analysis of these results indicates the structural integrity and accuracy of shape of the respective receptacle. The receptacles, as a function of the receptacle-specific measurement results, are removed from the conveyor line if defective; and only the structurally integral and shape-accurate acceptable receptacles are stacked and further advanced as a stack.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of this invention are to sort disks into predetermined ranks depending on their thickness. The disks are conveyed stepwise in each supply cassette at equal intervals, and partly pushed to measure their thickness. They are transferred from the supply cassette to a receiving cassette of the corresponding thickness rank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conveying, classifying, and packing goods is disclosed. The goods move on a plurality of lanes to containers for packing. The goods move on conveyors to classifiers where goods outside a predetermined specification are discarded. Goods which meet the specifications move to a counter and retainer. A predetermined number of goods moves to a stacker in a cycle. The stacker moves within a set of spindles configured to receive the goods there between. A controller counts the number of goods stacked in the set of spindles. When a full count is reached the spindles rotate and the goods are placed into a box which is positioned proximate the spindles.

Abstract: In the packaging of articles, especially brittle articles, such as biscuits or the like, a test must be carried out to ensure that the pack content is complete and intact. For this purpose, each pack (10) is tested, during its continuous conveyance via conveying means (17 to 20), by means of at least one mechanical feeler (21) taken along with it in the conveying direction. This feeler (21) is pressed onto the soft pack with a specific force by means of its feeler plunger (22) via a spring (26). A fault in the pack content is revealed when the feeler plunger (22) comes to rest outside a specific region monitored by light barriers (33) which check the position of an end portion of the feeler (21).

Abstract: A foreign substance disposing device is disclosed for a money receiving and disbursing machine. The machine comprises a bill receiving section for receiving a stack of bills to be processed in. The machine, pick out rollers for picking out the bills one by one from the stack transfer rollers for transferring the stack of bills from the bill receiving section to the pick out rollers, and transfer driver for driving the transfer rollers a detecting roller is swingably provided between the bill receiving means and the pick out rollers to produce a swingable movement in response to an undulation of the surface of the stack of bills as the bills are transferred.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the elevation of the head of a flush head countersunk fastener (e.g., a bolt or a rivet) before installation, is disclosed. Fasteners (21) to be measured are dropped, one at a time, into a precisely sized hole (69a or 69b) in a split gauge block (63) such that the heads of the fasteners protrude above the upper surface of the gauge block. The magnitude of head protrusion or elevation above the upper surface of the gauge block is measured by a head elevation measuring instrument (43). If the measured value lies within an acceptable range, a signal suitable for use in controlling the countersink depth of the hole that is to receive the fastener is produced and the fastener is forwarded to a fastener insertion machine. If the measured value lies outside of the acceptable range, the fastener is rejected.

Abstract: An apparatus mechanically actuates GO ring gauges and NOGO ring gauges to check whether inner and outer diameters of hollow, cylindrical-shaped products such as bushes B/G are within fit tolerances, thus automatically distinguishing between acceptable and unacceptable products.

Abstract: A gauge having a substantially circular band capable of being deformed out-of-round from the application of a predetermined force and having a specified inner circumferential length to be compared with the length of a circumference around an object. The gauge further includes a support body adapted to connect with the band so as not to enable positioning the band in coaxial alignment with the object circumference and allow the band to flex and deform in circumscribing the circumference when the band is moved axially to accomplish such circumscribing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for checking the contents of envelopes and sorting envelopes and other documents according to thickness. The envelopes or other documents are fed along a predetermined path, the thickness of each envelope or document is checked as it travels along the path, and any envelope or document having a thickness greater than a predetermined thickness is diverted from the path.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic insertion of a valved bag of paper or other flexible sheet material on to a charging nozzle of a machine adapted to fill the bag with material in granular or powder form, in which the bags are fed from a supply thereof sequentially by means of a distributing device to an inserting device. The inserting device includes means for picking up a bag from the distributing device, means for opening the valve and for testing the operativeness of the valve, means for discarding a bag with an inoperative valve and means for feeding a bag with an operative valve to the charging nozzle of the bag-filling machine.