Abstract: A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.

Abstract: Method and device for determining the mass of postal articles transferred in succession; according to the method, the postal articles are transferred along a path having a change of direction, which entails an acceleration on the postal articles; at least one quantity is measured indicating of the force of reaction to the inertia of the postal articles associated to said acceleration so as to determine then the mass of the postal articles.

Abstract: A composition for providing aromatherapy, and in particular, symptomatic relief of nasal and sinus congestion is provided in unit dosage format. The composition includes a penetrating aromatic vapor whose release from a preparation of warm water is augmented by an effervescent component which reacts in the warm water to promote release of the aromatic fragrance, or sustained over time by tableting or gelatin encapsulation. As the fragrance is inhaled, symptomatic relief is obtained. The composition of matter may be rendered ingestible, so that the warm water containing the composition is consumed following inhalation. In preferred embodiments, the release of the penetrating aromatic fragrance persists over time.

Abstract: A cotton picking machine comprises a chassis for moving the machine in a traveling direction, a vacuum pump provided to create a predetermined vacuum and a cotton picking unit including a cotton picking head supported by the chassis. The cotton picking head includes upper and lower vacuum compartments both in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and connecting tubes vertically extending between the upper and lower vacuum compartments and movable along a predetermined endless path so as to be in sliding contact with the upper and lower vacuum compartments at the corresponding distal ends thereof. Each of the connecting tubes includes a set of hollow picking fingers radially outwardly extending therefrom. The predetermined endless path includes an extracting zone and an inoperative zone. The connecting tubes fluidly connect the upper and lower vacuum compartments only when the connecting tubes pass the extracting zone of the predetermined endless path.

Abstract: The claw-pole-rotor shaft has a front end with a radially larger-sized section, two knurled regions known as crimping regions, intended to be assembled with the claw-pole rotor by local deformation of the material of the claw-pole rotor, and a centring region for centring the claw-pole rotor, the crimping regions being positioned on each side of the centring region while the centring region projects radially with respect to the crimping regions of the shaft, these themselves projecting radially with respect to the section of larger radial size at the front end of the shaft. The claw-pole rotor is characterized in that it is equipped with such a shaft while the rotary electrical machine is characterized in that it is equipped with such a rotor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for drilling a hole and installing a geothermal transfer apparatus. A sonic drilling apparatus is positioned at a desired location. The sonic drilling apparatus includes a rotating and vibrating apparatus for rotating and vibrating a hollow drill string into the ground, the hollow drill string having an inner space. The hole is drilled to a desired depth by rotating and vibrating the hollow drill string into the ground while discharging fluid into the inner space of the hollow drill string. A geothermal transfer apparatus is lowered into the inner space of the hollow drill string following the drilling of the hole to the desired depth. The drill string is then removed from the ground.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a molded core component. A mat formed from cellulosic fiber and resin is provided. The mat is consolidated in a first press until the resin is substantially fully cured, and then removed from the first press. The consolidated mat is then placed in a second press having a mold cavity shaped to form at least one depression in at least one of the major surfaces. The consolidated mat is reformed in the second press to form a molded core component having at least one depression in at least one of the major surfaces. The molded core component has a variable density, preferably of between about 10 lbs/ft3 and 80 lbs/ft3.

Abstract: A device for controlling a polyphase rotating machine comprising a stator, a rotor, and sensors, the device being capable of receiving at least one first sensing signal (V, W, U) representing a position of the rotor relative to the stator and outputted from a first sensor (16; 18; 14), and a second sensing signal representing the position and phase-shifted relative to the first signal (V, W, U). The second signal is outputted from a second sensor. The control device comprises: means (K, R) for combining the first and the second sensing signals (U, V, W) into a combined signal (Ku; Kv; Kw) including at least one controlled switching signal with a variable cyclic ratio. The combined signal (Ku; Kv; Kw) is based on the cyclic ratio and enables the machine to be controlled.

Abstract: A door comprising first and second door skins secured to each other to form a cavity therebetween filled with expended foam. Each of the door skins has an opening therethrough for receiving a glass insert and a flange portion. Distal ends of the flange portions of the first and second door skins engage each other in an overlapping relationship by the expansion pressure of the expanded foam. The door further comprises a glazing rim member having a leg portion snap-locked between the flange portions of the first and second door skins. The method for assembling the door comprises the steps of filling the cavity between the door skins with foam material, then inserting the glass insert through the openings in the door skins and mounting the glazing rim member to the first door skin by snap-locking between the flange portions of the first and second door skins.

Abstract: A method for managing a power supply system with a variable voltage comprising the following steps: according to an instantaneous rotational speed of a rotating electrical machine, a power supply system output voltage with a variable voltage is set to an optimum output voltage between first and second service voltages in such a way as to maximize the electric power delivered by the electrical machine to an energy storage system; when the instantaneous rotational speed is slower than the nominal rotational speed, the output voltage is set to a first value which is substantially equal to the first service voltage in such a way as to maximize the yield of the transfer of energy from the electrical machine to a load; and when the instantaneous rotational speed is faster than the nominal rotational speed, the output voltage (U) is set to a second value substantially equal to the second service voltage in such a way as to maximize the yield of the transfer of energy from the electrical machine towards the load.

Abstract: The invention relates to a friction device for a clutch, particularly of a motor vehicle. The inventive friction device comprises first and second axially-spaced coaxial friction lining members which are defined by opposing friction faces. The device also comprises means for linking the two friction lining members which are solidly connected to one another. The first friction lining member is essentially ring shaped. The aforementioned linking means comprise linking tongue elements which are each equipped with a first end for solidly connecting to an inner edge of the first friction lining member and a second end for solidly connecting to the second friction lining member. Moreover, a deviation angle is provided between said first and second connecting ends, which can vary according to the axial spacing of the two friction lining member.

Abstract: A method for determining the position at rest of a rotor of a machine having at least one excitation winding. The invention provides a technique for detecting the position of the rotor at rest, from information contained in the voltages produced at the terminals of the stator windings, when the voltage applied to the rotor winding undergoes variations. The invention thus makes it possible to detect the rest position of the wound-rotor machine in the absence of ordinary position sensors such as magnetic, optical, resolving, mechanical, capacitive or other sensors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of calibrating drill depth of an ophthalmic processing device. A number of drill cycles are selected for drilling an expected number of holes in a lens blank. The selected number of drill cycles is performed. The drill depth of each consecutive drill cycle varies incrementally. An actual number of locations the drill bit contacted the lens blank during the drill cycles is compared to the expected number of holes. The drill depth is adjusted depending on the compared values. A method of calibrating drill hole size is also disclosed.