Abstract: A tool wear detector is formed by applying a resistor, the resistance of which is permanently altered in accordance with a time/temperature relationship (and by change in size e.g. as a result of wear), to a tool in a manner so that the resistor and the portion of the tool to be monitored are subjected to corresponding temperature cycles. Measuring the resistance of the resistor at any time provides an indication of the cutting conditions to which the monitored portion of the tool has been subjected and thereby an indication of the remaining life of the portion of the cutting edge of the tool being monitored.

Abstract: It has been found that certain chemicals such as peroxide may be concentrated in an aqueous solution by increasing the pH of a feed liquor to increase the amount of the chemcial in an ionized form, i.e. increase the ionized fraction and then separating the feed liquor by reverse osmosis through a reverse osmosis membrane into a retentate having an enhanced concentration of chemical in ionized form relative to the feed liquor and a permeate having a reduced concentration of chemical in ionized form relative to the feed liquor. The process is particularly suited to increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A XY control system for controlling vector movement in two mutually perpendicular directions (for example for computer cursor control, i.e. emulating a conventional computer mouse) uses a XY pressure sensitive digital pad or more preferably a XYZ pressure sensitive digital pad generating different signals based on the selected location at which pressure is applied to the pad. These signals are divided into X or Y and a directional signal and then converted into a velocity signal for controlling the vector motion in the required direction dependent on the selected location for application of pressure to the pad and at a velocity the magnitude of which is proportional to the displacement of the selected location from a datum area on the pad, or in the case of a XYZ pad dependent on both displacement and the amount of pressure applied at the selected location.

Abstract: A mirror scanning system comprises a single mirror mounted to rotate on a first axis that is substantially in the plane of the mirror reflecting surface and on a second axis perpendicular to and intersecting the first axis. Both the mirror and the first axis rotate around the second axis. An optical system is directed at a portion of the reflecting surface of the mirror at or adjacent to the intersection of the two axes and has a focal axis substantially aligned with the second axis. By aligning the reflecting surface in a direction so as to maximize a signal emanating from a source and detected at a selected position on a detector forming part of the optical system and measuring the angular displacement of the mirror around each of the first and second axes with the reflecting surface so aligned, the direction of a detected source can be determined.

Abstract: An intrabuilding wireless communication system is disclosed wherein a work space is divided into a radiation zone seldom entered or occupied by workers and into which the signal carrying radiation is directed and contained i.e. the space adjacent to the ceiling and extending down about 1 meter and a substantially radiation free zone that is mormally occupied by workers. A master node antennae and each of the subscriber antennae (one for each work station in the work space) are located within the radiation space.The master antennae will preferably be an omni-directional antennae formed by a pair of substantially mirror image frusta-conical disks, axially aligned along their conical axes and with their minimum radius end faces in spaced parallel facing relationship.

Abstract: A method of controlling the movement of an articulated arm to permit the arm to move an end point thereof more freely and more directly to a preselected target. This smoother operation is obtained by a computer calculating the change in joint angle using an iterative pseudo inverse Jacobian having a damping factor. The damping factor is adjusted for each iteration based on the distance necessary to reach said preselected target.

Abstract: A new bag cassette having a main bottom panel formed by a diagonal panel defined by a pair of spaced parallel fold lines and a pair of side panels is used to protect and position a bag and for squaring a carton. The bag spout is held in a reinforcing panel connected to the main bottom panel by a spacing panel and the bag is protected by the envelope formed by folding the two side panels perpendicular to the diagonal panel. To square a box having a cross section substantially corresponding with the periphery of the main panel, the cassette is inserted into the box with a diagonal panel extending diagonally between the pair of opposed corners of the box and with the side panels in folded enveloping position substantially perpendicular to the diagonal panel. As the cassette is moved down into the box it tends to force the box into squared position. Folding out of the side panels into a position parallel to the diagonal panel completes the squaring and positions the cassette in the bottom of the box.

Abstract: An automatic cell transfer is made, when a mobile detects certain threshold exit bit or symbol error rate in a message transmitted from the base station with which it is communicating, by the mobile then sampling sequentially transmitted messages from adjacent base stations (on the same or different frequencies) and monitoring their bit or symbol error rates until a base station is found having a bit or symbol error rate less than a preselected minimum entry threshold bit or symbol error rate which in turn is less than the exit bit or symbol error rate and transferring communication from the mobile to the base station so selected. In one arrangement, each base station repeatedly and intermittently transmits a known quality assessment message and the mobile continually reviews the received message for its error rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tapered peeling of veneer to form a curved veneer and clipping the curved veneer into discreet sheets by adjusting the angular relationship of the clipping knife to the axis of rotation of the bolt being peeled thereby to clip the veneer along lines substantially radial to the curvature of the veneer adjacent to the point of clipping.In the preferred arrangement two clippers are used in series and their angular relationship adjusted relative to the axis of rotation of the bolt to produce a veneer sheet with substantially parallel sides and to remove a substantially triangular piece between adjacent clipped sheets.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the variation in the height of flute profile for corrugated material is obtained by passing the corrugated material in a predetermined space relationship across a beam of light projected toward the corrugated material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flute tips and the bases of the valleys of the corrugated material and collecting the light reflected back directly from the material, i.e. in a direction substantially parallel to the light beam, determining the amount of light reflected back from each flute tip of the corrugated material to provide an indication of flute height.

Abstract: A process for peroxide bleaching of mechanical pulps by washing the pulp to remove substantially all of the heavy metal ions from the pulp, mixing hydrogen peroxide in an amount of at least about 11/2% based on the dry weight of the pulp with the washed pulp to uniformly disperse the hydrogen peroxide throughout the pulp followed by mixing an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide with the pulp containing hydrogen peroxide to uniformly distribute the sodium hydroxide throughout the pulp and to react the sodium hydroxide with the peroxide to produce perhydroxyl ions in situ in the pulp and then reacting the perhydroxyl ions with the pulp to increase the brightness of the pulp and provide a residual peroxide of at least 35% of the peroxide added. This system provides a significant increase in residual brightening chemical in the residual liquor separated from the brightened pulp.

Abstract: A system for clipping veneer, peeled with curved side edges one longer than the other, into discrete full and partial panels each defined by a longer and shorter curved side edge and a leading and trailing edge, wherein the angle of the clipping knife to the direction of travel of the veneer is adjusted during passage of the peeled veneer to clip the veneer into full panels having their leading and trailing edges substantially parallel and partial panels each having its trailing edge at an acute angle to its leading edge and flowing from its shorter curve side to its longer curve side to tend to equalize the accumulated lengths of the curved side edges of the peeled veneer.

Abstract: A pump for pumping a slurry of frail material is provided by a rigid chamber which is connected to a source of negative air pressure when an inlet valve is open and an outlet valve closed to suck the slurry through the open inlet valve into the chamber, the amount of slurry in the chamber is sensed and when it reaches a preset amount a controller is triggered to disconnect the source of negative pressure and close the inlet valve, and then admit air under positive pressure to the chamber, then open the outlet valve to drive the contents of the chamber through the outlet by replacing a significant amount of the contents with air. The controller then causes the air pressure in the chamber to be reduced and closes the outlet valve, and then reconnects the chamber to the source of negative pressure and then opens the inlet valve to commence a second cycle. The inlet and outlet valves are bladder type valves to protect the frail material and permit simplified operation.

Abstract: Substitute lumber pieces having strengths and densities substantially equivalent to lumber are cut from single layer panels of over about 1 and normally less than 4 inches thickness made from wood wafers. The wafers are oriented with their lengths having a mean deviation to the longitudinal length of the panel measured in the major plane of the panel in the range of 0 to 10 degrees and a mean deviation measured in a minimum longitudinal plane perpendicular to the major plane from 0 to about 5 degrees and have an average effective length of at least 8 inches (200 mm), and preferably an average thickness less than 0.15 inches (4 mm) and a width of at least 0.25 inches (6 mm). Lumber is made by cutting the panel longitudinally. Preferably the panels are formed to have a substantially uniform density profile throughout their thicknesses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for peeling a tapered block by setting the cutting edge of the peeling knife on an angle comensurate with the taper of the block. In one embodiment, the angle remains substantially constant throughout the peeling operation so that the resulting core is tapered. In another embodiment, the angle continuously changes and the veneer is cut thicker at one side than at the other whereby to produce a tapered veneer and result in a substantially right cylindrical core when the peeling operation is completed.

Abstract: A hollow journal extending from a dryer drum is provided with an internal tube defining an angular insulating space between the inner wall of the hollow journal and the tube. This space is sealed at the inner end adjacent to dryer drum and is vented at the opposite end so that the insulating space is vented to atmosphere thereby provide a simple mounting system for mounting the fluid transfer passages through the dryer drum head and journal structure that better insulates the journal from the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for testing a panel for strength and stiffness has the ability to handle panels of different thicknesses, and also has a temperature sensor so that panels can be tested hot and the cold end use strength and stiffness correlated. The apparatus moves the panel in an "S" shaped path through a series of rollers, and measures the load to deflect the panel a predetermined distance for different thicknesses of panels. An algorithm is used to correlate the cold end use strength and stiffness values from the temperature and loading figures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a film wrapping. A charge or load wherein an anvil is first brought into contact with the charge and then the wrapping operation commences. After the film is wrapped sufficiently to hold itself to the charge, a clamp holding the end of the film is released and is then moved to a retracted position where it stays until the wrapping is almost completed. When a first lap of film has been wrapped over the anvil, a jaw of the clamp is moved into position adjacent the anvil and a second lap of film is wound over the anvil and jaw. Next the heat sealer is operated to cooperate with the anvil and seal the two laps together and a second jaw of the clamp is moved to operative position to clamp the second or last lap of film which is then cut between the clamp and the heat seal so formed.

Abstract: A handle applicator having a first and second gripping means movable alternatively between a pick-up station and an application station applying handles to articles delivered to the application station, when an article and one of the gripping means carrying a handle are in position, an applicator moves to press ends of a strap handle (with adhesive pre-applied) carried by the gripping mechanism onto the article and the article with handle applied thereto is ejected from the application station.

Abstract: A carrying handle is formed by a continuous band adapted to encircle the container and provided with a handle member integrally connected hereto. A projection extends outwardly from the band and a tab projects inwardly from the handle in a position to engage with the projection. The tab is spaced outwardly of the projection when the band is in relaxed condition and overlaps with the projection when said band is in stretch condition encircling the container.