Abstract: Spherical tank 30 has its outlet 34 angularly positioned away from the tank center line axis 54 which is parallel to the local gravity vector 26. This angular positioning of outlet 34 inhibits vortexing as liquid is withdrawn from tank 30.

Abstract: Operating at real-time data rates, the disclosed hardware apparatus determine which one of a set of R input data signals is the Mth-largest. Mutual comparisons between the data values themselves provides the basis for the mechanized determination schemes.After every data signal is pair-wise compared (112-167) with every other data signal, each subset of results (C12-C17, C12-C27, C13-C37, C14-C47, C15-C57, C16-C67), consistng of the outcome of the comparisons between a given data signal and all other data signals, is tested (210-260) to determine whether the results indicate that (M-1) of the other data signals are greater than the given signal. That data signal whose result set satisfies this (M-1) condition is the Mth-largest and is used (270, 280) as the network output (285).For data that is serially-presented (490,400) a network simplification makes set-testing possible after only one data value, that most-recently-presented, is compared (412-417) to all other (R-1) signals of the set.

Abstract: Operating at real-time data rates, hardware logic networks (FIGS. 3-6) receive onto a data-channel array (390 in FIG. 3) a set of unordered input data values and iteratively pair-wise transpose the set members until their positional order on the array coincides with the order the members would assume if their magnitudes were arranged according to sequential ordinal rank. Pair-wise comparisons between the data values themselves provide the basis for the mechanized pair-wise transposition schemes.Within each network, a key building block for performing both the pair comparisons and member transpositions is a Number Pair Orderer (NPO) (FIG. 2). Each NPO compares (210) two data elements and passes the smaller to one of its outputs (240), while passing the larger to the other of its outputs (260). Individual NPO's are arranged into two groups (311-315 and 321-325), each of which operates iteratively upon pairs of substantially all of the data values.

Abstract: A scene tracker for use with imaging or quasi-imaging sensors such as TV cameras, FLIRS, millimeter-wave scanners, or the like is disclosed. Specifically, the invention is concerned with a form of correlation tracking. At the start of a track mode, part or parts of a scene are stored in a memory. Every subsequent video scan is then compared with the scene or parts of the scene stored in memory to find the "best match" between live data and stored data. This process generates signal output proportional to horizontal and/or vertical translations of the scene. Besides pure translation, the disclosed scene tracker is capable of tracking an original aim point in the presence of scene rotation, scene growth (zooming), scene reduction (dezooming), distortion, and/or partial scene obscuration.

Abstract: A modular high speed printing system for printing alphabetic and numerical information upon individual items or documents fed individually or in series through the modules. A feeder module performs accounting functions as to the number of documents processed, provides multiple or single mode document feeding and is adjustable to accommodate different size documents. The system also includes one or more printing modules for printing machine readable repetitive data, machine readable consecutive data, repetitive alphanumeric information and consecutive numeric information. A document receiver module adjustable to different size forms is also provided. The printing modules employ common document drive systems including an adjustable document end stop to permit horizontal placement of the information on the document. Vertical positioning of the information on the document is accomplished by means of adjusting the print mechanisms.

Abstract: Various flexible disk information storage systems use a dual-component access arm which includes both a magnetic transducer and a pressure pad. The transducer rides on one side of the disk while the pressure pad is applied to the opposite side of the disk so as to increase the loading of the transducer against the normally-flexible surface. Such disk systems can include two such transducer/pad pairs, oppositely-oriented so that both sides of the disk can be read. In the disclosed cleaning disk assembly, an abrasive material is placed on one side of the disk and a smooth surface is placed on the other. The abrasive side is used to clean a transducer, while the smooth side is used to present a standard surface to the associated pressure pad. The cleaning assembly includes a reversible container having special apertures which enable the system software, in conjunction with disk drive detection elements, to automatically determine abrasive surface orientation.

Abstract: An indexing rotary actuator for applying the torque of a rotatable pivot arm to rotate a member between plural index positions. The forward stroke of the pivot arm drives a slider crank linkage through a four bar linkage to unlock the rotatable member and rotate the member to its next index position. On the return stroke of the pivot arm a spring biased locking arm on the rotatable member is interlocked with the actuator to lock the rotatable member in the index position. Interlock switches are provided to indicate when a rotated member is in a valid index position.

Abstract: A test pattern is recorded on the record medium by applying a pulse of direct current to a pattern generating meander line which is stationary with respect to the record medium. The record medium is then moved relative to the magnetic head to generate an electrical signal indicative of any lateral or angular deviation of the head with respect to the record medium.

Abstract: In a modular high speed document printing system an apparatus within each printing module for inhibiting printing on a document passing therethrough when a valid print inhibiting code is sensed on the document. The apparatus employs a document lead edge sensor for sensing the presence of a document within the printing module and a print inhibiting code sensor for scanning preselected portions of a document for a print inhibiting code. A timing means is responsively coupled to the lead edge sensor for defining a time interval corresponding to the time interval wherein a valid print inhibiting code may be found. A retriggerable counter is responsively coupled to the print inhibiting code sensor for initiating counting in a memory means upon the sensing of a possible print inhibiting code. Means are provided for determining from the outputs of the counter and the timing mechanism whether a code sensed by the print inhibiting code sensor is a valid print inhibiting code.

Abstract: A tape drive including a drive motor; a take-up reel driven thereby; and a motor speed control system controlling the angular velocity of the drive motor for maintaining a substantially constant linear velocity of the tape as it is wound on the take-up reel, said control system comprising: a turns-counter counting the turns of tape as each is applied to the take-up reel; a presettable register; presetting means for presetting a predetermined number in said register at the beginning of a tape drive operation when the take-up reel is empty of tape; means for decrementing the register at a rate, with respect to the rate of application of turns onto the take-up reel, which is initially large during the application of a first predetermined number of turns, and which is subsequently reduced during the application of subsequent turns, to cause the contents of the presettable register to decrease in a non-linear manner with respect to the rate of increase in the number of turns applied to the take-up reel to approxim

Abstract: A recorder for a cartridge-enclosed disk includes a loading and unloading mechanism which utilizes a cam and cam-follower to enable a cartridge-receiver unit to automatically open the recorder's pivoted door when the receiver unit itself pivots from an operative to a loading/unloading position. The cam and cam-follower also enable the door to pivot the receiver unit to the operative position when the door is manually closed following insertion of the disk cartridge. A manually-releasable latch holds the receiver unit in its operative position against the action of a pivot-inducing bias spring. Until activated to allow the receiver unit to force open the door, the same latch also holds the door in its closed condition.

Abstract: An adjustable clamp includes two overlying, interfitting, L-shaped members together with an anchor screw. A panel is held in an adjustable space between the arms of one portion of each L. The arms in the other portion of each L interfit through a set of interdigital bands and apertures formed in the respective arms. The interfitting arms are slideably adjustable relative to each other. The anchor screw, which can attach the clamp and held panel to a support surface such as a printed circuit board, passes between the interfitting arms to secure them together while simultaneously causing their relative sliding movement to produce the adjustable clamping action.

Abstract: Apparatus for housing a rotatable disk used in an information storage apparatus having a disk as the memory storage member. The housing comprises a disk cartridge for holding the disk, the disk cartridge having an aperture which allows the transducer to access the disk, and further comprises a contamination shield interposed in the aperture for smoothing air flow through the aperture. In the absence of the shield, vortices of air form at the aperture which sweep air-borne contaminants into the cartridge and thereby expose the disk to contamination. The shield prevents the vortices from forming, thus eliminating a major cause of disk contamination.

Abstract: An AC-powered display system includes a gas discharge display panel, an integrated circuit, and a limiting network. The integrated circuit is provided as the display pattern controller. The limiting network, in response to an excessive voltage across the controller, reduces the current through the system. The reduction in system current causes the voltage across the integrated circuit to be regulated.

Abstract: A pair of mutually-offset, selectively-engageable transducers read and write information on opposite surfaces of a flexible disk magnetic recording medium. Operative contact between each transducer and the flexible surface is established by one of an offset pair of pressure pads which ride on the opposite side of the disk from and directly aligned with the corresponding transducer. The selective engagement of each transducer with the flexible medium results from the selective activation of control devices which pull one or the other of the spring-loaded pressure pads away from the disk surface.

Abstract: A transducer track-centering system for a magnetic information storage disk utilizes the data itself to generate position-correcting error signals. Angularly-disposed magnetic gaps in a two-part transducer head read and write the data in identical components of a V-shaped pattern which straddles the center line of the disk record track. Transducer positioning errors take the form of a time lag between the data read from the separate branches of the V. The time-difference is then used to adjust the transducer position perpendicularly with respect to track center.