Abstract: An image analyzer system includes a pipeline of individually programmable neighborhood transformation stages. Programming of the stages is accomplished by way of coded command signals which are either of a local or global type. Global commands propagate down the pipeline to all of the stages whereas local commands are utilized to program only selected stages. Once the stages are programmed the image data may be transferred over the same bus previously utilized to carry the programming instructions. In the preferred embodiment, control lines are employed to indicate whether image data or programming instructions are being transferred over the bus.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing solvents from air, for example, from the air discharged from a paint spraybooth, includes an air duct through which solvent laden air is arranged to flow. A plurality of coalescer pads each having an extended surface area extend across the duct. A plurality of spray nozzles for spraying an absorption liquid such as oil are arranged upstream of each pad and have a spray pattern which impinges over substantially all of the upstream external surface of the respective pad. As the pressure drop experienced by the air flowing through the pads is low the apparatus enables efficient solvent removal and yet has a lower power requirement.

Abstract: A self-contained disposable package including a container of diazo copy developer liquid and an ammonia vapor absorber canister is disclosed for use with diazo type copy machines. The container of developer liquid and an absorber canister are adapted to be readily hooked into the supply and exhaust lines of the copy machine developer chamber and to the exhaust line of a machine degassing chamber. The absorber canister includes a quantity of ammonia vapor absorber material such as a mixture of excelsior and activated carbon, both treated with phosphoric acid, into which is extended a flow tube adapted to be connected to the degassing exhaust chamber with the exhaust flow directed to emanate from the lower region of the canister an flow upwardly through the absorber material and then out through openings in a top cap. The construction of the canister minimizes flow channelization through the absorber material.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for measuring the electrochemical activity of a liquid, for example, the hydrogen ion activity or pH value of blood. A disposable cartridge includes spaced indicating and reference electrodes which develop electrical properties as a function of the electrochemical activity. The cartridge carries a capsule containing an electrolyte solution. A machine for measuring the electrochemical activity includes a socket in a pivoting door for receiving the cartridge. When the door is pivoted into a closed position, the capsule is automatically crushed thereby covering the electrodes with the solution. The breaking of the capsule triggers an electronic measurement of the resultant electrical properties that develop between the two electrodes. This calibration factor is stored and used to compute the electrochemical characteristics of the sample when it is introduced into the cartridge to cover the indicating electrode.

Abstract: A method is provided for the recovery and recycle of nitrate and nitrite salts present in environmentally hazardous chloride containing quench bath solids, comprising the steps of leaching the solids with hot water to provide an aqueous leachate that depletes the hot water soluble content of the solids, clearing the resulting aqueous leachate of solids, and recycling it while hot into a fused quench bath.

Abstract: An air screen for vehicle sunroofs extends between the leading edges of an open sunroof panel and the vehicle's roof to regulate intake air flow and prevent potentially dangerous projectiles from being carried into the vehicle's interior along with the air flow. The air screen is formed from flexible plastic material and deflects into a storage position when the sunroof panel is pivoted from an open scoop position to a closed position. The air screen may be secured to either the sunroof panel or the roof and consists of two halves slidable relative to each other so as to permit regulation of the air flow therethrough. The air screen also functions as an air deflector to prevent wind buffeting effects when the panel is completely removed from the roof.

Abstract: A tapping tool for making a vibration-resistant prevailing torque fastener combination comprising a conventional first element having a standard thread form with first flank angles and a modified second element having a thread form characterized by second steeper flank angles over the entire length thereof, and a truncated root caused by foreshortening of the flanks over a portion of the thread length to produce a helical flat which firmly engages and typically deforms the crest of the first element when threadedly engaged therewith. A difference in flank angles provides longitudinal clearance to receive the deformed material during the threaded engagement.

Abstract: An improved high performance ventilation system for application with relatively small temperature-controlled structures for recovering a high percentage of sensible and latent thermal energy from the exhausted air for return via the fresh air stream. Two matrices of thermally absorbent, expanded honeycomb material are alternately interconnected with fan driven supply and exhaust paths via a valve device to store energy in one matrix while retrieving it from the other. The matrices, valve and fans are contained within a single compact highly portable housing which can be installed on the floor, beneath the ceiling and on the roof of the intended structure. Constant air flow direction is maintained in the ventilated area. The valve may be thermostat controlled. The housing is manufactured with a modular design allowing final on-site assembly in a number of varying configurations.

Abstract: An image analyzer system and a method of analyzing image information contained in serial scan lines of pixels in which some of the pixels have valid data values representing image information while other pixels have invalid data values not representing characteristics of the image to be analyzed. Off image detector circuitry is utilized to generate output signals to neighborhood transformation logic when one or more pixels in a neighborhood contain invalid values. Preferably, the off image detector means monitors the status of a control line which indicates whether valid or invalid pixels are being transferred over a bus to a stage of the image analyzer system. The detector circuitry operates to store the number of valid pixels in subsequent scan lines presented to the stage. This comparison is utilized to detect invalid pixel values which may be contained in each neighborhood.

Abstract: An image analyzer system employs at least one neighborhood transformation stage for analyzing groups of neighborhood pixel values and selectively transforming the pixel values as a result of the analysis. In one embodiment, the center pixel in the neighborhood is changed to a programmable transformation value if it and its neighboring pixels have particular values. Preferably, the stage includes a programmable memory loaded by a central controller which is utilized to determine whether neighboring pixels of particular values are configured in a preselected pattern. The stage may also include another programmable memory for assigning selected values to the digital signals depending upon their original values as they enter the stage.

Abstract: A system for analyzing images represented by a plurality of raster scan lines of pixel values employs at least one neighborhood transformation stage. The stage includes a processor portion for analyzing windows of neighboring pixel values and providing a transformation output as a function of the pixel values contained in the window. A random access memory (RAM) repetitively stores a given plurality of successive pixel scan lines fed to the stage. Selected pixel values from the RAM are loaded into the processor portion so as to sequentially access the neighborhood windows for analysis. The RAM serves as a recirculating line storage device for accommodating different raster scan line lengths.

Abstract: An image analyzer system employs one or more neighborhood transformation stages. The stage operates to access groups of neighboring pixels in an image matrix, analyzes them and generates a transformation output as a result of the analysis. The stage includes a logic circuit which is programmable from a central controller. In the preferred embodiment, each pixel in the neighborhood is analyzed by the logic circuit and temporarily stored until other pixels in the group have been analyzed. The combination of analyzed pixel values form the basis for generating the transformation output for the stage. Preferably, the logic circuit is designed to perform both two dimensional and three dimensional image analyses.

Abstract: A control system for operating a bidirectional gate driven by a reversible electric motor includes an overload protection circuit to prevent motor current overload produced by gate obstructions and the like. The system includes control switches for operating gate opening and gate closing circuits which respectively energize the motor for rotation in opposite directions. The safety circuit includes a motor current sensing device and a first comparator which compares the level of sensed motor current with a temperature adjusted, selectable reference value and delivers a motor disabling signal to the opening and closing circuits if the sensed value exceeds the reference level. The safety circuit also includes a second comparator which compares the sensed current level with another reference value to produce the disabling signal in the event that the selected reference value of the first comparator is incorrect.

Abstract: A removable sunroof panel adapted to be mounted in overlying relationship in an opening in the roof of a vehicle includes front and rear mounting assemblies which allow either or both the front and rear of the panel to be held in an open position above the vehicle's roof. Each of the mounting assemblies includes a lever handle pivotally connected to the sunroof panel and a latching assembly for receiving and locking the lever handle in a plurality of positions. A frame molding mounted in the sunroof opening includes a first section overlying the roof, and second and third sections below the roof defining a channel for receiving a resilient seal against which the roof panel seats; the second and third sections include a pair of opposed grooves for captivating a pair of ribs in the seal to retain the seal in the channel.

Abstract: An air deflection assembly particularly adapted for use with vehicle sunroofs includes a substantially planar, air deflecting member pivotally mounted in spaced relationship to a leading edge of an opening in the vehicle's roof. A support comprising a pair of spaced, parallel rods has the opposite ends thereof respectively pivotally connected to the deflection member and a frame surrounding the periphery of the sunroof opening to define a pair of transversely extending pivot axes which permit adjustment of both the elevation and inclination of the deflection member. In an elevated position above the vehicle's roof, the deflection member functions to prevent wind buffeting noise. The inclination of the deflection member may be readily adjusted to deflect air passing over the sunroof into the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A ram driven tube cutting apparatus of the double cut type in which sections of tubing are successively severed from a continuous length thereof by a notching cut followed by a severing cut, includes improved mechanism for clamping the tubing during the cutting process. A pair of opposed, complemental die jaws are mounted on slides controlled by spaced cam followers carried by the slides. A reciprocating wedge cam engages and forces the cam followers apart to move the slides thereby closing the jaws on the tubing. One of the cam followers comprises a roller mounted on an eccentric shaft which may be selectively rotated to adjust the clearance between the die jaws. The other cam follower is spring loaded toward the cam within a slide mounting provided in its slide and automatically shifts to an overload position to avoid damage to the mechanism when foreign objects become lodged between the die jaws.

Abstract: An adjustable camera is operative to perform interferometric analysis of areas on the surface of an object such as a vehicle tire using light from a coherent source. The camera mechanism includes vertical guides projecting upwardly from a support moveable in the horizontal plane along the base. A slide is adjustable vertically along the guides and carries a camera housing that is adjustable relative to the slide about a horizontal pivot axis. A coherent light source is fixed relative to the base and projects its beam parallel to the adjustment of the guide support. An optical element on the guide support projects the beam upwardly parallel to the guides to a mirror which reflects the beam horizontally about the pivot axis of the housing. A beam splitter divides the beams into an object beam and a reference beam. The object beam is projected out of the housing to illuminate a surface of the tire and cause light to be reflected to a film section supported in the housing.

Abstract: Sheet feeding accessories for a typewriter-type printer unit having a stepwise driven print roller. The single sheet feeder is pivotally mounted on the printing unit and the continuous sheet feeder is mounted piggyback style on the single sheet feeder. A drive belt commonly connects the print roller, the single sheet feeder, and the continuous sheet feeder. take-off (60,61) is provided down stream in the direction of printing media movement. Both a single sheet conveyor (15) and a continuous form conveyor (30) attached to conveyor 15 are driven by a drive belt 21 commonly interconnecting the drive roller (12), the drive take-off (60,61) with the sheet and forms conveyor to achieve synchronous operation in the same feed direction. The drive take-off (60,61) has rollers of such a circumference in engagement with the printing media so as to maintain tension on the printing media when fed therethrough.

Abstract: A drapery support system includes a conventional rod adapted to slidably support a plurality of carriers. Each carrier has an upper section that engages the rod and a downwardly depending section taking the form of a U-shaped plate with the outer section of its bight secured to the upper section so that the two plate-like arms project downwardly. The arms extend parallel to one another and normally to the axis of the rod and are spaced along the axis of the rod. Holes formed through the two arms act as female sections of a snap fastener to receive a pair of male snap fasteners secured at spaced points along a tape joined to the upper edge of the drape. The spacing between a pair of male snap fasteners on the tape exceeds the distance between the two arms of the carrier so that the drape section between the fasteners extend freely in a drape-like roll.