Abstract: A high resolution object handling system serves as an object discrimination - identification by creating an object silhouette. The objects are singulated on a conveyor and scanned by a linear array of CCD units (2048 pixels per inch) at a scan rate of 10 MHz. Pixel transitions corresponding to object edge points are converted to a single count value from a counter which is synchronized with the scanner. A microprocessor with a first in, first out buffer memory needs only a capacity to handle the count value rather than all data from the pixels.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a diffuser comprising a rectangular frame with a tope edge and a bottom edge; a base plate attached to said bottom edge at a base plate perimeter and having a gas inlet through which gas can flow; a top plate with an upper surface and an inner surface said top plate attached to said top edge at a top plate perimeter and having an aperture through which gas can flow; a flexible, generally gas-impermeable membrane lying above said top plate and attached to said top edge at a membrane perimeter, said membrane including a central porous portion with a boundary defined by an ellipse.

Abstract: A method of handling books between a library and a treatment site in which the books are held against relative movement during transit but are released during treatment.

Abstract: A metal-to-metal backseating system for fluid flow control valves, comprising a flexible annular backseat element extending radially from a valve stem or closure element to sealingly engage a valve bonnet surface, and an annular backup for the backseat element.

Abstract: A fruit bin is provide with a perforated floor or bottom allowing at least a single vertical, movable wall that is mounted to move in and out of said perforation into a fruit storage bin. The movable wall is mounted to a feed metering device that serves a dual function of also metering fruit to a fruit processing machine such as a fruit juicer.

Abstract: A primer feed mechanism for automatically feeding unfired primers to, and extracting fired primers from, an artillery piece. A magazine having a rotatable cylindrical drum carrying a plurality of primer cartridges is detachably mounted adjacent the breach block of an artillery piece. A user actuable release handle controls movement of a reciprocable mounted camplate. Movement of the camplate in one direction indexes the rotatable drum to align a fresh primer cartridge with the firing chamber of the artillery piece. Such movement of the camplate also drives a rearwardly positioned bolt toward the breach block of the artillery piece thereby driving the unfired primer cartridge into the firing chamber. Movement of the camplate in the opposite direction causes the bolt to extract the fired primer cartridge from the firing chamber and back into the magazine drum.

Abstract: A three-way ball valve adapted for connection to a liquid distribution pipe with a pipe cleaning device therein, the valve including a spherical closure element that is located with respect to the pipe to minimize deposition and accumulation of residues in said pipe and to facilitate removal of said residues by movement of said cleaning device past said closure element.

Abstract: A bearing seal having multiple elements including a pair of contact seals, one of which is a fiber seal and a second of which is an elastomeric seal, is provided for use with a bushing having an inclined step which, in conjunction with a seal locator having an upturned flange and a spacer, forms a cavity to accommodate a projecting lip of the elastomeric seal.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for protecting wellhead bores during drilling operations, and more particularly to bowl protectors for preventing damage to wellhead bore seal surfaces as drilling equipment passes through the wellhead. The invention includes a bowl protector and a seperable false bowl for accepting a casing hanger, the bowl protector and false bowl being releasably connected together by shear pins.

Abstract: A protective cap (12) can be run onto and retrieved from a subsea wellhead (10) from a floating service vessel. Slidably mounted shear pins (32) in the cylindrical wall (14) of the protective cap (12) allow the cap to be attached by a downward push. Retrieval of the protective cap (12) involves an overpull on the drill string that is sufficient to shear the pins (32) in the cylindrical wall (14).

Abstract: A running tool for lowering, landing and setting a well structure, such as casing hanger and a packoff has an elongated tubular body in which are mounted a plurality of locking dogs that releasably lock a casing hanger to the tool, a plurality of packoff running pins for releasably locking a packoff to the tool, and a plurality of packoff retrieval pins to engage a packoff in a wellhead housing and secure it to the tool for retrieval from the housing. The locking dogs are cammed radially from the tool body into their hanger engaging position by an actuator sleeve, and the running pins and retrieval pins are spring-biased in a radial direction towards their packoff engaging positions and releasably held in their retracted positions by retraction shafts in the tool body.

Abstract: A robotic palletizer including a vertical column, a telescoping horizontal arm mounted for vertical movement along the column and a hand assembly mounted at the end of the horizontal arm. A pair of photodetectors, movable with the hand assembly, sense the presence and location of cartons in place on a pallet being loaded and signal the palletizer when the vertical height and horizontal extension of the hand assembly are sufficient to place cartons in the proper position for loading onto the pallet. A circuit controls operation of the palletizer in accordance with the sizes and shapes of the cartons and pallets and permits limited variation of the loading pattern provided by the palletizer. Separate conveyors transport cartons to the palletizer for loading and remove loaded pallets from the palletizer upon completion of the loading cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus for rescuing an automatic guided vehicle comprises a pallet lift including a lift body, wheels for a rolling upon a supporting surface, and first and second elongate lift rails extending horizontally forward from the lift body and set apart a distance to allow the rails to embrace an automatic guided vehicle therebetween. First and second lifting tabs extend inward from each of the lift rails and include upper support surfaces for lifting the base of an automatic guided vehicle which lie beneath support surfaces of the first and second rail by a distance greater than a distance and the base of the automatic guided vehicle lies beneath a wheel of a cart being carried piggyback by the automatic guided vehicle. A method of rescuing an automatic guided vehicle and a piggyback cart from an elevator includes rolling the pallet lift onto the elevator to a position in which the automatic guided vehicle is between the lift rails and the rails are beneath the wheels of the cart.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a heated mixture of propylene glycol based aircraft deicing fluid and water to an aircraft. Propylene glycol based aircraft deicing fluid is heated by means of a directly fired combustion heater. The heated aircraft deicing fluid is mixed with hot water to form a deicing mixture for deicing aircraft. Diaphragm type positive displacement pumps, having controllable volumetric outputs, combine the heated aircraft deicing fluid and the heated water in a desired ratio. The volumetric outputs of the pumps can be varied to achieve a desired proportion of aircraft deicing fluid to water.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a brake lathe having a device to eliminate or reduce vibration. Various types of dampers may be mounted on the arbor shaft of the lathe.

Abstract: A scissor jack of the type which is mountable on and usable in conjunction with a conventional automotive vehicle lift to permit a selected axle of the vehicle to be elevated relative to the lift. The invention provides a gravity activated locking mechanism which includes a plurality of lock keys of different widths. The keys fall individually into a lock position as the jack rises incrementally in height, to prevent unintended lowering of the jack at any height or any time during the lifting process.

Abstract: A machine for the continuous production of plastic bags utilizes a servo drive motor to drive the machines film web draw roll assembly and through a seal roll index gear also to drive a seal roll of the machine in coordination with the servo driven draw roll.

Abstract: A robotic pelletizer includes a roller carriage having an improved grasping device which has first and second plates contacting opposed sides of an item to be lifted, a bottom support having a plurality of fingers moveable underneath the item, and a clamping plate to contact a top of the item. An elevating device lifts the item from a support surface so that the fingers may move under the item, and thereby support the item when the elevating device is lowered.

Abstract: A running tool for use with a subsea well guide base when drilling from a floating drill ship is designed to be releasably detached without rotation so that the tool can be uncoupled at the surface upon completion of the guide base running procedure. The running tool is attached to the guide base by threaded elements which are designed to strip when a predetermined upward force is exerted on the running pipe string to which the tool is integrally connected thereby permitting retrieval of the tool by the running string.

Abstract: A tire changer having a vertical wheel hold down shaft rotatably mounted in a base cabinet and extending upward to a wheel mounting end portion above the cabinet. A collar attached to the hold down shaft beneath its mounting end portion and having a frusto-conical section extending upward to a backing flange centered about the hold down shaft. A locking pin which fits into a wheel lug hole extends upward from the flange. An upwardly extending biased centering cone slidably fitted around the hold down shaft. A bead breaker arm pivotally attached to an outside wall of the cabinet to pivot in a horizontal plane. A pneumatic cylinder is provided which is linked to both the hold down shaft and the bead breaker arm to actuate both, thus providing one pneumatic means for two different functions.