Abstract: A device for weight classification of crops comprising and endless conveying member, pick-up members for the products to be weight pivotally coupled with the conveying member and a mechanism for assessing the weight of the products located in and/or on the pick-up members, whereby a pick-up member is pivoted with the aid of a first pivotal shaft to a tie member, which is coupled with the aid of a second pivotal shaft extending at least substantially parallel to the first pivotal shaft with the endless conveying member in a manner such that the center of the pick-up member is located between the two pivotal shafts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new catalysts for the hydrotreatment of hydrocarbons, their preparation and their application.The catalyst for the hydrotreatment of hydrocarbons, according to the present invention, incorporates a refractory inorganic support combined with an active phase comprising a layer of uranium oxide and at least one oxide of a Group VIII metal. The active phase comprises a layer of uranium oxide fixed with a homogenous distribution on the said support through the intermediacy of direct --O-- bonds resulting from an impregnation of the support with the aid of an ethanolic solution of uranyl acetylacetonate.

Abstract: A draft tube mixer is disclosed particularly adapted for use with digestion processes and apparatus wherein a vertical shaft (13) is driven by motor (15) through a suitable drive (14) to rotate a ragless propeller (12). The propeller (12) has a series of three lobes or blades (40-42) which are concentrically arranged at 120.degree. apart positions so that the minimum diameter of the blades are at the ends of a hub (43) from which the blades integrally extend. The blades extend over the length of the hub over about a 360.degree. of rotary motion. The blades (40-42) are symmetrical from their ends to the mid points on the vanes from either direction top or bottom so that the propeller is reversible without loss of efficiency.

Abstract: A transducer actuator assembly (10) for a rotating disc memory apparatus has at least one pair of coils (40, 41) symmetrically spaced from a center plane of a linearly moving carriage (21) where the coils are stationary with respect to a fixed actuator base (11) and surrounding spaced center poles (34) of a magnetic pole piece flux return structure (31, 32, 33) having an E-Shaped configuration closed by pole plate (38). At least one pair of magnets (24a-d or 60, 61) are affixed to and extend horizontally from the sides (23) of the carriage and are spaced in longitudinally extending air gaps (45-48, 49) between the fixed coils and linearly extending pole piece portions (32, 33).Due to the low mass and small envelope size of the moving carriage-magnets subassembly and the removal of the heat generating coils from the carriage, very rapid access times with high location accuracies are possible along with minimization of magnet field effects on the memory discs being accessed.

Abstract: A method of assessing the body length by carrying out a length measurement, in which the length of the lower leg is measured and the measured leg is multiplied by a person-bound factor. A device for carrying out the measurement comprises a chair part a and a measuring part b, at least one of the parts a and b being adjustable in a direction of height and displaceable in a forward (backward) direction, said measuring part comprising one or two posts along which at least one measuring plate can be placed on the knee.

Abstract: A digitizer pad has multiple contact points between facing conductive or resistive coated surfaces of spaced planar sheets (11,16). The sheets are joined by an energy-storing hinge means (13) at the periphery of the respective sheets. Pressing of a top sheet against the bottom sheet by a stylus or operator finger force makes a finite electrical point contact, or series of discrete electrical contacts as the stylus or finger is moved across the top sheet while continuing to depress the sheet, and the X-Y coordinates of the contact(s) determined and indicated on a video screen or the like. Release of the energy stored in the hinge by depression of the top sheet returns sheet (11) into separated position from sheet 13 at that point of contact.

Abstract: A pillow and bedding retainer for a made-up tip-up bed (11) includes a flexible concave panel (21) extending across a bed storage recess (14). The panel is freely mounted in a parallel spaced pair of horizontal open channels (22, 23) attached to a pivot frame (9) forming a bedding cavity (40). As bed (11) is tilted from a horizontal position (A) to a vertical position (C) through an intermediate position (B) the upper edge (24) of the head of a mattress (13) slidingly engages and presses the panel rearwardly further into the storage recess and tensions the pillow and upper bedding portions against the mattress head top surface retaining them in a diminishing volume of the cavity. The center of curvature of the panel is displaced from the pivot axis (30) of the bed and the panel has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the bed pivot axis.

Abstract: A carrier detection circuit includes a rectification stage, an integrator, a comparator, and a digital counter. By utilizing a digital counter, long time constants are provided without the use of external components. If desired, a mark detect circuit is used when a mark must be present to signify the presence of carrier. Hysteresis is provided by the comparator to insure that slight fluctuations in the carrier level do not affect the comparison.

Abstract: A fixed disc drive type of memory storage devices includes an annular elastomeric pad that is engaged between the actuator base plate and a bowl-shaped lower casing. The pad is concentric with the spindle axis and forms an air-tight seal at the edge of a circular opening in the lower casing that prevents dust from entering the housing. The base plate has a circular platform portion with the hub for the spindle shaft being formed at its center. The circular form of the opening and platform portion are such that any temperature differential across the lower housing induces an oil-scanning type of deformation in the base plate so that the spindle does not tilt relative to the plane of motion of the transducers.

Abstract: A mask loading apparatus and method employing a cassette (200) detachably mounted on an in-out cassette holder (212). The cassette is made of low Z-materials, and comprises a cover (211) and a bottom mask-supporting tray (202) locked by machine-operable locking members (224) to the cover. A lift cylinder (218) has a vacuum cup (216) which is raised to support and hold the underside (213) of the tray and, when the tray is unlocked from the cover, to move the vacuum cup, tray and mask downwardly and then laterally by a transport arm (203) to a fixed location under a mask holder (205, 220) in a lithographic apparatus.The lift cylinder then raises the cup, tray and mask to abut the mask holder and to transfer the mask to the mask holder. The lift cylinder and empty tray is then lowered and removed from a position blocking the mask as it is to be used in the lithography processing. A reversal of the sequence of steps is utilized to unload the mask from its use mode and return it to its cassette cover.

Abstract: An argon-fluorine (ArF) excimer laser is used to selectively heat various Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 materials used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices to elevated temperatures while maintaining active device regions and electrical interconnects at relatively low temperatures, to, for example, anneal the structural layer, induce compositional changes or densification and/or flow of the silicon nitride-based material to round off sharp edges and stops, all without damaging or appreciably affecting the active regions and electrical interconnects of a semiconductor device.

Abstract: An electrostatic motor is constituted by a capacitor (10) having relatively movable electrodes (11, 12) separated by a variable gap (13). The control circuit includes a DC source (60) which is servo-controlled to current measurement means (20) and integrator means (30) for calculating the charge on the capacitor plates and for maintaining said charge constant (Q.sub.0). By applying servo control to keep the charge constant, the force on the plates is independent of the variable value of the gap (14). The charge is preferably on/off switched with a pulse width modulation ratio that is a function of the force which is to be applied.

Abstract: A semiconductor die attach adhesive is provided which is formed of a plurality of spacers formed in a suspension of silver filled glass. In one embodiment of this invention, the spacers are spheres. The spacers utilized in one embodiment of this invention have a melting temperature below the temperature at which the solvents are evaporated from the die attach adhesive. In this manner, as the solvents are driven from the silver filled glass during the die attach operation, thus causing the volume of the silver filled glass to decrease, the spacers utilized in this invention partially melt, thus decreasing their thickness. This decreased thickness of the spacers decreases the separation between the die and the substrate, thus preventing the formation of voids within the die attach adhesive. In one embodiment, the spacers are formed of a lead/tin alloy.

Abstract: A mask aligner (10) includes a ring member (11) having an aperture (13) and a series of internal pneumatic cylinders (14-17) having rolling bearing surfaces (19) at the ends of piston rod shafts (18) wherein when a mask (20) is positioned in the aperture, one bearing surface is actuated inwardly to move the mask laterally into engagement with others of said bearing surfaces to rigidly hold and coarse align the mask. Fine accurate alignment in the x, y and .phi. directions are provided by a spaced series of linear motors (40, 41, 42) and a linkage (45) extending between the motor shaft (43) and a rigid post on a fixed support arm (12), the linkage being of sufficient flexibility to bend when the linear motor moves its shaft (43) inwardly to shorten the span between the motor(s) and the rigid post, and of sufficient stiffness to act as a push rod when the linear motor moves its shaft outwardly to lengthen the span between the motor(s) and the rigid post.

Abstract: The flow meter (10), particularly useful in monitoring flow in semiconductor manufacturing operations, measures mass flow rate of fluids and is fabricated by providing spaced webs (16) deposited on a silicon substrate (11) and fluid flow grooves (13) etched across a substrate surface and extending under the spaced webs. The webs 16 include a low thermal conductivity layer deposited in spaced aligned portions of the substrate and electrically resistive pathways deposited on the layer portions (61). The webs act as temperature sensors and/or heaters. Heat is added to the flowing fluid and a differential temperature is measured on a bridge circuit as is known in the art to measure flow rate.

Abstract: An operational amplifier has one noninverting input lead (116), and two inverting input leads (117a, 117b). One of these inverting input leads (117a) is utilized to compensate for the effects of the inherent offset voltage (V.sub.off) of the operational amplifier, and the second inverting input lead (117b) receives an input signal to be amplified or compared.

Abstract: An adjusting means for a microscope objection (51a) or the like is provided comprising a fixed support (53), a piezomotor (52) having an output ram (54) capable of accurate incremental movement and which is adapted to strike a flexible leg or lever (55) which amplifies the incremental ram movement. The cantilevered end (57) of leg (55) moves arcuately to strike a second oppositely extending lever (60) which is journalled in a flexure pivot (61). Lever (60) extends back toward the objective (50a) and further accurately amplifies the incremental ram movement so as to move the objective a finite distance based on electrical inputs to the piezomotor.

Abstract: A centrifuge tube for use in an ultracentrifuge has a closed bottom end shaped to mate with the bottom of a rotor cavity, a body portion and an upper end that terminates in a filler stem. The filler stem may be externally threaded. A removable support crown screws on the threaded filler stem or otherwise fits over the filler stem to center and support the stem within the rotor cavity of the ultracentrifuge. A swage plug fits within the support crown to seal off the inner volume of the centrifuge tube during centrifugation. The tube is filled and access is obtained to the liquid sample by removing the swage plug; sealing is accomplished by reversing the process. In one embodiment a universal crown, of a diameter smaller than the expected diameter of the rotor, is used in conjunction with a support bushing of suitable annular thickness to firmly support the filler stem in the rotor cavity.