Abstract: An experimental robot system using vision and a parallel jaw gripper acquires randomly oriented cylindrical workpieces piled in bins. Binary image analysis guides the gripper into multilayered piles of workpieces. Complementary information is provided by sensors on the gripper.

Abstract: A pouring reel has a rotatable tube with a bottom and an upstanding cylindrical side wall open at the top. Pin members are arranged in a circular row concentrically within the side wall. The pin members are pivotally adjustable between vertical positions cooperating with the tub side wall to define an annular coil forming chamber, and inoperative positions inclined inwardly from the side wall. Pivotal adjustment of the pin members from their inoperative to their operative positions is achieved by inserting a carrier into the tub. The carrier has a base which extends across and forms the bottom of the coil forming chamber, and a central core which carries contact membrs arranged to urge the pin members into their operative positions.

Abstract: In a disc brake of a type having a caliper slidably supported and having, on one side of a disc, a cylinder containing therein a piston for loading an inner pad against the disc and, on the other side of the disc, a limb portion for loading an outer pad against the disc, the flexural rigidity of the limb portion is made less on a leading side thereof located upstream with respect to the rotational direction of the disc for loading a leading or upstream side of the outer surface of the outer pad relating to a trailing side of said limb portion located downstream with respect to the rotational direction of the disc for loading a trailing or downstream side of the outer surface of the outer pad, so as to prevent frictional vibrations of the outer pad.

Abstract: A lock assembly for preventing the unauthorized disconnection of a gas line where it is connected to the gas meter. The lock assembly has telescoping male and female shrouds, a bolt type lock and an end cap inserted transversely through the side walls of the telescoped shrouds to lock the two shrouds together to securely enclose the gas line threaded connection, and two turned back ears on the male shroud closed end which cover the female shroud open end side edges to prevent the female shroud and the male shroud from being pried apart by a pair of screwdrivers or the like.

Abstract: A ventilator air outlet door having a curved portion, a downstream deflecting portion, and support portions is pivotally disposed within the bypass passageway formed within an air distribution housing and is pivotally swung between a first position closing a ventilator outlet when the defrosting or heating mode is selected, and a second position within the bypass passageway, opening the ventilator outlet when the ventilating mode is selected thereby the ventilator door guiding the air flowing through the bypass passageway desirable direction when the ventilating defrosting or heating mode is selected.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of an improved stove insert for a fireplace opening, having means associated therewith for precisely controlling draft, thereby enabling the stove insert to be used for coal as well as wood.

Abstract: An engine mounting buffer rod is constructed to constitute two suspended masses interconnected by elastomeric means to endow on the rod two resonance frequencies. The resonance frequencies are selected to span the vibrational range in which resonance noise is apt to occur in the vehicle cabin so that a first change in the phase of vibration passing through the buffer rod causes an interference with the vibration passing through the main engine mounting brackets to soften the mounting arrangement as a whole and absorb vibrations which would otherwise induce cabin resonance noise. The effect of the second resonance overlaps the first to prolong the softening effect until the second phase change induced thereby occurs.

Abstract: A waste binding yarn take-up device for a shuttleless loom, comprises a traction device for pulling waste binding yarns at a constant traction speed, a rotary traverse roller rotatable at a peripheral velocity slightly higher than the traction speed of the traction device, and formed at its outer surface with a guide groove along which the waste binding yarns from the traction device is guided to make traverse motion thereof, and a rotatable core member on which a cheese of the waste binding yarns from the traverse roller is capable of being formed, the core member being biased so that the outer surface of the cheese contacts the outer surface of the traverse roller, thereby wounding up the waste binding yarns on the core member, holding in tension the waste binding yarns without causing the slackening of the waste binding yarns.

Abstract: A bolt type lock puller for removing jammed bolt type locks from lock housings. This lock puller is necessary to correct situations in which a thief has tried to open a bolt type lock by driving a nail into the keyhole. The lock is usually distorted by the nail and jams in the locked position. Therefore, the lock cannot be removed by the security key. The lock puller utilizes split jaws with opposed teeth which clamp around the head of the lock. A longitudinally extending stud is drawn axially to cause the split jaws to pull the clamped lock out of the lock housing.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation comprises a longwall conveyor, and a plurality of roof support units positioned side-by-side along the goaf side of the conveyor. The roof support units are positioned to define an access area between the conveyor and the roof support units. A plurality of hydraulic bracing rams act on the conveyor to brace the conveyor longitudinally. Each of the bracing rams is pivotally attached to a floor sill of a respective roof support unit. The hydraulic bracing rams are positioned at the goaf-side edge portion of the access area. The bracing forces are transmitted from the bracing rams to the conveyor via respective transverse arms attached to the bracing rams and to the conveyor.

Abstract: A weft picking device of an air jet loom, comprises a plurality of air guide members in alignment with the direction of weft picking, each air guide member being spaced predetermined distances from adjacent air guide members to define respective spaces therebetween, the air guide members being respectively formed with air guide openings to define a weft guide channel to which a weft yarn from a weft inserting nozzle is inserted, at least one auxiliary nozzle being disposed in a first section of a space between two adjacent air guide members, the space having a second section which is located opposite the first section relative to the axis of the weft guide channel, the width of the second section being less than that of the first section, thereby preventing the weft yarn from getting out of the weft guide channel to effectively accomplish weft picking.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved bumper construction for an automotive vehicle.The vehicle has a plurality of bumper mounting stays and a body panel adjacent the stays.The bumper construction comprises a thin-walled plastic bumper, a reinforcement member mounted to the bumper at an intermediate section thereof adjacent the body panel and a spring member interposed between the reinforcement member and the vehicle body panel. The reinforcement member and the intermediate section of the bumper are adapted to define a closed bumper configuration. The spring member is operatively connected to the reinforcement member and the vehicle body panel such that the intermediate section of the bumper is supported through the spring member by the body panel.

Abstract: A panel reinforcement structure construction for attaching to and reinforcing a vehicle structural panel. An elongate channel member has two side sections and is secured at the elongate open section thereof to the vehicle structural panel. An arm is attached to each channel member side section, and each arm extends from the end of the channel member transversely to the elongate axis of the channel member. An attachment flange is attached to each channel member arm in a manner to also attach to the vehicle structural panel to reinforce the structural integrity thereof and resist the effect of shear forces acting transversely on the elongate channel member.

Abstract: Submicron particulates are removed from an effluent gaseous stream by nucleation. The nucleation is effected at isothermal conditions by varying the static pressure of the gas.

Abstract: In an emergency locking seat belt retractor including a housing, a belt take-up shaft rotatably disposed in the housing for winding thereon a seat belt, a return spring for biasing the belt take-up shaft to rotate in a direction to retract the belt, a locking device for locking, when actuated, the belt take-up shaft against rotation in a direction to withdraw the seat belt, a shock sensing device for sensing a predetermined degree of shock applied thereto, and a transmitting device for actuating the locking device when the shock sensing device senses the predetermined degree of shock, the shock sensing device being pivotally connected to the housing by means of a pivot bolt.

Abstract: A robot assembly for acquiring unorientated workpieces from a bin. A sensing system views the bin and collects data. A computer analyzes the data to determine candidate holdsites on the workpiece. The hand of the robot assembly then engages a workpiece at a selected holdsite. The workpiece is moved to a pose where the position and orientation of the workpiece are determined. After this determination, the workpiece may be disengaged, or moved to an intermediate or final goalsite. The method is applicable to workpieces that have six continuous unknown degrees of freedom. Furthermore, partial occlusion of the workpiece by the robot hand is allowed.

Abstract: A weft detaining device of a shuttleless loom, including a drum having a frustoconical section and a cylindrical section, a first catching member for catching the weft yarn on the drum in the vicinity of the border between the frustoconical and cylindrical sections for at least a period of weft pickings, a second catching member for catching the weft yarn on the drum for at least a period of the first time weft picking in sequential twice weft pickings and releasing its catching action to the weft yarn for at least a period of the second time weft picking of the sequential twice weft pickings, and a third catching member for catching the weft yarn on the drum cylindrical section for at least a period wherein the detaining of the weft yarn for the succeeding twice sequential weft pickings is completed, thereby enabling a so-called dual-pick pass weft insertion though the weft detaining device is of the drum type.

Abstract: A governor sleeve is axially displaceable on a stationary governor shaft and has an inner space which is defined by one end of the governor shaft and which communicates with the inner chamber of a pump housing charged with fuel. The inner space varies in volume drawing thereinto and discharging therefrom fuel in response to axial displacement of the governor sleeve.

Abstract: A valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine including a first cam rotatable about an axis in timed relation to the engine speed, a second cam rockable about an axis and operatively engaged with a valve of the engine, a rocker arm rockable about an axis and interposed between said first and second cams to provide operative connection therebetween, and means responsive to varations of engine condition for shifting the axis of rocking movement of said rocker arm relative to said axes of said first and second cams thereby varying the angular position of said second cam independently of that of said first cam whereby valve lift, valve timing and the period during which the valve is open are varied in accordance with the varying operating conditions of the engine.