Abstract: The present method and system for the automatic orientation and control of a robot in a space or on a surface to be worked by the robot, for example an area to be vacuum-cleaned or a lawn to be mowed, employs a plurality of distance measuring devices, which continuously and repeatedly measure distances from the robot to points or small surface areas defining the surface to be worked. Electro-optical distance measuring devices are effective in a far range. Electro-acoustical distance measuring devices are effective in a close range. Electro and/or mechanical means are effective in a contact range. The distance measuring devices continuously ascertain scalar values which by means of data processing are transformed into digital control signals for the drive means and for the tools carried by the robot, whereby the robot plans its own driving and working strategies as the result of said continuous distance measurements.

Abstract: The present continuously operable bag opening apparatus has two conveyor belts. The upstream end of each belt is supported on a horizontal drive member. The downstream end of each belt is supported on a respective substantially vertically extending guide roller, whereby the upper runs of the conveyor belts form a downwardly open channel, the belt walls of which converge toward the downstream end of the two conveyors. A rotary knife is arranged between the belts so that a bag which travels on the belts over the knife is cut open and its content falls down though said channel.

Abstract: An electrical machine, such as a motor or generator, with a rotor is manufactured by first deep drawing the housing as two separate members from sheet metal, such as steel sheet metal. As a result of the deep drawing, each housing member is provided with a bearing seating surface for the rotor bearing and at least one housing member is provided with a shoulder for the stator also as a result of the deep drawing. The parts of the machine are assembled by a press fit between the rotor bearings and the respective bearing seating surface and preferably also between the stator and at least one housing member. The housing members are secured to each other either by a press fit or by radially outwardly extending ears or lugs produced by said deep drawing.

Abstract: In a mechanical to electrical transducer, a plurality of strain gauges are mounted either on a diaphragm or on a flexure spring mechanically coupled to the diaphragm. The diaphragm is mounted on a clamping ring, and the strain gauges are disposed at different distances from the clamping ring. In order to equalize the heat transfer of the strain gauges with respect to the clamping ring, the areas of the strain gauges may be varied, the spacings of the conductors of the strain gauges may be varied, the relative positioning of the strain gauges may be controlled, the width of various portions of the flexure spring may be varied, or slots may be provided adjacent certain strain gauges in the flexure spring.

Abstract: The present milling apparatus is constructed especially for milling crankshafts. A milling unit carrying milling cutters is adjustable on guide rails back and forth toward a workpiece such as a crankshaft. The crankshaft is held in respective chucks also supported on the machine base. Continuously adjustable bracing devices interconnect the milling unit with the workpiece supporting chucks on a side opposite the machine base, whereby undesired vibrations are avoided and the tool life is substantially increased.

Abstract: A diffusion tower for sugar beet cossettes is provided with a cossettes feed-in mechanism which includes at least one, preferably a plurality, of slots in the bottom of the tower housing. Each slot extends at an angle to the radial direction and is connected to a feed device or supply conduit for supplying a mixture of sugar beet cossettes and juice into the lower end of the tower housing. A screening feed screw may be arranged to return sugar beet cossettes into the tower to thereby facilitate the juice extraction.

Abstract: An artificial hand having at least one finger and a thumb is provided with drive motor and a gear to open and close the finger and thumb. A gear wheel is secured to each joint where the finger and thumb is connected to the hand proper. A motor driven worm gear meshes with both gear wheels and reversible gears are interposed between the motor and the worm gear, whereby an axially displaceable shaft maintains the interconnection between the drive means and the worm gear.

Abstract: This apparatus removes individual sheets of paper or the like from a stack regardless of the thickness of each sheet. A sheet supply stack support is journaled in a housing in see-saw fashion. A first set of sheet separating rollers is arranged above the downstream end of the support as viewed in the direction of sheet movement. A spring urges the downstream end of the support upwardly and thus sheets on the support against the first set of rollers. A table is located substantially adjacent said downstream end and below a second set of sheet separating rollers. The table has a cut-out and a sheet separating gate slants through the cut-out below the second set of rollers. The gate is spring biased toward the second set of rollers. Two sheet guides are arranged upstream and downstream, for example, of a platen. The supply stack is arranged upstream of the first sheet guide. The sheet receiving stack is arranged downstream of the second sheet guide and substantially above the sheet supply stack.

Abstract: A body weight measuring apparatus, comprising a scale mechanism adapted to be displaced in accordance with the body weight of a person on the scale mechanism, means for converting the displacement amount of said scale mechanism into an electrical pulse train the number of which pulses is associated with said displacement amount, a counter for counting the number of pulses of said pulse train to provide a data associated with said body weight by way of a count value, and a display for displaying said body weight in a digital manner, wherein various conditioning data, such as the height, sex, age, nationality and the like of a person being measured is set, a standard body weight is evaluated in accordance with the set conditioning data, said standard body weight and said measured body weight are compared to evaluate the difference body weight, which is displayed by means of said display, an upper limit and/or lower limit for defining a desirable standard range of body weight determinable by said conditioning da

Abstract: The present coupling is intended to connect a tubular member to a further member such as a coupling sleeve or the like. The further member has an aperture for insertion of the tubular member and a hole extending substantially tangentially relative to the aperture and in partial overlap with the aperture. A locking pin with a flattened side region is inserted into the hole and then rotated to interlock the tubular member and the further member by deforming the tubular member. The locking pin may, for example, be a hollow sleeve with a longitudinal slot in the wall of the sleeve to provide said flattened region. The edges adjacent to the slot in the sleeve may be bent inwardly to facilitate the rotation of the sleeve type locking pin.

Abstract: A method for the multiplication of electrical signals comprises modulating the signals to be multiplied with functions having positive and negative values, multiplying the modulated signals together, demodulating the resulting product with demodulation functions which are the reciprocal of each modulation function, and then averaging the demodulated signal. The modulation circuit comprises an inverter, control signal gated FET's, and an operational amplifier of which the output is the desired modulated signal. A circuit comprising a shift register and an Exclusive-Or gate provides statistical alteration of the cycle duration of the modulation and demodulation functions.

Abstract: A locking device for transport containers or trolleys as used on aircrafts or generally in transportation, includes an anchoring mushroom on the freight floor. A locking lever with a nose engages the mushroom. The locking lever is journalled in a lock housing secured to the bottom of the container or trolley and held in locking position by two springs and by gravity due to a rotatable connection between the locking lever and an actuating lever which is also journalled at the bottom of the container or trolley. The levers can be released from their locked position by the actuation, for example, of a foot pedal.

Abstract: Analog signals representing the unbalance of a rotor in one or more planes extending perpendicularly and across the longitudinal rotational axis of said rotor, are first adapted prior to an analog to digital conversion. The adaptation takes place in response to at least one adaptation value, which is characteristic for the balancing, such as an attenuation, a sensitivity control, an rpm or measuring range selection and the like. The adapted signal is then combined with a reference signal having a frequency corresponding to the rpm of the rotor. The combined signal is subjected to an analog to digital conversion and then digitally displayed. The circuit arrangement for the performance of the signal adaptation, signal combination and signal display includes adaptation circuit means which are responsive to said adaptation value or values. The adaptation circuit means is connected to receive the unbalance information with the correct sign (+ or -).

Abstract: A roller pump having one or more hoses is combined with a control system including a potentiometer for controlling the speed of the pump motor. A manually settable control provides an output corresponding to the diameter of the hose, and a further control provides an output corresponding to the number of hoses. An electronic circuit connected to receive the outputs of the controls, provides an output signal corresponding to the flow rate of the pump. This signal is applied to an indicator, so that an operator may adjust the speed of the pump to obtain a desired flow rate.

Abstract: A container, especially a flat container suitable for confining high internal pressures includes inner membranes secured to lateral side frame members. The inner membranes have inwardly facing convex surfaces and bear against outer walls through hard foam filler material located in the spaces between the inner membranes and the outer walls. The membranes and the walls are manufactured by filament winding techniques.

Abstract: An arrangement for reading out selected characters from a font of characters stored on a stationary optical memory is disclosed. An equal number of light sources and lenses are arranged in front of a matrix plate. The images of the light sources are brought to a focus in a projecting lens, which is used to image the characters in a common plane. A number of deflecting elements is used to combine all images at a common location where the photosensitive material is placed.

Abstract: The present trimming apparatus is capable of trimming the margins of three-dimensional workpieces with the aid of strip steel knives which are driven, preferably by pneumatic piston cylinder means in any desired direction. The workpiece such as the dashboard of a car, is held on the outside thereof by a workpiece support which has such a shape and cut-outs that the strip steel knives may be moved through the workpiece support. A counter-holder presses the workpiece against the outer support. In this combination of elements the workpiece may be trimmed from any direction from its outer side inwardly. The trimming tools may be operable in sequence and may also be supported on a carriage which shuttles back and forth between a trimming station and a loading and unloading station. Power savings may be in the order of 90% as compared to the power requirements of conventional stamping tools.

Abstract: A piezoelectric acceleration transducer has a piezoelectric element with a plane surface arranged in contact with a mass. The mass and the piezoelectric element are held in fixed relationship to each other by a support structure arranged in such a manner that inertia forces effective on said mass are directed to be effective perpendicularly on the plane surface of the piezoelectric element. A bearing point or line is provided between the mass and the support structure in such a position that the directional sensitivity of the transducer may be determined by said position.

Abstract: An ion prime mover or engine includes an ionization chamber closed up by a plasma boundary anchor. A field winding surrounds the ionization chamber for producing a high frequency electromagnetic alternating field. Such field ionizes a gas in the ionization chamber. The ion engine further includes an anode-cathode path for producing an electrostatic field, wherein the ionized gas is accelerated out of the ionization chamber through the apertures in the plasma boundary anchor and in the cathode. The high frequency electromagnetic alternating field is arranged in such a manner that this field is substantially undisturbed in the area of the plasma boundary anchor and that the field lines extend substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the plasma boundary anchor facing the ionization chamber.

Abstract: The present milling tool for crankshafts is equipped with an electric hea to assure uniform tool temperatures throughout its operation and to thereby avoid tolerance variations in the milled workpiece. The present milling machine is equipped with contact elements for supplying an electric current to the heater in the milling tool proper.