Abstract: A checkweigher uses a strain gauge load cell to provide a digital count which in turn is utilized to provide for automatic rezeroing and simplified referencing. The "grey zone" is taken into account for 100% rejection. Give away weight and standard deviation are also automatically determined.

Abstract: Liquid cooled helmet comprising a cap of flexible material adapted to fit the head of a person, cooling panels mounted inside the cap forming passageways for carrying a liquid coolant, the panels being positioned to engage the cranium and neck of a person wearing the helmet, inlet and outlet lines communicating with the passageways, and releasable straps for securing the helmet about the neck of the wearer.

Abstract: A parabolic trough solar energy collector including an elongated support with a plurality of ribs secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom. One surface of said ribs is shaped to define a parabola and is adapted to receive and support a thin reflecting sheet which forms a parabolic trough reflecting surface. One or more of said collectors are adapted to be joined end to end and supported for joint rotation to track the sun. A common drive system rotates the reflectors to track the sun; the reflector concentrates and focuses the energy along a focal line. The fluid to be heated is presented along the focal line in a suitable pipe which extends therealong.

Abstract: A tomato sorter is described for removing culls, e.g. green tomatoes from the good, red tomatoes. An image of each tomato passing the station is formed on a light diffusing plate. Diffused light from the plate is divided into first and second light beams from which all but the red and the green light components, respectively, are removed with filters. The remaining light is sensed by separate photo-multipliers, the output of which is used to form red and green light intensity signals. When the differential between the red and green signals exceeds a predetermined value, a reject signal is generated which actuates a mechanism for removing the affected tomato from the tomato flow.

Abstract: A produce sorter is described for removing culls, for example green tomatoes from red tomatoes and for removing foreign objects such as dirt and debris. An image of the produce and the foreign objects passing a station is formed on a light diffusing plate. Light from the diffusing plate impinges upon two pair of phototransducers. The transducers are each preceded by a color filter. The color filters are selected so that one pair of transducers produces electrical signals corresponding to two colors or wavelengths and the other pair produce electrical signals corresponding to two different wavelengths. The filters for one pair of transducers are selected to pass red and green. When the red/green signals have a predetermined relationship a reject signal is generated to reject culls. Additionally, when the signals from the other pair of transducers have a predetermined relationship a reject signal is generated to reject foreign objects.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus scans the object being sorted and produces a reject signal for rejecting an unwanted object. In the sorting of produce culls (spoiled green or overripe produce) are rejected. The rejector system employs a piston-driven rejector for removing the culls or unwanted object. An air cylinder provides air under pressure to drive the piston. A valve selectively applies from the cylinder in response to the reject signals. A flow restrictor is placed in the air supply line for controlling the acceleration and velocity of the air-driven piston.

Abstract: Transmitter for conveying information from a rotating member to a stationary monitor utilizing hybrid circuits and discrete components mounted in a rigid housing and interconnected by feedthrough capacitors and pins affixed to the housing. Additional feedthrough connectors are provided for connecting the transmitter to a power supply and extremely located sensing elements. The hybrid circuits are connected directly to the feedthrough elements without intermediate packaging or leads, and the outer contour of the housing is made to conform to the side wall of a bore in which the transmitter is mounted in the rotating member.

Abstract: A multiple data channel wireless data coupling system which transmits measured data from a plurality of rotating data sources to a stationary receiver. It includes several rotating transmitters, each producing a unique carrier frequency, which are capacitively coupled to a stationary receiver. The transmitters are supplied power from a relatively low frequency power source through an inductive coupling. The low frequency power source is also utilized to synchronize all of the transmitters as well as the receiver.

Abstract: Centrifugal arranging and feeding apparatus in which the articles to be arranged are introduced toward the center of a rotating disk. Outward movement of the articles is limited by a flexible retaining ring which is lifted in a first region of rotation to permit articles to pass to the periphery of the disk. In a second region, the articles pass from the periphery of the disk onto an elevator ring which lifts the articles to a delivery ring. A guide retains the articles on the delivery ring until they reach a discharge region where they are delivered from the ring in a generally tangential direction.