Abstract: The thickness of slices cut by an automatic slicing machine is controlled to produce a draft of slices having a predetermined weight. Desired thickness is determined in accordance with the cross-sectional density of the food product being sliced, which is obtained from the weight and thickness of the most recently cut slice or slices. This information is combined with a desired weight for each of the remaining slices to be cut in the draft to control the rate of advance of the food product into a continuously rotating knife so as to obtain the proper thickness.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a gasket trapped between spaced apart flanges of a valve stem. The gasket is worked over one flange, causing one end of the gasket to deflect with the cross-section undergoing a rolling motion. Upon passing the flange the deflected end of the gasket resumes its normal size, thereby remaining captive between the valve stem flanges. The valve stem flange and the gasket have recesses formed therein for visual inspection of hidden surfaces, useful to evaluate flush cleaning performed on the valve assembly. The gasket internal bore and the valve stem body extending between the flanges have complementary cross-sectional configurations. The gasket has a tapered bore to aid in insertion on the valve stem and the recesses are part conical, terminating at an intermediate point along the gasket bore. The gasket is dimensioned to float in radial and axial directions when mounted on the valve stem.

Abstract: The thickness of slices cut by an automatic slicing machine is controlled to produce a draft of slices having a predetermined weight. Desired thickness is determined in accordance with the cross-sectional density of the food product being sliced, which is obtained from the weight and thickness of the most recently cut slice or slices. This information is combined with a desired weight for each of the remaining slices to be cut in the draft to control the rate of advance of the food product into a continuously rotating knife so as to obtain the proper thickness.

Abstract: A dynamically compensating counterbalance enables a numerically controlled contouring head to maintain proper balance through large slide travels, cutting tool radial travels, and weight changes in the cutting tool at high speeds. A counterweight within the contouring head moves oppositely to the slide direction by means of a pair of interconnected fluid cylinders. Slide reciprocation under numerical control pumps the first cylinder to slave the second cylinder and the counterweight connected thereto. The counterweight is of a high density material, thereby enabling the counterweight to have lesser and proportional travel than the corresponding slide travel while maintaining proper counterbalance. Proportional slide and counterweight travels are accomplished by employing cylinders of an unequal areas. The invention includes a servo operated third cylinder in fluid communication with the first and second cylinders.

Abstract: An automotive slicing machine includes a circuit for monitoring the operation of a card dispenser during the processing of a sliced product. In one embodiment, when the monitoring circuit detects that a card dispensing operation has not been performed for two consecutive drafts of a sliced product, the slicing operation is halted until an operator attends to the problem.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the available hook raising and lowering distance is attached to a crane or other lifting structure having a boom and at least one lifting tackle utilizing at least one lifting line connected to a prime mover. The apparatus utilizes a support means attached to the crane boom substantially at the connection point of an existing upper tackle. A fixed, lower gripper platform is suspended from the support means and has at least one linear winch grip mounted thereon. A movable, upper gripper platform is connected to at least one lifting line associated with the lifting tackle. The upper gripper platform has at least one linear winch grip mounted thereon. The upper gripper platform is also adapted to reciprocate between the lower gripper platform and the upper tackle in response to the prime mover drawing in or paying out the lifting line. At least one extended load line for attachment to a load passes through the linear winch grips on the lower and upper gripper platforms.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved platform-mounted apparatus for holding and rapidly releasing a flexible load line having the properties of a wire rope. The invention comprises wedge gripper means for holding the line up to a tensile force substantially equal to the breaking strength of the line, with the gripper means comprising a grip frame for mounting to the platform and a pair of opposed grip wedges, the wedges having opposed internal gripping surfaces for engaging the line and external wedging surfaces that taper toward each other in the direction of the tensile force in a gripped line, each grip wedge having a wide end and a narrow end. Grip connection means connect the wide end of each grip wedge to the grip frame, said grip connection means defining a lower travel limit for each grip wedge in the direction of the tensile force in a gripped line.

Abstract: A boring tool is made from simple bar stock without significant external machining of the tool body. By providing a longitudinal bore which intersects a transverse slot, a longitudinally slidable wedge with splines can cooperate with a disc carried by a tool bar slidably received in the transverse slot. To ensure the most precise alignment between splines of the wedge and splines of a cooperating disc in the tool bar, the disc of the tool bar is attached to the tool bar with epoxy cement while the splines of the disc are engaged with the splines of the wedge. With the splines of the wedge being angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the wedge, translation of the wedge will ensure accurately controlled movement of the tool bar.

Abstract: A boring tool is made from simple bar stock without significant external machining of the tool body. By providing a longitudinal bore which intersects a transverse slot, a longitudinally slidable wedge with splines can cooperate with a disc carried by a tool bar slidably received in the transverse slot. To ensure the most precise alignment between splines of the wedge and splines of a cooperating disc in the tool bar, the disc of the tool bar is attached to the tool bar with epoxy cement while the splines of the disc are engaged with the splines of the wedge. With the splines of the wedge being angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the wedge, translation of the wedge will ensure accurately controlled movement of the tool bar.

Abstract: A subpurlin (100) is provided for use in constructing an insulated wall assembly having a plurality of horizontal support members (104) and wall panels (102). The subpurlin (100) is provided with a first cell rib area (110) and a second cell rib area (112) and interconnecting spanner sections (28) to provide insulation space (116) between the wall support members (104) and the subpurlin.

Abstract: A subpurlin (10) is provided for a building assembly having a plurality of overhead structural members (50), an insulating layer (62) and a plurality of overlapping roof panels (56). The subpurlins (10) support and space the roof panels (56) without compressing the insulating layer (62). Connector assemblies (30) secure the subpurlins (10) on the structural members (50) while permitting differential thermal movements between the roof panels (56) and the structural members (50). The connector assemblies (30) have ferrules (32) which slidingly engage slots (16) in the subpurlins (10). Washers (34) are fastened to the structural members (50) through the ferrules (32) during subpurlin (10) installation.

Abstract: A general safe retract and return function is provided for a machine tool which is easily programmed for all cases to avoid collision and interference between the workpiece and tool and to reduce the damage or imperfection in the surface of the machined workpiece caused by the termination and/or resumption of machining. The general safe retract and return function includes parameters defining incremental retract and entry vectors relative to the direction of the machining path in the region of the interrupted point. Preferably the tool and workpiece are reengaged at the interrupted point along an entry ventor which is at a grazing angle with respect to the reverse of the tool feed direction along the machining path, thereby avoiding remachining of the workpieces but providing a smooth surface finish.

Abstract: A crane block (FIG. 2) is provided for traveling along a central main fall symmetry line (78) defining vertical travel during movement of a hoist within a barge mounted crane. The crown block (50) is mounted to a crane boom (12) and includes a first row of relatively large diameter sheaves (54) in tandem with a second row of relatively small diameter sheaves (58). A movable block (76) is provided between the traveling block (74) and the crown block (50) and includes a third row of relatively small diameter sheaves (60) which are reeved together with the second row of sheaves. A traveling block (74) is provided with a fourth row of relatively large diameter sheaves (56) which are reeved together with the first row of sheaves (54). Sheaves in either the second (58) or third (60) rows are horizontally canted with respect to the main fall symmetry line (78) for vertical travel of the rope which is reeved between the rows.

Abstract: A peripheral processor for a central processing unit is in the form of a memory which is repetitively loaded with data scanning an array. The processor performs predefined logical operations between respective elements of successive scans of data. Preferably address signals sent to the peripheral processor via a preassigned set of address lines specify a desired one of a plurality of predetermined logical operations. Logical operations may also be performed when data is written to processor memory as well as read from the processor. A memory shift register, for example, automatically transfers original data from present scan memory to past scan memory when new data is loaded into present scan memory.

Abstract: A subpurlin (10) is provided for a building assembly having a plurality of overhead structural members (50), an insulating layer (62) and a plurality of overlapping roof panels (56). The subpurlins (10) support and space the roof panels (56) without compressing the insulating layer (62). Connector assemblies (30) secure the subpurlins (10) on the structural members (50) while permitting differential thermal movements between the roof panels (56) and the structural members (50). The connector assemblies (30) have ferrules (32) which slidingly engage slots (16) in the subpurlins (10). Washers (34) are fastened to the structural members (50) through the ferrules (32) during subpurlin (10) installation.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for automatic radial adjustment of a boring tool in a machine tool spindle to accurately size a bore in a workpiece within extremely close tolerances over a wide range of bore sizes.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system for use at a pipe manufacturing facility includes a computer and memory; a storage/retrieval crane operable in a storage yard; a plurality of containers, each being capable of containing material for storage and a load crane for at least one of loading or unloading respective containers. The computer is on-site proximate the storage yard and includes means for monitoring and controlling the storage/retrieval crane and load crane, means for monitoring and storing in memory information of container positions in the storage yard and means for coordinating operation of the storage/retrieval crane and load crane. The crane stores and retrieves containers in the yard in a three dimensional array, can carry containers on the crane feet, and may deliver or retrieve containers relative to load/unload stations including a load crane. At such stations pipe is transferred between containers and the load crane.

Abstract: A two axis numerically controlled contour boring machine adapted for interior and exterior machining operations such as boring, facing, grooving, turning and back-facing. The machine comprises a headstock slidably driven along a first axis by a feed motor. The headstock supports a rotatable contouring head having a radial slide which is driven along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The radial slide is spindle actuated and includes adjustment means for removing backlash in the drive. The radial slide is adapted to hold quick disconnect type tools selected for the particular machining operation or operations called for by the machining program. The desired contours are generated in the workpiece by the combined motion of the headstock and radial slide along their respective axes under numerical control.

Abstract: A roof structure and its components comprises a series of metal panels having flanges that interlock when the panels are laid side by side and which are subsequently tightly seamed together to convert the individual panels into an integrated roof forming membrane. The roof structure may be insulated through the use of a blanket vapor barrier and insulation under the panels preferably along with thermal blocks located over the purlins. The roof structure includes unique flexible panel mounting clips that attach the panels to the purlins in such a way as to permit the panels to expand or contract in response to temperature and pressure changes, thereby minimizing roof stressing.The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/000,342, filed 03/16/83, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

Abstract: A roof structure and its components comprises a series of metal panels having flanges that interlock when the panels are laid side by side and which are subsequently tightly seamed together to convert the individual panels into an integrated roof forming membrane. The roof structure may be insulated through the use of a blanket vapor barrier and insulation under the panels preferably along with thermal blocks located over the purlins. The roof structure includes unique flexible panel mounting clips that attach the panels to the purlins in such a way as to permit the panels to expand or contract in response to temperature and pressure changes, thereby minimizing roof stressing.The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/000,345, filed 03/18/83, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).