Abstract: A system for attaching electrical contacts to the conductive ends of wires preferably provides simultaneous sorting operations, wherein different contacts from separate batches are simultaneously sorted in consecutive order; preselection operations, wherein contacts stuck together are removed; simultaneous holding operations, wherein presorted contacts from each batch are accumulated in separate, automatically resupplied queues, for rapid subsequent retrieval by the operator; pneumatic transporting operations, wherein contacts are rapidly retrieved from any queue selected and prealigned opposite the crimping jaws of a crimping unit; and two-step crimping operations, wherein prealigned contacts are quickly gripped by partially closed crimping jaws, in the first step, in preparation for the second step of wire end insertion and full crimping.

Abstract: A substrate thermal conditioning apparatus with a chamber, a plate located in the chamber and a gas supply. The plate has a top heat transfer surface with grooves therealong. A substrate is placed on standoffs of the heat transfer surface and gas is pumped into the chamber. The plate is either heated or cooled to change the temperature of the substrate. Heat is transferred between the substrate and the plate primarily by gas conduction heating. Because of the grooves in the plate, the gas can be very quickly and uniformly distributed and evacuated between the substrate and the heat transfer surface.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for producing a signal representative of currents having frequencies and/or characteristics associated with arcing within an alternating current electrical system. The arrangement is coupled to an appropriate arc monitoring circuit which determines if the signal produced by the sensor is the result of arcing within the electrical system. One embodiment of the sensor arrangement includes an inductor, and a capacitor connected in series with the primary winding of a transformer. The inductor is typically connected in series with a phase conductor of the electrical system, and the capacitor and the primary winding are connected to the phase conductor in parallel to the inductor. Another embodiment of the sensor arrangement includes a capacitor and the primary winding of a transformer connected in series between the phase conductor of the electrical system and either a ground or neutral conductor of the system.

Abstract: A circuit breaker including a base having an operating mechanism mounted thereon, a line contact blade assembly coupled to the operating mechanism for movement between open and closed positions, and a load contact blade assembly pivotally supported by a terminal strap for movement between an open and closed position with respect to the line contact blade is disclosed herein. A load blade return spring is positioned to bias the load contact blade assembly into engagement with the line contact blade. Furthermore, a multi-force spring device is disposed to apply a first force to the load contact blade while the load contact blade is in the closed position and a second force to the load contact blade in the blow open position, wherein the first force is greater than the second force.

Abstract: A vending apparatus for dispensing trays of hot food is provided with a vertical stack of the compartments for storing and heating the trays of food. Each compartment has a lower support-shelf, under which is an electrical, coil-resistance heater for keeping the food in the tray at a temperature of about 150 degrees F. Opening of the door of a compartment causes the opening of a micro-switch associated with the selected compartment, which opening causes power to be shut off to the solenoid of the compartment. Operatively associated with each compartment is a push-mechanism that causes the selected tray to be partially pushed out of its compartment when the associated door is manually opened. Each push-mechanism has a push-rod coupled through suitable linkage to the door, which push-rod contacts the rear surface of the selected tray for pushing it out as the door is opened.

Abstract: An articulated arm transfer device having a pair of upper arms and a pair of forearms. Each upper arm is rotatable at its shoulder end. Each forearm is rotatable at its wrist end. The elbow ends of the upper arms and the forearms are connected to each other by a link. The shoulder ends are mounted on a support in such a manner that one upper arm is rotated by a drive, and a holder for an object to be transferred is mounted on the wrist ends. The link includes shafts upon which the elbow ends are mounted. At least two S-bands connect the shafts in such a manner that rotation of one shaft in either direction causes rotation of the other shaft in the opposite direction. The elbow end of one upper arm is fixed to its shaft, while the elbow end of the other upper arm is rotatably mounted on its shaft.

Abstract: Filling apparatus and method of operation are provided for rapid, selectively controlled filling of flexible, plastic, webbed containers with a liquid. The apparatus includes a cutter which separates the lead container from the web whereupon a shuttle delivers the separated container to a filling head. The filling head rapidly loads the container with the desired liquid whereupon the container is thereafter directed from the filling head along a specially constructed air table. Programmable controlls allow precise movement of the container handling and filling operation to ensure rapid and efficient container loading.

Abstract: The end effector of a frog-leg robot is raised and lowered by using walking-beams to effect a vertical movement of the fore arms at the elbow joint.

Abstract: A device and apparatus for monitoring faults in a three phase induction machine are disclosed herein. The device and method utilize values of the currents in the three phases and the voltages of the three phases to estimate a current portion which is not substantially affected by the load torque effects of the machine. This current portion is related to the unacceptable magnetic fields present in the machine. These fields are typically caused by electrical or mechanical problems in the machine, and when the current portion exceeds a predetermined limit, operation of the machine can be discontinued.

Abstract: An overload relay including a thermal actuator heated by a control circuit is disclosed herein. The overload relay includes a contactor having a pair of contacts for interrupting the application of power from one or more power conductors to a load such as a motor. The relay also includes current transformers associated with each power conductor configured to produce signals representative of the electrical current in the power conductor. The control circuit is coupled to the current transformers and monitors the current signals when the contacts of the contactor are closed. In response to the current signals exceeding predetermined limits, the control circuit applies a heating current to the thermal actuator. In response to the heating current, the thermal actuator opens a switch which controls the application of power to the solenoid of the contactor.

Abstract: A voltage regulator controller of a step-type voltage regulator monitors its own power supply and saves the regulators operations count to a non-volatile memory, only when it is determined that a power failure is imminent. The controller counts the number of tap changes in the voltage regulator transformer by monitoring an "operations counter" signal from the regulator's tap changer mechanism. When a tap change is detected, the controller increments an electronically stored count value. The electronically stored count value is maintained exactly, even when the power to the device is lost. In order to determine whether a power failure is imminent, the controller monitors the AC supply voltage using a zero-crossing detector circuit. The zero crossing detector circuit produces transitions corresponding to transition in the AC power waveform. The zero crossing circuit stops producing transition when the AC voltage falls below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A flexible, self-adhesive, lighting system includes a continuous length of flexible, self-adhesive, light emissive material, cuttable into segments of light emissive material, each segment including a plurality of light emitting diodes serving as light emissive devices. The segments are electrically coupled by different shaped couplers, for forming a variety of configurations of light emissive material, and further coupled to a source of power. Each coupler includes at least two electrical conductors for conducting power from one segment of light emissive material to a coupled segment or a source of power. Each of the light emissive devices may be covered by one clear or colored lens. Alternatively, multiple light emissive devices, of the same or different color, may be covered by one lens. Further, steady or intermittent power from a power control unit may be supplied to each light emissive device for providing different lighting sequences and colors.

Abstract: A work cell for populating a ball grid array employs gravity for transferring solder balls from a tooling plate to the ball grid array. The tooling plate is positioned on a gantry along with a reservoir for solder balls. The gantry, along with the tooling plate and reservoir, is rotated through about one hundred and eighty degrees to spread the solder balls over the tooling plate and to recapture loose solder balls as the gantry rotates. A riser cylinder moves a ball grid array into juxtaposition with the populated tooling plate prior to the point (i.e. angle of rotation) at which gravity operates to drop the solder balls out of the tooling plate. Further rotation results in gravity transfer of the solder balls to a (fluxed) ball grid array. Apparatus employing more than one work cell is also described.

Abstract: A voltage regulator controller including means for creating multiple regulator setpoint configurations. Configurations can be selected upon demand, by time/date activation, or by an external trigger source.

Abstract: A voltage regulator controller is provided with multiple control programs. At any given time, one of the control programs is selected to be "active" depending on the existing operating conditions. An operator (user) configures the voltage regulator control to change its active control program based on a number of factors, which can include, for example, demand metering values, the time and/or date, external inputs such as the measured transformer oil temperature, commands received via a serial communications port and fault/maintenance status. In a preferred embodiment, the configuration settings for activation are handled in accordance with a priority scheme when more than one of the conditions occur simultaneously.

Abstract: A voltage regulator controller includes means for determining the tap position based on regulator impedance characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the tap position determination system is embodied as part of an regulator designed to operate within a fixed percentage range of regulation (e.g. .+-.10%) with the identical number of turns between each of its series winding taps. In this environment, the regulator tap position is determined as a function of the regulator input voltage, the regulator output voltage, the regulator series winding current, system load power factor and internal regulator impedance.

Abstract: A voltage regulator controller of the types used with a multi-tap voltage regulator transformer having a plurality of tap positions for adjusting an output voltage in discrete tap position steps is provided with a number of control algorithms which are dynamically changed responsive to the measured oil temperature in the transformer. In one embodiment, the voltage regulator controller includes a memory having tap movement control code stored therein for controlling the tap positions in accordance with a plurality of tap position control algorithms, means for measuring the oil temperature of the voltage regulator transformer, means for monitoring the oil temperature within the transformer and, means for selecting one of the tap position control algorithms as being active as a function of the oil temperature.

Abstract: A process for transforming the round shafts of nails into a multi-vaned profile involves supplying an oriented sequence of abuting identical nails to an indexing operation where the nails are separated and uniformly oriented, then feeding the nails head first downwardly into the nip of rolls which secure each nail by its head and form the round shaft of each secured nail into a multi-vaned profile. Apparatus for performing the nail transforming process includes an indexing mechanism, a downward feeding mechanism, and a set of forming rolls positioned to rotate in vertical planes.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling cartons with horizontal stacks of containers includes a chute assembly and a carton indexing table positioned thereunder. The chute assembly holds a single horizontal stack of containers to be placed in a plastic-lined carton previously placed on the carton indexing table. The chute assembly includes front and rear downwardly and inwardly projecting fixed guides and a pair of pivoting side guides. The pivoting side guides are arranged for motion between an inward retracted position and an outward extended position.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermal protection of an electric motor is provided, including a monitoring device for generating a signal representative of the current in a conductor supplying electrical power to the electric motor. A control circuit processes the current signal and utilizes the processed signal and motor thermal parameters, including the thermal resistance and thermal capacitance of the rotor, to generate signals representative of the temperature of at least the rotor. A comparator circuit, which may be part of the control circuit, compares the temperature signals to reference maximum temperature signals and produces a control signal when the temperature signals and reference signals satisfy a predetermined relationship. The control signal may be applied to a contactor to interrupt current to the motor. A method for thermal protection of an electric motor is also provided, including thermal modeling of the rotor temperature.