Abstract: A spring-powered operator controls a high power circuit breaker by discharging an energy storing spring to rapidly close the circuit breaker against the bias of its internal opening springs, and latches to keep the circuit breaker closed until the receipt of a trip command which unlatches the operator and allows the circuit breaker to open. In response to discharging the energy storing spring, the operator immediately starts charging again in order to prepare for another closing of the circuit breaker. The operator uses a relatively low-power motor to drive a ratchet wheel that indirectly compresses the energy storing spring through a crank mechanism and, upon a release of the spring, uses a cam driven by the spring to act directly on a lever coupled to the breaker. The operator has a low number of parts and is able to close a circuit breaker particularly rapidly and reliably.

Abstract: A racking mechanism (30) for switchgear cubicle (20) draw-out units (24) including a base (39); and a drive screw assembly (44) attached to the base (39) including a screw block (36) translated by rotation of the screw. The screw block (36) is adapted for selective coupling to a draw-out unit (24). Drive surfaces (72) are constructed on the drive screw assembly (44). A biased racking shield (52) which surrounds at least a portion of the drive surfaces (72) in a first position is translatable to a second position by exerting counter-biasing force against the racking shield, in order to expose a portion of the drive surfaces (72). A crank assembly (76) having a socket portion (80) is engageable with the drive surfaces (72) when the racking shield (52) is translated to its second position, in order to rotate the drive screw (44).

Abstract: A lay-in lug (10) with a lug body (12) having a pair of generally parallel, opposed breaker stabs (14, 16) that are engageable in line contacts (44, 46) of a main circuit breaker (48) and securement flanges (20, 22) for attachment of the lug body to an electrical power distribution device. The lug (10) also has a lug cap (30) attachable to the lug body (12) for capture of an electrical cable (42). The lug cap (30) and lug body (12) are preferably formed by extrusion.

Abstract: A safety switch is provided with an auxiliary contact that is actuated by the heel of the bail. The heel actuation enables the auxiliary switch to be easily installed and wired and enables the same actuator and bracket to be used for varying sizes of bails.

Abstract: A vibration reduction assembly for isolating the top cover from the machine, for use in combination with a dynamoelectric machine having a cover for guiding air into and out of the machine while protecting the machine from airborne water and dirt. The vibration reduction assembly comprises a plurality of spaced neoprene pads provided between the cover and the machine, the pads of a density and size selected to obtain low transmissibility and amplification of vibration caused by the machine thereby reducing vibration of the machine; a plurality of closed cell foam rubber strips positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of neoprene pads, the strips for filling space between the cover and for protecting the machine from incident atmospheric precipitation and dust. The cover is affixed to the machine with a plurality of bolts, each bolt engaging a neoprene washer and a neoprene sleeve to eliminate metal to metal contact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting articles such as printed circuit boards doubles the transport rate for the article under inspection, and modifies the manner in which acquired video images are processed to account for this change in rate. Primarily, this involves two modifications to existing video processing systems including a change in synchronization for obtaining the frames which are to be processed, and a selective exposure (i.e., shuttering) of the video cameras to the images which are to be acquired in order to avoid the acquisition of plural images in a single frame. Once acquired, the video images are stored and processed making use of techniques which substantially correspond to those previously employed by existing inspection devices of this general type.

Abstract: An article tracking system includes a delivery zone transmitter associated with at least one physical article delivery location for transmitting data identifying that physical location, a zone detector carried by at least one manually operated article delivery vehicle for detecting the physical proximity of the vehicle to the delivery zone, and a signal device operatively associated with the zone detector for outputting a signal indicating the physical proximity of the vehicle to the delivery zone. Therefore, an operator of the vehicle is informed that the vehicle is in the proper delivery zone for delivery of an article.

Abstract: A computerized monitoring system is used for monitoring the operation of web presses. The computerized monitoring system includes a recorder for automatically recording log entries for each of the respective web presses. The log entries specify the occurrence of particular events and also specify the time at which such events occurred. The computerized monitoring system additionally includes a processor that generates a daily press record for at least one of the web presses. The daily press record summarizes activity of a press for a time frame including the waste, gross and net production. Lastly, the computerized monitoring system is provided with a user interface such as a video display or press for displaying the daily press record. The computerized monitoring system has the capability of operating in real time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for use with a centrifuge to analyze reactants. The apparatus includes at least one cuvette having at least one chamber. The chamber has a radially outward wall which provides a base upon which reactants can be pelleted when the device is rotated about a centrifugal axis. Each cuvette includes one or more openings for introducing fluids to the cuvette and includes a channel positioned adjacent to the radially outward wall for removing fluids from the chamber. Pressure is applied to the chamber to force fluids therefrom, through the channel. A hold down device is also provided through which fluid and/or pressure may be passed with respect to the cuvette. The invention also provides a method for determining the existence and degree of agglutination of reactants in a first fluid suspension and contained in a single reaction vessel using a photodetector.

Abstract: Apparatus assures correct alignment of a plurality of cylindrical, patterned textile printing screens arrayed horizontally, parallel with one another in a sequence of screens on heads which are rotated by a drive. Optical encoders associated with the drive mechanism for each screen indicate the orientations of the heads as they rotate, and reflective markers are located on the screens with an edge in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the screens and in a predetermined relationship to the pattern to be printed by the screen. An overhead laser source scans the screens aimed at a rotating mirror aligned to reflect light from the laser source to scan the reflective markers on the screens to a light sensor. A computer receives signals from the orientation sensors and the light sensor, and a counter counts at a rate on the order of 10 megahertz and recognizes a reflective marker when light is detected by the light detector for a threshold number of pulses.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting elongated, extruded plastic articles includes a cutter assembly composed of a pair of side-by-side, plate-like cutting die bushings having a transverse article opening formed therethrough configured and dimensioned to accommodate the passage and guidance of an elongated extruded plastic article therethrough, and a thin, generally planar cutting blade having a cutting edge. The blade is supportable for reciprocable movement between the cutting die bushings for movement between an operative position in which the blade moves across the article opening so as to cut an article disposed therein and an inoperative position in which the blade is displaced from the article opening. The blade is supported for reciprocable movement by at least one support finger disposed on each side of the blade which serves to prevent buckling of the blade.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated flex-pack case packer for servicing a form-fill-seal machine. The flex-pack case packer employs a two-stage displacement cylinder to move an interchangeable head assembly having grippers that, when moved into position to receive severed flexible pouches from the form-fill-seal machine, grasp the flexible pouches. The head assembly is then retracted and swung from its horizontal position to a vertical position. Once an open top container is indexed into position, the head assembly is lowered toward the container and the grippers open to release the flexible pouches. Also, the lateral distances between the flexible pouches as they are held by their respective grippers can be expanded or contracted by using an air cylinder to actuate a rocker arm. A programmable controller coordinates all air control valve and solenoid activity.

Abstract: A circuit breaker including a trip unit interlock. The trip unit interlock provides a trip unit having a plug connectable with a mating plug which is slidable with respect to the circuit breaker. The trip unit engages a pair of pins mounted to the circuit breaker when the trip unit is in its operating position. The pins are oriented to prevent separation of the plug from the receptacle during circuit breaker tripping. Since it is undesirable to insert a trip unit into a circuit breaker where the trip unit is not compatible with the circuit breaker, the pins and openings in the trip unit are configured such that they will not mate if the trip unit is not appropriate for the circuit breaker. When the trip unit is in its operating position, the trip unit holds an interlock lever for the contact operating mechanism of the circuit breaker in a position where the contact operating mechanism may close the contacts and hold the contacts closed when the circuit breaker is in its ON state.

Abstract: A retrieval system for rapidly removing articles from a plastic molding machine or other manufacturing process includes a pair of lightweight carbon fiber tubes arranged for telescoping motion into and out of an open mold. The telescoping tubes are driven by a low inertial cable drive system. A high volume, low pressure vacuum is supplied to the telescoping tubes and, in turn, to a set of receivers mounted on the pair of telescoping tubes to rapidly draw molded articles from the mold as they are conventionally ejected therefrom. A differential vacuum sensing system provides confirmation that all of the molded articles have been drawn from the mold by the receivers. Withdrawal of the pair of telescoping tubes, with the molded articles just retrieved, from the open mold is then initiated simultaneously with initiation of closure of the mold in preparation for a new molding cycle.

Abstract: Characteristics of moving webs are measured using a radiation source shutter which is rotatably movable between an opened-shutter position and a closed-shutter position and structured to permit access to the radiation source in the closed-shutter position. The source is configured to produce a fan-shaped radiation beam which passes through the web to a detector. The sizing of the fan-shaped beam and the detector together with the spacing the source and the detector are such that the beam width is substantially less than the detector while its length is greater than the detector. This novel beam shaping, detector arrangement provides composition insensitivity, increases solid beam angle and superior streak detection by aligning the beam length dimension with the direction of web movement.

Abstract: An auxiliary resolver position tracking (RPT) system for an industrial robot includes a resolver excitation and monitoring system which is powered by an uninterruptable power supply which includes a battery. The RPT system generates trapezoidal excitation pulses for the resolvers in the robot when no external excitation signal is applied, for example when the robot is shut down. Since there is relatively little motion to be detected in these instances, the RPT system switches between a slow position sampling rate, when no motion is detected, and a fast sampling rate when motion is detected. When operating on battery power, the RPT only switches to the fast sampling rate when motion is detected. To ensure that no motion data is lost when the system switches back to the slow sampling rate, the high sampling rate is maintained for a time sufficient to capture any residual motion of the robot.

Abstract: A capacative probe is provided which has reduced effective stray capacitance and is thus able to accurately detect probe contact with a conducting fluid with small fluid volumes. Effective stray capacitance is reduced by dividing stray capacitance sources into two or more sources, by reducing the capacitance value of each of the divided stray capacitance sources to a value which is substantially less than the capacitance difference which occurs as a result of probe contact with the fluid and by connecting at least selected ones of the divided stray capacitance sources in series to further reduce effective stray capacitance.

Abstract: An electrical power distribution busway and bus plug arrangement useable in an office area. The arrangement includes at least one busway having three power bus bars for carrying electrical power, and isolated ground (or neutral) bus, a neutral bus, and a bonded ground bus. The arrangement also includes a power distribution unit for providing the busway with electrical power, where different qualities of electrical power may be selectively provided to the power bus bars of the busway. The arrangement also includes plug-in assemblies which are electrically engageable with the busways and capable of being configured to selectively provide power from one of the three power bus bars to a sensitive device such as a computer or an insensitive device such as an electrical motor.

Abstract: An automated tube filling machine and process having a plurality of work stations, a rotating disc to deliver the tubes to the work stations and a central processing unit to control implementation of the work stations and rotation of the disc.

Abstract: A microcomputer-based device that performs the functions of motor starting and overload protection. The starter function is customized for a particular application by storing program steps representing the input command and output control logic peculiar to a given motor in a programmable, non-volatile memory cell. Each set of program steps, which the microcomputer executes, compose an expandable library of such sets representing the different motor circuit applications available for configuring a starter to match its particular application. A configuration can be changed by simply loading into memory the appropriate set of program steps from the library and changing the labels of the inputs and outputs to match the new application.