Abstract: The invention is particularly useful for sorting, altering or maintaining the orientation items of differing sizes moved by a sorter. The endless loop's carriers include belts that both transport and sort the items. Followers clasp the belts about the lengthwise periphery of the carriers' slats and also engage lines, diverters, crossovers and receivers. When a follower is diverted toward a crossover, transverse motion is imparted to its corresponding carrier's belt. Routers can be incorporated into the sorter for enhancing the control of the orientation and sortation of items advanced by the endless loop's carriers.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for accessing, controlling and monitoring a programable logic controller with a network client having a conventional web browser. The apparatus includes an archive, an interface, and a library. The archive provides for compiling an application written in code supported by the web browser. The interface is responsive to the application for establishing a connection between the controller and the network client. Further, the library is responsive to the application for supporting communication between the controller and the network client upon establishing a connection therebetween.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of and apparatus for determining calibration options in a motion control system is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring error in a commanded motion, modeling the error, identifying sources of the error; and predicting a degree to which applying compensation for one of the sources of the error might affect the error.

Abstract: The invention provides a hoist drive system for controlling the position of a hoist platform in a palletizer. In an embodiment of the invention, a hoist drive system comprises two electrical motors with dual output shafts. One motor may have an encoder for taking measurements relating to the rotation of the motor. A common shaft with a spring set safety brake ties the motors together. The two motors may be flux vector motors controlled with input from the encoder. The motors drive two gearboxes, thereby enabling vertical displacement of a hoist platform coupled to the drive system.

Abstract: A technique to verify, evaluate, and estimate the performance of an integrated circuit is embodied in a computer software program that is executable by a computer system. The technique accurately estimates of the performance (e.g., transient delays) of an integrated circuit, and has fast execution times. The technique includes an incremental recharacterization feature where only portions of the design which have been changed or are new or different will need to be recharacterized during subsequent runs of the software. Portions of the design which are the same need not be recharacterized, and results for those portions from a previous run (stored in a database) are used. This saves execution time since the performance recharacterization or evaluation process is generally more time consuming than a database look up. The technique is applicable to small circuits having relatively few transistors, and especially well suited for integrated circuits having millions of transistors and components.

Abstract: A carousel used in a restocking system is comprised of a drive track. A plurality of bins are arranged into rows, with the rows being driven by said drive track. A drive mechanism, e.g. an electric motor, drives the drive track. A sensor is provided to sense the position of the rows of bins. A processor is responsive to the sensor and data representative of a plurality of picks for more than one order for controlling the drive mechanism. By combining picks from different orders into a batch, the time spent driving the rows and time between picks is minimized. The carousel may be divided into a plurality of columns, each with its own drive track, drive mechanism, and sensor, to enable several rows to be brought into a pick position simultaneously.

Abstract: A contact assembly for use in an electrical switching apparatus has an actuator. An enclosure comprises an interior space housing first and second stationary contacts fixedly mounted in spaced relation with one another in one of a normally closed position or a normally open position. A pusher is movably mounted in the enclosure and is selectively driven by the actuator to move between a normal position and an actuated position. The pusher comprises a top wall, a bottom wall and first and second side walls connected between the top wall and bottom wall to define an opening having respective first and second ends. First and second longitudinally spaced top ribs are on an inside of the top wall proximate the respective first and second side walls. First and second longitudinally spaced bottom ribs are in an inside of the bottom wall proximate the respective first and second side walls and laterally offset from the respective first and second top ribs. A movable contact is received in the opening.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for budgeting timing in a hierarchically decomposed integrated circuit design, which includes: 1) optimizing at least one path through block pins, the optimization resulting in assigned gains for all the cells along said at least one path; 2) performing timing analysis on the at least one path, the timing analysis using the assigned gains in order to generate arrival times for signals at said block pins; and 3) deriving a tinting budget by examining said generated arrival times at said block pins.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for storage of applications symbols, graphics, web pages, and other data within a server coupled to a programable logic controller. The server is operably connected to a network and the programable logic controller and includes a memory, an FTP server, and a HTTP server. The FTP server is operably connected to the memory and the network for transferring files into the memory. The HTTP is operably connected to the memory and the network for transferring web pages onto the network. Also, the programable logic controller is provided access to the memory within the server for downloading files into the memory of the controller.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for communicating information over a communications network from a sending device to a target device is disclosed. The sending device determines a network location of a target device to which a first frame of information is to be sent. The first frame of information is formatted for a first communications protocol and includes a device address field configured to store a device identifier that corresponds to the target device. Then the sending device selects, based on the network location of the target device, an addressing scheme from among plural different addressing schemes. The device identifier is generated for the first frame on the basis of the selected addressing scheme. The sending device encapsulates the first frame of information in a second frame of information formatted for a second communications protocol and including a destination address field.

Abstract: A method for communicating process data between a plurality of devices in a process control system, including receiving process data in an equipment interface system data format from an equipment interface system, and selecting a set of the process data received from the equipment interface system for communication to a process data control system. The method also includes configuring the selected set of process data from the equipment interface system data format into an open format for communication to the process data control system, and transmitting the configured process data to the process data control system.

Abstract: A robotic tool changer with an improved safety interlock includes a master unit, a tool unit, and a coupler movable between coupled and decoupled positions and operative to couple the master and tool units. A circuit for actuating the coupler is associated with the tool unit, for connection to an interlock that closes when the tool is safely parked in a tool stand. The circuit enables the coupler to assume the decoupled position when the master and tool units are coupled and the circuit is closed. The robotic tool changer additionally includes a circuit operative to enable the coupler to assume the decoupled position when the master unit is decoupled from the tool unit.

Abstract: Broadly, there is disclosed in accordance with a first aspect of the invention a reversible housing base for a motor controller having controllable switches of selectable size and bus bars having size selected according to switch size. The reversible housing base comprises a front wall, a rear wall and opposite side walls. The side walls are connected to the front and rear walls in a rectangular configuration to surround the switches and to define a top surface and an opposite bottom surface. The front and rear wall top surface each has a set of slots of a first size to support a first size of bus bars and the front and rear wall bottom surface each has a set of slots of a second size to support a second size of bus bars. The orientation of the housing base is reversible according to size of the bus bars.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus including a base configured to be fitted to a holding rail with opposing coplanar arms, and configured to accommodate a component member of the apparatus and fitted with a locking device having two opposing catches each intended to hook onto a respective arm of the rail. Further, at least one of the two catches is joined to a slide configured to slide in a direction and can be moved by a manual unlocking member. In addition, he manual unlocking member includes a lever pivoted around at least one bearing pin having an axis perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slide, and the lever cooperates with the slide bar via a cam device guiding through a slide track having an axis parallel to the axis of the bearing pin.

Abstract: In a loading and unloading station for semiconductor processing installations, the object of the present invention is to ensure charging proceeding from transporting containers under clean room conditions. These transporting containers themselves serve as magazines for disk-shaped objects and are open laterally. It should also be possible, optionally, to load and unload a greater quantity of such transporting containers, wherein the exchange of transporting containers must be effected under favorable ergonomic conditions. According to the invention, the transporting container for loading, unloading and reloading of disk-shaped objects is coupled in a stationary manner by the container cover with the closure by using an adhering engagement. The charging opening and the transporting container are opened simultaneously in that the container cover and the closure are moved down jointly into the semiconductor processing installation.

Abstract: A communication interface involves a processor that communicates to expansion modules in order to read and write discrete input/output, analog input/output, intelligent module control, and expansion module status. The expansion modules can be application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), each having a state machine architecture that responds appropriately to the input/output expansion bus signals. The ASIC can include error detection using the first byte of messages from the controller. Thus, the ASIC detects when an erroneous message from the controller has been communicated and transmits a message to expansion modules that their output states not be changed in response to the message from the controller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wire lug arc vent barrier for protecting a wire lug in a molded case circuit breaker, with the circuit breaker having a housing with a terminal for a load connection and a terminal for a line connection. The wire lug/arc vent barrier comprises a body having a first end including a tang, a second end including an elongated finger and a middle portion between the first end and the second end defining a concave space, with an opening at each of the middle portion, wherein the body is mounted in the housing.

Abstract: A flexible jacket for a vacuum blower having rotatable blades in a blade housing. The jacket is made from heavy duty, substantially impenetrable, bullet resistant material such as KEVLAR brand sheet material which is placed about the blade housing to prevent any severed and flying rotor blades from entering the atmosphere through the blade housing. The configuration of the jacket is formed to match the blade housing and to enable the jacket to be easily retro-fitted onto existing vacuum blowers or other blade housings and secured in place about the blade housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an undervoltage relay control apparatus monitoring voltage of the circuit breaker. The undervoltage relay controller apparatus comprises a housing with a latch assembly mounted in the housing. The latch assembly includes a latch mechanism and a solenoid, with the solenoid in selective contact with the latch mechanism. An electrical circuit, having a voltage input and a voltage output is mounted in the housing and coupled to the latch assembly. Wherein a control voltage input to the electrical circuit is conditioned, independently of parameters of the solenoid, and wherein if the received control voltage input is less than a predefined voltage, the electrical circuit will remove power to the solenoid allowing the solenoid to contact the latch mechanism and trip the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A voice output system for providing a voice output to a user of a subcomponent of an automation system. A PLC associated with monitoring or controlling an operation of the subcomponent determines if voice output is needed and generates a signal to provide the requisite speech output. The output may be computer generated or a pre-recorded taped message.