Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method, preferably practiced on a computer controlled dispensing apparatus, comprising: accessing (normally by logging on) the dispensing apparatus; identifying a patient; identifying a medication to dispense for the identified patient, the medication not having been reviewed against the patient's medication profile; prompting the user to identify an exception; and either dispensing the medication or storing the request to dispense in response to the identified exception. The method may further include transferring the plurality of override requests and override events into a database of pharmacy orders. The requests, events, and orders may be sorted according to a predetermined criterion, and presented to a pharmacist for review.

Abstract: An apparatus to enable products to be evenly spaced so that they can be loaded onto a collator or other receiving device on a packaging machine. The packages are caused to be placed on a chain conveyor belt which has a multiplicity of spinning rollers to cause linear movement of the package along the chain conveyor belt. A multiplicity of sensors which actuate a respective air driven cylinder to cause a friction plate to come in contact with a selected portion of rollers at a location of the package will cause the linear movement of the package to stop for a given period of time so that the package can be appropriately spaced from the packages ahead of it and the packages behind it on the conveyor.

Abstract: A traffic management system for an automatic material handling system (AMHS) divides time into a series of discrete time periods and analyzes a plurality of move requests that are to be executed within a particular time period is disclosed. The traffic management system receives a plurality of move requests from the AMHS and determines how many move requests are to be executed and selects which move requests in particular will be executed in the next time period. The traffic management system prioritizes the selected move requests by analyzing each source node and destination node contained in a move request in conjunction with other node traffic data. The traffic management system analyzes this data to ensure that a move request is not executed if a material transport vehicle would be dispatched to a node having a node traffic balance value that exceeds a predetermined value and a node traffic density value that exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for utilizing a controller to monitor a flow volume in a fluid transportation system. The controller being operably connected to a module. The module being operably connected to a flow meter. The module senses a series of pulses that represent a known fluid volume in a proving loop. The module also measures the fluid density of the fluid in the proving loop. The controller utilizes a dynamic density of the fluid and the sensed pulses to determine a correction factor to more accurately calculate the flow volume through the measuring flow meter. The controller ensures the accuracy of the flow meter by utilizing the partial pulses sensed during a meter-proving period by using an interpolation method.

Abstract: A signal accessory for a molded case circuit breaker, with the circuit breaker (10) having an operating mechanism (40) with a cradle pin (41b), a cross bar (55) and a trip bar (54) and a main breaker cover (20). The signal accessory (300) comprises a signal accessory mounting (301) having a bottom mount (308) and a top mount (306) coupled to the bottom mount (308) with the top mount configured to receive a switch (302, 304) and engage the breaker cover (20) in an accessory socket (22). A switch member (311) is rotably mounted on the bottom mount (308) with the switch member (311) having an actuator lever (322) in contact with the operating mechanism (40) of the circuit breaker (10) and an actuator pad (314) in contact with a switch mounted on the top mount (306).

Abstract: An apparatus and method of generating an application for a control system. A control process is defined by a physical model and a topological model. An application generator utilizes the physical and topological models to generate an application for the control system.

Abstract: A method for moving a substrate to a predetermined location with a specified orientation with a robotic manipulator, the robotic manipulator having a plurality of joint actuators and an end-effector for holding the substrate, wherein the end-effector is independently rotatable with respect to the remaining robotic manipulator. The method can select a reference point on the end-effector for determining a position of the end-effector, wherein the reference point is offset from a wrist of the robotic manipulator, determining a motion path for movement of the end-effector of robotic arm toward predetermined location with specified orientation, and generating motion profiles for translational and rotational components of movement of the end-effector of robotic manipulator along the motion path.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for cutting carpet pile are disclosed as including a clipper having a driver, a reciprocating blade and a fixed blade. The fixed blade and the reciprocating blade define an area there between. The fixed blade has a bore passing through the blade and into the area. A fluid supply, connected to the bore, supplies fluid through the fixed blade and into the area. A manifold, attached to the fixed blade, can be used to pass fluid through the fixed blade into the chamber. In such an embodiment, the manifold includes a passage communicating with the bore and the fluid supply. In another embodiment, an orientation mechanism is used to orient the carpet clipping head. In this embodiment, the orientation mechanism includes a base bracket and a pivot bracket. The pivot bracket is pivotally attached to the base bracket at a pivot point. The carpet clipping head is attached to the pivot bracket so that movement of the pivot bracket causes the carpet clipping head to pivot about the lead prong.

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: Headbox transient responses for sheet weight and moisture are modeled as a combination of two sets of time constants and dead time delays. One set represents a shorter delay with faster response dynamics, the fast mode weight and moisture responses, and the other models the longer delay with slower dynamics, the slow mode weight and moisture responses. A weight and/or moisture transient model is then formed for headbox changes by combining the fast mode weight and moisture responses and the slow mode weight and moisture responses. Stock weight and moisture dynamic and delay time models are determined for operation of stock flow of the paper making machine and the stock flow is controlled in accordance with the stock weight and/or moisture models and the headbox weight transient and/or moisture transient model to compensate for weight and moisture changes in a web of paper being manufacture which weight and moisture changes result from headbox changes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning the axis of a mirror of a carbon in ash sensor. The method first executes a series of steps that causes a stepper motor connected to an axis of the mirror to move the mirror through a first coarse alignment procedure and then executes a second series of steps that that moves the mirror through a second fine alignment procedure.

Abstract: A programmable logic controller for use as part of an industrial control system or as part of an automated system and a corresponding method, the controller including an interface to the Internet, and including a web server allowing a remote computer to access web pages maintained by the controller providing information relevant to the control function of the controller such as control sensor readings and, optionally, information about the status of the control system. The web server is implemented as part of the controller in such a way that the controller scan rate (the rate at which the ladder logic for all associated control system devices is repeated) is unaffected by execution of the web server.

Abstract: A programmed computer generates descriptions of circuits (called “checkers”) that flag functional defects in a description of a circuit undergoing functional verification. The programmed computer automatically converts the circuit's description into a graph, automatically examines the graph for instances of a predetermined arrangement of nodes and connections, and automatically generates instructions that flag a behavior of a device represented by the instance in conformance with a known defective behavior. The checkers can be used during simulation or emulation of the circuit, or during operation of the circuit in a semiconductor die. The circuit's description can be in Verilog or VHDL and the automatically generated checkers can also be described in Verilog or VHDL. Therefore, the checkers can co-simulate with the circuit, monitoring the simulated operation of the circuit and flagging defective behavior.

Abstract: An automation device comprising a modular assembly associated with a hardware element. This assembly includes in the primary group of modules a bus coupler 20, a feeder unit 21 to distribute feeder power at voltages Uin, Uout for the automated units, functional modules 22 and a terminating module 30.

Abstract: Disclosed is an arc detection circuit for monitoring an electrical distribution system which results in detecting arcing in the electrical distribution system and the ability to provide notification and protection for such arcing. The system functions to monitor the electrical distribution system to sense the frequencies of signals in the system using appropriate filtering. One type of filtering which may be used is based upon a heterodyning circuit which provides variable frequency filtering for filtering a signal representative of the current in at least one electrical circuit of the electrical system. The heterodyning circuit output is configured to produce a signal which may be logarithmically related to the filtered signal. If the output signal exceeds a predetermined limit (representative of noise) for a predetermined period (representative of a typical arc duration), the system generates an arc signal.

Abstract: A marking assembly for marking feature locations of a material and an automated processing system that uses input from the marking assembly to process the material. Feature locations such as defect positions and the size of the material are measured with an optical measuring device. The optical measuring device sends and receives light along a light path that is substantially parallel to a processing dimension of the material. A user manually interrupts the light path at a feature location, sending light from the feature location to the optical measuring device. The optical measuring device measures the feature location from the light received from the feature location and sends the feature location to a processor. The processor automatically positions the material relative to a modifying device, based on the feature location.