Abstract: An auto-changer for optical discs. At least one carousel rotatable about a horizontal axis stores a large number of discs. A picker moves into the carousel to grasp a disc in a horizontal position in the carousel and then move the disc to a position outside of the carousel. A transfer arm grabs the disc from the picker and swings the disc in an arcuate path over to a disc player, where it is deposited for playing.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for a proximity switch for sensing the position of a piston within a fluid operated, expandable chamber cylinder. The mounting device comprises a block shaped member with at least a first depressed, arcuate surface, the degree of curvature of which is adapted to fit the surface of the cylinder. By first attaching the mounting apparatus to the proximity switch and then positioning the proximity switch with respect to the fluid cylinder, tightening down of fastening devices provided for the proximity switch will cause the arcuate surface to firmly engage the surface of the cylinder, thereby providing a secure, vibration resistant mounting of the proximity switch to the cylinder.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a high production tire inflator apparatus for rapidly inflating tubeless tires wherein sealing between the tires and the wheels occurs at the tire beads. A tandem expansible chamber motor unit utilizing compressed air and hydraulic pressurized fluid vertically translates a carriage upon which an annular tire seal is mounted for displacement between tire indexing, sidewall displacement and bead seating positions, compressed air being used to displace the tire seal during rapid transverse movement, and the hydraulic fluid motor being employed to lock the tire seal to resist inflation pressures during pressurization of the apparatus. The wheel and tire are mounted upon a conveyor pallet which is of such configuration to directly sealingly engage the lower tire sidewall, and during inflation all sealing occurs between the tire sidewalls and the inflation apparatus, and no sealing of the wheel rim is required.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning the central opening or bore of a vehicle wheel and an adjacent annular radial surface includes a power driven shaft mounted for rotation about and axial movement along a fixed vertical axis. A cleaning head includes a horizontal plate axially slidable upon and rotatively fixed to the upper end of the shaft. A horizontal cleaning disc is mounted upon the plate by a pair of parallel links, one of which is pivotally coupled to the upper end of the shaft to cause the disc to shift horizontally relative to the plate upon vertical movement of the disc relative to the plate and shaft. Upon upward movement of the disc into engagement with a downwardly facing radial surface of a wheel centered over the shaft in a horizontal position, further upward movement of the shaft will shift the disc horizontally until a vertical cleaning surface on the disc engages the bore of the wheel. Rotation of the cleaning head will clean the wheel surfaces of the wheel engaged by the disc and vertical surface.

Abstract: A wheel soaper for spraying soap on a wheel rim includes a conveyor for conveying wheels in a horizontal position in succession to a soaping station. A downwardly facing frictional drive disc is located above the conveyor at the soaping station clear of the path of movement of wheels and is mounted for rotation about a fixed vertical axis. A cone member is mounted beneath the disc in coaxial relationship with the disc for free rotation and is driven in vertical movement by a reciprocating air motor upwardly from and downwardly to a normally maintained rest position below the path of wheels on the conveyor. When a wheel is stopped on the conveyor at the soaping station, the cone is driven upwardly into the central opening of the wheel to lift the wheel from the conveyor until the upper rim of the wheel is firmly pressed against the drive disc which is then driven in rotation as soap is sprayed from a stationary nozzle onto the rotating wheel rim.

Abstract: The laser printer controller for accepting a page of data to be printed in ASCII character format converts the data into a dot-by-dot character pattern for packing in a vertically scrolling partial page bit map. The alignment device within the laser printer controller provides the means for effectively aligning the randomly positioned dot-by-dot character patterns having a first word orientation with respect to its storage boundaries with a second word orientation necessitated by the fixed word storage boundaries of the partial page bit map. The alignment device includes means for partitioning two adjacent words in their first word orientation of the character pattern for alignment with the second word orientation of the page bit map, packing the two respective portions of the adjacent words into a one word format, rotating or manipulating the two word portions within the one word format for proper bit sequence for a single print data word of the second word orientation.

Abstract: An automated vehicle guidance system (100) includes automated self-propelled vehicles (102) selectively traveling a guidepath (114) comprising a plurality of interconnected guidelines (110, 116, 118). The guidepath (114) comprises an electric field wire system comprising a series of wire segments buried under a floor surface (112), and excited by an alternating current (AC) voltage source (210) referenced to earth ground. Voltage probes (222, 224) sense the electric field emanating from the guidepath segments and generate an intelligence signal for appropriately steering the vehicle (102) along the guidepath (114).

Abstract: An automatic tire mounting and inflation system for successively mounting the upper and lower beads of a tire to a wheel. The system includes a continuously driven conveyor having means for feeding wheels and tires thereon, mounting the tire to the wheel in two successive steps, inflating the wheel mounted tire and removing the same from the conveyor.

Abstract: An improved electronic proximity sensor and crack detector that is primarily responsive to the induced resistance in a coil; including an LC resonating circuit that utilizes constant current and a DC power source. By sensing changes in the induced resistance, the invention detects various conditions of parts present and probe fault and can detect a crack in a rotating metal object that is in proximity with the probe. This is accomplished by sensing changes in the induced resistance that occur at the same frequency at which the metal object is rotating.

Abstract: A combination of a programmable logic controller with analog circuitry. The analog circuitry includes a summation point to which several items are coupled. Analog inputs are selectively coupled to the summation point through analog switches. Also, the output of a digital to analog converter couples to the summation point. Still further, the analog output for the controller is obtained from a sample and hold circuit which has its input connected to the summation point and which includes means for outputting the analog value at its output back to the summing point. Even still further, a comparator input couples to the summation point. The arrangement provides for direct processing of analog information either by direct output of analog processed analog data or by obtaining one bit data from the comparator which represents whether a threshold has been reached by the analog data.

Abstract: An induction motor circuit which effectively prevents voltage spikes caused by leakage inductance of the induction motor stator windings without otherwise interfering with the overall operation of the induction motor. The circuit incorporates two windings between a common point and the positive supply and two other windings between the common point and the negative supply. Voltage spikes are suppressed by diodes connecting directly from the ends of each of the windings to the supply terminals oriented to the opposite end of the respective windings.

Abstract: A transformer-coupled isolation amplifier which has a minimally sized transformer, high common mode rejection, and a highly linear response over a wide dynamic range. A first chopper periodically alternates by 180.degree. the connection of the input through a high resistance to the primary of a small square loop pulse transformer. The secondary, with the end of the winding closest to the primary grounded, has the inputs of an operational amplifier placed across it. Negative feedback is provided around the amplifier to provide an apparent very low impedance across the secondary of the transformer. The negative feedback induces a current in the transformer secondary which cancels the flux produced by current flowing in the primary, thereby allowing usage of the transformer normally suitable only for high speed pulses. The output of the amplifier connects to a second chopper synchronous with the first to generate the amplified analog signal.

Abstract: An energy management system for a group of electrical loads such as in an industrial plant. The electrical power usage by the group of loads is elastically maintained between an upper set point and a lower low limit point, which is a percentage of the set point, at all times. The electrical load demand is presented in the form of a demand count to a comparator whose output provides a load display and couples load information to a sequencer. The sequencer cycles those loads which are off through the group of controlled loads and also varies the number of off loads in response to the comparator information. The set point floats and is responsive to actual power demand and a memory may be utilized to affect the sequencer operation dependent upon preprogrammed instructions for particular loads on particular days.

Abstract: A circuit which effectively prevents voltage spikes caused by leakage inductance of the step motor windings without otherwise interfering with the overall operation of the step motor. The circuit incorporates two windings between a common point and the positive supply and two other windings between the common point and the negative supply. Voltage spikes are suppressed by diodes connecting directly from the ends of each of the windings to the supply terminals oriented to the opposite end of the respective windings.

Abstract: A programmable logic controller includes a plurality of input interfaces and a plurality of output interfaces for connection to industrial equipment such as automatic assembly equipment, textile machinery, materials handling equipment, and chemical processes. The input and output circuits can be randomly addressed as to their state through an eight bit bus, which connects in parallel with up to 16 groups of eight input and/output circuits. The controller includes groups of timers which are each manually adjustable as to the timing operation and which are sequentially addressed each time a timing function is called for by the program. The timers are designed to be cascaded in groups to virtually any number of timers. The controller includes a scratch pad memory, half of which retains memory upon power failure and half of which does not. The control of the controller by the operator is made more nearly foolproof by interlocking the operations of control switches.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for inspecting a row of hollow pin receptacles in a housing to determine whether or not pins have been properly mounted in the receptacles. A collimated inspection light beam is directed toward one surface of the housing as it passes through an inspection position, so that the inspection beam successively impinges on the receptacles. A photodetector is disposed to face the opposing surface of the housing to receive light, if any, which has passed through the receptacles. Means responsive to the photodetector are provided for generating an output signal indicative of whether or not the pin has been properly mounted in the receptacle. The output signal generating means preferably comprises a threshold detector for detecting when the output of the photodetector exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention comprises computer system equipment useful for detection of faults in data transmission within a computer system. Fault detection is accomplished by monitoring the current flow through a digital signal source means, which is characterized in that it only draws significant current during a non-transition period when a fault condition occurs.

Abstract: A programmable logic controller includes a plurality of input interfaces and a plurality of output interfaces for connection to industrial equipment such as automatic assembly equipment, textile machinery, materials handling equipment, and chemical processes. The input and output circuits can be randomly addressed as to their state through an eight bit bus, which connects in parallel with up to 16 groups of eight input and/output circuits. The controller includes groups of timers which are each manually adjustable as to the timing operation and which are sequentially addressed each time a timing function is called for by the program. The timers are designed to be cascaded in groups to virtually any number of timers. The controller includes a scratch pad memory, half of which retains memory upon power failure and half of which does not. The control of the controller by the operator is made more nearly foolproof by interlocking the operations of control switches.