Abstract: A method of optimizing a layout of selected parts to be cut from a piece of raw material such as wood, uses data representing geometric and defect-related characteristics of the each piece and data representing geometric and grade characteristics of a set of parts to be cut. A subset of parts characterized by a predetermined grade (quality) value and associated with a predetermined group of dimension values (width/length) is defined, as well as an arrangement of subdivided piece surface sections to be obtained through a primary cutting operation according to one or more of the width/length values. One or more subsections included in each piece surface section is defined according to the geometric and defect-related characteristics of the piece, and, for each subsection, a plurality of arrangements of parts to be included therein and selected from the subset of parts, to be obtained through a secondary cut operation, are defined.

Abstract: A apparatus for disassembling a threaded bolt and nut assembly wherein the bolt is initially extended through an opening provided on a structure and being secured thereto with the nut axially mounted on a threaded rod of the bolt. The apparatus comprises a tool body, a nut gripping element such as a socket mounted for rotation on a working portion of the tool body, the socket being provided with a bore axially extending theretrough. The apparatus further comprises a rotary actuator mounted on the tool body and operatively coupled to the socket for imparting torque to the mounted nut in a direction allowing release of the nut from the secured bolt.

Abstract: An apparatus for deboning a piece of meat having an elongate bone portion, such as a loin piece provided with a spine portion, comprises an elongate support mounted on a frame for receiving the loin its spine portion being substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis defined by the support, and a plurality of press devices mounted on the frame for maintaining the piece of meat in a predetermined cutting position on the support. A first embodiment makes use of a cutting tool including an elongate shearing knife having a base portion pivotally mounted on the frame and an inwardly arcuate section defining a longitudinally extending cutting edge.

Abstract: Processes for the batch production of rubber-based compositions capable of being shaped and shaped articles made thereof. They include a step of high intensity mixing cured rubber particles with other selected compounds into a closed mixing chamber provided on a high intensity mixer including a central shaft having mixing blades. Through high speed rotation of the shaft, blade tip speed above about 20 meter/s are obtained to intensively mix and thermokinetically heat the batch of mixable material, whose temperature is continuously monitored. Discharge of the batch from the mixing chamber takes place when the temperature is considered to have reached a reference value ensuring a substantially uniform mix of the rubber material and added compounds, to produce the rubber-based composition.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting surface defects on an article freely standing on a conveyer, which generate profile trace data corresponding to profile trace at a cross-section of the article. A surface shape inspection unit comprising an optical ranging system using laser and camera is provided for obtaining the profile trace data through triangulation-based derivation techniques. Base reference curves are derived from regular portions of the profile trace data. Profile trace data are compared to defect threshold curves to recognize a defect induced departure of the trace data with respect to the base reference curve and to produce a defect output signal. The apparatus and method according to the invention are particularly useful for detecting roughness, cavities, wane, missing wood and altered wood on lumber pieces which are conveyed at high speed.

Abstract: Apparatus for the purification of waste water and/or waste gas using a biofilter containing a filtering material, wherein the waste water move downwardly thereinto while the waste gas move upwardly or downwardly thereinto, is disclosed. Also disclosed is an apparatus for simultaneous purification of waste water and waste gas, comprising a filtering material comprised of a succession of layers. More conveniently, the apparatus comprises sufficient filtering material between the gas inlet and water outlet to ensure that the water coming out of the apparatus has not been substantially contaminated by the upwardly moving waste gas. In a preferred embodiment, the upper layer of filtering carrier material has a substantially lower filtration capacity than a lower layer of filtering carrier material, to prevent clogging of the filtering material upon downward flow of the waste water. Further disclosed is an apparatus for simultaneous purification of waste water as waste gas moving both downwardly.

Abstract: The apparatus for automatically removing ribs portion from belly of a beast flank, such as pork flank, comprises a conveyor provided with gripping hooks for holding the flank in position on the conveyor during ribs portion removing, a camera disposed over flank top surface showing ribs for generating image electrical signals representing an image of the flank top surface, a laser triangulation unit for generating surface profile data characterizing the flank top surface, a pair of lateral cameras for generating ribs thickness data for the ribs and analyzing device such as computer for receiving the image electrical signals, surface profile data and ribs thickness data for deriving therefrom a programmed cut profile according to a predetermined meat thickness to be left under the ribs.

Abstract: A displaceable working apparatus provided with a platform having an extensible boom and being displaced on a guide rail is disclosed. The apparatus has a main frame secured to a main support which is movably secured to the guide rail and a main stabilizing mechanism for immovably securing the main frame to the adjacent roof surface. An extensible boom having a working free end which is equipped with a working element and is pivotally secured to a rotating support base positioned under the main frame. The boom is rotatable on the rotating support base and is angularly positionable with respect to the rotating support base. A drive is mounted on the frame to displace the platform along the guide rail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for classifying articles according to their color, wherein a first pair of wavelengths is selected on a plurality of light reflection curves in terms of a reflected light wavelength spectrum. An article to be inspected is illuminated with light comprising the first pair of wavelengths and light reflected therefrom is measured to detect light reflection values corresponding to this first pair or wavelengths. A primary signal is produced, which represents a resulting difference between the detected light reflection values, this signal being indicative of the color of the inspected article. At least one secondary wavelength is selected on the reflected light wavelength spectrum, and the inspected article is illuminated with light comprising this secondary wavelength and light reflected therefrom is measured to produce a secondary signal which is further indicative of the color of the inspected article.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sensing the color of articles wherein a first pair of wavelengths is selected on a plurality of light reflection curves in terms of reflected light wavelength spectrum, these curves being associated with a plurality of articles constituting a sample representative of the color range to be sensed. The first pair of wavelengths delimits a first range of wavelengths corresponding to light reflection values in these curves, the light reflection values in each of the curves being in a substantially linear relationship over said first range of wavelengths. Each article to be inspected is illuminated with light comprising the first pair of wavelengths, and the light reflected therefrom is measured to detect light reflection values corresponding to the first pair of wavelengths. A primary signal is produced which represents a resulting difference between said detected light reflection values, this signal being indicative of the color of the inspected article.

Abstract: A new ultrasonic transmission imaging apparatus is disclosed, which uses a new imaging method providing image focusing capability. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic emitter producing substantially continuous coherent ultrasonic waves toward an object to be inspected. The apparatus further comprises an ultrasonic detectors array comprising a plurality of ultrasonic detectors receiving the object traversing ultrasonic waves to produce a plurality of series of electrical signals coming from the ultrasonic detectors, the electrical signals characterizing transmission of the ultrasonic waves through the object and being associated with series of image elements. The apparatus further comprises a signal vector components detector detecting signal vector components for each of the electrical signals. The apparatus further comprises a computer for controlling the apparatus and for receiving pairs of first and second signal vector component digital signals coming from the signal vector components detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for extracting liquid from a humid mass. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical housing having a first and a second end wall and a cylindrical side wall. At least one inlet is provided for admitting said humid mass in the housing. A pumping system is also provided for forcing said humid mass into the inlet. A rotor has one or more pairs of side walls, which are joined to a bottom wall and define one or more channels open at their periphery in at least a portion thereof. One or more rotor side walls are provided with perforations. The rotor has a central shaft for rotation with respect to the housing, this shaft having a conduit extending longitudinally therethrough, and is provided with one or more draining conduits having a first portion in fluid communication with the perforations. One or more rotor side walls are moved upon rotation of the central shaft. The draining conduit has a second portion in fluid communication with the shaft conduit.

Abstract: Various 2D and 3D diamond shaped filters for encoding and decoding NTSC, PAL and ATV signals are presented. The particularity of the proposed system is its separability: the desired filter configurations are composed of multiple simple 1D filters operating individually in their own zero or oblique frequency axis. In comparison with existing diamond shaped filters the proposed systems offer substantial advantages, low complexity and better performance along the zero axes (horizontal, vertical and temporal) in the frequency domain.

Abstract: A displaceable working platform comprising a main frame having stabilizing extension posts secured thereto for immovably securing the main frame to surrounding surfaces. A displaceable platform is slidingly secured to the main frame. The platform is displaceable on the main frame from a storage position to a working position. An extensible boom is secured on a rotating support base which is secured to the displaceable platform. The boom has a working free end at which a working element is secured. The rotating support base is rotatable by a motor and a boom is extensible by an hydraulic system which is also provided to regulate the angular position of the boom by controlling hydraulic pistons connected between the boom telescopic sections, and the rotating support base.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatically detecting the approximate percentage of humidity in predetermined types of lumber cut to specific lengths. A conveyor is provided for conveying individual pieces of cut lumber to a weighing station which consists of platforms on which individual pieces of lumber are conveyed. One or more weighing cells are associated with the platforms for detecting the weight of the piece of lumber thereon. A control circuit is connected to the weighing cell and also to sensors which detect a predetermined length of the lumber pieces and the cross-sectional dimension thereof, and receives information signals therefrom to identify and classify the individual lumber pieces in accordance with one or more reference signals related to selected humidity content weight(s) of the lumber pieces. The apparatus compares the apparent density with selectable density(ies) used as criterium for sorting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a textural parameter extractor for classification or learning. Four (4) simple 2D optimum masks independent of image, are applied to four adjacent pixels in order to diagonize the associated covariance matrice. The first three (3) central moments, namely absolute deviation, standard deviation and skewness for each transformed image constitute a feature vector of twelve (12) components for classification purposes. Parallel and Sequential structures are also presented for fast textural feature extractor applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for detecting and measuring tor transmitted from a prime mover to a rotary machine acting as a load. The device includes a torsion shaft through which the torque is transmitted and as a result it is slightly twisted about its axis. A pair of recording mediums are mounted at spaced locations on the torsion shaft. On each recording medium is permanently recorded a periodic signal. A pair of reading head are used to detect the signal on one of the recording mediums while a single reading head is employed to detect the signal on the other recording medium. The output signals generated by the reading heads are processed by a microcomputer to derive the torque information and the direction of rotation of the torque shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle sensing apparatus and method for detecting the size and speed of a vehicle travelling on a roadway. The apparatus comprises a directional microwave non-emitting antenna for collecting reflected microwave signals from above a roadway. An electronic vehicle sensing circuit is connected to the antenna for processing detected signals to identify a vehicle's physical parameter. The sensing circuit has an ambient temperature detector and a peak detector, the latter detecting a reflected temperature signal at said antenna and generating a detected temperature signal. A physical parameter calculating circuit is provided for determining the true amplitude of the detected signal and interpreted by the maximum ratio of the solid angles of the antenna beam filled by the vehicle to be detected and a roadway in the beam of the antenna. A processing circuit (ROM) is provided to identify the vehicle's physical parameter.

Abstract: The preparation of the polyols involves the following steps: (a) introducing in a reactor a mixture of acids comprising about 50 to 70% by weight of glutaric acid, about 15 to 30% by weight of succinic acid and about 10 to 20% by weight of adipic acid, or esters or anhydrides of these acids, with at least one polyhydroxy alcohol selected from the group consisting of secondary alcohols, tertiary alcohols and highly cluttered primary alcohols, with a catalyst selected from the group consisting of stannous and stannic chlorides and alkyl-tin compounds; (b) the reaction mixture is flushed with an inert gas; (c) the reaction mixture is heated while stirring at a temperature which does not exceed about 225.degree. C.; (d) removing 90 to 95% of the water or methanol formed in step (c); (e) introducing into the reactor at least one slightly cluttered primary alcohol; (f) heating at about 225.degree. C.

Abstract: A crystalline ironborosilicate comprises a molecular sieve material having the following composition in terms of mole ratios of oxides1.0.+-.0.3 M.sub.n/2 O; (a Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 :b B.sub.2 O.sub.3):y SiO.sub.2.z H.sub.2 Owherein M is at least one cation having a valence n, a is greater than zero but less than 1, b is greater than zero but less than 1 such that a+b=1, y is a value of at least 6, and z is a value within the range of 0 to about 500 and giving a specific X-Ray diffraction pattern. The crystalline ironborosilicate is used to catalyze various processes such as the conversion of simple alcohols to high-octane gasoline, and the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide for the production of high-octane liquid hydrocarbons. The preparation of the ironborosilicate is also disclosed.