Abstract: The invention relates to a method of diagnosing the operation of a water purification installation of the filter medium device type, the material of the filter medium being made up of particles, the method including the following steps: a characterization step of characterizing at least one physical and/or mechanical parameter of the filter medium device to establish a permeability value Ks (expressed in m/s); a comparison step of comparing said established permeability value Ks with a predetermined range [kmin; kmax] of permeability values representing a satisfactory operating state of the purification installation; and a diagnosis step during which the filter medium device is assigned an operation indicator according to the result of the comparison step. Applications include non-collective sanitation (NCS) systems and stand-alone sanitation systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for tattooing animals, the device comprising a moving needle-carrier plate (4) whose needles (41) are designed to be covered in ink and to press, at the end of the stroke of the plate, against the skin (P) of an animal in order to tattoo it, and a spongy pad (6) soaked in ink lying on the path of the needles (41) and suitable for being pierced by the needles so that they project against the skin (P) of the animal at the moment of impact. It is remarkable in that said pad (6) is integrated with the plate (4), the assembly being moved by a hammer (8) housed in a guide barrel (5), and that said plate (4) is secured to the outside face (92) of a resilient diaphragm (9) which closes one end of said barrel (5).

Abstract: The field of the invention is that of manufacturing non-destructive measurement equipment suitable for fitting to devices for handling and conveying objects on a continuous basis, e.g. for the purpose of monitoring the ripeness and/or the dimensions of fruit and vegetables. The invention provides apparatus for non-destructive measurement in real time of fragile objects moving continuously on a conveyor system of the type including object-receiving cells in which said objects are placed and conveyed one by one along a given directional plane. The apparatus includes at least one support arm hinged at one end and carrying a shoe at its other end, with the bottom surface of the shoe being cylindrical in shape having generator lines that are perpendicular to said plane. Each of said objects rolls beneath and against said surface with relative rotary motion, and at least one sensor performs a non-destructive measurement of a parameter of each of said objects.

Abstract: The device serves to interconnect first and second sections of a data bus in order to provide a transparent bi-directional data transmission along the bus comprised of the two sections, irrespective of the protocol used. Basically, the device includes a first transmitter-receiver module at which terminates a first bus section, and a second transmitter-receiver module at which terminates a second bus section. Both modules are disposed face-to-face without contact and are electromagnetically coupled. Each receiver module has a circuit for supplying a transmitting coil with a signal modulated by the data to be transmitted and coming from the bus section to which the module is connected, and a detector circuit for receiving a modulated signal from the same coil to produce the data to be transmitted to the bus section to which the module is connected.

Abstract: An automated machine comprising a handler mounted with a rotating aptitude about two perpendicular and intersecting rotational axes, having a free end fitted with a mechanical hand comprising an intake head. A vision system is permanently installed at the point of intersection of the rotational axes in a base unit comprised of a cradle which supports a rotatable turret which has an extension arm attached to another end of the handler. The handler is comprised of two branches comprising a folding arm that are joined together at one end with devices provided for symmetrical movement of both branches when an external force is exerted on either of them. The automated machine contains devices for deployment and retraction of its folding arms so as to grasp and release an object detected by the vision system installed in the handler apparatus.

Abstract: Automatic positioning of milking cups on the teats of an animal is achieved by way of an installation comprising a stall accessible to an animal, a device for calculating the coordinates of the teats of an animal in the stall, and arms carrying the cups for positioning same on the teats of an animal under the control of a signal generated as a function of the measured coordinates. The coordinates of the teats are determined using an overall sensor which is located in a fixed spot on one side of the stall and which has scanning device permitting the formation of an image of the teats, and a processing device for working out the instantaneous coordinates of the teats from the information supplied by the sensor. Four independent arms are provided, each carrying a respective cup, and each being controlled independently of the others in order to bring the carried cup to a respective teat of an animal without interfering with the movement of the other arms.

Abstract: A movably mounted element (1) is stabilized with respect to a desired path according to one component of movement. The element is mounted with complete freedom of movement along that component of movement which takes part in the formation of the actual path and to maintain or return the movable member (1) to the predetermined path, for example, maintaining a spray manifold parallel to the ground. With the aid of a jack (10) there is exerted, between the movable member and its support point or points (3) and as a function of the position of the movable member with respect to the desired path, one or more forces whose magnitude is independent of the position of the movable member with respect to the points of support. The invention is applicable to movable members having plural degrees of movement in rotation and/or translation and particularly for the stabilization of a spray manifold.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sustaining the oscillatory movement of an oscillating device of the type comprising a mass oscillating between dead points on opposite sides of a point of equilibrium, with a potential force acting to return the mass toward the point of equilibrium. This potential force is greatest at the dead points and the speed of the oscillating point is greatest adjacent the point of equilibrium. A force is applied to the device from a motive source, which force is greater than the maximum potential force at a speed lower than the speed of the device adjacent the point of equilibrium. The force of the motive source is applied to the oscillating device on the portion of the path of movement of the oscillating device preceding one of the dead points, and the application speed of the force of the motive source is higher than what would be the instantaneous speed of the oscillating device along that portion of its trajectory were the force of the motive source not applied.

Abstract: A fluid of lower density is dispersed in a jet of a fluid of higher density, by imposing on the jet of higher density a curved trajectory. Where the pressure is the highest, that is, where the wall that establishes the curved trajectory has its largest radius of curvature, the fluid of lower density is introduced, preferably under pressure. The apparatus can be embodied as a tuyere which is a figure of rotation, when only a relatively small proportion of lower density fluid is to be introduced. When the proportion of lower density fluid is greater, however, then the device can be embodied as a duct of quadrangular section wrapped in a helix with narrow slots for the introduction of the fluid of lower density formed in its outer wall.