Abstract: A hammermill includes a pair of rotors to each of which are attached a plurality of relatively long and relatively short hammers. In one embodiment each long hammer on one rotor is arrayed opposite a short hammer on the other rotor such that, as the rotors rotate, a circular path described by an end of each long hammer is in close proximity to a circular path described by an end of a corresponding short hammer on the other rotor. The long hammers are interleaved and a plurality of impact plates are shaped and positioned in close proximity to the hammer circular tip paths so that materials being reduced by the hammermill impact the impact plates until the materials are reduced to a desired size. The inventive hammermill is particularly effective in reducing tough and pliable materials such as automobile tires as well as light materials such as paper and aluminum cans.

Abstract: A sync signal generator of a television receiver for use in a vehicle has a phase reset detector for gradually absorbing a phase fluctuation of an input sync signal which occurs due to a ghost phenomenon or a fading phenomenon and reducing a phase fluctuation. The sync signal generator provides a sync signal synchronized with an output signal of the phase reset signal detector. Thus, a stable sync signal without a sudden change in phase can be obtained although it is synchronized with the input sync signal.

Abstract: A focusing apparatus for a video camera or the like in which a change-over between automatic focusing and manual focusing is possible includes an endlessly rotatable and hand-worked manipulator, a detector for detecting the direction and amount of manipulation or rotational movement of the manipulator, and a controller/driver for moving a part of the optical elements in an optical system along its optical axis direction in a direction corresponding to the direction of manipulation of the manipulator detected by the detector and by a distance corresponding to the amount of manipulation of the manipulator detected by the detector, thereby taking the focus.

Abstract: A lift for raising vehicles such as garden tractors to a position facilitating servicing of the underside of the vehicle. The lift includes a vertically movable carriage having two cantilevered lift forks which may be adjusted along the carriage to accommodate the longitudinal wheelbase of the vehicle. Each lift fork carries two cups for cradling and supporting the wheels of the vehicle, the cups being adjustable along the forks to conform to the transverse wheelbase of the vehicle. The cups extend away from the forks to allow free access to crucial components of the vehicle and may be reversed on the forks to accommodate relative small variations in longitudinal wheelbases. Safety latches catch the carriage and stop free falling thereof in the event the lift actuator fails. The lift forks are of an extremely strong but relatively lightweight construction. The lift also includes various accessories for facilitating servicing of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a robotic paint system for aircraft consisting of a robotic wash/rinse gantry, a robotic cart carrying a robotic painting system, and a control system.The paint system includes a robotically controlled wash/rinse gantry movable along the entire extent of the aircraft being maintained. A robotically controlled cart is provided which is carried by a plurality of wheel assemblies on a curved track. A robotically controlled platform is provided for carrying the robotic painting system, and a mechanism is also provided for adjusting the platform up and down as well as towards and away from the platform.

Abstract: If information is to be recorded on and reproduced from a recording medium in correspondence between a code train in the form of a run-length-limited code and the positions of the leading edge and the trailing edge data of a status transition pattern such as pits, recording domains, a sync signal is inserted at regular intervals in the information converted in the form of the run-length-limited code. The sync signal is constituted by a code train capable of deciding that the sync signal includes a code not existing in the conversion rule into a run-length-limited code during reproduction using a leading edge data or trailing edge data relative to the transition pattern.

Abstract: White balance adjusting apparatus for controlling the levels among RGB signals of the video signals and adjusting the white balance of the video image is provided in a color video printer apparatus which receives the video signals and prints out. Prior to color printing, the white balance is adjusted, thereby enabling a good color reproduction to be obtained.

Abstract: A slide type cassette loading apparatus includes a loading section for receiving a tape cassette to move the same between an inlet/outlet position and a reference position for loading, and a movable chassis for sliding the cassette, located in the reference position, to a recording/reproducing position while carrying the cassette on the movable chassis. The loading section is of a double structure type which has an outer cassette holder pivotable relative to the movable chassis and an inner cassette holder supported to the outer cassette holder. The inner cassette holder is mounted on the outer cassette holder so as to make a pivotal movement together with the outer cassette holder and be movable in slide directions of the cassette, and is operatively coupled to the movable chassis so as to be movable together with the movable chassis.

Abstract: In a magnetic video recording/reproducing apparatus having a recording circuit for recording two kinds of video signals for different aspect ratios a.sub.1 and a.sub.2, where a.sub.1 >a.sub.2, a reproduced signal for aspect ratio a.sub.1 is subjected to a time-axis processing and then delivered to a monitor television having the aspect ratio a.sub.2 in order to avoid a picture on the monitor television from being so distorted as to be elongated vertically. During the time-axis processing, a Y/C interleave set-up processing and a time-axis variation correcting processing are also carried out as necessary. A reproduced signal for aspect ratio a.sub.2 is subjected to a time-axis processing and then delivered to a monitor television having the aspect ratio a.sub.1 in order to avoid a picture on the monitor television from being so distorted as to be elongated horizontally.

Abstract: A camera 14 has a shutter 42 that is reciprocally movable by a motor 54 that is in positive engagement with the shutter 42. The motor 54 provides harmonic motion to the shutter 42 between its open and closed positions. A second motor 78 advances the film within the camera body. Both motors are connected to electronic brakes 104,118 to stop the motors when they are deactuated. The shutter has a mirror 50 mounted therein to provide a viewing of the image beam by the lens 36 through an eyepiece 122 when the shutter 42 is closed.

Abstract: A body of partially solidified metal emerging as ingot from the exit end 10 of an open ended mold 2, is direct cooled by charging liquid coolant into an annular retention chamber 32 circumposed about the exit end opening of the mold in the body thereof, and discharging the coolant from the chamber onto the surface of the ingot through a first passage 14 opening into the exit end of the mold and communicating with the chamber at an opening 50 therein. At times, such as in the butt-forming stage, a second passage 46 is formed in the chamber which is serially interconnected with the first passage 14 at the chamber opening 50 and operable to deliver the chamber coolant to the first passage at an increased rate of flow, relative to the rate at which the coolant was charged into the chamber.

Abstract: An optical pickup device having a dust blocking function according to the present invention includes a casing having an opening therein, an optical system disposed within an interior of the casing and having photoelectric elements optically coupled with each other, an objective lens disposed inside the opening as spaced from an edge of the opening to be optically coupled with the optical system, driving device for moving the objective lens to a desired position, and a resilient member for sealing a gap between the edge of the opening and the object lens, whereby the resilient member enables movement of the object lens while preventing any intrusion of dust into an interior of the pickup device having the optical system incorporated therein.

Abstract: A hose coupling assembly for use particularly in an automotive air conditioning system, or other system requiring the effective sealing of a refrigerant over extended periods of time, comprising a hose having an inner liner of thermoplastic material and being maintained in compression by a swaged sleeve over a fitting having a primary sealing element in the form of a resilient O-ring and a plurality of locking grooves into which the thermoplastic liner is to be cold-formed to preclude the possibility of the thermoplastic liner flowing during operation at elevated operating temperatures and to provide a secondary seal at all operating temperatures to which the coupling is exposed. The components, particularly the O-ring and fitting elements, being seized relative to one another to minimize flow of the inner liner at elevated operating temperatures and to maintain the O-ring as a live seal under all operating conditions.

Abstract: A body of partially solidified metal emerging as ingot from the exit end of an open-ended mold, is direct cooled by discharging liquid coolant onto the surface of the ingot through a passage of the mold opening into the exit end of the mold at an aperture therein; and at times, such as in the butt-forming stage, by the added step of forcing pressurized gas into the coolant through a body of solid but porous, gas-permeable material incorporated into the wall of the passage at a surface thereof which extends generally parallel to the flow of coolant in the passage and coterminates with the exit end of the mold at the aperture to form an edge thereof. When the gas is added, the coolant discharges through the aperture in a discontinuous liquid phase in which it is laden with bubbles of undissolved gas that will alter the heat transfer characteristics of the coolant on the surface of the ingot to vary the rate at which heat is lost therefrom.

Abstract: A powered, electromechanical manipulator assembly is disclosed which includes an electrically powered input device coupled by a hydraulic circuit to a mechanical manipulator. The hydraulic circuit is a fixed-volume, closed circuit in which a master piston-cylinder assembly is driven by a D.C. motor and is hydraulically coupled for direct and proportional displacement of a slave piston-cylinder assembly to enable smooth, accurate and easily controlled displacement of a manipulator arm. The manipulator arm is formed of a plurality of modules each having a fixed- volume, closed, hydraulic circuit and a slave cylinder. Both the slave and master cylinders include ambient pressure surfaces which are exposed to the water pressure at the operating depth of the assembly so that variation in depth does not materially affect the response or dexterity of the remote manipulator apparatus. An improved terminal module or jaw assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates, in combination with a walking beam conveyor, to a width measuring and centering device for coils of rolled steel strip. The device interacts with the normal vertical raising, lowering and advancement of the coils, by the walking beam conveyor, wherein the device is traversed towards the coil when the coil is in a raised position to measure it width, after which the coil is lowered onto the device which then positions the coil on center, if necessary. After being centered the coil is lifted off the device by the walking beam conveyor and the device retracted after which the coil can be advanced by the conveyor.