Abstract: In an arrangement for a tandem cold mill in order to compensate for "speed effect," each stand has a roll force memory unit and an oil film roll force controller unit which operate together, and in conjunction with a tensiometer, to maintain a relatively constant roll gap during the acceleration and deceleration phases of the mill. In threading, in tailing out, and in a full run speed of the mill, the roll force memory unit is constantly operating to obtain a "lock on" roll force reference for the stand prior to the acceleration or deceleration phase. A roll force error signal, which is the difference between a roll force reference of the roll force memory unit and an instantaneous roll force, enters the oil film roll controller. A proportional integrator type controller in the oil film roll force controller unit changes the roll force error signal within a limit of +25% of the desired tension.

Abstract: A method for making delivery gauge corrections at low mill speeds during threading and tailing out of a workpiece by varying the interstand tension of the workpiece. The tension between the last two stands is used with a desired tension and the delivery AGC by tension mode of an existing delivery automatic gauge control (AGC) to change the speed of the downstream stands. During the threading and tailing out phases, the delivery AGC by speed is turned off and set to zero. In the full run phase, the interstand regulators are changed to a tension by roll gap mode, and an existing delivery automatic gauge control (AGC) by speed is used to provide a stand speed reference for the downstream stands. In the full run phase, the delivery (AGC) by tension is turned off an set to zero. In the tailing out phase optionally, the tension between each stand is used in a similar manner to provide a speed reference change for each stand immediately downstream from where a tension controller is located.

Abstract: A digital current control arrangement for optimizing the transport time delay of a thyristor power supply used as a source of armature current for a DC motor utilizes a coarse gate angle interrupt subroutine to perform a preliminary calculation of the gate firing angle for the next thyristor to be fired. The coarse gate angle calculation is performed at a predetermined time following the firing of a previous thyristor. A finite gate angle interrupt subroutine is also provided for recalculating the gate firing angle at a second predetermined time just prior to the firing of the thyristor. The finite and coarse gate angle interrupt subroutines both perform their respective calculations using the common parameters. A flag passing arrangement is also included in the current control arrangement and is effective to insure that the finite gate firing angle is the preferred calculation used in the firing of the next thyristor.

Abstract: An inline bottle rinser having quick bottle size changeover capabilities is disclosed. The bottle rinser has a linear bottle path therethrough with spray heads synchronized to the bottles for accurately directing rinse water through the open neck of the inverted bottles. The bottle carriers are mounted so as to be automatically snapped off the transport system so that bottle carriers for other size bottles may be snapped onto the transport system for changeover purposes. The rinser includes a rinse water spray system which may be raised and lowered in accordance with the bottle size in such a manner as to assure proper synchronization of the rinse water spray system for various bottle sizes. For particularly large containers, that smaller bottle carriers may be automatically removed and half that number of larger bottle carriers mounted on the transport system.

Abstract: Sorting and inspection apparatus and methods which may be used for the identification and separation of articles of different characteristics, or the inspection of articles of similar characteristics to reject those of below minimum standards. A typical system will include a transport system for individually transporting the articles past a television camera so that the camera may view the distinctive portions of the articles to be sorted or the area of the articles to be inspected. The output of the television camera is digitized based upon the number of transitions of light to dark (or dark to light) in the scan lines. A correlator then performs a specialized correlation between the digitized image and various previously digitized images representing the different items being sorted or inspected, to determine which of the previously stored images best correlates with the digitized image from the television camera.

Abstract: An electronic bottle inspector having particle and liquid detection capabilities through the use of sensing systems in the visible and infra-red light range. For particle inspection in the visible light range, light from a source, typically an incandescent source passing through the bottom of a bottle, is focused above the neck of the bottle to preset an image of the bottom of the bottle on a rotating scanner characterized by a generally non-reflective background having one or more reflecting segments thereon. The scanner rotates at high speed so that the reflecting segment or segments scans the image focused thereon, with at least the reflective segments being contoured so the light falling thereon from the respective portion of the bottle bottom image is focused onto a detector. The particulate matter on the bottom of the bottle will block the light, creating a dip in detector output when that portion of the image is scanned.

Abstract: A box opening apparatus for automatically opening the closed (unsealed) flaps of cartons delivered on a conveyor. The initial lifting of the longitudinal flaps is by a stream of air or by vacuum. Thereafter the undersides of the slightly lifted flaps engage a blade which urges the flaps upward, with helical rails completing the opening of the longitudinal flaps. A drag link engages the rear lateral flap, pivoting the flap open as the carton moves along the conveyor. A hook member is coupled to an endless chain moving substantially faster than the conveyor and synchronized with the movement of cartons on the conveyor. The hook member is disposed and synchronized to engage the underside of the front lateral flap when in the closed position, and to move in an upwardly and then downwardly sloping direction followed by a horizontal trajectory segment to rotate the flap to the open position.

Abstract: Improvements in bottle handling apparatus whereby bottles may be firmly grasped by the neck thereof for conveying but may be easily and quickly released as desired. A pair of spaced elongated members, somewhat flexible by design, extend outward adjacently and are manipulated to clamp and retain the bottles. The elongated members are pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof and a toggle joint mechanism is disposed to spread the rear portion of the elongated members so as to cause the forward portion thereof to grasp a bottle. A spring across the toggle mechanism drives the clamp into either the completely open or completely closed position in response to an impulse. Mechanism is provided for causing the clamp to release at one of a plurality of possible locations depending on the desired position of the bottle being conveyed.

Abstract: A Full Depth Uncaser for automatically removing bottles from a case having a depth substantially equal to the bottle height, and delivering the bottles to a delivery conveyor. The Uncaser utilizes a system of individual grippers arranged in the general pattern of the bottles in the cases, with the various rows of grippers supported by continuous chains at each side of a gripper assembly. Each individual gripper utilizes an over-center toggle mechanism held to the open position by the toggle, and triggerable by the contact of the center member with the top of a bottle to allow a spring to cause the gripper to close on the neck of the bottle. Bottles are released onto the delivery conveyor by depression of the center member at that point to reset the over-center mechanism. Provisions for synchronizing the cases with the gripper motion as well as other features and improvements for such equipment are disclosed.