Abstract: A system is disclosed which allows a container and material to be weighed in the presence of a pressurized gas and reduces the effects on that weighing caused by variations in the gas flow and pressure. The system includes a container which receives material to be weighed and a structure for discharging material from the system. The container is mounted on a scale for providing weight readings and flexibly coupled by at least one inlet to provide a pressurized gas to the container which isolates gas flow and pressure effects transmitted to the container.

Abstract: A joystick for restricted movement about X and Y axes to actuate opposed switches disposed in pairs of said axes and operable in an eight-way mode to actuate adjacent corner switches as well as single axially aligned switches, and operable in a four-way mode to actuate only single axially aligned switches, with a selectively positionable gate controlling the mode of operation, all of which is embodied in a spring biased assembly characterized by a tilting flange captured in a complementary mounting plate socket.

Abstract: The envelope assembly comprises a rectangular front panel and a complementary back panel which together form an envelope for initial use in the delivery of an insert. First and second tear lines are formed across the two panels, respectively. The first tear line, formed across the front panel, is spaced inwardly from one side of the envelope a distance greater than the corresponding separation between the second tear line and the one side of the envelope. An insert formed within the envelope is secured between the front and back panels along said one side. By pinching the envelope and exerting a pulling force on it, from its opposite sides, the envelope can be burst. This separates the insert and a removable portion of the envelope along the first and second tear lines. The separation between the first and second tear lines exposes a portion of the back panel that extends outwardly from the first tear line.

Abstract: A lightweight portable utility billing apparatus is described for enabling a utility (private or public) meter reader to: (1) read utility meters of a number of utility customers on a selected route and obtain current meter value information from each customer; (2) record the current meter value information; (3) automatically calculate the customer utility charges; (4) print customer bills containing the calculated charges thereon; and (5) deliver the customer bills to the customer. The apparatus includes a single input/output magnetic tape for mass data storage and an electronic alterable read only memory (EAROM) for storing the utility rate tables. The EAROMS may be readily updated by the magnetic tape. A keyboard, display and impact printer are included as I/O devices with respect to a microprocessor controller that is programmed by an instructional control program stored in a nonvolatile read only memory.

Abstract: A volumetric screw feeder is interchangeably convertible from a twin screw feeder to a single screw feeder without modification of the gearing or drive means. The change from twin screw feeder to single screw feeder is made by interchanging the screws and the feeder hopper. Moreover, the drive shafts for all of the screws are brought out through a unitary seal.

Abstract: A digital weigh feeder includes a conveyor belt for transporting material thereon. The conveyor belt has an average tare weight. A digital weight transmitter provides at least first and second outputs having first and second frequencies respectively. The ratio of the first and second frequencies is indicative of the weight of material on the belt. A weight processor digitally computes a scaled ratio of the first and second frequencies. An auto tare circuit digitally computes the average tare weight of the conveyor belt. The computed average tare weight is substracted from the computed scaled ratio of the first and second frequencies to obtain a reading of the actual weight of material on the belt.

Abstract: The invention concerns a conveyor type scale with a stand. A carrier attached to the stand and a conveyor belt rests on the carrier. A mechanism for measuring a load is provided. A transmitting means places the carrier in operational contact with the load-measuring mechanism. The carrier includes two tables, which are connected to each other. A first link mechanism connects the two tables to one another and a second link mechanism connects each table to the stand.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying a constant tension to a belt extending around first and second rollers by way of a parallelogram linkage connected to said second roller for moving said second roller to tension said belt. A lever arm is connected to the linkage and includes a weight adjustable along the lever arm.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating a belt tare compensation signal including a load cell in operative contact with a feed conveyor belt dividable into N equal segments. The output of the load cell is strobed each time the conveyor belt advances one sampled and a pulse train representative of the output of the load cell is generated. The pulse train is applied to a pulse counter if the output of the load cell is greater than a predetermined value and is applied to a minus counter if the output of the load cell is less than a predetermined value. At the end of a single revolution of the conveyor belt, a signal representative of the difference between the count in the plus and minus counters is generated. This signal is divided by N so as to generate a belt tare compensation signal which is representative of the average output of the load cell during a single non-loaded revolution of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the feed rate and batch size of the material feeder is disclosed. A signal generator computes the weight of material delivered by the material feeder and compares it to first and second presettable values. When the weight of material delivered by the feeder is less than the first presettable value, the signal generator enables a first pulse generator which generates a pulse train having a relatively high pulse repetition frequency. This pulse train is applied to a motor speed controller which causes the feeder to deliver material at a relatively high rate. When the weight of material delivered by the feeder reaches the first presettable value, the signal generator enables a second pulse generator and disenables the first pulse generator. The second pulse generator generates a pulse train having a pulse repetition frequency substantially lower than that of the pulse train generated by the first pulse generator.

Abstract: The endless belt of a gravimetric feeder is provided with a tracking and tensioning assembly which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. The assembly is also mounted for movement along said axis between operative and inoperative positions. In the operative position of the assembly, it tensions the belt and instantly corrects any tendency of the belt to move sideways. The assembly also maintains the inner surface of the belt clean by scraping the same when the assembly is in its operative position.

Abstract: Trim marks of equilateral triangular shape are used to define a trim line for sheets containing machine-readable indicia. Each trim mark consists of an equilateral triangle with one corner situated along the trim line, an adjacent side extending perpendicular to that trim line, and an opposite side parallel to but spaced from the trim line. The length of the adjacent side corresponds to the acceptable severance tolerance for the trim line, so that if the sheet is cut away from the desired trim line, the visable width of the truncated triangular trim mark will equal the amount of offset. Advantageously, differently spaced pairs of such trim marks are employed on opposite sides of the desired trim line so that the separation distance between the truncated triangles provides a visual indication of the direction and possible skew of severance offset.

Abstract: The throughput of a conveyor belt is controlled by a motor whose speed is established by the instantaneous state of an up/down counter. The counter is incremented upwardly by setpoint pulses representative of the desired mass flow rate, and downwardly by feedback pulses from a rate multiplier representative of the actual mass flow rate. When the actual mass flow rate is equal to the setpoint flow rate, the average number of setpoint pulses will equal the average number of feedback pulses with the result that the state of the counter will be stable with time. Speed control means for the motor maintains the belt speed at a level dependent upon the state of the counter. A variation between the actual and desired mass flow rates is manifested by a change in the average number of feedback pulses which results in a change in the state of the counter.