Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling dryers for wood products is disclosed by measuring a temperature differential that relates to the difference between the temperature of the drying medium before and after contact with the product as the product is being dried to determine what the final moisture content will be and controlling the differential temperature to obtain the desired moisture content in the product leaving the dryer or predicting the drying time required to dry to target final moisture content.

Abstract: A betting system having a number of betting terminals and displays connected to a central control unit. The betting system allows both fixed price and expected dividend betting by continually calculating the odds and liabilities in respect of each contestant and ensuring that the total liability incurred does not exceed the total amount of money wagered. Only expected dividend betting is allowed until a threshold level of wagers received is reached either by wagers received at the terminals or by transfers of funds from another body. Once the threshold is reached both fixed price and expected dividend betting is allowed by the system.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the operation of the shears of a glassware forming machine. The control system incorporates sensors which produce signals representative of predetermined shear positions in each shear cycle, and in particular, makes use of the correlation between the duration of a Zero Crossover Signal and the point of maximum overlap of the shears. The system adjusts the time of deactuation of a fluidic drive assembly, and therefore, the overlap displacement, if the termination of the Zero Crossover pulse falls outside a defined "deadband". The Zero Crossover signal may also be monitored to provide alarm signals or shut the system down.

Abstract: Disclosed is a manual operation system for a machine controlled by a numerical control apparatus (1). The same operation pattern as in an automatic operation mode can be manually performed according to the manual operation system.When a programmable controller central processing unit (6) determines that a manual instruction from selection switches (33a-33g, 34a, 34b) is kept enabled, the machine is controlled according to the manual operation program including a predetermined portion of the automatic operation program, thereby executing the same operation as in the automatic mode from the current position.

Abstract: A modular control is built up with a basic module to control a multiplicity of steps, whether successive or simultaneous. Each module controls a step in the overall control process, with a part A which makes a decision for a respective step based on a condition signal CO, and a part D for accordingly controlling an associated action AS. The function provided by the assembled modular control can be represented on a surface as defined by the collection of the front panels of all the modules. This approach to providing control means is particularly useful for a broad range of control technology between hardware logic of elementary logic cells and sophisticated and expensive programmable automatic devices.

Abstract: A robust model reference controller which supplies manipulated variables for controlling a multi-input multi-output process of the type which may not be modelled perfectly consists of a pre-compensator, a diagonal filter, and a post-compensator. The input signals to the robust model reference controller are first projected dynamically into decoupled signals by the pre-compensator. The diagonal filters then filter the decoupled signals individually. The filtered signals are projected back dynamically to the manipulated variables for the controlled process. The filter can easily be tuned to attain the optimal response of the closed-loop system with a given bound of model uncertainty.

Abstract: A self-tuning system and method for controlling a process based on a measured parameter comprises modular parameter estimators and parameter controllers which are used in conjunction with the process and which receive as an input the measured parameter. An internal model controller is used as one of the parameter converters and incorporates a feed forward index which is used for gain scheduling. Regression analysis is also used in conjunction with the conventional gain scheduling to more accurate refine the control action. A limiter is also used in conjunction with the regression analysis to avoid an overly high or overly low correction signal for the controller.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for computer aided completion of the interconnection pattern of a printed circuit board left after an automatic interconnect routing system fails to connect all points needing connection. The invention utilizes operator and/or automatic intervention in combination with system provided indicia representative of regions, about each of a set of points to be interconnected on the board, where conductors can be placed according to predesignated interconnect protocols or constraints. The system provides selectable logical operations on the regions that permit operator display of indicia from which the operator can intervene to complete the interconnection by providing a minimal sacrifice of protocols or through automatic intervention to complete the interconnect pattern between points in each region according to a data base of acceptable protocol modifications.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled system for monitoring, storing and periodically reporting on data pertinent to the commercial operation of a reporting system, such as a soft drink vending machine, to a central data collection and monitoring computer, and which periodically reports such data over a telephone line which it accesses on a nondedicated basis. The microprocessor controls operations of the telelink system, and stores in memory data related to the overall status of the commercial operation of the reporting system, such as totals, inventory, etc. Reporting system status sensors are provided for reporting on the status of the reporting system without interrupting normal operation thereof, such that a problem with the operation of or a malfunction of the telelink system does not adversely affect operation of the reporting system.

Abstract: A system for contacting customers of a pharmacy automatically to remind them that their prescriptions need to be refilled does so using a computer, memory, and automatic telephone dialing and voice synthesizing equipment. Information concerning each customer and his or her prescription is placed in a database in the memory. A schedule file which lists customer name, phone number, the drug prescribed and refill due date is created from this information. The schedule file is kept in chronological order by refill due date. At selected times, customers whose prescriptions are due to be refilled within selected time periods are automatically contacted by the computer using the automatic telephone dialer. When the telephone is answered, the voice synthesizer identifies the customer by name, the prescribed drug and prescription number. The voice synthesizer then reminds the customer that the prescription is due to be refilled if the medication was taken as prescribed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surface cutting method for back-and-forth surface cutting of the interior of an area (AR) bounded by a closed curve.The surface cutting method includes repeating the following steps:a step of obtaining points of intersection P.sub.i, Q.sub.i between an i-th cutting path (PT.sub.i) and an offset curve offset (OFC') by (T+C+R) to the outer side of the closed curve, as well as points of intersection P.sub.i+1, Q.sub.i+1 between the offset curve and an (i+1)th cutting path (PT.sub.i+1), where T, C and R represent excess thickness, amount of clearance and tool radius, respectively;a step of obtaining a coordinate value, in the cutting path direction, of an outermost point R.sub.i on the offset curve (OFC') between the points of intersection Q.sub.i, Q.sub.i+1, where Q.sub.i is a point of intersection on a cutting end point side of the i-th cutting path (PT.sub.i) and Q.sub.i+1 is a point of intersection on a cutting starting point side of the (i+1)th cutting path (PT.sub.

Abstract: For operating an industrial robot, first, second and third flags are selectively generated as an indication of first, second and third teaching modes, respectively. A position signal representative of the path to be traced by the robot arm is sampled at a higher rate in response to the first flag to produce a first train of samples or at a lower sampling rate in response to the second and third flags to produce a second train of samples. A sample between successive samples of the second train is interpolated when the second flag is generated and combined with the samples of the second train. When the third flag is generated, a sample between successive samples of the second train is approximated. The robot arm is controlled in accordance with the first train of samples in the presence of the first flag or in accordance with the combined samples or approximated samples in the presence of the second and third flags.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface cutting method for cutting a surface within an area (AR) bounded by a predetermined closed curve (CCL) by moving a tool (TL) along a cutting path (PT.sub.i) in a predetermined direction (direction of arrow A) to cut the surface within the area, thenceforth moving the tool along an adjacent cutting path (PT.sub.i+1), obtained by a shift of a predetermined amount, to cut the surface, and repeating these surface cutting operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a roll eccentricity in a rolling mill includes mark pulse generators each provided for upper and lower rolls from which an eccentricity is to be detected, the mark pulse generator generating one pulse per one rotation of the roll, sampling pulse generators each provided for the upper and lower rolls for generating n pulses per one rotation of the roll, and a rolling pressure detector for the rolls.After a mark pulse is generated, the rolling pressure signal outputted from the rolling pressure detector is first stored at the output timings of the sampling pulses. Next, a difference of the rolling pressure signals outputted from the rolling pressure detector is subjected to a Fourier transformation, the rolling pressure signals corresponding to those obtained after and before the relative phases of the upper and lower rolls are changed. The resultant values together with rotary angles and relative phases are used to output an eccentricity quantities independently for each roll.

Abstract: An off-line programming method and apparatus for a robot comprising creating a work program for a work sequence in terms of the workpiece coordinates, breaking up the sequence into plural jobs comprising closely associated segments, converting the segments into the coordinates of the robot, teaching the robot two points per job, determining the differences (error vectors) between the converted segments and the two taught points, and apportioning the error vectors to the remaining points.

Abstract: A remote controlled multi-station irrigation system in which discrete radio signals are transmitted from a remote location for each different function to be performed. The system includes a controller with a central processor, individual station actuator circuits, and interface circuitry; a transmitter which preferably transmits in an FM dual tone multi-frequency format, and a receiver which decodes the transmitted signal to hexadecimal data. The controller is automatically converted from a local to a remote operating mode by the insertion of a connecting cable from the receiver. The controller can be operated in real time or programmed for future operation from a remote location. The receiver can also be adapted for conventional controllers by adding field actuator circuitry which is connected directly to the field wires, bypassing the controller during remote operation.

Abstract: An electronic cash register employing a price-look-up table includes a detachable recording medium for recording item codes and the corresponding item prices, and a reader for reading the data from the detachable recording medium. During a transaction operation, the recording medium is checked to determine whether it is connected to the reader, and, if it is, the detachable recording medium is searched for an item involved in the transaction operation. If that item is present on the detachable recording medium a transaction operation based on the medium-recorded prices for that item, rather than a previously stored price for that item, is carried out.

Abstract: A process controller comprises a deviation calculating device for calculating the deviation between a control value obtained from a controlled object and a set value for the control value, and a first operation device for performing at least one of proportional, integral and differential operations with respect to the deviation from the deviation calculating device based on control parameters adjusted in a characteristic state for optimally restricting variation due to a disturbance. The first operation device outputs an adjusting signal based on the at least one of proportional, integral and differential operations. The process controller further comprises a second calculating device for correcting the control parameters to parameter values in a characteristic state for optimally following change in the set value.

Abstract: A grinder for form grinding gear teeth in which a work gear is positioned rotationally by a computer controlled drive. A sensitive probe in known angular relation to a grinding wheel about the axis of the gear is positioned at random in any tooth space, and senses the angular positions of the gear when the gear is driven in opposite directions into probe actuating positions of adjacent tooth surfaces. The computer then controls the gear drive to rotate it reversely by one half of such angular movement from the last position.

Abstract: A bar material gathering control system wherein the frequency of use of cutting bites can be automatically made uniform over the cutting face whereby the cutting blade can be used efficiently.