Abstract: Apparatus is provided for welding studs to a workpiece with the area around the welds being substantially free of smut. The existence of the smut detracts from the appearance of the workpiece and if the workpiece is to be painted or otherwise covered with a coating material, the smut must first be removed. The coating of smut can be eliminated if, during the weld process, fluid is carefully deposited on the weld area around the end of the stud where the weld occurs. The fluid consists of a small volume of low-pressure air and an anti-smut liquid. The latter also helps to keep weld splatter from adhering to the interior of a spark shield used with the stud. However, by applying a non-metallic, preferably plastic, sleeve within the spark shield, the problem of splatter can be further reduced or substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A dental instrument heater having a pair of contact blades connected to a battery. The contact blades have notches formed along their respective edges, and they are mounted in parallel, spaced-apart relationship to each other. Consequently, a dental instrument may be positioned between adjacent notches so that electric current from the battery flows through and heats the dental instrument. The heating device includes a self-contained charging circuit which connects an external charger to the battery when the battery voltage is below a predetermined value, and it disconnects the charger from the battery when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: A novel cooking oven provides a plurality of elongated heating rods which are parallel to one another and surround the foodstuff to be cooked. The rods are energized sequentially by current flow controlled in magnitude and time to produce either black baking heat from the heating rods or infrared radiation from the heating rods by heating them to a red color. By sequentially heating the rods, the heat source in effect rotates around the foodstuff to be cooked to produce equal and even browning equivalent to that obtained by conventional rotisserie cooking in which the foodstuff is rotated relative to a stationary heat source. The oven may also be used in other heating modes such as pressurized cooking by containing the apparatus in a pressurized vessel with the heat sources consisting of inherent heat sources which will produce browning and crisping while heating in the pressurized mode.

Abstract: Electrical stud-welding apparatus of greater efficiency and reliability and more simply operated than known stud-welding apparatus. A base member is provided with a tubular housing, an insulating bushing therewithin and a welding piston inwardly of but of greater length than the bushing. Mounted in the housing is an actuating member under the control of a coil compression spring comprising a rod capped on its forward end on the workpiece side of the apparatus. Means including an electrical control circuit actuate the longitudinally moving parts.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled microwave oven having a scale for providing a signal corresponding to the weight of a food body in the cavity to the microprocessor. Through a control panel, the operator inputs a second signal corresponding to the initial temperature of the food body. From these signal inputs, the microprocessor calculates the microwave exposure time period to raise the temperature of the food body to a predetermined temperature or to cook the food body. In accordance with the time period, the microprocessor then controls the magnetron through one or more active cycles as selected.

Abstract: A conveyorized microwave oven having multiple independently controlled lanes. Specifically, a plurality of conveyor belts are directed into, through, and out of the microwave cavity. The belts can be operated at different speeds so that foods requiring different microwave exposure times can be cooked simultaneously. Suppression tunnels surrounding the conveyor belts at the openings into and out of the cavity prevent the escape of microwave energy from the cavity.

Abstract: Apparatus and method enabling the heating or reconstituting of frozen foods packaged in a metal container using a microwave oven. The metal container is placed in a non-metallic holder having a cavity just slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the container. The spacing between the outside of the container and the inside surface of the holder is a uniform small distance. The resultant space is filled with a liquid which absorbs microwave energy, converting it to thermal energy which is then transmitted through the container to the food to be reconstituted.

Abstract: An improved electrode feed system for use in effecting electrical machining between a working electrode and a workpiece electrode across a machining gap has a quick-response electrode retraction and reciprocation capability. The movable electrode is securely supported by an axially movable machining head into which a feed screw extends, the latter being driven by a servo motor responsive via a control circuit to the progress of machining in the gap. In the machining head, the feed screw is in mesh with a feed nut which is restrained from rotation for axially moving the head when the feed screw is rotated by the gap-responsive servo motor, thereby displacing the movable electrode as machining proceeds. The improved system includes a cylinder formed within the machining head and the feed nut is slidably received in the cylinder for axial movement relative thereto, the feed nut being constructed and arranged to define a pair of separate chambers in the cylinder.

Abstract: An improved method of electroerosively machining a two- or three-dimensional contour in a workpiece makes use of a worktable movable to displace the workpiece in an X-Y plane and a tool electrode having a plurality of divided machining electrode surfaces on its lateral periphery. The tool electrode is supported with a support member so as to be rotatable about a rotary axis orthogonal to the X-Y plane and so that each of the machining surfaces extends in parallel with the rotary axis. Motors for translational movement of the worktable and a motor for rotating the tool electrode are controlled by a command source, e.g. NC unit, to control the position of the workpiece and the angular orientation of the tool electrode so that the particular machining surfaces optimum to the particular configurations of successive portions of the contour that are to develop sequentially in the workpiece are presented in machining relationship with the workpiece.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for simultaneously welding by the stud end welding technique a stud having two or more ends. The stud includes at least one elongated relatively thin metallic projection from each end of the stud to be welded. The method and apparatus maintains a current density in a given projection sufficient to disintegrate the projection with consequent arc initiation. The resultant arcs melt all stud ends and plate. The molten ends are lowered into the pools at a controlled rate at which time the current is extinguished and the material solidifies.

Abstract: The carpet seaming tape activator disclosed comprises a hand-operated electric iron having a base with an insulated bottom. The base of the iron defines a tunnel, through which heat-activated adhesive tape for carpet seaming can pass. The heating element of the iron is disposed inside the base, so that the adhesive on the tape is melted while the tape is entirely enclosed within the iron. The hot tape is thus temporarily isolated from the padding beneath, thereby avoiding damage to the padding and to the backing on the underside of the carpet, as well as avoiding the tendency of the carpet to adhere to the padding underneath.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing device for an electrophotographic copier, comprising a heater plate for fixing the toner image of a recording support passing over the surface of said heater plate. The heater plate comprises a multiple-layered laminate including a contact layer for contacting the recording support; a heating layer; and at least first and second heat-insulating layers, one provided on either side of the heating layer and being selected so as to provide for a lower heat capacity of the heater plate during the heating-up operation and until it reaches the working temperature than the heat capacity during continuous operation. The device comprises a heat accumulating layer, and the first insulating layer is adjacent to the contact layer and the second insulating layer is in contact with the heat accumulating layer. The heat transfer coefficient of the first insulating layer is higher than the heat transfer coefficient of the second insulating layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for attaching welding pins to sheet metal, and particularly for attaching by a resistance welding procedure pins for retaining insulating material to a duct substrate. A characterizing feature of the invention resides in the provision of a fixed hopper member for receiving bulk quantities of weld pins and a carriage movable relative to the hopper for enabling the pins to be applied to the duct at spaced points, the combination including means for discharging a plurality of oriented pins from the bulk supply hopper to the movable carriage responsive to predetermined movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A method for electroslag welding of metals by a large-section electrode includes establishing a slag bath, fusing the electrode and the edges being weld-joined, filling with molten metal the inlet metal mould and the gap between the edges, and subsequently removing the inlet shrinkhead. The electrode is, in establishing the slag bath and filling with metal the inlet metal mould, fused at a rate lower than the electrode fusion rate in filling with metal the gap between the edges being weld-joined at constant electrical parameters of the electroslag welding. A brittle interlayer is formed between the inlet shrinkhead and the weld in the course of welding, and the weld is made so that it has a low electrical resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capacitive hygrometer comprising a capacitor (1) having a dielectric material (3), whose dielectric constant varies as a function of the quantity of water absorbed. It has on one of its conductive faces numerous fissures bringing the dielectric material into direct contact with the atmosphere whose degree of humidity is to be measured. However, the electrical continuity of the fissured conductive face is maintained. Application to the measurement of the degree of humidity of the air.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a conical valve seat surface of a valve seat ring insert which has been previously press fitted or molded into an engine component such as an engine head. The method and apparatus includes mounting an inductor for reciprocal movement axially toward and away from the valve seat of the engine head and biasing the inductor toward the valve seat, encircling the inductor with an axially biased electrically conducting hollow ring-shaped magnetic flux shield through which a coolant is circulated, and moving the inductor and conducting ring shield toward the valve seat of the engine head to locate the inductor in a preselected position providing the necessary magnetic coupling gap between the inductor and valve seat surface of the valve seat insert while the conducting ring shield is maintained in heat transfer surface contact with and stray flux shielding relation to the portion of the engine head immediately around the valve seat surface of the insert.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a stepping motor includes a power source, an oscillating circuit, a dividing circuit connected to the oscillating circuit, and a wave shaping circuit receptive of a plurality of output signals produced from the dividing circuit to produce a plurality of controlling signals. A controlling circuit receives the controlling signals and controls a driving circuit. The power source is connected to a detecting voltage circuit by which the variation of the supply voltage of the power source is detected, and a normal waveform or an intermittent waveform is selectively applied to the stepping motor according to the variation of the supply voltage. As a result, the power consumption of the steppng motor is controlled at a constant level, even if the supply voltage of the power source is higher than the optimum voltage of the stepping motor and even if the supply voltage varies.

Abstract: A tool holder for a manipulator comprises a tool shaft extending along and rotatable about a main axis and having a tool-shaft end provided with a pivot defining a transverse axis. A tool is carried on the pivot and is displaceable relative to the tool shaft about the transverse axis. A stack of guide rings coaxially surrounds the tool shaft adjacent the pivot and is formed with at least two throughgoing guide-ring passages each having a radially outwardly opening passage end. Two of the guide rings define a pair of axially spaced annular confronting guide-ring surfaces. A connector ring is rotatable on the stack between the guide-ring surfaces and has a pair of axially oppositely directed connector-ring surfaces one of which axially directly confronts one of the guide-ring surfaces. A connector element secures the connector ring to the tool-shaft end for joint rotation of same about the main axis.

Abstract: An induction heating coil and a self-excited inverter are connected to a ripple voltage source. The self-excited inverter comprises a transistor as a switching element and the transistor is rendered conductive responsive to a drive voltage applied for each cycle of the ripple voltage source, whereby the self-excited inverter is started at each cycle of the ripple voltage source. The self-excited inverter stops the oscillation when the voltage of the ripple voltage source becomes lower than a predetermined value. During the non-oscillation period of the intermittent oscillation, the oscillation output of the self-excited inverter is detected. If and when the oscillation output is detected at that time, the oscillation of the inverter is stopped. Furthermore, the pulses of the attenuating oscillation of the self-excited inverter during the oscillation rest period are counted.

Abstract: A high frequency heating appliance which includes a magnetron, which is used as a high frequency oscillator, and which is directly mounted in a heating chamber and which further includes a stirrer fan for ensuring a uniform electric field distribution of high frequency electromagnetic radiation in the chamber; the fan is mounted coaxially with an antenna for the magnetron; the stirrer fan is provided with a vertical metallic segment for high frequency impedance matching and the vertical metallic segment has a horizontal metallic subsegment located on its end which is oriented so as to be substantially at right angles with the vertical metallic segment for providing a sufficient capacitive coupling between the wall of the heating chamber and the horizontal metallic subsegment with an adequate gap being secured from the heating chamber wall supporting the magnetron. The above-noted construction ensures an improved efficiency and improved distribution of the high frequency output of the magnetron.