Abstract: A computerized open outcry exchange system for transacting sales of a particular futures commodity contract by members of a futures trading exchange wherein bids to purchase or offers to sell the particular contract are made orally by the members through remote terminals having voice entry data inputs and the exchange computer automatically matches orally entered offers and bids to complete the transaction.

Abstract: A computerized open outcry exchange system for transacting sales of a particular futures commodity contract by members of a futures trading exchange wherein bids to purchase or offers to sell the particular commodity contract are made by the members through remote terminals and the exchange computer automatically matches offers and bids to complete the transaction.

Abstract: A control system for a programmable industrial robot has a joystick for manual control of the robot during programming for teaching the robot to follow a working path defined by a number of set points. The control system further comprises a memory for storage of the coordinates of these set points and of other instructions and control members for control of the function of the control system during the programming and for storing or entering instructions in the memory. The control members comprise a group of control members each having a plurality of different functions, the particular function in question being determined by the prevailing condition of the control system. An indicating member is arranged, for each of the control members in the group, to indicate the current function of said control members.

Abstract: The portable apparatus for acquiring and processing information relative to the dietetics and/or health of a person comprises, in combination, a series (2) of alpha-numeric keys for inputting information relative to the dietetics and/or the health of the user; at least one ROM in which are stored data and instructions in relation with this information; a display (5) for displaying the information introduced and the indications relating to them coming from the ROM; and a device for effectively inputting (3e) and refusing inputting (3d) of this information.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for ordering a working operation in an assembly line having sublines in which parts for different models are assembled. All of the parts in the assembly line have serial numbers. The parts are allocated with a working code which comprises a sub-serial number, a line code and a model code. The sub-serial numbers are successive numbers within each sub-line. The line code indicate the sub-line in which the part is manufactured, and the model code indicates the working operation to be performed in each line according to the model. The working code is transmitted into a working order instructing apparatus by which the working code is instructed. When the sub-serial numbers of the working code are consecutive in the sub-line, it is determined that the working operation designated by the working code should be performed.

Abstract: An electronic totalizer countrol for a coin sorter allows the user to assign and change fractional and whole-number coin values for denominations sorted at ten coin sorting stations in the sorter. The totalizer has a liquid crystal display (LCD) that integrates several cursors with the usual digits for displaying totals. A keyboard includes a BAG COUNT key operable to select a particular coin sorting station as indicated by one of the cursors. The keyboard also has DISPLAY keys operable to display monetary totals that has been accumulated by counting signals generated at the coin stations and adding a user-entered coin value for each signal to the total for the respective denomination. Coin data is stored in display data structures in a coin station data table for advantageous operation of the LCD.

Abstract: A process control apparatus has a controller for performing a control operation including an integral operation for a set point signal supplied to a process and an output signal from the process and for generating a control signal to the process, and a reference model which has a desired transfer function of a control system and which receives the set point signal. The process control apparatus further has a first subtractor for subtracting the output signal of the reference model from the output signal of the process, an output error compensator for performing a control operation including an integral operation for the output error and for generating a compensation signal in such a manner that the output error becomes zero, and a second subtractor for subtracting the compensation signal from the output control signal of the controller.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine is provided which has a continuous sale controller for continuously selling a plurality of products within a total amount of coins inserted therein for a single purchase. Until the outstanding balance becomes zero single sale operations are stored in a single sale operation memory. When a count of a counter reaches a reference number while the single sale operations are being stored, a reference number detector generates an output. The regular sales price supplied from a product sales price generator to the continuous sale controller is updated to a discount price when an output is generated from the reference number detector.

Abstract: A temperature control system (50) for use in a furnace (10) for heating metal logs (13) as the logs (13) move through a furnace heating chamber (12) includes thermocouples (52a-52e) adapted to sense log temperatures by direct contact during intermittent time intervals when the logs (13) are stationary. Radiation sensors (64a-64 e) continuously sense radiant energy emitted from the logs (13) and a temperature compensation circuit (62) compares signals representative of log temperatures as measured by thermocouples (52a-52e) and the radition sensors (64a-64e). The difference between the signals is utilized during time intervals when the logs (13) are moving as a compensation factor for the continuous signals representative of log temperatures based on sensed radiation. The compensated signals and signals representative of desired set point temperatures are applied to log temperature controllers (80a-80e) to regulate the thermal energy applied to the logs (13).

Abstract: A transaction device, having an input portion, and a processing device, having a client file, which is located at a processing center, are connected by a telephone line for processing data input on the transaction device. The transaction device sends an alarm signal when a transaction is carried out under duress via the transaction device. The updating of the client file is prevented when the alarm signal is received at the processing center and a false funds received processing text is sent to the transation device indicating that the client file was updated.

Abstract: In the disclosed method and apparatus, item-identifying codes of packages loaded onto a conveyor are scanned and, based on comparisons with the items in a group of orders stored in a computer, the packages are distributed to corresponding order-assembly lanes while account is kept of the distributed packages. In a preferred embodiment, one code-reader is located at the supply end of the conveyor system and packages are tracked in the computer for delivery to respective order-assembly lanes, deducting from order requirements at the time of scanning and correcting for the deductions if timely deliveries are not effected. Where belt conveyors are used and "slip" of a package behind its theoretical maximum travel speed may occur, package travel is monitored and operation of the system is halted in case of excessive delay of a package along any travel segment.

Abstract: An elevator supervisory-learning control apparatus for reliably predicting future elevator traffic on the basis of a learning function determined taking the statistics of past traffic conditions of an elevator over a predetermined past period of time. Future traffic is first estimated and the reliability of the estimated future traffic is calculated in accordance with the obtained learning function. Depending on the reliability level, a traffic pattern is selected so as to accurately and reliably predict future traffic of the elevator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integral control of a dependent variable in a system having at least two independent variables which influence the dependent variable is disclosed. A difference signal indicative of the difference between the sensed dependent variable and a reference is integrated and provided to a hysteresis transfer function. The output of the transfer function is subtracted from the integrated difference signal and the resulting signal is used to control an independent variable which thereby influences the dependent variable only for small magnitude signal variations in the integrated signal. The integrated signal is used to control another independent variable for large magnitude signal variations in the integrated signal. The other independent variable is typically only capable of influencing the dependent variable for large magnitude signal variations.

Abstract: A computer system for identifying the most appropriate of the billing categories (Diagnosis Related Groups) prescribed by the a governmental entity as a basis for determining the amount that health care providers, such as hospitals, are to be reimbursed under Medicare and similar programs for services provided to patients. The computer system responds to an initial determination of a category, upon admission of a patient, to list for medical personnel involved in giving care to the patient, such as the attending physician, a few other medically related categories for consideration as diagnosis and treatment proceeds. Only those related categories that can apply to a particular patient are listed for that patient, thereby reducing the time necessary for the physician to review and designate any new category that may be more accurate than the first.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machining apparatus for repeating the position and the attitude of a desired point on a work, memorizing as a plurality of data in a memory device, and automatically operating a jig from the stored point to the stored point in accordance with calculated result of a calculator for calculating to interpolate between these points while a machining head remains stationary. The device comprises a detector for teaching the position and the attitude of the machining head with respect to the work independently from the machining head in case of forming teaching data. A calculator is provided for calculating the spatial position and attitude entirely in the same manner as the detector with respect to the work by the stored data under playback condition so that the machining head takes with respect to the work.

Abstract: An automatic paper feed control apparatus includes a page feed command generator; a paper feeder, selectively coupled to a continuous paper feeder and an automatic paper feeder, for feeding a paper to a printing device from the coupled continuous paper feeder or automatic paper feeder; and a control circuit for controlling the operation of the paper feeder in response to a page feed command from the page feed command generator. The apparatus is further provided with a signal generator for generating a first or second signal indicative of the continuous paper feeder or automatic paper feeder used. The control circuit controls the paper feeder in response to the page feed command and the first signal, thereby allowing paper to be drawn out from the continuous paper feeder by only a predetermined length, and controls the paper feeder in response to the page feed command and the second signal, thereby allowing a new paper to be supplied to the printing device from the automatic paper feeder.

Abstract: A numerical control device in which machining operations on a plurality of different groups of workpieces can be automatically carried out. A switch section instructs data representing the required number of machining operations in a machining order for each group of workpieces. This data is stored in a first group of registers. Each time a machining operation for any group of the workpieces is performed, a value stored in a second register is incremented. A machining control section determines a machining schedule according to the contents stored in the first and second registers to thereby carry out the machining of various groups of workpieces in a specified order.

Abstract: A method of controlling the flow of finish to a moving synthetic fibrous tow involves continuous non-contact monitoring of electrostatic voltage (ESV), tow speed and temperature by appropriate sensors which are interfaced with a computer that provides continuous computation of percent finish on the tow. Out of limit signals are relayed to the point of finish application to adjust the amount of finish being applied to the tow.

Abstract: Methods for developing particular models which accurately predict the material, process and design parameters for superplastic forming of metal parts under optimum conditions consistent with the desired properties in the finished part. Generalized control equations are developed which enable designers to develop consistency of the forming parameters for materials from different lots. The invention permits control of superplastic forming in accordance with particular raw material microstructure and the effects of time, temperature, strain and strain rate during superplastic forming on the material microstructure, and establishes the relationship between the microstructure and the properties of the parts being formed. These methods applied to the specific area of superplastic forming of metal sheets exemplify a more generalized method of conducting systematic research to derive the maximum information from a minimum number of experiments involving available data.

Abstract: An item characterizing code on each of a succession of items of different varieties loaded onto a conveyor is compared to item characterizations in the requirements of a succession of stored orders to select an order requiring each item and, in dependence on the order that is selected, sorting the articles to order-related locations and/or applying order-related labels to the items. Multiple selective printers may be provided for use in succession for successive labels.