Abstract: A conveyor control apparatus is presented wherein a plurality of discs containing light beam coding apertures are driven in synchronism with a conveyor assembly and provide optical control means for electronic circuitry which activates a plurality of on-loading stations and off-loading stations as a function of conveyor travel.

Abstract: Handwritten character identification employs two constraining dots and radius vectors extending out from each of these dots in a manner to identify large quantities of numeral characters by determining which of these radius vectors are crossed, whereby these crossings sample a predetermined segmented character font pattern to designate the presence and absence of the respective segments. In particular, the number of the radius vectors concerning the horizontally-oriented segments is increased to minimize a possibility of error while leaving the two constraining dots to keep mild restrictions on the size and form of the characters to be handwritten and identified.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for continuously counting up the pinholes and the rips (continuous disruptions) in a film or web of plastic materials, said device having a gating circuit which is capable of distinguishing the pinholes from the rips thus giving a more reliable indication than was possible with the conventional devices also based on detection of electric discharges.

Abstract: An improved counter for use with an incremental measuring device is disclosed which includes an up-down counter, a plurality of memory units, a computer, and means for designating any of the memory units. The computer is coupled to the counter and the memory units and is programmed to algebraically combine the value stored in the counter with the value stored in the designated memory unit to generate an output value for display. In the preferred embodiment, circuits are provided for setting the individual memory units to preselected values. The counter of this invention can be used to selectively display the measured position in any one of several measurement modes by designation of the appropriate memory unit.

Abstract: An improved electronic counter for use with an incremental measuring device is disclosed. The counter includes two or more individual counters, a display unit, and a switch for selectively connecting any one of the individual counters with the display unit. Each of the individual counters may be individually set to a separate zero point so that each counter may be used to store a position value in a separate frame of reference. The position value stored in any one of the individual counters may be switched to the display unit without disturbing the contents of the other individual counters. In the preferred embodiment, the counter includes a circuit for automatically resetting a first individual counter to zero whenever the measuring device senses a predetermined reference mark, thereby automatically maintaining a calibrated zero point in that counter.

Abstract: A clock circuit designed to keep time based upon a known frequency of an alternating current power supply is provided with a d.c. power backup system to operate the clock circuit during periods of a.c. power failure. The clock circuit includes a high frequency oscillator which generates a large number of timing pulses for each alternating current power cycle. During periods of normal operation on alternating current power, the number of oscillator timing pulses occurring between successive null points in the alternating current power supply waveform are counted and stored. When the clock circuit is operated from the d.c. power supply during periods of a.c. power failure, the last count of timing pulses between successive null points in the a.c. cycle is loaded as an initial count into a counter. The counter is decremented down to zero, whereupon the counter registers the passage of a period of time corresponding to the time interval between two null points in the a.c.

Abstract: An electromagnetic counting mechanism having a rotary counter and an electromagnetic operator with a pivotal clapper adapted to be magnetically actuated for indexing the counter. The clapper has a primary air gap and a tangential projection which cooperates with an edge of a pole of the electromagnet to provide a secondary air gap to reduce the rate of increase of magnetic force as the clapper is pivoted to its closed gap position and so that the magnetic force/clapper displacement curve has a generally flattened slope less than that of the return spring force/clapper displacement curve for stable pivotal operation of the clapper with a shaped drive pulse.

Abstract: In the field of closed loop control systems, a reference signal input is compared with a feedback signal to provide an error signal which then initiates corrective action until the feedback signal duplicates the reference signal. Hence, the reference signal may be appreciated as the set point at which the control system should operate. The disclosure relates to a manual input reference signal circuit which may be used to input a desired reference speed signal into a control system circuit for a prime mover. Provision is made for both local and remote manual signal input and priority logic is included for selecting the most appropriate reference signal. Inhibit logic dictates the floor and ceiling for the range of prime mover operation .

Abstract: A pocket-sized electronic currency counter counts a stack of paper currency via a light beam and a plurality of photoresponsive cells. A counter in a housing is electrically connected to the cells for counting the electrical signals produced thereby and an indicator electrically connected to the counter in the housing visually indicates the count of the counter.

Abstract: An electrical totalizer for forming an output signal with occurrences separated by a minimum time interval and representative of the total number of random occurrences in first and second circuits. First and second input circuits receive occurrences from, respectively, such first and second circuits. First and second bistable state circuits respond to separate strobes for changing states for each occurrence at, respectively, the first and second input circuits. A combining circuit is coupled to the first and second bistable state circuits for forming an output representation for each different occurrence at the input circuits. A separator forms, in an output signal, an output occurrence responsive to an applied strobe for each of the output representations. A strobing circuit is operative during repetitive cycles for applying, during each cycle, a strobe to each of the first and second bistable state circuits and to the separator in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A counting section shielding device for shielding the counting section of a paper sheet counting machine including a paper holder for holding paper sheets to be counted, a plurality of rotatable suction cylinders carried on a suction drum for sucking the paper sheets one by one so as to count the number of the same. The counting machine includes a comparator for comparing the actual counted number of the paper sheets with a preset number. The shielding device includes a pair of sound-proof covers which can be opened to provide easy access to the inside of the counting section so that the paper holder may be charged with the paper sheets and which can be closed to extend above the counting section so that this section may be shielded to prevent escape of noise and dust.

Abstract: A net oil computer including a mean density electric current source that alternately supplies all of or a portion of water density and oil density electric currents with the differences between the mean and water currents and between the mean and oil currents alternately charging and discharging a capacitor between two different voltage levels or vice versa. A bistable circuit switches the capacitor to charge and discharge when the capacitor voltage reaches the respective two different levels. One or both of the capacitor charging and discharging periods may then be used to gate turbinemeter pulses, the number of which is proportional to total oil flow and/or total water flow in a pipeline.

Abstract: There is disclosed a volatile electronic counter wherein the count is retained over power off periods. This is accomplished by the use of a non-volatile memory with means for rapidly writing therein the contents of the volatile memory upon sensing a power down condition. Upon later sensing a power up condition, the contents of the non-volatile memory are returned to the volatile memory.

Abstract: The invention provides a pedometer device of electronic form which may be accommodated in a wrist watch housing, if desired within an electronic wrist watch together with the watch parts. A visual display is produced by an electronic processor responsive to a read only memory, settable to provide a unit distance reference, and counter fed from a motion sensitive modulator. The ROM and counter can be arranged such that no multiplier device is required. The modulator may be in the form of a mass-loaded wire of spring-quality metal projecting into a surrounding contact cylinder. This arrangement gives a construction compact enough for housing within the watch case.

Abstract: The present apparatus is intended for use with a timer for controlling a process having an operating cycle including a plurality of sequential operational steps and for providing at least one preselectable output signal for each such step. The apparatus includes an activator for initiating the execution of a test cycle by the timer, and a test cycle step incrementor for selectively incrementing the timer so as to permit the rapid verification of both the operation of the timer and the accuracy of the output signal for each step.

Abstract: A film card selection device for use in an automatic microfilm display apparatus is provided with a switch for sensing that a film card has been selected. A counter counts the number of drive gear teeth passing a selected point after selection of a film card so that the apparatus can be stopped with the selected card in position for retrieval.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus for recording the number of times each selection offered by a vending machine is chosen by customers and for displaying such information sequentially in either ascending or descending order.

Abstract: An electronic equipment capable of keeping a plurality of lap times wherein upon depression of a start-stop key a time counting means is started and time being counted is displayed; upon each depression of a lap time key or button the contents in the time counting means at the instant the lap time key is depressed is transferred and stored in a respective register and the sequential order of the lap times stored is displayed; upon the second depression of the start-stop button the time counting means is disabled and the total time of one event counted is displayed; and thereafter upon each depression of the lap time button or key the lap times stored are sequentially displayed in the inverted order together with the sequential order of the lap time being displayed.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking food intake, which advises user of amount of a particular food or constituent thereof which may still be eaten during remainder of measuring period, including a counter and a register.

Abstract: A manually operated direct-current generator, with an output voltage whose polarity and magnitude depend on the direction and speed of rotation of a control knob, charges a storage capacitor in an input circuit of an operational amplifier which works into two comparators respectively responsive to positive and negative voltages exceeding selected thresholds. A triggerable pulse source, upon actuation by either comparator, feeds back one or more discharge pulses to the storage capacitor and also steps a reversible pulse counter in either a forward or a reverse sense.