Abstract: A continuous-path moulding machine for moulded articles, including at least one moulding or forming die moving continuously or stepwise forward on a primary path and at least one transfer or pressing die moving continuously or stepwise forward on a secondary path, wherein at least one said path is a continuous-path loop, the arrangement being such that a component on said continuous-path loop passes a given fixed point on said continuous-path loop repeatedly, and wherein a plurality of discrete reference positions are provided on at least said primary path, and wherein said reference positions generate at least one position signal, and wherein said at least one position signal is transmitted to at least one DIOC, and wherein said DIOC includes associated customised software containing “if-then” type instructions, and wherein at least one communication system is provided to enable signals to be communicated from a stationary component of said machine to at least one component on a path of said mach

Abstract: A free form source model is divided into surface sections by identifying external boundary edges and internal boundary edges. The boundaries are connected or further divided as necessary to achieve a perimeter about each surface section which is a single closed curve. Doubly curved surfaces may also be subdivided. A developable output surface which approximates each source model surface section is then determined by calculating the minimum cost triangulation of each source model perimeter. Costs to be minimized may include the deviation of the triangle surface normal from the edge normal, the degree of bending between adjacent triangles, or the departure of the approximated surface from the original surface. The two-dimensional boundary of the flattened surface guides fabrication of output segments from sheet material, which may be assembled into an output object comprised entirely of developable surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a smart automatic recording system and method for monitoring wafer fragmentation, which system comprises a plurality of photographing devices, a multiple-image transmitter, a multiple-image receiver, and a PC. The photographing devices are used to monitor the circumstances when wafers are polished. The photographed images are then transferred to the multiple-image receiver by the multiple-image transmitter. After the multiple-image receiver receives the image signals, it merges the images captured at the same time into the same image frame. Next, the multiple-image receiver transfers the image signal to the input terminal of an image-capturing card in the PC. The PC also receives the wafer-entry and wafer-exit signals and the signal of wafer fragmentation transferred from the port of the polishing apparatus. The present invention can be exploited to facilitate judgement, diagnosis, genuine factor verification, or engineering improvement and management for associated technicians.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for machining glass-lenses using a glass-lens machining apparatus with computerized numerical control. The method of the present invention comprises the following steps: introducing opto-metrical data relating to the glasses support into the computer of the apparatus control device which is provided with a host connection; introducing into the computer the data corresponding to the shape of a selected rim for glasses; introducing into the computer data about the material of the non-machined lens; calculating the required diameter of the glass-lens and displaying the result; introducing a non-machined lens into the apparatus; optionally calculating, e.g. in the host computer, the gradient of a bevel, groove or bezel on the shaped glass-lens according to the data introduced or to the front or back curves which are inherent to the existence of surfaces; and carrying out the computerized numerical-control machining of the non-machined lens.

Abstract: An RF controlled thermostat/controller is disclosed for an HVAC system having a superregenerative RF receiver which uses the temperature sensor of the thermostat for temperature stabilization of the superregenerative RF receiver. The superregenerative RF receiver provides a very low power drain always-on receiver for RF remote control of the thermostat/controller. The thermostat/controller includes a microcontroller with a non-volatile memory. A digital value stored in the non-volatile memory, or a non-volatile memory of a separate component, is used in one of several different embodiments to accurately tune the superregenerative RF receiver.

Abstract: A system is provided for recording information relating to the condition of electrodes in an electric arc furnace. An imaging apparatus is provided in a consistent position relative to an imaging station. Periodically, the electrode columns are removed from the furnace and moved to a position such that the electrode column is placed at the imaging station. Then an image of the electrode column is created with the imaging apparatus, and the images are stored in a memory of a computer for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: In the production management system, supervisors of manufacturing and production check section, component check section, and manufacturing technical section set retrieval conditions for retrieving data stored in a database of a step-monitoring server in order to obtain information on daily, hourly and monthly statuses of products in the production management system by using output system clients. The input retrieval conditions are transmitted to the step-monitoring server. Data matching with these retrieval conditions are retrieved from the database of the step-monitoring server. The retrieved data is chronologically processed and displayed on screens of the clients which requested the data.

Abstract: Methods and devices for obtaining a network service at a network interconnected computing device (18) from one of plurality of network servers (16a, 16b, 16c), are disclosed. The computing device (18) contacts a first network server (16a) having a first network address, using the network address over the network (10). The device (18) provides this server (16a) with an identifier of the computing device. This identifier may, for example, be a persistent state object or “cookie”. The server (16a), in response, queries a database and determines a second network address of a server (16a, 16b or 16c) used to provide a service to the computing device, based on the identifier. This address is provided to the computing device (18). The network addresses of servers (16a, 16b, 16) may be uniform resource locators. The computing device (18), in turn, contacts the server identified by the second network address and obtains the network service.

Abstract: A method for electronically encoding an article with work-in-progress information includes determining a work-in-progress condition of the article and setting an encoding device attached to the article to a set-point corresponding to the work-in-progress condition. Determining the work-in-progress condition includes identifying a present work-in-progress condition of the article and at least one historical work-in-progress condition of the article. Adjusting the encoding device includes adjusting the encoding device from a first set-point of a first set-point set to a first set-point of a second set-point set in response to passing a first work-in-progress evaluation, and adjusting the encoding device from the first set-point of the second set-point set to a second set-point of the first set-point set in response to failing a second work-in-progress evaluation after passing the first work-in-progress evaluation.

Abstract: A method of operating vacuum processing equipment that includes multiple sets of apparatus for performing a succession of different processes on individual wafers, an apparatus for transporting said wafers, and an apparatus for controlling said processing apparatus sets and said transport apparatus, and has at least two sets of wafer processing routes including multiple sets of said processing apparatus; wherein it is possible to judge whether each set of said processing apparatus for performing various processes is in a valid or invalid status for operation, to electrically disconnect only the processing apparatus whose operational status has been judged to be invalid, to reconstruct said processing routes by using the processing apparatus whose operational status has been judged to be valid, and to process said wafers by using only said processing apparatus which is valid for operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely controlling a laboratory process operated by a controller. The remote control signal may originate from any one or more sensor that detects information that is relevant to the operation and control of a given laboratory process. Examples of sensors that could originate remote control signals include, but are not limited to, building smoke alarms, toxic gas monitors, and handheld remotes carried by laboratory technicians. A receiver communicates the change of state commands to the laboratory process, preferably to a programmable controller operating the laboratory process, directly to the laboratory process, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of mapping interconnections between a plurality of data files, such as files of the world wide web. The method comprises a step of, for a first file, in a display area displaying a first region. Then, according to a first distance scale, displaying one or more second regions, which respectively represent one or more second files logically related to the first file, for example by hyperlinks. The second regions are spatially related in a display to the first region. In (n−1) further steps, i=2, . . . , n, the method displays according to an i-th distance scale smaller than the (i−1)-th distance scale one or more (i+1)-th regions. Each of these (i+1)-th regions respectively represent one or more (i+1)-th files which are logically related to the i-th file, and they are spatially related on a display to the i-th region representing that i-th file. The method may be implemented in software, for example in a web browser.

Abstract: A programmable coolant nozzle system includes a coolant fluid nozzle fixed to a manifold so that the centerline of the nozzle and the centerline of the manifold block are perpendicular. This feature allows coolant fluid to be rotatably directed from the nozzle at great pressure and/or volume with an actuator that does not have to withstand severe tortional force. The invention includes a method which allows coolant fluid to be rotatably directed from a nozzle assembly and to be commensurate with any change in position of the working tool of a machine tool center.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for monitoring a job executing on a remote host system from a local workstation by displaying a tree view of the system, a queue within the system, a job within the queue, and a file related to the job. The graphical user interface displays the tree view; displays a first level of the tree, the first level comprising one or more system nodes, each system node representing a host system; displays a second level of the tree, the second level comprising one or more job queue nodes, each job queue node branching below a system node representing a job queue in the host system corresponding to the system node; and displays a third level of the tree, the third level comprising one or more job nodes, each job node branching below a job queue node representing a job in the job queue corresponding to the job queue node.

Abstract: A mechanism component information is solely managed with an assembly structure. A mechanism component design support system supports systematic mechanism component design, which includes: generation of a mechanism draft using a skeleton model in selecting the mechanism draft and a mechanism operation simulation for the mechanism draft; a mechanism operation simulation in a state in which some (or all) 2D shape are determined; and then automatic generation of a 3D shape and a mechanism operation simulation for the 3D shape.

Abstract: A stand having an automatically correctable balancing system and balancing mechanisms electrically controlled by a computer (10). Replaceable accessories can be joined to a component (9) movably joined to the stand (6). Associated with the computer (10) are a calculation program and an information system that, by means of a reading device, reads correction information from data media of the accessories and conveys it to the computer.

Abstract: A method and a system are described for determining the effectiveness of production installations, significant fault events that bring about deviations from a desired effectiveness and the causes of fault events. The production installation is connected to a data acquisition device, which is set up for continuous acquisition and ready-to-call-up storage of installation and production-related data. A service device is connected to the data acquisition device and has an input device for the input of additional installation and production-related descriptive data that cannot be called up from the data acquisition device. An online system part is set up for calling up installation and production-related data from the data acquisition device, calculating the effectiveness, detecting fault events, determining significant fault events by fault event evaluation, and determining in each case the causes of faults. An offline system part is provided and contains a number of generic fault models and assessment models.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a message securely from a sender to a recipient over a network and includes at each transfer: creating a message; retrieving the public key of the recipient from an external key server just prior to sending the message; signing the message using the private key of the sender; encrypting the signed message using a public key encryption algorithm and the public key of the recipient producing an encrypted signed message; generating an E-mail message addressed to the recipient; attaching the encrypted signed message as an attachment to the E-mail message; and, transmitting the E-mail message to the recipient.

Abstract: A method for processing a lot of semiconductor wafers in a semiconductor factory automation (FA) system, wherein the lot is defined as a predetermined number of semiconductor wafers, includes the steps of: a) determining whether a first process equipment operable at a first operating mode has a job file corresponding to the lot of semiconductor wafers, wherein the job file represents data required for a semiconductor process; b) if the first process equipment operable at the first operating mode has the job file, processing the lot of semiconductor wafers according to the job file in the first process equipment; c) if the first process equipment operable at the first operating mode has not the job file, providing the job file to a second process equipment operable at a second operating mode; and d) processing the lot of semiconductor wafers according to the job file in the second process equipment.

Abstract: A jet dispensing print system for dispensing a liquid or viscous, jettable substance as a pattern onto the surface of a PCB in an industrial manufacturing PCB production line. The system includes a printing system having a printing bridge system, that includes a static and rigid printing bridge to accommodate in a precise manner several jet print heads, each being fitted with a multitude of jet nozzles. The jet print heads are utilized to achieve multiple redundancy whereby part of the total amount of available nozzles are utilized as back-up nozzles. A printing table positioned underneath the static and rigid printing bridge, accommodating a vacuum table with area-addressable suction force, whilst the pattern is dispensed in a jetting manner onto the PCB. A motorized system, for moving the printing table simultaneously in two perpendicular directions. An ink-supply system for supplying the several jet print heads with the liquid or viscous substance.