Abstract: In an industrial robot system, the robot is first moved to a starting position, and, when the temperature of the robot exceeds a predetermined value, a position checking operation is effected to move the robot towards the starting position so that, according to the difference between the starting position and the position where the robot has been stopped by the position checking operation, a compensation value is provided for temperature compensation of the robot, whereby, even when the working arms of the robot are extended or contracted by temperature variations, the robot can perform its working operation correctly.

Abstract: A coin handling apparatus contains a standard reference coin and a coin validation circuit that compares an inserted coin or slug with the reference coin as it passes through a chute toward a coin gate. The coin gate deflects the coin into a first path if the inserted coin is undersized and otherwise into a second path. The validation circuit produces a "valid coin" signal that indicates a match between the inserted coin and the reference coin, a "coin present" signal if any coin is being compared with the reference coin, and a photodetector output signal, all of which are applied as inputs to a surveillance circuit that analyzes those three signals and generates an output indicative of whether the inserted coin is being "strung", an output indicative of whether the inserted coin is a slug, and an "alert" signal that indicates whether either the coin is being strung or the inserted coin is a slug.

Abstract: An integral seal member is formed across the outlet in the neck of a tamper evident, thermoplastic container by adding to the thermoplastic material such as polyethylene, 3% to 16%, and preferably about 8% by weight, of an anhydrous solid inorganic particulate additive such as an anhydrous siliceous material or calcium carbonate so that the material becomes brittle enough that the seal member tears cleanly from the neck within the confines of an undercut at the interface between the seal member and neck. Torque is applied to the seal member by providing in the top of a conventional screw cap which forms a resealing closure for the container once opened, a recess with serrations which, when the cap is removed and turned upside down, engage serrations on the peripheral edge of the seal.

Abstract: A hand lever operated grease gun that has both high pressure and high volume modes by changing the mechanical advantage of the lever acting on a dispensing piston. A spring biased pivotal connection between the lever and a forwardly mounted supporting link is shiftable between two positions by depression of the lever against the biasing force of the spring.

Abstract: In a seed meter in which a seed disk is rotatably mounted within a housing, a method and apparatus are provided for positioning the seed disk within the housing so that the peripheral portion of the seed disk is located a desired, relatively uniform distance from an adjacent peripheral portion of the housing. A shaft having a threaded outer portion is rotatably mounted within the housing and a hub having a threaded aperture therein is positioned on and turned relative to the threaded outer portion of the shaft to begin advancing the threaded aperture onto the shaft. The seed disk is then mounted on the hub, following which rotation of the hub relative to the shaft is continued in a direction to advance the hub along the shaft toward the housing until a gap of desired size exists between the peripheral portion of the seed disk and the peripheral portion of the housing.

Abstract: A safety closure for an aerosol can including an externally screw threaded sleeve and a safety cap having internal threads to engage the threads on the sleeve. The sleeve may have a slit extending along one side thereof and an inwardly extending flange at its lower end. The flange is engageable below an upper peripheral rim of the aerosol can. The sleeve may include a disc which is positioned above the nozzle of the aerosol can and closes the opening of the sleeve. The sleeve is removed by flexing it until the flange is out of engagement with the peripheral rim of the aerosol can. Standard safety cap devices can be used with the invention sleeve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coin acceptor mechanism in which a coil (101) is wound on a former (102) having a central opening (104) of a shape corresponding to the outline of a coin (103) to be checked and mounted with the plane of the opening at an angle to the horizontal. The opening (104) has, towards its lower side, a cross member (106) located below the transverse center line of the coil (101) so that a coin (103b) can momentarily rest on the cross member with its plane in the plane of the coil and can then turn about the cross member under its own weight and pass edge-wise through the opening in the former.

Abstract: A manipulator robot, particularly for transferring sheet metal elements from one pressing station to the next pressing station of a pressing line, includes a manipulating arm articulated to a base structure which is rotatably mounted for swivelling about a vertical axis on one end of a support lever the opposite end of which is rotatably mounted above a vertical axis on a fixed base. Electric drive motors are provided for effecting rotation of the support lever and of the base structure of the manipulating arm at speeds having a controlled ratio to each other and in opposite directions so as to move the element to be conveyed along a desired path at any desired speed and acceleration. An element pickup device is secured to the free end of the manipulating arm by means of a wrist joint which allows the pickup device to rotate about a longitudinal and a transverse axis of the manipulating arm.

Abstract: A fluid container and dispenser including an elastomeric reservoir and a dispensing tube connected thereto and a valve to either allow or inhibit fluid flow into or out of the reservoir. One embodiment includes an elongate tube with a hole in one side and an elastomeric sleeve surrounding a portion of the tube. A sliding valve element is mounted in the tube to close the hole. The valve element is mounted on a second, smaller tube which slides within the first-mentioned tube. The sleeve is filled by sliding the valve element away from the hole and injecting fluid under pressure into the sleeve to expand it. The valve then is slid to its closed position. The combined first-mentioned and second tubes together form a straw to withdraw fluid from a secondary container into which fluid may be dispensed.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing fluids to a plurality of receptacles simultaneously, equally, and without dripping. A distributing device is used that uses a major-minor channel configuration such that all major channels fill with fluid before the minor channels fill and all minor channels fill before water exits the outlet holes in the bottom of the distributor. A stand is included which supports the fluid to be distributed and which is designed to exactly center common communion trays beneath the distributor for filing. A stretchable transfer tube connects the fluid in the container with the distributor and, when pinched shut, causes fluid to be sucked back up the tube and which in conjunction with the pipette action of the outlet holes prevents drippage after filling.

Abstract: A device for feeding electronic components packed in tape to a pick-up position, comprising a housing with a holder or a supply reel, a feeding and locking mechanism, an ejection mechanism, and a wind-up mechanism, which mechanisms are united with the housing into a cassette unit.

Abstract: A gripper mechanism for feeding a pair of elongate strips such as a pair of slide fastener stringers has a pair of gripper holders supporting a pair of grippers for gripping the slide fastener stringers, respectively, and a pair of sliders joined to the gripper holders, respectively, and slidably disposed in a housing for independent movement therein. In response to engagement with a cam on a feed path, the grippers are opened to grip or release the slide fastener stringers. The grippers are normally urged by a spring to clamp the slide fastener stringers. A pinion is angularly movably supported on a slide block in the housing and held in mesh with a pair of racks, respectively, of the sliders. A spring acts between the housing and the slide block for normally urging the slide block in a direction to move the gripper holders into abutment against the housing. The gripper holders can be moved relatively to each other toward and away from the housing.

Abstract: A dual temperature beverage dispenser for providing a variety of beverages, both hot and cool from a small, high capacity, coin-activated unit. The dispenser includes a removable operating module which can be stored for safekeeping separate and apart from a water storage unit which becomes inoperative when the operating module is removed. The water storage unit includes a hot water heater including a tank and a storage tank for ambient water oriented above the hot water heater tank for gravity flow of ambient water to the hot water heater tank when required and for gravity flow to a discharge point in the operating module to enable ambient or cool water to be obtained without payment or beverage to be obtained from the dispenser by use of an appropriate coin or token.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for storing beads in a liquid medium and for draining and dispensing said beads essentially in the absence of said liquid medium is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is designed so that the liquid medium in which the beads are stored can be captured in a separate compartment from the bead-containing compartment and the beads can be delivered without the liquid medium when the apparatus in inverted. This apparatus is designed so that the liquid medium will join with the beads for storage in the bead-containing compartment when the apparatus is upright. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a bottle with a removable, threaded inner container which is used to drain the liquid medium from the beads prior to attachment to a separate bead dispenser.

Abstract: A device for coupling carriers comprises a housing adapted to be mounted on the carrier and having a face with an opening forming a coupling trap. A flexible cable has one end secured to the housing and an opposite end extending out of the housing which has a plug thereon which is engageable in the coupling trap of an adjacent carrier. The housing also carries a releasable lock which is engageable with the plug to hold it in the trap when it is inserted therein. The device operates electrically under the control of a coin which passes through a coin chute in the housing and actuates an electrical switch which has an actuator portion in the chute. The switch is connected to the lock and it releases the lock and traps the coin in the chute so as to permit release of the plug from the trap and use of the carrier. When the carrier is returned and the plug is again inserted into the trap, the coin is released.

Abstract: A dispensing pump of the pressure accumulating type includes a reciprocable plunger/accumulator having a discharge valve coaxial with an inlet check valve carried by a stationary pump piston, the valves bearing directly against one another so as to close each other at the end of the plunger downstroke to thereby control the output of the pump.

Abstract: An improved gate driving link mechanism is provided, this mechanism being originally designed for opening and closing a flapdoor type discharge gate of a weighing hopper of top-charge and bottom discharge type, used in a combination weighing device such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,492, the improvement of which is to add an intermediate bell crank for confining overshoot of the opened gate to avoid unwanted time loss which affects high speed operation of the device and undesirable shock and vibration which affect accuracy of measurement.

Abstract: Escrow apparatus for coin operated equipment includes a pair of interleaved door panels disposed at an angular orientation with respect to each other and pivotally movable between a pair of fixed walls. The panels with the walls define a coin receiving escrow chamber or bucket. The door panels are selectively pivotable to allow coins disposed in the bucket to move either to a return path for returning the coins to a user of the apparatus, or to a coin box.

Abstract: A liquid squirting simulated creature is comprised of a front section having a body, legs and head, and a rear section which is assembled thereto. The front section is comprised of top and bottom elements defining a cavity therebetween and front and rear apertures, as well as apertures extending along the sides thereof through which a multiplicity of legs extend. The rear section is a resiliently compressible bulbous member providing a chamber therewithin to contain fluid and having a neck portion extending through the aperture in the rear wall of the front section. A tubular conduit is seated in an opening in the neck portion of the rear section and extends to a front aperture in the front section so as to provide the conduit for discharge of fluid from the chamber therethrough. The leg members are comprised of a web on each side interconnecting a multiplicity of legs on that side of the front section, and flexible portions which extend through apertures along the sides of the front section.

Abstract: A dual dispensing mode carton for, for example, a stack of interfolded sheets of facial tissue. The carton has a dispensing opening which is configured and disposed to enable substantially droop-free pop-up dispensing of one sheet at a time with improved sheet to sheet stand-up height uniformity as successive sheets are withdrawn from the carton; and group mode dispensing of a plurality of sheets simultaneously without having to disassociate them from each other. A dispensing package is also provided which comprises such a dispensing carton having a stack of interfolded sheets disposed therein.