Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for auditing cartridges and empty cells in a storage library system including a plurality of cells for storing cartridges and further including a robotically actuated hand assembly. A line-scan camera is secured to the hand assembly, and a visible pattern is positioned within each cell such that the visible pattern is readable by the line-scan camera when the line-scan camera is moved to a position adjacent the particular cell if the cell is empty. The visible pattern is positioned such that the presence of a cartridge within the particular cell would prevent viewing of the visible pattern within the cell by the line-scan camera. The line-scan camera is operated in a manner to search for the visible pattern within each cell for auditing numbers of cartridges and empty cells in the storage library system.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting containers which have vertical seams is disclosed. The apparatus is useful in label machines where, prior to the application of labels to the containers, the apparatus orients the containers around longitudinal axes, so that the ends of labels applied to such containers are positioned adjacent to the seams. Apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a star wheel with roller bearings which permit relatively free rotation of containers positioned within the pockets of the star wheel, a container drive wheel movable between a first position where it is operable, and a second position where it is inoperable, to cause rotation of a container which is in a pocket of the star wheel and means for moving the drive wheel between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for treating a workpiece such as a shoe component. The workpiece treating apparatus preferably includes a transporter for transporting a workpiece along a predetermined path of travel and a storage device for storing a plurality of predetermined parameters of each of a plurality of workpieces. A workpiece identifier is positioned responsive to the storage device for identifying the workpiece during travel along the predetermined path. A workpiece treatment applicator is positioned adjacent the transporter and responsive to the workpiece identifier for applying a treatment a workpiece being transported along the predetermined path of travel. A workpiece treatment position determiner preferably is positioned responsive to the workpiece identifier for continuously determining the position of the workpiece treatment applicator along a predetermined trajectory during treatment of the workpiece.

Abstract: A new method for producing substrates with a defined metallic surface form is provided which can be used advantageously in particular for producing reflection holograms on papers of value. The metallic planar elements are produced in detachable form on a master, e.g. a press roll, and then transferred directly from the master to the particular substrate.

Abstract: Shaping elements are arranged and fixed according to an attribute data of voxels to produce a shaped article corresponding to the attribute data. A conversion unit 52 produces a shaping element information based on the attribute data from a three-dimensional cell attribute information memorizing unit 23 and stores it in a shaping element information memorizing unit 53. A solid object generator 51 controls a stacker 56, a transportation unit 57, and a picker 58 depending on the shaping element information to align the shaping elements in a shaping area. It also controls a coating unit 59 to apply an adhesive to the shaping elements to bond them to each other.

Abstract: Miniaturized planar column devices are described for use in liquid phase analysis, the devices comprising microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. Devices formed according to the invention include associated laser-ablated features required for function, such as analyte detection means and fluid communication means. Miniaturized columns constructed under the invention find use in any analysis system performed on either small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic, electrophoretic, electrochromatographic separation means, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting the operating frequency of a vibratory welding system producing orbital motion comprising a workpiece socket head which is mounted to resilient means. The head is driven by electromagnetic means to produce orbital vibrations to be constricted to a vibratory plane for welding workpieces, in particular made of plastic material, wherein the frequency is varied within a predetermined range of frequencies to detect the geometrical configuration of the vibration, followed by selecting the frequency exhibiting the best possible vibratory configuration and defining the operating frequency to which the system will be adjusted.

Abstract: A winding machine has a carriage movable along the support drum or roller for applying adhesive tape strip to the web wound on rolls on opposite sides of the support roller upon application of a pressing roller on the carriage thereagainst, a cutter wheel severing the web into leading and trailing ends and simultaneously cutting the adhesive strip in two to leave strip segments on the leading and trailing ends.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adhesive stick having a plunger anchoring the stick composition and a sleeve surrounding the stick composition, in which the propelling device for the upward and downward moving of the stick composition, which device at the same time serves as the actuating element, is formed together with the sleeve and the plunger as a one-part injection moulding. This propelling and actuating element (1) is designed in the form of a plate and is provided with lateral reinforcing webs (2) and is bonded on both sides to the plunger plate (0); it has at the vertex a pressure plate (3). Anchorage elements for the stick composition on the plunger plate (0) are designed in the form of bristles (6).

Abstract: A method and apparatus (84,94) for controlling an assembly for bonding a cover (22) over the undulating surface of a foam cushion (10) controls a tool actuator cylinder (80) to tilt a tool (18) to a loading position to permit placing the cover (22) and an adhesive layer (82) on the tool, tilts the tool to a working position to permit placing the cushion on the tool, controls a plate actuator cylinder (62) to lower and raise a compression plate (58) to force air from an interior of the cushion, controls a ram actuator cylinder (90) to lower a ram (14) to pierce the cushion with a plurality of hollow needles (44) attached to a plenum chamber, controls a heater (38) to heat compressed air and eject the hot air from the needles into the cushion to elevate the temperature of the cushion and melt the adhesive, and lowers and raises the compression plate to force hot air from the interior of the cushion to cure the adhesive and bond the cover to the cushion.

Abstract: A method and system for separating component which have two opposed sides and an edge between the opposed sides and are initially connected together by a foil which contacts one of the sides of each component, by: disposing the components and the foil so that portions of the foil which are disposed between components are disposed at an elevation different from the other one of the sides of each component; disposing a scanner to monitor the elevations of the foil and the other one of the sides of each component and monitoring the elevations with the scanner; and converting the monitoring result into data for controlling cutting of the foil along the edge of each component.

Abstract: A corrugated paperboard manufacturing apparatus includes one or more preheaters upstream from the double-facer for preheating the component sheets for the corrugated paperboard. A preheater preferably includes an electrically powered heater positioned adjacent a second surface portion of a preheater body for heating the preheater body so that heat is transferred to the component sheet contacting a first surface portion of the body. The first surface portion of the preheater body contacts the component sheet as the component sheet is advanced along the path of travel. The electrically powered heater is positioned adjacent the second surface portion of the preheater body for radiantly heating the preheater body. The temperature of the component sheet delivered to the double-facer from the preheater can be readily controlled to ensure high quality corrugated paperboard. In one embodiment, the preheater body may be provided by a rotating roll.

Abstract: A method for butt welding first and second thermoplastic pipes to each other including the steps of locating the end portions of first and second pipes to be joined in clamps that are moveable towards and away from each other by the application of hydraulic pressure, the pipe end portions being moveable against a facer for trimming the pipe ends at a first predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure, moveable against a heater for heating the pipe ends to a molten state at a second predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure and moveable towards each other while the ends are in a molten state to fuse the pipes at a third predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure, determining the hydraulic pressure required to move the pipe end portions towards each to determine a drag force hydraulic pressure, adding the drag force hydraulic pressure to each predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure to obtain first, second and third operating hydraulic pressures, and butt welding the pipes to each other using the first, second and thi

Abstract: A handheld power control device adapted to be connected to an external power supply for controlling the electric power applied to a heating coil positioned in a fusible area of a thermoplastic pipe joint for thermally fusing the joint. A housing having a cover with a front panel displays various parameters and operating options of the device, and has a plurality of manually operable membrane switches for selecting displayed options and activating the device, and indicating devices for displaying operating states of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for laminating a sheet of printed matter to a plastics sheet by removing a small portion of an adhesive protecting cover sheet from the plastics sheet, adhering a portion of the sheet of printed matter to the exposed plastics sheets, removing the remainder of the cover sheet from the plastic sheet, and then adhering the plastics sheet and the printed matter sheet together using apparatus comprising two rollers and a guard for separating the sheets prior to combining the sheets between the rollers.

Abstract: A laminator is provided for registering and laminating one or more web or sheet laminae on a web substrate, wherein each lamina has defined, successive areas and indicia provided in predetermined positions relative to the defined areas. The laminator includes feed rollers for feeding a web substrate through the laminator along a path of travel, and an additional feed mechanism for feeding a web or sheets to a drum forming a part of the laminator. The drum is shiftable toward and away from the web substrate between an engaged position in which the drum engages the substrate, and a disengaged position in which the drum is removed from contact with the substrate. A registration system successively registers the web or each sheet on the drum with the substrate, with the defined area of the web or sheet in a desired predetermined relationship to one of the defined areas of the substrate as successive defined areas are brought into a laminating position.

Abstract: Inverter-resistance welding control, for any resistance welding machine and for any welding operation, which guarantees a welding current having a quick rise time and which is free from overshoot. In particular, when a maximum allowable current value of the resistance welding machine involved has been entered and a selected current value of a particular welding operation has been entered, a CPU computes an initial pulse width of a control pulse from the maximum allowable current value and the selected current value. In a first cycle of the welding operation, the CPU supplies a first control pulse having the initial pulse width to the inverter circuit to thereby start the welding operation. The initial control pulse width is determined as a function of a machine current capacity and the desired current level of a welding operation, and may be made in proportion to a relative magnitude (ratio) of the desired current to the machine current capacity.

Abstract: Method and equipment for the manufacture of corrugated paper products includes separate heaters for preparing liner and medium components. Data regarding these components is collected and an optimum conditioning for the components is determined.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus implements a method of joining two sheets of heat transfer paper into a single sheet almost twice as wide for use in heat transfer printing of extra wide cloth. The paper is withdrawn from source rolls and passed along first and second respective web paths with a very slight overlap between the papers. A glue station applies a speed controlled amount of glue to the overlap region of one paper and the edges of the paper are brought together in the desired overlapping relationship. The thus joined paper is passed through compression rollers and wound onto a resilient rewind roll. Edge sensors in each of the web paths maintain the overlap alignment of the paper paths and tension sensors in each of the paths maintain a desired level of tension. A video camera imaging system provides the operator with periodic video images of a magnified region of the overlap so that proper registration between the patterns on the respective papers can be maintained.

Abstract: Semiconductor die attach occurs by bonding the semiconductor die to a support member such as a lead frame. An optical heat source provides heat for bonding the die attach material. An exhaust system removes vapors from the die attach material during bonding. A tungsten halogen lamp is an exemplary optical heat source. An air amplifier is exemplary to provide exhaust pressure. An exhaust manifold having a plurality of screens spreads the exhaust pressure over the width of the lead frame. A gas shower disposed over the lead frame aids in removing vapors.