Abstract: Lighting elements are disposed within the enclosure doors surrounding an automated material handling machine such as a packaging machine. The clear panels in the door are edge-lit so that the entire door window corresponding to the location of the maintenance notice is illuminated a contrasting color to call the operator's quick attention to that portion of the machine.

Abstract: Lighting elements are disposed within the enclosure doors surrounding an automated material handling machine such as a packaging machine. The clear panels in the door are edge-lit so that the entire door window corresponding to the location of the maintenance notice is illuminated a contrasting color to call the operator's quick attention to that portion of the machine.

Abstract: Lighting elements are disposed within the enclosure doors surrounding an automated material handling machine such as a packaging machine. The clear panels in the door are edge-lit so that the entire door window corresponding to the location of the maintenance notice is illuminated a contrasting color to call the operator's quick attention to that portion of the machine. A method of notifying the operator of a maintenance issue in a particular portion of the machine is provided by illuminating a window panel in a door of the machine enclosure.

Abstract: Bio-derived glycerides formed from a reaction between waste glycerol and biodegradable or bio-derived fatty acid esters such as crude biodiesel or soybean oil triglycerides are useful as dust suppressants, binders, and stabilizing agents.

Abstract: Lighting elements are disposed within the enclosure doors surrounding an automated material handling machine such as a packaging machine. The clear panels in the door are edge-lit so that the entire door window corresponding to the location of the maintenance notice is illuminated a contrasting color to call the operator's quick attention to that portion of the machine. A method of notifying the operator of a maintenance issue in a particular portion of the machine is provided by illuminating a window panel in a door of the machine enclosure.

Abstract: Bio-derived glycerides formed from a reaction between waste glycerol and biodegradable or bio-derived fatty acid esters such as crude biodiesel or soybean oil triglycerides are useful as dust suppressants.

Abstract: Bio-derived glycerides formed from a reaction between waste glycerol and biodegradable or bio-derived fatty acid esters such as crude biodiesel or soybean oil triglycerides are useful as dust suppressants, binders, and stabilizing agents.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction feeder configured to allow for the removal and replacement of wear parts such as friction belts, drive belts and friction meter wheels without the need to significantly disassemble the machine and without the need for tools. The rollers are mounted only on one end in a cantilever manner to aid in the access to the friction belts. The rollers are releasably held in tension with a hand-actuatable piston. The roller ball assembly can be rotated clear of the product holding position without the use of tools. The friction meter wheel assembly can then be accessed and replaced. A piston also releasably holds the drive belt pulleys in tension so that the drive belts can be replaced.

Abstract: Bio-derived glycerides formed from a reaction between waste glycerol and biodegradable or bio-derived fatty acid esters such as crude biodiesel or soybean oil triglycerides are useful as dust suppressants.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction feeder configured to allow for the removal and replacement of wear parts such as friction belts, drive belts and friction meter wheels without the need to significantly disassemble the machine and without the need for tools. The rollers are mounted only on one end in a cantilever manner to aid in the access to the friction belts. The rollers are releasably held in tension with a hand-actuatable piston. The roller ball assembly can be rotated clear of the product holding position without the use of tools. The friction meter wheel assembly can then be accessed and replaced. A piston also releasably holds the drive belt pulleys in tension so that the drive belts can be replaced.

Abstract: A method for separating lightweight sheets to be discarded interleaved with heavier items to be further processed. A gas such as air is delivered by nozzles and directed at slip sheets interleaved between photosensitive plates. The slip sheets are directed by the gas to a discarded slip sheet area. An apparatus for the slip sheet removal system comprising a plate handling area and a discarded slip sheet area.

Abstract: Automatic start up of a continuous sine-wave commutated, brushless, direct current motor in a predetermined direction is done by applying a ramped armature current to the direct current motor to generate an armature field. The resulting armature field is rotated independent of angular position of the shaft. Upon rotation of the motor shaft beginning, the direction of rotation of the shaft is determined. Responsive to rotation of the shaft in an undesired direction, the direction of rotation of the armature field is reversed. A base angle of rotation of a shaft in the direct current motor is determined from an index mark as it rotates by an index mark detector. Responsive to detection of the index mark, rotation of the armature field and the angular position of the shaft are synchronized.

Abstract: A system for accurately measuring current drawn intermittently by an inductive load over a time interval T including a first and a second time subinterval during which the load is in state S1 and state S2 respectively and drawing current and a third time subinterval during which the load is in state S3, an idle state, and drawing substantially zero current is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the current measuring system includes a pilot current detection circuit having a pulse width modulator which generates a 1/2T.sub.1 timing signal representing the average amplitude of the current drawn by the load while in states S1 and S2. A correction circuit generates a logic signal that indicates the time of transition of the inductive load from state S2 to state S3 and from state S3 to state S1. The logic signal is used to clock a first sample and hold circuit to provide a scaling factor utilized to correct the average load current.

Abstract: A power amplifier supplies substantial load currents that must be accurately monitored to provide feedback so that the load currents can be properly controlled. A sense current is generated from a load current that is scaled such that the sense current is an accurate representation of the load current but having a substantially smaller magnitude. The scaled sense current is generated by coupling a power sense resistor to a pilot sense resistor by a voltage follower. The power sense resistor is in series with the load current and develops a load voltage thereacross. A sense voltage, being substantially equal to the load voltage is impressed at the pilot sense resistor by the voltage follower. The pilot sense resistor is some predetermined ratio of the power sense resistor so that absolute values are not critical. The sense current flowing through the pilot sense resistor is therefore scaled according to the ratios of the power and pilot sense resistors.

Abstract: The current mode sample-and-hold circuit includes a differential amplifier having a non-inverting input coupled to a first leg of a current mirror from which a first current to be sampled is drawn. An inverting input of the differential amplifier is coupled to its output and further coupled to a capacitor through a sample hold switch. The first current drawn from the first leg of the current mirror causes the capacitor to charge, through the differential amplifier. The charged capacitor is coupled to the current mirror and biases the current mirror so as to provide the required first current. Opening the sample hold switch causes the capacitor to maintain a bias level determined by the first current. The bias signal in turn causes a mirrored current flowing in a second leg of the current mirror to be maintained, even in the absence of the first current. Thus an input current is sampled and a corresponding output current is provided. The capacitor operates in a feedback loop for improving accuracy.