Abstract: A ball hitting practice device comprising a planar base, a vertical pedistal of an longated flexible first member having a specially prepared molded ball fixedly attached to the terminal end and the other end being telescopically inserted into a second elongated rigid tubular member, a safety lock at the end of the first member to prevent it from being removed from the top of the second member, an adjustable lock on the first and second members adapted to secure the first member at the desired height, and a coil spring the top end of which is fixedly attached to the bottom of the second member and the bottom end being fixedly attached by a bolt to the planar base.

Abstract: A multi-purpose ball expelling apparatus which can be used with repeated operations for the training of baseball fielders, batters and pitchers comprising in combination a special netted frame in which a ball can be thrown, collected and pass into a special ball expelling machine which can be adjusted to expell the ball as a grounder, pop-fly or straight pitch. An inverted U-shaped frame is in a generally vertical plane and has a net stretched tightly across it. A brace is connected to each side leg of the U. A rectangular frame is supported in a generally horizontal plane by the U-shaped frame and braces. A second net is also stretched tightly across the rectangular frame. The rectangular frame downward somewhat toward its front edge to direct a ball into the expelling machine. A third net is attached to the top of the U-shaped frame and hangs loosely down to the net on the rectangular frame. This third net has a rectangular opening which serves as a baseball pitching target.

Abstract: A new type of baseball and softball practice hitting device which is easily adjusted for use in training young ball players comprising a planar base to which is attached vertical sections, the top end of the pedistal being fixedly attached to a baseball or softball, and the bottom end of said vertical pedistal being fixedly attached to a coil spring which in turn is attached to a pivoting member which permits the pedistal to be inclined to the side, back or front depending on the desired position of the ball and then locked in place.

Abstract: A new type of baseball and softball hitting practice device which is easily adjusted for use in training young ball players comprising a planar base to which is attached a vertical pedestal, the pedestal having a first vertical resilient member having a ball fixedly attached to the terminal end and having the other end adapted to fitting into the end of a second resilient tubular member in telescopic manner, the bottom end of the second tubular member being fixedly attached to a coil spring which in turn is attached to a pivoting element which permits the pedestal to be inclined to the side, back or front depending on the desired position of the ball and then locked in that position.

Abstract: A sliding door mechanism for closing an aperture in a wall comprises an elongate support, a hanger pivotally connected to the support and arranged to be fixed to the door, and an arm on the support extending in the length direction thereof and carrying spaced apart first rollers. A track which, in use, is fixed to the wall, receives the first rollers. A guide rail mounted on the track. Second rollers are mounted on the support for engaging the guide rail. The arrangement is such that, in use, as the door reaches a closed position in which it closes the aperture from an open position in which the aperture is not obstructed by the door, the guide rail and second rollers causes the support to pivot about the contact points of the first rollers with the track and the hanger pivots relative to the support.

Abstract: Transport apparatus is disclosed for moving a stream of objects along a substantially continuous path between a source and a collection station and past a viewing station. A stream of successive, spatially separated objects is moved into end-to-end abutment to form successive stacks of objects. Each stack is spiraled past the viewing station with minimal vibration to expose the complete surface of each object to inspection. Subsequently each stack is rearranged into spatially separated objects which are rapidly sorted by diverting those objects from the continuous path which do not conform to predetermined criteria upon inspection. The transport apparatus achieves high throughput without compromising the accuracy of the inspection process.

Abstract: An optical inspection system is disclosed which determines surface and other features of objects by illuminating them with a light beam having substantially uniform light intensity in space and time. The light beam is derived from a light source whose light intensity may vary in space and time. The surface features of each object are inspected by detecting light reflected from the object through a lens system which focuses the reflected light on an array of photosensitive elements. The output signals provided by the array may be used to provide a measure indicative of the conformance of the inspected surface to predetermined criteria. The inspection system is further capable of determining other features of the inspected object, such as the height of the object, by illuminating the object with a second light beam derived from a second light surface.

Abstract: An automated inspection station comprises a pair of rotating rollers for supporting a collected group of pellets. A pusher drops in behind the group to urge the entire group forward. The rotating rollers cause the entire group of pellets to spin in unison as the pellets pass through an optical inspection station. The optical inspection station comprises a light source, diverging and collimating lenses to illuminate each rotating pellet in turn. Signals are generated by at least two arrays of photodiodes in response to light reflected from the surface of the pellets. Circuitry normalizes the signals of the respective diodes for variations unrelated to pellet surface features. The signals are analyzed to ascertain conformance of each pellet to length, cylindricality diameter and surface reflectivity requirements. A pellet sorter diverts unacceptable pellets from the path, while the acceptable pellets are transported to a collection station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading nuclear fuel pellets in levels onto a horizontally and vertically indexing tray string-by-string. The apparatus includes a belt feeder assembling each string at a location on pivotal blades over the tray. Arrival is optically noted and a pusher delivers the string to a drop site, completely loading the string onto the blades for delivery to the indexing tray.

Abstract: An N-bit magnitude comparator of tree design having a plurality of one-bit magnitude comparators connected to a cascading network with a first stage adapted to receive signals from each pair of the one-bit magnitude comparators and subsequent stages for receiving signals from the preceding stage in the cascade network. The first and every alternate stage thereafter in the cascading circuit comprises means for inverting the signal polarity to the input of that stage so as to achieve one gate delay per circuit.