Abstract: A metering valve for introducing media into a pressurized fluid includes media passaging having a media inlet for receiving media and a media outlet for dispensing media toward the pressurized fluid. The media passaging defines a flow path extending from the media inlet to the media outlet and is configured to permit flow of media along the flow path. A plunger, including a plunger head, is movable between a closed position in which the plunger head forms a seal to prevent flow of media through the media passaging and an open position in which the plunger head permits flow of media through the media passaging. The seal formed by the plunger head includes a first sealing interface and a second sealing interface downstream along the flow path of the first sealing interface.

Abstract: A metering valve for introducing media into a pressurized fluid includes media passaging having a media inlet for receiving media and a media outlet for dispensing media toward the pressurized fluid. The media passaging defines a flow path extending from the media inlet to the media outlet and is configured to permit flow of media along the flow path. A plunger, including a plunger head, is movable between a closed position in which the plunger head forms a seal to prevent flow of media through the media passaging and an open position in which the plunger head permits flow of media through the media passaging. The seal formed by the plunger head includes a first sealing interface and a second sealing interface downstream along the flow path of the first sealing interface.

Abstract: An abrasive blasting system and associated methods are disclosed. The abrasive blasting system includes a blast enclosure that receives a component to be blasted by an abrasive media. A dust collector is fluidly coupled to the blast enclosure and collects the dust from the blast enclosure generated by the blasting of the component by the abrasive media. The dust collector includes a filter and a fan having a motor. The filter is disposed upstream of the fan. The fan draws air and dust from the blast enclosure into the dust collector and draws air through the filter to separate the dust from the air. A sensor monitors a condition of the abrasive blasting system and generates a condition signal corresponding to the condition. A controller receives the condition signal and controls the fan based on the condition signal.

Abstract: A metering valve for introducing media into a pressurized fluid including media passaging extending through a housing. A plunger is movable between a closed position in which the plunger prevents flow of media in the media passaging and an open position in which the plunger permits flow of media in the media passaging. The plunger moving a distance between the open and closed positions. A plunger adjuster sets the distance by operatively bracing the plunger to limit movement of the plunger and changes the distance to adjust an amount of media flow permitted in the media passaging by the plunger. The plunger adjuster including an actuator to be actuated to change the distance. A bearing is operatively disposed between the actuator and the plunger and permits the actuator to be actuated to change the distance when the plunger is in the open position and operatively braced by the plunger adjuster.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically unthreading a tape. The system and method determine whether the drive being at the stop state could cause the tape sticking condition in future after a defined dwell time (e.g., 20 minutes). The tape sticking tends to increase with time and humidity. Moreover, it is known that worn tape is stickier than new tape. With a plurality of attempts (e.g., four attempts) of moving tape (e.g., every 5 minutes), the drive is able to identify whether the tape needs to be unthreaded. Such a system allows a tape drive to handle the tape in safety at severe condition for the sticking tape, and minimize the penalty for the response to the command in normal condition.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically unthreading a tape. The system and method determine whether the drive being at the stop state could cause the tape sticking condition in future after a defined dwell time (e.g., 20 minutes). The tape sticking tends to increase with time and humidity. Moreover, it is known that worn tape is stickier than new tape. With a plurality of attempts (e.g., four attempts) of moving tape (e.g., every 5 minutes), the drive is able to identify whether the tape needs to be unthreaded. Such a system allows a tape drive to handle the tape in safety at severe condition for the sticking tape, and minimize the penalty for the response to the command in normal condition.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive, having a compound servo actuator, reduces the possibility of overshoots of servo elements when a tape cartridge is loaded, thereby reducing servo failures. The coarse motor is activated, then deactivated when the servo elements locate a servo pattern on the tape. After initialization of a DAC offset in the servo controller to 0, the position of the fine actuator is read. The fine actuator is enabled, with a DAC input of 0 and, after a short wait, the position is again read. The new DAC offset equals the initial DAC offset plus the difference between the two positions. If the difference is less than a predetermined threshold, the servo controller may obtain a lock on the servo signals and commence tracking. If the difference is not less, the process is repeated, with the DAC offset being adjusted each time, until the difference is less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive, having a compound servo actuator, reduces the possibility of overshoots of servo elements when a tape cartridge is loaded, thereby reducing servo failures. The coarse motor is activated, then deactivated when the servo elements locate a servo pattern on the tape. After initialization of a DAC offset in the servo controller to 0, the position of the fine actuator is read. The fine actuator is enabled, with a DAC input of 0 and, after a short wait, the position is again read. The new DAC offset equals the initial DAC offset plus the difference between the two positions. If the difference is less than a predetermined threshold, the servo controller may obtain a lock on the servo signals and commence tracking. If the difference is not less, the process is repeated, with the DAC offset being adjusted each time, until the difference is less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Selection of servo signals for peak detection of timing based servo tracks of magnetic tape for lateral positioning of heads relative to the magnetic tape. Servo signals from magneto-resistive servo read head(s) reading a magnetic tape are digitized by analog to digital converter(s); digital peak measurement apparatus is configured to sense the digital converter(s), and provide positive peak values and negative peak values of the digitized servo signals; and control apparatus is configured to determine the greater of the provided positive peak values or negative peak values, and select servo signals having the greater values for a servo channel. Servo apparatus is configured to respond to the selected servo signals to control the lateral positioning of the servo read head(s).

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for presenting various levels of detail about successful error recoveries and background hardware optimizations during the recording and retrieval of digital information on magnetic tape. A first, Band Summary, report presents a high-level summary of recovery methods by data band and wrap. A second, Detail Summary, report presents a mid-level summary of recovery methods by track and longitudinal position (LPOS) region within one wrap of a band on the tape. A third, ERP Summary, report presents a low-level summary of errors and specific recovery methods and optimizations by LPOS region within each wrap. Such “telescoping” views permit pattern analysis to be performed at different resolutions. Thus, correlations of possible interactions between hardware and microcode activities that result in changes of the nominal operating point of the drive may be identified.

Abstract: Mitigation of distortion of read signals from magneto-resistive read head(s) are provided in various embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the read signals provided to a read channel having an analog to digital converter and digital equalizer. Digital peak measurement apparatus is configured to sense the output of the digital equalizer, and provide average positive peak values and average negative peak values of the output. Control apparatus is configured to respond to the peak values, to iteratively determine asymmetry of the peak values and estimate the cancellation slope of the asymmetry and cancellation term relationship; from the measured asymmetry and estimated cancellation slope, to iteratively estimate the convergence cancellation term; and to feed back the convergence cancellation term to modify the digital read signals for the input of the digital equalizer to iteratively converge the asymmetry to substantially zero.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for mitigating signal asymmetry. An analog to digital converter samples an analog signal from a read head and converts the sample to a digital input signal. The digital input signal addresses a look-up module, and the look-up module outputs a modified digital signal. The modified digital signal value is a specified function of the digital input signal value, wherein the specified function is configured to mitigate the asymmetry of the digital input signal. The modified digital signal value may be periodically recalculated to adjust for read head wear.

Abstract: A system, a method, and article of manufacture are employed to clean the input/output transducers on tape drives, verified by the tape drives reading alphanumeric information from data tracks and servo tracks of a cleaner tape. An aggressive cleaning frontcoat section of the cleaner tape can be used to provide additional cleaning action, and the cleanliness of the data read elements, data write elements, and the servo heads. A less-abrasive cleaning section may be used to clean less difficult types of contaminants. In this manner, the cleanliness of the data read elements, the data write elements, and the servo heads can be verified. A cleaning section may also be used as a leader section of a self-characterization section. Alternatively, a magnetic data tape section may be included for self-characterization.

Abstract: A device and method for collecting, analyzing, displaying and storing information relevant for determining the nutritional progress of a breastfed infant, including, but not limited to: time and duration of breast feedings, amount of breast milk or formula fed by bottle, time and frequency of wet and dirty diapers and length, weight and age of the infant.

Abstract: A metal shearing or punching machine has a body with upper and lower jaws defining a throat, the lower jaw carrying a die and the upper jaw carrying means for applying force to a blade movable in the throat to co-act with the die. The blade is pivotably mounted with respect to the body and the position of the pivoting axis on the body is selected to substantially eliminate detrimental misalignment of the blade and die when application of working force causes deformation of the body. For a given force to be applied between the blade and die the body can accordingly be made of relatively lighter construction than conventional castings used hitherto. Lateral stability of the blade is further enhanced by use of a relatively long bearing for the blade mount, e.g. substantially the entire width of the body adjacent to the pivot. In a preferred embodiment, the body of the machine is composed substantially wholly of two profile-cut steel plates connected by ties.