Abstract: A bird feeding station is described which is formed principally from commercially available PVC plumbing fittings and pipe. Because of the overall light weight of the station, it may be supported from a patio block or the like. The system is modular, being able to accommodate a variety of feeder arrangements as well as seed dispensing arrangements. This modularity also provides an opportunity for configurations which are bird species specific due to a configuration which is achieved. By virtue of the use of PVC pipe, the stations are easily cleaned by the user inasmuch as they inherently incorporate somewhat straight-through passageways providing the functions of seed reservoir and seed dispensing.

Abstract: An improved ECL gate having faster output transition times without requiring additional current is provided. Two switching transistors have their emitter terminals connected to a first current source. A reference switching transistor has its base connected to a reference voltage and an input switching transistor has its base connected to an input terminal. An emitter follower transistor is coupled to each switching transistor. A second current source is connected to each of the emitter follower transistors by coupling circuitry which shunts current from one emitter follower to the other thereby increasing the transition speed of the outputs. In the preferred embodiment, the emitters of the current source transistors for the two outputs are coupled through a common resistance to ground. The collector of the inverting emitter-coupled transistor is coupled via a capacitor to the base of the current source transistor for the non-inverting output.

Abstract: Temperature and humidity electrical/electronic control circuits and apparatus to maintain a room at a constant temperature and humidity. The control system is adapted to an environmental condition controller for year-around cooling utilizing a liquid recirculating to an outside coil for free cooling or free reheat dehumidification. The controls provide a sequencing function to actuate one or more temperature and/or humidity conditioners in response to the degree and percentage of change. The circuit provides a ramp function signal for proportional control over an initial temperature range of free cooling and step controls over other predetermined temperature ranges. The circuit comprises a high fidelity ramp generator linearly responsive to the degree of temperature change up to a predetermined set point. A dehumidification signal is developed and fed to the same ramp generator to carry out air cooling to remove moisture.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine for delivering stackable containers having edible product therein. A container discharge station--especially for cones--is provided with at least one stack of containers disposed in a position vertically above an arm for clampingly engaging the containers and movement of the containers below a product dispensing nozzle and into a delivery chamber. The cones are dropped one at a time from the one or more stacks through an opening in a plate into operative engagement with the arm. A guide structure is located vertically between the at least one container stack and the arm, guiding the dropping of the containers into association with the arm so that the containers will not be misaligned or inverted during dropping and will be positively guided into operative association with the arm.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine for delivering soft ice cream or the like to ice cream cones or other containers. A pivotally mounted arm receives a cone and then moves to a product-dispensing station. The product is dispensed into the cone until a weight-responsive structure associated with the arm senses the predetermined weight of the product and stops delivery of the product to the cone. Then the arm is moved so that it deposits the cone in a delivery chamber and then is moved out of the delivery chamber back to a position to receive another cone. Mechanical latch structures are provided for latching the door to the delivery chamber in closed position until the arm has been completely withdrawn from the delivery chamber and a rod connects the arm to the latch for effecting unlatching of the door in response to movement of the arm so that the door is unlatched after the movement of the arm out of the delivery chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus and system for monitoring sites for the presence of moisture or the collection of conductive liquids. Two housings are utilized with the apparatus to facilitate user convenience. A first of these housings, mounted at a location selected for easy access by the user, retains manually actuated switching, alarm components and batteries. This housing is electrically coupled with a second, smaller housing serving to encapsulate solid-state switching logic components and moisture detecting probes. Spurious R.F. noise is avoided within the system through the positioning of this solid state switching at the second housing in close adjacency with the probes. The probes are formed of a base material, one surface portion of which is covered with a noble metal, such as platinum. The remaining surfaces of the base are permitted to develop, in situ, a surface oxide which is immune to galvanic corrosive participation.