Abstract: A composite wingbox structure formed of reinforced thermoplastic. The composite includes carbon fiber reinforcement and a plurality of insulation elements to localize the heat formed during the process of manufacturing the structure. The process of manufacturing the wingbox includes the steps of interleaving a series of insulations elements within a plurality of laminae and consolidating the insulation elements and laminae to form a laminate. The laminate is then aligned with a support structure such that the insulation elements overlie the supports structure. The laminate is then fused to the support structure using a non-contact heating process, such as inductive welding.

Abstract: A composite wingbox structure formed of reinforced thermoplastic. The composite includes carbon fiber reinforcement and a plurality of insulation elements to localize the heat formed during the process of manufacturing the structure. The process of manufacturing the wingbox includes the steps of interleaving a series of insulations elements within a plurality of laminae and consolidating the insulation elements and laminae to form a laminate. The laminate is then aligned with a support structure such that the insulation elements overlie the supports structure. The laminate is then fused to the support structure using a non-contact heating process, such as inductive welding.

Abstract: A composite wingbox structure formed of reinforced thermoplastic. The composite includes carbon fiber reinforcement and a plurality of insulation elements to localize the heat formed during the process of manufacturing the structure. The process of manufacturing the wingbox includes the steps of interleaving a series of insulations elements within a plurality of laminae and consolidating the insulation elements and laminae to form a laminate. The laminate is then aligned with a support structure such that the insulation elements overlie the supports structure. The laminate is then fused to the support structure using a non-contact heating process, such as inductive welding.

Abstract: A composite wingbox structure formed of reinforced thermoplastic. The composite includes carbon fiber reinforcement and a plurality of insulation elements to localize the heat formed during the process of manufacturing the structure. The process of manufacturing the wingbox includes the steps of interleaving a series of insulations elements within a plurality of laminae and consolidating the insulation elements and laminae to form a laminate. The laminate is then aligned with a support structure such that the insulation elements overlie the supports structure. The laminate is then fused to the support structure using a non-contact heating process, such as inductive welding.

Abstract: A composite wingbox structure formed of reinforced thermoplastic. The composite includes carbon fiber reinforcement and a plurality of insulation elements to localize the heat formed during the process of manufacturing the structure. The process of manufacturing the wingbox includes the steps of interleaving a series of insulations elements within a plurality of laminae and consolidating the insulation elements and laminae to form a laminate. The laminate is then aligned with a support structure such that the insulation elements overlie the supports structure. The laminate is then fused to the support structure using a non-contact heating process, such as inductive welding.

Abstract: An automated cartridge library has an essentially rectangular library frame which includes a frame front wall (22) and a frame back wall (24), and a library door (30) provided on the frame front wall. A transport actuator and guide region (90) is provided within the frame, the transport actuator and guide region including both a guideway along which a cartridge transport assembly (92) reciprocates and an actuator (124) which causes the cartridge transport assembly to rotate from a first transport position to a second transport position. A library front section includes a cartridge magazine cavity (50) and a entry/exit port module (54). A library rear section includes a region for tape drives (60) and an auxiliary cartridge magazine (70). Cartridge magazines (64) are insertable into the cartridge magazine cavity when the library door is opened so that a reference surface of the cartridges face the transport actuator and guide region.

Abstract: A robotic cartridge picker (92) for a cartridge library (20) has picker fingers (84) for selecting engaging and disengaging a media cartridge (64), and an electronic device (180) carried thereon. A ribbon cable (182) supplies at least one of power and an electrical signal to the electronic device. The robotic picker is rotatably mounted on a mounting block (140). The mounting block has a chamber (188) wherein a portion of the ribbon cable is carried in a variable coiled configuration to accommodate rotation of the robot about an axis (100). The variable coiled configuration facilitates the ribbon cable having a first degree of coiling when the picker robot rotates to a first position and a second degree of coiling when the picker robot rotates to a second position.

Abstract: An automated cartridge handling system or library (20, 20') for storing cartridges (22) of information storage media comprises a cartridge holder (26); a tape drive (30) movably mounted with respect to the cartridge holder; and, a transport system (40) for transporting the tape drive (30) in a drive transport path (42) between a unloaded position and a cartridge loaded position. The cartridges (22) remain stationary in the library while the tape drive is transported between the unloaded position and the cartridge loaded position. The cartridge holder library has a plurality of apertures (70) which receive cartridge holders or spines (80). To retain the cartridge (22) within the spine, each spine has resilient cartridge retaining fingers (100) formed in its interior cavity (90) for engaging a notch (104) on the cartridge. Each spine is provided with stabilization flanges (112) for stabilizing the cartridge.

Abstract: An automated cartridge library (30) includes a rotatable spit (100) which has only two mounting surfaces for engaging two respective cartridge magazines (110A, 110B). The library includes a cartridge transport mechanism (80) for selectively engaging cartridges and transporting cartridges between a presented one of the magazines and input/output (I/O) drives (40A, 40B) within the confines of a library housing. The spit (100) has a spit width (SW) which is essentially 0.6 of a smallest dimension (X) of the housing. The spit comprises two tray compartments (130A, 130B), each tray compartment being provided with ribs (144, 154) extending in two dimensions for securing and properly locating its respective magazine. The spit is provided with a magazine latch mechanism (170) which includes biased magazine-capturing protrusions (220A) retained in a pulley member (143).

Abstract: An automated cartridge handling system or library (20, 20') for storing cartridges (22) of information storage media comprises a cartridge holder (26); a tape drive (30) movably mounted with respect to the cartridge holder; and, a transport system (40) for transporting the tape drive (30) in a drive transport path (42) between a unloaded position and a cartridge loaded position. The cartridges (22) remain stationary in the library while the tape drive is transported between the unloaded position and the cartridge loaded position. The cartridge holder library has a plurality of apertures (70) which receive cartridge holders or spines (80). To retain the cartridge (22) within the spine, each spine has resilient cartridge retaining fingers (100) formed in its interior cavity (90) for engaging a notch (104) on the cartridge. Each spine is provided with stabilization flanges (112) for stabilizing the cartridge.

Abstract: An improved panel mounting assembly for a vehicle antenna mast wherein the assembly is provided with an anchoring arrangement which eliminates the need for stamping a raised stiffening dimple in the panel design surface contour. A mounting assembly mast tubular holding section, which extends vertically through a panel aperture, is provided with a downwardly extending support tube uniquely coupled to and forming a part of the section lower end. The support tube is held in a subjacent body frame member opening by a snap-fitted rubber grommet permitting limited reciprocal travel of the support tube. The arrangement accommodates vehicle build tolerances between the panel and frame during assembly, while stabilizing the antenna structure against fore, aft and lateral movement relative to the panel.

Abstract: Each storage cell in an automated storage and retrieval system is provided with a mark, such as a bar code label, which is detectable to a vision system when the cell is empty. Further, each item storable in a cell is also provided with a mark, such as a bar code label uniquely identifying the item, which is detectable by the vision system. During an inventory of the contents of the system, the vision system is moved across the openings of the cells and scans for the marks. If an item mark is detected, entries in a data table are made indicating the location of the cell being scanned and its occupied status. The identity of the item detected can also be entered into the data table. On the other hand, if a cell mark is detected, entries in a data table are made indicating the location of the cell being scanned and its empty status. If neither mark is detected at a cell, additional steps can be initiated to determine the status of the cell.

Abstract: A dual-purpose robotic picker apparatus for picking entire magazines of data storage cartridges as well as individual data storage cartridges in an automated data storage library. The multi-slot picker combines a detachable magazine and a "through-the-magazine" cartridge manipulator to function as a multi-gripper picker. A first magazine gripper acts to hold a multi-cartridge magazine. A second cartridge picker acts to move cartridges in and out of the magazine. An indexing mechanism moves the detachable magazine with respect to the cartridge gripper, permitting random access to the cartridges held within the magazine. The gripper mechanism can transport cartridges automatically within the library, either in magazines or as individual cartridges. The combination of multi-slot picking and bulk cartridge movement functions sharply increases library efficiency and data storage cartridge loading speed.

Abstract: Reliability of an automated storage library is improved by mounting at least one CCD cameras on a turret plate with two grippers, wherein the CCD camera provides video support for both grippers. The turret plate is rotatably mounted on the end of an anthropomorphic robot arm such that the camera and each gripper is rotated and angled into position as needed for viewing or gripping, respectively. The CCD camera is positioned to view a tape cartridge for capturing an image of the label attached thereto. While the captured image is being processed to verify the VOLSER, the first gripper is rotated into position and moved forward to grip the desired tape cartridge. The robot arm them moves the camera and gripper assembly to a tape drive and rotates the second gripper into position to remove another tape cartridge from the tape drive. The turret plate is again rotated to position the first gripper for inserting the verified tape cartridge into the tape drive.

Abstract: A prefocused tungsten-halogen lamp including a vitreous envelope having a press-seal at one end thereof for receiving and supporting lead-in wires that in turn support a filament disposed in the envelope. The press-seal is received in an all ceramic base with a close fit with the sidewalls of the base, while leaving a void space under the press-seal that is filled with a sealing cement preferably injected into the void space through a hole in the ceramic base.

Abstract: A digital time meter for use in a vehicle or other motorized equipment for sensing, accumulating, displaying and retaining the total time a monitored signal from the vehicle or the equipment is present employs a crystal oscillator time base to time the monitored signal. The meter uses integrated circuits to count pulses emanating from the time base in order to accumulate the total time the monitored signal is present. These integrated circuits also have decoder/driver circuitry with multiplexing capabilities to operate a digital display. Power to operate the meter is obtained from the monitored signal when said signal is present, and a replaceable internal battery when said signal is absent. The battery can be replaced without affecting the timing and accumulating functions of the meter provided the monitored signal is present. When the monitored signal is absent, a display switching circuit disables the display to prolong battery life.