Abstract: A bulk-solid metering system has a support structure. A feed hopper is mounted with respect to the structure and has an upper edge. In the improvement, the structure includes an upper member and the upper edge is below such upper member. The structure defines a lateral opening sized and shaped to permit the feed hopper to be withdrawn laterally through the opening. The feed hopper includes a spout extending therefrom. In a highly preferred embodiment, the lateral opening is positioned to permit withdrawal of the feed hopper in a direction away from the spout. The feed hopper is configured to promote very good mass flow as well as to permit agitation in that, in one embodiment, it has a body made of flexible material. There is a hopper upper flange and the spout is spaced below such flange. The body has a first cross-sectional shape, e.g., circular, adjacent to the upper flange and has a second cross-sectional shape, e.g., ellipse-like, intermediate the upper flange and the spout.

Abstract: A bulk-solid metering system has a support structure. A feed hopper is mounted with respect to the structure and has an upper edge. In the improvement, the structure includes an upper member and the upper edge is below such upper member. The structure defines a lateral opening sized and shaped to permit the feed hopper to be withdrawn laterally through the opening. The feed hopper includes a spout extending therefrom. In a highly preferred embodiment, the lateral opening is positioned to permit withdrawal of the feed hopper in a direction away from the spout. The feed hopper is configured to promote very good mass flow as well as to permit agitation in that, in one embodiment, it has a body made of flexible material. There is a hopper upper flange and the spout is spaced below such flange. The body has a first cross-sectional shape, e.g., circular, adjacent to the upper flange and has a second cross-sectional shape, e.g., ellipse-like, intermediate the upper flange and the spout.

Abstract: A module for a programmable controller is adapted to process a video image to evaluate characteristics of an object within the image. A processor converts an analog video signal into four binary images. A memory stores data defining a separate sensor region for each binary image. A set of four counters is provided to tabulate the pixels of one color in each binary image that lie within the associated sensor region. A video signal sensor measures variation of the luminance of the video signal. The processor uses the luminance variation measurement to adjust the binarization of the video signal to produce normalized binary images under varying lighting conditions.

Abstract: Color is added to the standard video display (18) of a computer numerical control system for controlling the operation of a machine tool (10) in the performance of specified operations with respect to a workpiece. Color assignment records (62) are included in the machine setup data (MSD) source file (54) for implementing background color, reverse video color, forms character color, data character color, errors and/or alarm color, operator required response color, and high-lite color. The MSD source file (54) is processed to generate a binary MSD file (56) which is then read into the numerical control basic (NC) software (24) which operates to generate both text and graphic displays. The original or default color assignments may be dynamically modified or changed through an MSD file editor (58).