Abstract: An automated food preparation system having a continuously rotatable annular segmented cooking area, a food feeding system, and an industrial robot, all of which are controlled by a pre-programmed programmable controller wherein an operator provides input to the programmable controller selecting each food item to be cooked and the programmable controller commands the industrial robot to select the food item, place the food item on the cooking area for cooking, turn the food item at the proper time, and remove the food item from the cooking area.

Abstract: An optical floppy disc constructed of microfilm, thermoplastic or paper and bears digital and/or graphic information. Digital information may be stored in radial lines each of which comprises the digital information to be retrieved and line addresses at the end of a line or dispersed within a line. Digital information may also be stored in a plurality of coaxial circular tracks and be retrieved by addressing the track and portion of the track containing the desired information. Information retrieval systems, both continuously rotating and start-stop systems are provided for reading the various types of discs. Of particular importance is the use of a disc as an easily up-dateable catalog.

Abstract: A parts management and inventory control system includes a microfiche data base of two types of microfiche cards. One type is machine readable only, while the other type card bears machine readable information and visually readable information. The microfiche cards bear digital information for machine reading. The digital information includes information to be read as output data and/or information for controlling a microfiche card transport or a scanner transport in order to accurately position microfiche cards for information retrieval. The system may interface with a central computer for parts ordering, cancellation and the like, and a printer provides a permanent business record. The system may also be employed in the field of finance in order to provide credit or bank account information with complete privacy with respect to the identification of the person whose account is being checked.

Abstract: Microfiche cards bear digital information. The digital information includes information to be read and/or information for controlling a microfiche card transport and/or scanner in order to accurately position the microfiche card for information retrieval. Static alignment techniques are also disclosed for aligning the information content of a microfiche card with respect to the transport.