Abstract: The present invention is directed to an insert for use in a disc drive to dampen acoustic vibration and shield electronic elements from stray magnetic flux generated by a magnet assembly of a voice coil motor. The insert includes an acoustic insulator portion and a magnetic shield. The acoustic insulator portion is compressed between a base and a circuit board of the disc drive to suppress vibration of the circuit board. The magnetic shield is attached to the acoustic insulator portion below the magnet assembly and is shaped to shield a portion of the circuit board from stray magnetic flux generated by the magnet assembly.

Abstract: The invention concerns an automated vending system which uses a commercially available, multi-axis robot arm to retrieve an article from a storage location and deliver the article to a customer. The invention includes a control system which interacts with at least three entities: (a) the customers; (b) credit card agencies, as by verifying the customer's credit situation and by performing daily credit reconciliations; and (c) the control system of the robot arm, as by informing the robot which articles to retrieve. The invention includes a display which provides to the customer a catalog of articles, and allows the customer to choose an article for purchase from the catalog. The invention allows remote control of the vending system, by telephone, whereby the system can be shut down in case of malfunction. If the vending system is used to sell music recordings, the invention allows the customer to hear samples of selected recordings available for sale.

Abstract: A fully automated robotized system and method is provided for cooking food products. The system and method is especially useful for use in a quick service or fast food restaurant and, in one embodiment, is capable of cooking, on a fully automated basis, french fries, chicken nuggets, fish filets and chicken patties. In one embodiment, the system includes a robot, a bulk uncooked food dispensing station, a cooking station and a cooked food storage station. The system can be controlled by a computer operating and control station that controls and directs the robot to obtain bulk food from the dispensing station, place it in cooking position at the cooking station and when cooked, remove the food and deliver it to the storage station, at a rate required to fill anticipated customer orders. In one embodiment, the cooking station is a clamshell grill and the robot deposits on and retrieves from the grill hamburger patties in a predetermined horizontal array with a novel end of arm tool.

Abstract: A fully automated robotized system and method is provided for cooking food products. The system and method is especially useful for use in a quick service or fast food restaurant and, in one embodiment, is capable of cooking, on a fully automated basis, french fries, chicken nuggets, fish filets and chicken patties. In one embodiment, the system includes a robot, a bulk uncooked food dispensing station, a cooking station and a cooked food storage station. The system can be controlled by a computer operating and control station that controls and directs the robot to obtain bulk food from the dispensing station, place it in cooking position at the cooking station and when cooked, remove the food and deliver it to the storage station, at a rate required to fill anticipated customer orders.

Abstract: A superconducting magnetic bearing assembly has an outer element having an axis. Disposed about the axis, the outer element has first and second inverted generally conical surfaces, each surface disposed at an acute angle to the axis. These surfaces define a volume. Fixedly disposed within the volume is an inner element rotatable relative to the outer element. The inner element has first and second conical inner elements. The first conical inner element has a first surface opposed to and spaced from said first generally conical surface of the outer element, the opposed first surfaces lying generally parallel to each other. The second conical inner element has a second surface opposed to and spaced from the second generally conical surface of the outer element, the opposed second surfaces lying generally parallel to each other.

Abstract: A fully automated robotized system and method is provided for cooking food products. The system and method is especially useful for use in a quick service or fast food restaurant and, in one embodiment, is capable of cooking, on a fully automated basis, french fries, chicken nuggets, fish filets and chicken patties. In one embodiment, the system includes a robot, a bulk uncooked food dispensing station, a cooking station and a cooked food storage station. The system can be controlled by a computer operating and control station that controls and directs the robot to obtain bulk food from the dispensing station, place it in cooking position at the cooking station and when cooked, remove the food and deliver it to the storage station, at a rate required to fill anticipated customer orders.

Abstract: A fresh market tomato harvester comprises a leading knife for severing tomato plants, an inclined ascending conveyor for transporting the cut plants upwardly onto the harvester, a shaker bed for removing the tomatoes from the vines, transverse cross conveyors for receiving the tomatoes after they have been shaken from the vines and for transporting them laterally outward, longitudinally extending side sorting belts for receiving the tomatoes and transporting them rearwardly past workers who remove stems and other foreign matter as well as overripe fruit, sizing conveyors for automatically classifying the tomatoes by size and rejecting undersized tomatoes, and, optionally, a washing station for removing gummy matter and dust. The elevator carries arcuate tines, each of which is covered with surgical tubing which extends beyond the end of the metal tine to provide a resilient yielding structure.