Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for feeding an electrode into a container using an electrode feeder system. A fixed gripper is coupled to a support frame at or near a fixed base plate. A moveable gripper is positioned at or near a lower limit switch located at or near a base plate. The moveable gripper is coupled to one or more sliders that are coupled to the support frame. An electrode is positioned through the fixed gripper and the moveable gripper, and the fixed gripper is closed around the electrode. The moveable gripper is closed around the electrode and the fixed gripper is opened. The moveable gripper is lowered along a length of the electrode feeder system causing the electrode to be lowered into the container. The steps are repeated until a process occurring in the container is complete or the electrode is consumed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for feeding an electrode into a container using an electrode feeder system. A fixed gripper is coupled to a support frame at or near a fixed base plate. A moveable gripper is positioned at or near a lower limit switch located at or near a base plate. The moveable gripper is coupled to one or more sliders that are coupled to the support frame. An electrode is positioned through the fixed gripper and the moveable gripper, and the fixed gripper is closed around the electrode. The moveable gripper is closed around the electrode and the fixed gripper is opened. The moveable gripper is lowered along a length of the electrode feeder system causing the electrode to be lowered into the container. The steps are repeated until a process occurring in the container is complete or the electrode is consumed.

Abstract: The scan cycle in a programmable logic controller is constructed so as to allow the PLC users program to execute an instruction to assign a user program section to which the PLC system is to transfer control upon the occurance of an instruction-specified event. Also allowed is the de-assignment of a user program section from an instruction-specified event. Moreover, the interrupt may happen at any portion of the PLC scan cycle and not merely at compilation time. This thereby allows for dynamically presetting values of characters and the like as well as pipelining of interrupts in the PLC.

Abstract: The PLC has a user configurable protocol port attached thereto. Briefly stated, at the PLC communication port or as a result of a user program or I/O event, a special flag bit may be set which thereby allows the communication port to be activated. This is done by the flag bit causing an interrupt to occur in the PLC user program which allows a user to communicate with a user specified protocol scheme rather than the normal communication/programming protocol when this special bit is not set.

Abstract: An anchoring apparatus for mobile homes comprising a pair of fluke members rotatably and slidably mounted on a pin. Each of the fluke members is constructed of a top plate and a pair of support arms secured to the top plate. Each support arm defines a slot into which the pin is positioned so that upon rotation of the fluke members the support arms of each fluke member abut against the top plate of the other fluke member to prevent further movement of the fluke members.