Abstract: A method of obtaining an aliquot of a frozen sample contained in a container includes moving a coring device into the sample and then withdrawing it to obtain a frozen sample core. The location from which the core is taken is selected to be at a radial position where the concentration of at least one substance of interest in the frozen sample core is representative of the overall concentration of that substance in the sample notwithstanding any concentration gradients that may exist in the frozen sample. Another method includes taking two different frozen sample cores from the same sample from radial positions selected such that the concentration of one or more substances of interest in the combined sample cores is representative of the overall concentration of said at least one substance in the sample notwithstanding any radial concentration gradients. A robotic system is programmed or hardwired to implement the methods.

Abstract: An automatic sheet printing and alignment system includes a holding table; a transport system for moving the table through a plurality of stations; a first station for positioning a sheet on the table; a second station for printing features on the sheet positioned on the table; a third station for receiving the printed sheet from its position on the table to compile a stack of sheets with their printed features in predetermined alignment; and a control system for sequentially moving the table through the stations for repeatedly printing and stacking each sheet aligned with prior printed and stacked sheets received, transported and printed by the same table.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for nondestructively removing a cut segment of predetermined shape from a limp material sheet workpiece and transporting the cut workpiece segment to a staging area for further processing. The cut segment is picked up by a picker which may comprise an array of carding strips, each strip having a plurality of needle-like elements, arranged such that each strip can be displaced relative to its adjacent strips and the needle-like elements of each strip are angularly offset with respect to the needle-like elements of the adjacent strips. Such removal and transporting having is accomplished without distorting the shape of the cut segment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for nondestructively removing a cut segment of predetermined shape from a limp material sheet workpiece and transporting the cut workpiece segment to a staging area for further processing. The cut segment is picked up by a picker which may comprise an array of carding strips, each strip having a plurality of needle-like elements, arranged such that each strip can be displaced relative to its adjacent strips and the needle-like elements of each strip are angularly offset with respect to the needle-like elements of the adjacent strips. Such removal and transporting having is accomplished without distorting the shape of the cut segment.

Abstract: A reflex proximity sensor includes a light emitting source which directs a beam by way of a beamsplitter toward a retroreflective surface, which reflects incident light back towards the source. A non-uniform (eccentric) convex lens is positioned in the beam path to produce a beam of light which is dispersed along a sensing axis, so that an eccentric cross-section beam is directed toward the retroreflective surface. The portion of the beam which reflects off the retroreflective surface passes back through the non-uniform convex lens and reflects off of the beamsplitter, and is directed to a photodetector. As an object traverses the beam in the direction of the sensing axis, the leading (or trailing) edge establishes a change in intensity level of the beam portion that reaches the detector. The output of the detector provides a signal representative of the edge position of the object.

Abstract: An automatic edge sewing system and method for sewing together the edge of a plurality of parts in which the parts to be sewn are clamped together in a sewing machine having a reciprocating needle; the parts are mounted for rotation about a first rotational axis through the pans and for linear translation along a linear axis between the first rotational axis and the axis of the needle. The pans are steered about a second rotational axis parallel to the needle axis for adjusting the angular position of the linear axis about the needle axis. The parts are fed through the needle axis and the position of the edge of the parts proximate the needle axis is sensed; the steering and the feeding of the parts through the needle axis is controlled in response to the sensing of the edge position while the pans passively float about the first rotational axis and along the linear axis to enable the parts to be sewn accurately, automatically proximate the edges.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting skipped stitches for chainstitch sewing machines having a looper assembly using a needle thread movement sensor and/or a looper thread movement sensor in combination with a shaft rotation sensor. Needle thread movement is correlated with needle shaft rotation per stitch cycle to detect instances when there is no needle thread movement during a stitch cycle. Similarly, looper thread movement may be correlated with needle shaft rotation per stitch cycle to detect instances when there is no looper thread movement during a stitch cycle. The invention includes methods for detecting needle loop and triangle skips by detecting instances of substantially no needle thread or looper thread movement during certain respective portions of the stitch cycle.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting skipped stitches for sewing machines having a bobbin-type assembly using a thread movement sensor for continuous monitoring of the presence of a needle thread in a beam path. Needle thread movement is correlated with needle shaft rotation per stitch cycle to detect instances when there is no thread movement during a stitch cycle. The apparatus may also include a bobbin thread monitor system to detect residual bobbin thread.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for detecting a skipped stitch for a Class 301 lockstitch sewing machine. A monitor assembly determines the passage of the needle thread about the bobbin assembly during formation of lockstitches. A second monitor assembly determines the reciprocal movement of the needle by detecting rotation of a shaft which drives the needle. A processor identifies times when the rotational movement of the shaft does not correlate with passage of the needle thread about the bobbin assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an improper stitch for a Class 400 chainstitch sewing machine. A monitor assembly determines the consumption per stitch of the looper thread during the formation of the chainstitches. A processor identifies times when the monitored consumption is indicative of looper thread consumption per stitch below a predetermined threshold value. Since the consumption per stitch for looper thread is nominally a predetermined multiple of the stitch length, those identified times correspond to times when improper stitches have occurred.

Abstract: A method for measuring a curvature of a reflective surface includes the steps of directing a pair of collimated light beams onto a substantially smooth portion of the reflective surface and measuring the separation of the light beam images reflected from the surface as a representation of the curvature of the surface. An apparatus utilizing this method includes a pair of lasers for producing respective collimated light beams, a laser mount arranged to direct the separate light beams from the lasers as substantially parallel light beams onto a substantially smooth portion of a reflective surface being measured to produce respective bright spots on the surface, receiving images of the bright spots onto a diffuse target surface, viewing these bright spot images with a sensor to produce a light intensity pattern encompassing the spots and calculating the separation of the bright spot images from the light intensity pattern as a measure of the curvature of the surface.

Abstract: A pivoted arm counterbalance system for a self balancing crane provides a counterbalancing moment exactly equal to the overturning moment of the crane by the utilization of a dynamic balancing system in which a drive cable having a tension related to the tension of the support cable runs over and is secured to a constant radius sector secured to the counterbalance arm. The pivot point of the sector corresponds to the pivot point of the counterbalancing arm such that the constant radius sector provides a constant lever arm regardless of the counterbalance arm angle.