Abstract: A position detector senses an undulating pile tuft edge position of a carpet as it is processed in a carpet making machine by detecting attenuated light passing through the carpet's primary backing material to determine the exact position of the carpet's undulating pile tuft edge at any given time. Sensor signals from the detector are digitally filtered through one pole cascaded filters to produce an average pile edge position signal which, in turn, controls actuators for secondary and primary backing material guide rolls to not only center the carpet for aligned entry into the carpet machine's tenter, but also apply the secondary backing material to the primary backing material at a precise position.

Abstract: An integrated fuel-to-air control system is disclosed in which fuel and air pressure differential sensors are provided for measuring the flow pressure differential of fuel and air across orifices in the respective flow paths. The pressure differential sensors generate signals which are characteristic of the pressure differentials across the orifices.A control system is provided which includes an electronic comparator for receiving the pressure differential signals and generating a difference signal corresponding to the difference between these signals. The difference signal in turn is transmitted to a valve actuator which respectively opens or closes a valve in the fuel flow path in order to vary the fuel flow pressure differential so as to achieve a desired fuel-to-air ratio with the oxidant flow pressure differential. The fuel flow pressure is varied up or down as necessary until the difference signal reaches zero at the desired ratio.

Abstract: A system for creating a position correcting error signal indicative of the lateral displacement of the center of a strip from a control position for the center of a nearly flat strip having a width and first and second generally parallel edges, as the generally flat strip moves along a given feed line past a given location, where the error signal creating device including means for detecting the orthogonally projectable, one dimensional lateral position of the first edge of said moving strip at said given location, means for detecting the orthogonally projectable, one dimensional lateral position of the second edge of said moving strip at said given location.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining in-situ the moisture content of potting soil in a plant receptacle. A pair of metallic electrodes are positioned on opposite sides of a plant receptacle adjacent the interior wall thereof and at a distance from the top of the receptacle which corresponds to the normal root depth of a plant to be contained therein. Each electrode extends externally of the receptacle for electrical connection to one probe lead or terminal of a resistance meter. When a plant is potted with soil in the receptacle, the resistance measured between the terminals is related to the moisture content of the potting soil.