Abstract: A shutter assembly includes left and right shutter doors hingedly mounted between upper and lower horizontal frame members secured over an opening to be shuttered. Vertical stiles serve as the left and right frame members of each of the shutter doors. The vertical stile on the unhinged side of one of the shutter doors includes a vertical flange that engages and secures the vertical stile on the unhinged side of the other shutter door when both doors are closed and locked. The two vertical stiles framing each door retain left and right pivot strips to which a plurality of louvers are mounted for rotation. A louver tilt rod mechanism is attached to and hidden from view behind one of the vertical styles of each of the doors and operates to mechanically link the louvers for movement in concert. A wire rope is positioned longitudinally within each of the louvers to prevent a breach of the shutter assembly through attempted bending of the louvers.

Abstract: A key cutting machine for cutting a notch pattern on a key blank is disclosed. The key cutting machine comprises a pair of cutting heads and a clamp mechanism. Each cutting head includes a cutting wheel having an edge and an alignment structure mounted behind the cutting wheel. Each alignment structure has a key guide portion aligned tangent to the edge of a corresponding cutting wheel to engage and position a key blank laterally. The clamp mechanism is positioned between the cutting heads and is configured to hold the key blank stationary.

Abstract: A key cutting machine for cutting a notch pattern on a key blank is disclosed. The key cutting machine comprises a pair of cutting heads and a clamp mechanism. Each cutting head includes a cutting wheel having an edge and an alignment structure mounted behind the cutting wheel. Each alignment structure has a key guide portion aligned tangent to the edge of a corresponding cutting wheel to engage and position a key blank laterally. The clamp mechanism is positioned between the cutting heads and is configured to hold the key blank stationary.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing unpackaged articles includes a guide shaft to carry the articles, a pushing element that advances the plurality of articles along the guide shaft, and a feed screw engagable with the pushing element and driven by a motor. While the articles to be dispensed are moved collectively as a group, the apparatus provides for the controlled dispensing of individual articles. A sensor is provided to identify when an article has been dispensed and to subsequently stop movement of the plurality of articles. Also, an iris including a yieldable opening sized to allow passage therethrough of an article in a staggered manner is provided to facilitate the individual dispensing of articles and to prevent the inadvertent dispensing of articles.

Abstract: An engraving apparatus for engraving a workpiece selected by a user. The workpieces are contained in storage columns and biased into a shuttle by a spring system mounted externally to each storage column. The shuttle is moved by the engraver between loading, engraving, and dispensing positions. The workpieces are clamped during the engraving process by a piston and cam arrangement, which provides the desired clamping force yet can be disengaged to facilitate movement of the shuttle by the engraver.

Abstract: An electronic key identifier includes first and second opposing surface segment sensors which can be clamped into engagement with the opposite sides of the blade of an unknown key blank. Each side of the key blade includes collinear surface segments separated by one or more recessed segments. Electrical conductors within the surface segment sensors contact the raised surface segments and discharge electrical energy through the grounded key blade. Appropriate electronic circuitry interfaces the conductor of the surface segment sensor with a computer to generate an electronic image of the two key blade sides. By comparing the electrical image of the unknown key blade with a database of electrical images of known key blades, the unknown key can be identified to allow the operator of a key cutting machine to quickly complete the key identification process.

Abstract: An integral resistive angle measurement device employs a printed circuit board having electronic components mounted on the front surface thereof and having a pair of sensor plates etched into the back surface thereof and a metallic web mounted between the pair of sensor plates on the back surface of the printed circuit board. Containment of the resistive sensor fluid adjacent the sensor plates is accomplished by soldering a sensor cover to an etched sealing ring on the back of the circuit board. The sensor plates etched into the back of the printed circuit board, in combination with the sensor fluid, act as variable resistors whose resistance changes as a function of their angle of rotation from a reference position. An output signal across these variable resistors is in or out of phase with an applied reference signal. The output signal is demodulated with the same reference signal and then filtered to a DC level that corresponds to the angle of rotation.

Abstract: An integral angle measurement device employs a printed circuit board having electronic components mounted on the front surface thereof and having a pair of sensor plates etched into the back surface thereof. Containment of the sensor fluid adjacent the sensor plates is accomplished by soldering a sensor cover to an etched sealing ring on the back of the circuit board. The sensor plates etched into the back of the printed circuit board, in combination with the sensor fluid, act as variable resistors whose resistance changes as a function of their angle of rotation from a reference position. An output signal across these variable resistors is in or out of phase with an applied reference signal. The output signal is demodulated with the same reference signal and then filtered to a DC level that corresponds to the angle of rotation. An output stage serves as a driver and also as a means for permitting the user to remotely control the electronic gain of the angle measurement device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved inclination sensor and an improved inclinometer. A pair of plates in combination with a metallic housing provides accurate inclination information over ranges of 0.degree..+-.60.degree. and 180.degree..+-.60.degree.. A second pair of plates rotated 90.degree. in the plane of the first pair of plates, provides accurate inclination information over ranges of 90.degree..+-.60.degree. to 270.degree..+-.60.degree.. Coverage is thereby provided over 360.degree.. The inclination sensor is combined with a microprocessor which is programmed to weight the contribution of the plates so as to provide a smooth transition for angles in the region of coverage overlap. A EEPROM memory stores and provides calibration input information to correct the inclination sensor output to accurate output angles.

Abstract: A two axis sensor is provided for detecting angular movement relative to either of two mutually perpendicular axes. The device includes a two-axis sensor comprising an upwardly directed, spherically shaped common electrode, an upwardly directed spherically shaped insulating member uniformly spaced from the common electrode to form a cavity therebetween, the common electrode and the insulating member being sealed to each other about respective peripheries thereof, with a dielectric fluid contained in the cavity, a plurality of detecting electrodes provided on an underside of the insulating member, the detecting electrodes formed by a selectively applied conductive surface coating on the underside, and means for detecting variations in capacitance proportional to movement of the sensor relative to each of two mutually perpendicular axes by reason of movement of the dielectric fluid within the cavity.

Abstract: A two axis sensor is provided for detecting angular movement relatice to either of two mutually perpendicular axes. The device includes a two-axis sensor comprising an upwardly directed, spherically shaped common electrode, an upwardly directed spherically shaped insulating member uniformly spaced from the common electrode to form a cavity therebetween, the common electrode and the insulating member being sealed to each other about respective peripheries thereof, with a dielectric fluid contained in the cavity, a plurality of detecting electrodes provided on an underside of the insulating member, the detecting electrodes formed by a selectively applied conductive surface coating on the underside, and a device for detecting variations in capacitance proportional to movement of the sensor relative to each of two mutually perpendicular axes by reason of movement of the dielectric fluid within the cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid level sensor including a float mounted for movement in a mounting tube by a pair of spiral springs which are relatively rigid in a radial direction but relatively flexible in a longitudinal direction. At the top of the float a magnet is located and at the top of the mounting tube, a Hall effect device is located. As fluid enters the mounting tube through apertures in the lower portion, the float is gradually buoyed and moves closer to the Hall effect device changing its electrical output. Because the springs position the float inside the mounting tube, striction and hysteresis in conventional float supports is eliminated as well as wear between the float and the outer tube. Measurement range may be changed by changing float length and outer tube length as well as the spring constants themselves.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the angle and height of a rotary power saw blade by sensing the angle of the saw blade from the vertical and the sine of the angle with respect to a horizontal reference as the blade height is changed. A display unit converts the sensor output to a visual indication.

Abstract: A plurality of concentric sealing rings on the face of a static sealing surface provides a positive seal when used with Teflon film or like materials that have a tendency to cold flow under pressure into recesses created by the concentric sealing rings.