Abstract: An automated 3D Optical Metrology Scanning and Computer Aided Inspection System for dimensional inspection of precision manufactured parts. The system example and implemented configuration is based within a relocatable cabinet providing ambient light and optional temperature control. The cabinet further includes a part placement area having an optical metrology scanner positioned over a multi-axis robotic arm positioned in the part placement area. The robotic arm is constructed and arranged to grip and manipulate parts within a field of view of the optical metrology scanner. The robotic arm provides adequate multi-axis control to rotate and tilt and translate tp manipulate the part to allow substantially every surface of the part to be scanned. Dimensional comparison and analysis software application provide geometric conformance/deviation plus extraction of the dimensions indicated in the part computer aided design (CAD) model.

Abstract: An integrated automated 3D Optical Scanning and Computer Aided Inspection System for dimensional inspection of precision manufactured parts. The system is based within a portable cabinet having lockable caster wheels for portability and retractably support feet for enhanced stability. The cabinet further includes a part placement area having an optical metrology scanner positioned over a multi-axis robotic arm positioned in the part placement area. The robotic arm is constructed and arranged to grip and manipulate parts within a field of view of the optical metrology scanner. The robotic arm provides multi-axis to rotate and tilt a base to allow substantially every surface of the part to be scanned. Dimensional comparison and analysis software application provide geometric conformance/deviation plus extraction of the dimensions indicated in the part computer aided design (CAD) model.

Abstract: An integrated automated 3D Optical Scanning and Computer Aided Inspection System for dimensional inspection of precision manufactured parts. The system is based within a portable cabinet having lockable caster wheels for portability and retractably support feet for enhanced stability. The cabinet further includes a part placement area having an optical metrology scanner positioned over a multi-axis robotic arm positioned in the part placement area. The robotic arm is constructed and arranged to grip and manipulate parts within a field of view of the optical metrology scanner. The robotic arm provides multi-axis to rotate and tilt a base to allow substantially every surface of the part to be scanned. Dimensional comparison and analysis software application provide geometric conformance/deviation plus extraction of the dimensions indicated in the part computer aided design (CAD) model.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for bonding a nozzle plate to the front nozzle face of a printhead. A bonding station includes a heated printhead holder in opposed relationship to a nozzle plate holder with a curved lower surface. A nozzle plate having a row of nozzle holes and alignment apertures are formed by laser ablation in a thin polymer film. The film is moved into the bonding station, and the nozzle plate is aligned with pins on the curved nozzle plate holder surface. Both the printhead holder and nozzle plate holder are adjustable in directions perpendicular to the nozzle array on the printhead face and also rotationally. The adjustment insures that the nozzle plate, with adhesive applied to the bottom surface, makes initial tangential contact at the center of the nozzle array, resulting in accurate alignment of the nozzle plate holes with the nozzle array in the printhead face.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device (2) for separating an outermost sheet (4) from a stack (6). The sheet feeding device (2) comprises a stack support means (8) positioned in a first portion (10) of a housing (12), and a feed module (14) detachably mounted to a second portion (16) of the housing (12) and adapted to be positioned in contact with the stack (6). The feed module (14) includes an urging means (18) mounted on the feed module (14) by an infeed shaft (20) and a feed means (22) mounted on the feed module (14) by a feed roller shaft (24). A separation means (26) is detachably and pivotally mounted to the second portion (16) of the housing (12) by a support means (28). The separation means (26) is positioned adjacent to the feed means (22) so as to define a nip therebetween. A drive means (32) for driving the feed module (14) is mounted to the second portion of the housing (12). A clutch means (90) attached to the drive means (32) transmits an intermittent drive force to the feed module (14).

Abstract: A film strip with a damaged end portion is repaired by using jig means for severing the strip at a fixed distance from a pre-existing locating hole to remove the damaged end portion and then attaching a pre-formed replacement end member in the same location by reference to the same locating hole. The replacement end member has the same edge configuration and hole features as the original film end portion and overlaps the severed film end to permit it to be adhesively bonded thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and/or decurling a strip of photosensitive material. The apparatus includes a plurality of rollers and a drum. A belt is wrapped about the plurality of rollers and are positioned such that the belt forms a receiving pocket for holding and retaining the drum and for rotating the drum about its axis. At least one of the plurality of rollers being connected to a drive mechanism so as to move the belt about the rollers so as to cause the drum to rotate about its axis of rotation. The belt is in direct contact with the outer surface of the drum for a predetermined distance about the circumference of the drum forming a first film path. The first film path has an entrance for receiving film and an exit for allowing film to leave the film path. A heater may be provided which is associated with the heating drum for heating the drum to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting and/or decurling a strip of photosensitive material. The apparatus includes a plurality of rollers and a drum. A belt is wrapped about the plurality of rollers and are positioned such that the belt forms a receiving pocket for holding and retaining the drum and for rotating the drum about its axis. At least one of the plurality of rollers being connected to a drive mechanism so as to move the belt about the rollers so as to cause the drum to rotate about its axis of rotation. The belt is in direct contact with the outer surface of the drum for a predetermined distance about the circumference of the drum forming a first film path. The first film path has an entrance for receiving film and an exit for allowing film to leave the film path. A heater may be provided which is associated with the heating drum for heating the drum to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for separating photographic film strips, adhered to a splice, by restricting movement of the splice and then pulling the film strips longitudinally in opposite directions. According to one feature, the splice adhesive is heated until it softens, preferably with a hot shoe applied against the splice under pressure. According to other features a space is left between the ends of the film strips when they are spliced together, and the splice is engaged from both sides while the film strips are pulled apart. Still more specifically, according to another aspect of the invention, a carrier or splice pick-up web is provided for removing the splices from the area and for holding the removed splices in a manner particularly convenient for disposal.

Abstract: A photographic filmstrip is initially coiled about a spool inside a cartridge with a trailing film end portion secured to the spool and a leading film end portion being free. The filmstrip is advanced, leading film end portion first, from the supply cartridge into a host container such that the filmstrip is reverse coiled in the host container to reduce any longitudinal curl in the filmstrip resulting from the filmstrip being wound on the spool. The trailing film end portion is released from the spool. The film in the host container can be heated to further reduce the longitudinal curl in the filmstrip.

Abstract: Film unwinding apparatus is to be used with a film spool having a hook that extends substantially in a film winding direction of rotation of the spool and through a hole in a trailing end portion of a filmstrip to engage the trailing end portion to prevent it from being pulled off the spool. The unwinding apparatus is adapted to pull the filmstrip off the film spool in a way that makes the spool rotate with the filmstrip in a film unwinding direction. A weighted body is connected to the film spool to be rotated by the spool in the film unwinding direction as the filmstrip is pulled off the spool. This allows the weighted body to provide a momentum to rotate the film spool relative to the trailing end portion in the film unwinding direction when the filmstrip except for the trailing end portion has been pulled off the spool, to back the hook out of the hole to allow the trailing end portion to be pulled off the spool without ripping the filmstrip.

Abstract: Disclosed is an unusually light-weight, compact, self-contained, self-powered ball thrower adapted to be carried and transported in the trunk of a passenger vehicle. All rotary components are driven by miniature DC motors having permanent magnet stators to maximize lightness without sacrificing performance. The low power requirements of these motors is readily provided by an onboard AC to DC power converter or by a rechargeable storage battery. The housing is power-oscillated to vary lateral ball trajectory and the throwing wheels are tiltable to vary the vertical delivery trajectory. An ample capacity ball hopper collapses compactly when not in use and a special control circuit assures uniform ball velocity during closely spaced successive ball throwing cycles.

Abstract: A D.C. welder includes an engine-driven D.C. generator, a polarity-revers switch which can change the direction of current flow through the field winding of that generator to provide a positive or negative polarity at the welder output terminals, a circuit that automatically permits only uni-directional current flow through that field winding during the starting of the engine, and a further circuit that energizes a solenoid to close contacts which enable that generator to operate as the starting motor for that engine but which thereafter de-energizes that solenoid and then keeps it de-energized until the engine is at, or close to, rest.

Abstract: An electric welder has magnetic cores with windings thereon which perform the functions of transformer windings as well as the functions of magnetic amplifier windings. The secondary windings, on each pair of those magnetic cores, are connected in series relation; and, similarly, the control windings on that pair of magnetic cores are connected in series relation. One of those control windings can have the voltage across it reduced to essentially-zero to cause a high voltage to be developed across the control winding on the other of that pair of magnetic cores--with consequent prompt saturation of that other magnetic core and with the development of an output pulse by the secondary windings on that pair of magnetic cores.

Abstract: The electric generator of the present invention has a plural-section main nding; and it uses uni-directional devices to permit current to flow through various sections of that winding as the rotor poles move away from various of the stator poles of that generator but to prevent current flow through those various sections as those rotor poles approach those stator poles. By preventing current flow through those various sections, as those rotor poles approach those stator poles, the present invention relieves the field winding of all need of overcoming the magnetomotive force of that main winding. As a result, fewer ampere turns are needed to enable that field winding to provide the magnetomotive force for that main winding.In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, an exciting winding has sections thereof that are wound on poles which have turns of the field winding wound thereon.

Abstract: A D.C. welder includes an engine-driven D.C. generator, a polarity-reversing switch which can change the direction of current flow through the field winding of that generator to provide a positive or negative polarity at the welder output terminals, a circuit that automatically permits only uni-directional current flow through that field winding during the starting of the engine, and a further circuit that energizes a solenoid to close contacts which enable that generator to operate as the starting motor for that engine but which thereafter de-energizes that solenoid and then keeps it de-energized until the engine is at, or close to, rest.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device (2) for separating an outermost sheet (4) from a stack (6). The sheet feeding device (2) comprises a stack support means (8) positioned in a first portion (10) of a housing (12), and a feed module (14) detachably mounted to a second portion (16) of the housing (12) and adapted to be positioned in contact with the stack (6). The feed module (14) includes an urging means (18) mounted on the feed module (14) by an infeed shaft (20) and a feed means (22) mounted on the feed module (14) by a feed roller shaft (24). A separation means (26) is detachably and pivotally mounted to the second portion (16) of the housing (12) by a support means (28). The separation means (26) is positioned adjacent to the feed means (22) so as to define a nip therebetween. A drive means (32) for driving the feed module (14) is mounted to the second portion of the housing (12). A clutch means (90) attached to the drive means (32) transmits an intermittent drive force to the feed module (14).