Abstract: The movement of a document through a transport system is simulated electronically and compared to the actual movement of the document to detect a document feed jam.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the movement of objects through a predetermined path comprises a sensor producing electrical signals by the movement of the objects through the path, a measuring circuit producing a measurement of the rate at which the objects move through the path, presetting means for presetting a predetermined minimum rate, and an indicator indicating when the measured rate is below the preset predetermined minimum rate. The invention is described as embodied in a seed monitor attached to colter plough blades for monitoring the rate of feeding of the seeds. Also describes is an adapter unit which enables the number of sensors to be multiplied by time-sharing each measuring circuit with a plurality of sensors.

Abstract: There is disclosed a monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of functions or stations in a machine and capable of providing an alarm signal in the event of a failure or significant deviation in any one of the functions, which monitoring system also incorporates electronic circuitry for automatically temporarily disabling the alarm device in the event of a near simultaneous discontinuance or deviation in all of the functions being monitored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a multiple-feed situation with regard to documents having encoding arranged thereon in a predetermined manner and with the documents being moved along a transport path. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the documents are encoded with magnetic ink. A sensing member is positioned along the transport path in operative relationship with the encoding on the documents for generating a first signal in response to a character of the encoding being in moving relationship with the sensing means. A first circuit is used for receiving the first signal and for generating a first time frame. A second circuit is used for generating a second time frame beginning upon the expiration of the first time frame; and a third circuit is used for generating an output signal indicative of a multiple-feed situation when a subsequent signal from the sensing means occurs during the second time frame.

Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of more than one document along a path during the processing of the documents. A capacitance is introduced by the plural documents in contact with each other and wherein a delay signal is combined with an original signal to generate a multiple document detect signal for indicating the presence of the multiple documents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for clearing jams in the transport path of a copier includes the steps of sensing a jam, clustering in-process sheets either at the jam location or at an area upstream of the jam location while simultaneously allowing sheets downstream from the jam location to continue out into a catch tray and removing the jam sheets after the last downstream sheet has exited the copier and the machine has stopped.

Abstract: Invention herein is an alarm system for product distribution systems. This system is designed to alert the operator of the distribution system in the event there is a blockage in the system or that the system may be empty and further simultaneously indicate at which distribution point the malfunction occurred.

Abstract: In an electrostatic reproduction machine there is provided one or more rollers capable of rotating in union with a copy sheet being advanced, in the course of travel of the copy sheet. Sensing switches are provided for sensing nonuniformity in rotation of the rollers which may occur in abnormal copy sheet transportation states and, more particularly, in a jam state. The outputs from the sensing switches are utilized for identifying the abnormal machine states.

Abstract: A sensing device for use with a poultry conveyor system to detect the passage of a poultry carcass supported on a carrier device arranged to move along a predetermined path includes two sensors, a first sensor which is actuated by passage of the carrier device and a second sensor which is actuated by the passage of the poultry carcass itself. The first and second sensing devices are connected to an indicating means which is arranged to emit a signal only when both sensing means are actuated. This avoids the possibility of more than one signal being emitted by a single poultry carcass during movement along the path.

Abstract: A wireless seed detecting and monitoring apparatus includes one or more transmitter units mounted at the seed planter and a receiver unit mounted in a monitor console located at a remote location. Seeds being planted produce a signal which modulates an r-f transmitted signal during the planting operation. A receiver is responsive to the r-f transmitted signal and detects the modulated signal information corresponding to seeds being planted. This detected signal is then delivered to monitoring circuitry to indicate the operation of the seed planter.

Abstract: A proximity switch is connected to close a circuit between a source and a load when a metal object is adjacent to a coil in the switch. The coil is part of an oscillator circuit that is selected to have its output damped below a selected amplitude when the metal object is close enough to the coil. The reduced amplitude of oscillation opens a capacitor shunting switch thereby permitting the capacitor to be charged. The charging of the capacitor to a selected level turns on an SCR to connect the load to the source through the SCR. A power storage circuit has a capacitor that is charged when the SCR is turned off to provide operating current for the circuits of the switch when it is not available because the SCR is turned on to shunt the current from the main power source.

Abstract: A calibrated tuneable monitor for use with multi-row planting apparatus includes means for sensing the number of seeds delivered to furrows formed in a field and controlling an indicator to give a visual readout to the operator of the planting apparatus as to whether the number of seeds planted is at least equal to a predetermined minimum value which is preset by a selector dial. The seed monitor system has a DC coupled monostable circuit for producing a pulse of given pulse width for each pulse produced by a seed sensor. The pulse from the DC coupled monostable circuit is then integrated and formed into a voltage which is proportional to the rate at which pulses are received. This voltage is then compared in a voltage comparator circuit to control the operation of an indicator.

Abstract: A workpiece detection circuit in an article handling apparatus aborts workpieces from the apparatus whenever an unanticipated workpiece presence or absence is sensed. An error signal from either of a pair of parallel gating circuits removes a primary chute from the workpiece flow path and directs workpieces down a secondary or abort chute.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for determining the number of moving objects which completely traverse a given path. The apparatus provides an array of light sensors which are placed adjacent the path. A scanner periodically samples the output of each sensor in the array and produces an output proportional to the ambient light in the path striking the sensor. This output is stored for comparison with future outputs so that changes in the ambient light in the path may be detected. Changes in ambient light at a particular sensor are compared with changes detected by adjacent sensors, first to prevent erroneous readouts and second to determine the direction of movement. Moving objects completely traversing the field are recorded.

Abstract: An article detection system utilizing optical transducers in a transducer housing designed to minimize detection errors and including additional circuitry for minimizing errors in the processing of the signal. The system produces an output for each article detected which is utilized in control circuitry for controlling external machine operations in response to various detected conditions.