Abstract: A compact, self-contained device for direct mounting on a knitting or other textile machine for monitoring and displaying the machine's operating efficiency. A first digital LED continuously displays machine operating efficiency. During machine operation, a second digital LED displays the number of previous machine stoppages and, during machine stoppages, displays the elapsed time of the prevailing machine stoppage. Operating switches permit selective display on the second LED of either the total elapsed time of device operation which forms the time base for the efficiency value or the duration of the longest previous machine stoppage.

Abstract: A system for recording the total time that a motor vehicle is running, the time that the motor is running while the vehicle is stationary, and the time that the vehicle is running while the vehicle is moving. The system includes three electrically driven timers, one of which is connected in series with the oil pressure switch of the motor so that the timer is energized while the motor is running. The remaining two timers are alternately energized when the output of a speedometer generator is above or below a predetermined value. These timers are also connected in series with the oil pressure switch so that the timers may be not energized unless the engine is running. The record generated by the system can be used to obtain a rebate of road taxes for fuel used while the vehicle is stationary.

Abstract: A disposable bag for returning refund bottles to a store is provided that consists of a body of thin flexible sheet material being wide and long enough to accommodate refund bottles of a two liter size which will fit into the proper size container for support and have a counting device built within the container to tally the amount of bottles deposited within.

Abstract: A self-arming, prescaling frequency counter system comprises an armable frequency counter, an envelope detector, a prescaling pulse-shaper, and a delaying means. The envelope detector detects occurrence of an oscillating signal to be frequency measured and transmits an arming signal to arm the frequency counter for the duration of the oscillating signal. The prescaling pulse-shaper is coupled to receive the oscillating signal burst and generate a pulsed test signal of frequency an integer fraction of the oscillating signal frequency. The delaying means couples the test signal to the armable frequency counter input, delaying receipt of the pulsed signal burst until after the counter is armed, and delaying termination of the pulsed signal until after counter is disarmed.

Abstract: A cartridge housing contains a semi-conductor or memory for storing digital information which may be accessed by an external device for display on a screen. The cartridge includes a counting circuit for counting the number of times the cartridge is used and a display for exhibiting the count.

Abstract: A pressure-actuated switch mounted in the handle of a self-inking stamper is actuated by a stationary plunger assembly which extends into the handle and pressures the switch when the stamp element is moved into contact with a surface being marked. Actuation of the switch advances a counting circuit remotely located inside the lid of a lockable box. A circuit times the stamp element in the stamping position to avoid multiple markings on a single count.

Abstract: There is disclosed a manually operable, hand-held labeler with a resettable counter which prevents operation of the labeler beyond a predetermined number of cycles, and there is disclosed a method of labeling using a hand-held labeler which involves preventing operation of the labeler beyond a predetermined number of cycles.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and monitoring the angular velocity of the shaft of a rotating machine. In this apparatus, a plurality of sensors is positioned adjacent the shaft of the rotating machine for generating sequential pulses with periods proportional to the angular velocity of the shaft. The pulses are generated at intervals such that, during the period between adjacent pulses from one sensor, pulses are generated by each of the other sensors. An oscillator is provided for generating reference pulses at a predetermined pulse repetition rate, and a plurality of counting devices are coupled to respective sensors and to the output of the oscillator for counting the pulses generated by the oscillator. An averaging and reciprocal circuit is coupled to the output terminals of the counting devices for obtaining the average of the counting device outputs and then generating the reciprocal of the average value.

Abstract: A cash register with a keyboard (31), journal printer (47) and a check slip printer (32) is controlled by a microprocessor system with a CPU (102), a program ROM (105) and a RAM (106) including various registers for storing running totals of various types. The printer (32) prints till receipts and end-of-day check slips authenticating non-rigged operation of the cash register. Thus, each time such a check slip is printed a fresh bit of an EPROM memory (106) is set from 1 to 0 under control of a register (181) and a pulser circuit (191), the EPROM being fixed non-removably to the machine and shielded aginst UV erasure. The printed check slip includes the serial number thereof as represented by the EPROM contents, a special symbol identifying a non-manipulatable machine and the machine number recorded in a section (161) of the EPROM. In a modified embodiment the EPROM is replaced by a counter, e.g. a mechanical counter, which can only be incremented (and cannot be decremented or zeroized).

Abstract: An electron dosimeter system which measures the length of time that an individual, or object, is exposed to discrete strength levels of a stimulating medium. The dosimeter device is comprised of a sensing device with associated electronics, a converter and a processing circuit. The sensing device/electronics produces an electrical output, representing the strength level of the stimulating medium, which is converted to electrical pulses. The output of the converter is comprised of electrical impulses whose frequency or repetition rate represents the strength of the stimulating medium. The output of the converter is then processed in a circuit having a plurality of storage devices, each of which represent a discrete strength level of the stimulating medium. The processor produces a plurality of timed interval pulses which are addressed to the particular storage device representing that strength level of the stimulating medium.

Abstract: The housing of a tape cassette is provided with mechanical or electrical structure for recording the number of times the cassette housing is withdrawn from a video cassette recorder. A display window on the cassette displays indicia representative of the number of removals of the cassette from such recorder whereby a rental fee may be charged based on said indicia.

Abstract: In a value printing device such as a postage meter, a novel system is provided for automatically and electronically warning the operator that an inking member has reached the end of its useful life span and must be replaced.

Abstract: Reduction in the maximum time uncertainty (t.sub.max -t.sub.min) of a series of paired time signals t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 varying between two input terminals and representative of a series of single events where t.sub.1 .ltoreq.t.sub.2 and t.sub.1 +t.sub.2 equals a constant, is carried out with a circuit utilizing a combination of OR and AND gates as signal selecting means and one or more time delays to increase the minimum value (t.sub.min) of the first signal t.sub.1 closer to t.sub.max and thereby reduce the difference. The circuit may utilize a plurality of stages to reduce the uncertainty by factors of 20-800.

Abstract: A system for and a method of recording information concerning vehicle operation comprising a logic circuit interfacing with a microprocessor whereby accurate velocity information can be recorded to provide a precise record of operation, including acceleration and deceleration information, over a period of time.

Abstract: A system is described for indicating the appropriate time to perform preventive maintenance operations upon a machine tool. The system includes a signal generator which is to be connected to the machine tool to generate signals whenever the tool is in operation. These signals are integrated and a threshold sensitive detector responsive to the output of the integrator produces a control signal. The control signal is then applied to a audio/visual indicating means to notify operators of the advent of a particular preventive maintenance operation to be performed upon the machine tool.

Abstract: An electronic control system for a machine tool employs a monitoring system for monitoring the absolute position of a reversibly (and linearly or rotationally) movable moving member in the machine tool. The monitoring system includes a clock, a digital feedback position counter having a predetermined count range, an exciter, a feedback device responsive to movement of the movable member, a digital position storage device, a zero crossing detector, and a zero position counter. The feedback position counter, which operates at a clock frequency, controls the exciter which provides a pulsed exciter signal to the feedback device. The feedback position counter also provides a position count Nc to the position storage device and to the zero position counter.