Charles R Bentivegna

US Patent:

40889360, May 9, 1978

Filed:

Aug 7, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/495377

Inventors:

Donald N. Heisner - Euclid OH
Charles R. Bentivegna - Mayfield Heights OH

Assignee:

Monsanto Company - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

G05B 500

US Classification:

318626

Abstract:

An automated tire inspection system employs penetrative emanation such as X-radiation to inspect the integrity of portions of tires fed sequentially along a feed path through a centering station and into a shielded enclosure where an inspection station is defined. An inspection apparatus within the shielded enclosure includes an X-ray emitting tube and an imaging system for producing signals representing the pattern of X-rays directed through the tire by the X-ray tube. A control apparatus for the system includes: (1) A protection apparatus for preventing overtravel of movable components of the system, including apparatus for sensing the positions of the movable components and controlling elements for moving the movable components and responding to the sensing apparatus to limit movement of the movable components to within a first predetermined range of positions. Additional apparatus senses when a movable component reaches the boundary of another range of positions encompassing the first range and deactuates the system in response thereto; (2) A system for detecting and identifying malfunctions in the tire inspection system; (3) A positioning system for maintaining a constant relative position between the X-ray tube and the imaging system; (4) An interrupt system for manually terminating the automatic operation of the tire inspection system and enabling manual control thereof; (5) A speed control system for automatically slowing the motion of each movable component as it approaches a predetermined end point of its path of motion, and (6) A scheduled interrupt system which suspends automatic operation upon the tire inspection system executing a predetermined stop in its automatic operation, to give the operator temporary manual control of a limited number of system operations. Throughout the operation of the tire inspection system, manual or automatic, the system prevents the execution of potentially dangerous or mechanically destructive operations.

US Patent:

40820394, Apr 4, 1978

Filed:

Oct 1, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/618362

Inventors:

Elmer F. Schutt - Parma OH
Bryce G. Thornton - Mentor OH
Charles R. Bentivegna - Mayfield Heights OH

Assignee:

Addressograph Multigraph Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

B41M 106

US Classification:

101450

Abstract:

There is disclosed an improvement in a system for sensing information encoded on a duplicating original, using the information to control copy processing. A duplicating original is installed onto the surface of a cylinder revolving in the duplication process. The encoded information, in the form of indicia printed on the original, is sensed by an optical read head arranged to scan the revolving cylinder. Signals indicating the position of the revolving cylinder are used to determine when to scan for information. Finally, the information sensed, e. g. , the copy quantity, is used to control the processes of the duplicating machine. The manner in which the encoded information is arranged conforms to the writing capabilities of a computer output printer, which is preferably also used to prepare the body of text material being duplicated, and the read head is arranged to sense the thus applied indicia and reproduce the information accurately, allowing wide latitude for correct placement of the information. Hand encoding by an operator is also easily performed.

US Patent:

42074703, Jun 10, 1980

Filed:

Mar 8, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/884541

Inventors:

Donald N. Heisner - Euclid OH
Charles R. Bentivegna - Mayfield Heights OH

Assignee:

Monsanto Company - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

G01N 2300

US Classification:

250358T

Abstract:

An automated tire inspection system employs penetrative emanation such as X-radiation to inspect the integrity of portions of tires fed sequentially along a feed path through a centering station and into a shielded enclosure where an inspection station is defined. An inspection apparatus within the shielded enclosure includes an X-ray emitting tube and an imaging system for producing signals representing the pattern of X-rays directed through the tire by the X-ray tube. A control apparatus for the system includes: (1) A protection apparatus for preventing overtravel of movable components of the system, including apparatus for sensing the positions of the movable components and controlling elements for moving the movable components and responding to the sensing apparatus to limit movement of the movable components to within a first predetermined range of positions. Additional apparatus senses when a movable component reaches the boundary of another range of positions encompassing the first range and deactuates the system in response thereto; (2) A system for detecting and identifying malfunctions in the tire inspection system; (3) A positioning system for maintaining a constant relative position between the X-ray tube and the imaging system; (4) An interrupt system for manually terminating the automatic operation of the tire inspection system and enabling manual control thereof; (5) A speed control system for automatically slowing the motion of each movable component as it approaches a predetermined end point of its path of motion, and (6) A scheduled interrupt system which suspends automatic operation upon the tire inspection system executing a predetermined stop in its automatic operation, to give the operator temporary manual control of a limited number of system operations. Throughout the operation of the tire inspection system, manual or automatic, the system prevents the execution of potentially dangerous or mechanically destructive operations.

US Patent:

43509428, Sep 21, 1982

Filed:

Nov 30, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/099150

Inventors:

Donald N. Heisner - Euclid OH
Charles R. Bentivegna - Mayfield Heights OH

Assignee:

Monsanto Company - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

G05G 500

US Classification:

318626

Abstract:

An automated tire inspection system employs penetrative emanation such as X-radiation to inspect the integrity of portions of tires fed sequentially along a feed path through a centering station and into a shielded enclosure where an inspection station is defined. An inspection apparatus within the shielded enclosure includes an X-ray emitting tube and an imaging system for producing signals representing the pattern of X-rays directed through the tire by the X-ray tube. A control apparatus for the system includes: (1) A protection apparatus for preventing overtravel of movable components of the system, including apparatus for sensing the positions of the movable components and controlling elements for moving the movable components and responding to the sensing apparatus to limit movement of the movable components to within a first predetermined range of positions. Additional apparatus senses when a movable component reaches the boundary of another range of positions encompassing the first range and deactuates the system in response thereto; (2) A system for detecting and identifying malfunctions in the tire inspection system; (3) A positioning system for maintaining a constant relative position between the X-ray tube and the imaging system; (4) An interrupt system for manually terminating the automatic operation of the tire inspection system and enabling manual control thereof; (5) A speed control system for automatically slowing the motion of each movable component as it approaches a predetermined end point of its path of motion, and (6) A scheduled interrupt system which suspends automatic operation upon the tire inspection system executing a predetermined stop in its automatic operation, to give the operator temporary manual control of a limited number of system operations. Throughout the operation of the tire inspection system, manual or automatic, the system prevents the execution of potentially dangerous or mechanically destructive operations.