Raytheon Company

Amana Company, L.p.

Other

Cedarapids, Inc.

Raytheon Corporation

Raytheon Appliances Inc.

J Scott Petty

Christopher Ferguson

Joseph R Adamski

Joseph E Musil

William J Quandt

Nelson J Ferragut, Ii

Edward R Cook

Robin C Hossfield

Michael A Estenson

Glenn W Schwantes

Richard H Edgar

Larry M Engebritson

William E Nothe

Mary J Heitzman

A moisture content measuring apparatus and method wherein a sensor station produces calibration data corresponding to measurements of light at two different wavelengths reflected from a material, and the calibration data is then transferred to a hand held computer. The moisture content of a sample of the material is measured and input to the hand held computer. The process is repeated after changing the wetness of the material, and the hand held computer creates a table correlating reflection data to moisture content. The table is transferred to the sensor station which then continuously generates signals representing moisture content in response to real time reflection data and the table. The cost effectiveness of the sensor stations readily facilitates the use of a dedicated sensor station at each of a plurality of conveyors carrying different materials to be combined into a composite of predetermined proportions by weight. Based on the real time moisture contents of each material, the respective flow rates are adjusted to compensate for moisture in order to produce the predetermined proportion.

Moisture content measuring apparatus and method

A browning grill is arranged for use in a high power density radiant oven. The oven includes a cooking enclosure having a ceiling and a floor, upper radiant energy sources located near the ceiling, and lower radiant energy sources located near the floor. The browning grill has a grilling surface and a debris collector. The grilling surface has a plurality of grill tines. The grilling surface is located between the upper and lower radiant energy sources, and the grilling surface establishes a cooking plane to the upper radiant energy sources. The debris collector catches food debris from food being grilled on the grilling surface. The debris collector is located between the grilling surface and the lower radiant energy sources, and the debris collector is arranged to permit heating of the cooking plane by the lower radiant energy sources.

Browning grill for high power density radiant ovens

A pass through oven system using a microwave oven with doors and a conveyor belt passing through the oven cavity. A sensor system detects the food item on the conveyor belt and identifies the food item. A controller in response to the sensor system moves the conveyor so that the food item is positioned within the cavity of the microwave oven, automatically engages the oven for a preset duration depending upon the identity of the food item and then moves the conveyor to remove the food item from the cavity.

Rethermalization pass through oven system

An oven with high power radiant cooking elements which are capable of operating at different intensities is disclosed for cooking food quickly with infrared radiation. The conduction of this infrared radiant energy varies substantially from food to food. Accordingly, the user of the oven must develop a unique data base or recipe for each food. A recipe consists of a number of stages each of which defines the output intensity of each cooking element for a period of time. A method is disclosed for the real time development of a recipe by varying the intensity of the cooking elements during the cooking cycle, optimizing the developed recipe to reduce the number of stages, storing the optimized recipe in memory and retrieving the optimized stored recipe for future use.

Oven with high power radiant cooking elements and methods of developing,

A water level detection system and method for automatically controlling in real time the water height in a washing machine to assure the optimum operating level. An ultrasonic transceiver generates a plurality of ultrasonic pulses and detects the corresponding echoes. A microprocessor stores a plurality of ranging signals representing the time period between the ultrasonic pulse and the detection of the corresponding echo. A set of the ranging signals forms a mathematical or graphic signature which changes as the water level rises up through the clothes in the washing machine. The microprocessor detects when a predetermined characteristics occurs in this signature and sends a signal to the standard washing machine controls to stop the flow of water.

Ultrasonic water level detection system for use in a washing machine

A system for detecting the presence of a fluid comprising: means for transmitting at least two infrared electromagnetic signals toward a fluid, each of the infrared electromagnetic signals have different wavelengths. It also includes means for sensing the reflection of each of the electromagnetic signals as well as means for creating a plurality of electrical signals indicating the intensity of the reflected signals. Finally, it includes means for determining the presence of said fluid by comparing the intensities of the plurality of electrical signals.

Methods and apparatus for detecting fluids

A coin diameter discriminating device wherein a coin is received in a coin transport mechanism which is rotated by a motor at an accurately controlled angular velocity. By such arrangement, the coin is carried along a predetermined path at an accurately controlled or regulated velocity past at least one optical sensor that provides a change of state output upon detecting an edge of the coin. The sensor is arranged to start a time counter that is stopped by a predetermined reference event such as the coin transport mechanism having rotated to a predetermined angular orientation. The time count in the counter therefore corresponds to the angular orientation of the coin transport mechanism at the time of detecting the coin edge, which also accurately corresponds to the diameter of the coin. The time count is then compared to corresponding time count ranges each of which relates to known standards of an acceptable coin denomination.

Method and device for coin diameter discrimination

A method and apparatus for discriminating and collecting coins wherein an inserted coin is received in a notch of a rotary disk. Upon sensing the insertion of a coin into the notch, a motor rotates the disk through a predetermined arc to a predetermined angular orientation where a decision is made whether to accept or reject the coin based on coin characteristics such as the sensed diameter of the coin and metal content. If the coin is accepted, the disk is rotated to an angular orientation where the coin falls from the notch into a coin collection box. However, if the coin is rejected, the disk is rotated in the opposite direction to an angular orientation where the coin falls into a coin return chute. Sensors are also provided to sense the presence of the coin in the notch on the way back to the initial angular orientation. If the coin failed to fall out for any reason, another attempt is made to collect the coin. If still unsuccessful, a fault is indicated, and the apparatus remains in an inoperative state. Removal of the coin from the coin return chute is also sensed before another coin can be inserted.

Method and apparatus for discriminating and collecting coins

A method and apparatus for discriminating coins based on their metal or ferrous content. Coins are transported by a rotary mechanism that stops when a coin is accurately positioned with respect to an adjacent metal sensor. The metal sensor is then activated to provide a measurement signal of the coin in the repeatable stationary position. A plurality of measurements may preferably be taken and averaged to increase the accuracy.

Apparatus and method for discriminating coins based on metal content

Method and apparatus for determining moisture content of materials by irradiating a sample of unknown moisture content with a narrow frequency band of light at a first wavelength during a first time period and a narrow frequency band of light of a second wavelength during a second time period. The two wavelengths of light have different water absorptive characteristics, and therefore are reflected by varying degrees depending on the surface moisture on the material. The respective reflections are measured by a single common detector, and a value corresponding to the ambient light is subtracted from each measurement. A ratio of the resultant values is then correlated with data derived from precalibration measurements of samples of known moisture content.

Method and apparatus for determining moisture content of materials

A controller for a washing machine with an alternately reversing drive motor wherein an electromechanical timer interfaces in conventional manner to electrical devices, and also switches line voltage to predetermined ones of a plurality of control lines to provide an encoded signal corresponding to the selected agitator stroke profile. The line voltage on the control lines is shifted to a DC voltage level compatible with a microprocessor that decodes the encoded signal, and then provides high rate control signals that gate high power solid state switches that switch line voltage to the respective stator windings of a permanent split capacitor motor. In such manner, the motor is driven in alternately reversing directions and, by way of a speed reducer, drives the agitator of the washing machine according to the selected stroke profile.

Controller for washing machine with alternately reversing drive motor

An ultrasonic grade and auger control for use on a road paving machine to compensate for uneven road surfaces is described. As the road paving machine travels, asphalt is centrally deposited along the road bed. An auger is connected to the back of the road paving machine and contains a series of spiral blades which moves the asphalt away from the center of the road bed toward its outer edges. The ultrasonic auger control apparatus detects the height of the asphalt positioned at the outer edges of the paving machine and regulates the speed of the auger to provide even distribution of the asphalt. A screed is located behind the auger to uniformly place and pack the paving material. The ultrasonic grade control apparatus regulates hydraulic actuators which control the thickness of the new road surface by adjusting the height of the screed.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

J Scott Petty