Laitram, L.l.c.

Other

Digicourse, Inc.

James M Lapeyre, Iii

Christopher G Greve

James O Gundlach

Peter G Weber

Ronald H Burch

Fernand S Lapeyre

Mark E Sutton

Joseph F Scamardo, Jr

John P Farrell

Noel A Svendsen

Raymond J Carroll, Jr

Richard S Lindberg

William G Faulkner

George C Lapeyre

Joseph F Kovacs

Michael V Sclafini

Henry H Long

Method for pasteurizing almonds and other nuts with steam at atmospheric pressure. The amount of condensation on and the consequent water uptake of nuts is limited by pasteurizing the nuts in a heating chamber with a gaseous atmosphere including a steam mixture and forming a forced-convection path through the nuts. The limited water uptake maintains the quality of the nuts. A forced-convection steam cooker conveying food products on a foraminous conveyor belt forces the steam mixture through the nuts. A preheater preheats the nuts so that they can be pasteurized in the steam cooker at a temperature of between 85&#xb0; C. and 99&#xb0; C. to reduce the dwell time and increase throughput.

Forced-convection, steam-heating of nuts with preheating

Utility of keyboard controlled multipurpose calculating computers with large numbers of modes of operation on data is substantially increased by making available these modes of operation with fewer keys on the keyboard and relating-the keyboard keys to integral keyboard panel carried operating instructions identifying hundreds of accessible operating steps and functions. Typically 12 or 16 key keyboards will initiate considerably more than a hundred different input characters and instructions each clearly identified so that the computer can be used for most of its intended purposes at all times by relatively unskilled operators without reference to instruction manuals. The operating mode requires two successive instantaneous keystrokes for one entry, and the two keystrokes necessary for each of the accessible operating modes and input characters are displayed adjacent the keys for indicating the keys to stroke for each desired entry.

Computer with few keys displaying hundreds of functions

A programmable portable electronic computer by means of a twelve key keyboard array capable of entering a full range of alphameric characters and computer commands has room for a large area electronic display screen. This affords room for graphical presentations with alphanumeric notation, and enough rows of printed text to afford word processing capabilities. Thus, a tape recorder within the housing may include software and is coupled for use in dictating, storage, word processing and computer interfacing use, all under control of the keyboard keys.

Portable computer with large screen display

A data processing keyboard system is provided wherein data and command signals from the keyboard are entered by two or more successive keystrokes. At least two operation modes serve to change the entry command assignments to the keys, thereby affording a large number of selections from a few keys. This makes available from the comprehensive capability of present day computers large numbers of keyboard accessible commands. Also surprisingly then this invention can replace a normal QWERTY typewriter keyboard with most of its functions by a set of only three, four, seven or nine keys. Thereby alphabetic characters, decimal digits and a store of computer command entries may be processed with each entry requiring two or more strokes of the computer keyboard keys. Functional commands such as spacing return or shift can be intermixed with the choice of data characters. Means for shifting from a computation mode to an alpha mode of computer operation may be provided. Keyboard selected modes change the key assignments. Thus an alpha mode for a computer may assign the entire alphabet first stroke to a set of three home keys arranged in a geometric configuration of no more than sixteen keys for touch typing control by fingers on one hand. The key assignments are made wherein the easier to access strokes are allocated to the more frequently encountered letters of the alphabet. Provisions are made for allocating some of the keys to custom tailored command signals entered from the keyboard.

Comprehensive computer data and control entries from very few keys

An integrally molded module for forming a conveyor belt which receives a driving force from an intermeshed sprocket is disclosed. Each of the modules is suitable for being pivotally assembled and disassembled with a multiplicty of similar modules by pivot rods to construct the conveyor belt. More specifically, the pivot rods can be removed in a non-destructive manner such that they are suitable for reuse. Each of the modules includes first and second pluralities of link ends, each of which define a pivot hole and are aligned to form first and second pivot axes. The link ends of each of the modules are joined by an integrally molded connecting structure which maintains and joins the relative position of the elongated links with respect to each other. One or more stop members are also integrally molded in close proximity to the outermost link ends of one of the pluralities and partially obstructs the insertion of a pivot rod into the aperture defined in the outermost link. Consequently, to insert a pivot rod into the aligned link ends of two intermeshed modules, either the stop member(s), the pivot rod or both, must bend out of the way. Once the first rod is fully in place, the stop member(s) will prevent pivot rod from coming out during normal belt operation. However, by applying additional force, the pivot rod can be reused in a non-destructive manner to allow for the repair or replacement of modules, and the reuse of the pivot rod.

Non-destructive pivot rod retention apparatus for modular plastic

A conveyor belt composed of a plurality of interconnected modules, each of identical construction and end to end mateable. Each module includes a multiplicity of elongated parallel spaced link elements terminating in first and second link ends. An intermediate section between the link ends is of grid-like structure providing a box beam across the width of the module for structural strength. This intermediate section also includes angled surfaces which define sprocket recesses located midway between the pivot axes and which are adapted to mate with corresponding sprocket teeth of an associated sprocket wheel. These intermediate sprocket recesses provide the benefit of minimizing chordal action and scrubbing between the mating surfaces of the module and sprocket.

Modular center drive conveyor belt

Particularly in hand held alphameric keyboard actuated computers, available room dictates a need to limit the number of keys without sacrificing computer performance. Further, for portable computers reference to an instruction manual is not feasible. Thus usefulness critically depends upon integrated operating instructions. Formerly there is neither room or facilities for instructions, nor room on the keyboard for enough keys. Herein, a computer keyboard of a few keys controlled by a computer multi-mode processing system to have a plurality of roles permits a very large number of computer functions to be entered and controlled. Further in combination with these roles, a computer organized temporary display panel displays keystroke selection indicia for the different keyboard operating roles. This expands instructional notation otherwise possible on the keys and adjacent keyboard locations. Thus, an entire set of alphabetic characters may be entered and processed in the computer by means of as few as six keys in an alpha mode operating the keys in a two stroke per character entry mode. Accordingly, the display panel is programmed by the computer to show with instructional indicia, typically a multiple-choice menu, the role for at least a subcombination of the keys in the current operating role of the keys in effect at the time. This permits detailed keystroke instructions to be available for performing hundreds of operations for which modern computers are capable.

Programmable hand held computers operable with two-strokes perentry

Selection of pre-formed patterns available for manual input to a general purpose computer operable in different modes with no more than sixteen key positions includes decimal digits, punctuation, and a complete set of alphabetic characters. Alphabetic characters and computer commands are selected manually with two keystrokes per entry, and a numeric mode selects decimal digits with one keystroke per entry. Keystroke positions are identified upon menu patterns, which change with the computer modes of operation and for first and second keystrokes in the two stroke per entry modes for more convenient and rapid operation without reference to computer manuals.

Keyboard menus displayed on the computer screen for directing entry of

A module for forming by a simple two-piece mold, a conveyor belt of integral plastic molded construction and having a conveying surface of selected cross-sections is disclosed. The module includes a first plurality (22) of pivot ends joined to a second plurality (24) of pivot ends by an intermediate section (34). Each of the first and second pluralities of pivot ends define apertures (26, 30) suitable for receiving a pivot rod (16, 18, 20). The intermediate section (34) joins and connects the first and second pluralities of pivot ends (22, 24) such that the pivot axis (26, 28, 32) formed by aligning the first pluralities and second pluralities of apertures respectively are maintained parallel to each other and define a common plane (36). Each of the modules receives a driving force such as a tooth (40) for moving the module orthogonal to the pivot axis (28, 32) and substantially parallel to the common plane (36). Each of the modules are designed and formed such that every surface on the module except the surface defining the pivot apertures (26, 30) may be observed by viewing along first and second pluralities of lines of sight as indicated by lines of sight arrows (52 and 54). The first and second pluralities of lines of sight are each perpendicular to pivot axis (26, 30) and are parallel to the common plane (36). Partially hexagon shaped channels (184, 186, 188) are integrally formed with the elongated portions of the module to form channels for carrying tubular items (206, 208).

End-to-end molded conveyor belt modules

Screw conveyor apparatus fabricated from integrally molded plastic modules is disclosed. The apparatus includes a multiplicity of modules axially aligned and joined or bonded so as to provide a unitary plastic screw conveyor of a desired length. A plastic axial member extending the length of the screw conveyor and which defines an elongated aperture of a non-circular cross-section is formed by joining or bonding the individual modules. In addition, each of the modules include a flight member which individually helically encircle not more than 360.degree., but when bonded together result in an overall flight member encircling more than 360.degree. and which extends the length of the joined or bonded modules. The plastic screw conveyor is driven by a drive shaft which has a non-circular cross-section and which is inserted through and cooperates with the non-circular aperture extending the length of the joined axial members. A drive or power source is connected to the drive shaft for rotating the apparatus.

Unitary screw conveyor apparatus

Hand held computers with alpha keystroke

An integrally molded module for forming a conveyor belt which receives a driving force from an intermeshed sprocket is disclosed. Each of the modules is suitable for being pivotally assembled and disassembled with a multiplicity of similar modules by pivot rods to construct the conveyor belt. More specifically, the pivot rods can be removed in a non-destructive manner such that they are suitable for reuse. Each of the modules includes first and second pluralities of link ends, each of which define a pivot hole and are alinged to form first and second pivot axes. The link ends of each of the modules are joined by an integrally molded connecting structure which maintains and joins the relative position of the elongated links with respect to each other. One or more stop members are also integrally molded in close proximity to the outermost link ends of one of the pluralities and partially obstructs the insertion of a pivot rod into the aperture defined in the outermost link. Consequently, to insert a pivot rod into the aligned link ends of two intermeshed modules, either the stop member(s), the pivot rod or both, must bend out of the way. Once the first rod is fully in place, the stop member(s) will prevent pivot rod from coming out during normal operation. However, by applying additional force, the pivot rod can be reused in a non-destructive manner to allow for the repair or replacement of modules, and the reuse of the pivot rod.

Apparatus to allow non-destructive removal of pivot rods in modular

The conventional keyboard is replaced by a virtual keyboard pattern on the computer screen by this invention. Selection of keystrokes is made by a mouse, or the like, positioning a cursor at a desired key for keyswitch selection. This manner of selection of pre-formed patterns available from the computer, such as alphanumeric characters and computer commands is particularly advantageous in a computer aided drafting and design system. Thus, notations and lettering need not be formulated by analog movement of the mouse, but can be selected digitally from the computer store by keyswitching. The resulting equipment therefor eliminates the conventional keyboard but not its operational advantages thereby permitting full computer operation with a mouse or the equivalent. Several features of the invention are provided for more convenient and more rapid operation, such as the replacement of the keyboard arrays as the computer changes modes of operation, and the placement of more frequently used keystrokes on the keyboard arrays for selection by minimized movements of the mouse.

Growing community of inventors

New Orleans, LA, United States of America

James M Lapeyre, Iii