Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockhead Martin Corp.

James P Neary

Charles Whitney

William C Craig

Stephen J Gesel

A method and apparatus for sampling potential biohazard particles in an air flow tests for biological particles in the air flow; collects a sample of particulate matter from a specific portion of the air flow in response to an indication in the step of sensing of the presence of biological particles in the specific portion of the air flow, and delays particle movement between the steps of sensing and collecting to coordinate the steps of sensing and collecting to the specific portion of the air flow.

Method and apparatus for sampling biological particles in an air flow

A method and an apparatus are provided for singulating articles received in a slug and/or manipulating such articles to create a controlled gap between a trailing edge of a leading article and a leading edge of a successive article, while targeting a desired throughput. For singulation, a plurality of belts are mounted adjacent to each other with a slide chute between each pair of adjacent belts, articles moving from an infeed belt and passing from one belt to another through the chute therebetween. A plurality of sensors are positioned such that there is a single control sensor for at least selected ones of the belts, each control sensor sensing article position on a corresponding belt. Controls are provided for operating each belt in response to a corresponding control sensor, an operative state of a downstream belt and/or a difference between the desired throughput and detected throughput. For creating controlled gaps between successive articles, a plurality of belts are provided, mounted adjacent each other, articles being received on a first of the belts and passing from one belt to an adjacent belt. A plurality of control sensors are sensing article position relative to each belt and controls are provided which operate each belt in response to a corresponding control sensor, an operative state of a downstream belt and/or the difference between the desired throughput and the detected throughput. The controls are also operative to initiate stopping of a belt if a detected trailing-edge to leading-edge gap is smaller than the desired minimum gap.

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Binghamton, NY, United States of America

James P Neary