General Electric Company

Mechtrix Corporation

Vinod K Chopra

John D Butler

Philip M Allen

Frank C Travanty

An electro/mechanical feedback system and method for displaying the positional and sizing information relative to the hole size formed by closed stripping blades of a wire stripping machine. The feedback system includes a pair of rotary optical encoders that are tied to the respective blade tool holders via adjusting screws. The adjusting screws provide infinite adjustment resolution. Turning the adjusting screws opens or closes the blades. The encoders convert the adjusting screw rotational information into blade translatory information, which is displayed. The displayed information represents positional information of each of the blades as well as the actual diameter of the cutting hole formed by the closed blades at a true zero position. The adjusting screw includes a torque head that limits adjusting screw torque to a predetermined amount. The present invention includes a positive stop used as a home position for each blade. Translating the blade tool holders against the positive stops and slipping the torque heads of the adjusting screws assures accurate home positions for calibrating the feedback system.

Electronic display system for wire stripping machine

An X-ray apparatus has motors for moving its components in different directions. Sensors are provided to detect a collision between a motor driven component and an object, such as a patient being examined. In response to a collision being detected, a normal motor power supply is disconnected from the motor and another power supply is connected to the motor to move the component in the reverse direction. A safeguard is incorporated to insure that both power supplies cannot be coupled to the motor at the same time. For components which can strike a patient when moving in either of two directions, different collision sensors are provided for each direction. For this configuration, a mechanism also is provided to inhibit the connection of the other power supply when collisions are simultaneously detected each direction of component movement.

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Brookfield, WI, United States of America

Vinod K Chopra