/ 176171-- Ref REFERENi OCT 1 7 1975 . u£7 NBS SPECIAL PUBLICATION 391 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/ National Bureau of Standards Report of the 58th National Conference on Weights and Measures 1973 NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS The National Bureau of Standards' was established by an act of Congress March 3, 1901. The Bureau's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. To this end, the Bureau conducts research and provides: (1) a basis for the Nation's physical measurement system, (2) scientific and technological services for industry and government, ( 3 ) a technical basis for equity in trade, and (4) technical services to promote public safety. The Bureau consists of the Institute for Basic Standards, the Institute for Materials Research, the Institute for Applied Technology, the Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology, and the Office for Information Programs. THE INSTITUTE FOR BASIC STANDARDS provides the central basis within the United States of a complete and consistent system of physical measurement; coordinates that system with measurement systems of other nations; and furnishes essential services leading to accurate and uniform physical measurements throughout the Nation's scientific community, industry, and commerce. The Institute consists of a Center for Radiation Research, an Office of Meas- urement Services and the following divisions: Applied Mathematics — Electricity — Mechanics — Heat — Optical Physics — Nuclear Sciences : — Applied Radiation = — Quantum Electronics " — Electromagnetics 3 — Time x ' 3 and Frequency — Laboratory Astrophysics — Cryogenics . THE INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS RESEARCH conducts materials research leading to improved methods of measurement, standards, and data on the properties of well-characterized materials needed by industry, commerce, educational institutions, and Government; provides advisory and research services to other Government agencies; and develops, produces, and distributes standard reference materials. The Institute consists of the Office of Standard Reference Materials and the following divisions: Analytical Chemistry — Polymers — Metallurgy — Inorganic Materials — Reactor Radiation — Physical Chemistry. THE INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGY provides technical services to promote the use of available technology and to facilitate technological innovation in industry and Government; cooperates with public and private organizations leading to the development of technological standards (including mandatory safety standards), codes and methods of test; and provides technical advice and services to Government agencies upon request. The Institute consists of a Center for Building Technology and the following divisions and offices: Engineering and Product Standards — Weights and Measures — Invention and Innova- tion — Product Evaluation Technology — Electronic Technology — Technical Analysis — Measurement Engineering — Structures, Materials, and Life Safety ' — Building * Environment — Technical Evaluation and Application ' — Fire Technology. THE INSTITUTE FOR COMPUTER SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY conducts research and provides technical services designed to aid Government agencies in improving cost effec- tiveness in the conduct of their programs through the selection, acquisition, and effective utilization of automatic data processing equipment; and serves as the principal focus within the executive branch for the development of Federal standards for automatic data processing equipment, techniques, and computer languages. The Institute consists of the following divisions: Computer Services — Systems and Software — Computer Systems Engineering — Informa- tion Technology. THE OFFICE FOR INFORMATION PROGRAMS promotes optimum dissemination and accessibility of scientific information generated within NBS and other agencies of the Federal Government; promotes the development of the National Standard Reference Data System and a system of information analysis centers dealing with the broader aspects of the National Measurement System; provides appropriate services to ensure that the NBS staff has optimum accessibility to the scientific information of the world. The Office consists of the following organizational units: Office of Standard Reference Data — Office of Information Activities — Office of Technical Publications — Library — Office of International Relations. 1 Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg. Maryland, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Washington, D C. 20234. 3 Part of the Center for Radiation Research. 3 Located at Boulder, Colorado 80302. * Part of the Center for Building Technology. National Bureau of Standards JUL 1 0 1974 n&t olc-c - Ref. Report of the Qd\£& HO. 2A\ £| 7 Al- J 58th National Conference on Weights and Measures 1973 Sponsored by the National Bureau of Standards Attended by Officials from the Various States, Counties, and Cities, and Representatives from U.S. Government.) Industry, and Consumer Organizations Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 22-27, 1973 Report Editors: Sandra J. Wilson Richard N. Smith United States Department of Commerce Frederick B. Dent, Secretary National Bureau of Standards Richard W. Roberts, Director U.S. Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ. 391, 2 0 8 pages, (May 1974) Issued (May 1974) For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 (Order by SD Catalog No. C13.10:391). Price $2.50 Stock Number 0303-01260 Abstract This is a report of the proceedings (edited) of the Fifty-Eighth National Conference on Weights and Measures, sponsored by the National Bureau of Standards, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 22-27, 1973. and attended by state, county, and city weights and measures officials, the Federal Government, business, industry, and consumer organizations. Key words : Administration ; automated checkstand systems : Conference ; con- sumers : laws and regulations : metrication : open dating ; procedures : technical requirements technology ; universal product coding weights and measures. ; ; Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 26-27766 i CONTENTS (NOTE: The reports of the standing and annual committees and the Treasurer's report, which were presented on Wednesday and Thursday, have been arranged together, beginning on page 133, for easier reference.) Page Officers of the Conference vi Standing Committees vi Annual Committees vii Open Committee Meetings, Monday, July 23, 1973 vii MORNING SESSION—TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1973 Measures for Progress, by G. L. Johnson, Conference Chairman, Director of Weights and Measures, Kentucky Department of Agriculture 1 Address, by Robert W. Carlson, Commissioner, Public Service Commis- sion, Minnesota Department of Public Service, Saint Paul, Minnesota, _ 4 Address of the Conference President, by Dr. Richard W. Roberts, Director, National Bureau of Standards 7 Presentation of Honor Awards 13 Address, by Hon. Karl E. Bakke, Acting General Counsel, U.S. Depart- ment of Commerce 14 Greetings From Australia, by James A. Servin, Warden of Standards, Department of Lands, Standards, Weights and Measures Branch, Adelaide, Australia 23 AFTERNOON SESSION—TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1973 Universal Product Code in the Grocery Industry: Effect of UPC on Supermarket Operations and Equipment, by R. H. Sloat, Vice President of Operations, Foodarama Supermarkets Inc 27 Computerized Checkstand Weighing System, by W. N. Shannon, Manager, Special Projects, Hobart Manufacturing Co 32 Digital Designs in Weighing Systems: Applications in Retail Trade, by R. O. Bradley, Chief Scale Engineer, Toledo Scale Division, Reliance Electric Company 36 Large Capacity Scale Designs, by T. G. Soper, Vice President of Mar- keting, Fairbanks Morse 41 Dynamic Weighing in the Railroad Industry, by E. W. Hodgkins, Execu- tive Director, Engineering Division, American Railway Engineering Association 49 TUESDAY EVENING—JULY 24, 1973 Reception by Associate Membership 54 MORNING SESSION—WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1973 Gasoline Measurement and Marketing: Changing Systems and Designs, by W. F. Gerdom, Manager, Customer Service, Tokheim Corporation 55 Electronic Components and Applications, by R. J. McCrory, Vice Presi- dent, Gilbarco, Inc 58 III Weighting on the Mail, by A. Smith, Director, Office of Retailing, Customer Services Group, U.S. Postal Service 64 Net Quantity—Directions and Determinations: Viewpoint on Net Weight Variations, by G. M. Burditt, Burditt and Calkins 75 Status of Handbook 67 Revision, by E. A. Vadelund, Office of Weights and Measures, National Bureau of Standards 83 AFTERNOON SESSION—WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1973 No General Session Was Scheduled MORNING SESSION—THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1973 Management Assistance for Weights and Measures Progress: MIS Analyses and Concept Development, by E. G. Neigut, Program Manager, Urban Systems, Technical Analysis Division, National Bureau of Standards 91 Measuring Inaccuracy's Economic Distortion, by S. W. Stiefel, Opera- tions Research Analyst, Technical Analysis Division, National Bureau of Standards 97 New Approach in Weights and Measures Operations: Pilot Program, by W. H. Korth, Director of Weights and Measures, Ventura County, California 108 Development of Dallas Department of Consumer Affairs, by C. H. Vincent, Assistant Director, Department of Consumer Affairs, Dallas, Texas 115 Consumer Protection in Minnesota, by Hon. Stephen Keefe, Minnesota Senate, Saint Paul, Minnesota 122 REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES Report of the Committee on Liaison with