Abstract: A method and an installation for masked or scrambled speech transmission utilize a time-scrambling unit for dividing the speech band into at least two sub-bands, for delaying the one sub-band with respect to the other, and for forming an aggregate signal, and a frequency-scrambling unit for dividing the aggregate signal into at least two second sub-bands of variable band-width, for their cyclic interchanging, and for forming a transmission signal capable of being transmitted over a transmission channel, in order to mask not only the sound character of the speech signals but also the speech rhythm, thus ensuring increased privacy of transmission with high code-changing speed and low sensitivity to distortion.

Abstract: A system for inserting extra-information bits into a bit sequence to be transmitted over a transmission channel and for suppressing such bits from the transmitted bit sequence, the system having an inserter at the transmitting end and a suppressor at the receiving end, the inserter converting an input bit sequence which it receives at a first repetition frequency into a second repetition frequency which is higher to correspond to the inserted extra bits, by the insertion of m extra bits per m.k.n bits of the input bit sequence k, n and m denoting integers which are greater than zero, the suppressor restoring the original input bit sequence at the first repetition frequency and the extra-information bits from the output bit sequence which it receives from the transmitter at the second repetition frequency, the inserter comprising a first repetition frequency generator which derives the output bit sequence repetition frequency from the input sequence repetition frequency and complies with the condition n.k.

Abstract: An exposure control system for color printers having electro/optical means for spectral analysis of different types of original material for printing to determine different spectral coefficients for each material. Each coefficient is classified according to a reference range of values, each range being associated with a different original material. Photoelectric means are provided to determine the color densities of an original and a store stores sets of exposure parameters, each set being associated with a different original material. Automatic selection means responsive to the classification is provided to select whichever parameter set is associated with a coefficient reference range in which the coefficient has been classified during classification.

Abstract: A gripper drum having in the peripheral surface thereof a number of apertures aligned in rows running parallel to the rotational axis of the drum, the rows defining an active suction zone. Each row of apertures is connected to a duct located below the surface of the drum and each duct is connected by a conduit to a bore in a stationary part of the drum, the bore being connected to a source of suction so that as the drum rotates about the inner stationary part suction is applied to the apertures. Pistons, one for each duct, are mounted on a plate which can be moved to insert the pistons into one end of each duct respectively, the opposite ends of the ducts being closed thereby sealing off the apertures from the suction source and altering the width of the active suction zone on the periphery of the drum. The conduits are connected to positions on the ducts progressively remote from the ends into which the pistons are inserted.

Abstract: 1.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ciphering and deciphering messages, wherein series of cipher pulses with an identical pulse distribution are generated by the transmitter and the receiver stations and said pulse distribution is determined by a secret basic code and a code which is derived from date and time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting printing faults or errors in a sample of printed material, such as a bank note, by determining the relative positions of corresponding text on the sample and each of a number of original bank notes, each having been printed by a different printing process used in printing the sample combining the text of the originals optically or electronically taking into account the positions of the text in the originals relative to the text on the sample resulting from superimposition of the text produced by each of the printing process used to produce each original, and comparing the text of the sample with the total combined text. The relative positions of corresponding text on the sample and originals is determined by scanning the sample and originals and obtaining reflectances values at each of a number of corresponding raster points and correlating the corresponding reflectance values to obtaining the relative position values.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically assessing a printed article, in particular a bank-note. The sample to be assessed is compared point by point with an original and differential values are thereby formed between the reflectance values obtained by photoelectrical scanning from the individual image points of the sample and the reflectance values of the image points of the original corresponding to the sample image points. The differential values of each image point are added, in the correct sign, with predetermined weighting, to the differential values of the image points adjacent thereto, and the sample is assessed as faulty if the absolute amount of the added differential values exceeds a predetermined threshold value at least in one image point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for comparing a sample of printed material, such as a bank note, with a standard original print by scanning the sample and the original to provide reflectance values of text in corresponding zones in a preselected group of zones of a pattern, common to both original and sample and produced by selecting reflectance values occurring in selected parts of selected lines of scan. The difference in reflectance values of the text in corresponding zones of the preselected group of zones is obtained and from these differences the relative position of the corresponding text is determined. The relative position of the text in the remaining corresponding zones is then determined by interpolating or extrapolating the values representing the relative positions of the text in the selected zones of the group and from the reflectance values obtained from scanning those other corresponding zones.

Abstract: A cassette for feeding unexposed photographic film to or receiving exposed film for an automatic printer. The cassette having a light tight casing in which is a hub for receiving either a spool of unexposed film or taking up exposed film fed to it through the opening in the casing. The hub is mounted on a shaft which extends from the casing and carries a brake disc engageable with a brake band mounted inside the casing and a slider which is disposed outside the casing. The shaft is rotatably mounted in a plate movable within the casing to disengage the brake disc from the brake band when the slider on the shaft engages guide bars on the delivery side of the printer. Flaps are provided inside the casing which pivot to a position about the hub by thrust rods operated by means on the take-up side of the printer to guide exposed film on to the hub which is driven by a drive on the printer engaging a pulley mounted on the shaft adjacent the slider and external to the casing.

Abstract: A method of controlling the exposure in the production of photographic color prints by scanning an original line-by-line and point-by-point with three primary colors to determine the density of each primary color at each point. At each scanned point the difference between the density values of a pair of two of the three primary colors and the difference between another different pair of the three primary colors are compared with the corresponding density difference values of a reference original having a constant density distribution comprising the three primary colors. The density difference comparison forms a selection criteria to determine whether each point scanned is to be used to form density values from which the exposure values for the three primary colors are formed to control exposure of the print material. The selection criteria is as follows: ##EQU1## WHERE D.sub.i, D.sub.j and D.sub.k denote the densities of the scanned points for the primary colors i, j and k; a, b and c are constant factors; d.

Abstract: A device is provided for pretesting originals to be copied for their copyability. The device includes a photoelectric point by point scanner and a decision circuit for evaluating density scanning values from the scanner. The decision circuit compares the scanning values with the minimum scanning value and produces a clear signal when a predetermined number of scanning values exceeds the minimum value by at least a given first threshold value. If this criterion is not fulfilled a skip signal is produced. In a preferred embodiment the decision circuit produces the clear signal only if the average value of a predetermined number of highest scanning values exceeds the minimum value by at least the given first threshold value.

Abstract: A method of controlling exposure in the production of photographic prints by scanning an original point-by-point and determining the neutral density of each point of the picture, the densities being processed to provide exposure data to control the exposure of sensitized paper to produce a print from the original. To provide the optimum print quality as required by this method, the picture area of the original is divided up into zones, each of which is at least two picture points, the density values obtained by scanning the original are processed with a density value of a point in a reference picture to provide intermediate density values for each zone in accordance with processing instructions which vary from zone to zone, the intermediate values then serving to form an end density value to control the exposure of the print material.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the composition of the spectrum of a light beam. At least one filter is adjustable at right angles to the axis of the light beam. The filter consists of two separate parts and means are provided for the joint stepwise moving of both filter parts to said axis and away from it. Thereby both filter parts are equidistant from the axis. The filter parts are moved stepwise so that the change of intensity of the light beam effected in each step remains substantially constant. The filter parts are connected to a stepping drive motor by means of traction cables the ends of which are guided over a respective cam plate which is torsionally connected to the axle of the drive motor. The cam plates have substantially the shape of a logarithmic spiral. Two spaced apart mounting plates are provided between which at least two, preferably three or four two-part filters, each with the traction cable belonging thereto, are arranged in different planes.

Abstract: A head for measuring light diffusely reflected from a surface, the head having an optical projection system for projecting light onto a surface to be measured, and another optical system for collecting the light diffusely reflected from that surface and imaging it on a photodiode. The collecting optics comprise a spherical annular mirror coaxially aligned with an annular transparent planar member which has an annular plane mirror mounted underneath it, the projected light passing through the apertures in the annular mirror, the planar member, and the annular planar mirror. The light diffusely reflected from the surface to be measured passes through the planar member onto the spherical mirror which reflects it back through the member onto the planar mirror which in turn reflects it back through the planar member onto reducing optics which images the reflected light onto the photo-diode.

Abstract: A method of scrambling and unscrambling speech transmissions by first dividing the speech frequencies into two frequency bands and reversing their order by modulating the speech information, the width of the bands being varied by varying the carrier frequency used in the modulation process, adding to the reversed frequency bands at least one supplementary signal derived from the modulation process and transmitting the resultant signal. The transmitted signal is unscrambled by first subtracting from it a supplementary signal which is generated at the receiving station from the received scrambled signal, the last mentioned supplementary signal being identical to that added to the reversed frequency band signal prior to transmission and then subjecting the resultant signal to the same modulation processes as referred to above to reassemble the frequency bands into a frequency band containing substantially the same speech frequencies as those that are scrambled.

Abstract: A data indicator unit having setting keys which control a setting stage connected in series with a switching unit that controls the energization of a series of optical character indicator devices, the number of switching states of the switching unit corresponding to the number of character indicating devices. Only one key need be provided which, to enter a selected character, can be actuated a number of times to set the setting stage accordingly to energize one of the character indicating devices corresponding to the selected character. Alternatively the key can be depressed for a selected period to effect entry of a selected character or a ten key keyboard may be provided to enter selected characters by depression of one, or a pair of keys, so that, for example, thirty two characters may be indicated by operation of only ten keys. The indicator unit may incorporate a ciphering/deciphering unit to encipher the selected characters and indicate its enciphered form.

Abstract: A method of adjusting and readjusting an automatic corrector for a data signal transmission system, the corrector serving to restore pulse-amplitude-modulated signals which have suffered linear distortions in a transmission channel. A transversal filter of the corrector receives during a first adjustment phase a reference signal sequence transmitted over the transmission channel and an identical reference signal produced at the receiving end to produce error signals which serve to adjust the transversal filter coefficients stored in the corrector. The filter coefficients are subdivided into at least two groups and during the first phase one group of filter coefficients is calculated with a more attenuated error signal than the filter coefficients of the other group.

Abstract: A device for sensing notches in an edge of a longitudinally transported film strip has a two-armed lever pivoted at a point to one side of the film path to deflect in the film plane. One arm carries at its end a spring biased roller which rotates freely against the moving unnotched film edge but which is biased into engagement with a notch to deflect the lever. The other lever arm is contacted by the actuating button of a microswitch the internal spring of which biases the lever to a quiescent position. A preselected deflection of the lever from this position actuates the microswitch to indicate the presence of a notch. Stops limit the deflection of the lever which is essentially normal to the direction of film movement, deflecting from a just obtuse to a just acute angle when entrained by a notch. The microswitch may be replaced by a photoelectric switching arrangement.

Abstract: A transport system or conveyor for flexible items comprises at least two successive groups of three rollers. Each group has a larger diameter roller with which two smaller driven rollers provide nips which are angled to another. The entry nip of a following group is angled with respect to the exit nip of the preceding group such that an item is conveyed through successive nips along a wavy or zig-path. At least one of the two smaller rollers of a group is adjustable to set the entry or exit angle. The system is used in apparatus including a treatment station located between two successive roller groups, the treatment itself inducing a bend in the flexible items which is allowed for by the relative angling of the nips. A particular application is to the moving of photographic papers through a drying station in photographic developing machine.