Abstract: In an integrated thermal processing method the bulb is completely processed in a dedicated oven. The inside and outside of the bulb are simultaneously heated. The inside and outside are also simultaneously cooled. During the evacuation a temperature gradient is maintained across the face of the panel to reduce tensile stresses which develop in the bulb skirt area during evacuation.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing, the steps of: providing a workpiece comprising a main body and a machine-readable marking on a portion of the body, depositing on the marking and the surrounding surface an overcoating of a liquid polymeric composition that is curable by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and then irradiating the liquid overcoating with ultraviolet radiation so that the overcoating cures to a solid nontacky, light-transmitting protective coating. The workpiece, with the cured protective coating thereon, may be subjected to processing steps wherein extraneous matter may adhere to the coating, and then be cleaned leaving the cured coating intact.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing, the steps of: providing a workpiece comprising a main body and a machine-readable marking on a portion of the body, depositing on the marking and the surrounding surface an overcoating of a liquid polymeric composition that is curable by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and then irradiating the liquid overcoating with ultraviolet radiation so that the overcoating cures to a solid nontacky, light-transmitting protective coating. The workpiece, with the cured protective coating thereon, may be subjected to processing steps wherein extraneous matter may adhere to the coating, and then be cleaned leaving the cured coating intact.

Abstract: In an intaglio printing method, the steps of providing a novel intaglio inking plate having a surface and means for producing different prescribed patterns of shallow depressions therein, producing a first prescribed pattern of depressions in said surface, filling said depressions with ink, transferring ink from the pattern of filled depressions to a transfer surface, altering the surface to provide a second pattern of shallow depressions therein and then repeating the step of filling the depressions with ink and transferring an ink pattern to a transfer surface.

Abstract: A workpiece having a machine-readable coded marking abraded into the surface thereof. The marking comprises a plurality of related marks, such as bar-code marking, which have substantially different light reflectances than the surrounding surface. The markings may be made by moving a means for abrading a defined surface area along a particular path with respect to the surface to be marked. The abrading means is selectively activated or deactivated according to a prearranged program to selectively abrade the surface.

Abstract: A video disc record suitable for use with a video disc player apparatus is provided with a label for identifying the program material stored on the surface of the record. The label is formed in a machine readable format which comprises grooves in the surface of the record. In one format whorls of a spiral groove of a first pitch are spaced alternately with whorls of a spiral groove of a second pitch. A readout apparatus comprises a light beam which is arranged to scan the grooved label and a detector which is arranged to sense the light beam reflected from the disc record surface. Light striking a grooved section of first pitch is reflected in a substantially specular direction while light striking a grooved section of second pitch is substantially scattered out of the specular direction. The detector is arranged to collect the light reflected into the specular direction.

Abstract: A workpiece having a machine-readable coded marking recessed into the surface thereof. The workpiece comprises a main body and a thin integral coating in the area of the marking. The marking comprises a plurality of related marks, such as a bar-code marking, which are recessed through the coating and which have substantially different light reflectances than the surrounding surface. The workpiece may include an integral undercoating between the coating and the main body with marks recessed into, but not through, the undercoating. The marks may be made by selectively removing material, as by abrasion or ablation, from defined surface areas and through the coating.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reading an identifying label on an information record where the label consists of alternating regions of the record surface having different surface effects. The apparatus comprises a light source, collimating optics, focusing optics to focus a portion of the light beam scattered from the record surface on a multi-element light detector whose elements are successively read out to form a serial electrical signal representative of the label, and electrical means for reading out the detected light signal. The apparatus has sufficient sensitivity and accuracy to read out a black-on-black label.