Abstract: To a carrier (1, 1') there is cemented a bar of a material (3, 3'), for example glass or a ceramic material, which is subsequently divided, using cuts (7, 7') which extend transversely of its longitudinal direction, into a number of slices (9, 9') which are separately cemented to the carrier. Each slice (9, 9') is provided with a groove (13, 13') which extends parallel to the cuts (7, 7'). The grooves (13, 13') are curved and have a center of curvature which is situated at the side of the bar (3, 3') which faces the carrier (1, 1'). In the grooves (13, 13') there are secured optical fibres (19, 19') which follow the curvature of the groove, after which a side portion of the fibres which is situated furthest from the carrier (1, 1') is ground off. A flat ground face (21, 21') is thus formed one each fibre (19, 19'). Such ground fibres (19, 19') are arranged so that their ground faces contact one another in order to form directional couplers, after which the slices (9, 9') are detached from the carrier (1, 1').

Abstract: An apparatus for winding magnetic tape into a cassette positions and holds a cassette case, extracts and retains leader tape, cuts and splices leader tape to magnetic tape, and winds magnetic tape onto a hub inside the cassette case. After a predetermined amount of magnetic tape has been wound on the hub, the magnetic tape is retained, cut, spliced to leader tape, and the extracted slack tape is wound into the cassette case. The tape retaining mechanism has a first and second tape retainer which separately hold the cut ends of leader tape, and a third tape retainer which holds the cut end of magnetic tape. The first and second tape retainers attach to the extracted leader tape, and are positioned with their attachment surfaces adjacent to an open guard panel of the cassette case. The tape retainer attachment surfaces hold tape in a manner that essentially closes the cassette case front cavity.

Abstract: A tape splicing block assembly including a block member provided with a flat bed surface sized for supporting a length of magnetic tape that is clamped thereto by a pair of releasable clamp members having inwardly directed longitudinal lips which engage narrow regions of the tape edges along the length of the bed surface.

Abstract: An overlapping layer (24) of a first body of deformable material is pressed by an edge (78) of each of a plurality of blade members (42) into an overlapped layer (26) of a second body of resilient material forming slots (74) in the second body with ribs (88) of the first body displaced therein. The blade members (42) are removed while the ribs (88) are retained in the slots (74) and gripped by the surrounding resilient material. The blade members (42) may be adjustably clamped in a cartridge (40) which is removable from the splicing apparatus (10) for adjustment and replacement of the blade members (42) so that they conform to the surface profile (82) and splice interface line (80) of the bodies to be spliced.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for splicing a new web to a running web including cutting the old web between two rollers, the first roller having a cutting means, a rotating means, an actuating means and the second roller being a backing cylinder. The first roller is brought in contact with the old web, and the backing roller then rotates through the cutting action to permit splicing to occur while maintaining a continuous supply of web material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for joining an end of a first web to an end of a second web by, for example, double-sided adhesive tape, glue or the like, include locking the end of the first web at a fixed position by first locking apparatus and locking, i.e., holding the end of the second web by second holding and moving apparatus. The held end of the second web is moved by the second apparatus into pressure contact with the end of the first web whereby the ends of the respective webs are joined to each other by adhesive tape, glue or the like.

Abstract: A process for making a fiber optic coupler. An optical fiber reception block of rigid material that has orthogonal longitudinal and transversal planes of symmetry, an arcuate fiber receiving groove extending along the longitudinal plane of symmetry, and a plurality of reference surfaces is provided. An optical fiber is glued into the groove and the block is cut along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal and transversal planes of symmetry to remove part of the fiber. The block is then cut in half along the transversal plane of symmetry, the two halves are superimposed in inverted positions and aligned by using a reference surface. This process forms a multibranch coupler that finds numerous applications in telecommunication systems.

Abstract: A method and device for the production of cover strips which are to be inserted into the grooves of stators of electric machines, from a supply of strip material provided on delivery rolls. The guide channel (26) for cover strip material (12) has several feed passages (46, 46'), which can be brought individually into connection one after the other with the main part of guide channel (26). Thus it is possible to thread the lead of a new delivery roll into its feed passage (46, 46') of the guide channel while the machine continues to run, so that when delivery rolls (16, 16') are to be changed, only a mechanical change of position of feed passages (46, 46') need be undertaken. The down time of the machine is thus greatly shortened.

Abstract: The electric heating element in an apparatus for sterilely cutting and welding together a pair of thermoplastic tubes incorporates within the heating element a fusible signal means connected in parallel electrical circuit with the resistor of the heating element for indicating previous use of the heating element. The fusible signal means is capable when intact of providing a signal to a microprocessor controlling operation of the apparatus indicative of previous nonuse of the heating element and is automatically destructed upon energization of the heating element resistor during the first use of the heating element so as to be incapable of providing such nonuse signal upon a subsequent energization. If the nonuse signal is not generated, e.g., the heating element has been previously used, the microprocessor is programmed to reject the heating element, thereby eliminating risks resulting from reusing the heating element.

Abstract: A device and method for interconnecting the trailing end of a first web to a leading end of a second web as f.i. in a printing machine, said device comprising a loop accumulator, suction boxes and spaced guiding rollers capable of being clamped together while being braked, further comprising means for presenting a sticking strip to be applied to always the same face of the webs.

Abstract: A machine and method for splicing a new length of linered tape to a length of linered tape being pulled from the machine without interrupting the movement of the tape out of the machine. The tape is pulled along a supply path aligned with an outlet path, a clamp is activated to stop tape movement at an inlet to the outlet path while a path length changing mechanism is activated to shorten the outlet path at the same rate that tape is being pulled from the machine, the length of tape being pulled from the machine is cut between the outlet path and the supply path, the end of another supply path carrying the new supply length of tape is aligned with the outlet path, splicing means splice together liners on the tape ends at the aligned end and inlet, the clamp is released after such splicing, and the outlet path is returned to its normal length.

Abstract: A tape splicing mechanism is disclosed which is particularly adapted for splicing leader tape to the magnetic tape of a video cassette. The tape splicing mechanism includes a holder for a reel of adhesive tape which is drawn off and fed past a splice transfer block (13) and a fixed block (8) to a splice transfer pad (11) at the end of an arm (15) on a carriage (16); the two blocks (8,13) and the pad (11) have faces with apertures acting as suction faces which act to hold a length of tape secured by a cutter in position during transfer; the carriage reciprocates parallel to the arm between a retracted position and an application position, at which latter the arm is pressed transverse its length by an applicator actuator (9) to press the length of adhesive tape, held on the pad (11) by the vacuum, against the tape to be spliced.

Abstract: An apparatus for joining the trailing end of a preceding sheet to the leading end of a following sheet is disclosed which effects the union of the two sheet ends by keeping the trailing end of the preceding sheet sucked to the lower side of a pair of suction boxes disposed on a sheet path as separated by an interval, cutting the sheet so held in place along the interval, elevating a movable receiving table disposed below the sheet path, and holding in place the leading end of the following sheet, thereby bringing the leading end of the following sheet into contact with the cut end of the preceding strip of sheet and thereby allowing the two sheet ends to be joined.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an improved apparatus and method for stuffing pre-inked printer ribbon from a ribbon roll into a ribbon cartridge. The apparatus includes a drive motor for pulling the ribbon into the cartridge and a supply motor connected to a spool for automatically feeding ribbon to the cartridge. Between the drive and supply motors, the ribbon passes through a splice detection means, around a length measuring means, and through a cutter mechanism. The length measuring means includes a brake for stopping motion of the ribbon. The cartridge loading apparatus further includes a built-in ribbon welder mechanism for adjoining the end of the pre-inked ribbon to a leader ribbon assembled into the cartridge and a cartridge support means adaptable to any cartridge configuration.

Abstract: A substantially planar reticulated material is formed by the conjunction of a plurality of strips of non-planar material so that the strips lie substantially perpendicular to the plane of the reticulated material with their edges lying coplanar with the reticulated material and forming opposite surfaces thereof. Each strip of nonplanar sheet material is formed on each opposite surface with a pattern of crests and valleys of repetitive wavelength such that each pattern repeat contains at least two crests and at least two valleys; in each pattern repeat the height of at least one crest or valley on at least one surface of the strip is different from that of at least one of the other respective crests and valleys on said surface; the recurring height difference produces a corrugation along the strip having a wavelength greater than the wavelength of the crests and valleys; and adjacent strips are abutted with the corrugation opposed to interfit at least one crest in a valley of each opposed corrugation.

Abstract: A thread connecting device for a sewing machine cuts an upper thread which is extending between the sewing machine and one of a plurality of thread spools, and connects an end of a thread belonging to the sewing machine and an end of a thread belonging to the thread spool, in such a manner that the connected part of the threads can smoothly pass through a needle eye, whereby it is possible to supply a desired color thread with respect to the sewing machine having a single needle bar. Therefore the applicable scope of the pattern stitching may be largely widened for colored clothes or other fabrics, especially an embroidery stitching may be performed which requires many kinds of color threads.

Abstract: An inventory minimizing method and apparatus for simultaneously loading elongated, relatively narrow tapes into a plurality of preleadered tape-handling cassettes. A roll of web tape many times wider than the width of an individual cassette tape is progressively formed into a plurality of narrow width composite web tapes consisting of a series of longitudinally spaced-apart tapes, of predetermined length, that have adjacent end portions attached to one another by means of an adhesive web tape connecting splice-tape. The leader material of a preleadered cassette is attached to each end of one of the tapes in a composite tape in the following manner. The cassette tape leader is severed into two separate smaller leader lengths with an end of each such smaller length remaining attached to one of two intenal cassette spools.

Abstract: A splicer is used in a corrugated cardboard production line. The splicer has a pair of pivotal levers having opposing jaws which open and close responsive to a pivoting of the levers. The faces of each of the jaws have a pair of pads for enabling a passage of a web of corrugated cardboard when the jaws are opened and for gripping the web when the jaws are closed. A guillotine blade is positioned between the pairs of jaw pads to grip the web when the jaws are closed. A pair of brake shoes are positioned downstream from the jaws for holding the web while the brake shoes are closed.

Abstract: An apparatus for winding video tape on reels of a cassette includes a winding device for winding video tape on the reels and a feeding device for feeding a pair of reels to the winding device, the winding device having two shafts on which two reels can be removably mounted, at least one of the shafts being movable in a direction away from the other, a connecting member for connecting tapes being provided so as to be brought in and out of the path of movement of the movable shaft, the connecting member being out of the path of the reels when the reels are being moved away from each other, and when the reels are spaced from each other, the connecting member is moved in and out of the space between the reels so as to connect the tape wound on the reels with video tape.

Abstract: An integrally formed ratchet (90) and star wheel (95) is disclosed which rotates in unison with a tape applicator wheel (85). Eccentrically formed fingers (96a-d) cooperate with a downwardly facing wall to align and position applicator wheel (85) into correct position after each reciprocation of the splicer (30). Correct alignment is essential because a cutter blade 127 cuts the tape on the applicator wheel into pre-determined lengths by passing through a notch (104) in applicator wheel (85). Misalignment of the applicator wheel (85) may cause blade (127) to impact the applicator wheel (85) itself, damaging or destroying it.

Abstract: A method for splicing belt ends of an endless belt, as in the field, wherein uniform tension is provided to the reinforcing members such as strands or cables in the spliced section. The respective spaced ends or sections have all belting material removed leaving each end with a laterally extending end section spaced from its adjacent main body section of the belt and interconnected only by the cable. The dressed end sections are overlapped and thence the center section of the overlapped portions are cast into a belt section with cables embedded therein. The laterally extending end sections are cut leaving two uncast sections which are then cast or molded to encapsulate the remaining bare cables to form a continuous belt by such splicing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a thermoplastic mandrel in which at least two sections of a thermoplastic rod, comprising a thermoplastic material which has been compounded with a finely divided metal or a metallic oxide filler, is subjected to a high voltage electrical induction field in a mold, causing fusion of the rod ends. Prior to the fusion, the ends of the thermoplastic rod are cut in a wedge shape, and in the preferred method, the wedge shaped ends meet at an angle of 90.degree. and are pressed together in the mold. The heat resulting from energizing the metal filler in said thermoplastic rods by induction, causes simultaneous melting of both thermoplastic rod ends and subsequent fusion of said rod ends. The thermoplastic mandrel made according to this method has a bond at the splicing point which is smooth, flash free, fused, solid and seamless, said mandrel being free of warping, shrinking and deformation.

Abstract: A film processing method for removing troubled film strips from a series of film strips to which it is spliced for processing. The troubled film strip is removed by cutting along a line located inwardly of a leading end of the troubled film strip by a distance at least equal to the width of a splicing tape from a center line of the splice between the leading end of the troubled film strip and a preceding film strip such that a part of the troubled film strip remains connected to the preceding film strip. A succeeding film strip, or another film strip, is then spliced to the remaining part of the troubled film strip.

Abstract: In a method of splicing strips of thermoplastic material to form waterstop joints, the strips are first clamped in longitudinal alignment with their adjacent ends spaced apart. While the strips are so clamped, a routing tool is used to cut complementary rebates at these adjacent ends, after which the strips are moved into end abutting relationship while the longitudinal alignment of the strips is maintained, the rebated ends being brought into a half-lap configuration. The cooperating ends are then welded together by means of an electric heating element which was inserted between the ends prior to their being clamped together.

Abstract: A method of joining two flexible webs comprises bringing the webs into overlapping relationship, cutting the overlapped webs, removing a part of one or both webs from the region of the cut, and applying a length of adhesive material to marginal portions of the webs adjacent the cut.The webs may be held stationary while being joined. The cutting and joining are preferably effected simultaneously. The webs may be brought into register before cutting and joining. Adhesive material may be applied to both sides of the webs. Joining may be initiated manually or automatically in response to the speed or diameter of an expiring reel.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and process for making a sterile connection between two thermoplastic resin tubes is disclosed. The tubes are cut by a hot cutting means so as to form a molten interface between the tubes and the cutting means. The tubes are aligned with each other and slid off an edge of the cutting means while being urged together. As the thermoplastic resin cools a sterile splice is formed. The apparatus is controlled to provide precise timing of the above events and includes safeguards to ensure sterility is maintained.

Abstract: A process, apparatus and system for making a sterile connection between two thermoplastic resin tubes is disclosed. The tubes are severed by an array of hot wires so as to form molten tube ends. The array is maintained at a temperature such that ambient air immediately within the vicinity of urging is kept sterile. Then, the tubes are aligned with each other and urged together. As the thermoplastic resin cools a sterile weld is formed.

Abstract: A veneer splicing apparatus comprising a veneer detector for detecting the irregular portions of a veneer, disposed before a cutting tool which reciprocates toward and away from conveying means capable of being optionally driven or stopped, with respect to the direction of feeding a veneer; a delivery conveyor disposed after the cutting tool; veneer supporting members each disposed between the cutting tool and the delivery conveyor with one end thereof directed toward the cutting tool and with the other end thereof pivotally supported; an adhesive material feed device to feed adhesive materials, such as adhesive tapes or adhesive-impregnated yarns, near to the veneer cutting position of the cutting tool; said cutting tool or a tool holder being provided with an appropriate number of guide grooves at an appropriate distance away from the cutting edge of the cutting tool; and pressing members integrally mounted on the tool holder on both sides, with respect to the direction of feeding a veneer, of the cutting t

Abstract: A feed table and a receiving table respectively having top surfaces which are flush with each other are positioned spaced from each other by a very small distance. A magnetic recording tape is fed along the top surface of the feed table toward the receiving table to extend over the top surface of the receiving table across the space between the tables, and is fixed to the top surfaces of the tables. A cutting edge is inserted into the space between the tables to cut the recording tape. A leader tape is fed along the top surface of the feed table toward the receiving table to extend over the top surface of the receiving table across the space between the tables by a predetermined length, and is fixed to the top surfaces of the tables. Then the cutting edge is inserted into the space to sever a leader tape piece having a predetermined length from the leader tape.

Abstract: Wood veneer strips are butt joined end-to-end for assembly of an indefinite length strip or sheet suitable for reeling. The splicing apparatus clamps the veneer strip ends to be joined in longitudinal planar alignment for trimming by two spaced shear knives having parallel cutting planes. Following the shear cut, a reciprocating carriage for one bed knife to which one veneer strip is clamped is withdrawn from the corresponding cutting plane to permit movement of all shear knife structure from between the carriage and the other, fixed position bed knife without retracting the shear knife edges back past the bed knife edges. The reciprocating carriage is then moved along with its corresponding bed knife and clamped veneer strip into abutment with the fixed position bed knife and respective strip edge where lap splice material is laid across the joint and cured in place under heat and pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for splicing together successive sections of single facer corrugated board having planar and corrugated fibrous layers, which sections are initially conveyed colinearly in spaced relation at uniform speed with the flutes extending in the direction of travel of the sections, characterized by the provision of a reciprocatory vacuum bar feed member operable initially to accelerate a subsequent section relative to a preceding section to a position in which a protruding layer portion at the trailing end of the preceding section is in superposed relation relative to a protruding layer portion at the leading end of the subsequent section, and subsequently to displace the section at the lower uniform speed at the moment at which the adjacent ends of the sections are in overlapping relation, whereupon the superposed portions may be bonded together to connect the sections to form a continuous web having longitudinally extending flutes.

Abstract: A method is provided for splicing carbonized PAN tows in which the tows to be spliced are cut square and coated at the ends thereof with a resin solution, following which the coated ends are joined together, heated so as to cure the resin solution and then pinched to compact the resulting splice. The resin solution is comprised of a mixture of a solid acrylic polymer, a liquid acrylic polymer, a solid epoxy resin and a solvent.

Abstract: An improved cassette loading machine is provided which has means for rotatably supporting two supply reels of magnetic tape, means for loading cassettes with tape from either supply reel, and means for automatically (1) terminating the loading of cassettes when the tape supply on a first supply reel is nearly exhausted, (2) splicing the tape from the second supply reel to the tape from the first supply reel, and (3) resuming the loading of cassettes with tape from the second supply reel.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for splicing a new web to a running web are proposed. The old web is cut off just behind the spliced point. Therefore, no tail is left on the web spliced. The running web is nipped at two points between two pairs of rolls. Because it is tight between the two points, a clear cut is possible with a single cutting blade.

Abstract: An integrally formed ratchet (90) and star wheel (95) is disclosed which rotates in unison with a tape applicator wheel (85). Eccentrically formed fingers (96a-d) cooperate with a downwardly facing wall to align and position applicator wheel (85) into correct position after each reciprocation of the splicer (30). Correct alignment is essential because a cutter blade 127 cuts the tape on the applicator wheel into pre-determined lengths by passing through a notch (104) in applicator wheel (85). Misalignment of the applicator wheel (85) may cause blade (127) to impact the applicator wheel (85) itself, damaging or destroying it.

Abstract: An improved method of splicing film such as original motion picture film negative which provides a quick, efficient and inexpensive way to splice the film in such a fashion that no frames of film footage are lost as a result of the splice, the splice is permanent and a new splice can be made over the old splice if necessary.

Abstract: A method of forming a closed loop of a flexible strip, comprising conveying an elongated flexible strip in a predetermined longitudinal direction to a predetermined position on a predetermined conveyance plane, detecting the locations and geometry of end portions of the strip while the strip is being conveyed toward the predetermined position thereof, driving two carrier members to move into positions determined with respect to the end portions of the strip in the predetermined position on the conveyance plane on the basis of the detected locations and geometry of the end portions of the strip, transferring the end portions of the strip to the carrier members, respectively, from the conveyance plane, further driving the carrier members to move along paths determined to cause the strip to be gradually deformed into loop form so that the end portions of the strip have respective edges slightly spaced apart in parallel from each other, correcting the positions of the carrier members with respect to each other wh

Abstract: A splicing head for an automatic zero-speed web splicing machine is disclosed in which the end of a new roll of web material can be prepared for splicing directly on resilient nip rollers which are used by the machine to perform the splicing operation. In particular, the splicing head includes a knife carriage through which the web material passes and which can be moved transversely to the web travel direction under control of a cam and lever arrangement to introduce a predetermined loop of slack into the web material.The action of the cam and lever mechanism also positions a serrated preparation blade mounted on cantilever arms in front of the nip rollers for squarely trimming the edge of the web material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining webs of aseptic pouches such that the internal asepsis of the pouches is preserved includes bringing the ends of the webs to be joined into overlapping relationship to form an overlapping area, applying a double-sided microbicidal adhesive tape between the overlapping ends so that the ends are held in overlapping relationship, applying heat to the overlapping area sufficient to form a peel seal between the opposing walls of the webs in the overlapping area, making a transverse fusion-like incision within the peel seal in the overlapping area, applying a microbicidal adhesive tape to outside surfaces of the webs in the overlapping area to microbicidally seal the fusion-like incision, and separating the walls of the webs thereby forming a continuous and sterile passageway between the pouches through the incision.

Abstract: Wood veneer strips are butt joined end-to-end for assembly of an indefinite length strip or sheet suitable for reeling. The splicing apparatus clamps the veneer strip ends to be joined in longitudinal planar alignment for trimming by two spaced shear knives having parallel cutting planes. Following the shear cut, a reciprocating carriage for one bed knife to which one veneer strip is clamped is withdrawn from the corresponding cutting plane to permit movement of all shear knife structure from between the carriage and the other, fixed position bed knife without retracting the shear knife edges back past the bed knife edges. The reciprocating carriage is then moved along with its corresponding bed knife and clamped veneer strip into abutment with the fixed position bed knife and respective strip edge where lap splice material is laid across the joint and cured in place under heat and pressure.

Abstract: A splicing block for use in splicing tapes and the like comprises a rotating block in which a plurality of moveable tape guideways are disposed equidistant from and parallel to a shaft which is similarly positioned with regard to a fixed tape guideway. Rotation about the shaft, limited by a pair of fixed stops, alternately positions each of the movable guideways opposite the fixed guideway.

Abstract: An improved seam construction for diving suits and method of performing same which consists of a seam formed by cutting slits into the edges of two abutting pieces of elastomeric material, gluing and stitching the outer layers of the edge of each piece, inserting and gluing a filler strip of material into the interior of the cavity formed by the slit and gluing the inner layers of the material over said filler strip. Diving suits formed using such seam construction are stronger, more comfortable, more durable, more aesthetic and leakproof.

Abstract: An apparatus for splicing webs from separate web rolls comprising a splicing station across which a web from one roll is moved, a vertically movable brake movable downwardly for engaging the web to momentarily interrupt the web, a fixed knife blade associated with the station beneath the web and a movable knife blade which is movable from a first position above the web to a second position below the web. The apparatus supports the taped end of a web from a second roll in position above the movable knife blade and is operated to move the movable knife blade to sever the trailing end of the web from the first roll and tape the leading end of the second roll to the severed end of the first roll providing a butt splice. The movable knife blade is manually removable from below the spliced web, after being moved downwardly to splice the webs, and is insertable to a position above the second web for a subsequent splicing of the web from the second roll to another roll.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a splicing apparatus for splicing together the leading end face of one of cord ply segments and the trailing end face of another cord ply segment positioned in front of one of the cord ply segments. The apparatus comprises a first conveyor having a first surface, a second conveyor fixed with respect to the first conveyor and having a second surface spaced apart from and in face-to-face relationship to the first surface of the first conveyor and for conveying the cord ply segments on the second surface thereof in a second conveyance direction substantially in parallel with the first conveyance direction of the first conveyor, and transfer members for transferring each of the cord ply segments on the first surface of the first conveyor to the second surface of the second conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a length of film from a cartridge, trimming the ends from the film, splicing the leading edge of the film to the trailing edge of the previously unloaded film, placing an identifying mark on the film and on an envelope and winding the film on a magazine. The unloading device allows the film to be removed from the cartridge by manually pulling the sheet of backing paper from the film in the daylight while shielding the film from light. The cartridge is locked to the loading device until all of the film in the cartridge has been loaded through a film guide into a storage box. The leading edge of the film is then trimmed by upward movement of a cutting blade allowing the film to advance through an aperture in the cutting blade until the trailing edge is trimmed by downward movement of the cutting blade.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an optical four-gate coupler wherein the junction between two large fiber optical waveguides of the same diameter are connected to a fiber optical waveguide having a smaller diameter and wherein a guide part is formed with a groove for engaging the small fiber optical waveguide and the distance from the center line of said groove to the edge of the guide is equal to the diameter of the larger waveguides so that the guide part and a detent can hold the two large waveguides and the smaller waveguide in aligned contacting positions and a cover plate fits over at least the two large waveguides. Such structure is then cut transverse to the center axis of the three waveguides and the ends are polished and then coupled together so as to provide an optical four-gate coupler.

Abstract: There is provided an adhesive tape for the joining of webs, comprising a first tape provided on both its faces with adhesive, second and third cover tapes adhering to the faces of the first tape, and adhesive on the outside of the second cover tape, the adhesive on the outside of the second cover tape being stronger than the adhesive on its inside. The joinder is made by securing the outside face of the second cover tape to a carrier bar, removing the third cover tape, adhering the exposed face of the first tape to the tail end of a first web, removing the second cover tape with carrier bar attached from the first tape which continues to adhere to the web, and then adhering the freshly exposed face of the first tape to the head end of a second web.

Abstract: An apparatus for making V-belts comprising a base member, a cover for the base member, a channel-like guide means carried by the base member for receiving a length of belting from a supply, first slot means cooperating with said guide means for receiving and guiding a cutting means to cut a predetermined length of said belting required to form a closed loop of said belting, second slot means cooperating with said guide means for receiving and guiding a cutting means in making a slot in each free end of said belting for receiving a web-like splice element adapted to bridge the free ends of said predetermined length of belting to form said loop, and heating means carried by said apparatus for vulcanizing the free ends of the predetermined length of belting to form a splice between the free ends of the belting.

Abstract: A process, apparatus and system for making a sterile connection between two thermoplastic resin tubes is disclosed. The tubes are cut by a hot cutting means so as to form a molten interface between the tubes and the cutting means. The tubes are aligned with each other and slid off an edge of the cutting means while being urged together. As the thermoplastic resin cools a sterile weld is formed. The cutting means should either be thin or have a sharp edge where the aligned tubes are slid off and joined.

Abstract: A film splicer includes first and second parallel film handling stations with a first cutter in the first film handling station cutting the leading edge of a succeeding film strip. A pair of pins engage either film strip perforations or one longitudinal edge of the succeeding film strip and shift the film transversely into the second film handling station. The first cutter in the first film handling station cuts the front edge of the film such that it will be substantially in its proper position for splicing once it is transversely shifted to the second film handling station. A lever in the second film handling station is provided for automatically actuating a rear edge cutter in the second film handling station as soon as the film has been entirely removed from its spool.