Abstract: A waveguide optical device having a guide member for propagation of light in a longitudinal direction. The guide member has upper and lower boundaries. A mass of birefringent material is disposed proximal to the guide member. The birefringent material has molecular dipoles subject to alignment by an imposed electrical field. The birefringent mass is overlapped by the optical field of the propagated light. An upper electrode is disposed in spaced relation to the birefringent mass. A lower electrode is disposed in spaced relation to the guide member. The electrodes have the capability of imposing an alternating current voltage across the birefringent mass to rotate the molecular dipoles of the birefringent mass in a plane defined by the normal to the guide member and the propagation vector of the light.

Abstract: A cylindrical electrolysis tank (10) whose inner wall surface (11c) is held in contact with a single-use cathode (30) defining a hollow cylinder is provided with a removable tank lid (14) which forms an integral unit with a hollow cylinder (16) which carries the anode (34) on its peripheral surface (16a) and is provided with an uninterrupted closed bottom plate (17). The cylinder space (24) which is freely accessible from above serves to accommodate a replacement cathode (30) which is rolled up. At the circumferential abutment edge (18) between the peripheral surface (16a) of hollow cylinder (16) and the inner surface (19a) of lid plate (19) a ventilation groove (20) is provided which has a bore (20a) including an air-exhaust valve (21) and extending to the exterior.

Abstract: A zirconia ceramic having a tetragonal phase crystal grain structure and a process for producing same. The ceramic comprises zirconium oxide and a dopant that is an oxide of a rare earth element, calcium, or magnesium, or mixtures thereof, and the ceramic has a molar ratio of dopant to zirconium oxide in the range of from above about 3:97 to about 5:95 when the ceramic comprises less than about 0.5 mole percent of the oxide of magnesium, the ceramic has a molar ratio of dopant to zirconium oxide in the range of from about 0.5:99.5 to about 1.0:99.0 when the ceramic comprises from about 0.5 mole percent to about 1.0 mole percent of the oxide of magnesium, and the ceramic does not comprise more than about 1.0 mole percent of the oxide of magnesium.

Abstract: A cassette (10) has a tubular web core (12) onto which is wound a web (14) of photosensitive material to form a web roll. The web roll is housed within a substantially rectangular jacket (16) which has an exit slot (20) extending substantially from one side edge of the jacket (16) through which the web (14) may be drawn from the cassette (10). Moreover, cassette (10) comprises a pair of end caps (22) having tubular hub members (25) insertable into opposite ends of tubular core opening (39) defined by sleeve portion (38) of tubular web core (12) for rotatably supporting tubular web core (12). In the preferred embodiment, each hub member (25) has at least one flexible lock (44) at the free end thereof such that when the flexible lock (44) rotatably engages core grooves (36), separation of the end caps (22) from the jacket (16) is prevented.

Abstract: A light lock (10) for a film packet holder (12) provides opposing upper and lower light lock members (32,34) that are urged into contact with opposite exterior surfaces of the film packet 12 after a film packet clip (30) has moved into the holder beyond a point where the light lock (10) defines a closed position. Thus the light lock members (32,34) are only separated by the film packet at the closed position. The light lock members (32,34) are withdrawn from light blocking contact prior to the passage of the clip (30) during film packet removal.

Abstract: A method of preventing clockspringing of a web wound inside a cassette (10) having a tubular web core (12) onto which is wound a web (14) of photosensitive material to form a web roll. The web roll is housed within a substantially rectangular jacket (16) which has a exit slot (20) extending substantially from one side edge of the jacket (16) through which the web (14) may be drawn from the cassette (10). Moreover, cassette (10) comprises a pair of end caps (22) having tubular hub members (25) insertable over opposite ends of tubular core opening (39) defined by sleeve portion (38) of tubular web core (12) for rotatably supporting tubular web core (12). In the preferred embodiment, each hub member (25) has at least one flexible lock (44) at the free end thereof such that when the flexible lock (44) rotatably engages core grooves (36), separation of the end caps (22) from the jacket (16) is prevented.

Abstract: Tungsten carboxylate compounds useful for coating interdigitated electrodes used in hydrogen sulfide gas sensors are disclosed. A method of coating electrodes with the compounds using a precise solution casting technique such as spin-coating or casting, dip-casting or spray-casting techniques is also described. Electrodes which are solution coated with the compounds may be used to fabricate superior quality chemiresistor sensors for use in hydrogen sulfide gas sensing devices by heating the carboxylates above 350.degree. C. to decompose certain carboxylates to WO.sub.3 and others to sodium tungstate.

Abstract: A criss cross coating hopper 10 is provided which is capable of producing uniform flow distribution patterns. The hopper 10 is comprised of a first and second hopper halves 12,14. First and second hopper halves 12,14 each have a first and second planar surface 20,40, respectively, adjoining a first and second cavity 22,42, respectively, each cavity 22,42 having a land surface 28,50 near the entrance end 26,48 and exit end 24,46. Inserts 62,64 are positioned against the land surface 60 of the first hopper half 12 and the land surface 50 of the second hopper half 14, respectively. The first and second hopper halves 12,14 and the inserts 62,64 cooperate to form an exit slot 69 recessed into first and second planar surfaces 20,40.

Abstract: A gap measurement device includes a first roller and a second roller. The first roller and the second roller define a gap which varies due to thermal expansion and contraction of the rollers. A first optical probe measures a first distance to the first roller and generates a first-distance signal indicative of the first distance. A second optical probe measures a second distance to the second roller and generates a second-distance signal indicative of the second distance. An electronics module generates a gap-width signal indicative of the gap based on the first-distance signal and the second-distance signal. The invention can also measure roller velocity, roller runout, roller registration, and the thickness of liquid on a roller.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus 10 for extruding thermoplastic materials comprises a hollow cylindrical barrel 12 having a preferably smooth inner cylindrical wall 14. An extrusion screw 16 is mounted for rotation about an axis 18 within hollow barrel 12. The extrusion screw 16 has a major diameter, a minor diameter defining a minor circumferential surface (MCS) of the screw 16, and material pushing threads that are spaced axially and have a normal height `h` extending outwardly from the MCS of the screw into rotatable contact with the inner cylindrical wall 14 of the barrel 12.

Abstract: A light-tight cassette (10) has an anti-clockspringing method for preventing clockspringing of a wound roll of web material (14) within the cassette (10) during storage and shipment. The web material (14) is mounted on a tubular web core (12) arranged to rotate about an axis within the cassette (10). Cassette (10) has at least one end cap (22) having a tubularly shaped hub member (34). Hub member (34) has a diametrically extending bar (38) for receiving an anti-clockspring means comprising a fork (44) having a central member (52) comprising spaced anti-rotation arms (42,44) for receiving bar (38). Fork (44), moreover, comprises at least one flexible latch finger (46) that latchingly engages the end cap (22) and a flexible lock finger (48) that is wedged between and into an annular gap formed when the hub member (20) is inserted into the web core (12) for locking the web core (12) against rotation.

Abstract: A web conveyor drive system, for example of the suction box type, employs independent motor drives for each of the plurality of drive rollers in the suction drive. Web tension drive loads are equalized across the drive rollers by controlling the individual motor drive current to a value substantially equal to the average of all the motor drive currents in the conveyor drive.

Abstract: A renewable gas sensor, renewable gas sensor base and a method for renewing a gas sensor. The renewable gas sensor has a substantially planar heater. A substantially planar separator is superimposed on the heater. The separator is electrically insulating and thermally conducting. An electrode array is superimposed on the separator. The electrode array and the separator define a plurality of juxtaposed sensing sites disposed in electrically conductive relation to the electrode array and in thermally conductive relation to the separator. A chemical sensing film is superimposed on the separator and said electrode array in one of the sensing sites.

Abstract: Silver is able to be recovered from a photographic fixing solution by circulating the solution through a unit separate from, but connected to, a main unit. In the separate unit the solution is subjected to electrolysis by anodic and cathodic electrodes. The density of the current is limited to 100A/m.sup.2 and the voltage is controlled up to a maximum of 1.4V. The supply of current and voltage is self-regulating within these limits so that no deposits of sulphide from the solution being treated occurs.

Abstract: A package system 10 containing a plurality of articles of manufacture comprises a pallet 12, and a photographic product handling device releasably attached to the pallet 12. The photographic product handling device 13 comprises first and second platform assemblies 14, 22 having on one side positioning means formed thereon for facilitating stacking and resisting motion of the product contained therein. The opposite side of platform assembly 22 comprises at least one pair of spaced runners for conveniently stacking one package system 10 atop the other in an interlocking relationship. The sensitive photographic product 20 are encased in a foldable enclosure 18 defining an interior space, each end having releasably mounted thereon a platform assembly 14, 22 thereby forming a closed ended enclosure. Straps 24 are wrapped circumferentially around the closed ended enclosure 18 and the enclosure and pallet 12 are then wrapped with a stretchable material layer 30 to resist ambient contamination.

Abstract: A sampling device comprising an outer tube and an inner tube that is eccentrically mounted for rotation within the outer tube, the inner and outer tubes being disposed in spaced, parallel relationship so that relative rotation therebetween cuts a sample of bulk material and retains that sample for subsequent removal.

Abstract: The invention relates to the packing of photographic rolls. The packing comprises a base 200 adapted to the handling by lift truck, a lightproof envelope 230 and horizontal spindles 220 to receive rolls 191 provided with winding tubes 190. The diameter of the spindles varies between a first dimension where the winding tubes are rotationally and translationally immobilized and a second dimension where said winding tubes are free. Used for collective packing of photosensitive rolls.

Abstract: An improved light-tight web cassette 10 is disclosed for holding and dispensing a roll of photosensitive web material. The web cassette 10 comprises a tubular core 12 onto which a roll of web 14 material is wound. A jacket 16 surrounds the web roll and is provided with side edges 18. A pair of end caps 22 is provided, each end cap 22 having a central openings 28 and a peripheral recess 24 for receiving the end edges 18 of the jacket 16 in light-tight relation. A core plug 34 is provided for each end cap 22 which is adapted, when pressed through the central opening 28 into the tubular core 16 to an assembled position, to press and hold the end edges 18 of the jacket 16 into the recesses 24 of the end caps 22 in light-tight relation. Core plugs 34, moreover, holds the end caps 22 against the end of core 12.

Abstract: The invention relates to control and, more particularly, to digital control of the relative positioning of an inertia system in translation or rotation.According to the invention, the position of the variable to be adjusted is defined digitally and this information is then processed to obtain the integral, to the first derivative and the second derivative. According to the invention, this second derivative is used to produce an automatic correction of the parameters to be applied to the integral, to the first derivative and to the position data in order to calculate the force or torque to be applied to the inertia system.Use for the adjustment of translation or rotation movements.