Abstract: A method of an apparatus for improving the capacity and efficiency of electrostatic precipitators by increasing the average field intensity. The precipitator is supplied with a substantially constant base level DC voltage that is less than the sparking threshold level of the precipitator, and superimposed thereon is a periodic DC voltage waveform of short duration having peak levels that substantially exceed the sparking threshold level. By controlling the characteristics of the periodic DC voltage waveform the average applied voltage is greater than the sparking voltage but the duration of the instantaneously applied voltage is not sufficient to cause sparking in the precipitator.

Abstract: A tool for removing detonated Berdan primers from fired cartridge cases has a sleeve to support an undetonated primer at one end immediately adjacent the inside surface of the closed end of the cartridge against which the end of the sleeve fits snugly. A firing pin longitudinally movable within the sleeve and extending from the other end explodes the primer when tapped sharply, and the explosive force through the small flash holes in the closed end of the case ejects the spent primer from the case. The sleeve is cylindrical an is just slightly smaller than the open end of the case. It has a cylindrical pocket at the end that accepts either a Berdan, Boxer, or other type of primer and has a longitudinal bore that is smaller than the diameter of such primer and guides the end of the firing pin. At the other end of the sleeve is a handle of larger diameter than the sleeve and preferably provided with a reentrant recess.

Abstract: An automatic exposure control circuit which controls the shutter speed in accordance with the output of a light measuring circuit including a photodetector which detects the level of scene brightness. The output of the photodetector is memorized by a memorizing capacitor and the shutter speed control circuit is operated in accordance with the memorized output. The memorized level is shifted to a predetermined level when the memorized level is below a predetermined level which corresponds to a limit of scene brightness which can be photographed. A switching circuit and a shifting circuit connected therewith are connected with an end of the memorizing capacitor so that the level of the memorized output may be shifted by the shifting circuit when the level memorized by the capacitor is below a predetermined level. The shutter speed is therefore determined regardless of the scene brightness when the level of the scene brightness is below a predetermined level.

Abstract: Light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes provided in the viewfinder of a camera are connected with a light measuring circuit including a photodetector through an A-D converter, a decoder and a gate circuit so that the light emitting elements may indicate exposure information in a digital form in accordance with the output of the light measuring circuit. An oscillator is connected with the A-D converter and the gate circuit for giving sampling pulses to the A-D converter and clock pulses to the gate circuit. Between the oscillator and the gate circuit is provided a duty modulator to change the duty cycle of the square wave transmitted from the oscillator to the gate circuit. The duty modulator is connected with the light measuring circuit or the A-D converter so as to control the duty cycle of the square wave in accordance with the output from the light measuring circuit.

Abstract: An array of bent wire connectors to grip the edge of a printed circuit board is held in spaced, opposed grooves on facing side walls of a holder so that the whole array can be affixed to a mother board as a unit by soldering the free ends of the connectors in place. The grooves can be preformed to hold the connectors in the array, or they can be formed in situ by heating a jig with the connectors assembled in a similar array of holes in the surface of the jig and then pressing a thermoplastic holder onto the connectors. The heated connectors soften the contiguous portions of the holder, and after the latter is in place, the assembly is allowed to cool so that the thermoplastic material can reharden in gripping relation to the connectors. A bar can separate gripping portions of the connectors to align them and give them a pre-set position to receive the edge of the printed circuit board easily.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling the discharge of articles from a steel belt conveyor. When articles are placed on the belt at the loading station, the belt is magnetized at a high intensity in a very small area which has a predetermined relationship, longitudinally of the belt, to the position of the article on the belt. The magnetized spot is also positioned transversely of the belt in accordance with the station where the article is to be discharged. At each discharge station there is an arrangement in the form of a plow and means to move the plow to and from the path of articles carried on the belt so as to deflect the articles from the belt. The plow operating mechanism has an electronic control which includes a Hall-effect transducer positioned adjacent the bottom surface of the belt and relatively positioned transversely of the belt along the path of the magnetized spots for that station.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting relative positioning between two mechanical members in accordance with digital (or analog) commands includes a standing wave supporting, electrical wave propagating structure terminated other than by its iterative impedance. The wave structure is mechanically fixed to one mechanical member, and a probe is coupled to the wave structure and fixed for translation with the other mechanical member.A voltage controlled oscillator excites the wave structure developing a standing electrical wave therein -- the wave pattern node positioning being determined by the input digital command. Feedback servomechanism apparatus then responds to the potential induced in the probe (or, by superposition, that on the wave structure) for positioning the probe at the requisite standing wave null point.In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the wave propagating structure is sealed, and the probe disposed external thereto, to preserve measuring accuracy.