Abstract: In a device for illuminating a bundle of optical fibers the ends of which are grouped together in a sleeve a device is provided for monitoring the operation of each lamp. The device supples an alarm in response to any deficiency of the corresponding lamp.

Abstract: A firelighting fluid for igniting coal and wood, consisting of an alcohol stabilized by the addition of water and at least one alcohol-soluble thickening agent, is described.

Abstract: Compensation is made for inherent lateral shifting of portions of a pivoted working surface along a work surface, when the pivot point of the working surface is maintained on a line of feed into contact with said work surface, during relative pivoting of said working surface into conformity with said work surface. The working surface is supported by a quadrilateral linkage system having a remote instantaneous center point which, during pivoting of the working surface, is maintained substantially on a quiescent centerline of the linkage system. By spacing the pivot point of the working surface from this center point along the centerline, the pivot point is caused to move laterally of the centerline during exercising of the linkage system. The distance and direction of spacing the pivot point from the center point is selectable so as to cancel the inherent lateral shifting referred above.

Abstract: A postal leaflet for use as direct mails, the leaflet comprising three folded pages carrying information, the pages being releasably adhered to each other at their upper, lower and side joining fringes.

Abstract: A photoelectron microscope wherein a normal conductive coil is used to produce a divergent magnetic field to form an enlarged photoelectron image of a specimen to be examined. The coil is only momentarily energized by pulse current, and in synchronism with the energization of the coil and while the change of the resultant magnetic field with time is small, the radiation source is actuated to produce a radiation pulse so that the photoelectrons produced upon irradiation of a specimen with the pulse flies through the magnetic field so as to be received by an image forming device. The image forming device is operated in synchronism with and a predetermined variable period of time after the actuation of the radiation source thereby to obtain photoelectron images of the specimen of different energy levels. By skimming only those photoelectrons of low energy which are emitted close to the axis of the magnetic field, it is possible to obtain images of high resolution.

Abstract: A three-dimensional television system uses a method of processing and transmitting a sequence of pairs of stereoscopic television images by means of a transmission link comprising and analog video channel associated with a digital channel to reconstitute at the receiving end a compatible image or a three-dimensional image. The analog video channel transmits a compatible video image formed by multiplexing image items of righthand and lefthand images of pairs of stereoscopic images from the sequence.

Abstract: Compositions containing mixtures of lower alkyl nicotinate and histamine hydrochloride, particularly useful in promoting hair growth and revitalizing the hair and scalp by topical application.

Abstract: A multi-spindle pick and place head is moveable in X and Y in order to pick up a group of components simultaneously, one component per spindle, at a pick station and to transport them to a placement station at which the components are placed simultaneously on corresponding placement sites of a printed circuit board. Each spindle or the whole head is moveable in Z, as required. Each component may be "SCOT" processed (e.g., squared, centered, oriented and/or tested) while on the spindle and during transport to the placement site. In another embodiment, two multi-spindle heads may operate in parallel, along with a separate "SCOT" station intermediate of the pick and place stations, such that one head transports a group of components from the pick station to the "SCOT" station for processing and the other head transports at least part of that group of processed components from the "SCOT" station to the placement station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage locker for changing-rooms in sports facilities, for example. The locker comprises a semi-cylindrical chamber (1) in which is mounted a semi-cylindrical compartment (2) having a circular floor (4) and ceiling (5). The compartment (2) is mounted for rotation coaxially within the chamber (1) between a closed position in which the compartment (2) is outside the chamber (1) and an open position in which it is disposed therein. The compartment is biased towards the open position and away from the closed position. The lockers are drained and the compartment (2) stacked vertically in double rows with a common carcase providing the walls of the chambers (1). The lockers have electromagnetic locks and a computer providing a central supervisory and surveillance system providing warnings in response to alarm signals generated in response to abuse of the locks.The invention is especially applicable to swimming-pool changing-rooms.

Abstract: The component at the pick-up station of a vibratory feeder is isolated from the remaining components on the feeder by backing the remaining components away from the component to be picked up in preparation for removal of the component from the feeder at the pick-up station. A shutter can be positioned over the component at the pick-up station prior to lowering the vacuum spindle into contact with the component so as to prevent loss of the component from the pick-up station of the feeder. The shutter may also have a slot therein to allow a spindle to pass through the shutter and contact a component in the pick-up station prior to withdrawal of the shutter, thus eliminating "teepeeing" of two components which can cause sufficient inaccuracies in pick-up and subsequent placement of the component. Additionally, the vibrator may be halted for the brief period necessary to remove the component from the pick-up station.

Abstract: A sliding door for an ice rink is disclosed. The door panel member adjacent the door member includes rails upon which the door member can slide once the latch member is unlatched. A hinge mechanism includes two hinges, each having a slider which slides along the rails and a hinge arm hinged between the frame of the door member and the slider. Upon slight lifting of a handle coupled to the latch mechanism to unlatch the door, the door is then free to be pulled in a direction parallel to the door panel member.

Abstract: The liquor-included ice according to the present invention is produced so that certain amount of water is filled in a glass-like container first, then an opening of the container is closed with a heat proof lid, through a center hole of which a nozzle is placed. In an icehouse, air is blown in the container through the nozzle until transparent ice is produced around lower and side portions of the container, then the remaining water in the container is drained, any type of liquor is filled in a concavity where the remaining water was, and an ice plate is placed on top of the ice lump sealing the liquor in the concavity. The ice plate is arranged so that it is easily broken by an outer force.

Abstract: This pick and place device and method for arranging components on a printed circuit board utilizes a placement head having an articulated, compliant tip for facilitating proper alignment of the component lead plane on the substrate, for example, in a fine pitch component placement machine where extreme accuracy must be achieved in matching the component leads to the circuit land pattern. In general, the articulating tip is fitted within a cavity or opening in the lower end of a spindle. Compressed air may be introduced into the cavity generating an air bearing, thus causing the articulating tip to comply with the upper surface of the component, or else the weight of the tip itself can be used to create the desired compliance. A vacuum force is then created within said opening sufficient to pick-up the component once the compressed air has been turned off. Various configurations of the articulating tip and various methods of air and/or vacuum application are provided.

Abstract: The invention comprises an extended input system by which additional component supply stations are located out of reach of the pick and place heads of a machine for handling surface mountable components and are selectively addressable by a supply shuttle which fetches individual components and delivers each component selectively to a test pocket or a utility pocket of a transfer assembly, from which the components are retrievable by a pick and place head of the onserter. In a preferred embodiment, the transfer assembly provides a second shuttle on which the utility and test pockets are mounted for movement back and forth between the supply shuttle unload station to a pick-up station of the head, and the component testing occurs during transit of the transfer shuttle.

Abstract: The invention concerns an installation for finishing window frame assemblies starting from a bare opening frame and a bare fixed frame, each frame comprising grooves and shoulders to receive hardware, external seals, glazing unit spacers, glazing units, beading seals and beading. The installation is formed of two continuous lines of modular stations arranged in two parallel reference planes, the first comprising fixed frame finishing stations and the second comprising opening frame finishing stations. The opening frame finishing line is connected at its downstream end to the fixed frame finishing line by means of a storage and transfer station facing a station for assembling opening frames to fixed frames, itself located in the reference plane, together with the glazing unit fitting and fixing station and the beading fitting station.

Abstract: An apparatus for ironing laundry comprising at least one semi-circular open dished bed (1), provided with a double wall with feed (5) and outlet (6) opening for passage of a heating medium, such as steam, and a roll (2) rotatably driven in each dished bed (1), wherein the outlet opening (6) of a dished bed (1) is placed in direct connection to the feed opening (5) of the following dished bed (1). The apparatus requires a high flowspeed of heating medium thereby preventing eventual condensation of the heat medium in the flow ducts in the dished bed wall, and also preventing an uneven temperature distribution in the inner wall of the dished bed.

Abstract: A feeder mechanism for a pick-and-place machine with an adjustable shutter mechanism is disclosed. The components are contained within pockets formed in a reeled tape. The shutter mechanism includes a pair of spring blades that cover the pocket, but are spread apart by the vacuum tip when the spindle is lowered. In this way, the shutter can maintain the component in the proper position for pick-up while allowing the vacuum spindle to access the component, which, in turn, maintains proper attitude of component while the blades are retracted.

Abstract: A machine for automatically fitting seals, in particular external seals to a groove in the opening frame of a window or French window, comprises a frame feed, referencing and measuring system. It further comprises a supporting gantry, a system for paying out the seal, a system for clamping the frame and a seal fitting and cutting device. This device comprises a framework, a gantry mobile in translation on this framework and a carriage mobile in translation on the gantry. The mobile carriage carries a manipulator head which rotates relative to the carriage and comprises a seal guide and drive system. A fixed part supports the cutting system. An arm articulated to the fixed part carries at its free end the seal fitting system. The machine further comprises a mechanism for feeding and removing the frames, preferably comprising two drive fingers mounted together to perform a synchronized to-and-fro movement. It finally comprises a frame clamping system mounted on the carriage and the manipulator head.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for handling a component having a body and one or more members protruding therefrom, such that the protruding members are put in proper, mating registration with corresponding holes of a substrate or the like. The components are handled during transport and insertion by gripping of the bodies thereof, and the method and apparatus of the invention compensates for any offset in X, Y, and .theta. between the profile of the body and a particular pattern or location of the protruding members relative to the profile of the body.