Abstract: Heat-absorbing phase-change materials are contained in voids provided in the substrate of a mirror to provide passive cooling. This arrangement for passive cooling of mirrors has been found especially suitable for composite mirrors used in high thermal energy laser and similar applications.

Abstract: A web transport apparatus includes a driving member which may be selectively positioned to advance a web from a reel or to rewind the web onto the reel. When positioned in the web advancing position, the driving member advances the web between the driving member and a pressure roller or other suitable pressure member to unwind the web from the reel. When moved to the web rewinding position, the driving member is coupled to and drives the reel to wind the web onto the reel. A flexible coupling provided between the driving member and a unidirectional drive motor permits the driving member to be selectively positioned by selector means to advance, rewind, and neutral positions. Through appropriate controls, the driving member may be deactivated when in the neutral position.

Abstract: A film cartridge for enclosing a photosensitive film disk within a light-tight chamber defined by opposed walls which are sealed together to encapsulate the film disk. When the cartridge is positioned in opening apparatus, force-applying members inserted through passages in one of the walls of the cartridge are moved into contact with the opposed wall. Continued movement of the members displaces the opposed wall sufficiently to rupture it and/or a seal joining the walls. A wall-separating member of the opening apparatus is inserted into the rupture and moved between the opposed walls to extend the rupture and space the walls by a distance sufficient to permit the film disk to be removed from the cartridge.

Abstract: A flier-type armature winder winds armatures consisting of a commutator with circumferentially gapped tangs and an armature core, co-axially mounted on a common shaft. In operation, at least one flier winds coils of wire successively onto the armature core and a shield covers the commutator tangs to prevent them from being accidentally engaged by the wire. After each winding of the wire coils, a wire lead from the last wound coil is looped about a corresponding one of the commutator tangs. The wire loop is formed by first securing the wire lead to wire-engaging means located on the shield. Then the shield is moved to substantially align its wire engaging means and the secured wire lead with a first one of first and second gaps in the commutator which are disposed at opposite sides of the corresponding tang. Next, the shield is retracted from the commutator tangs to lay a trailing portion of the wire lead in the first gap.

Abstract: A method of molding glass elements requiring no further preparatory operations such as grinding or polishing before use wherein a portion of glass is heat-softened and subjected to pressure in a mold having molding surfaces formed of silicon carbide (SiC) or silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4).

Abstract: A retractable viewfinder for a camera includes a control mechanism which provides compensation or correction for parallax as the objective lens of the camera is focused.

Abstract: A film cartridge for use with cinematographic apparatus or the like comprises a reel adapted to have flexible strip material wound thereon, a cover adapted to receive the reel in a nested position, and a releasable latch effective to retain the reel in the nested position until the cartridge is received by the cinematographic apparatus or the like. At that time, the latch is released by a portion of the apparatus.

Abstract: An objective lens comprising a front positive meniscus element, a middle negative biconcave element and a rear positive biconvex element. Improved optical performance at a relative aperture of f/1.70 is achieved by the incorporation of an asphere on the rear surfaces of the first and second elements.

Abstract: An objective lens comprising three elements, a front positive biconvex element, a middle negative biconcave element and a rear positive biconvex element. The first two elements are made of inexpensive plastic materials. Aberration correction at a high relative aperture is improved by the use of aspheres on selected surfaces of the first and second elements.