Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method for bead coating a web with liquid composition with a pressure differential applied across the bead of composition between the lip of the slide hopper and the web. An enclosure is disposed under and open to the bead. Vacuum is applied to the enclosure by a turbine driven by an AC induction motor. Servo means are provided for regulating the speed of the motor and thereby the pressure differential across the bead. The AC motor and the servo means allow the desired pressure to be maintained without surges and allows the differential pressure to be rapidly changed, as for the passage of a splice in the web through the bead.

Abstract: A variable orifice device for passing fluent material under pressure includes a piece of resilient material bent out of its normal shape so that one surface is in tensile stressed condition and the other surface is in compressive stressed condition. A slit extends between the two surfaces. Because of the difference in the stressed conditions of the two surfaces, one end of the slit is open and the other end, at the compressively stressed surface, is in force closed condition. The piece of resilient material is mounted in its bent, stressed condition in a frame which holds the material in the bent condition. The piece of resilient material may be cut from silicone rubber tubing such as is used for peristaltic pumps. The frame may be two annular members, one of which is a push fit in the other, with the other having an annular shoulder against which a disc of the resilient material is trapped and sealed by the one annular member.

Abstract: A liquids mixing and dispensing apparatus and method utilize a plurality of liquid supply modules to feed simultaneously charges of a plurality of admixable liquids at predetermined volume flow rates to a mixer to form a batch of a mixture of the liquids, such as a photographic emulsion mixture, in which the liquids are in a predetermined volume ratio. As it is formed, the mixture is delivered to a storage conduit connected to a dispenser, for later dispensing of a discrete volume thereof as a coating onto a moving web by feeding a purge liquid to the mixer. Each module has a piston and cylinder unit with an inlet and outlet (a cylinder port conduit) connected to one end of a tube having a volume at least as large as the maximum volume of the cylinder swept by its piston when driven by an associated motor. A valve selectively connects the other end of the tube either to a liquid source or to the mixer.

Abstract: Apparatus for the manufacture of individual small lenses, which may have gradient indices of refraction. The apparatus includes a pedestal having a conduit therein and an end surface the perimeter of which may be circular or elliptical. The perimeter is defined by a sharp edge. The pedestal is supported with the end surface horizontal and facing downwards. The intersection of the conduit and the surface, also defined by a sharp edge, forms an orifice through which at least one of the liquid monomers for forming the lens is fed. Gradient index small lenses are formed by suspending a first monomer from the horizontal end surface of the pedestal and then, via the orifice, introducing the second monomer at a rate which equals the rate of inter-diffusion of the second monomer into the first monomer. Alternatively, both monomers are both fed, in mixed condition, through the orifice in continuously varying proportions. The monomer(s) are cured in the pendant condition.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for the coating of a support or moving web using curtain coaters during the start-up and shut-down of a free falling liquid curtain. The apparatus is typically a catch pan positioned between a first and second edge guide and in close proximity to a support. The catch pan includes a main catch pan surface and first and second opposing sides each having a shim projecting out along the upper edge thereof and into contact with the first and second edge guides, respectively. Each shim strips liquids from the adjacent edge guide, and then directs such liquids onto the catch pan surface during start-up and shut-down without the deposition of excess liquids on the support, web, or coating roller. Means are provided for retracting the catch pan and controlling the falling curtain during start-up, and for inserting the catch pan for intercepting the falling curtain during shut-down.

Abstract: A fluid treatment device is described which includes a cylindrical housing with fluid inlet and outlet means at or adjacent opposite ends. Particulate material for treating fluid flowed through the device, is disposed within the housing, between the inlet and outlet means. A helical baffle is disposed within the housing in the particulate material. The baffle extends axially along the housing and the free edges of its fins are in contact with the housing. The baffle serves to impose a helical path on fluid flowing through the device so that, when the device is mounted with its axis horizontal and with a volume of particulate material less than the volume of the space within the housing, fluid flows through the particulate material most of the time and not entirely along the void as would be the case if the baffle were not present.

Abstract: An active optical system is described which includes a mirror deformable by a force applied through a device for converting a displacement in a direction into a force in the same direction. A stepper motor is selectively driven to cause rotation of a nut which drives a shaft longitudinally. Linear displacement of the shaft is applied to force generating flexures which are guided in their flexing by guidance flexures. Force is applied to the mirror by the force generating flexures. The force is maintained even when the stepper motor is not energized. A load cell is interposed between the mirror and the force generating flexures. Signals from the load cell are fed back to a control system.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis water purification system has a feed water line and outlets for reject and product water. Instead of wasting the reject water by allowing it to flow to a drain, the reject water is returned to the water feed line downstream of the reverse osmosis system so that is can be used for other purposes. A section of the water feed line has a flow restrictor which estabishes a dynamic pressure drop. Feed water for the reverse osmosis system is taken off the feed line upstream of the restrictor and reject water is returned downstream of the restrictor, thereby reducing the water wastage due to the reverse osmosis process.

Abstract: A water filter cartridge includes a reverse osmosis membrane permeator spirally wound on a central winding tube and surrounded by an impermeable barrier layer which is, in turn, surrounded by a spirally wound prefilter. A post-filter is placed centrally within the winding tube. The cartridge is designed for functional installation in a housing tube fastened and sealed to a valve plate at a first end and closed by a removable end cap at the other, second end. Feed water enters the cartridge through an inlet port in the valve plate at the first end at an outer radius to pass lengthwise in prefilter. Prefiltered water returns from the second end lengthwise through the reverse osmosis permeator to a waste-water outlet port in the valve plate at an intermediate radius. Product water which has permeated through the membrane flows inwardly through holes in the winding tube and into a clearance space surrounding the central post-filter.

Abstract: A cassette for holding sheet film during exposure to x-radiation includes first and second hingedly connected panels. Both panels are curved substantially cylindrically when in the open condition, with the axes of the cylinders parallel to the hinge line and with the convexities facing one another. One of the panels is formed of carbon fiber reinforced plastics material and additionally, in some regions, deviates from the cylindrical by being curved towards the other panel, when in the open condition. Thus, while the cylindrical curvature is convex towards the other panel the regions of curvature out of the cylindrical exhibit some concavity towards the other panel. Such a panel improves the contact of the intensifying screens with the film and also the integrity of the light seal at the periphery of the cassette.

Abstract: Each individual light emitter of a LED linear array is imaged by a discrete step-index light guide and gradient index microlens device. The light guides consist of high refractive index cores, each surrounded by low refractive index matter. A multiplicity of light guides are deposited in channels formed in a host material, such as a silicon wafer. The host material between adjacent channels functions as an opaque separator to prevent cross-talk between adjacent light guides. Optically bonded to the LED array, the light guides conduct a large portion of the diffuse light emitted to a series of microlenses optically bonded to and in registration with the exit end of each light guide. The microlenses are constructed in a transparent substrate, with each microlens having a spherical or aspherical gradient index profile and short focal length.

Abstract: Apparatus for exposing photographic materials, for example, film or paper, for testing its response to various wavelengths of light at various intensities. The apparatus include an elongate housing divided by baffles into a plurality of compartments. One compartment contains a source of light of constant intensity and color temperature. Remotely disposed in the housing are means for mounting the film for exposure and includes a step wedge. Other compartments include filters for modifying the intensity and color of the light passing from the source to the film through apertures in the baffles; a strobe as an alternative source of light; a shutter for controlling flow of light from the source; and a spectroradiometer for analyzing the light and maintaining its intensity and color temperature constant.

Abstract: A core for winding a web of deformable material, such as photographic film base, which has knurlings along its margins. The core includes a rigid cylindrical member with a sleeve of resilient material. The sleeve has a cylindrical outer surface and has a length less than the distance between the margins containing the knurlings. There are means contiguous with the ends of the sleeves for providing cylindrical surfaces having diameters substantially equal to that of the sleeve. These means underlie the knurlings in the web when the web is wound on the core and may take the form of resilient material which is harder than the sleeve, or they may be rigid. In the latter case the surface-providing means may be integral with the rigid cylindrical member.

Abstract: Layers of a thin, electrically insulating material are bonded together to form a switch. The bottom layer of the switch has electrically conductive areas aligned with openings through a second layer. A third layer has a pattern of spaced lines of an electrical conductor positioned over the openings in the second layer. Fluid pressure applied to the bottom layer causes flexing of the bottom layer toward the third layer to bring the electrically conductive areas into contact with the pattern of conductive lines on the third layer, thereby closing the switch. A vent chamber in the second layer is pneumatically coupled to the openings in the second layer so that when the switch is closed air in the openings in the second layer can be vented to the vent chamber. The switch can be used to sense changes in fluid pressure in a water system, for example.

Abstract: A source of illumination of constant color temperature and intensity including a lamp the color temperature of the light from which is dependent on the power applied to the lamp. There is a device for measuring the intensity of portions of the spectrum of the light and for providing signals indicative of those intensities. Means responsive to the signals adjust the power to achieve the selected color temperature. A light modulator adjusts the intensity without affecting color temperature. There is a spherical mirror centered on the lamp and the modulator is located between the lamp and the mirror and controls the brightness of the image of the lamp formed on the lamp by the spherical mirror.

Abstract: "A water purification system has a reverse osmosis filtration unit which receives feed water from a feed water valve and separates it into product water and waste water. A reservoir has a movable separator dividing it into a product water chamber for receiving the product water and a control water chamber. The product water is delivered to an outlet connection from the product water chamber or directly from the filtration unit. A regulator is connected to the waste water outlet port of the filtration unit, the control water port of the reservoir, and a drain line. The regulator has a first valve for providing waste water from the filtration unit to the control water port of the reservoir for urging the separator toward the product water chamber. The regulator has a second valve that can rapidly drain water from the control water chamber of the reservoir and rapidly reduce pressure in the control water chamber, thus facilitating the refilling of the product water chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for testing circular cylindrical or conical specularly reflective surfaces of pieces, e.g. optical elements or metal components, to be tested. A collimated light beam from a Fizeau interferometer is directed axially onto a specularly reflective conical surface of a member which reflects the light onto the surface to be tested. The surface to be tested, directly or indirectly, reflects the light onto the conical specularly reflective surface which, in turn, reflects it back towards the interferometer. Information on the trueness of the surface to be tested can be gained from inspection of the pattern of the interference between light projected by the interferometer and light reflected back to the interferometer.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer for operating in the reflection or transmission mode includes a collecting lens for directing non-collimated light from the sample being analyzed onto a diffraction grating. An imaging lens focuses diffracted light onto an array of sensors. Because the collecting lens directs non-collimated light at the grating, a substantially linear spectrum can be imaged on the array.

Abstract: There is disclosed a variable brightness light generator embodied in apparatus for exposing photographic film for test purposes. The generator includes a spherical mirror, a lamp at the center of the spherical form of the mirror and a modulator located between the lamp and the mirror for modulating the brightness of the image of the lamp created on the lamp by the mirror. The intensity of the light issuing from the lamp is sensed by a spectroradiometer which produces signals used in controlling the modulator whereby the intensity may be kept constant. The color temperature of the lamp is controlled under the influence of signals from the spectroradiometer. The exposing apparatus also includes a plurality of filters selectively insertable in the light path for modifying the intensity and color of the light incident on the film.

Abstract: A still video camera in which the image-forming beam from an objective lens is split by a beamsplitter and the same image is centered on two solid state image sensors. The images on the sensors are visible and are combined by the beamsplitter and viewed through a viewfinder.