Abstract: A view finder for use in photographic apparatus which embody or are connectable with two objectives having different focal lengths has a field lens, an eye lens behind the field lens, and two intermediate lenses each of which is pivotable in the housing about a fixed axis between an operative position in which it extends across the path of scene light between the eye lens and the field lens and a retracted position. A link is articulately connected to both intermediate lenses whereby the connection between the link and one of the intermediate lenses constitutes a pin-and-slot connection. A second pin-and-slot connection attaches the link to one arm of a two-armed lever which is pivotably mounted in the housing and the other arm of the lever is coupled to a reciprocable slide by a third pin-and-slot connection. When the slide is moved in one direction, one of the intermediate lenses is retracted and the other lens moves to operative position.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus, particularly a still camera, wherein two lenses having different focal lengths are pivotable about the axes of two shafts which are located diametrically opposite each other with respect to the axis of a third shaft which supports a two-armed lever. The mounts of the lenses are coupled to the adjacent arms of the lever by pin-and-slot connections, and the lever is pivotable by a reciprocable knob to move one of the lenses into register with the light-admitting aperture when the knob is moved in one direction and to move the other lens into register with the aperture when the knob is moved in the opposite direction. The lenses are installed in the camera body at the opposite sides of the aperture, and the body has stops which arrest the respective lenses in operative positions. The lever has cams which cooperate with a leaf spring to yieldably hold either of the two lenses in register with the aperture.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting a perforated web of photographic material in stepwise fashion has a variable-speed motor which drives the web, a bundle of light conductors which receive light seriatim when a perforation of the web passes between their ends and a light source whereby the conductors transmit light to associated phototransistors which effect the transmission of different first signals at timely spaced intervals to a comparator amplifier which further receives a continuous signal from a tachometer generator driven by the motor. The amplifier gradually decreases the speed of the motor to zero speed which is reached when the last phototransistor receives light from the respective conductor. The phototransistors are connected with an input of the amplifier by Darlington transistors, flip-flops, additional transistors and a chain of resistors.

Abstract: Filter mouthpieces with one or more thin filter disks consisting of a first filter material and one or more filter plugs consisting of a second filter material are produced by inserting filter disks between spaced-apart filter plugs which form a single file and travel with a web of wrapping material. The web is thereupon draped around the alternating filter disks and filter plugs to form therewith a continuous filter rod which is severed to yield discrete filter mouthpieces.

Abstract: An exposure control for still cameras wherein a first portion of a diaphragm shutter is movable from cocked position to one of several second positions for effecting admission of scene light to an unexposed film frame, and a second portion of the shutter is movable from a first to a second position subsequent to movement of first shutter portion from the cocked position to terminate the exposure. The aperture size and the exposure time can be varied within a first range of light intensities which is monitored by a first photoresistor. The exposure time, at a selected aperture size, can be varied within a second range of light intensities which is monitored by a second photoresistor. The second range is contiguous to and merges gradually into the first range.

Abstract: A production line consisting of a cigarette making machine, a filter cigarette making machine and a packing machine or of a filter rod making machine and several filter cigarette making machines is controlled by a circuit which regulates the speed of the prime mover for the cigarette making machine or filter rod making machine in such a way that the speed changes gradually and smoothly from zero to a lower speed, from a lower speed to a higher speed, from a higher speed to a lower speed, from a higher speed to zero, or from a lower speed to zero. The changes in speed can be initiated by the operators or in response to signals which are generated by detectors serving to scan the operation of certain parts in one or more machines of the production line. The prime mover consists of a variable-speed motor, a constant-speed motor and a variable-torque clutch, or a constant-speed motor in combination with a variable-speed transmission.

Abstract: An improved gate circuit to suppress bounce is provided for an electronic musical instrument such as an electronic organ. The circuit includes a gate having a first input from a constant supply voltage through a key actuated switch, a second input comprising a sound signal and an output connected to one input of combining or summing circuit hereafter called an integrator. A second input to the integrator comprises a constant, compensating voltage comprising a portion of the supply voltage. The output of the integrator is connected to further processing stages of the instrument.

Abstract: A spring-loaded differential pressure gage, particularly for testing the components of means for admitting fuel to the tanks of aircraft, has an upright glass cylinder for a reciprocable glass piston with a ring-shaped index which is movable relative to a fixed scale. The heat expansion coefficient of the material of the cylinder is identical with that of the material of the piston. The higher- and lower-pressure cylinder chambers are respectively located above and below the piston, and the piston is suspended on the stronger of two helical tension springs. The upper end of the weaker tension spring is connected to a fixedly mounted plug and the lower end of the weaker spring, as well as the upper end of the stronger spring, is connected to a second plug which is slidable along an upright guide rod having a stop at the lower end thereof. When the pressure of fluid in the upper chamber rises, the weaker spring expands and the stronger spring merely pushes the piston toward the lower end of the cylinder.

Abstract: The housing of a cassette for motion picture film or magnetic tape consists of two or more sections which are separably coupled to each other by detents each having a preferably elastic toothed hook which is provided on one of the sections and whose tooth or teeth can snap behind one or more shoulders in one or more sockets provided in the other section or sections. The hooks do not project beyond the general outline of the housing when their teeth engage the respective shoulders. The housing may consist of an inner casing which is received in an outer casing having two shells which are separably coupled to each other and/or to the inner casing, or of an inner casing and a one-piece outer casing which receives the inner casing and is separably coupled to the rear end wall of the inner casing.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine wherein discrete cigarettes travelling from the cutoff to a transfer conveyor slide along the upper side of a light transmitting guide. A photoelectric detector is mounted below and is shielded by the guide from tobacco dust which is swept away by successive cigarettes. The light source of the detector emits a light beam which passes upwardly through the guide, is reflected by successive cigarettes and thereupon passes downwardly through the guide prior to reaching the photosensitive transducer of the detector. Alternatively, the light source or the detector can be mounted above the guide and above the path of the cigarettes so that the light beam can reach the transducer after having passed through the guide only once, provided that the beam is not interrupted by the cigarettes.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating coil springs or other metallic commodities has a furnace defining a chamber for one or more upright cylindrical supports which form part of a conveyor system for moving an endless chain or band lengthwise so that successive holders of a series of equidistant holders for coil springs on the chain or band advance through the chamber. The chain or band is trained around the cylindrical support or supports in such a way that it forms at least one helix during travel through the chamber, and around one or more pulleys or sprocket wheels located outside of the chamber and being driven by a variable-speed motor. The helical configuration of the chain or band portion in the chamber of the furnace lengthens that portion of the path for the holders which is located in the chamber and thus prolongs the intervals of dwell of successive springs in the furnace.

Abstract: The density of a rod-like tobacco filler in a cigarette making machine is measured and regulated by placing a source of beta radiation adjacent to one side of the moving filler and a transducer at the other side of the filler opposite the source whereby the transducer furnishes a continuous series of electric signals which indicate the weakening of beta rays during passage through successive minute increments of the filler as a function of density of the corresponding increments as well as fluctuations in the intensity of beta rays due to stochastic disintegration of nuclei in the source. The signals from the transducer are integrated, either for fixed periods of time or for periods which are necessary to produce a signal of given intensity, and the thus obtained signals are used to regulate the density of the filler by controlling one or more trimming devices and/or to segregate cigarettes having fillers of unsatisfactory density.

Abstract: A scoop-trimmed fluid coupling wherein the transmitted torque decreases continuously with increasing ratio of runner speed to impeller speed at each degree of filling of the working circuit with liquid. During acceleration of the runner, the scoop tube is moved by its actuator from a "circuit empty" to a "circuit full" position in several stages and at different speeds so that the torque which is transmitted by the coupling during acceleration of the runner remains substantially constant. If the load upon the runner varies from acceleration to acceleration of the runner, the operation of the actuator during acceleration of the runner is modified by a controller system which monitors the energy requirements of the prime mover for the impeller or the acceleration of the runner.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing filter rod sections from a magazine in a filter cigarette making machine. The magazine has an outlet which receives a portion of a fluted drum so that, when the drum rotates, its flutes remove filter rod sections from the magazine. A yieldably mounted refuser roller is disposed between the drum and the magazine at the downstream side of the outlet to normally prevent the drum from removing sections which are not received in the flutes. If a section adheres to a section in a flute and displaces the refuser roller against the opposition of a spring, the roller or a lever for the roller actuates a switch which disengages a clutch serving to transmit torque to the drum and to other moving parts of the machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for making composite filter plugs for cigarettes or the like has a garniture which transports a web of cigarette paper or the like past a transfer conveyor which deposits on the web groups of aligned filter rod sections of two or more different types so that the sections are disposed end-to-end and form a continuous filler. Those portions of the web which are contacted by the sections are coated with a wet adhesive or a heat-activatable adhesive to insure that the sections cannot be shifted relative to the web, and the adhesive is heated or cooled in the region of the transfer conveyor to promote rapid setting.

Abstract: The absence of continuity of a single file of rod-shaped articles which are formed by the cutoff of a cigarette or filter rod making machine is monitored by an apparatus having two spaced-apart air discharging nozzles one of which is located upstream and the other of which is located downstream of the accelerating cam which propels successive articles of the file into successive flutes of a row-forming drum. At least one of the nozzles is sealed by an article when the machine produces a continuous file of articles. If both nozzles can discharge air at the same time, the pressure in a conduit which communicates with the nozzles decreases and such drop in pressure is detected by a diaphragm transducer or by the cylinder and piston unit of a pneumatic bridge circuit. This results in the generation of a signal which is used to arrest the prime mover of the machine.

Abstract: An ionography imaging chamber for use in the cassette of an X-ray apparatus has a flat prismatic pressure vessel defining an interelectrode gap for compressed high Z gas and a dielectric charge-receiving sheet which is to be exposed to a pattern of X-rays. The pressure vessel fits into the compartment of a strongly deformation-resistant jacket having a centrally located sleeve consisting primarily of polyurethane foam, a thin tubular inner envelope which consists at least in part of convoluted fibrous material, and a thin tubular outer envelope which also consists at least in part of convoluted fibrous material. That envelope which takes up compressive stresses has a layer of carbon epoxy fibers. The other envelope takes up tensional stresses and contains Kevlar fibers. The pressure vessel has two flat tray-shaped main portions which consist of polyurethane foam.

Abstract: A link chain which transports and compacts tobacco leaves in a tobacco shredding apparatus has a succession of neighboring metallic links each of which has a trailing end provided with a cylindrical male coupling portion extending into and turnable in a complementary socket at the leading end of the next-following link. The socket is formed at the inner side and the coupling portion is at the outer side of the respective link. Each outer side has a convex cylindrical surface at its front end, and such surface slides along a complementary concave cylindrical surface at the rear end of the outer side of the preceding link. Each link is further formed with a scraping edge which cleans the convex cylindrical surface of the next-following link. The convex cylindrical surface of each link bounds a portion of a recess which is formed in the outer side and is adjacent to the coupling portion of the respective link.

Abstract: Disclosure is made of improved apparatus for continuously processing waste papers, contaminated with inks, adhesives, resins, groundwood, foreign objects, paper fasteners and the like, into usable grades of cellulosic fiber pulps. The disclosure is also of a method for the continuous processing of contaminated waste papers into nearly quantitative yields of usable cellulosic fiber pulps.

Abstract: Stock distribution means for delivering an aqueous slurry in a papermaking machine has a tapering passage which delivers stock to a nozzle by way of several rows of channels whose inlets are in communication with the passage. The passage, the entire channels and/or the inlets of the channels are configurated and dimensioned in such a way that the resistance which the inlets nearer to the intake end of the passage offer to the inflow of stock is more pronounced than the resistance of inlets which are more distant from such intake end. This insures uniformity or substantial uniformity of the volume of stock flow in each channel in spite of the fact that the channels of neighboring rows are at least partially inclined with respect to each other and that the inlets of channels in successive rows are located downstream of each other, as considered in the direction of stock flow in the passage.