Abstract: A photographic printer includes large area transmission density (LATD) sensors and a digital processor, such as a microprocessor, which calculates red, green and blue exposure times based upon the LATD sensor readings. The LATD sensors provide analog photosignals which are a function of light received. Voltage controlled oscillators for each color channel provide red, green pulse signals which have durations which are a function of the red, green and blue analog photosignals, respectively. Red, green and blue gate circuitry receives red, green and blue enable signals from the microprocessor together with the red, green and blue pulse signals from the voltage controlled oscillators. The outputs of the gate circuitry are red, green and blue gate signals which are supplied to red, green and blue counters, respectively, and permit the counters to count in response to a high frequency clock signal. The resulting count in each counter, therefore, is a function of the duration of the gate signal which it received.

Abstract: A rectangular sign frame assembly presenting opposing side walls having undercut lips at their upper edges, which receive corresponding edges of a deflectable elastic sign to hold the latter in assembled relation to the frame. The sign may be removed by bowing the same further inwardly to expose a hidden recess into which a tool can be inserted for prying the sign loose. The sign assemblies may also have a deflection inhibitor which limits such further inward deflection of the sign, preventing removal by unauthorized persons and which may be moved into a position allowing such deflection and removal of said sign.

Abstract: A fastening system for attaching a flexible sheet or cover such as a polyethylene film sheet to a structure comprising a rigid channel which extends along the line where the sheet is to be fastened and attached to the structure, and a plastic lock strip that inserts into the channel and will retain the film relative to the channel. The plastic lock strip includes a spring means that will continuously urge the lock strip into a detent holding position with respect to the channel to insure that this film is held securely even under situations where there is little tension in the sheet or film. The features further include a pinching type detent that increases the holding force for any given tension in the plastic sheet.

Abstract: A cutter for use on wood working tools such as for carving machines which is formed from a tubular segment cut along two planes which are nonparallel and nonperpendicular to the tube axis to provide cutting edges and adequate tool edge clearance, so that the rotating cutting tool can be moved axially along its rotational axis and cut cleanly in this direction as well while moving the tool in direction transverse to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A pneumatic pressure averager primarily for use in connection with aircraft instrumentation, which provides for three pressure outputs available from two pressure sources. Two of the outputs represent the input pressures directly, and the third output represents the average of the pressure from the two separate input sources.

Abstract: A test system for testing axles and wheel spindles directly in place on vehicles such as automobiles, which simplifies the loading to obtain the necessary information for testing axles and spindles using two sets of actuators, each set comprising a pair of actuators each operating to control loads on the spindle along two different orthogonal components of normal movement of the vehicle. The actuator arrangement saves space, permits testing without removing automotive sheet metal and simplifies the compensation factors necessary for controlling such systems.

Abstract: A photographic reprint system includes a preparation station at which film segments or strips are attached to an elongated tab. Indicia (typically in the form of holes) are formed in the tab to indicate the location of each film frame, to signify the end of the film segment, the end of a customer order, and the end of a reel. Information relating to the printing of each film frame, including the number of holes in the tab adjacent that frame, is stored in a storage medium such as a floppy disk. At a photographic printer, the tab and attached film segments are advanced sequentially to a print gate, where printing occurs based upon the data which is sequentially retrieved from the storage medium. A first hole sensor located upstream of the print gate counts the number of holes in the tab as each frame is advanced to the print gate, and this number is compared with the stored number which has been retrieved from the storage medium.

Abstract: A photographic printer has a first set of negholds for use with first-run production printing, and a second set of negholds for use with reprint production printing from film segments attached to an elongated paper tab. The first set of negholds includes one neghold for each of the commonly used sizes of photographic film, such as 110, 126 and 135. Similarly, the second set of negholds includes a neghold for each of these same common film sizes. Circuitry associated with the neghold indicate to the printer control whether a first-run neghold or a reprint neghold is being used. The photographic printer has stored a first set of calibration values for use with the first set of negholds and a second set of calibration values for use with the second set of negholds. Based upon the indication from the circuitry associated with the negholds, the photographic printer automatically selects which set of calibration values are to be used.

Abstract: A current isolation circuit converts a pulse width modulated input signal to an isolated DC output current whose magnitude is a function of the duty cycle of the input signal. The isolation circuit includes an optical isolator which receives the pulse width modulated input signal and has an output which changes between a conductive and a non-conductive state in response to the input signal. A voltage regulating diode, such as a Zener diode, is connected to the output of the optical isolator and to an isolated power supply so that the voltage across the Zener diode varies between two known voltage values in response to the switching of the optical isolator output between conductive and non-conductive states. A signal derived from the Zener diode is filtered to produce a reference signal with a magnitude which is a function of the duty cycle of the input signal.

Abstract: The solar energy apparatus of the present invention collects, concentrates, and transmits solar radiation to a light converter, which converts solar radiation to another energy form. The apparatus includes aspheric reflectors which are used in conjunction with azimuth and altitude tracking means, which controls the position of the aspheric reflectors so that each reflector focuses the solar radiation to a proximate a fixed first position as the sun's position changes during the day. Optical waveguides have their first ends located at the fixed first position. The second ends of the optical waveguides terminate at a light converter. Solar radiation received at the first ends of the optical waveguides is transmitted through the optical waveguides to the second ends, where it is converted to thermal energy by the light converter.

Abstract: One of the most effective methods of marketing a new product is to sample it, get it into the hands of millions of prospective customers so they can test it, feel it, taste it or smell it. Product sampling is practiced, however, only when it can be done economically. The present invention relates to the economical sampling of thin absorbent tissues such as toilet tissue, paper toweling, facial tissue and similar thin, lightweight products. The present invention reduces the cost of hand tipping samples of absorbent paper tissues from approximately $60.00 per 1,000 to below $9.00 per 1,000. This 85% reduction in costs will enable tissue producers to sample their products to more consumers so they can test them prior to buying. In the present invention, a printed front cover, the tissue sample or samples, and a printed back cover are delivered to a collator in continuous ribbons.

Abstract: A blade sharpener includes a handle to which first and second sharpening members are pivotally attached. The handle has first and second receiving slots for the first and second sharpening members, each slot being on a side opposite the other within the handle. The sharpening members are capable of pivoting from a slot engaging position to an upwardly inclined position, the upwardly inclined position being defined by engagement of a stop within the handle. The sharpening members are inclined in opposite directions resulting in their upper portions being in a spaced relationship. When the blade sharpener is not in use, the sharpening members are pivoted into their respective receiving slots forming a compact unit for storage.

Abstract: A door frame for use in the discharge doors of silos which is adapted to be quickly moved from one frame to another as silage is removed from the silo, and which will support a hood or funnel used with clean chute systems for discharging silage from the silo. The door frame also may provide a support for the silo unloader, including guides for the normal gooseneck discharge conduit of the unloader and its torque restraining means. The frame provides a rack for receiving and storing the silo door which is removed for installation of the frame. The frame is adjustable to tightly fit into different size door openings. In a preferred embodiment the door frame is raised and lowered into position through the use of a winch and motor assembly, thus making the changing of the movable door frame that supports the hood for the clean chute assembly simple, and relatively labor free.

Abstract: A picket fence has a plurality of light weight plastic fence pickets that can be snapped together with other like fence pickets to form either a solid fence or a fence having a space between upright members. Each fence picket includes a rigid member and a plurality of substantially horizontal members fixedly attached to the upright member. The fence pickets are held together by a plurality of pegs located on the portion of the horizontal member adjacent to the upright member and a plurality of apertures through each of the horizontal members. The pegs have a stem and a button top of substantially the same size as the aperture. The peg of the fence picket passes through the aperture of another fence picket and the button top of the peg holds the pickets together. The button tops may be slightly larger than the apertures and the horizontal members may be mildly flexible to enable the button tops to be pushed through the aperture.

Abstract: A photographic print stacking device is positioned proximate the discharge end of the conveyor system which conveys photographic prints from a photographic print cutter. The print stacking device includes upper and lower print receiving elements, which are yieldably urged toward one another. The lower print receiving element is movable generally downward and away from the upper print receiving element as the prints are deposited on the lower print receiving element. The conveyor system delivers the prints to the stacking device with sufficient force to carry the prints between the upper and lower print receiving elements until their front edges engage a stop element. As a result, the rear edges of the prints are all substantially in alignment at a location proximate the discharge end of the conveyor system. The stop element preferably is releasably latched in an operative upstanding position and may be moved out of the way by the operator when removing an accumulated stack of prints.

Abstract: A photographic reprint system utilizes an elongated paper tab to which film segments or strips are attached. Information relating to the printing of each film frame of the segments attached to the tab is stored sequentially in a storage medium such as a floppy disk. This information includes the selected color balance setup and a film size or format code indicating the size of the film segment. After the tab with attached film segments has been prepared, it is taken to a photographic printer, where the tab with the attached film segments is advanced sequentially and the negatives are printed. The printing is based upon information which is sequentially retrieved from the storage medium. Among the information contained in the selected color balance setup is a film size code indicating the size of film for which the color balance setup is used. The photographic printer compares the film size code from the selected color balance setup with the film size code retrieved from the storage medium.

Abstract: A flexible solar collector may be readily attached to a structure, such as a house, mobile home or the like, and may be readily removed from the structure and rolled into a roll of small compass for storage when desired. The collector is of flexible tubular construction having an intermediate panel which defines a pair of chambers containing fibrous heat absorbers through which air is circulated.In another embodiment of the solar collector, the fibers of the heat absorber are formed of metal. In another embodiment of the solar collector, the fibrous heat absorber is spaced from the light transmissive member so that air flowing through this space lowers the temperature of the inner surface of the light transmissive member and reduces thermal losses of the collector to the environment. In further embodiments, a pair of fibrous heat absorbers are used, which may be provided with a transparent radiation barrier therebetween.

Abstract: A hydraulically extensible crane boom includes a plurality of mutually innernested, telescopically associated inward and outward boom sections. Each section is made up of a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel, spaced apart upper structural shapes of substantial mass and strength, a relatively light top web integral with and extending between the upper structural shapes, a pair of longitudinally extending, mutually parallel, spaced apart lower structural shapes of substantial strength and mass, a relatively light bottom web integral with and extending between the lower structural members, and a pair of relatively light side webs each connected between one upper and one lower structural member. The distance between the lower pair of structural members is less than the distance between the upper pair of structural members.

Abstract: A photographic print cutting and sorting apparatus cuts photographic prints from a continuous roll of processed photographic print paper and sorts the individual prints into good, remake and reject prints. The print sorter includes a main conveyor line or chute for good prints, a first branch conveyor line or chute for remake prints, and a second branch conveyor line or chute for reject prints. First and second diverters are provided for diverting the remake and reject prints into the first and second branch conveyor lines. The operation of the diverters is based upon remake and reject indicia marked on photographic prints and sensed by an indicia sensor. A print sensor located near the discharge ends of the main conveyor line and the first and second branch conveyor lines provides a signal when a trailing edge of a print passes the print sensor. A control circuit receives signals from the indicia sensor and the print sensor and controls the operation of the cutter and the first and second diverters.