Abstract: An arrangement for aseptically discharging flowable media, especially sterilized feed solutions for use in microbiology, includes a discharge valve which has a ball-shaped valve member having a through passage in which there is accommodated an insert that carries a coupling member to which there is connected a sterilized hose in the open position of the valve member. The valve member is rotatably accommodated in a chamber of a valve housing and the flowable medium flows through the insert and the coupling member into the hose in the open position, while the coupling member is accommodated in a compartment of the housing in the closed position of the valve member. A stream of sterilizing medium, preferably steam, is admitted into the compartment in the closed position to sterilize the coupling member. The admission of the sterilizing medium is throttled as the valve member is rotated toward its open position, but maintained until the hose is connected to the coupling part.

Abstract: A continuous stream of moist tobacco particles is withdrawn from a magazine by a carded belt conveyor, and successive increments of the stream are weighed prior to transport past a measuring unit which ascertains the initial moisture content of successive increments of the stream. The signals which are generated by the weighing device are used to regulate the speed of the carded conveyor so as to insure that each unit length of the stream reaching the measuring unit contains identical quantities of tobacco particles per weight. The stream is thereupon transported through a moisture increasing unit wherein the stream is traversed by ascending currents of steam and wherein one or more nozzles sprinkle metered quantities of water onto successive increments of the stream.

Abstract: A method of determining correction parameters for adjusting the amounts of light to which originals are to be exposed in a color copying operation in dependence on the composition deviations of the respective original from a calibrating original involves establishing, for each of a multitude of regions of the respective original, two characteristic values respectively representative of a relationship between the blue and green color values, on the one hand, and the red and green color values, on the other hand, averaging those of the established characteristic values the relationships of which are within a distribution range normally encountered in an image of an object on the original, forming an average from the average values, and ascertaining the magnitude and direction of the correction parameters from the difference between the average obtained from the particular original and a like average obtained from the calibrating original.

Abstract: A coupling for mandrels in winding machines wherein the mandrel has a square end portion receivable in a complementary cavity which is machined into a socket rotating with a shaft which drives the mandrel in a direction to collect or to pay out a web of flexible material. The socket has a hand wheel which is movable between operative and inoperative positions and the remaining part of the socket carries one or more cushions in the form of pads and/or pins which are urged against the end portion of the mandrel when the hand wheel is moved to the operative position. Additional cushions can be provided on the hand wheel. The mandrel and the socket are further provided with cooperating centering elements for the mandrel. The cushion or cushions prevent wobbling of the mandrel and reduce noise when the mandrel is driven by the shaft.

Abstract: The proper individually given positions of dioptric portions on eyeglasses are determined by illuminating the eyes of an examinee by light rays emanating from a source situated at a close-range point to form light-reflection images of the source on the eyes, and by marking the course of each straight line connecting the light source with the respective image, at a distance from the respective eye corresponding to that of the respective eyeglass. The images are observed in a mirror which is planar and circular and surrounds the light source. The marking is achieved by adhering adhesive rings to respective transparent plates which are disposed between the light source and the respective eyes of the examinee at a distance from the latter which corresponds to that of the respective eyeglass. The dioptric portions are then formed on the respective eyeglasses in accordance with the markings on the transparent plates, and the eyeglasses are then mounted in a frame.

Abstract: The condition of a photographic copying and associated developing machine for prints of color photographic negatives is evaluated by exposing a calibrating sample onto a first portion and by making a test exposure with preselected exposure data onto a second portion of photographic paper in the copying machine. The two portions of photographic paper are then developed in the developing machine, and the thus obtained developed prints are monitored in the copying machine by comparing their densities in various colors with preselected reference densities. The results of comparison are indicative whether the machines operate satisfactorily, whether the copying machine requires one or more adjustments, or whether the developing machine is in need of at least one adjustment. The adjustment or adjustments can be effected automatically or upon examination of the results of comparison by an attendant.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for filter cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles has a drum-shaped conveyor with a smooth or fluted cylindrical surface and with radially inwardly extending suction slots which are connected to the intake of a fan. Each slot is disposed between two cradles which support the articles to be tested in such a way that the wrappers of the articles remain spaced apart from the periphery of the conveyor. The cradles engage the articles close to the respective ends of the articles and have small article-engaging surfaces to thus insure the detection of all or nearly all leaks during testing with a fluid medium which is introduced into the interior of a wrapper during travel past the testing station. The streams of air which flow into the slots of the conveyor hold the articles against ejection under the action of gravity and/or centrifugal force.

Abstract: An electronic organ, piano or accordion has a transposing apparatus wherein a voltage-regulated high-frequency oscillator transmits high frequency signals to the input of a 12-tone divider circuit whose outputs transmit tone frequency signals to the tone generator of the musical instrument. The oscillator receives regulating signals from a switching unit, such as a multiplexer or a battery of integrated circuits, and the intensity of such signals is a function of addressing signals which are transmitted to the switching unit by an addressing unit having a keyboard with keys which are actuatable by the player to initiate the generation of different addressing signals as a result of closing of electric switches which are associated with the keys. The distribution of keys in the keyboard is the same as the distribution of playing keys in the keyboard of a piano, organ or a like musical instrument.

Abstract: A cassette for X-ray film has a first chamber for the film and a relatively narrow elongated second chamber for the major part of an elongated data-carrying card a portion of which extends outwardly through a window in the cover of the container. The two chambers are separated from each other by a partition which has a sealable aperture in register with the window.

Abstract: The remnants of film units which are withdrawn from a cassette in the housing of a camera for instant photography are reintroduced into the cassette subsequent to development of images and separation of image-bearing sheets. The reintroduction can be effected by a manually operated yoke, by the pressure applying rolls which serve to spread a fluid processing agent between the positive and negative sheets of an exposed film unit, by an additional roll in cooperation with one of the pressure applying rolls, or by a separate set of advancing rolls.

Abstract: Apparatus for winding webs of photographic film like onto the hub of a reel in a cassette has a flexible band one end of which is secured to the hub and the other end of which is connected to a coupling unit having a normally closed clamping mechanism for the leader of a web. The leader can be threaded through an inlet opening of the cassette and into the coupling unit when the clamping mechanism is held in open position by a permanent magnet which is installed in the cassette adjacent to the opening. When the hub is rotated in a direction to convolute the band and thereupon the web therearound, the coupling unit is withdrawn from the field to the permanent magnet and is confined in a peripheral recess of the reel. If the web is thereupon unwound, the coupling unit is withdrawn from the recess and is advanced toward the opening so that the magnet opens the clamping mechanism and the latter permits withdrawal of the leader of the web therefrom.

Abstract: Cigarette packs which leave a packing machine by moving sideways so that one of the major surfaces of each pack faces forwardly are monitored for the presence of defective envelopes during travel between two endless belt conveyors. When the monitoring system or systems detect a defective pack, such system or systems generate one or more signals which are used to expel the defective pack from the path between the conveyors. The ejection is effected by changing the orientation of defective packs relative to the conveyors so as to reduce the frictional hold of conveyors upon the relatively narrow lateral faces of the defective packs with the result that the thus released defective packs can descend by gravity. The orientation of defective packs can be changed by discrete pins which move into the path of the packs from above, from below or from one side so as to be nearer to the one than to the other conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for subdividing a web of wrapping material into sections of predetermined length has a reciprocable carriage for a pair of grippers which are pivotable into engagement with the web to thereby clamp the web against the carriage while the latter moves forwardly. This advances the web through a distance which approximates but is less than the distance necessary to advance the web by the length of a section. The grippers are thereupon disengaged from the web while the carriage continues to move forwardly, and the web is braked by one or more brushes so that two pawls whose pallets are biased against the web can catch up with a pair of marginal notches in the web. The pallets enter the respective marginal notches and complete the forward movement of the web. A mobile knife cooperates with a stationary knife to sever the web and to thus separate a section from the leader of the web while the carriage moves rearwardly.

Abstract: A rotary pressure applying roll which defines with a parallel complementary roll a nip for a running web of paper, textile or other flexible sheet material in a calender or the like has a cylindrical shell surrounding a stationary carrier in the form of a rigid shaft. A bearing element is installed between the shell and the carrier and several hydraulic pressure generating devices are mounted between the carrier and the bearing element to urge the latter against the internal surface of the shell. The pressure generating devices are spaced apart from each other, as considered in the circumferential direction of the shell, and the cylinder chamber of each such device can receive pressurized hydraulic fluid at a different pressure. The axis of a main pressure generating device is normally located in the common plane of the axes of the shell and of the complementary roll.

Abstract: An apparatus for wet treatment of sheets or strips of photographic material has a small-volume treating chamber bounded by pairs of advancing rollers at its inlet and outlet ends. A lower wall of the chamber extends between the lower rollers of the pairs of advancing rollers and sealing lips bridge the gaps between such lower wall and the respective lower rollers. Treating liquid is admitted laterally into the chamber, transversely of the path of advancement of photographic material and at about the level of such path.

Abstract: A tool which loops the end portion of the outermost convolution of a spiral wire binder around the neighboring next-to-the-outermost convolution while the convolutions of the binder extend through the perforations of a stack of paper sheets and the binder is located in a preselected position has a knife which trims the outermost convolution and thereupon bends the end portion of the outermost convolution to a position of parallelism with and proximity to a stationary surface. A looping device which is mounted at the forward end of a rotary reciprocable shaft is thereupon caused to engage the bent end portion in response to forward movement of the shaft and to loop the bent end portion by moving it along the surface and around the neighboring convolution in response to rotation of the shaft.