Abstract: A friction clutch wherein several changeover levers which are made of sheet metal are interposed between the housing on the one hand and the two pressure plates on the other hand. Each changeover lever has two arms with convex surfaces which can roll along flat surfaces of the respective pressure plates and a median portion which cooperates with a fulcrum on the housing. When one of the pressure plates is moved away from the associated friction disc, the changeover levers roll along the associated fulcra and cause the other pressure plate to move away from the respective friction disc. If the clutch is a dependent-operated friction clutch, the fulcra and the median portions of the respective changeover levers define adjustable clearances in engaged condition of the clutch.

Abstract: A cigarette testing apparatus wherein a rotary drum-shaped conveyor has axially parallel peripheral flutes for cigarettes and is flanked by two swash plates which rotate therewith and carry annuli of elastically deformable sealing elements for the respective ends of cigarettes on the conveyor. Each sealing element has a socket facing the adjacent end of the cigarette in the corresponding flutes of the conveyor when the cigarette is inserted into the flutes. The swash plates thereupon move the sealing elements nearer to the ends of the cigarettes therebetween whereby the ends of the cigarettes enter the corresponding sockets and displace transversely extending partitions of the sealing elements with attendant radial contraction of those tubular sections of the sealing elements which surround the respective sockets.

Abstract: A peg which forms part of a frame for setting up the lines around excavations preparatory to erection of buildings or the like has a post the lower end of which is provided with a laterally extending plate welded to the web of a U-shaped leg whose flanges have aligned openings for the shank or shanks of one or more nails which are driven into the ground at an acute angle to the axis of the post. A second U-shaped leg is welded to the lower end of an inclined brace which is adjustably coupled to an intermediate portion of the post. A third U-shaped leg can be connected to the outer ends of two reinforcing members whose inner ends are integral with the post. Additional openings for the shanks of nails can be provided in the webs of the legs.

Abstract: Described is a motion-picture apparatus with a housing, a removable cartridge and an arrangement for reproducing a sound track in correlation with the action shown on a length of film contained in the cartridge.

Abstract: An expresso machine has a hot water distributor and an adapter which is removably connectable to the distributor to receive hot water therefrom. A box is in turn removably connectable to the adapter and defines with the same an extraction chamber adapted to house a prefabricated coffee pod through which the hot water must pass on its way to an outlet of the box, thus brewing a portion of coffee.

Abstract: A friction clutch unit with two coaxial friction clutches the first of which has a first friction disc driven by the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and disposed between an axially fixed and an axially movable pressure plate. The second clutch has a second friction disc which drives the input shaft of a change-speed transmission in the vehicle which embodies the engine and is disposed between an axially movable pressure plate and an axially fixed pressure plate. The axially fixed pressure plates of the two clutches are connected to each other by a rotary housing which defines a fulcrum for a common dished spring having an outer region bearing against projections provided on the axially movable pressure plate of the first clutch and an inner region bearing against projections provided on the axially movable pressure plate of the second clutch in engaged condition of the clutches.

Abstract: A roll of convoluted crepe paper, thin plastic foil or like web material has an outer side which is provided with a continuous coat of adhesive, transversely extending uniformly spaced weakened portions in the form of perforations or slits, and layers of a material which does not adhere to the adhesive. Such layers are applied to the inner side of the web so that they flank the weakened portions and allow for rapid engagement of the leader of the web by two fingers when the user wishes to remove one or more sections or panels between neighboring weakened portions. The roll can be used for the cleaning of garments or for analogous purposes. The length of each layer, as considered in the longitudinal direction of the web, is a small fraction, preferably less than one-third, of the distance between two neighboring weakened portions.

Abstract: A servomotor which actuates the throw-out device of a clutch, particularly in an automotive vehicle, has a piston which is reciprocable in a housing and is adapted to be coupled to a reciprocable motion transmitting rod for the throw-out device by a compensating device having cylindrical rollers which establish a motion transmitting connection between the piston and the rod as soon as the piston leaves its starting position in response to evacuation of air from the housing at one side of the piston. The rollers are automatically disengaged from the rod when the piston returns to its starting position so that the rod can be moved by the clutch in a first direction to compensate for wear upon the parts of the clutch or in a second direction to compensate for expansion of one or more friction discs in the clutch.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a helical wire coil which can be subdivided into discrete spiral binders for use in steno pads or other types of stationery products has a driven mandrel with a cylindrical intermediate section flanked by two frustoconical sections whose larger-diameter ends are adjacent to the respective axial ends of the cylindrical section. The wire to be coiled is fed into the inlet of a helical path which is defined by guide pins distributed around the sections of the mandrel. The inlet is adjacent to one of the frustoconical sections and the wire which is fed into the inlet advances along the helical path to be coiled during travel around the one frustoconical section, thereupon around the cylindrical section and finally around the other frustoconical section. The exposed surface of the cylindrical section may be grooved.

Abstract: A stripper system comprises: a stripper composition for treating a surface so as to give removable treatment product for stripping at least a portion of said surface, said composition comprising at least one component chosen from: alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates, alkali earth metal oxides, alkali earth metal hydroxides, and alkali earth metal carbonates; and cover means for covering said composition at least a portion of time said composition treats said surface, said cover means being adapted to remove at least a portion of said treatment product when said cover means is moved in at least one direction appropriate for that removal. Preferably, the stripper composition includes sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. Preferably, the cover means is an endless fibre fabric comprising polypropylene fibre and having a pile. The stripper system can be embodied for different applications, e.g. for stripping coatings of cured paint and/or of cured varnish.

Abstract: Apparatus for winding helical wire coils which can be subdivided into discrete spiral binders for insertion into the perforations of steno pads, exercise books or like stationery products has a rotary mandrel whose periphery is adjacent to several rows of rotary wire guiding pins defining a helical path extending around the periphery of the mandrel. The axes of the pins are slightly offset with reference to radial positions relative to the mandrel so that the pins can readily rotate in response to lengthwise movement of the wire therealong and their inner end faces can be placed sufficiently close to the periphery of the mandrel so as to prevent a thin wire from penetrating into the space between the end face of a pin and the periphery of the mandrel.

Abstract: A calender roll whose shell consists of ferromagnetic material is heated by several groups of electromagnets which are mounted within the shell on a stationary carrier and whose pole shoes are adjacent to the internal surface of the shell. The temperature of the external surface of the shell is monitored at several locations as considered in the axial direction of the roll, and the resulting signals are compared with reference signals denoting the optimum or desired temperatures at such locations. Signals denoting the differences between the actual temperature signals and desired temperature signals are used to regulate the characteristics of electric current which is supplied to the windings of the electromagnets. Each electromagnet of each group can be regulated independently of all other electromagnets. Alternatively, two or more electromagnets of each group or entire groups of electromagnets may be regulated simultaneously. Additional electromagnets are provided to heat the end portions of the shell.

Abstract: A transporting device for advancing photosensitive material through a processing bath has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion has an inlet region via which the photosensitive material is introduced into the bath and an outlet region via which the photosensitive material is withdrawn from the bath. The inlet and outlet regions are located above the level of the bath. The inlet region has a pair of directing rollers which convey and guide the photosensitive material to the lower portion of the transporting device while the outlet region similarly has a pair of directing rollers which convey and guide the photosensitive material away from the lower portion. The lower portion of the transporting device has several sets of transporting rollers which advance the photosensitive material through the bath. The upper and lower portions of the transporting device are designed as separable units.

Abstract: A conveying arrangement in a developing apparatus for photographic material has pairs of conveying rollers as well as guiding and/or deflecting sheets which extend between two opposite sidewalls. Fastening elements are provided on both sidewalls and are adapted to hold the ends of a guiding and/or deflecting sheet against movement in all directions except for an unlocking direction. A removable, deformable locking element is further provided and is adapted to prevent movement of the sheets in the unlocking direction. The fastening element for a guiding and/or deflecting sheet includes a cutout in each of the sidewalls and a positioning pin in at least one of the cutouts. The positioning pin cooperates with an opening in the corresponding guiding and/or deflecting sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the density of a cigarette rod which is moved lengthwise has a source of penetrative radiation at one side and a single ionization chamber at the other side of the path of the rod. A reciprocable slide or diaphragm causes the radiation to alternately penetrate through the rod and thereupon into the chamber in a first position and to bypass the rod in a second position of the slide or diaphragm. The ionization chamber converts radiation which has penetrated through the rod into first electric signals and the radiation which has bypassed the rod into second electric signals. An evaluating circuit stores each second signal during the next-following interval of generation of first signals, and the evaluating circuit compares the first signals with that second signal which is then stored in the evaluating circuit.

Abstract: A cigarette rod making machine has a beta-ray detector which monitors the density of successive increments of the condensed filler in the continuously moving cigarette rod and changes the distance between the trimming device and the conveyor for the tobacco stream. The height of the tobacco stream (upstream or downstream of the trimming device) is monitored, and the thus obtained first signals are compared with second signals denoting the distance between the conveyor and the trimming device. The machine ejects those cigarettes whose fillers have caused the generation of first signals denoting that the corresponding portion of the stream contains less than a minimum acceptable quantity of tobacco. The height of successive increments of the stream can be monitored by an opto-electronic or capacitive detector or by a device which employs sound waves.

Abstract: A friction clutch wherein the pressure plate and/or the flywheel consists of finely striped pearlitic cast iron with a free ferrite content of less than 5%, with a graphite distribution finer than 3 according to VDG specification P 441, and with a titanium content of between 0.16% and 0.3% by weight. The friction disc between the pressure plate and the flywheel has two friction linings at least one of which, namely, the lining facing the part with a higher titanium content, consists of a sintered metallic or ceramic material or contains organic components. The pressure plate and/or the flywheel further contains up to 0.25% by weight of tin and up to 1% by weight of copper. The ratio of copper to tin is approximately four-to-one.

Abstract: An exposed color film having an exposed zone is provided with color areas prior to developing the same by exposing this unexposed zone to light passing through different narrow-band filters. After developing the film, the transmissivities of each of the color areas within a pair of narrow-band ranges is measured. The measured values are compared with known values for various types of film to establish the type of the particular color film. This information is used to adjust the exposures in the different colors when the images on the color film are copied onto a photographic copying material.

Abstract: An arrangement for developing film has a developing chamber which is provided with an inlet and an outlet for the developer. The chamber is located above a first container having an open upper end and arranged to receive developer discharged through the outlet of the chamber. This container is located inside of or above a second container arranged to receive developer which overflows from the first container. The containers have respective outlets which merge into a single conduit leading to the developing chamber. A heating device surrounds the conduit or is accommodated in the first container and functions to heat the developer to a predetermined temperature required for development. A pump for circulating the developer is arranged in the conduit which leads to the developing chamber. The outlet of the second container is provided with a valve which is controlled by a thermal sensor.