Abstract: Apparatus for stepwise transport of exposed and developed photographic films through a copying machine so as to place selected film frames, namely those film frames which are to be imaged onto photographic paper and are designated by holes or other types of indices, into register with the copying station has two photoelectronic detectors the first of which transmits signals to the forward input and the second of which transmits signals to the reverse input of a forward and reverse counter in a circuit which regulates the speed of the film transporting motor. The second detector is located downstream of the first detector and both detectors transmit signals on detection of indices denoting the film frames to be copied.

Abstract: An imitation-proof card-like data carrier which permits light to pass through a large number of light-conducting elements each having a light-admitting inlet portion, a light-discharging outlet portion which is laterally offset relative to the inlet portion, and a light-conducting intermediate portion with two reflecting surfaces, one adjacent to the inlet portion and the other adjacent to the outlet portion. The information which is stored in or denoted by an element is characterized by the distance beween the inlet and outlet portions as well as on the inclination of that reflecting surface which directs light into the outlet portion. The light rays issuing from the outlet portions of the elements impinge upon selected photodiodes of an array of photodiodes in an apparatus into which the data carrier is inserted to ascertain the genuineness thereof, to ascertain the identity of the bearer, to cancel certain elements if each element represents a sum of money and/or for other purposes.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting the core of a reel of convoluted paper in a winding machine has two trunnions which extend into the end portions of the core from opposite ends of the reel and are surrounded by ring-shaped stops which are normally closely adjacent to the respective end faces of the reel therebetween. The trunnions and the respective stops are movable axially toward and away from the core and each trunnion is surrounded by a ring-shaped sensor which is biased against the respective end face of the reel so that the distance between the sensor and the corresponding stop denotes the width of the gap between the respective end face of the reel and the corresponding stop.

Abstract: A tone generator system for electronic musical instruments includes a voltage-regulated, high-frequency oscillator. The output of the oscillator is connected with the inputs of first and second 12-tone divider circuits having outputs for transmission of full octaves of tone signals. The connection between the output of the oscillator and the input of one of the divider circuits contains circuitry which intercepts each n.sup.th signal of the series of signals transmitted by the oscillator so that the one divider circuit is out of tune with the other divider circuit. The number n can be varied by a battery of switches and can be as low as 2 or higher than 128. An auxiliary signal dividing circuit can be connected between the output of the oscillator and the input of the other divider circuit.

Abstract: A cylindrical drum of a rotary transfer conveyor rotates below an opening at the bottom of a magazine for a stack of superimposed sheets. The drum carries a first pivotable gripping lever and one or more second pivotable gripping levers. The common pivot axis of the levers is parallel to the axis of the drum, and the levers are pivotable by cams so that their speed relative to the magazine is less than the peripheral speed of the drum during travel immediately below the opening in the bottom of the magazine. At such time, a set of suction cups flexes a portion of the lowermost sheet of the stack through the opening and between the first and second gripping levers so that the speed of the engaged sheet need not be immediately accelerated to the peripheral speed of the drum but merely to the relatively low absolute speed of the levers.

Abstract: A digital circuit is described for controlling functions of a camera wherein the circuit is powered by a potential source which is connected to the circuit through a relay actuated switch. The circuit employs a plurality of D-flip flops to regulate functions such as film transport and opening and closing of the camera shutter as a function of the light intensity of the scene being photographed. A reset signal generator is used to provide stable and reliable control over the starting condition of the flip flops and render the circuit insensitive to voltage transients as may occur from contact bounce effects at the relay actuated switch. The reset signal generator employs an inverter delay chain to provide like reset pulses when such contact bounce occurs. Various control features are described.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning sheet-like or strip-shaped originals in a photographic copying machine has a horizontal table with a large window for transmission of copying light and a removable or exchangeable holder on the table. The holder has a lower section which rests on the table and has a first opening in register with the window, an upper section one marginal portion of which is pivoted to the corresponding marginal portion of the lower section, which is movable to and from an operative position of overlap with the lower section and which has a second opening in register with the first opening when the upper section assumes its operative position, and an elastic hold-down device which is affixed to the upper side of the lower section and has an open-sided cutout in register with the first opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles from one or more makers to a packing machine has a transporting system consisting of belt conveyors and one or more ducts which advance the output of the makers into the inlet of an upright channel serving to deliver the cigarettes to the packing machine. When the output of the makers exceeds the requirements of the packing machine, the surplus is diverted from the discharge end of the transporting system into one or more variable-volume surge bins by way of a reservoir wherein the height of the cigarette stream exceeds the height of the stream in the transporting system but is less than the height of the stack or stacks of cigarettes in the surge bin or bins. The reservoir has one or more conveyors which can advance cigarettes from the transporting system into the surge bin(s) or from the surge bin(s) into the channel.

Abstract: Iron core for an electric machine such as a transformer, a choke, a voltage stabilizer and the like, assemblable of a plurality of individual parallelepipedal core parts formed of laminated layers mutually held together, the core parts having mutually abutting joints formed with smoothly finished surfaces free of any metallic connection between the individual layers, includes clamping means applicable to a clamping surface at outer contours of the core and extending transversely to the laminated layers, clamping elements for clamping the clamping means so as to hold the individual core parts together, the clamping means includes strap-like members for distributing clamping force at least approximately uniformly to the individual laminated layers between the clamping means and the respective clamping surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying sheets of photographic material has a group of parallel lower horizontal shafts and a group of parallel upper horizontal shafts which are staggered with reference to the lower shafts. All of the shafts extend transversely of the direction of travel of sheets therebetween and carry elastic rollers which engage and advance the sheets. Certain shafts carry holders for U-shaped guide members which flank the path of the sheets between the rollers on the upper and lower shafts and prevent the leaders of the sheets from curling into the spaces between the upper or lower shafts. The distance between the axes of two neighboring lower or upper shafts is at least 2D and the distance between the upper and lower guide members is less than D, wherein D is the outer diameter of a roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the exterior of a cigarette rod which moves lengthwise through an annular housing has a ring-shaped light-conducting prism which is mounted in the housing and is surrounded by an annulus of discrete light sources to direct testing light toward the exterior of a rod which moves therethrough. The prism directs light at an acute angle to the axis of the moving rod, and the light which is reflected by the exterior of the moving rod passes through an annulus of light conducting fibers each of which directs reflected light against a discrete photoelectronic transducer. The transducers form part of a circuit which evaluates the intensity of reflected light to thereby detect defects which cause an intensification or a weakening of reflected light. The prism has a triangular cross sectional outline with an apex of the outline adjacent to the path of the rod and a side which is located opposite the apex and extends at right angles to the direction of incident light.

Abstract: An x-ray film cassette includes two cassette parts which are connected at one side by a hinge and which are cylindrically curved as considered in a plane normal to the hinge. The cassette part which constitutes the bottom carries a foil of ferromagnetic material floatingly supported on an elastic strip-sloped peripheral frame, and an intensifying shield supported on this foil, while the other cassette part which constitutes the top carries a magnetic plate supported on elongated projections of the cassette wall and supporting another intensifying shield. In the closed position of the cassette, the magnetic plate attracts the ferromagnetic foil to thereby eliminate air inclusions between the intensifying shields and the x-ray film interposed therebetween.

Abstract: In an automatic towel dispenser having a housing containing a washing and a drying chamber for an endless towel passable therethrough and having a cleaned section available for use extending outside the housing between a delivery slot and an inlet slot, respectively, formed in the housing, the endless towel being movable from the inlet slot to the washing chamber and from the drying chamber to the delivery slot, the housing also containing a first supply chamber for variably stacking a plurality of soiled towel sections of the endless towel therein, the first supply chamber being located between the inlet slot and the washing chamber, as viewed in travel direction of the towel, and the housing further containing a second supply chamber for variably stacking a plurality of cleaned towel sections of the endless towel therein, the second supply chamber being located between the drying chamber and the delivery slot, as viewed in travel direction of the towel, the soiled towel sections, after emptying of a given q

Abstract: Apparatus for removing and opening successive folded sheets of a stack has a transfer conveyor whose gripper engages the folded backs of successive sheets and propels them into the elongated channel of a straight guide extending tangentially of the flanges of the transfer conveyor. When a sheet is released, its folded back is leading and the sheet continues to travel in the channel. Such sheet is braked by a stop which is moved at the speed of the sheet during disengagement of the sheet from the transfer conveyor, which has a clamping device that grips the folded back of the sheet, which moves at a gradually decreasing speed subsequent to engagement of its clamping device with the folded back to brake the sheet in the channel, and which is disengaged from the sheet not later than at the time when one or both front edge portions of the sheet are engaged by rotary spreading members which open the sheet during removal from the channel and drop the opened sheet onto a roof-shaped evacuating conveyor.

Abstract: A laminated plate-like workpiece of the type wherein the outer layers extend laterally beyond the edge faces of a median layer is trimmed in an apparatus wherein a reciprocable carriage supports several elongated abutment members which can enter between the outer layers of a workpiece to move into contact with an edge face of the concealed median layer. The workpiece is thereupon coupled to the carriage by several pairs of jaws and the carriage is moved to one or more preselected positions in each of which a different portion of the workpiece is located in the cutting plane of a rotary circular saw.

Abstract: A first-in last-out reservoir system for storage of stacked cigarettes or filter rod sections has two coaxial helically convoluted walls which are rotatable about their common axis on grooved internal and external rolls and define a helical chamber with an opening for admission of successive increments of a stack of rod-shaped articles. The walls are elastically deformable and those portions of the walls which are adjacent to the opening are spaced apart at a distance exceeding the length of an article to permit unimpeded admission of articles into or evacuation of articles from the chamber. The articles are delivered to or removed from the opening by one reach of an endless belt conveyor which is tangential to the walls. The pitch of the walls is constant or nearly constant, and the walls are rotated by one or more shafts for the aforementioned grooved rolls.

Abstract: An automatic towel dispenser whose housing contains a washing and a drying chamber for an endless towel which can pass therethrough and has a cleaned section available for use and extending from the housing between a delivery slot and an inlet slot of the housing. The towel is movable from the inlet slot to the washing chamber and from the drying chamber to the delivery slot, and the housing also contains a first supply chamber for variably stacking a plurality of soiled towel sections and a second supply chamber for variably stacking a plurality of cleaned towel sections. The washing chamber has at least one wash and at least one rinsing tub through which the towel can pass in the form of loops. The dispenser is further provided with a water feed valve and a water discharge valve connected to the washing chamber. The water feed valve is actuatable at the start of a washing cycle and the water discharge valve is actuatable on completion of the washing cycle.

Abstract: A calender wherein the end portions of the lowermost roll of the roll train was mounted for movement along vertical guide rails on the stand. The lowermost roll is movable upwardly by two upright hydrostatic cylinder and piston units with plungers whose axes are coplanar with the axis of the lowermost roll. When the cylinder and piston units lift the lowermost roll to operative position, shoulders on the bearings abut against stationary stops on the stand and the stops are disposed only at one side of the common plane of the aforementioned axes so that the bearings tend to jam against the adjacent portions of the guide rails as soon as the shoulders engage the respective stops. The jamming action is enhanced if the stops are remote from the aforementioned plane and if the guide rails have T-shaped heads which are slidable in complementary T-shaped grooves of the bearings. The stops are installed at the level of the axis of the lowermost roll.

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.