Abstract: The invention relates to the retreading of rubber tires wherein a prevulcanized tread is applied to a tire carcass with an interposed vulcanizable bonding layer. The tread and at least the adjacent part of the carcass are enclosed within a close fitting flexible envelope and the resulting blank is subjected to a pressure- and heat-treatment in an autoclave to bond the tread to the carcass. The invention resides in the construction and use of an envelope which is associated with an adjacent reservoir within the autoclave, preferably between the envelope and tire, for the accumulation of possible gaseous inclusions between the inside of the envelope and the blank.

Abstract: A precision transducer for position measurements comprises a pair of supports, one of which is movable with respect to the other. Each support is provided with an electric winding constituted by equidistant serially connected printed circuit conductors extending transverse to the direction of movement. The winding of one of the supports comprises a plurality of groups of conductors connected in series and intercalated with the conductors of the other group(s). Each group of conductors is printed on one face of a substrate, the other face of which bears auxiliary conductors connecting the conductors of the groups in series, through metallized holes formed through the substrate. The substrate is bonded to the said one support after the printing of the auxiliary conductors on the said other face, the groups of conductors being printed on the said one face after the substrate has been bonded to the support.

Abstract: A lantern frame comprising a base, a burner mounted on the base burning with an incandescent flame, a glass surrounding the burner protecting the flame, a grid surrounding the glass supported on said base operable to stabilise said glass, the base being interengageable with the grid and a locking member for releasable interconnection whereby the parts are rigidly held together in assembled condition.

Abstract: The "bellies" of mollusk such as clams are removed from the remainder of the clam meat by introducing one whole clam body at a time into a fluid shearing zone where a separately introduced high velocity stream of fluid serves to shear the belly from the clam meat. Apparatus for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A serial printer comprising a character carrier having a plurality of flexible leaf springs bearing characters on the extremities thereof. A desired character is selected by positioning the corresponding leaf spring to a printing position. A pushing mechanism exerts pressure against the leaf spring in the printing position to effect a controlled motion thereof such that the character meets the paper at a low velocity instead of from acquired kinetic energy thereby resulting in noiseless printing.

Abstract: A pilfer-proof closure for use in combination with a standard container having a threaded neck portion and a collar below said threaded portion, comprising a body having an internally threaded upper portion followed by a lower skirt portion for protecting a flexible locking member attached to the inside of the body by frangible connectors situated on the outside circumference of the locking member. The locking member extends partially below the skirt portion so that it may be easily viewed. The skirt, however, extends past the frangible connectors to protect the connectors from tampering and severing. The flexible locking member carries a top surface which engages beneath the collar when the closure is threaded onto the container. When the closure is unthreaded from the container, the frangible connecting means are broken to completely disconnect the locking member from the threaded portion of the closure.

Abstract: A multi-louvered air discharge device for a forced air ventilation system, capable of focusing a concentrated stream of air from two discharge openings on any point along the perimeter of a hemisphere surrounding the device. The two discharge openings are each equipped with vanes to direct the flow of air issuing therefrom. The sets of vanes are controlled together so that the air issuing from each set is directed toward a predetermined adjustable point by a control system.

Abstract: The method comprises feeding the veneer through a closed chamber under vacuum conditions, and heating the veneer while in the chamber by an infrared emitter. The apparatus comprises a chamber having means for feeding the veneer to, through and from the chamber, means for creating a vacuum within the chamber, and infrared emitter heating means.

Abstract: An automatic industrial robot is provided with an autoadaptive tactile device connected to a tool for performing at least one operation upon a workpiece. The tool is carried by a working head including a toolholder, and control means for effecting relative movement between the workpiece supporting means and the working head so as to bring a tool in the toolholder into a predetermined position relative to the workpiece subject to a certain tolerance. The toolholder is connected to the working head by a coupling which can be selectively freed to allow limited shifting of the toolholder relative to the working head and clamped so as to clamp the toolholder relative to the working head.

Abstract: A switching arrangement for pulse code modulation (PCM) time division multiplex telecommunication switching system is described. The frame storages for incoming and outgoing directions of transmission as well as their address memories, and the crosspoint address memory form a memory unit. The frame storages are read-in in cyclic sequence and read out selectively and it is possible to transfer information from anyone of the frame storages to either the same PCM trunk or to the space division switching network. Thus, there is a possibility both for return switching to the same PCM trunk and for switching through other switching units in a time-space-space-time format.

Abstract: A switching arrangement for a telecommunication switching system having test and seizing circuits is disclosed in which test switching means for bounce-free contact operation require a seizing current rise delayed by switching means in the seizing circuit. The improvement comprises a transistor for establishing the seizing current, a testing resistor disposed in series with the transistor and an RC network associated with the transistor. The potential across a control electrode of the transistor which is determined by the charging voltage of said associated RC network defines a control current. The potential renders the transistor increasingly conductive to current in accordance with a charging process setting in at the start of a test and seizing operation.

Abstract: A workpiece positioning assembly for a machine tool has first and second traverses mounted perpendicular to one another. The second traverse is unsupported at its ends and mounted intermediate its ends upon the first traverse for horizontal movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the second traverse. The second traverse has a carriage movable therealong for supporting a workpiece and effecting movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the second traverse. The workpiece positioning assembly is preferably applied to a punch press.

Abstract: A new, high capacity switching center for telegraphic lines which employs digital elements is herewith described. The system resembles a multiprocessor with hierarchical organization. The general coordinating functions of the system are carried out by a minicomputer having a main memory and a mass memory. Several high speed microcomputers (known as the multiplex subsystem or multiplexer), each having in turn a local working memory, are interconnected to each other and to the minicomputer through a multiplex channel. Telegraphic lines are connected to each microcomputer. These in turn are linked to users in remote locations. The local memories of the microcomputers include an area reserved for the recording of incoming messages from the connected users and an area for recording the outgoing messages to the connected users. The messages received from one of the various microcomputers are sent to the microcomputer linked with the recipient user by employing the time division multiplex technique (TDM).

Abstract: In a computer, a display is controlled by a dedicated asynchronous control unit and can be selectively connected either to a program buffer or to a keyboard buffer. A special key is operable for alternately switching the display from one to another of the two possible connections. The display has a capacity of a number of characters less than that of the buffers. Service keys are provided for controlling the progressive or selective displaying of all the characters in a buffer.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data in bit-synchronous fashion using a binary signal whose bit transitions appear in the middle of each bit interval is described. Signals are assigned to certain bits forming a composite signal for transmission. For the durations of the bits, after every quarter bit period and after every three quarter bit period, the amplitudes of the assigned signals exceed a predetermined threshold value. For the durations of bits having no signals assigned thereto, the values of the assigned signals do not exceed the threshold values. After half bit and whole bit periods, the values of the assigned signals equal zero.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for adaptively correcting distortion in phase modulation signals following demodulation. Binary signals indicating the position of a signal vector of the demodulated signal for each modulation period are formed, and from this an indication of the error angle of that vector is obtained. A corresponding fault signal controls adjustment of the demodulated signal applied to a decoder to provide for distortion correction.

Abstract: A mold, for screw-threaded articles, has screw-thread forming spindles rotatable by obliquely toothed gearing so as to apply axial thrust to the spindles and thus compensate for friction and adhesion in unloading of the mold.

Abstract: A bland protein product having a texture and mouth feel simulating animal meat is prepared from a dough-like mixture of proteinaceous material and water. The proteinaceous material can comprise relatively low protein content blends or even single ingredients such as soy flour. The process comprises continuously extruding the protein dough in the form of a relatively thin sheet of semi-rigid protein material into a first confined treating zone while simultaneously subjecting the thin sheet in the extrusion die to externally applied heat to texturize both surfaces of the sheet before it enters into the first confined zone. A stream of heated gas and condensables is introduced into the first confined zone to buoy up, flex and help propel the sheet of surface - texturized protein through the confined zone where additional texturization takes place.

Abstract: An autoadaptive working center for programmable automation comprises at least a pair of independently programmable autoadaptive devices adapted to recognize a set of different situations of the working process for addressing a corresponding subroutine of the program. Each device comprises at least a force transducer adapted to sense a wall of the workpiece under the control of a wall search instruction. The working center is also adapted to correlate the movement of the two devices under the control of correlation instructions and anti-collision setting instructions defining the dimensions of the two devices.

Abstract: The precision measuring apparatus comprises a portal mounted to translate on a platform and comprising two uprights supporting a first cross-piece along which runs a carriage bearing a measuring head. The weight of the carriage is unloaded through resilient means on to a second cross-piece disposed parallel to and below the first cross-piece. The second cross-piece is a part of a second portal having two columns translating on the platform together with the first portal. The columns of the second portal are disposed inside the uprights of the first portal, which uprights are hollow, and are moved by the upwriters by means of opposed pairs of compression springs disposed between each column and the corresponding upright.