Abstract: A shed-retaining member is provided for use with a weaving loom of the type having apparatus for forming warp sheds, with the shed-retaining member being insertable between warp threads to maintain the warp sheds in an open position. The improved shed-retaining member includes protruding and enlarged release surfaces for engagement with the warp threads to more reliably release the warp threads by increasing the spacing between groups of warp threads in order to release them.

Abstract: A fluorescence determining microscope scans the surface of a specimen with laser light. The fluorescence produced is split into components of different wavelengths, and the fluorescence of the respective wavelengths is determined.

Abstract: A tape cassette includes a magnetic tape having a magnetizable surface which is formed by a thin metal film. The cassette includes a ground connection therein to bear against a member of a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus which represents a ground potential thereof when the cassette is loaded on the latter to discharge any electrostatic charge which may be formed on the magnetizable surface.

Abstract: A dot matrix impact printer having print wires reciprocating within a print head. A bearing guides printing tips in the nose of the print head. Liquid printing material stored within a container adjacent to the print head is delivered by a wick from the container to the sides of the print wires by capillary action. The liquid printing material works its way through the jewel bearing of the print head and on to the printing tips of the print wires whereupon it is transferred to the print receiving medium when impacted by the print wires. Porous absorbent members, adapted to expand upon wetting, engage the print wires at a location between said wick and said jewel bearing to regulate the flow of liquid printing material toward the printing tips to prevent dripping or dribbling of the liquid printing material from the print head and to prevent the liquid printing material from travelling along the print wires away from said jewel bearing and toward the print wire actuating means.

Abstract: A zoom stereomicroscope with taking lens barrel comprises a binocular observation stereomicroscope, formed by a pair of observation optical subsystems, and an auxiliary optical subsystem which may be used for purpose of photographing or auxiliary observation. The auxiliary subsystem is focussed in the same manner as the observation subsystems. Each optical subsystem includes a zooming movable lens. The movable lenses are connected with associated drive members which are driven in unitary fashion to change the magnification in the respective subsystems simultaneously.

Abstract: A paper supply roll holder having an axle insertable through the core of a paper supply roll for rotatably supporting the paper supply roll upon a supporting bracket. The rearward portion of the supporting bracket rests upon a suitable support surface while the forward ends of a pair of resilient arms are inserted into openings upon a printer housing for releasable locking therebetween and to positively locate the paper supply holder relative to the printer. The paper extends from the supply roll over a resiliently-mounted dancer bar and into the printer where it is guided therethrough by web feeding means of the incremental-feed type. The spring elements resiliently supporting the dancer bar are adapted to yield upon incremental advancement of the web feeding means, to thereafter rotate the supply roll through a small angle as the web feeding means pauses during the printing of a line to assure that the web is fed in an orderly fashion.

Abstract: A drive assembly for printer carriages and the like comprised of a closed looped metallic tape entrained about a drive and a driven pulley and being moved at a substantially constant rate. The carriage assembly reciprocally slides along guide rods for linear movement in a forward and reverse direction and is provided with guideways for enabling substantially unimpeded movement of the upper and lower runs respectively of said closed looped tape. Solenoid operated jam cleat assemblies are respectively engageable with the upper and lower runs of said closed looped tape in a mutually exclusive fashion. Connecting rod means is provided to assure engagement of only one of the jam cleats with the associated run of the closed loop tape to prevent stopping or jamming of the tape and to assist in the release of the deactivated jam cleat. By selective energization of the pair of solenoid assemblies, the carriage assembly may be moved in either the forward or reverse direction at any given instant of time.

Abstract: A stacker for handling and counting documents such as, for example, paper sheets, paper currency and the like in which the documents are fed from an input tray through cooperative feeder and stripper assemblies which separate the documents to feed them in a one at a time fashion in a forward feed direction toward acceleration rollers which accelerate the single-fed documents to create a gap between documents moving along the feed path. A gap detector senses the presence of gaps for document counting purposes. An endorser and/or suspect examination detector for examining the authenticity of paper currency may be provided downstream of the first acceleration rollers.

Abstract: An indicator circuit for an auto-strobo unit comprises a switching element which rapidly discharges a capacitor which, when adequately charged, feeds a display element indicating proper operation of the auto-strobo unit. The switching element is turned on in synchronized relationship with the initiation of a flashlight illumination from a flash discharge tube to discharge any remaining charge on the capacitor, thus providing a reliable indication of each flashlight illumination of the flash discharge tube.

Abstract: A camera includes a circuit which determines the level of a supply voltage and a self-timer delay circuit associated with an electrical shutter. The camera also includes an acoustic indicator which includes a pulse oscillator and a small size acoustic alarm unit and which operates to produce a sound substantially continuously to indicate the level of the supply voltage and to produce a sound intermittently in order to indicate that the self-timer is in operation.

Abstract: A photographic camera of an automatic exposure control type has an electrical shutter of electromagnetic release type and also has a front cover slidably disposed across the front surface of a camera body between a first position in which it closes a taking lens and a second position in which it exposes the taking lens. The camera comprises a first, a second and a third switch which are mechanically associated with the front cover, a rear lid of camera and a film winding mechanism of camera, respectively. The second switch may be replaced by a switch which is mechanically associated with a film frame counter. These switches are connected in an electrical shutter circuit in a manner such that a shutter release operation is disabled in the first position of the front cover, but is enabled in the first position of the front cover whenever the rear lid is opened, thus enabling a film loading operation.

Abstract: An improved electronic flash is provided having a selectively energizable source of illumination, control circuits for controlling the source of illumination according to a plurality of operational modes which include an automatic control mode and a manual control mode and a housing enclosing the source of illumination and the control circuits. According to a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, a frame is mounted upon an outer surface of the housing and an indicator panel may be removably mounted within the frame. The indicator panel is provided with front and rear surfaces and may be selectively mounted within the frame to externally expose either the front or rear surface thereof. One of the front or rear surfaces is provided with indicia for calculating a diaphragm value.

Abstract: A micromanipulator comprises a miniature operating tool such as a needle, micro-pippet, micro-electrode or the like which is disposed on a movable member of a microscope, such as an illuminating condenser lens, which is movable in the direction of the optical axis of an objective lens.

Abstract: A microscope comprises a full field illumination unit, a spot illumination unit using monochromatic light, means for adjusting the area of the spot region being illuminated, a light receptor for receiving light which is transmitted through a specimen, and an arithmetic unit connected with the light receptor for photometry. Full field and spot illuminations are activated simultaneously, and the position of a specimen is brought into alignment with a spot illuminated region while viewing the specimen. The area of the spot region being illuminated is adjusted so that it is substantially in conformity to the outline of the specimen. The arithmetic unit effects a quantitative determination of the total amount of light transmission through the specimen on the basis of an output from the light receptor and the area of the spot illuminated region.

Abstract: A laser knife comprises a tubular member adapted to be inserted into the coeloma by passing through the forceps channel of an endoscope, a laser radiation emitter and acceptor disposed in opposing relationship with each other on the distal end of the tubular member, a laser radiation transmission member for conveying laser radiation to the emitter, a laser oscillator for supplying laser radiation to the transmission member for the purpose of cauterizing an affected part, and means for conveying laser radiation impinging on the acceptor to the outside of a physical body subsequent to the completion of cautery.

Abstract: An illuminating unit for endoscopes includes a light guide member and a cover glass disposed forwardly of the light exiting end face of the light guide member and located within an illumination window which is formed in the distal end of the endoscope. The cover glass has an entry and an exit surface through which light passes, at least one of said surfaces being formed with a surface configuration comprised of a plurality of coaxial concave lens portions having different radii of curvature, each concave coaxial lens portion having a radius of curvature which is less than that of the surrounding lens portion.The aforesaid surface configuration may be formed upon either the entry or exit surface of the cover glass or both of said surfaces. In the two former cases, the remaining one of the entry and exit surfaces may be provided with a concave lens surface having a uniform radius of curvature.

Abstract: A print head of the dot matrix impact type is provided with a plurality of solenoid assemblies arranged in a circular array about the rearward portion of the print head. A thin flexible printed circuit cable encircles the solenoid assemblies and has imbedded therein thin flexible wires each terminating at one end in an exposed connecting terminal and connected at their opposite ends to a connector plug mounted upon the cable and adapted to releaseably receive a mating connector. Embedded in the cable are a plurality of flat rigid plates serving as a stiffening member, interlocking tab and tab receiving members, a clamping member having an elongated embracing tab and a locating member having a pair of locating tabs for positively locating and orienting the printed circuit cable relative to the solenoid assemblies and for securing the locating member to one of the solenoid assemblies to prevent the cable from sliding about the print head solenoid assembly array.

Abstract: A marker assembly for microscope includes a mounting shaft on the free end of which is detachably connected a marking member having a marking piece. A support member defines a chamber within which to receive the shaft in a displaceable manner. The support member can be mounted on the outer periphery of an objective barrel of the microscope, and an operating rod secured to the shaft cooperates with a guide groove or slot to cause a movement of the shaft so that the marking piece may be moved to a marking position and/or inking position.

Abstract: A multi-channel record/playback head is disposed which is used with a magnetic recording medium of vertical magnetization type. The head comprises a plurality of magnetic head elements each including a magnetic record/playback pole disposed opposite to the surface of the medium and a flux conducting pole disposed opposite to a lateral end face of the medium. The elements are arranged so that the individual record/playback poles define different tracks across the width of the medium.