Abstract: A film cassette, particularly an X-ray film cassette, includes a housing which bounds a compartment for accommodating a film and having an opening for exposing an image on a predetermined portion of the film in the compartment. The opening is light-tightly closed by a closure which is displaceable between its closed and open positions and which is latched in its closed position by a latching member which is pivotally mounted on the closure and engages the housing at one of its ends. The other end of the rocker is accessible to an actuating pin of an exposing device through an access opening in the closure, so that the actuating pin can pivot the rocker into its releasing position in which the closure is free to move towards its open position, and displace the closure between its closed an open positions. When the closure is open, the exposing device exposes data onto a portion of the film in the cassette which is aligned with the opening.

Abstract: A focussing system of the type which emits radiation from the camera towards the subject, with the radiation reflected from the subject being incident upon a receiving transducer generating an electrical signal from which focus-control information is derived. The emitted radiant-power level is automatically controlled in dependence upon camera-to-subject distance, preferably in dependence upon the power level of the reflected-back radiation incident upon the receiving transducer, even when the focus-control information required for primary system operation is independent of such power level.

Abstract: A digital control circuit for use in automatic-focus cameras is disclosed, which is suitable for use in self-focusing systems which determine focus by means of triangulation. The system corrects for motor oscillation about a state of proper focus, defocusing caused by inertia, and for an inability to evaluate proper state of focus caused by large distances between the camera and a subject.

Abstract: Radially successive annular electrodes disposed in a general plane define between themselves intermediate annular zones in which is confined electrooptic material. Selected annular zones are rendered transparent by applying to pairs of selected annular electrodes potential differences which extend through the electrooptic material in the direction in which the general plane extends, not perpendicular to the general plane. The annular zones are rendered transparent in cumulative succession proceeding radially outwards, and have surface areas such that, as each next annular zone becomes transparent too, the transparent area of the arrangement doubles each time. A control circuit includes a counter whose outputs are connected to the inputs of a gating network, the latter having outputs connected to various ones of the annular electrodes, establishing the rate at which the cumulatively successive changes of state of radially outwardly successive annular zones proceeds.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter is disclosed which utilizes a successive approximation register. The operation of the successive approximation register is so controlled that any analog signal within a dynamic range requiring more bits than the successive approximation register can hold can nonetheless be accurately converted within a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for automatically controlling the shutter in a camera in accordance with ambient scene light level. While the shutter is opening, incident light is weighted at only one-half the value at which it is weighted after the shutter has been fully opened. A switchable voltage divider is utilized to accomplish the weighting function in accordance with shutter blade position.

Abstract: Light-sensitive photographic silver halide material comprising a hydrophilic colloid layer containing in dispersed state a light-absorbing merostyryl dye that corresponds to the following general formula: ##STR1## in which: R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, aralkyl or substituted aralkyl,R.sup.2 is carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, ureido, sulphamoyl or one of the groups represented by R.sup.1 ;at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 being or containing carboxy or carbamoyl,R.sup.3 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, and when R.sup.3 is alkyl or alkoxy it stands in ortho or para in respect of the hydroxy group, which itself is in ortho or para in respect of the methine group,said merostyryl dye containing no group that renders the dye soluble in the hydrophilic colloid layer.

Abstract: A photographic material is processed with a processing liquid by establishing a surface contact between the uppermost layer of the material and a flat porous spreading element impregnated with a low viscosity processing liquid. The impregnation is brought about by providing during or prior to processing for a contact between the spreading element in at least parts thereof with the liquid content of a container for the processing liquid. The spreading element may be flexible or rigid and may consist of woven or knitted fabrics, non-woven webs of endless filaments or staple fibres, non-woven webs of paper fibres, porous plastic foils or porous metal layers.

Abstract: New DIR-compounds of the formula ##STR1## are useful in photographic materials and processes.

Abstract: Apparatus for improving the adhesion or pinning of an extruded polymer film to a moving quenching member, by maintaining in the absence of corona discharge, the quenching member at an electrical potential differing from the potential of the extrusion die, the magnitude of said potential being sufficient to increase the adherence of the film to the quenching member.

Abstract: A slide projector having a slidably movable magazine with slides, a platform to receive a slide from the magazine, a first support member to transport a slide from the magazine into the platform and a second support to return the used slide from the platform into the magazine. The first support is rigidly mounted on a slidably movable carriage and adapted to push each successive slide from the magazine when the latter is in alignment with the platform. The second support is pivotally mounted on the slide carriage which moves in the direction toward or backward from the magazine. The second support is a three-linked member adapted to engage the used slide to push the latter back to the magazine and having a pin between a first lever and a second lever. A cammed surface is provided in the housing which engages the pin upon slidable movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A still-camera film transport system includes a perforation feeler and cooperating perforation-detecting switch generating a perforation signal. A motor speed sensor generates a signal indicative of whether the motor speed is above or below a certain level. A shutter-state switch generates a signal indicating whether the shutter is in set or unset state. A motor-control switch is controlled from the output of a logic-circuit stage which receives the above three signals. During normal operation before the film end is reached, the perforation signal is used to generate a deenergize-motor signal, but in dependence upon the shutter-state signal. When the film end is reached no further perforations follow, but the transport motor comes to a halt because it cannot pull the film further. The motor-speed signal indicates this and, when applied to the logic-circuit stage, causes the motor to be deenergized if the shutter is in set state.

Abstract: Sulphoalkyl and sulphoalkenyl quaternary salts of heterocyclic nitrogen compounds are prepared by reacting heterocyclic compounds containing a tertiary ring nitrogen atom at an elevated temperature with an O-sulphoalkyl or O-sulphoalkenylisourea compound.

Abstract: A photographic material comprising in at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and/or in a hydrophilic colloid layer in water-permeable relationship with such an emulsion layer an antifoggant precursor corresponding to one of the following general formulae: ##STR1## wherein: each of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 (same or different) is an acyl groupeach of Y.sup.10 and Y.sup.20 (same or different) is an aromatic acyl group,R is an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic nitrogen-containing 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring,R.sup.1 is hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group in free acid, salt or esterified form, a carbamoyl group or a N-substitued carbamoyl group,R.sup.2 is hydrogen, an alkyl group or an aryl group,R.sup.3 has the same meaning as Y.sup.10, or is hydrogen, or is an alkyl group or an aryl group, or is a R.sup.7 -S- group wherein R.sup.7 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group,R.sup.4 is hydrogen, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group,R.sup.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## are useful as stabilizers in photographic materials.

Abstract: A moving length of a thermoplastic web is subjected to edge knurling along the margins of its two opposite edges by passing each of such margins through a knurling zone including a backing wheel in supporting engagement with the reverse surface of the margin and in engagement with the obverse margin surface a freely rotatable knurling wheel carrying a plurality of raised minute surface projections thereon as an exterior knurling pattern, while heaving a portion of the rim periphery to a temperature sufficiently high to soften a surface stratum of the web margin by conduction from the heated rim, and simultaneously adjusting the force exerted by the two wheels on the web margin to cause said knurling projections to enter and depress localized areas of the heat softened surface stratum while the regions of the same surface stratum adjacent such depressed areas become upset and raised above the original surface without causing deformation of the reverse web surface as a consequence of the entry of the knurling p