Abstract: During the infeed of cartridges from an ammunition container or magazine to a firing weapon, problems arise in the event there are not simultaneously fulfilled the following three requirements: (a) the first cartridge of a firing burst or series firing should be first delivered to the firing weapon following completion of the run-up-to-speed of the firing weapon; (b) the last cartridge of a firing burst or series firing should be delivered to the firing weapon before the firing weapon has been braked; and (c) the spent cartridge cases should be returned by the cartridge infeed apparatus to the ammunition container. To fulfill these objectives, there is provided an arrangement composed of an endless storage chain, a transfer location, and a switchable gate, in order to allow the temporary storage of spent cartridge cases during reverse movement of the cartridge transport apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for storing and mixing blood samples comprises separate storage and mixing discs for storing and mixing blood samples in containers. The discs are driven independently and are provided with complementary grooves. A loading device loads the containers into the storage disc where they are transported to a transfer device. The transfer device successively transfers the containers into an oppositely situated groove of the mixing disc. The mixing disc mixes the blood samples via rotation thereof, after which the containers are transferred to a blood removal device which rotates each container with its blood sample about the lengthwise axis thereof so that a bar code reading device can read a bar code applied to the container. Blood is then withdrawn from the container and delivered to a blood analyzer, after which the container is ejected from the mixing disc by rotation of the mixing disc.

Abstract: The filtering apparatus is used in combination with at least one analytical instrument, especially a particle analyzer and substantially comprises a controlled pump unit having an inlet side and an outlet side. The inlet side of the controlled pump unit is connected to a reservoir for a liquid medium to be filtered. The outlet side is connected to a filtering unit. An intermediate storage unit for intermediately storing the filtered liquid medium is connected to the filtering unit. The filtered liquid medium is fed to the analytical instrument from the intermediate storage unit which contains level detectors for detecting the liquid level in the intermediate storage unit. The level detectors are connected to a control unit for controlling the controlled pump unit.

Abstract: The process for wiring substrates with a universal pattern of conductors and a large number of predetermined bonding/cutting localities is characterized in that from the quantity of all the possibilities for bonding and cutting is removed the quantity necessary for the realization of a given application, after realization of one given circuit this quantity is tested for further possibilities for realizing the circuit, and the found quantity of possibilities is made available as a correction quantity. The advantage of such a correction potential is that layout or contacting errors can be corrected in a second passage, so that wastage is reduced.

Abstract: The marine fire-control system preferably comprises several subsystems, each having a target detection module and at least one effector module. The subsystems and/or the modules are extensively interlinked and contain means for compensating static, quasi-static and dynamic alignment errors. By means of at least one computer unit, the data determined by respective sensors are evaluated and the compensation parameters representing the alignment errors between the individual subsystems and/or between the modules are determined. The processing of these movement data permits taking into account, during operation, the dynamic position changes between the subsystems or between the modules, respectively. Preferably, a permanent monitoring takes place by a safety or control system, which monitoring automatically or indirectly leads to an optimized coupling of effector modules and target detection modules.

Abstract: The application of technically sensitive devices in outer space requires adequate protective shields or protective chambers which protect the payload against atmospheric radiation, thermal effects etc.The foldable structure according to the invention consists of a topological arrangement of flexible tubes which are joined to each other and form the skeleton of the shield or of the chamber. To these tubes there are attached membranes which serve as protective walls.The method of manufacturing a finished protective device uses such a foldable structure, whereby the structure is unfolded by inflation of the tubes and assumes the desired two-dimensional or three-dimensional form. The membranes are also stretched by the extension of the tubes and the interaction of the membranes and the tubes, such tubes acting as struts in the inflated condition, produces a stable structure.

Abstract: A video camera is used for controlling the adjustment of a manipulator unit. An object is imaged by the video camera which is optimumly focused with respect to the object as a function of the mean brightness of a predetermined image from containing the image of the object. The focusing operation is carried out on the basis of obtaining an optimum value for the mean brightness of the image elements within the predetermined image frame enclosing the object image. The manipulator unit may contain an industrial robot for selectively adjusting either one of a workpiece or a tool acting upon a workpiece. Furthermore, the manipulator unit may contain a target tracking platform for tracking a target constituting the object imaged by the video camera.

Abstract: The brightness and the contrast are optimized in a video image which is used for controlling a manipulator unit. For this purpose, the gain/offset control means of a video camera producing the video image, is controlled using an image control unit in a manner such that the image data of an object can be processed by the image control unit in optimum manner. The manipulator unit may comprise an industrial robot manipulating a workpiece or a tool of a machine tool acting upon a workpiece. The manipulator unit can also be constructed as a target tracking platform for tracking a target which is imaged by the video camera.

Abstract: In a highly integrated circuit the semiconductor chip (8) is fastened on a substrate (17) which projects on all sides only a few millimeters beyond the semiconductor chip (8). For Full dynamic testing of the circuit before insertion, connections are provided which are arranged outside the projecting substrate edge (23) with a sufficiently large grid spacing.In a first embodiment (FIG. 2D) "lost" test connections (5) are used which are separated after testing.In a second embodiment (FIG. 3E), contact areas in the form of bumps (21) are used for testing which are arranged on the underside of the through-holes (18) lying in the chip mounting area.In this manner it is possible to realize a circuit with greatly reduced space requirement, which at the same time can be fully tested dynamically before insertion.

Abstract: An electronic circuit with flip-chip mounting of a semiconductor chip (5) on a substrate (1), wherein there is provided between the semiconductor chip (5) and the conductor tracks (2) of the substrate (1) a metallic solder stop layer (3) which is insulated from its environment by an oxide layer (4). With this type of solder stop layer, it is possible to obtain layer thickness which can be exactly reproduced, as a result of which a reliable flip-chip soldering is achieved.

Abstract: The device comprises three rotational axes (7, 8, 9), whereby the first (7) and the second (8), counted from the axis of the target directed body, constitute a classical laying axis system, and a third rotational axis (9) between this laying axis system and the base support (5) of the device allows this laying system to pivot to a singularity axis, such that the device can carry out the laying movements thereof with adequate angular distance from its singularity, and whereby the first (7) and the third (9) rotational axis are spaced from one another by a distance (A), in order that there can be aimed without hindrance beyond a housing (10) in which the necessary auxiliary installations are accommodated.

Abstract: In the stepping or indexing drive of a character drum having secured thereat a pinion, wherein there is provided an actuation plunger for rotary motion of the pinion in the one direction and another actuation plunger for rotary motion of the pinion in the other direction, there must be prevented that the character drum while rotating from one index position to the next can be stopped and remain in an intermediate position between two index positions. For this purpose, there is provided a movable locking or detent element which coacts with both actuation plungers and with inclined surfaces formed at the switch housing. This locking or detent element is brought by each individual actuation plunger, at the start of its actuating path, into a locking position for the other actuation plunger and retained in this locking position to positively prevent simultaneous actuation of both actuation plungers.

Abstract: The apparatus for analyzing particles in a particle containing fluid, especially pretreated liquids containing blood samples, contains storage devices and computing sections for determining separation threshold values and the particle distribution as a function of a pretermined particle parameter. The separation threshold values are determined on the basis of measured values of the predetermined particle parameter arranged in individual histograms containing at least two particle population maxima and minima. At least one particle population minimum is determined using an adaptive method. For insufficiently distinct particle population minima, there is first determined, on the basis of histograms containing corresponding distinct particle population minima and maxima, a characteristic difference quotient: ##EQU1## The separation threshold value associated with the insufficiently distinct particle population minimum is determined on the basis of the characteristic difference quotient according to:S.sub.

Abstract: To order to positively lock or arrest an adjusted position at a mechanical device, for instance the elevation position at a firing device, with negligible play, wherein there is fixed the position set by a hand wheel serving for adjustment of the elevation position of the firing device, there is provided a locking or arresting apparatus comprising a clamping device arranged at a stationary part or housing of the firing device. The clamping device comprises two jaw members. By means of the clamping device, following setting of the desired position, such as the elevation position of the firing device, a ring member fixedly connected with the rotatably mounted hand wheel can be clamped between both clamping jaw members by the clamping device. In this way, the ring member can be positively arrested or fixed in position. The locking or arresting apparatus has many fields of application for all types of mechanical devices of different construction.

Abstract: The electric push-button switch comprises a housing portion and a linearly moveable push-button portion. Guide columns at the housing portion and the push-button portion attain accurate linear guiding and rotational positioning of the push-button portion. These guide columns mutually interact or interengage and are in multiple line contact with one another. This multiple line contact extends in the direction of movement of the push-button portion. The length of such line contact is variable between a rest position and an operating position of the push-button portion. This line contact is greatest when the push-button portion assumes its operating position. A contact surface of a fixed counter contact comprises a planar slide surface for resilient contact arms carried by the push-button portion. The friction arising during the forced sliding movement of the resilient contact arms over the contact surface produces self-cleaning of the contacts and damping of contact chatter movements.

Abstract: The wheel body of a tape wheel possesses two outer half shells which are fastened to the wheel hub. The two outer half shells are arranged in conically inclined relationship to one another with respect to a connecting plane and form a wheel rim by means of annular wall parts. Within the wheel body there may be located an inner stiffening shell which diagonally extends toward the exterior from one flange of the wheel hub to a free end of the other outer half shell. The inner stiffening shell abuts against the annular wall parts by means of an annular shell portion. The transverse or axial stiffness or rigidity of the wheel body and thus of the entire tape wheel is increased in a particularly advantageous manner.

Abstract: A controlled coupling action between a distributor element and a rotary diaphragm is to be provided in an environment exposed to dust and powder within a dosing apparatus into which all kinds of materials, such as abrasive and chemically aggressive substances, but also materials intensifying sliding or adhesion properties are introduced for dosed delivery. To that end there are provided elastic form-locking coupling elements which, under increasing load, momentarily disengage the rotary connection between the distributor element and the rotary diaphragm. A preferred material pairing for the elastic form-locking coupling elements is metal, such as stainless steel, and polytetrafluoroethylene known as Teflon.

Abstract: The apparatus for the dosed delivery of a granular solid material to a reaction container possessing a delivery inlet possesses a dosing device comprising a piston-cylinder unit which opens or discharges into the base or floor of a transfer chamber. The solid material which exits or leaves the dosing device is conveyed in the transfer chamber by means of a rotating conveyor component to a funnel whose inlet opening is located in the base or floor of the transfer chamber. The conveyor elements or cavities of the conveyor component extend over the entire cross section of the inner volume of the transfer chamber such that the solid material is transferred without loss from the dosing device to the funnel which discharges into the delivery inlet of the reaction container and the conveyor component seals the gas volume above the funnel.

Abstract: An osmotic pump for supplying a fluid medium to a reaction chamber defining a first chamber, for example, for supplying a fluid nutrient to a cell culture located in the reaction chamber, is connected to the reaction chamber by a plurality of channels forming a channel system. The osmotic pump provides a continual supply of fluid medium even under zero gravity conditions. The removal and return of expended reaction medium takes place by means of a channel into a second chamber. This second chamber encloses an operating medium for the osmotic pump such that the chambers form a closed system with the corresponding channels.

Abstract: The proposed surveillance system for surveilling a given scenario in azimuth and in elevation comprises an infrared surveillance detection device passively operating in the infrared region and a radar search and/or tracking device operating in the active mode for range determination. The targets or target information data are obtained as video signals from the infrared surveillance detection device during each search cycle and are processed in an infrared data processor. The video signals are discriminated and stored in an infrared signal processor with respect to their elevation angle values (.lambda.) and azimuth angle values (.alpha.). The values of the azimuth angle (.alpha.) are simultaneously fed to a radar activation and contol unit for triggering a momentary or short-time emission by the radar search and/or tracking device.