Abstract: Apparatus for transferring a designated card or card-like article such as a microfiche into or out of a stack of similar cards by producing a separation in the stack at a selected location with a stream of air and moving the designated card into or out of the separation with a vacuum pickup arm. The selected stack location is verified by reading means located outside of the stack and directed at retroreflective marks on the card exposed by the separation.

Abstract: An improved limit switch operator head assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a rotatable operating shaft which is rotatable in reverse switch commutating directions, and a helically coiled torsion spring for effecting return of the operating shaft to a center or non switch commutating position. It further includes a U-shaped member formed of thin spring steel which is held in friction producing abutting relation against the coils of the torsion spring to damp the snap-back action of the latter and thereby prevent reverse rotations of the operating shaft beyond its center position.

Abstract: Radiator slots spaced along a main waveguide are coupled to respective array element ports through branch waveguides proportioned to provide equal length transmission paths from a common feed port on the main waveguide.

Abstract: The snap-in arrangement includes a retainer slidably mounted on a bushing extending from a switch frame mounted on the switch base of an electrical toggle switch and pivotally supporting a toggle lever for actuating switch contacts housed in the switch base. The bushing is adapted to be inserted through an aperture in a support panel and has a main body, an enlarged outer end portion including an annular ledge extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the main body, an annular slot in the underside of the ledge, and an inner end portion of a reduced diameter. The retainer has an annular base slidably mounted on the inner end portion of the bushing and a plurality of resilient fingers connected to and normally extending axially in an outwardly diverging direction from the retainer base with the free ends thereof extending radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the enlarged end portion of the bushing. The free ends of the fingers are releasably held in the bushing slot prior to mounting.

Abstract: Germanium semiconductor temperature switches are described which are capable of intrinsically switching between high and low resistance states within a temperature range up to 55.degree.C, and are adapted for operating at voltages up to 400 volts. These temperature switches are disclosed in various configurations. Basic circuits for adjusting the temperatures at which such switches switch within a range are disclosed. Preferred methods of making the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A single-phase induction motor is provided with a simple capacitor-start control system. A precision current detector (reed relay) is used in the main winding circuit to fire a bidirectional thyristor and precisely control the starting and stopping points of energization of the start winding to cause the motor to accelerate to the desired speed. Although this small reed relay is a fast acting device that picks up on the leading side and drops out on the trailing side of each current half-cycle, chopping up of the current wave is avoided by the combination used. Thus, in view of the nearly 90 degree phase-shift between the main winding and start winding currents, the reed relay, with its dropout point being lower in current value than its pickup point on each half-cycle due to the inherent differential in its magnetic characteristics, applies a wide firing pulse to the thyristor at the most desirable time, that is, it widely overlaps the point where the start winding current passes through zero.

Abstract: An extremely small time-setting switch adapted for mounting in a hole in the case of an electronic watch and having a coin slot whereby it may be rotated to any one of a plurality of operating positions including a "run" position, a "stop" position, a "minutes change" position, and an "hours change" position. The switch is provided with a generally annular detent structure affording clearance at its middle for the movable contact and affording a better feel including an audible click when rotated into each of its several operating positions and the stationary parts of the switch are locked to one another to prevent movement when the rotary knob is turned in a structure affording an extremely thin, flat package adapted to be staked into the watch case.

Abstract: A trigger switch for a portable electric tool providing substantial pretravel of the trigger before closing force is applied to the contacts. This is a safety measure to prevent the motor from starting if the trigger should be accidentally pressed in handling a circular saw or the like. The pretravel is provided by a telescopic joint between the trigger and contact carrier, each of which is biased independently by a return spring to insure immediate reopening of the contacts upon release of the trigger.

Abstract: RFI (radio frequency interference) is eliminated by placing conductive grease between the toggle lever and its pivot pin in an electric switch to insure good connection of the toggle lever to ground through the housing. This conductive grease also prevents any tendency for the rubber seal material forcing its way into the space between the pivot pin and the toggle lever during the in situ molding operation which otherwise might insulate the toggle lever and cause RFI radiation due to its antenna effect.

Abstract: A variable frequency voltage controlled oscillator is tuned to a selected frequency by applying a varying voltage to the control port of the oscillator to sweep the oscillator signal through a frequency range which includes the frequency of a reference frequency source. The value of the varying voltage is stored at the instant the oscillator frequency coincides with the frequency of the reference source. A dc offset voltage is then added to the stored voltage to produce a sum voltage which is substituted for the varying voltage at the control port of the oscillator to tune the oscillator to the selected frequency. The offset voltage is equal to the difference in the control voltages at the selected and reference frequencies and may be determined from the oscillator control voltage characteristic.

Abstract: A round plastic bushing and frame for an electric switch wherein the bushing has a flared collar that is radially squeezed when it is pressed through a round hole from the back of a mounting panel and spreads out in front so that its edge locks the bushing to the panel for great strength retention. A pair of integral spring fingers press against the back of the panel to keep the collar tight against the front of the panel. The integral frame has a pair of parallel arms that hug the switch base and are terminated in hooks that engage notches on opposite sides thereof to secure the integral bushing and frame to the base.In a first version where the bushing and frame cannot be molded integrally into final form, the collar is molded as a radial flange on the projecting end of the bushing and, after removal from the mold, is formed into a frusto-conical collar around the tip of the bushing for snap-in mounting.

Abstract: A method of making electrical contacts of the type having a pair of disk-shaped contacts of precious metal secured to an electrically conductive base member. In this method, continuous flat silver strip is first preformed in a punch press to provide a series of disks left connected to one another at their opposite peripheral edges to afford sufficient stiffness for handling. A pair of these strips are then fed, while maintaining registration therebetween, concurrently with a continuous base member into a brazing or welding machine and are secured to one surface of the base member adjacent opposite edges thereof to form a continuous subassembly strip. This subassembly strip is then fed into a cut-off device with accurate registration so as to make cuts through the connection exactly between adjacent disks of directly opposite pairs thereof and through the base member to provide two round contacts spaced apart on a rectangular base member.

Abstract: A portable tool double-pole trigger switch enclosing a speed control circuit that includes a plastic pack SCR (semi-conductor controlled rectifier) of the sensitive gate type, a capacitor and a variable resistor. In a first version, the mounting tab of the SCR is soldered to a connector that is contacted by the resistor slider. A ceramic capacitor may be used by soldering its leads between the cathode and gate terminals of the SCR, the mounting tab serving as the anode terminal. A chip capacitor may be used by soldering it to bridge the cathode and gate terminals. In another version, the mounting tab may be arranged to be contacted directly by the resistor slider, thus eliminating the aforesaid connector.