Abstract: Light emitted by a source arrives through a system of lenses and a first system of bars on the control layer of a control element. The light is reflected and refracted in keeping with local deformation of the control element nad then conducted through a concave mirror, a second bar system and a further system of lenses onto a projection surface. The image to be amplified is reproduced by means of a system of lenses on a photoelectric conducting layer in the control element. A control layer is a layer of gel and is located between two electrodes in an alternating electrical field, which may be affected by the photoelectric conducting layer. The electrode adjacent to the photoelectric conducting layer is electrically insulated relative to the photoelectric conducting layer and is in the form of a strip grid, the strips of which are connected alternatingly to one or the other pole of a source of alternating voltage. One of the poles is connected with the other electrode.

Abstract: A cassette housing for a roll of photographic strip materials, the housing consisting of two frontal plates with integrated bearing lugs for the wound strip material and a jacket, all of the parts being held together by a single axial threaded bolt with a pivoting handle and having a stationary guide plate and an axially moveable guide plate to effect the optimum alignment and guidance of the roll.

Abstract: On an essentially non-absorbing plate located in the focal plane of a laser beam to be adjusted, a plurality of marks is arranged in a definite pattern. The marks deflect the laser light incident upon them by refraction, scattering, diffraction or otherwise, and direct the deflected light onto one or several laser detectors. The detectors convert the light received into corresponding electrical signals which may used for the fine adjustment of the laser beam by an evaluating electronic device.

Abstract: In a production line for photographic copies the individual sheets leaving the copy portion of the production line are distributed over a plurality of output conveyors and transported in accordance to a predetermined distribution pattern through a subsequent wet treatment and drying station. For facilitating subsequent collection of copies by order, a separation mark in the form of a deviation from the predetermined distribution pattern is inserted between separate orders on said output conveyors. The separation marks may be detected after the wet treatment station by a light barrier sensing device or the like, and used for controlling automatic sorting devices to collect copies by order.

Abstract: In the resonator of a laser generator, variable mode selective structure is provided to permit electrically actuated adaptation of beam parameters to required operating conditions. Such structure can be implemented with one or more pivotal plates, each having a different aperture, that are selectively pivoted into the beam path to effectively provide a variable mode diaphragm. In another embodiment, a spatial light modulator comprising a reversing prism with a variable position concave plate positioned adjacent its reflection surface and operating according to the optical tunnel effect can be used to selectively vary the effective diameter of the laser beam.

Abstract: A color measuring strip having a plurality of different measuring fields includes information codes located either laterally adjacent to, or between, individual measuring fields. The information codes are individually assigned to respective measuring fields, and contain information relating to such items as scanning position and the color and type of the field concerned. The information codes are machine-read and are evaluated so that a scanning head may be positioned relative to the measuring fields, and are further used in processing the data provided by the scanning head.

Abstract: Printed products and their respective corresponding printing plates are divided into a plurality of image elements. For each image element the surface coverage is determined by photoelectric measurements; a reference reflectance value is then calculated from these measurements, taking into consideration such parameters as the printing characteristic. These reference reflectance values are compared with the actual reflectance values measured on the printed products and the results of the comparison are evaluated to form a quality measure and to calculate control values for the ink feed devices of the printing machine. In this manner, the use of special color measuring strips may be eliminated.

Abstract: Printed products and their respective corresponding printing plates are divided into a plurality of image elements. For each image element the surface coverage is determined by photoelectric measurements; a reference reflectance value is then calculated from these measurements, taking into consideration such parameters as the printing characteristic. These reference reflectance values are compared with the actual reflectance values measured on the printed products and the results of the comparison are evaluated to from a quality measure and to calculate control values for the ink feed devices of the printing machine. In this manner, the use of special color measuring strips may be eliminated.

Abstract: The printed sheets are scanned, by image elements, immediately behind the last printing mechanism, with one or several measuring heads. Suitable dimensions of an image element range from approximately 1.times.1 mm.sup.2 to 10.times.10 mm.sup.2. In each image element the reflectance is measured in four spectral ranges (infrared for black, red for cyan, green for magenta and blue for yellow). The measured reflectance values are converted by means of Neugebauer equations into surface coverages in a demasking step and inputted to a computer for evaluation. With the same measuring device, both the reference values associated with OK sheets, and the actual values associated with continuous printing, are measured. The computer compares the measured data, weights them with respect to such factors as surface coverage, foreign color component and the environment of a respective image element, and produces a regulating signal to control the ink feed elements.

Abstract: A densitometer is described which is equipped with an extendable and retractable measuring head driven by an electric motor. In the retracted rest position, a measuring diaphragm is visible to the user and the instrument may be positioned. In the extended working position the measuring head covers the measuring diaphragm. By means of the electric drive of the measuring head, the risk of erroneous positioning is avoided.

Abstract: Focusing of a light beam on an object is effected by two mutually complementary techniques: in the first technique the beam spot on the object is reproduced on several measuring diaphragms arranged at different distances from the image plane and the light not blocked by the measuring diaphragms is evaluated for the detection of the focal point. This technique is highly sensitive and reacts rapidly. It is used for the continuous setting and resetting of focusing. The second technique utilizes the phenomenon of "speckling". Herein the light back scattered by the beam spot is evaluated for its granulation and optimum focusing determined as a function of the maximum coarseness of granulation. This second technique is insensitive to alignment and is thus used to calibrate the first technique. Both methods together yield a highly sensitive, precise and stable focusing system satisfying all practical requirements to a high degree.

Abstract: A digitized speech signal is divided into sections and each section is analyzed by the linear prediction method to determine the coefficients of a sound formation model, a sound volume parameter, information concerning voiced or unvoiced excitation and the period of the vocal band base frequency. In order to improve the quality of speech without increasing the data rate, redundance reducing coding of the speech parameters is effected. The coding of the speech parameters is performed in blocks of two or three adjacent speech sections. The parameters of the first speech section are coded in a complete form, and those of the other speech sections in a differential form or in part not at all. The average number of bits required per speech section is reduced to compensate for the increased section rate, so that the overall data rate is not increased.

Abstract: Speech signal is decided voiced or unvoiced by a sequence of unilateral decisions: a first test decides "unvoiced" if standardized energy E.sub.s is below a threshold, or "ambiguous" if above the threshold whereby a second test decides "unvoiced" if the number of zero crossings ZC is above a threshold, and ambiguous if below the threshold. Up to six criteria may be so tested as ambiguous before a "voiced" decision is made.

Abstract: A decoding system containing a synchronizing and entry detector rendering possible the phase-in of messages delayed, for example, by interference. In order to be able to decode parts of the message received prior to phase-in, the cipher is stored intermediately from the onset of reception in a memory. Following the completion of the transmission, the decoding generator is set to an initial state corresponding to the phase-in and operated in the inverse direction from there. Simultaneously the intermediately stored cipher is called up in an inversed order from the memory and decoded with the key pulse sequence of the decoding generator.

Abstract: In a photofinishing operation, the correlation of order envelopes, films and the paper prints produced therefrom is carried out automatically. The order envelopes, films and the strip of paper prints are provided with the same machine-readable control number per order. These control numbers are monitored during final processing by machine and, in case of a lack of agreement, the cutting of the film and the paper is prevented and an appropriate alarm is actuated.

Abstract: A laser beam impacts an object through a focusing lens. The beam spot produced on the object is reproduced by means of an optical assembly of three measuring diaphragms in the form of a stripe of a width varying as a function of the state of focusing, with the measuring diaphragms being mutually offset with respect to the ideal focusing point. The light passed by the measuring diaphragms impacts three photoreceivers and the measuring signals produced by them are processed in an evaluating stage to produce a correction signal which then is used for the automatic setting of the focus by means of a control device. The system requires no mechanically oscillating parts, is simple in its configuration and suitable for pulsed laser systems.

Abstract: Flat objects, such as disk shaped print masters, that are stacked in a magazine are pressured by an ejector against the ejection orifice of the magazine. A support surface for the ejected object is located under the ejection orifice. The ejector is actuated by an ejector drive, which stresses the ejector until an object is ejected onto the support surface and the counter pressure generated by the ejected object attains a certain limiting value. The ejector is subsequently relieved. The apparatus makes it possible to eject the objects individually from the magazine in a reliable and precise manner with a relatively small effort.

Abstract: A crank pin is eccentrically located on a motor driven crank plate. The pin engages a radial slot of a two-arm intermediate pivot lever in the manner of a Geneva drive. A bearing socket is located on the arm of the intermediate pivot lever opposite the slot, and is rotatable about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the lever. The bearing socket axially guides a connecting rod that is perpendicular to a transport lever to be pivoted and is joined with it fixedly in rotation. By the rotation of the crank plate in the one or the other direction, the transport lever is pivoted back and forth. Its two terminal positions are defined by stops. The distance between the axis of the intermediate pivot lever and the bearing socket is dimensioned so that a slight overtravel is obtained and the connecting rod is stressed lightly upon reaching each of the terminal positions, so that the transport lever is held elastically against the stop.

Abstract: Disk shaped print masters are guided by means of a carrousel in step wise rotation through a series of processing stations. Support elements for the print masters are arranged on the periphery of the carrousel. A displaceable radially locking pin is associated with each support element in the carrousel in its outer normal position, the pin engages a peripheral notch of the master disk (D) located on the support element (TR), thereby defining its rotational position. The locking pins may be displaced radially inward in selected processing stations by common mechanical means thereby disengaging them from the master disks. The device makes it possible in a mechanically simple and inexpensive manner to immobilize the print masters during their transportation and to release them in certain processing stations.

Abstract: A printing apparatus equipped for disk shaped print masters is provided with a magazine carrousel for four standardized double magazines and a disk carrousel to transport the print masters through individual processing stations. Different transport means effect the transport of the individual print masters from an active delivery magazine to the disk carrousel and from this back to an active receiving magazine. When a delivery magazine is empty, the magazine carrousel is advanced one step so that new magazines are automatically inserted in the place of the formerly active magazines. Follower transport means are provided to place the masters remaining on the disk carrousel into the formerly active receiving magazine after the stepping movement of the magazines. A printing apparatus designed in this manner renders possible a practically uninterrupted printing operation.