Abstract: This cutter guide drive mechanism for cigarette-making machine is of the type wherein the cutter guide member is kept constantly parallel to itself while being rotatably driven at a tangential velocity equal to the linear velocity of the tobacco rod. The complete mechanism is housed in an oil-tight case consisting of one of the component elements of the cutter guide drive, whereby the mechanism is efficiently protected and can also be properly lubricated from inside.

Abstract: A method for producing hot briquettes, for example, for use in blast furnaces, and using a briquetting material of non-caking components, such as low temperature coke from bituminous coal and/or lignite, coke dust and/or oil coke and caking fat coal at temperatures between 430.degree. C. and 540.degree. C., comprising, delivering the briquetting material to a briquetting press to form briquette blanks, tempering and degassing the blanks by delivering the blanks into individual chambers in a closed system of several chambers having gas communication with each other so that there is partly changing amounts of gas generated in the individual chambers and the briquette blanks are formed into tempered briquettes, and applying an overpressure to the chambers to conduct the gases away from the chamber with one and the same overpressure.

Abstract: The machine for serigraphic printing on planar or circular objects is of the type comprising a support block having a device for holding the object to be printed and a printing screen above which is vertically movable ink squeegee is suspended. The screen and squeegee undergo a relative movement of reciprocating translation. The machine comprises an adjustable device for cyclically limiting the reciprocating travel of the screen relative to the squeegee or vice-versa. The adjustable device acts alternately on devices for controlling, lowering or raising the squeegee relative to the screen or vice versa. The adjustable device is moreover coupled to a device for withdrawing the support block. The support block is provided with an ejector of the objects mounted on the support block.

Abstract: A metallic ladder includes stiles (or side rails) of U or I section and rungs which are supported at each end by a reinforcing plate. The stiles have, in section on each longitudinal wall a flange which is spaced inwardly with respect to a free edge of the respective longitudinal wall so as to form a ridge. The reinforcing plates rest on the flanges and are restrained laterally by the ridges. The reinforcing plates are held at the flanges by a tab and opening arrangement. Each rung has a shoulder adjacent each end which contacts either the reinforcing plate or the web of the stile and the extreme end portion of the rung engages correspondingly in the web or the plate.

Abstract: Disposable packaging containing a granular product is fed into a trommel by a screw whose discharge end is rigid with a frustoconical member located inside the trommel. The smaller end of the frustoconical member faces the screw. Cutters for releasing the product from the packaging are located at the inlet of the trommel and cooperate with the frustoconical member. The trommel has rakes or spiral members for separating the packaging and the product from each other.

Abstract: A device for measuring the profile of a body wherein three expanded planar laser beams are provided, each of the planar beams being relatively disposed at angles of 45.degree. and directed towards the path of a moving body. Respective photocells are arranged to be illuminated by the beams after passage across the path of the moving body. Relative movement is effected between the body and the laser beams, such that the body successively passes through the beams and effectively masks respective ones of the beams from their associated photocells for a time period indicative of the diameter of the body at the photodetector height. The photodetector thus provides an electrical signal representative of such period. The diameter of the body is measured at a plurality of heights to provide a profile of the body in a vertical plane perpendicular to the plane of the light beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds having the general formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, represent each a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl radical or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl radical; R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl radical; R.sub.4 and R.sub.5, which may be the same or different, represent a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl radical or, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino or piperazinyl radical optionally substituted with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl radical, or a 4-hydroxypiperidino radical, and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts.Said compounds are therapeutically useful for the control of the cardio-vascular system and of the blood pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cylindrical lock having a stator with a rotor in said stator having lamellae actuated by a flat key.The rotor comprises floating lamellae capable of moving freely, but to a limited extent, both radially and angularly, and means for guiding the flat key over its entire introduction path into the rotor without any possibility of lateral and radial displacement, this key comprising complementary profiles along its two edges and a tapered end with convex surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for shrinking heat-shrinkable sleeves around containers or the like includes at least two diffuser housings mounted respectively adjacent side edges of a conveyor on which containers or other objects having a sleeve thereon are to pass. A cap which defines a tunnel is positioned between the two diffuser housings over the conveyor. Each diffuser housing is provided with a longitudinally extending slot presenting directional discontinuity at its two end portions. The two end portions of each slot may be horizontal, while the control portion of each slot is sloped in a vertical direction and extends from one end portion of the slot to the other. Provision is made to feed hot air through the slots into a tunnel so as to contact the films on the containers or objects moved by the conveyor.

Abstract: A mechanical coupling for connecting together two buoyant members, such as pontoons, to make a buoyant structure. The mechanical coupling comprises vertical grooves in the pontoons. A pair of spaced apart plates partially cover the edge of the grooves. A key member in the shape of an I-beam fits with its web between the plates of a pair of pontoons so that its flanges hold the two pontoons together. Wedge shaped members attached to the I-beam and to the plates further act to wedge and lock the pontoons together as a unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting-off or parting device working by electric sparking, enabling electrically-conductive materials to be cut-off by means of a metallic disc which circulates an electric current, the disc being composed of one or more substances which are electrically conductive during the cutting-off operation and being provided with three or more radial slots formed at the periphery of the disc, the latter being so arranged as to permit the transverse passage of a dielectric cooling liquid from one face of the disc to the other, a first means keeping the disc flat during the cutting operation and a second means being provided for constantly maintaining an equal radius over its entire periphery. Optimum relations between the dimensions of the radial slots and the initial radius of the disc are specified. The disc may be perforated or may be made from sintered or cellular products.