Abstract: A gripper device (16; 30; 56; 90; 120) which is designed so as to be movable along a movement path, and which serves for grasping and holding a workpiece (70) and for moving the workpiece along the movement path, with at least one first contact section (18; 38; 66) which, to produce an operative pairing with the workpiece that effects the gripping or holding action, can be driven relative to a second contact section (20; 40; 68), which first contact section is assigned actuator means (22; 44; 54; 128), which are designed to exert a drive force in reaction to the application of a magnetic field, and which are composed of a magnetic shape-memory alloy material, wherein the actuator means for magnetic interaction are formed, for the application of a magnetic field, with magnetic field generating means that are static at one position of the movement path (52; 80; 86; 88), and/or with magnetic field generating means that are provided so as to be movable independently of the gripper device.

Abstract: A gripper device (16; 30; 56; 90; 120) which is designed so as to be movable along a movement path, and which serves for grasping and holding a workpiece (70) and for moving the workpiece along the movement path, with at least one first contact section (18; 38; 66) which, to produce an operative pairing with the workpiece that effects the gripping or holding action, can be driven relative to a second contact section (20; 40; 68), which first contact section is assigned actuator means (22; 44; 54; 128), which are designed to exert a drive force in reaction to the application of a magnetic field, and which are composed of a magnetic shape-memory alloy material, wherein the actuator means for magnetic interaction are formed, for the application of a magnetic field, with magnetic field generating means that are static at one position of the movement path (52; 80; 86; 88), and/or with magnetic field generating means that are provided so as to be movable independently of the gripper device.

Abstract: A method of making a particulate foam control agent comprising 0.001 to 30 parts of silicone antifoam, 45 to 99 parts of a zeolite and 0 to 30 parts of a binder, preferably of a polycarboxylate-type, able to release at least some antifoam from the zeolite in the first 10 minutes of a washing cycle comprises depositing from 0.1 to 500% of the silicone antifoam of an organic surfactant onto the zeolite not later than depositing the silicone antifoam, at least 1 part of surfactant being used per 100 parts of the foam control agent. Also covered are detergent compositions and some foam control agents.

Abstract: The lower-quality leader of a filter rod or cigarette rod is deflected from the path leading from the rod making station to the subdividing station before the rod is severed behind the leader so that the next-following high-quality portion of the rod is free to advance to the subdividing station. The apparatus for separating the leader has a rotary knife which rotates within a guard. The guard carries a U-shaped deflecting unit for the leader and is pivotable with the motor for the knife to and from an operative position in which the leader is deflected and the knife can sever the rod behind the deflected leader. The apparatus further employs a back support which is pivoted against the rod opposite the guard to prop the rod during separation of the leader.

Abstract: A radio direction finder for obtaining the bearing of a transmitter with respect to a receiver comprises a multi-element receiving antenna, two separate scanning means coupled to said antenna for simultaneously generating a rightward and a leftward rotating antenna pattern of the same rotating frequency, and two separate receivers having approximately the same group delay. Also included are demodulating means for generating two separate bearing signals of AM or FM-type modulation for the rightward and leftward rotating antenna pattern, respectively, and evaluator and indicator means for obtaining the bearing of a signal received by the antenna from the phases of the two bearing signals and a reference signal. As a result, the radio direction finder provided, being of the most simple structure, permits quick evaluation of the bearing, for instance, during one revolution only of the antenna characteristic, and yet includes no bearing errors caused by delay.