Abstract: The locking movement and/or the unlocking movement of a bimetallic drive of an electrothermally-controlled locking apparatus, for example for household-device doors, is or are driven by a separate bimetal member (10, 11) over only a first segment of its movement path. In the process, energy is supplied to the energy store (28) of a tipping over-center device until a dead-center position is attained, the energy being released as a moving drive for the remaining segment of the movement path when the dead-center position is exceeded, thereby cutting off the bimetal drive and stabilizing the locking member (2) in its end position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing plastic chip cards and chip card blanks with a wall thickness considerably reduced in certain areas involves first injecting the plastic material into an initial mold space that has no reductions in wall thickness as yet. The distance between certain wall areas of the initial mold space is then reduced to the required reduced measure, displacing the plastic material into adjacent areas of the mold space.

Abstract: A method for printing identity cards having blind hole-shaped recesses involves filling the recess at least partly with an element at the moment of printing so that the bottom of the recess is pressed against the printing surface. The elements are either firmly mounted on the back pressure surface of the apparatus or movably mounted in this surface. In the second case the elements can disappear into the back pressure surface if necessary.

Abstract: In an apparatus for producing flat plastic moldings, for example identity cards, the mold includes a conic core and a die-block member shaped in accordance with the core member. The opposing side surfaces of the core and die-block members, which are inclined to the opening direction of the mold, enclose a mold space on part of their surface. The core and die-block members are formed in such a way that the mold parts brace each other in the closed state.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a snap switch comprising:a snap spring, which is fastened on a spring mount and carries at least one switching contact spaced therefrom,at least one contact stationary with respect to the spring mount, on which the switching contact lies in one switching position of the snap spring,a guide rod, which is pivotally mounted near the spring mount and is connected with said snap spring at a distance from its mounting as well as from the stationary contact and exhibits a point of application for an actuating force.a prestress spring, which acts on the guide rod and strives to keep this in a stop position with prestress,and an adjusting member for adjusting the prestress of said prestress spring.

Abstract: A multiple pressure switch comprising a first and a second snap switch, which under spring pre-stress each assume a starting position and have a first and second point of application respectively for an actuating member, which is supported on a total of three application points lying on the corners of a conceived triangle, and with gradual increase of an external force acting on the actuating member within the triangle causes first the first and then the second snap switch to snap over into a final position. Relative to a base plane normal to the direction of application of the external force the first point of application in its starting position lies higher and in its end position lies deeper then the second point of application in its original position, and the second point of application in its starting position lies higher and in its end position lies lower than the third point of application.

Abstract: A snap switch is disclosed with a snap spring which is fastened on a carrier, carries at least one switch contact which connects it electrically to the carrier and has at least two arms which are reciprocally biased to form a closed system of forces in which at least one arm under compressive stress can be switched by the effect of an external driving force onto the snap spring between two switch positions in which it has different curvatures.

Abstract: An arrangement for synchronizing an information reading device with the speed of an information medium containing a set of a predetermined number of characters in fixed spatial relation, and being movable relative to the device. The arrangement includes a timing means having an output signal which is a predeterminable multiple of an input signal which is proportional to the speed at which a leading character passes the reading device.

Abstract: An arrangement for synchronising an information reading device with the speed of an information medium containing a set of a predetermined number of characters in fixed spatial relation, and being movable relative to the device. The arrangement includes a timing means having an output signal which is a predeterminable multiple of an input signal which is proportional to the speed at which a leading character passes the reading device.