Abstract: An improved technique for mounting optical components on a substrate comprises providing each component with a dedicated heating element on the component itself to permit controlled and well-localized heating of solder on the substrate during fixing. In the example illustrated the optical component is an optical fibre carrier comprising fibre (10), carrier plate (12) and heating element (20), which itself comprises an ink film resistor (22) deposited on a ceramic chip (21) having metallized electrical contacts (23).

Abstract: A paint pot carrier comprises a unitary moulded body defining a pot-receiving well (3). A hooking web (8) of the body enables the carrier to be hooked over a ladder rung (R), an inclined shoulder (14 or 15) bearing against an adjacent one of the ladder stiles (S). Two movable jaws (20,21) can be raised to clamp the rung from beneath against the web (8). To move the jaws, rack teeth (26) of the jaws are engaged by pinions (25) secured to a common drive shaft (27). Rack teeth of a drive bar (30) engage a toothed central portion (28) of the shaft (27), and manually operable means (34-39 or 48-60) enables the drive bar to be moved longitudinally to operate the jaws.