Abstract: A satellite telecommunications system having peripheral stations and a central station which communicate with each other via a satellite. The central station transmits a reference frequency to the peripheral stations via the satellite. The central station receives the reference frequency, determines the frequency drift and transmits a controlling signal to the satellite. The reference frequency transmitted by the satellite is controlled by the controlling signal so as to be stable in time.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming stacks of flat objects, such as chocolate bars, which includes a toothed wheel to which juxtaposed objects are fed while traveling on an at least horizontal input path, and between the teeth of which the objects are accommodated and are then moved to the area of a stacking station through rotation of the wheel, with the toothed wheel being composed of two toothed dics spaced apart along the axis of the wheel and each provided with circumferentially spaced teeth defining object retaining pockets between successive teeth, and the apparatus further being provided with a plunger device operatively associated with the wheel for pushing each object arriving at the end of the input path into a respective pocket when such pocket is situated at the top of the wheel and for braking the next following object on the input path to synchronize the introduction of objects with the rotation of the wheel, the wheel being driven in continuous rotation and objects being supplied continuously thereto during

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and orienting elongated articles of predetermined length has at least two substantially horizontal shafts supported in a parallel-spaced relationship; a pair of axially spaced discs mounted on each shaft. The axial distance between the discs of any disc pair is less than the predetermined length of the articles. Any successive two discs mounted on different shafts are in an overlapping relationship as viewed in a direction parallel to the shafts. Each disc has a non-overlapping upper circumferential portion oriented in the direction of article feed. The articles are successively positioned, in a generally transverse orientation with respect to the direction of article feed, on the discs of the first disc pair as viewed in the direction of article feed.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliminating excessively thick elongated articles medially positioned on and advanced by a first conveyor in an orientation transverse to the direction of advance, comprises a sensor arranged above the first conveyor and responding to an article having a thickness exceeding a predetermined magnitude; and an impact mechanism connected to the sensor and having a striker positioned for delivering a blow to the excessively thick article for shifting the same into an eccentric position on and with respect to the first conveyor. The impact mechanism further has an actuating arrangement operating the striker upon receipt of a signal of response from the sensor. The apparatus also has a second conveyor formed of two parallel narrow conveyor belts extending from a discharge end of the first conveyor. The distance between the conveyor belts is less than the length of the articles.

Abstract: In apparatus for aligning a stream of elongate articles, such as chocolate bars, delivered in a randomly ordered arrangement to a turntable, the apparatus including a stationary guide rail disposed above the turntable and extending along a path which spirals outwardly away from the axis of turntable rotation, the speed and reliability of the aligning operation are improved by forming the guide rail to have a series of breaks in the guide path which it defines and by disposing the rail so that articles come to abut only against the surface thereof which faces away from the turntable axis.