Abstract: An apparatus for batching articles from a continuous stream of articles has a conduit comprising an entry duct (2) in which the articles are accelerated by suction. The suction air is drawn from the exit end of the duct, close to a pair of counter-rotating sealing rollers (20) which have resiliently yielding peripheral faces between which the articles pass. At the exit end of the conduit a pair of closure members (24) on opposite sides of the conduit are rotatable in 90° steps in order to collect the articles in batches. The closure members counter-rotate so that in each step they move in the general direction of movement of the articles. In this way it is possible to batch relatively delicate articles at high rates of throughflow.

Abstract: A device (6) for attachment to a pipe (7 to be installed in the ground has load cells (17) for detecting a pulling force applied to the pipe (7), as the latter is pulled through the ground, an inclinometer (18), for detecting the inclination of the device (6), and a pressure transducer (20) for detecting the pressure surrounding the device. Data representative of the pulling force, inclination and pressure is stored in the device (6) and protected against unauthorised access by a security code or procedure, so that a verifiable record of the pipe installation process is available.

Abstract: Data processing apparatuses provided comprising a memory operable to store a plurality of data words, each data word being associated with at least one status bit giving information regarding a status of said data word; a status bit store operable to store said status bits within a hierarchical relationship such that a combined status relating to a plurality of first level status bits at a first level within said hierarchical relationship is indicated by a second level status bit at a second level within said hierarchical relationship, said second level being higher in said hierarchical relationship than said first level; and status querying logic operative to determine a status of a data word within said memory by examining status bits within said status bit store starting at a top level within said hierarchical relationship and working down through said hierarchical relationship until a status bit is reached that indicates said status of said data word independently of any status bits lower in said hierarch

Abstract: A process for the preparation of the phosphonium compound of formula (1), which comprises reacting N-phenylpyrrolidinone (II), with pyridinium bromide perbromide, in the presence of a tertiary organic base and a suitable lewis acid and then treating the resultant bromo derivative (III) with the phosphine (IV, R1R2R1P) and the use of compound (I) when so prepared for the preparation of the glycine antagonist.

Abstract: Information stored at a site remote from a user (1) is accessible by the user via a communications network (4), such as the Internet or an Intranet. In order to provide a degree of fault tolerance, the site is constituted by a number of similar sub-sites (5a, 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a; 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b etc), which each have the same network address as far as the user is concerned. A user, who requests the supply of particular information as part of a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), is initially connected to one sub-site having a respective server (8a; 8b; 8c) and a login procedure executed by a daemon process (7a; 7b: 7c). In the event of certain faults in the one sub-site the user is connected to a second sub-site without any requirement to repeat the login procedure, as a result of all sub-sites being provided with all user login details, which are stored by session daemons 9a, 9b, 9c, and the original request is complied with at the second sub-site.

Abstract: A multi-desktop computer system for a bank or other financial institution includes a plurality of functional desktop routines, each desktop operating on an identical "platform" of object-oriented routines. This "platform" of common object-oriented routines for use by each of the desktops, substantially reduces the design requirements of the desktops in that they only have to be designed to conform to the command structures of the object-oriented routines, and they do not have to be designed to any specific mainframe message structure or protocol. All of the functional desktops may be compiled together, along with the "platform" of object-oriented routines, to form one integral program, where a particular desktop will be activated, depending upon its need. The system enables a user to move between desktops, depending upon the need to activate a particular desktop. The system includes a system database that allows the desktops to share information with one another, such as customer information.

Abstract: The invention thus provides compounds of Formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 which may be the same or different represent H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl or substituted alkyl or C.sub.3-7 cycloalkyl; or aryl;R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 which may be the same or different represent H, halogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl; or substituted aryl;R.sup.5 is H or C.sub.1-6 alkyl;n is an integer 0, 1 or 2and m is an integer 1, 2, 3, or 4;the dotted line indicates the presence or absence of an additional bond; and pharmaceutically acceptable solvates (e.g. hydrates) thereof.

Abstract: A data processing system incorporating a cache memory 2 and a central processing unit. A storage control circuit 10 is responsive to a programmable partition setting PartVal to partition the cache memory between instruction words and data words in dependence upon whether the central processing unit 4 indicates with signal I/D whether the word to be stored within the cache memory 2 resulted from an instruction word cache miss or data word cache miss. The cache memory array 2 may have a programmably sized portion locked down so that it is not replaced. The selection within the complementary programmable range where overwriting takes place uses a pseudo random selection technique using pseudo random number generator in the form of a linear feedback shift register triggering incrementing of a counter.

Abstract: Packets containing a flowable material are provided with a draw-string or thread to squeeze the packet contents. The packet envelope is formed from a doubled-over web which gives the packet a folded-over edge and which encloses an intermediate portion of the thread close to the folded-over edge. The end portions of the web extend from the intermediate portion of the thread to extend through the opposite edge of the packet. The external ends of the thread are secured to a tag which is attached to the outer face of the envelope. The thread intermediate portion is retained close to the folded-over edge by heat sealing. Apparatus is also described for producing the packets in a continuous or semi-continuous manner.

Abstract: A system for delivering rows of cigarettes, each for forming one layer of a bundle of cigarettes to be packed in a packing machine, includes a number of fluted planetary wheels (42) carried by an annular carrier (44) along a path on which cigarettes are picked up directly from the lower ends of channels (40) formed between vanes (38) in the hopper of the machine. The wheels (42) transfer the cigarettes in rows to flute sets (48) on a coaxial drum (46) from which the rows are further transferred to a delivery drum (22). Generally the packing machine includes three such systems, one for each layer of the bundle of cigarettes to be packed. In an alternative system cigarettes forming one row are picked up substantially simultaneously by row carriers (220) mounted on planetary wheels (226) so as to follow an hypocycloidal path.

Abstract: In an optical fibre clamping device to prevent relative movement between an optical fibre and a tube within which the optical fibre is located, a body part includes a through passageway to receive the optical fibre. The body part includes a first clamp to engage the tube and a second clamp to engage the optical fibre.

Abstract: An information management system comprises a computer representing a prespecified plan that is accessed by a user. The plan is for a procedure to be performed on a dynamic system having a monitored state that is indicated. The progress of the procedure is recorded. The plan is automatically updated based on the monitored state of the system. A device that indicates the monitored state is reconfigured according to the progress of the procedure.

Abstract: A data processing system and method include an address space which is controlled by a memory management unit and which is treated as being divided into main-sections (chunks) and sub-sections (grains). The grains may be configured to be of one of a selected number of sizes. Irrespective of the grain size, there is a fixed number of grains within each chunk. A bank of grain registers 20 stores access control parameters for each grain. In operation, a memory address (va?31:0!) is decoded to determine which chunk it relates to so that the grain size for that chunk may be determined. Having determined the grain size, the rest of the address may be decoded to pick out the grain in which the address is located, and then the access control parameters for that grain are recovered.

Abstract: An assembly 10 for use in connecting optical fibers to an optical fiber device having input and output tails includes a plurality of housings 12 for housing optical fiber connections and a housing 18 for housing at least one passive optical device. The tails of the one or more devices are routed through manifold 16 to the housings 12 via respective routing members 14 and the optical fibers to be connected to the tails are routed to the appropriate housings 12 via these routing members 14. The housings 12 are arranged in an aligned bank adjacent the manifold 16 and each housing 12 is moveable out of such alignment for providing access thereto.

Abstract: A manifold for breaking out optical fibers from a multifiber bundle has at least one input channel and several output channels. The channels are initially laterally open so that fibers can be laid in the channels without having to thread a fiber end through an aperture, and can then be closed once the fiber has been laid in, to retain fiber.

Abstract: An assembly 10 for use in connecting optical fibers to an optical fiber device having input and output tails comprises a plurality of housings 12 for housing optical fiber connections. Each housing 12 is typically mounted to, and supported by a respective routeing member 14. The routeing members are rigidly connected one to another such that the housings are arranged in an aligned bank. Each housing is pivotable for providing access thereto from the stowed position out of alignment with the other housings.

Abstract: An optical fibre communications system includes an exchange (E) and a plurality of subscriber lines (1). The exchange (E) provides a plurality of services in different subcarrier frequencies (6,8,9,10). Each subscriber line (1) is provided with terminal apparatus (5) operable at different subscriber frequencies, and a control (11) at the exchange (E) tunes the terminal apparatus to transmit and/or receive on a particular frequency in response to a request. The request may be a signal from the terminal apparatus (5), or an incoming service request addressed to the particular terminal apparatus.

Abstract: Within a data processing system having two alternative clock signals of different frequencies (fclk, mclk) it is necessary to provide a mechanism for switching between the clock signals. When switching from the fast clock (fclk) to the slow clock (mclk), the system adopts the slow clock from the first falling edge (ffe) after a processing delay (PD) associated with the decision as to whether or not to change clocks. This processing delay can be greater than one half of a cycle of the fast clock. In contrast, when switching from the slow clock to the fast clock, the system adopts the fast clock from the first rising edge (fre) following the processing delay. Thus, a system is provided in which differing strategies for synchronization are adopted depending upon the direction of change of the clock signal.

Abstract: A system for guiding optical fibres comprises a device which includes a plurality of units, each of which defines a row of ducts extending from a first end of the unit to a second end thereof for guiding optical fibres. The units are arranged successively in overlapping relationship with their first ends in substantial alignment at an end portion of the device and their second ends being spaced apart at successively increasing distances from the device end portion.

Abstract: A warp knit fabric which is stretchable in the direction of the wales by virtue of elastomer yarn forming the wales is made ravel resistant when cut in a transverse direction, by having a plurality of ends of elastomer yarn form each wale, with each yarn end having alternating knitted and laid in portions, each for a succession of stitches, the knitting and laying in of one yarn end being out of phase with the knitting and laying in of another yarn end. The wales are interconnected by inelastic yarn to form the fabric.