Abstract: An apparatus for optical monitoring of the surface of rod-shaped smoking articles and/or filter rods for the tobacco industry comprises a conveying means transporting the rods perpendicularly to their longitudinal direction and a high-pressure lamp which serves as light source and which is connected via an optical fibre cable to a sensor block; the optical fibre cable is divided amongst at least two cross-section transformers with strip-shaped light exit regions whose light rays are directed via a further optical system from above and below respectively onto the line-shaped region of the surface of the rod. In addition the sensor block contains a row of photoelectric transducers which simultaneously the line-shaped surface region in the longitudinal direction of the rod and thereby pick up the light reflected at the surface of the rod.

Abstract: A process for producing a gas discharge lamp particularly useful as a flash tube comprising a glass tube, which contains an inert gas with a preformed sintered glass body sealed into each end and containing at least one electrical connector pin of an electrode extending therethrough in a sealed fashion, characterized by providing a glass tube, providing the sintered glass preforms for each end of the glass tube, sealing each of the glass bodies in the respective ends of the glass tube, and filling the glass tube with the desired amount of inert gas prior to completing the formation of all the seals between the glass tube and the glass bodies. The process preferably is accomplished in an apparatus having a chamber which can be evacuated and which can contain a controlled atmosphere at a desired pressure.

Abstract: A flash tube is disclosed having metallic end caps attached either in the shape of a plate or a cup upon ends of a glass or quartz tube. They are attached by adhesive, or are soldered on by soldering glass. One of the end caps internally supports a sintered body as a cathode. Soldering temperatures and a distance of the sintered body from the soldered joint when soldering glass is used are chosen such that no activating metal of the sintered body evaporates, since this reduces the work function of the electrons at the ends of the tube.

Abstract: A gas discharge lamp having a glass tube with preformed sintered glass bodies sealed to each end with each body carrying at least one connector pin for an electrode so that at least one electrode is disposed and supported adjacent each end of the discharge tube. The glass bodies may be sealed in the discharge tube either by glass solder, an organic adhesive or a combination of both.

Abstract: A gas discharge lamp, particularly useful as a flash tube, has a glass tube and electrode feed-through conductors which are connected with the glass tube in gas-tight relationship via glass members and glass solder. The glass members consist of prefabricated shaped parts having a geometry which absorbs thermal stresses between the glass members and the glass tube.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for igniting a gas discharge flush tube in which the flash tube is arranged in the circuit of a voltage source in parallel to a flash capacitor and the flash tube is connected to an ignition voltage generator which emits high voltage pulses during operation of the circuit arrangement. The ignition voltage generator has a low impedance, in particular low inductance, and the high voltage pulses produced thereby initiate ignition of and at least approximately adiabatically head a plasma channel in the flash tube. The ignition voltage generator is fundamentally capacitive. In one embodiment of the invention it comprises a second voltage source for charging a second capacitor connected in parallel with the flash tube, whereas in another embodiment the ignition voltage generator contains a piezoelectric crystal or a pyro electric crystal.