Abstract: A glass tube, such as a glass tube for the production of containers for storage of pharmaceutical compositions, facilitates production of pharmaceutical containers with high quality. The glass tube has a relative cross-sectional area deviation defined as QF max - QF min 1.5 ? ? m . QF max - QF min 1.5 ? ? m is less than k*x+t. QFmax is the highest cross-sectional area and QFmin is the lowest cross-sectional area of at least two cross-sections of the glass tube, the cross-sections being spaced apart from each other along a length of the glass tube, and k is 0.0023 m?1, t is less than 0.15 mm2/m and x is QF max + QF min 2 .

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring or monitoring the diameter of rod-shaped workpieces comprises two driven and interdigitating pinion rollers for rotating the workpiece about its longitudinal axis and at least one pair of mutually opposite measuring gages adapted to be urged against the workpiece and connected to an electronic evaluating device. To permit a rapid measurement of the workpieces which is independent of the attention and carefulness of an operator, the workpiece is fed via an inclined trough to the pinion rollers so that the workpiece engages an axial stop. The workpiece is then urged against the pinion rolls by a pressure-applying roller, which is radially movable into and out of engagement with the workpiece. By spring force and/or a pressure fluid the measuring gages are jointly moved into and out of engagement with the workpiece when the latter lies on the pinion rolls and is axially located by the axial stop.

Abstract: A curved backing insert is held in a backrest frame and adjustable to conform to the spine of a person leaning against the backrest. The backing insert comprises at least one elastic bow having a first end supported by said frame, a second end vertically spaced from said first end, and an intermediate vertex portion including a vertex. First stressing means are adjustable to move said second end so as to change the height and curvature of said bow. Second stressing means are adjustable to adjust said vertex relative to said first and second ends.