Abstract: A shelf management system is disclosed having a tray defining a first mating structure and a second mating structure, a shelf management component having a spring biased pusher connected thereto and movable between a first position wherein the pusher is extended to a rear of the shelf management component and a second position wherein the pusher is retracted to a front of the shelf management component, and an interstitial member positioned between the shelf management component and the tray to secure the shelf management component to the tray and hinder lateral movement of the shelf management component with respect to the tray. Improved components of the shelf management system are also disclosed as are methods relating to same.

Abstract: An image projecting system for mounting in a hidden location such as a ceiling or a piece of furniture such as a desk. The system includes an image producing apparatus and a plurality of optical components. At least one of the optical components is a mirror that can move between two positions. In the first position the mirror is flush with the ceiling or the desk so that the system is hidden from view. In the second position the mirror is at an angle to the ceiling or the desk so as to project an image externally of the hidden location and onto a screen or other surface.

Abstract: A palm size laser indicator disk capable of adjusting the shapes of light emitted therefrom includes an adjustment ring, a disk cover, a disk, an annular lens, a laser generating component, and a plurality of connecting screws. By turning the adjustment ring, one of a plurality of patterns of high transparency and different shapes may be caused to be penetrated by the laser light to generate different light shapes.

Abstract: A slide projector which is adapted for the use of circular trays (10, 12) having different numbers of slide compartments and which includes a pulse-controlled electronic switch unit for controlling a transport motor selectively moving one of the trays (10, 12) forwardly or backwardly comprises a slider (30) for fixing the trays (10, 12) in position, which slider can be actuated by the electronic switch unit following each indexing of the tray and which can be brought into engagement with both transport pins (15) associated with the compartments of the first circular tray (10) and serving as transport and fixing means and with a toothing (17) associated with the compartments of the second circular tray (12) and serving as transport and fixing means, following each indexing of the tray such engagement being achieved by fixing means (34, 35) associated with the transport and fixing means (15, 17) of the trays and adapted to the shape and size thereof.

Abstract: A collapsible slide carousel which allows for more efficient storage and transport thereof. The collapsible slide carousel includes an upper portion, a lower portion and a plurality of slide dividers pivotally secured to the upper and lower portions such that the slides can be positioned in an erect position or a collapsed position. In the erect position the slides are disposed substantially vertically as in a conventional carousel such that the slides can be viewed utilizing a conventional carousel projector. Alternatively, in the collapsed position the slides are disposed in an angular position overlapping one another in a domino-like manner allowing for more efficient storage and transportation of the carousel. The upper portion of the carousel is rotatably disposed with respect to the lower portion such that the carousel can be adjusted from the erect position to the collapsed position, and vice versa, by rotating the upper portion with respect to the lower portion.

Abstract: A module interposed between a slide tray and a projector provides a user selected random presentation of sequentially ordered slides. The module bottom simulates the tray bottom to align gates of the module and projector. The module top simulates the tray bottom to align gates of the tray and module. A microcontroller controls a lifter foot to keep unwanted slides from dropping into the module gate until the tray had been rotated by a hub assembly to the next desired slide position. The lifter foot then acts to lower a slide through the module to the lifter foot and projector, and return it after projection.

Abstract: A microfiche card storage and retrieval system comprising a carousel for storing a plurality of microfiche cards, means for separating microfiche cards adjacent a preselected card in said carousel such that a preselected card may be grasped and moved from said carousel and reinserted. The spreading means comprising fingers that move toward the center and inwardly in relationship to the trays to contact and separate neighboring microfiche cards from a preselected card.

Abstract: A microfiche card storage and retrieval system comprising a carousel for storing microfiche cards, card transport means for inserting and retracting microfiche cards from said carousel, said card transport device having an extended position in the plane of its movement, a card load-unload chute disposed above said carousel and defining a card-receiving chute in the plane of movement of said card transport device, the card-receiving chute comprising stop means across the chute to prevent a card from inadvertently being moved into the storage and retrieval system, means for retracting said stop means, means adjacent one edge of said chute for limiting the height of the chute to prevent oversized cards from being inserted through the chute into the storage and retrieval system, and means opposite the insert side of said chute for guiding a microfiche card moved by said transport means into said chute.

Abstract: A microfiche card storage and retrieval system comprising a carousel for storing a plurality of microfiche cards, means for moving preselected cards from said storage means and to position said cards at a reading station, and spreader means adjacent said carousel for separating microfiche cards adjacent a preselected card such that a preselected card may be grasped by said transport means and moved from said storage trays and reinserted in said storage trays. The spreading means comprising fingers that move from an aiming plate toward the center of the tray in a diverging path to separate neighboring microfiche cards from a preselected card.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system for use with microfiche cards having a carousel for storing the cards, a slot for loading and unloading the storage system, a card transport device utilizing a pair of fingers to grasp an edge of the card and straighten the edge of the card and retract the card from the storage trays, a card separating device for separating cards adjacent the selected card in the storage tray to permit the picker finger access to said edge, and card guidance means for guiding the card back to the storage tray and for detecting any bowing or buckling movement of the card during the return of the card to its storage position. The buckling detecting device comprising a light-receiving detecting device for signalling the control mechanism of the storage and retrieval system.

Abstract: Random access slide projector apparatus is provided for the random access presentation of slide programs. The random access apparatus is responsive to an encoded program tape or to input signals from a local or remote keyboard. The encoded program tape includes predetermined slide address signals as burst format signals corresponding to desired slide positions in the slide tray. The random access apparatus decodes the encoded slide address signals and generates appropriate control outputs to move the slide tray to the desired programmed slide position and project the desired slides. The random access apparatus also provides for the recording of slide address signals in accordance with keyboard entries to prepare random access program tapes. The program tape includes one track for the recording of encoded slide address signals and a second synchronized track for narrative program information to accompany the slide program.

Abstract: The slide projector includes side-by-side image-projection systems and a circular slide tray, with slides passing in operation directly between the slide tray and either of two slide gates, the slide gates moving between a first position in which slides are acquired and released, and a second position in which slides are projected onto a screen. A slide lifter, a slide tray lock, slide clamps on each slide gate, and the slide gates are operated in a particular sequence relative to the movement of the slide tray to insure proper handling of the slides in the projector. The slide tray fits on a central hub which in turn is independently driven. Sensors are provided to continuously detect the position of the lifter, the slide gates, and the slide tray. A front end assembly which incorporates lenses which move laterally and vertically, with the longitudinal axes of the lenses remaining parallel at all times, provides precise image alignment, including image overlap and separation.

Abstract: A slide tray position sensing arrangement is provided for slide projector apparatus. The slide tray position sensing arrangement is arranged at a detection station. A coded aperture ring is provided that moves in a manner correlated to the movement of a slide tray turntable. The slide tray turntable carries the slide tray that holds the slides for projection and also functions as a tray transport arrangement. The coded aperture ring includes two circumferential arrays of apertures. Each of the apertures in the first array corresponds to a controlled slide position of a first tray type; e.g., an 80 slide tray. Each of the apertures in the second array corresponds to a controlled side position of a second tray type; e.g., a 140 slide tray. The slide tray position sensing arrangement is controllable to selectively sense the appropriate array of apertures corresponding to the slide tray type being utilized.

Abstract: Control apparatus is provided for a slide projector to accurately control rotation of a slide tray to predetermined slide positions of the slide tray and to provide integrated control of the slide change function at each slide position. The control apparatus operates in a forced mode between slide positions and operates in a servo mode to accurately position the slide tray at each of the predetermined slide positions. The detection of the slide positions utilizes a circumferential, apertured ring carried on a movable turntable that also carries the slide tray; the ring including a single incremental position aperture corresponding to each of the slide positions. Dual photodetectors are positioned at a sensing station to sense the respective slide position apertures, to provide differential position feedback detection signals in a servo loop, to interrupt the forced mode of operation and for controlling the stopping and positioning of the slide tray to a selected slide position in the servo mode.

Abstract: A slide tray position sensing arrangement is provided for slide projector apparatus. The slide tray position sensing arrangement is arranged at a detection station. A coded aperture ring is provided that moves in a manner correlated to the movement of a slide tray turntable. The slide tray turntable carries the slide tray that holds the slides for projection and also functions as a tray transport arrangement. The coded aperture ring includes two circumferential arrays of apertures. Each of the apertures in the first array corresponds to a controlled slide position of a first tray type; e.g., an 80 slide position tray. Each of the apertures in the second array corresponds to a controlled slide position of a second tray type; e.g., a 140 slide position tray.

Abstract: Apparatus (36, 37 and 38) adapted for association with a projector (11) and a compartmented magazine (12) for containing photographic slides for said projector whereby a stack of slides (42) contained in said apparatus are loaded into said magazine utilizing the slide removing (32, 33) and magazine advancement (29) mechanisms contained within the projector.

Abstract: A drive for a slide projector utilizing circular magazines which permits the slide projector to be used with circular magazines having differing numbers of slide compartments. A variable gear unit, including a shift mechanism to vary the gear ratio, couples a drive motor to a drive ring for rotation of a circular magazine disposed in the projector. The circular magazine is rotated in a stepwise manner, the length of each step depending upon the number of slide compartments which the particular magazine contains. The drive ring is made sufficiently large to accommodate most conventional circular magazines and includes a cam which extends radially inwardly and which is adapted to engage a notch formed on the outer surface of a circular magazine. The circumferential step length is adjusted by changing the gear ratio in the variable gear unit by longitudinal movement of an intermediate drive shaft.

Abstract: A dual slide tray projection system is disclosed. The projector (12) has two independently operating projection mechanisms including gates (24, 26) advancing mechanisms (28, 30, 32, 34) and lens assemblies (202, 204). The slide tray (60) includes an inner (62) an outer (64) ring. The rings are independently advanceable and selectable and are only locked together by locking mechanism (140) when the tray is removed from the projector at the 0 index position.

Abstract: A miniature slide storage tray having a plurality of annularly arranged, radially extending compartments for receiving and storing a plurality of slides in a compactly arranged manner so that the storage tray and slides require a minimum of storage space. An annular slide transfer tray having a plurality of radially extending compartments corresponding to the compartments in the storage tray is temporarily engageable with the storage tray and the mated storage and transfer trays are temporarily engageable with an associated, annular, slide projection tray. Alignment and indexing structure maintains alignment between the respective compartments in the storage, transfer and projection trays when these parts are in mated relationship.

Abstract: A miniature slide storage tray having a plurality of annularly arranged, radially extending compartments for receiving and storing a plurality of slides in a compactly arranged manner so that the storage tray and slides require a minimum of storage space. An annular slide transfer tray having a plurality of radially extending compartments corresponding to the compartments in the storage tray is temporarily engageable with the storage tray and the mated storage and transfer trays are temporarilyengageable with an associated, annular, slide projection tray. Alignment and indexing structure maintains alignment between the respective compartments in the storage, tranfer and projection trays when these parts are in mated relationship.

Abstract: A circular horizontal slide magazine intended for use with a film slide projector of the type in which sequential slides are released down into a position of preparedness, and then to a projection position, with the previous slide being returned to the magazine. This invention obviates the necessity of the magazine having one slide compartment which must be left empty by providing a manually operated locking mechanism which operates to prevent all of the slides from being released from the magazine.

Abstract: Apparatus for holding film strips of the type having a plurality of miniaturized film images carried thereon, wherein the apparatus is to be used with an optical system which illuminates and projects the images on an enlarged scale so that they can be viewed on a projection screen. The apparatus includes a rotary film holder or cassette having a number of concentric cylindrical segments defining a pair of coaxial cylinders, the segments being provided with grooves to permit insertion of a plurality of film strips in the cassette. The inner segments are longer than the outer segments so that portions of the radially outermost edges of the film strips are exposed and the outer edge of a selected film strip can be engaged by an edge drive wheel to permit the selected film strip to be moved partially out of and to be returned to the cassette.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drive mechanism for a slide projector adapted for accepting a circular slide magazine of the type including an approximately h-shaped configuration wall having a pair of forked inner and outer wall parts in coaxial spaced relationship located near the axial end of the housing which abuts the projector, the outer wall part having on its side facing the inner wall part a plurality of recesses corresponding in number to the slide compartments. The drive mechanisms for selectively rotating the slide magazine comprises a drive member mounted for rotation on the projector housing at a location adjacent the h-shaped wall configuration of a mounted slide magazine, and at least one drive pin mounted excentrically on the drive member substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive member, for projecting into the space between the inner and outer wall parts of the h-shaped configuration.

Abstract: Medical specimens suspected of containing harmful microorganisms are diluted in saline solution and the dilution so formed is vacuum loaded into a cuvette or card containing viewing walls having dried selective culture media therein. The dilution rehydrates the culture media, each of which is selective in the sense that its optical characteristics will change when the organism to which it is specific metabolizes within it. A plurality of the cards are loaded into a tray, and the tray is placed on a rotatable carrousel of a card holder unit along with other trays. The carrousel is indexed at periodic intervals, and each time that it is indexed a different tray moves to a reading position facing a card reader unit. The carrousel has a center stack from which heated air is discharged such that it passes along both major surface areas of the cards in the tray, thus maintaining the cards at a temperature suitable for incubating microorganisms in them.

Abstract: A two-part circular magazine having an inner rotor with slide storing compartments and an outer stator enclosing the rotor is arranged to mount and operate in the magazine guide of a linear magazine slide projector. The stator has a tangential groove opening to the rotor in the region of a radial slot for transverse passage of a slide from the magazine, and the groove has side walls that fit opposite sides of a slide lifting ramp in the bottom of the magazine guide. The rotor exterior is positioned directly over the top of the lifting ramp when the magazine is mounted in the projector, and the stator has an inclined surface ascending from below the top of the lifting ramp upward to the level of the interior of the rotor in the region of the slot. The stator also has abutment surfaces that engage parts of the magazine guide to position and maintain the magazine accurately in place.

Abstract: A slide projector comprising a slide magazine with a motor drive, a motor-driven pusher for conveying respective slides one by one from the slide magazine into the path of the light of an optical system, and a guide unit for guiding the slides. A mechanical stop is provided for establishing the projection position of the slides and a spring is interposed between the pusher and its motor drive for transmitting force therebetween. For displacing the pusher there is provided a roller guided in a curved slot in a disk connected to the motor.

Abstract: A circular magazine for photographic slides is provided with a circular segment slider 15 rotatable about the magazine axis to extend a tongue portion 18 over the slide insertion slot 17 in the magazine base plate 14, to thereby close the slot and prevent slides from falling out when the magazine is removed from the projector. Upon insertion in the projector a central hub 24 is rotated whereby its cam surface 25 engages follower 28 on lever 22 to rotate the latter about pivot axis 21. Stop 23 on the end of the lever bears against pin 19' on the segment slider and rotates the latter to open the slot window 17.

Abstract: A round tray for photographic transparencies has a bottom wall, a ring-shaped inner wall and radially extending partitions which are rigid with the two walls and define an annulus of compartments for transparencies. At least a portion of each partition resembles a wedge or sector whose width increases radially outwardly so that the parts of compartments between such portions have a constant width to thus prevent excessive changes in orientation of inserted transparencies. The transparencies may be yieldably held in the respective compartments by discrete leaf springs which are secured to a cover overlying the bottom wall and separably attached to the inner wall, or by bifurcated elastic parts of the partitions.

Abstract: A slide projector adapted to alternately receive at least two slide trays having different shapes and different indexing configurations is provided. The projector comprises a slide tray receiving groove having tray guide means for slidably engaging corresponding support surfaces formed on the slide trays, and a reversible slide tray indexing mechanism having an indexing lever mounted for slidable and pivotable movement and including a pair of pawls for sequential engagement with the respective indexing racks of the alternate trays, to incrementally advance either of said trays from one slide position to the next. A reciprocal slide carrier for transporting the slides from the trays to the viewing position is provided with a camway in operative engagement with the indexing lever to impart the required movement thereto during each slide changing cycle.

Abstract: A slide projector adapted to alternately receive at least two slide trays having different shapes and different indexing configurations is provided. The projector includes a slide tray receiving groove having tray guide means for slidably engaging corresponding support surfaces formed on the slide trays, and an indexing mechanism having suitable drive gears for engagement with either of the alternate trays, to incrementally advance either of said trays from one slide position to the next. The projector also includes in one embodiment slidable tray retainer means normally biased into the tray receiving groove to support the edge of one said trays to maintain the same in engagement with the indexing mechanism, and means to urge such retainer out of the tray receiving groove upon insertion therein of the other of said trays.

Abstract: In a slide projector having a partioned magazine for insertion into a magazine guide track so that the in turn, effective ejection side of the magazine is at right angles to or generally at right angles to the horizontal film aperture, the improvement comprising the operative bearing side of the magazine opposite the leading edge of the image stage side of the contained slide in the projector is foreshortened and the magazine guide path (1), considered in crosssection, is provided with a step (7) at least in the region of the film aperture (6), the profile of this step (7) adapted so that the bearing side (8) of the magazine containing a slide (10), and the face (10a) of the step which is situated at a higher level and thus suitable for receiving the slides as soon as the magazine is inserted, continues in the form of the film aperture (11).

Abstract: The device is provided with a lever which is pivotally mounted at one end and is urged in the downward direction by a spring, a slide-carrying shoe being attached at the free end of the lever. The lever has an upwardly curving centre portion which rests on a roller mounted on a disc driven at half-speed by a motor. The device also comprises a slide guide consisting of two prismatic rails, one of which is stationary, while the other is secured to a carriage mounted displaceably in the plane of the slide and capable of being pulled towards the stationary rail by means of a spring. There is a coupling pin on the carriage which is engaged with a control cam provided on the lever-driving disc, the said cam being designed in a manner such that the movable prismatic rail is pulled back only during the downward movement of the slide shoe which moves between the prismatic rails, the said slide being otherwise pressed against the stationary rail under the action of the spring.