Glass compatible metal matrices are mounted in a glass forming boat and slugs of glass are applied to each. Heat is provided such that openings in the matrix are glassed, whereupon the entire sheet may be ground, polished, or otherwise processed as desired. Alternatively, open ended metallic portions may be utilized to control the amount of sag to which heated glass is subjected, thereby providing glass components of a desired radius of curvature. When metal framed optical components are secured in lasers by weldment, controlled crimping and deflection of the metallic laser jacket portion is utilized for precise alignment of the instrument.
A method of adjusting an optical element of a gas discharge laser, which element is provided at one end of a tubular metal support with the support in turn secured to the laser tube, by drawing a tubular section of the support beyond the yield point of the metal of which the tubular section consists during or after adjustment of the optical element by deformation of the tubular section throughout the circumference. An accurate adjustment of the element thereby takes place in a simple manner in which no stresses remain in the material which might otherwise maladjust the laser. The tubular section preferably consists of copper or nickel.
A self check out/check in terminal is disclosed for facilitating independent withdrawal or return of articles having article identifying indicia on opposing surfaces thereof, and alterable security indicia for indicating the circulation status of the article. The terminal comprises first and second readers disposed at space opposed locations and operative to read the plurality of article identifying indicia and generate first and second article identifying signals in response thereto. Processing circuitry is provided in electrical communication with the readers and includes comparator circuitry for receiving the first and second article identifying signals and for generating a third signal when said first and second article identifying signals are substantially identical. Security indicia control circuitry is provided for altering the security indicia upon the article in response to the generation of the third signal.
