Abstract: A device for transmitting data between a transmitter provided with standard software adapted to a serial interface and a standard receiver provided with a serial interface is presented. The device includes a serial interface simulator which replaces the serial interface of the transmitter, a memory which stores data received by the serial interface simulator, and an interface which transmits to the receiver the data stored in the memory. The serial interface simulator includes a data transmission register, a data reception register, a first buffer register, a second buffer register, a bus, a simulation control register and a simulation state register.The standard software places data in the data transmission register and receives data from the data reception register. Data placed in the data transmission register is not immediately serially transmitted to the receiver, but is transferred to the first buffer register from where it is transferred to the memory.

Abstract: A computer instruction set is presented in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Some instructions within the instruction set have immediate fields which are allowed to vary in length and fill up all unused bit positions in the instructions. A sign bit is in a fixed location for instructions within the instruction set. For example, the sign bit may be right justified with respect to the immediate field, that is the sign bit is put in the least significant (rightmost) bit position. This allows time-critical suboperations to proceed without waiting for the value of the sign bit to be located and decoded.

Abstract: A method for transferring idempotent and non-idempotent requests (repeatable and non-repeatable requests respectively) over a network between two or more computer systems. The method includes sending a series of messages over a network to perform the request. The method defines several types of messages: a request message, a response message, a slow request message, and an acknowledge message. A slow request is handled by sending a slow request message in response to a retransmitted request message. When the computer system which received the request message has completed the request, a response message is sent to the requesting computer system. The requesting computer system then transmits an acknowledge message to acknowledge receipt of the response if the requesting computer system has received a slow request message even if the request was idempotent. The method reduces the amount of request message traffic on a network of the type where messages are subject to loss.

Abstract: A device for turning articles such as envelopes 90 degrees as the articles are moved forward from an entrace location to an exit location. Two flexible endless belts, each having a span contiguous to a corresponding span of the other, move the articles as they are turned. A pair of entrance and exit rollers have the flexible belts wrapped around them. The axis of each of the entrance rollers is horizontally disposed and the axis of each of the exit rollers is turned 90 degrees in the direction of the angular displacement of the article such that the axis of each of the exit rollers is disposed vertically. A pair of idler rollers assist in keeping the belts properly positioned on the entrance and exit rollers.

Abstract: A device for feeding envelopes from a hopper to an envelope reading station upon demand. A pair of drive rollers are mounted on a first drive shaft by means of a one-way clutch which allows the rollers to rotate only in a feeding direction. Mounted below the drive rollers are a pair of driven rollers which have a brake applying a force to them counter to the feeding direction. The braking force minimizes the possibility of feeding two documents at the same time. A second substantially identical set of rollers are mounted downstream of the first set of rollers. Upon demand envelopes are fed through the feeder and retained in the nip of the second set of rollers with a portion of the envelope extending into an envelope reading area. An operator reads address indicia from the envelope and keys it into envelope processing apparatus.

Abstract: A device for feeding envelopes from a hopper to an envelope processing station. Driving and driven rollers feed the envelopes one at a time from the hopper. The rollers define a nip through which the envelopes are fed. A unique "U" shaped spring forces the driven roller to contact the driving roller causing the driven roller to oscillate when no envelopes are fed. The oscillation helps envelope feeding by pulling and separating the lead envelope from the stack.

Abstract: A web folding device is disclosed for use in combination with a web processing machine which draws the web from the web folding device in a downstream path of travel, the device comprising:a frame;an upper roller mounted to the frame and extending horizontally across the path of travel of the unfolded web;a motor driven roller mounted to the frame below the upper roller and extending horizontally across the path of travel of the folded web;a pair of fold plates mounted to the frame and disposed between the upper roller and motor driven roller, the fold plates defining a channel through which the web passes and is folded by the fold plates contacting the surface of the web on opposite sides of the fold line;a driven exit roller mounted to the frame and positioned downstream from the motor driven roller;at least one drive belt connecting the motor driven roller to the driven exit roller, such that both rollers rotate in the same downstream direction;whereby when the web processing machine is not drawing the web

Abstract: A microfilm card adapted to be used with a microfilm reading device. The card has an image area having a plurality of images arranged in rows and columns, at least one of the images containing an expanded index of the location of the images. An index area adjacent to the image area contains a plurality of indexes thereon, with the index area precisely and accurately positioned with respect to the image area. The indexes relate to their respective expanded index on the image area, the index viewable directly by the operator. There are means on the microfilm reader which interface with the microfilm card to position the card in the reader in the same precise location each time it is to be viewed.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting aberrations in prisms in convergent light paths. The prism has a transparent entrance and exit face which are connected by a hypotenuse surface. The effect of adding a wedge-shaped addition is made on one of the entrance or exit faces to create a compensating dispersive spectrum to compensate for lateral chromatic aberration. The hypotenuse surface is formed as a spherically convex surface to produce a compensating astigmatic aberration to compensate for the astigmatic aberration caused by the entrance and exit faces of the prism.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding vertically disposed sheet material from a horizontally extending stack comprising a platform adapted to support a stack of sheet material, a vertically extending frame disposed at one end of the platform, and first and second rollers vertically supported in spaced relation by the frame. Endless webs extend around and are driven by the first and second rollers, wherein the webs include a plurality of perforations therein and have one run facing the platform. The one run has a portion which provides an effective contact surface to engage the first article in the stack of sheet material to transport the article from the stack of sheet material as the endless webs are driven. A carriage adjustably located between the first and second rollers supports third and fourth rollers, and the endless webs pass between the third and fourth rollers to continue movement in a different plane.

Abstract: A device for rotating the projected image in a dual lens microfilm reader. Each lens has an image rotation prism positioned above it with selector means for positioning either of the projection lenses and its prism in the image projection path. Gears surround each prism and are driven simultaneously an identical amount by means of a drive gear engaging both of the surrounding prism gears. The projected image is rotated an identical amount regardless of which projection lens is disposed in the image light path.

Abstract: An inserting machine having an improved hold-down member which provides for reduced friction between the hold-down member and the inserts as the inserts pass beneath the hold-down member. An endless belt moves with the lugs in order to transport the inserts along the insert track while friction between the bottom-most insert in a stack and the insert track. The possibility of thin or flimsy inserts jamming the insert track or being erroneously moved to another insert pile is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A vacuum cup mechanism with automatic venting means. A carriage member oscillates between a stack of documents and the main document transport means. A vacuum device mounted on the carriage has a flexible cup at one end and is connected to a vacuum source at the other end. The vacuum device has a body with an internal hollow chamber which is in fluid communication with the flexible cup and the vacuum source. The body rotates about a pivot point to control the operation of a valve which vents the vacuum at the vacuum cup when the document is placed into the main document transport.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for incrementing characters in a printing device, generally applicable to the field of endorsers. An endless character belt has printing characters on its outer surface, the character belt designed to be incremented to present varied characters. The belt is moved by means of a sprocket wheel having gear teeth. A rod with an upstanding pin engages the sprocket wheel of the character belt to be incremented. By stacking several character belts adjacent to each other, each having its own sprocket wheel, the belts can be incremented separately and apart from each other.

Abstract: A matrix printing apparatus of the type having a path for sequentially transporting a series of documents to be printed between a plurality of dot matrix ballistic print heads and back-up platen rollers opposite each print head, the dot matrix ballistic print heads adapted, when actuated, to simultaneously impact an ink source and one side of each document as each document passes the print heads to apply printed material to each document in a pre-programmed array. The improvement of the present invention comprises moving the back-up platen rollers from a first position adjacent the print head when the print head is actuated, to a second position at a distance from the print head when the print head is not actuated.

Abstract: A multiple-head optical scanner includes a plurality of read heads for reading a column of video information at a scanning window. Each read head includes a photosensor array and a lens assembly. The lens assembly focuses the light flux reflected from a segment of the scanning window onto the photosensor array. The photosensor array converts the reflected light flux into electrical signals. The optical axes of adjacent read heads are aligned to intersect the document plane at the scanning window at different angles. In addition, the segment scanned by each read head overlaps a portion of the segment scanned by its adjacent read head.

Abstract: The illustrated embodiment teaches a three-way valve system for an ink jet printer. The system has an inlet, a main outlet, a vent, and two needle valves (a shut-off valve and a vent valve) which sit in respective valve guides. The passageways are arranged so that for ink to reach the outlet or vent, it travels through the shut-off valve seat and guide. Similarly, to reach the vent, fluid must pass through the vent valve seat and guide. The shut-off valve and vent valves are arranged to reciprocate through the action of a lever with a fulcrum between the two needle valves. The lever is connected to an actuator solenoid and an opposing bias spring. For opening of the valve system, the solenoid pulls the lever to shut the vent valve, thereby permitting the pressurized ink to lift the shut-off valve off its seat. When the shut-off valve is seated, a smaller area is exposed to pressure than when it is not seated. Therefore, the ink exerts a greater force on the opened shut-off valve.

Abstract: An improvement in an ink jet printing system which uses a catcher or gutter to intercept drops of ink deflected from the ink jet printing stream. The ink drop catcher serves to remove the drops of ink which have collected on the face of the catcher by means of capillary paths extending from the face of the catcher to a porous block. The porous block may be connected to a vacuum souce for removing the ink from the printing head.