Abstract: A telephonic switching system (11) with a switch (10) controlled by a central processing unit (12) to interconnect interior communication units (14) and exterior telephonic units (16) in accordance with data in a shared data memory (18) with data that is alterable in response to signals generated by the communication units. A data memory access system (23) periodically shifts access to the data memory (18) from one special process to another successive special process in a process memory (20). The data memory access system (23) prevents the normal periodic shifting of access to the data memory (18) during a period when the special process with access is enabled to access and alter shared data.

Abstract: A telecommunication system (10) having a multiport receiving switch (12) with a central control circuit (14) for distributing information received over a multichannel link (28) from a multiport sending switch (30) to at least one of a plurality of various applications in the telecommunication system (10) with a data delay buffer (54) for temporarily delaying the sending of data transmitted across the multichannel link (28) to a peripheral circuit (26) for a predetermined interval in response to the seizing of a channel at the receiving switch (12).

Abstract: A printing press (32) with a pair of plate cylinders (12A, 12B) each having a cylindrical body (22A, 22B) and a central axis of rotation (20A, 20B) mounted in fixed parallel spaced relationship, a pair of blanket cylinders (14A, 14B) located adjacent the plate cylinders (12A, 12B) with each having a cylindrical body (30A, 30B) and a rotary axis (24A, 24B) parallel to the axes (20A, 20B) of the plate cylinders (12A, 12B), having a blanket cylinder throw off apparatus (26) mounting the blanket cylinders (14A, 14B) in an operative position in engagement with the pair of plate cylinders (12A, 12B), respectively, and with their rotary axes (24A, 24B) in lateral alignment with the axes of rotation (20A, 20B) of the plate cylinders to reduce vibration and a throw off position in which a throw off gap (39) exists between the pair of blanket cylinders (14A, 14B) and a pair of gaps (403, 43B) exist between the pair of plate cylinders (12A, 12B), respectively.

Abstract: In an automatic call director-type system, it is often more desirable to direct an incoming call to an immediately available agent who has less than perfect knowledge of the subject matter rather than forcing a caller to wait for the best qualified agent. The present invention relates to an algorithm implemented in computer software for placing an incoming call in a plurality of queues and then offering the call to primary and secondary desirability agents in each of the queues in a prescribed order if any one of these groups of agents has an agent standing by and able to accept a call. Otherwise, the call is offered to the next available agent regardless of the capability of that agent. The concept includes the capability of expanding the pool of potential agents in the queue with age of a call when the incremental expansion pool of agents selected can be based on their backlog of calls for other applications where they may have primary responsibility.

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging system for use in lithographic printing wherein a master-image printing cylinder is used with separate application of ink and water onto its surface to enable repetitive conveyance of image-formatted ink films onto substrates for printing purposes. The imaging system includes a master-image printing cylinder adapted for receiving a hydrohilic coating layer on its surface and a device for laying down a uniform layer of hydrophilic material on the surface of this cylinder. An apparatus is also provided for applying oleophilic materials in image-formatted patterns on top of the layer of hydrophilic material on the master-image printing cylinder to form a printing structure having separate hydrohilic and oleophilic areas of the format to be printed.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly (12) of a telephonic console (14) having multiple modes of operation programmable at a user's site is shipped partly disassembled from a plurality of top mountable key caps with different designations for the same key location corresponding to different modes for permanent top mounting into vacant key holes (18, 20, 22, 24) at the customer site and is preassembled with other key cap assemblies that are installed at a manufacturing site from the underside (12') of the keyboard. The top mountable key cap assemblies (40) have a plurality of resilient arms (56, 58, 62, 64) with flanges (68) on the ends to block removal and wedge-shaped camming surfaces (70, 72) for camming engagement with the sides (50) of key holes to resiliently press the flanges (68) inwardly to enable insertion into the key hole (18, 20, 22, 24) mounted beneath the underside (12') of the keyboard (12) at which location they resiliently return to a locking position (FIG. 4 B) to block removal.

Abstract: A cleaning device (10) for a threaded shaft (12) having a cleaning member (34) having a threaded recess (42) received on the shaft (12) and extending partially around the shaft (12) with the threads (44) of the cleaning member (34) meshing with the threads (14) of the shaft (12).

Abstract: A self-oscillating roller assembly (11, 13) and method of oscillating a roller in an offset printing press having an oscillating drive assembly (11) for oscillating a rotationally mounted roller (10, 12) with a source of pneumatic pressure (62) by alternatively applying pressure to pressure chambers (42A, 42B) on opposite sides of the roller (10, 12) to impart a longitudinal force on the oscillating roller (10, 12) from the source of pressure (62) in two opposite directions and a controller (47) for controlling the application of pressure (58, 62) to alternately move the rotationally mounted roller in two opposite directions.

Abstract: A printing blanket cylinder assembly (14',16') with an exposed edge (60) at the end of an inwardly turned mounting member (30M, 34M) protectively enclosed within a mounting slot (32) within a blanket cylinder (16) while an outer layer (40) of the blanket (34) is protectively wrapped around a leading edge (30D) of a metal backing plate (30) to both protect intermediate layers (44, 48) of the blanket (34) and the bonds therebetween from the deleterious effects of dampening liquid while concurrently providing a gap (56) of preselected size to achieve a stress-free boundary for the blanket (34) on opposite sides of the gap (56) for optimal vibration reduction. An ejector mechanism (70) is mounted to the cylinder (16) for pushing the mounting member (30M, 34M) out of the slot (32) during removal of the blanket (34) from around the cylinder (16).

Abstract: An imaging system (12) for a printing press (10) having an imaging cylinder (44) having a magnetically addressable outer surface (46), a magnetically permeable film (48), a device (50) for passing the film (48) over at least a portion of the outer surface (46) of the imaging cylinder (44), a device (52) for writing magnetic information through the film (48) onto the outer surface (46) of the imaging cylinder (44), a device (56) for passing a magnetic particulate material (58) onto the film (48) over the magnetic information on the cylinder (44) to form an image (80) of the particulate material (58) on the film (48), and a device (62) for bonding the particulate material (58) onto the film (48).

Abstract: A method of providing a software zero state for a plurality of ink adjusting modules in a printing press. Each of the ink adjusting modules are provided for adjusting an associated plunger assembly for dispensing ink to an ink rail in the printing press, each ink adjusting module having an ink control lever which contacts the plunger assembly to change the ink volume being pumped by the associated plunger assembly to the ink rail, having a mechanical stop for the ink control lever and having an adjustable ink control rod contacting the ink control lever.

Abstract: An imaging system (12) for a printing press (10) having an imaging cylinder (44) having a magnetically addressable outer surface (46), a magnetically permeable film (48), a device (50) for passing the film (48) over at least a portion of the outer surface (46) of the imaging cylinder (44), a device (52) for writing magnetic information through the film (48) onto the outer surface (46) of the imaging cylinder (44), a device (56) for passing a magnetic particulate material (58) onto the film (48) over the magnetic information on the cylinder (44) to form an image (80) of the particulate material (58) on the film (48), and a device (62) for bonding the particulate material (58) onto the film (48).

Abstract: A delivery system (20) having a plurality of printing presses (22) to supply printed materials, a plurality of trays (38) being movable past locations of the presses (22), a device for loading (26) the trays (38) from the presses (22), a device for ejecting (28) the printed materials from the trays (38) onto a plurality of positions of a plurality of docks (46) for a plurality of vehicles (48) located at the positions on the dock (46), and a control system (49) for selecting the trays (38) to be ejected onto the docks (46) according to a variable current rate having an average during delivery approximately equal to a selected base rate.

Abstract: An adjustable angle bar assembly (10) for a printing press (12) having a support (14), a hollow angle bar (18) pivotally mounted adjacent a longitudinal central portion (34) of the angle bar (18) to the support (14), with the angle bar (18) having a cavity (20) for the passage of air, and a plurality of openings 30 extending through the angle bar (18) and communicating with the cavity (20) for passage of air through the angle bar (18) from the cavity (20) to a web (32) passing over the angle bar (18), and a device for passing the air into the central portion (34) of the angle bar (18) for distribution of the air by the angle bar (18) against the web (32) irrespective of the orientation of the angle bar with respect to said support (14).

Abstract: An inking system (10) for a printing press (12) having an ink injector (18) for supplying ink under pressure and having a device (50) for pumping and metering the ink flow in the injector (18), a fountain roller (14) having an outer brush surface (26) in close contact with the ink injector (18), a device (29) for rotating the fountain roller (14), a pick up roll (16) located adjacent the fountain roller (14) to receive ink from the fountain roller (14), a device (29) for rotating the pick up roller (14), and a device (42) for scraping the residual ink from a scraper roller (40) receiving ink from a rubber covered roller.

Abstract: A self-locking mechanism (10) for selectively dynamically adjusting expansion bands (12) of a running cylinder (11) of a rotary printing press during rotation includes a cylindrical adjustment member (30, 72) with a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the running cylinder which engages a band box (22, 80) rotating with the running cylinder (11) to make the selected adjustments in response to rotation of cylindrical adjusting member (30, 72) at a speed different from the speed of the running cylinder (11). The speed difference is produced by a differential (52, 75) stationary with respect to the running cylinder (11) which engages the cylindrical member (30, 72) and the running cylinder (11). The cylindrical adjusting member (30, 72) is mounted to the running cylinder (11) on an interrupted journal (35). The cylindrical adjusting member (30) has an inner engagement surface (38) for engagement with the band box (22) and another engagement surface (39) for engagement with the differential.

Abstract: An ink feeding device (12) for a printing press (10) having an ink pan (40) having a cavity (42) to receive and retain ink, a rotatable fountain roller (14) mounted in the cavity (42) of the pan (40), a device (28) for rotating the fountain roller (14), a rotatable metering roller (16) positioned to receive ink from the fountain roller (14), a device (30) for rotating the metering roller (16), a doctor blade (50) for removing residual ink from the metering roller (16), a rotatable impeller (44) mounted on one side of the fountain roller (14) in the cavity (42) of the pan (40) generally below the doctor blade (50) and having a plurality of blades (46) to direct ink returned by the doctor blade (50) towards the fountain roller (14), and a device (48) for rotating the impeller (44).

Abstract: A telephone system (10) having an automatic call distributor (12a-c) for receiving calls and distributing the calls to at least one ubiquitous agent associated with the automatic call distributor (12a-c), a switch (20) connected to the automatic call distributor (12a-c), and a device (16) for controlling the switch (20) for connecting the switch (20) to the ubiquitous agents.

Abstract: An imaging system (12) for a printing press (10) having an imaging cylinder (44) having a magnetically addressable outer surface (46), a magnetically permeable film (48), a device (50) for passing the film (48) over at least a portion of the outer surface (46) of the imaging cylinder (44), a device (52) for writing magnetic information through the film (48) onto the outer surface (46) of the imaging cylinder (44), a device (56) for passing a magnetic particulate material (58) onto the film (48) over the magnetic information on the cylinder (44) to form an image (80) of the particulate material (58) on the film (48), and a device (62) for bonding the particulate material (58) onto the film (48).

Abstract: An imaging system (12) for a printing press (10) having an imaging cylinder (44) having a magnetically addressable outer surface (46), a magnetically permeable film (48), a device (50) for passing the film (48) over at least a portion of the outer surface (46) of the imaging cylinder (44), a device (52) for writing magnetic information through the film (48) onto the outer surface (46) of the imaging cylinder (44), a device (56) for passing a magnetic particulate material (58) onto the film (48) over the magnetic information on the cylinder (44) to form an image (80) of the particulate material (58) on the film (48), and a device (62) for bonding the particulate material (58) onto the film (48).