Abstract: An improved stacker for an automatic document sorter is described. The stacker is vertical and receives documents at the top thereof and expels them at the bottom. The stacker includes a paddle normally disposed at the top for receiving the first document and subsequent documents stacked thereon. As documents enter the stacker, the paddle drops due to the action of a timing belt and sensor arrangement until it reaches the bottom. At the bottom, a horizontally directed timing belt withdraws the paddle from the stacker and the paddle is then returned by reverse action to the top of the stacker and reinserted thereinto for receiving the next stack of documents. Both timing belts are independently driven by motors.

Abstract: A singulator of the friction belt type capable of synchronous or asynchronous modes of operation is described. The singulator includes a buffer assembly for accepting a shingled stream of documents, a feeder pinch belt for extracting the first document from the buffer and a scanner for scanning the document as it passes through the feeder into an accelerator which is also a pinch belt. The accelerator accelerates the document to a constant speed leaving the singulator. A control means is provided which operates coupled to the feeder drive and the scanner so that the next upstream document is extracted a predetermine time after the first document leaves the accelerator.

Abstract: An envelope reflectance meter for evaluating the contrast between ink on a pre-printed envelope and the envelope itself and for calculating and displaying the print contrast ratio and the print reflectance difference is described. The device includes a portable housing having internally a pair of light sources which generate a reflected image of the envelope. The image passes through a lens, is reflected from a mirror, and is then displayed on a viewplate. An aperture is provided in the viewplate which passes a beam of light. The beam of light is then split and the two beams resulting analyzed for red content and green content. The analog signal produced is then converted to digital and the print contrast ratio and print reflectance difference calculated. A display is provided within the housing adjacent the viewplate whereby selectively the values for red light and for green light and comparisons between the readings for ink and the readings for the envelope are selectively displayed for an operator.

Abstract: An arrangement for automatically engaging and disengaging a brake on rotating apparatus comprising a rotatable brake drum and a pair of brake shoes pivotally mounted for engagement with the drum. Free ends of the brake shoes are urged together by spring forces bringing the brake shoes into braking engagement with the drum. A brake release mechanisms includes a pivoted release member with a cone-shaped stud slidably connected thereto. The brake shoes are disengaged by rotating the release member which forces the stud between the brake shoe free ends and separates the brake shoes from the drum. The conical stud and its slidable connection to the pivoted release member simplifies assembly and maintenance of the arrangement.

Abstract: A stair climbing robot and method of operation is described. The robot includes a chassis having powered opposed front wheels and two pairs of rear wheels each pair being rotatably mounted on a beam at opposite ends thereof, and each beam being rotatably mounted on the chassis. A drive motor is provided for driving each pair of wheels in the same direction at a predetermined rotational velocity and a drive means is provided for simultaneously rotating the beams at a predetermined rotational velocity and in a predetermined direction. The method of operation to climb stairs includes the steps of activating the rotation of the beams in a forward direction while causing each pair of rear wheels to rotate in an opposite direction at the same rotational velocity. In this way, forward movement is achieved by action of the front wheels and the rotating beams and the rotational velocity of the rear wheels relative to the terrain will be zero.

Abstract: Disclosed is a training projectile having the same ballistic characteristic as the operational projectile. The training projectile comprises on elongated body having a L/D ratio of substantially 10-25. Fins are attached to the projectile and are configured to cause a change in rate of spin of the projectile from its initial rate to a rate which is coincident with a critical rate of spin to cause structural failure of the projectile at a predetermined range in flight.