Abstract: A wearable suction catheter that can be used without clinician control. The suction catheter attaches on or near the patient with a patient interface configured for the shape of the nose, mouth or tracheostomy tube. The patient interface includes at least two radial duct openings and each end of the interface is connected to airway tubing ending in a wye. The wye end of the catheter includes a cleaning access port and is attached to a suction source that provides continuous or intermittent suction.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic development system has a plurality of removable cartridges mounted on a rotatable support for selective engagement with an electrophotographic member to be developed. Each cartridge has a liquid developer reservoir and a flexible toner concentrate container from which concentrate is supplied to the developer in the reservoir as needed. A fluted roll pumps developer in a uniform manner from the reservoir to the electrophotographic member. After depletion of the toner concentrate and developer, any developer remaining in the cartridge can be pumped into the flexible container to prevent spillage on disposal of the cartridge. The cartridge housing has only one opening and minimum-size passages between the reservoir and the opening to inhibit evaporation of developer liquid.

Abstract: A tape transport fits within the five and one-quarter inch form factor and has motor driven mechanisms for automatically loading a DC600-type cartridge endwise therein. The transport includes a frame dimensioned to fit within the form factor, and a front panel extending across a forward transvere end of the frame. The front panel has a slot dimensioned so that the cartridge can be endwise inserted through the slot onto a tray movably supported within the frame. A read/write head is mounted to the frame adjacent the tray for reciprocating the head along an axis perpendicular to a base plate of the cartridge. A capstan drive motor is also mounted to the frame adjacent the tray so that a capstan drive roller connected to its shaft can drive a belt capstan roller of the cartridge. Guides associated with the tray permit the same to be moved by a motor driven gear box to automatically carry the cartridge rearwardly and then laterally into engagement with the read/write head and the capstan drive roller.

Abstract: An assembly for positioning a print head so as to transfer ink from an ink ribbon to a printing medium positioned on a movable platen adjacent to said ribbon supports the print head on a rocker member which enables the head to be swung between a print position wherein it engages the ink ribbon and a feed position wherein the head is spaced from the ribbon enabling ribbon to be moved. The rocker is rocked to move the head between its two positions by a rotary cam driven by a small low-power electric motor. When the cam engages the rocker member at selected angular positions, the head is maintained in its retracted feed position; otherwise, the head resides in its print position. The assembly also includes provision for detecting the angular position of the cam so as to produce signals to facilitate repositioning the cam and head promptly.

Abstract: A mechanism for clamping the leading edge of a sheet to be wrapped around a printing drum for printing in a plurality of colors includes a clip that is movably mounted in the drum so that it can be moved between an open position and a clamping position, the clip being biased to its clamping position. One or more deflectable cams are positioned adjacent to the drum for engagement by the clip. When the drum is rotated in its direction for printing successive colors on the sheet, the clip deflects the cam and remains in its clamping position. However, when the drum is rotated in the opposite direction to discharge a printed sheet, the clip is engaged by the cams and wedged thereby to its open position thereby releasing the printed sheet. The mechanism also includes provision for automatically discharging the printed sheet from the drum to a discharge path adjacent to the drum when the clip is opened.

Abstract: A thermal printer of the three-pass variety for printing in color featuring a sheet feeder, automatic registration, and ejection of the sheet when printing is complete. A rotatable, cylindrical drum has the print head close adjacent thereto and includes a releasable clamp for receiving the paper from the sheet feeder. The paper is clamped to the drum and the drum rotated past the print head three times, one for each color. The drum is then rotated to release and eject the paper. Sensors are provided to detect and monitor the position of the drum during its printing operation and to monitor the status of the paper supplied to the clamping mechanism.