Abstract: A computed radiography (CR) reader comprising: an image plate loading and unloading station for receiving in a vertical orientation a CR cassette including a light tight cassette shell and an image plate supported by an extrusion closing off said shell, said image plate storing a latent radiographic image, a scanning station located below said loading and unloading station at which said image plate is scanned, and an image plate transport assembly for removing said image plate from said cassette shell and for vertically transporting said image plate past said scanning station while said image plate is being removed from said cassette.

Abstract: An optical system including first and second lens groups disposed for relative movement along an optical axis and coupled together by a cam and follower mechanism for controlling such relative movement to change the focal length of the optical system. The system is characterized by a mechanism for offsetting relative movement between the lens groups along the optical axis caused by lateral movement of the lens groups essentially normal to the axis, thereby to maintain the focal length constant in the presence of the lateral movement.

Abstract: An improved heater construction for an ink jet printer of the kind having a rotary print platen for holding and transporting a print sheet through a print path. The platen heater includes a hollow shell mounted for rotation through the print path and has vacuum holes for sheet attachment. A heating foil is detachably mounted in heat transfer relation with a major portion of the interior periphery of said shell and is coupled by brush contacts to an electrical power source.

Abstract: An improved processing apparatus for adjustable stroke rotary indexing is provided. The apparatus comprises a rotatable input shaft, an intermediate shaft drivably and mechanically coupled to the input shaft, an output shaft coupled to the input shaft by a one-way clutch, and means for selectively adjusting the angular stroke of the output shaft. The mechanical coupling between the input and intermediate shafts comprises a planar four-link mechanism configured to operate in crank-rocker fashion such that continuous rotary input motion will produce angular rocking motion in the intermediate shaft. The limit positions of the oscillating shaft are a function of the length of the crank in the planar four-link crank-rocker coupling. The crank comprises a first crank member mounted on the input shaft and a second crank member rotatably mounted with respect to and lockably engagable with the first member.

Abstract: The apparatus is an improved web processor, which operates at a high web speed, and can achieve variable document lengths with only programmable changes. To achieve this result the web processor uses an improved tool and web drive control. The tool control insures that the tool contacts the web once per document length. The web drive control varies the web speed to mate with the tool during impact and then speed up or slows down the web to maintain a constant speed throughout the processing unit.