Abstract: A method of obtaining a measure of the stickiness of heated particulate solids (40) includes pouring a sample of the particulate solids (40) onto a generally horizontal support (12) and allowing it to freely form its own angle of repose. The sample is subjected to a predetermined heat and gas atmosphere regime, and the support is rotated about a generally horizontal axis to an angle (42) where the integrity of the sample (46) fails. The angular position (42) is a measure of the stickness of the particulate solid (40).

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a guide member for directing sheets toward a transfer zone. The guide member defines a set of ribs which hold the sheets above the main surface of the guide member. Thus, any stray marking material which lands on the guide member is relatively unlikely to contact a sheet moving over the guide member.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a guide member for directing sheets toward a transfer zone. The guide member defines a set of ribs which hold the sheets above the main surface of the guide member. Thus, any stray marking material which lands on the guide member is relatively unlikely to contact a sheet moving over the guide member.

Abstract: A vacuum transport for a printer or copier guides a sheet through a machine, such as from a photoreceptor toward a fuser. The vacuum transport includes a partially enclosed vacuum chamber having rollers rotatably mounted therein. Portions of the rollers protrude through openings in the top of the chamber. A series of ribs are disposed between the openings. Some of the ribs extend diagonally toward one end of the width of the paper path over the transport.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking, registering and attaching one or multiple sets of electrophotographic printing machine output. The copy sheets are discharged from the machine and fall into an inclined compiling tray and are longitudinally registered by flexible, endless belts contacting the top surface of each sheet. Each sheet is then laterally shifted by a tamping mechanism which has upwardly flared baffle to corrugate the sheet as it is shifted to increase the sheet beam strength and facilitate easier and more complete registration. The discharge nip assembly which includes the flexible belts is vertically adjustable either based on discharged sheet count or in response to feedback from a stack height sensor so as to maintain optimum contact by the endless registration belt and allow for high capacity compiling. The compiling tray can also be adjustable.

Abstract: A depositor deposits cooked toffee into a series of advancing moulds by means of a pump which pumps the toffee through the outer nozzle of a pair of concentric nozzles. After each discharge stroke of the pump, a pulse of heated compressed air is blown through the inner nozzle to separate the deposited portion of toffee from the toffee remaining in the nozzle.