Abstract: An ink jet cartridge for an ink jet printer has a housing for the installation of at least one replaceable ink supply tank. The cartridge has a printhead attached thereto which is in fluid communication with an ink pipe connector integrally formed on the floor of the housing through a passageway in the floor. The ink pipe connector protrudes from the housing floor and is adapted to enter an outlet port of the ink supply tank when the supply tank is installed in the housing. The ink pipe connector has a mesh filter recessed therein and a cover having holes therein positioned over the entrance of the ink pipe connector and spaced above the filter to form an internal chamber in the ink pipe connector. The holes in the cover are sufficiently small to cause the formation of an ink meniscus in each hole when the chamber is filled with ink and the meniscus in the holes prevent the ingestion of air.

Abstract: An improved sheet detecting rotary switch activator is disclosed. The switch is modified by mounting the switch for rotation at a hub member which pivots about a fixed point. The hub member has teeth with a helical surface which mate with fixed surfaces having helical top surfaces. When the switch is rotated from a first position by passage of a paper sheet, energy is stored in the spring connected to the hub member. Upon release of the spring, energy by movement of the paper path switch contact arm moves the hub member from a position where the mating helical surfaces overlying are in contact to the output contact position. The return is a "soft" stop due to the dissipation of the release force of the spring in a direction generally normal to the helical surfaces of the mating teeth.

Abstract: A holographic display module is incorporated into a machine with independently operating subsystems, and used to provide an indication of the status or location of the machine subsystems. In one embodiment, a xerographic copier incorporates a holographic display incorporating an outline of the machine. A liquid crystal panel is aligned with the holographic display and selectively addressed in conjunction with signals from the copier subsystems. An illumination subsystem is optimized to provide diffuse illumination of the display.

Abstract: A copying apparatus with a document copying platen, including a substantially uniformly light reflective platen cover for holding documents against the platen, and including document drive wheels having light reflective constant width surfaces partially extendable through fixed apertures in the platen cover towards the platen. The fixed apertures in the platen cover are wider than the drive wheels to allow their limited transverse movement. Light reflective shields having an aperture the same width as the wheels are mounted in the platen cover so that each wheel extends through a light shield aperture with each light shield closely fitted to both sides of a wheel. Each light shield is movable transversely together with its wheel, but each light shield constantly overlies its fixed aperture in the platen cover irrespective of this transverse movement to constantly present a substantially uninterrupted light reflective surface over the platen together with the wheel.