Abstract: An improved mechanism for incrementing characters in a printing device, generally applicable to the field of endorsers. An endless character belt has printing characters on its outer surface, the character belt designed to be incremented to present varied characters. The belt is moved by means of a sprocket wheel having gear teeth. A rod with an upstanding pin engages the sprocket wheel of the character belt to be incremented. By stacking several character belts adjacent to each other, each having its own sprocket wheel, the belts can be incremented separately and apart from each other.

Abstract: The illustrated embodiment teaches a three-way valve system for an ink jet printer. The system has an inlet, a main outlet, a vent, and two needle valves (a shut-off valve and a vent valve) which sit in respective valve guides. The passageways are arranged so that for ink to reach the outlet or vent, it travels through the shut-off valve seat and guide. Similarly, to reach the vent, fluid must pass through the vent valve seat and guide. The shut-off valve and vent valves are arranged to reciprocate through the action of a lever with a fulcrum between the two needle valves. The lever is connected to an actuator solenoid and an opposing bias spring. For opening of the valve system, the solenoid pulls the lever to shut the vent valve, thereby permitting the pressurized ink to lift the shut-off valve off its seat. When the shut-off valve is seated, a smaller area is exposed to pressure than when it is not seated. Therefore, the ink exerts a greater force on the opened shut-off valve.

Abstract: An improvement in an ink jet printing system which uses a catcher or gutter to intercept drops of ink deflected from the ink jet printing stream. The ink drop catcher serves to remove the drops of ink which have collected on the face of the catcher by means of capillary paths extending from the face of the catcher to a porous block. The porous block may be connected to a vacuum souce for removing the ink from the printing head.

Abstract: A web drive system for automatically reversing the direction of travel of the web when the end of the web is reached. A reversible electric motor provides power to either the supply or take up spindles. An end of the web is affixed to each of the spindles so that either spindle can be provided with power to draw the web from the other spindle. A planetary gear system provides power to whichever spindle acts as the take up spindle until the end of the web is sensed. The motor is then reversed and the planetary gear then provides power to the other spindle, which was previously the supply spindle.

Abstract: A fishing lure which is designed such that when attached to a fishing line, will emulate the random swimming motion of a swimming body, formed by an elongate lure body having a forward end and a trailing end, and having a substantially overall side to side arcuate configuration, the lure body being provided with a plurality of apertures disposed through the lure body, each of the apertures being provided with a flared scoop disposed along a portion of the circumferential periphery of the aperture, and each of the flared scoops facing in the general direction of the forward end of the lure body and being positioned askew with respect to each of the adjacent flared scoops such that none of the adjoining and adjacent flared scoops are in parallel alignment one with respect to the next.

Abstract: A microfilm duplicator for duplicating images received from a microfiche onto a duplicating medium. Images from the master microfiche are transferred to the duplicating medium at an exposure station. A duplicating medium support frame is operator moveable to cause the duplicating medium to be transported to a developing station wherein the duplicating medium is developed. The duplicating medium is then transported to a clearing station wherein unimaged areas are cleared from the duplicating medium and the duplicate is discharged at a discharge station. While one duplicate is being developed, a second duplicate can be exposed at the exposure station thus increasing throughput of the device.

Abstract: An improved ski rack and carrier for transporting skis and ski poles. A vehicle roof rack is secured to the automobile and receives a removable carrier which supports and retains multiple sets of skis and ski poles. The ski carrier has two pairs of pivotal arms which pivot around a central frame member with the skis and ski poles retained between the pivotal members and the central frame member. There is a locking end member which secures the pivotal arms to each other and to the roof rack and is adaptable to lock the ski carrier separate and apart from the roof rack.

Abstract: A device for feeding address labels on a web with the address labels arranged in a column, each address label equal in size to adjacent address labels. There are non-addressed areas at equally spaced distances along the web, with the non-addressed areas separated by the address labels. There are two cutters placed after the web feeder. The first cutter operates after each increment of the web. The second cutter operates only after an increment of the web wherein the web is fed the distance of an address label plus the height of a non-addressed area. The non-addressed area is cut from the address label and removed, and the cut address label is affixed to the mail piece. The device provides for incrementing the web either a distance equal to an address label or a distance equal to an address label plus the height of a non-addressed area.

Abstract: A pneumatic valve system for sealing off the flow of a liquid at the intersection of two pipes, one of the pipes being vertically disposed with respect to the other pipe. A sensing probe senses liquid at a pre-established height in the vertically disposed height which signals a control system to activate the pneumatic valve system. An expandable, inflatable bladder is positioned from the vertically disposed pipe into the second pipe and is inflated, thereby sealing off the flow of liquid past the bladder. When normal fluid flow is to return, the bladder is deflated and positioned back into its original position within the vertically disposed pipe.

Abstract: An identifying tag affixed to a key wherein the identifying tag has a surface area which receives the identifying indicia. The identifying tag has opposite ends with locking or latching members so that the opposite ends can be fastened together. The identifying tag is dimensioned so that it can pass through at least two receiving holes in the key and then have the latching members engaged so that the identifying tag is securely retained to the key. The identifying tag is generally made from a flexible material so that the tag can be easily manipulated by the user to pass through the receiving holes and then latched.

Abstract: A device for allowing the removal of a central or coupling shaft which is connected to a main shaft having its ends retained within bearing supports. At the joints between the coupling shaft and main shaft there is complementary coupling pieces which align the coupling shaft with the main shaft. A releasable collar maintains the shafts in a locking relationship and there are locating means on the shaft to positively position the collar around the joint.

Abstract: A new and improved vacuum document feeder provides a vacuum cup support mechanism which follows a somewhat crescent-shaped coupler curve that eliminates the vacuum cup wear-producing disadvantages of the prior art; improves separation of documents, and provides for increased feeding rates. A four-bar system moves a table over the somewhat crescent-shaped coupler curve, while at all times holding an edge of the table parallel to the documents. Two vacuum cups are individually pivotally mounted on the table, to sweep over an angle which accommodates leaning documents. Cams on a drive pulley associated with the transport system coordinates the table movement with both the pivoting and vacuumizing of the cups. The cups move in a manner to cause the document to buckle thereby improving separation between documents and eliminating double feeding.

Abstract: An illuminator or light box having the ability to provide varying degrees of light intensity or illumination to the screen. At least two sets of bulbs are mounted within the light box. Each set is identical to the other set and is comprised of different light bulbs. There are control switches to energize the same light bulb of each set. Different colored light bulbs can comprise the sets thereby allowing the user to selectively energize the lamps available to supply various colors to illuminate the screen.

Abstract: A bar code printing device with mechanical generation of a parity or check character. The mechanism is indexed by moving a plurality of push buttons or levers which when individually moved, engage a code belt which is connected to a parity generating mechanism. Each of the push buttons is associated with a single character of a sequence and can be moved in random order.

Abstract: A bimodal electrophotographic apparatus and process which incorporates capabilities for making both positive and reversal copies. One surface of a layer of a zinc oxide coated paper, or the like, is given an initial electrostatic charge. The charged surface is then exposed to an image having light and dark areas for causing surface charge to dissipate, in varying degree depending on the amount of light striking the charged paper, in the exposure areas. A charged toner is applied to the zinc-oxide-coated paper by a magnetic brush. In the reversal mode, the brush has a bias potential. The brush is formed by an aggregation of magnetic toner particles clinging to the outside of a cylindrical sleeve while magnets inside the sleeve rotate. The toner collects on the paper to form an image depending upon where the charge is dissipated.

Abstract: An improved flue box assembly for use with the exhaust gas conduit of a heating plant is provided having a housing with at least one pivotally mounted damper plate therein. The damper plate is provided with a flue opening and at least one bore to permit the creation of a safe amount of back pressure to retain unburned fuel vapors within the heating plant, thereby maximizing fuel efficiency, while simultaneously preventing the build-up and stratification of unburned fuel vapors within the housing.

Abstract: A system is described for holding the tension of a web substantially constant as the web is transported from a supply spool to a take-up spool. The rotation of each spool is controlled by a motor. A tension control circuit senses the currents in both motors and alters motor current so as to hold the sum of the motor currents at a substantially constant value. In this manner, the sum of the torques generated by the motors and their spools is held at a substantially constant value to thereby maintain web tension substantially constant as the radii of the spools change during web movement.

Abstract: A new and improved vacuum document feeder provides a vacuum cup support mechanism which follows a somewhat crescent-shaped coupler curve that eliminated the vacuum cup wear-producing disadvantages of the prior art and provides for increased feeding rates. A four-bar system moves a table over the somewhat crescent-shaped coupler curve, while at all times holding an edge of the table parallel to the documents. At least one vacuum cup is pivotally mounted on the table, to sweep over an angle which accommodates leaning documents. Cams on a drive pulley associated with the transport system coordinates the table movement with both the pivoting and vacuumizing of the cups.

Abstract: A document switch senses the movement of a plurality of cards, or the like, as they pass through a path of travel. A pivotable assembly has first and second pivoted arm members including a sensing arm mounted on a pivotable element. In its initial position, the sensing arm projects into the path of card travel. When the card appears, the sensing arm is moved out of its initial position, and a contact mounted on the assembly opens to sense an engagement of the arm with a card. Continued travel of the card moves the arm against a stop which withdraws it from the path of travel and resilient means brings the sensing arm into engagement with the underside of the card. A leaf spring presses against the card to retain it in a guide plane as it travels away from the sensing arm and into the nip of take-up rollers.