Abstract: A smoke detector of the ionization type is provided with a movable test target or probe for intercepting alpha radiation within the measuring chamber when moved to a particular position. As a result of the interception of alpha particles, the electrical resistance of the chamber between a pair of electrodes is increased. Since the electrical resistance similarly increases when airborne products of combustion enter the measuring chamber, the operative position and size of the test target may be selected such that its movement to its operative position results in electrical simulation of a predetermined level of airborne products of combustion within the measuring chamber.

Abstract: An ionization smoke detector is disclosed wherein an electric field is established in an ionization chamber for reducing detector instability caused by air currents acting on the detector. An improved structure for enhancing detector sensitivity by establishing a unipolar region in the chamber is described.

Abstract: An ionization type of smoke detector is described having a means for reducing the effect of extraneous electrical fields which penetrate an ionization chamber of the detector.

Abstract: A strain relief arrangement associated with a removable wall of a housing includes an integral member which defines a cavity; a post within the cavity; and a slot communicating with the cavity and the inside of the housing. The wall and member provide a depressed region adjacent the cavity, the depressed region including a set for a removable cover, and a pair of holes through which fingers of the cover can engage the inside of the wall. When the fingers engage the wall, a screw can be put through a hole in the cover to engage the post and secure the cover. An abutment on the cover cooperates with the cavity to define a second slot, each of the slots being large enough to slidably but snuggly accommodate a power cord. A cord extending through the slots and around the post is anchored by the assembled arrangement.

Abstract: An audible indicator circuit including a piezoelectric crystal and transistor device, that is of extremely simple and inexpensive construction and has its on-off operation selectively controlled in response to an automatic or manually applied control signal. The piezoelectric crystal is connected between the collector and emitter electrodes of the transistor, so that with an "on" control signal applied to the base electrode and a supply voltage of magnitude that exceeds the collector to emitter breakdown voltage coupled to the collector electrode, the circuit is caused to oscillate and thereby emit an audible signal.

Abstract: A quick release latch assembly for a portable cabinet, such as that of a tape player, for providing ready attachment and release of a carry strap or like accessory to said cabinet. The latch assembly comprises a fixed member integrally constructed with said cabinet having a pair of angled grooves and resilient tongue means, and a removable member including a lower portion having a pair of pivot rod ends and an upper portion having means for coupling to the carry strap, the rods ends inserting into the grooves when the tongue is depressed and upon reaching beyond the angled corners of the grooves being held in position by said tongue abutting the lower portion of said removable member.

Abstract: An electrical temperature sensing device for food heating appliances such as toasters and the like which is constructed to provide rapid thermal response, significant resistance variation as a function of temperature, and good mechanical strength so as to be suitable for mounting within the food heating compartment of said appliances in close thermal coupling with the bread or other food article to be heated. The temperature sensing device is in the form of an elongated tubular structure shaped in a U configuration, comprising a central core of low mass insulating material upon which is wound a helical wire of temperature sensitive resistance material. A thin walled sleeve of insulating material fits tightly over the wire wound core, and a thin walled metal tubing of good heat conduction characteristics fits tightly over the insulating sleeve.

Abstract: A two piece portable radio cabinet having an economical hinged construction whereby convenient access is provided to the battery compartment without the need to disassemble the cabinet. The cabinet front piece supports the radio chassis, antenna and battery, the antenna serving as a rod about which the cabinet back piece pivots for closing and opening the cabinet.

Abstract: A timer control circuit for controlling the ON-OFF operation of a controllable current conducting device, such as an indicator lamp or a semiconductor power device, and for keeping the device in a given operating state over a readily adjustable time interval, that utilizes relatively few components and is of low cost construction. The circuit includes principally resistive-capacitive timing means and transistor switching means, the device being coupled with the transistor switching means which, in addition to selectively connecting the device in and out of the circuit as a function of the timing cycle, feeds back a threshold voltage to the timing means as an integral parameter in determining the time interval.

Abstract: Storage assembly for detachable power cords having male and female ends, constructed integrally with an external surface of a portable electrical device that can be energized either by self contained batteries or by house power, the storage assembly providing convenient storage for the power cord during times when the cord is not in use. The storage assembly comprises a wrapping surface constructed integrally with and extending at approximately right angles to the external surface and arranged in a closed path on the external surface, at least a portion of the wrapping surface having an overhanging extension disposed approximately parallel to the external surface, whereby the power cord can be wrapped around the wrapping surface and held in place between the external surface and the overhanging extension. The storage assembly further comprises means for securing both the male and female ends of the power cord.

Abstract: Apparatus for registering a sheet with respect to perpendicularly related axes is disclosed. Structurally, each embodiment disclosed includes (a) a sleeve for internally accomodating a sheet, at least one point on an inner narrow wall of the sleeve being aligned in parallel with one of the axes; (b) a retractable gate located at one end of the sleeve, in one position the gate having at least one point aligned in parallel with the other of the axes; and (c) means for providing in the sleeve a fluid stream having velocity components normal to each of the axes, whereby when the gate is in said position and a sheet is placed in the sleeve, the stream moves the sheet into abutment with each of said points.

Abstract: In a first embodiment a stop having a plurality of ports is connected to and covers an end of a rectangular sleeve. In a region near the stop a narrow wall of the sleeve also has a plurality of ports. Near the other end of the sleeve the other narrow wall includes a plurality of ports communicating with the space inside the sleeve and a chamber of a grounded metallic manifold coupled to the sleeve. Insulators support in the chamber an electrode connected to a voltage source and a pump forces air past the electrode and into the sleeve to provide therein an ionized fluid. The fluid exits through the ports in said narrow wall and stop and if a charged sheet is in the sleeve it is neutralized and registered against said narrow wall and stop. In a second embodiment, similar to the first, the ports in the narrow wall and sleeve communicate with the chamber of a second manifold coupled to the sleeve.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a stop having a plurality of ports is connected to and covers an end of a rectangular sleeve. In a region near the stop, a narrow wall of the sleeve also has a plurality of ports. A nozzle coupled to a pump provides a flow of air into the other end of the sleeve and the air exits through the ports. With this arrangement, a rectangular sheet inserted into said other end of the sleeve is fluidly brought into registration with the narrow wall and stop. After the sheet has been registered, fluid inserted or drawn through holes in a wide wall of the sleeve maintains the sheet in contact with one of the wide walls, thereby further registering the sheet. In a second embodiment, similar to the first, the narrow wall and stop include internal projections against which an inserted sheet is registered. In a third embodiment, similar to the first, a manifold is coupled to the ports and a vacuum pump is coupled to the manifold to accelerate registration.

Abstract: A transport includes a sleeve through which a belt having abutments is driven at a predetermined speed. The sleeve includes along one of its narrow walls a plurality of ports and each of the abutments includes a number of holes. Fluid injected in parallel with the wide walls of the sleeve exits through the ports and passes through the holes of an abutment in the sleeve. As a result, a sheet fed into the sleeve is biased against one of the abutments and the narrow wall and moves through the sleeve at the same speed as the belt. In moving through the sleeve at said predetermined speed, the sheet moves past a window in the sleeve. To eliminate flutter of the sheet as it moves past the window, fluid is injected through a wide wall of the sleeve, thereby biasing the sheet against the belt. As a result, slit-scan xerographic apparatus in cooperation with the window may be synchronized with the belt drive to provide a copy of information on the sheet.

Abstract: A system for presenting documents to a slit-scan exposure station includes a first fluidic storage station in which a rack for storing documents is located. The rack includes a plurality of pockets in each of which a document may be stored, the rack being movable in a vertical direction. Fluid is used to move a document in a pocket partially out of the storage apparatus through an opening and into registration with a gate and a wall of the pocket. Thereafter, the gate is opened and a drive associated with the exposure station moves the partially ejected document past a scan window. The rack is then vertically stepped to align another pocket with the opening and the procedure is repeated. Exposed documents are moved to a second fluidic storage station, similar to the first. At this station fluid drawn through an opening moves a document into a pocket of a rack and vertical movement of the rack is used to provide a separate pocket for each of the documents.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a stop having a plurality of ports is connected to and covers an end of a bent rectangular sleeve. In a region near the stop, a narrow wall of the sleeve also has a plurality of ports. The sleeve includes at each bend a pair of oppositely disposed openings, a driven roller, a drive roller cooperating with the driven roller to provide a nip in the sleeve, and a pair of shrouds covering the rollers and openings. A nozzle coupled to a pump provides a flow of air into the other end of the sleeve and the air exits through the ports. With this arrangement, a rectangular sheet inserted into said other end of the sleeve is fluidly brought into registration with the narrow wall and stop, the rollers assisting movement of the sheets through the bends. In a second embodiment, similar to the first, the narrow wall and stop include internal projections against which an inserted sheet is registered.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a structure having a vertically disposed thin rectangular pocket into which the leading edge of a document is inserted by a roller arrangement. When the document is released by the roller arrangement it registers against the bottom wall of the pocket and a fluid stream provided in the pocket registers the document against a narrow vertical wall of the pocket. The wide walls of the structure are transparent and provide a view of the document which may be used in cooperation with xerographic equipment to produce copies of the document. Another fluid stream in the pocket is used to move the originally trailing edge of the document into engagement with the roller arrangement and the arrangement cooperates with a guide to move the document into a tray. The facing position of a collected document is inverted with respect to its facing position immediately prior to its being fed into the roller arrangement.

Abstract: Apparatus for storing documents includes a carousel having a number of pockets and a structure for covering the pockets, the structure having a pair of openings through which documents may be moved into or out of the pockets. A drive is available for separately aligning the pockets with the openings. One opening is vertically oriented and fluid streams are generated for moving documents, through the opening, into or out of pockets. The other opening is horizontally disposed so that documents can be dropped into pockets. Stored documents may be blown out of pockets through the horizontal opening.

Abstract: A system for presenting documents to a xerographic exposure station includes a first fluidic storage station in which a rack for storing documents is located. The rack includes a plurality of pockets in each of which a document may be stored, the rack being movable in a vertical direction. A fluid stream is used to move a document in a pocket out of the storage apparatus through an opening and into orthogonal registration at the exposure station. Exposed documents are fluidically moved to a second fluidic storage station which is similar to the first, the exiting direction being generally transverse to the path followed by a document in entering the exposure station. Vertical movement of the racks at the first and second storage stations is used to serially feed documents to the exposure stations and to provide a pocket for each of the exposed documents.

Abstract: A system wherein documents are presented to a platen of a xerographic system includes a housing in which a rack for storing documents is located. The rack includes a plurality of pockets in each of which a document may be stored, the rack being movable in a vertical direction so that any one of its pockets may be aligned with an opening in the housing. A document handler resting on the platen and having a fluidically lubricated platform is used to feed documents placed on the platform through the opening and into pockets of the rack. The document handler cooperates with the platen to provide a rectangular document pocket and documents in the rack may be shuttled to and from the document pocket. Fluid streams are used to initiate movement of a document being shuttled. Documents moved to the platen are orthogonally registered with a pair of walls of the document pocket, and copies of the registered documents may be made by the xerographic system.