Abstract: A diagnostic routine is provided for a printer or printer subsystem having a plurality of print wires and print heads arranged in a nonconventional wire image pattern, the diagnostic routine providing a printout of wire firing and misfiring to quickly and accurately indicate the condition of the wires, wire actuators, and other components.

Abstract: A user replaceable printer ribbon shield of simple design is provided for use in high speed matrix printers utilizing continuous forms. The shield is detachably mounted. During printing, the shield prevents outfolds in the forms from catching on the ribbon and prevents ribbon ink from migrating to the forms. It moves with the platen slightly away from the matrix print head when the machine is idle for at least a preset period of time. This causes the ribbon to move away from the ends of the print wires in the matrix print head to keep print wire lubricatng oil from migrating to the ribbon.

Abstract: A printer has print wires arranged in a plurality of print head groups, each group comprising a predetermined number of print wires, the individual print wire groups being arranged according to a slanted serrated wire pattern. A print head image generator is provided and is operable under control of a microprocessor to convert conventional character wire images from a data source such as a host system to the slanted wire images required for printing by the printer.

Abstract: A print mechanism for a wire printer has a robust single-turn closed-loop transformer secondary winding as the moving part for driving a print wire into and out of a print position. Each secondary winding threads a transformer core on which is wound a multi-turn primary winding. A stack of such secondary windings, arranged with print wires in a closely spaced print row across the stack is supported in a static magnetic field produced by a magnetic assembly. Energization of a selected primary winding induces a large current flow in its associated secondary winding which reacts with the static magnetic field to drive the associated print wire into the print position. In one embodiment, the stack of secondary windings are all mounted on a single pivot and each secondary winding swings about the pivot as a whole upon energization of its associated primary winding.

Abstract: A print wire actuator block assembly is described that accommodates a plurality of print wire actuators and print wires, the print wire actuators and print wires being arranged in two rows, the entire assembly forming a compact structure. The print wire actuators and print wires in the two rows are angled inwardly toward one another to form a relatively flat serrated pattern at the print line with precise registration of the print wires.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled printer includes a forms feed assembly, a dot matrix print assembly, a ribbon drive assembly and a number of emitter assemblies associated with the foregoing to provide positional information during operation of the printer which prints on a line-by-line basis. During the printing of characters, such as Kanji characters, extremely accurate control of dot placement is required. In order to achieve a balance between the operating cycle times of the microprocessor and the forms feed assembly, the microprocessor analyzes emitter pulses in two stages. One stage involves use of relatively low frequency emitter pulses for start-up, normal speed, and high speed operations. Another stage involves use of an additional emitter track that produces high frequency pulses utilized by the microprocessor during stopping conditions to achieve greater precision in final positioning of the forms.

Abstract: A sensor based system, such as a building management system, includes a central processor and an associated subsystem comprising at least a central panel interconnected with a plurality of remote panels, each of the remote panels being capable of further interconnection with a variety of devices for monitoring and control purposes. The subsystem is essentially a digital input/digital output (DI/DO) multiplexer comprising a central panel and from one to fifty remote panels, as an example. A simplified interconnection technique is provided in the subsystem for achieving efficient addressing of the remote panels and their associated sensor devices together with transmission of control and monitoring information. Control signals and status or other indications are handled by manual or computer intervention. Input/Output (I/O) cards are included that provide for all functions required for interfacing the multiplexer subsystem to the individual sensor devices.

Abstract: The optical system disclosed is incorporated in a copying machine and has provision for changing magnification of original documents of diverse sizes while maintaining a common image plane projection and enabling the use of common reference edges at a selected reference corner for any original document that might be used and also maintains common reference edges in the image plane. The system contemplates the combined movement of the lens element as well as one of a pair of mirrors to insure that the original document surface and the image plane remain in their fixed positions, regardless of the magnification factor chosen. The lens element is movable forwardly and reversely along the optical path as well as transversely with respect thereto.

Abstract: A system for processing data incorporates a central processing unit and a microprocessor serving as a controller together with associated logic for controlling operation of an attached device such as a serial or line printer. Data is transferred from the microprocessor to the printer by a cable having a number of wires, reduced in number from the number required if printer is directly attached, and involving a multiplexed data transfer operation with storage latches provided in the printer for storing character image information and printer function information. Increased reliability is realized by a repeat cycle operation of the microprocessor wherein significant image or function information is sent to the printer in a succession of repetitive cycles, thus insuring accurate operation of the relatively slow magnets and driving elements in the printer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is shown for improving the clarity and character density on a cathode ray tube (CRT) display in which characters are formed row by row from discrete character elements in row and column coordinate matrices. Unblanking signals form the discrete character elements no less than two matrix spaces wide every time an unblanking signal is applied. This technique results in a much crisper appearance to the characters on the screen and permits as many as 128 characters per line using a low cost commercially available television (TV) monitor. A random access storage is used to store dynamically the addresses of positions (locations) of a read only store corresponding to characters to be displayed. The read only store (ROS) contains indicia corresponding to the discrete character elements of a plurality of characters, one set of indicia for each character in the desired character set.

Abstract: A printer, such as an ink jet printer, incorporates various hardware such as the ink supply tank, tubing, and ink drop gutter, as representative items, having components molded in the hardware which disinfect groups of micro-organisms which present problems, particularly in areas where ink has depleted. The techniques described lead to inactivation of vegetative bacteria and fungi and prevention of maturation of spores in those areas not in frequent control with the biocide component of the ink. Also mutant forms are prevented from developing in those areas where the biocide component concentration is below the effective lethal level.

Abstract: An ink jet printing system is provided with synchronization facilities including charging, deflecting, and gutter components and a technique is described for referencing synchronizing pulses to a pedestal voltage level to insure that the ink drop stream clears the gutter during synchronization cycles.

Abstract: An improved mechanism is provided for preventing long-term oil contamination of the print ribbon in a wire matrix printer. In the event that the print ribbon has an excess of oil thereon, it will cause the printed characters to be alternatively too light or too dark thereby reducing the print quality on the document. The print head of the wire matrix printer is operated to an idle or at rest position when printing is not being effected, a camming mechanism retracts the print head away from the platen and document. When this occurs, a stationary member on the printer carriage engages the ribbon and moves it away from contact with the print head in the vicinity of the apertures through which the print wires are guided for printing. With the ribbon moved away from the apertures, the lubricant oils on the print wires do not flow on to the ribbon. The retracting of the print head away from the platen and document by the camming mechanism also permits the easy insertion of new forms into the printer.

Abstract: A scanner transfers information in the form of magnetic characters to a soft magnetic film, and subsequently transfers the information to a storage medium, such as disc, tape, or the like. Use of amorphous and other bubble material is suggested. A bias field is coupled through the magnetic characters to the material in which bubbles are generated and transported.

Abstract: A font selection system is provided that is useful in conjunction with ink jet printing apparatus. Facilities are included for storing data representative of one or more fonts or character sets and for selecting these on a font basis or a character basis during printing operations.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system of English language abstracting used to increase the search rate for an Index Search machine that, as an example makes use of magnetic record cards each having in a typical case 50 tracks for recording of information. To increase the rate at which groups of words can be compared, an abstract of each group of words is generated. On the magnetic card the text or groups of words are recorded on tracks 2 through 50 and the abstracts of these groups are recorded in track 1. When searching for a particular group of words, an abstract is generated for the group being sought. This abstract is then compared to the abstracts on track 1 of each card. If any of the abstracts match, the corresponding group of words on the card are searched in detail. For abstracts that do not match there is no need to search the corresponding group of words. Therefore, the need to search every group of words is eliminated, thus increasing the search rate.

Abstract: Techniques are described for producing superscripts (half indexing), subscripts, and character height reduction for an ink jet printer.

Abstract: Circuits and structures are arranged to serve as encoders, emitters, or switches by capacitive coupling.

Abstract: The present case is directed to a number of illumination systems making use of lamps and reflectors having predetermined optical configurations and arranged to insure minimal glare in the eyes of an operator using the equipment in which the illumination systems are incorporated. A first version involves a stationary paraboloid reflector cooperating with a moving parabolic cylinder reflector to illuminate an original document during a copying operation. In a second version, the moving reflector is split into two reflectors each having distinct parabolic configurations and different focal lengths. In still another version, only a single reflector is arranged for movement during scanning of an original document to project a line of light and has a predetermined configuration which is paraboloid in one direction and substantially elliptical in a direction transverse to the first direction.