Abstract: The free end of a cantilever-mounted photoconductor belt capstan is rigidly secured to the machine frame by a pivotable mechanism including a slide pin and dog arrangement for cooperating with a receiving block on the machine frame. This same mechanism is arranged to operate a tension applying/relieving shoe against the inner surface of the photoconductor belt. Pivoting of the mechanism to the open position results in an open access to the capstan so that a closed-loop photoconductor belt is easily removed or installed on the capstan.

Abstract: Copier fuser roller temperature is monitored during the warm-up period by a series of decreasing temperature threshold levels. Each threshold level is monitored for a preselected time period and reduced for the next time period. The sampling continues until the fuser roller temperature sensed by a thermistor or the like exceeds the threshold level. At that point, the control logic for the copier is enabled for normal copying since the fuser roller temperature profile is then approaching at an adequate level for proper fusing of copy sheets. Fuser over-temperature, under-temperature and failure conditions are determinable.

Abstract: An information distributor has an entry tray for receiving document originals to be copied and also receives magnetic cards carrying indicia representing information to be reproduced. Copies emerge from a copying mechanism and enter an aligner which physically offsets selected sheets relative to nonselected sheets for stacking in a copy exit pocket. In the aligner, a fixed reference edge deflects incoming sheets along a reference line. A movable reference edge may be selectively lowered between the fixed reference edge and incoming sheets to deflect sheets along another line parallel to, but not coincident with, the reference line.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for dynamically monitoring the friction associated with an electromechanical system including a motor. The apparatus includes a closed loop servo with a unique filtering means in the feed forward loop for controlling the phase and magnitude of a "digital" ramp function used to drive the electromechanical system. The value of the filtered error signal outputted from the filtering means correlates with the friction in said electromechanical system.

Abstract: Signals at selected points on a test device place indicia on a record indicating, for each selected point, a selected logical active level and an initial polarity level. At preselected time intervals, levels, level changes and the number of transitions per change appear on the record as human-readable symbols. Each selected points signals are translated into digital representations which are stored for comparison with subsequent digital representations from the point. Counters record the number of changes thus detected and provide to the record appropriate symbols depicting the pre-change value, the number of changes and the post change value.

Abstract: Data correlated to the light reflectance of a maximum toned area and a minimum toned area is recorded to establish standards for monitoring and controlling subsequent copier operation. A test pattern is imaged onto the photoconductor by controlled illumination levels in a series of steps with the detection of light reflectance from that test pattern being subsequently compared to establish the maximum black and maximum white criteria for storage. Light reflected from cleaned photoconductor areas and subsequently established toner patches then are used to compare against the original test pattern reflectance data. Toner replenishment, controls and machine function monitoring (e.g.: white copy background, developer operation, etc.) are based on these recorded standards from the test pattern.

Abstract: A bidirectional mechanical power coupler between power input and output means provides a firm connection in one direction and a resilient coupling in the opposite direction, particularly operable immediately after a rapid reversal of the mechanical drive direction. The coupler interconnects a common power source in a copier/duplicator with a reciprocating carriage for original document scanning. It is preferably implemented with a single pulley of coaxial hubs with an interposing arm extending from one hub into a spring-retaining groove in another hub.

Abstract: In a machine having a reciprocating original document handling carriage such as a copier, a selectively operable roller is positioned for removing documents from the upper surface of the carriage. The roller is driven by movement of the carriage by power stored from carriage movement or by an independent power source. Continuously driven rollers are positionable in coordination with the end of a run of copies for a given document to eject the document onto an output tray as the carriage returns.

Abstract: In a machine having a reciprocating original document handling carriage such as a copier, a roller at the bottom of a sloped ramp rests on the upper surface of the carriage. Documents placed on the ramp slide downward until the leading edge is at the nip between the roller and carriage surface. Movement of the carriage pulls the document from the tray onto the carriage surface for scanning. An additional roller can be included to provide automatic document ejection by pushing the document onto an output tray as the carriage returns.

Abstract: A clamping device for securing a photoconductor in the form of a closed loop, flexible sleeve on a drum having a channel on the drum periphery, and with the channel running substantially parallel to the drum central axis, along the length of the drum, is disclosed. The clamping device comprises an elongated bar having a cross-sectional configuration for fitting within the channel, means for latching the bar to the drum when the bar is in position within the channel, and an electrically conducting spring positioned relative to the bar and the sleeve for making an electrical connection between the photoconductor sleeve and the drum, and for applying variable tension to the sleeve in response to forcing of the sleeve partially into the channel by the bar.

Abstract: Excess heat from a source such as a fireplace is absorbed into a liquid medium and transferred to storage for later use or to a distribution network for radiation at remote locations. The fireplace can be formed by heat conducting walls of a multi-chambered enclosure having an air guiding path for heating the air along with a liquid medium passing through the enclosure in a heat exchanger arrangement. The heated liquid medium can be stored and, when there is no combustion in the fireplace, returned to the fireplace enclosure for supplementary air heating. The liquid medium storage can include a tank having a pair of baffle plates in generally horizontal but diverging relation for producing heat layer stratification and separation of the liquid medium. Both cool and warm liquid medium are delivered between the baffle plates in proximity to the end of minimum vertical separation.

Abstract: A flexible, closed loop belt having a photoconductive surface is mounted internally to a xerographic-type copier. The belt mounting frame or guide, is arranged to include a series of interconnected courses defining a supporting path for the belt. One or more portions of the guide surface are formed as peripheral segments of a cylinder. Various courses are interconnected in a generally continuous closed loop path for the belt.

Abstract: Electrical components in an elongated array are suspended within the interior of a sleeve type closed loop member such as a rotatable photoconductor drum or closed loop belt of a compact copier. Preferably some of the components are mounted on a board and held within the sleeve by edge slots or the like in sleeve mounting end caps, attached to the machine frame. A drive motor can be attached as part of the array and further can be arranged to drive a fan blade so that cooling air is forced through the sleeve and over the components so that the sleeve acts as a plenum. Power can be coupled from the drive motor through the end mounts to motivate the sleeve in the direction of its closed loop and/or apply power to other components of the copier.

Abstract: A xerographic copier having a removable, multifunction paper cassette, the cassette functioning as the copier's paper supply, the copier's exit tray and the copier's single-sheet bypass entry station. The cassette is held at an acute angle to the horizontal, and includes a substantially solid upper wall whose lower portion includes a slot which exposes the paper supply stack's top sheet to paper feed roller means. Paper is fed, one sheet at a time, to a paper path which includes a transfer station and a hot roll fusing station. This paper path traverses a loop, such that the finished copy comes to rest on the solid upper wall of the cassette. The lower portion of this solid upper wall includes a movable paper gate which, when closed, allows multiple copies to be stacked before removal by the operator.

Abstract: Two elongated members are coaxially moveable relative to one another with one member rigidly attached to a working head such as an elongated wedge or the like. In one embodiment, the inner member is fixed to the working head while the outer member moveably surrounds the inner member. The outer member is dimensioned so that its lower perimeter edge is small enough to allow the members to be reciprocated so as to drive the head into a log or other material without the outer member being held against coaxial reciprocal movement by the material. The members can be secured as for lifting, withdrawing, transporting, etc., with a particularly advantageous form of the securing means being a flexible collar on the outer member for cooperating with a hole therethrough for gripping the inner member. The outer member can be fixed to the working head and the inner member reciprocally moveable therein.

Abstract: Excercising through pivotal motions around the region of selected neck vertebrae is obtained by an attachment to a vertically tensioning assembly. The vertical tensioning assembly includes a yoke adapted to sit on the shoulders of the wearer with an extendible support framework, such as pneumatic cylinders, connecting the yoke with a pivotable harness arrangement suspended from over the wearer's head. The attachment is adapted to couple to the vertically extendible framework so that it can be adjusted and secured in a vertical direction. The attachment includes a neck surface engaging pad configured in the vertical direction so as to overlie a small region preferably of one vertebrae in length. The pad is configured horizontally to generally conform to the neck contour. By this relationship to the user, a fulcrum point is established at a selected vertebrae level so the wearer can exercise with pivotal motions around the selected vertebrae while the neck is in tension.

Abstract: Sheets are delivered to receptacles by a traveling distributor which includes an incrementally movable carriage. A continuous loop belt or belts such as in a vacuum plenum transport convey the sheets to the carriage where a roller arrangement on the carriage diverts the belts and thus the sheets into a direction in alignment with the receptacles. The rollers then divert the belt away from the receptacles so that the sheets continue into the receptacles. The rollers are mounted so as to place the belt or belts in tension during normal operation but are movable to relieve the belt tension to facilitate paper removal from the belt in jam clearance procedures.

Abstract: A heated fuser roller and backup roller fix toner on a sheet passing therebetween. These rollers are separated during nontoner fixing periods and normally closed for a predetermined early closure period prior to arrival of a sheet at the nip between the rollers. The immediate past history of fusing activity is monitored to determine whether the early roll closure is to be inhibited, a situation existing whenever the immediate past history indicates that steps must be taken to prevent backup roller overheating. The past history monitoring is performed by direct backup roller temperature sensing, timeout circuit operation or the like.

Abstract: A large capacity input bin for a copier/duplicator is capable of receiving a multiplicity of stacks of sheets requiring processing. Control data describing the job to be done for the first stack in the input tray is introduced as by header information, operator input or the like. All sheets associated with the stack are bottom fed from the input tray to a processing station and then to at least one additional tray or bin. The documents are subsequently processed for additional copies as specified by the input data by bottom feeding from the additional tray and top stacking the copied documents into that same tray or into yet another additional tray. Completion of the total number of document copies through the recirculation associated with the additional trays results in unloading of the original documents from the additional tray or trays. Jam recovery is obtainable by reverse or top feeding of documents requiring recycling from the additional bin or bins.