Abstract: A machine-readable matrix-type code has either repeated or non-repeated dot patterns in one direction representing digital characters which are read by a sensor moved in a direction which is generally normal to the patterns. The patterns of the code may be formed in a manner wherein the sensor views a portion of repeated patterns, or the code may be of lesser magnitude wherein the entire non-repeated pattern area is covered by the field of view of the sensor.

Abstract: A processor for developing diazo film defined by a pair of flat platens disposed within a housing and spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of the film. The housing includes intake and outlet openings aligned with the space between the platens and means for advancing an incoming film from the intake opening, through the space between the platens and for discharging it through the outlet opening. The platen facing the emulsion side of the film is heated and includes at least one passage through which a metered amount of aqueous ammonia is passed for each film that is to be developed. The ammonia is vaporized in the passage and discharged against the emulsion side of the film. A transverse groove in the emulsion facing surface of the platen communicates with the passage to distribute the ammonia vapor over the full width of the film. The developing temperature is between about 150.degree.-200.degree. F.

Abstract: A mold having a desired print head shape includes a cover in which a plurality of rods or ductile fibers are attached, the cover being positioned with the rods extending into the mold and to the side opposite the cover. A hardenable synthetic material is introduced through a hole in the cover and after hardening of the material to form the print head, the rods are withdrawn from the mold to leave bores or apertures in the print head which serve as passageways for the droplets of ink.

Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of more than one document along a path during the processing of the documents. A capacitance is introduced by the plural documents in contact with each other and wherein a delay signal is combined with an original signal to generate a multiple document detect signal for indicating the presence of the multiple documents.

Abstract: A processor for developing diazo film has flat platens disposed within a housing and spaced apart a distance to accommodate the thickness of the film. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet aligned with the space between the platens and means for advancing a film from the inlet and through the space between the platens in a preheat chamber and in a developing chamber and for discharging the developed film. The platen facing the emulsion side of the film is heated in the preheat chamber so that the film is heated to a desired temperature prior to developing. A metered amount of aqueous ammonia is supplied through a lower chamber at the inlet end of the developing chamber wherein the ammonia is separated from the water by reason of the differential temperature and ammonia vapor rises to contact the emulsion side of the film for rapidly developing thereof and the water is drained from the lower chamber.

Abstract: An impact printer is capable of printing at either ten characters per inch or fifteen characters per inch by changing the type character carrying member. The print hammers are spaced at the same distance apart as are the type characters on the carrying member or band and the hammers are displaced from a home position by one space for printing the fifteen characters per inch at a higher speed than when printing at ten characters per inch. The hammers are time shared and are caused to be moved or shifted a precise distance of 4 increments of 1/30 inch each for a standard pitch band at ten characters per inch or a precise distance of 2 increments of 1/30 inch each for a compressed pitch band at fifteen characters per inch.

Abstract: An ink jet print head has at least one nozzle for ejecting ink droplets and includes an adjacent chamber containing liquid ink solvent therein. An absorbent material member is positioned to have one end thereof in the chamber-containing solvent and is directed or trained to an area which is in front of or around the nozzle to carry fluid or vapor therearound for the purpose of providing a moist or humid atmosphere at the nozzle and thereby prevent drying of the ink.

Abstract: Means for supplying ink to a plurality of individually-spaced movable print heads is caused to be moved in a direction therewith but which ink supply means is positioned and directed in a manner perpendicular to the direction of movement of the print heads. An ink container is fixed at a distance from the print heads and a separate flexible ink supply tube, extending substantially in a vertical direction, connects the container with each individual print head. The ink supply tubes are movably swung or pivoted as the print heads are caused to be laterally moved and the swinging or pivoting movement of the supply tubes prevents interruption of the flow of ink to the print heads upon reversal of travel thereof at the ends of the printing lines.

Abstract: A magnetic field is applied to a recording element by energization of an electromagnet or by a permanent magnet to a saturation point of the element material to cause the recording element to move in relation to the electromagnet or to the permanent magnet when the magnetic field is reversed. The polarity opposes or reverses the field to enable a controlled repulsion force and causes the recording element to move in an opposite direction. Magnetic hysteresis is thus utilized in the repulsion and attraction of such an element in both directions of movement.

Abstract: A plurality of print hammers disposed along a print station are caused to be swung against a print band and there is provided a top edge guide to limit upward movement of the band and maintain the print band in a precise path in its travel past the print station. The print band is trained around pulleys which are biased upwardly by light springs to maintain the band in contact with the top edge guide.

Abstract: An operator changeable and disposable ribbon cassette of molded plastic serves as a protective guard and as a part of the cabinetry on a printer and has a built-in tear-off edge for paper. The ribbon, ribbon guides and ribbon drive rollers are angled at two degrees with respect to the line of print wires or line of printing to make better use of the ribbon width, and the cassette includes a ribbon tension spring and a drive pressure spring, the tension spring being used to maintain the endless ribbon in a desired position upon exit from a stuffing box portion of the cassette and the drive pressure spring being a part of the drive roller mechanism for driving the ribbon in a continuous manner. The cassette is connected to the printer framework and includes cam surfaces and latches to hold the cassette in place on the printer.

Abstract: An alternating current coupled dot column sensing circuit provides delayed dot position signals for control logic of a matrix printer to actuate the printing elements at the proper dot column positions in bi-directional printing. A sensor recognizes edges of slots in a timing strip across the printer and also recognizes end or home positions of the strip for use in such printing.

Abstract: A stepping motor drives an input shaft in a predetermined clockwise or counterclockwise direction and a pressure roller shaft is movable into engagement with rollers on the input shaft. The center roller of the input shaft is movable out of engagement with the center roller of the pressure shaft to permit driving of journal paper in a first direction, form paper in either a first or a second direction dependent upon the direction of rotation of the input shaft and journal paper along with form paper in the first direction.

Abstract: A system of controlling the operation of a matrix printer wherein printing is performed in each direction of travel of a printing element carriage. A printer control large scale integrated device is combined with a programmable character memory device and associated circuits for responding to character code data and to the position of the printing carriage and the direction of travel thereof. Code data is input in character by character format and, by means of counters and latching devices, the pulses or signals are sent to the respective printing elements for actuation thereof for printing the dots of a matrix character.

Abstract: A document or other record media along with an associated inked ribbon and a type character are pressed together at the same time from two sides by means of two pressing members pivoted on a common shaft. The pressing members are connected with a toggle linkage which is caused to be actuated from a home position to a printing position and return. The actuation of the linkage moves a platen and a hammer towards each other to perform the printing on the document.

Abstract: A drive member in a printer is radially oriented and linearly positioned in the fastening thereof on a shaft at one of a plurality of selected positions. The shaft has a flat portion which receives a hub of the drive member, the hub conforming in shape with the shaft and having a tongue portion thereof fitting along the flat portion of the shaft with the tongue portion being flexibly supported and having a lip engageable with grooves or slots in and across the flat portion of the shaft.

Abstract: A welding fixture includes members supporting the ends of a print band and spaced to permit welding of the ends of the band with a laser beam. The edges of the band on either side of the weld joint are held parallel by means of at least two alignment pins on either side of the weld with the pins forming one terminal of a plurality of switches in circuitry to indicate proper alignment of the band prior to welding. One support member of the fixture is pivotable or tiltable to enable the ends of the band to be made square prior to welding.

Abstract: A microfiche recorder capable of optically combining, aligning and superimposing at least three independent images from a computer controlled CRT, a raster plate which is size and position coordinated with the CRT, and a multiple, random access graphic image projector. The CRT, raster plate and projector are arranged along angularly inclined optical axes and optics are provided which combined and optically align the respective images and reduce their sizes by differing factors to a common microfiche recording size.

Abstract: A microfiche recorder has an X carriage movable along a guide in the X direction and a Y carriage mounted on the X carriage and movable in the Y direction. The guide provides a pivot connection wherein the X carriage and the Y carriage are swingable in a Z direction toward an away from a microfiche holding platen.

Abstract: A duplicator for making copies of a microfiche master. The master is positioned at an exposure station and a supply of copy film stored on a roll is incremently advanced by a film drive located between the supply and the exposure station. During exposure the copy film is biased against the master by an overlying cover. Cutoff blades located immediately downstream of the exposure station sever each exposed segment of film after it is advanced past the exposure station. A single motor is used to sequentially advance, sever, and bias the film. The motor drives a rotatable element. A Geneva drive coupled to the rotatable element actuates the film drive; cam surfaces on the rotatable element displace a cam follower, the displacement of which is transmitted to a rotatable actuator element. The actuator element engages the film biasing cover and the cutoff blade.