Abstract: An early roll closure method and apparatus associated with an electrophotographic or xerographic device for fixing a toner image onto a copy sheet by application of heat and pressure. A lower closing force is exerted on the fuser rollers during early roll closure than when fixing an image to a copy sheet. The use of a backup roll made of bare metal facilitates this technique. This early roll closure method also allows the temperature of the heated fuser roll to be reduced along the entire circumference. The early roll closure is only allowed to occur on the first sheet of a copy or fusing run.

Abstract: Bank for accommodating adjacent ram units. Each of these consists of a flat, narrow frame. A tongue-shaped ram, driven by an electromagnetic actuator, extends in a recess of the frame. For accommodating and guiding the individual print ram units, the bank is provided with a receiving bar and a comblike holding bar between which the frames are arranged. Extension pieces of the lower frame elements can be accommodated by slits in the receiving bar. The upper frame elements are held in recesses of the comblike holding bar. The tongue-shaped rams are laterally guided by the electromagnetic actuators which are arranged on both sides of the frame and are aligned to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for encoding magnetic data and printing on a plurality of closely spaced labels releasably mounted on a supply roll of carrier strip, includes a magnetic head for encoding the labels and a printer for printing on the labels. The carrier strip extends from the supply roll past the magnetic head and to the printer, and forms a variably sized loop between the head and the printer. The variably sized loop has a gap, across which an encoded label may be transferred so that movement of a label past the printer is independent of movement of the supply roll. The magnetic head is movable parallel to the carrier strip so that the plurality of labels may be encoded and printed without reversing the supply roll, thus increasing the speed at which labels may be encoded and printed. The speed of the movable head may be precisely controlled to ensure accurate encoded. The encoded data is verified when the magnetic head moves over the label back to its original position.

Abstract: An improved data processor control subsystem in which a cycle counter having a plurality of cascade-connected stages also comprises one or more supplemental or dummy stages, which can be selectively inserted or removed from the chain of cascade-connected stages, to alter the number of sub-cycles in an operating cycle, thereby decreasing the complexity of associated decoding circuitry.

Abstract: A fuser roll apparatus in a toner fixing station associated with an electrophotographic or xerographic device for fixing a toner image onto a copy sheet by the application of heat and pressure. The fusing apparatus includes a pair of fuser rollers and a linkage mechanism coupling a control cam and the fuser rollers. An electromechanically operated latch, in the form of a solenoid, is interposed in the linkage mechanism coupling the control cam and fuser rollers. So long as the solenoid is energized, the opening of the rollers is controlled solely by the rotation of the cam. If the solenoid is deenergized however, the rollers are maintained in an open position. Thereafter, until the solenoid is again energized, the rollers remain open and are unaffected by rotational movement of the cam.