Abstract: Diffusion bonding of dissimilar ceramics can be accomplished by the application of pressure only while the ceramics are at a temperature at which their expansion rates are the same. A process for manufacturing magnetic head cores is disclosed where a magnetic ferrite is diffusion bonded to a non-magnetic ceramic by heating the core pieces to the expansion rate crossover temperature and then applying the diffusion bonding pressure. The pressure is removed either before or after the bonded pieces are cooled.

Abstract: An automatic threading apparatus using a pantocam for a magnetic tape transport is disclosed. A leader block attached to the free end of the tape in a cartridge is connected to a pick-up pin attached to one end of a broken arm linkage. The broken arm linkage has its second end fastened to a rotatable shaft. The extension of the broken arm linkage is controlled by a follower link which includes a bearing that follows a cam groove. Rotating the broken arm linkage causes the tape from the cartridge to follow the tape path, such as a cucumvoluted path, in a sweeping motion past air bearing guides and a transducer into a take-up reel. The threading pin remains in contact with the leader block which forms a smooth surface for the tape with the take-up reel.

Abstract: An automatic threading apparatus for a magnetic tape transport is disclosed using a constant force spring located outside of the plane of the tape path. A leader block attached to the free end of the tape from a cartridge is connected to a pick-up pin of the threading apparatus. The pick-up pin is attached to a spool that is connected to a constant force spring, sometimes known as a negator spring. The other end of the spring is connected to a hub which is located on a plane different from the take-up reel. A latch holds the spool with the spring adjacent to the supply reel. When the latch releases the spool, the spring on the spool will wind around the spool and pull the pick-up pin through a guide path such that the leader block is placed into the take-up spool and forms a part of the take-up hub to allow a desired smooth surface for the wraps of the tape around the hub.

Abstract: A peripheral subsystem, such as a tape storage subsystem, assigns logical and physical values to blocks of signals received from a host. A host can retrieve such values for use later to locate the blocks of signals and for error recovery purposes. In a buffered peripheral subsystem, such values define current signal transfer status of the buffer.

Abstract: Reels of magnetic tape used in a reel-to-reel drive system suffer from an inter-layer slip if the reel has gone through environmental changes. This slip will cause errors to occur in the reading of the tape, since a constant tension and velocity and an accurate position is required in the reel-to-reel drive. To check whether the tension of the tape needs to be refreshed, the end of the tape is firmly held while the hub is driven in a reverse direction against the firmly held end of the tape. A detected reverse rotation indicates an inter-layer slip condition. The tape tension must be refreshed by unreeling the tape and rereeling with the correct tension applied. The reel of tape is then ready for operation.

Abstract: A store and forward unit having an output print station with convenience copying capabilities has connections to diverse text signal sources and destinations. Such diverse sources and destinations may have established textual format and control characters not necessarily shared with other sources and destinations. The store and forward unit, upon receiving a set of text signals, examines the text control characters. Based upon such examination, the store and forward unit processes such text without changing the control characters provided that all destinations connected to such unit can use such control characters. If, on the other hand, the destinations cannot use such control character, the unit adds sufficient control characters for allowing the received text as modified by the additional characters to be transmitted without text processing analysis to any of the connected destinations.

Abstract: A copy production machine, or other semiautomatic operator-involved machine, logs operations data and error data during normal operations into a nonvolatile store. Logging is categorized for facilitating diagnostics and maintenance of the machine. During a maintenance mode, log scanning methods enable efficient retrieval of the logged data via a keyboard entry system plus manual actuation of other switches used for other purposes during the normal copy production.

Abstract: For producing a transducer access opening in a stack of rotating flexible magnetic record disks, a co-rotating part axially deflects the peripheral edges of selected disks for partially axially separating same. The co-rotating part may take the form of a thin disk, several thin disks, or shaped as a roll. The axis of the roll is obliquely inclined against the disk pack rotational axis. The roll has a resilient surface such that, after the roll has been inserted into the disk pack, the flexible disks move up the outer surface of the roll to be deflected.

Abstract: A copy production machine is capable of having copies from plural independent copy runs in a copy sheet transport path at a given instant. Such independent runs are combined to produce duplex (double-sided) copies. Recovery from jams in such duplex operations is described. The described system also distinguishes between copy sheets having images and non-imaged copy sheets. Apparatus and procedures are described for utilizing the counts for precisely recovering from loss of copy sheets due to a jam or other stoppage condition. Control of a billing meter is also disclosed.

Abstract: Copy production machine selectively interleaves copy separation sheets between successive copy jobs, subjobs, or job portions. The copy separation sheets can be from the same copy sheet supply source or from an alternate source. The supplied copy separation sheets need not be operated upon by the copy production machines, i.e., receive an image. Such sheets may be preimaged if so desired. When copy sheet supply means has different size copy sheets, the separation mode may be inhibited. The number of separation sheets supplied depends on the number of copy receiving bins in an output means and the number of copies produced from a single image. The effective capacity of a collator is extended by the use of separation sheets.

Abstract: Multi-processor programmable controller including a random access memory and a non-volatile memory for storing signals relating to a plurality of programs executable in the controller. One processor does text processing and system control functions. A second processor operates the copy production portion. The one processor has complete control of the second processor via a multiprocessor connector.

Abstract: Copy production machine, such as a xerographic copier, includes an original document feed mechanism which is responsive to insertion of the document to place the document automatically in an imaging position. The copy production machine is actuated by the document feed mechanism to produce one or more copies of the placed original document. An original document being entered into imaging position may be removed by an operator or by the automatic original document feed mechanism, whereby the copy production machine is inhibited from producing copies until the original document is either reinserted or another original document is inserted. Thereupon, copy production resumes in the normal manner.

Abstract: Copy production machine capable of having copies from plural independent copy runs in a copy sheet transport path at a given instant. Copy jam recovery is enhanced by maintaining separate counts of all individual images having copies simultaneously present in the copy sheet path. Apparatus and procedures are described for utilizing the counts for precisely recovering loss of copy sheets due to a jam or other stoppage condition. Control of a billing meter is also disclosed.

Abstract: A copy production machine operates either in a simplex mode (each copy has an image only on one side) or in a duplex mode (copies have images on both sides). In the duplex mode, an interim storage unit stores partially completed copies (only one side of the duplex copies have an image). A second copy run completes duplex copy production. During power on sequencing, circuits sense for an intermediate copy production state (also termed intermediate state or intermediate operating state) and automatically makes machine selections for a copy production mode in accordance with the sensed intermediate state. In one early embodiment the intermediate state was copies residing in the interim storage unit and the selected copy production mode was the production of side two in a duplex mode. An electronic nonvolatile memory may also store intermediate state indications for use during power on sequencing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for electronic collation of sheets of a recording medium, such as paper, printed on one or both sides from electrical signals received at a printer. For printing multiple sets on one side only, the signals are written into a memory in the order in which they are received. The first set may be printed in the desired page order on a recording medium fed through the printer as the signals are received. Additional sets are printed in the same page order by writing the contents of the memory into the printer as many times as necessary as the recording medium is fed through the printer. For printing multiple sets on both sides, the signals representative of every other page are written into the memory and organized into two ordered sequences.

Abstract: An access arm for use in a flexible magnetic disk pack for a magnetic disk storage apparatus having a wedge-shaped hollow body with a lower horizontal confining surface supporting a magnetic head and an upper confining surface arranged at an angle thereto. When the access arm is inserted into the disk pack, the two confining surfaces form a flow channel for the air moved by the rotation of the disks. On the leading and on the trailing side of the access arm the upper confining surface has protruding parts, so that additional stabilizing air bearing forces are generated on the magnetic disk adjacent the lower confining surface.

Abstract: A photoconductor member is cleaned by a rotating fiber brush. The cleaned particles are knocked from the brush by a knock-off bar causing substantial wear on the brush. To compensate for the wear, both the knock-off bar and the fiber brush are adjusted for maintaining cleansing contact between the photoconductor member and the brush, plus the brush with the knock-off bar. In a preferred form of the invention, the fiber brush also is an air impeller for entraining cleaned particles from the photoconductor drum into a disposal station which, by way of example, may contain a scavanging roll and an air filter. The adjustments are such that the air impeller properties of the rotating brush are maintained throughout the life of the brush.