Abstract: A master sheet carrier which has a bar capable of holding the master sheet by clamping an end thereof, the bar being mounted on a mounting beam which is movable angularly and transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the master carrier, without requiring removal of the clamped master end, by manual operation of thumb nuts located to one side of the surface of the carrier over which the master is laid.

Abstract: An ink return system for an ink jet printer which directs a portion of the ink projected from a nozzle to a print surface and the remainder to a catcher, the catcher having a receptacle entrance for intercepting the ink stream including a tube with an entrance to catch the ink stream and then convey the ink liquid along a flow path away from the catcher and a cowling adjacent the receptacle connected to a vacuum source to create a scavenging air flow at the tube entrance for ingesting ink mist without exposing the intercepted liquid ink to the relatively high rate of air flow necessary to sweep away the ink mist.

Abstract: A document carrier includes a transparent cover which is selectively wrapable about the periphery of the carrier for releasably sandwiching the document between the carrier periphery and the cover, the carrier being rotatable about an axis for advancing the document thereon past a stationary viewing station. A bypass document handler is also provided for receiving and advancing a document past the viewing station intermediately of the carrier and the station, wherein a microcomputer is responsive to rotation of the carrier for rendering the copying apparatus operable in synchronized relationship with the rotation of the carrier and/or the advancement of a document through the bypass document handler.

Abstract: A movable platform supports a stack of sheets, with at least a portion of the stack being in a predetermined feed zone where feeding apparatus engages and feeds the sheets, one-at-a-time, from the feed zone into processing machinery. Biasing means continuously urge the platform toward the feed zone and are responsive to a controller for advancing additional sheets of the stack into the feed zone as the sheets are fed therefrom. A sensor is responsive to removal of sheets from the feed zone to energize the controller for enabling the biasing means to advance the table when sheets are not present in the feed zone and to deenergize the controller for disabling the biasing means and terminating movement of the platform when sheets are present in the feed zone.

Abstract: In a tandem duplicating system, a transport means conveys a copy sheet from a first printing station where an image is applied to the first side of the copy sheet to a second printing station where an image is applied to the second side of the same copy sheet utilizing a suction force for securing the copy sheet to a sheet conveyor, wherein only the image-free side of the copy sheet is contacted or engaged by the conveyor. Advancing copy sheets are delivered to a position subjacent the second printing station where means normally disposed beneath the conveyor are activated to engage the trailing edge of the copy sheet lift it to a position above the transport means and advance the trailing edge of the sheet into gripping means provided in the second printing station for advancing the copy sheet through the second printing station and applying an image to its second side.

Abstract: A system for controlling the flow of pressurized liquid to a head, for example the print-head of an ink jet printing system, through an elastic conduit and including an outer conduit to form a pressurizable jacket surrounding the inner conduit extending between the head and a remotely located liquid flow control valve, the jacket being depressurized by operation of a valve utilizing a controller simultaneously with closure or shut-off of the liquid flow control valve to prevent dribbling or drooling of liquid at the head immediately following shut-off.

Abstract: An ink jet printing system includes an ink ejection head for providing ink drops which are selectively charged and deflected in accordance with their charge as they traverse a path toward a recording medium. An accumulator or "dump" is positioned, in the operating mode of the system, adjacent to the recording medium to catch ink drops directed away from the medium. Before the printing is started, the charging and deflecting units are displaced from the ink path, and the accumulator is abutting the ejection head, effectively capturing any ink emanating from the head. When the system has been pressurized and is in all respects ready for operation, the accumulator is displaced away from the ejection head and along the normal path of the ink drops, thus "catching" all the drops until it reaches its normal operating position adjacent the medium. The charging and deflecting units are then moved into their normal operating positions.

Abstract: A noise reductive circuit for use with an automatic typewriter of the type that uses a multiple inductance, multiple magnetic gap head for translating information to and from a magnetic recording media is disclosed which includes an electric circuit between one of the inductances to the signal handling channel of the other of the inductances so as to couple to it a noise reducing signal.

Abstract: A xerographic copier including a novel photoconductive belt and drive structure is disclosed. The thin metal belt is provided with at least one transverse break or gap and is preferably formed of two belt segments. In use, the break or gap between segments are held in end-to-end relationship by tow bars which captivate the edges of the segments, hold them in position and provide mechanical bias therebetween. The photoconductive belt is driven in a unique manner by means of the tow bars which are drawn about a non-circular path by an inelastic but flexible guide means such as chains and sprockets. The belt passes over drums which support the belt and define it's path but do not drive it. The drums include a low friction surface and provision (a soft layer) for accommodating small foreign objects that may pass between the belt and the drums without hurting the belt.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge for use in a typewriter and/or printer which cartridge has a supply of ribbon which is fed from within the cartridge across a gap where it is used by a typing or printing mechanism and returned to a driven take-up area, is disclosed, which cartridge includes an improved tensioning and locking apparatus, comprising a mechanically biased movable member positioned between the ribbon supply and its outlet, so as to bear against the ribbon, which member automatically takes up small overruns of ribbon from a supply and releasably locks the ribbon by means of friction contact when large overruns occur during use.

Abstract: A record processor employing a novel developing system, toner module and method in which a quantity of toner fluid is held adjacent to an electrostatic latent image on a film, in a substantially quiescent state, for a sufficiently long period to insure migration and adherence of toner particles to the image, is disclosed, wherein a set small quantity of fluid is drawn into a development chamber formed adjacent to the film which chamber is sized and shaped so as to facilitate the fluid reaching a relatively quiescent state quickly and which fluid is held in the chamber by a natural meniscus dam at a sharp edge formed across the flow path of the toner.

Abstract: A system for printing with ink droplets each having a known quantity of ink which system has a hydraulic portion including a main ink supply, a supplemental ink supply and a recirculating droplet generating print head and an electronic portion which includes a character generator for electrically characterizing each of the droplets so that they are directed either to a print target or to a dump and a monitoring means for identifying the droplets assigned to strike the print target and controls in the hydraulic portion for permitting a metered additional quantity of ink, depending on the number of print target directed droplets counted, to flow from the supplemental ink supply to the main ink supply, thus, allowing use of a standard ink formulation in the supplemental ink supply.

Abstract: A support for the stylus used in an electronic stencil cutting machine for burning or engraving information into stencil material mounted for relative movement with respect to said stylus, includes a t-shaped, blade-like body having a free end portion and a base portion, with the stylus being attached to the free end of the former. A second blade-like portion is affixed at a first end away from the base portion, to the free end portion of the body in an overlying relation, for dampening vibrations to the stylus as the latter passes over the stencil material and/or clamp for securing the material to a support surface. A support base upon which the blade-like body is mounted includes a pair of spaced members between which there is positioned a permanent magnet.

Abstract: A drive circuit for energizing the winding of a stepper motor includes a first amplifier circuit which receives a unipolar input signal and depending upon the amplitude couples a positive or negative voltage potential to one terminal of the winding. A second amplifier circuit also receives the input signal and applies the same polarity voltage potential to a differentiating circuit. The differentiating circuit operates a transistor switch to couple for a predetermined period of time, a voltage potential of opposite polarity but equal in magnitude to that coupled to the first terminal of the winding, to the second terminal thereof. The application of the double voltage to the winding causes a rapid torque buildup and great acceleration to the stepper motor for a short period of time. The differentiating circuit includes a capacitor having a predetermined time constant which controls the period of time the opposite polarity voltage potential is applied to the second terminal of the winding.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing and controlling the concentration of toner in a developer mix comprising toner and carrier particles used to develop electrostatic images on a photoconductive or the like member includes the provision of a surface which is electrically insulated from the toner and carrier housing and is triboelectrically dissimilar from the developer mix. The developer mix is flowed over the surface and a corresponding direct current voltage is generated triboelectrically due to the interaction thereof. The direct current voltage is connected through resistance to the housing and the direct current flowing through the resistance is related to the concentration of toner in the developer mix. Apparatus responsive to a predetermined current generated is employed to control the replenishment of toner to the developer mix.

Abstract: A combination master/blanket printing sheet for use with a lithographic offset duplicating press includes a master layer comprising material having hydrophilic properties which is imagable to provide pre-selected oleophilic areas for receipt of printing inks and a blanket layer of hydrophobic-oleophilic material suitable for receiving and carrying thereon an inked image transferred thereto by contact with a member carrying such image. In a preferred embodiment of the printing sheet the master and blanket layers are applied by coating or other suitable techniques to opposite surfaces of a base or support layer. The printing sheet is usable in the offset printing process both as a "master" sheet, when properly imaged on the master layer, and a "blanket".

Abstract: In a stencil cutting device having a stylus for burning information from an original document into stencil material mounted for relative movement with respect thereto, apparatus for moving the stylus toward and away from the material includes an electromagnet having first and second pole pieces joined together to provide a predeterminedly shaped junction. The electromagnet has a curved surface and a blade-like support of magnetic material mounted for pivotal movement at a first end with the stylus attached thereto at the opposite end, and overlying the curved surface of the electromagnet normally in spaced relation therewith. Upon energization of the electromagnet, the support is drawn into engagement with the curved surface of the joined pole pieces to move the stylus into contact with the stencil material. The support is spaced slightly from the electromagnet at the free end thereof to provide a dampening effect for the stylus.

Abstract: Apparatus for electrically burning information from an original document into stencil material comprising a stylus for applying electrical pulses to the material and an electrical circuit comprising an optical sensor for scanning information on the original and providing an output signal, the amplitude of which is proportional to the light reflected by the information, a circuit for providing a pulse train the shape of which conforms to the non-linear characteristics of the stencil material and a comparator for combining the output signal and pulse train to provide the electrical pulses having a width determined by the combination for application to the stylus, includes circuitry interposed between the optical sensor and the comparator for setting the minimum and maximum amplitudes of the output signals from the optical sensor representing tones to be reproduced as black and white, respectively.

Abstract: A vacuum return ink system for an ink jet printing apparatus includes an ink/air separator comprising a housing having a chamber formed therein. A first inlet port of relatively large diameter connects the chamber via a short tube of similar diameter to the ink catcher of the printing apparatus used for accumulating unused ink. A second port of relatively large diameter is provided to connect the chamber via a tube of a similar diameter to a vacuum source. A third port of relatively small diameter is provided to connect the chamber via a tube of similar diameter to an evacuated ink return tank. A tubular section defining the third port is inserted into the housing with the end thereof extending to the floor of the chamber. Ink and air are drawn from the catcher into the chamber via the first port at a high rate of flow, thereby minimizing a buildup of ink at the catcher mouth.

Abstract: Stencil cutting apparatus for electrically burning information from an original document into a stencil material having non-linear burning characteristics by the application of electrical pulses to a stylus contacting the stencil material positioned on a rotatable cylinder, includes a photomultiplier for scanning the original document and providing an output signal the amplitude of which is proportional to the light reflected by the information thereon, a circuit including a square wave oscillator and wave shaping network which alters the square wave in relation to the burning characteristics of the stencil material to produce a resultant train of pulses and a comparator circuit which adds the photomultiplier signal and train of pulses. The comparator provides output pulses having a width determined by the addition of the last-mentioned signal and pulses which are fed to the stylus for burning the stencil.