Abstract: In a daisy wheel or rotary print wheel typewriter, a single motor is employed to accomplish both ribbon lift and feed for typewriter ribbon and correction ribbon loaded in a cartridge assembly. A single motor drive moves the cartridge assembly support about an axis to present the typewriter ribbon or the correction ribbon to the print point at the print line. When the elevation of the cartridge assembly about the axis is such to permit normal typing upon the typewriter ribbon, only the feed ratchet for the ribbon is engaged. Alternatively, when the rotation is greater, for example, for typing on the correction ribbon, the added elevation of the cartridge assembly effects disengagement of the normal ratchet feed for the typewriter ribbon while allowing advancement of the correction ribbon.

Abstract: In a continuous type ink jet printer having a conventional charging electrode for charging ink drops in accordance with a signal to be recorded on a record receiving media, a pair of deflection electrodes is mounted in a rocker which pivots on a holder mounted on the carrier. As the carrier is accelerated from the stop condition to print speed, the acceleration of the carrier effects rotation of the rocker about the pivot and thus automatic tilt of the deflection electrodes backward from the direction of carrier movement thereby tilting or inclining the electric field formed between the electrodes to compensate for carrier movement. In the preferred form, a simple magnetic type latch is applied to retain the rocker in one position for printing in a first direction, and to enable quick release and reversal, under inertial control, when the carrier moves in the opposite direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ribbon tape cartridge assembly, the cartridges being adapted for mating in superimposed overlapping relation, bottom to bottom to form the assembly. Slots in tabs which project from the plane of one of the bottom surfaces of one of the cartridges coact with fins on the other of the cartridges, the fins movable into the slot for an interference fit with at least a portion of the tab. Shoulders on each of the cartridges also coact for limiting relative movement of the cartridges in a first direction with respect to each other. One of the cartridges is provided with a camming surface and a cam follower is provided the other of the cartridges, the cam and cam follower being engageable to effect relative movement between the cartridges in the first direction until the shoulders abutt one another inhibiting further relative motion.

Abstract: In a continuous type ink jet printer having a conventional charging electrode for charging ink drops in accordance with a signal to be recorded on a record receiving medium, at least one, and preferably both of the deflection electrodes is mounted so that the deflection electrodes may be positioned in a first position by an actuator to allow for printing in a first direction. The actuator tilts the electric field to compensate for character inclination during carrier movement, and at the opposite end of the print line rotates the deflection electrodes to a second position to incline the electric field to compensate, during carrier movement in that opposite direction, for character inclination due to carrier movement in the second direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi speed ink jet printer in which alternate vertical scans of the ink stream may be omitted or alternate dots horizontally may be omitted or a combination of the two. In the alternate vertical scan omit mode, a factor of two increases in the speed of printing may be obtained, the same being true of a horizontal row dot omission. Moreover, a combination of the two permits up to a four times speed increase. In essence, while the rate of the ink stream remains constant, the predetermined maximum number of dots (picture elements) in a character box is decreased (resolution decreased) to permit an increase in the speed of printing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a self tightening hose coupling which when applied to a hose comprises a floating sandwich like structure including a floating stem, hose, and tapered wedge segments which operate as a unit and float between a nipple and a compression sleeve. The compression sleeve has a tapered interior which matches the taper of the wedges and is constructed to permit the interior placement of a locking ring which operates against a split retaining ring mounted on the nipple thereby preventing the floating sandwich like structure from being pulled out when internal fluid or tensile pressures, occur under operating conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is improved apparatus for inhibiting the emission of a stream of ink drops from the nozzle orifice of an ink jet printer. The apparatus comprises a valve which is located externally of the head associated with the nozzle, and adjacent the outlet orifice of the nozzle. The valve includes a resilient gate member which is mounted for movement with respect to the outlet orifice but adjacent thereto, the gate member being movable between a first position allowing an uninhibited emission of a stream of ink drops from the outlet orifice of the nozzle and a sealing position of the outlet orifice when the gate member is in a second position. In this connection, the outlet orifice serves as a seat for the gate member when the member is in the second position. Moreover, the gate member is preferably composed of a thin but resilient material which is biased into a sealing engagement with the seat at least when the gate member is in the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink for use in ink jet printers, the ink containing a water soluble dye, and a polyamine containing 7 or more nitrogen atoms per molecule, with the ink composition having a pH of 8 or above, the upper pH limit being dye decomposition dependent. The ink has improved water-fastness over an equivalent ink formulation without the polyamine additive.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet printer having the capability of printing both vertically and horizontally. This is accomplished by mechanical orientation of the electric field associated with the deflection plates. In a first embodiment, the plates are mounted in such a manner as to permit rotation manually, for example, by a handle which interconnects the two plates and permit rotation thereof about the axis of the ink drop stream. In an alternate embodiment, the deflection plates are comprised of two pairs, a horizontal pair and a vertical pair which are shiftable into and out of operating position to effect the desired ink drop deflection.

Abstract: An optical position sensing apparatus utilizing a grating having two sets of opaque and transparent lines thereon, one of the sets being off-set from the other is associated with a source-detector assembly, the source and detector assembly including pairs of light sources and detection devices with at least one of the devices of one of the pairs being aligned with one set of light interrupting opaque lines and the other device of the pair being aligned with the other set of light interrupting opaque lines so that the image of the area illuminated by the opposing source is projected back upon the area of the grating in front of its respective detector as by an image reflecting surface, preferably a concave mirror. Inasmuch as the illuminated areas are of the same phase, the projected images will also be of a similar phase. The grating lines in front of the detectors, however, are 90.degree. off-set due to the off-set of the grating lines.

Abstract: An optical position sensing apparatus utilizing a grating having two sets of opaque and transparent lines thereon, one of the sets being off-set from the other is associated with a source-detector assembly, the source and detector assembly including pairs of light sources and detection devices with at least one of the devices of one of the pairs being aligned with one set of light interrupting opaque lines and the other device of the pair being aligned with the other set of light interrupting opaque lines so that the image of the area illuminated by the opposing source is projected back upon the area of the grating in front of its respective detector as by an imaging reflect surface, preferably a concave mirror.Because the signal from the detectors varies in time and magnitude, and there is DC leakage from the detectors, it is necessary to establish a threshold detection voltage to insure a proper signal output wave form for both position and direction of relative motion sensing.

Abstract: An ink jet printer in which the nozzle for emitting a stream of ink drops, the charge electrode for charging ink drops in accordance with signals to be recorded, and the deflection electrodes for providing an electric field therebetween to deflect ink drops in accordance with the magnitude of the charges on the drops, are mounted on a carrier which moves relative to an ink drop record receiving media for forming images indicative of the signals on the deflected ink drops. To compensate for the inclination of the image formed by the carrier movement relative to the recording media, a voltage gradient or difference is applied across at least one of the deflection electrodes so as to effect electric field distortion intermediate the electrodes to thereby compensate for the slant due to carrier velocity.

Abstract: A fluid pressure amplifier for intensifying fluid pressure, the amplifier comprising a housing including a hydraulic fluid reservoir therein. A first chamber includes a slave piston mounted for reciprocation therein and for abutting engagement with a workpiece. A hydraulic fluid path extends intermediate the reservoir and the first chamber and a second chamber lies in the path intermediate the first chamber and the reservoir and includes check means intermediate the first and second chambers. A third chamber includes a fluid intensifier piston having a head end and a tail end, the head end being mounted for reciprocation in the third chamber and the tail end being mounted for reciprocation in the second chamber, the head end of the piston having a larger diameter than the tail end. Gas admittance means admit a pressurized gas to a gas path which lies intermediate the gas admittance means and the reservoir.

Abstract: An ink jet printer in which the nozzle for emitting a stream of ink drops, the charge electrode for charging ink drops in accordance with signals to be recorded, and the deflection electrodes for providing an electric field therebetween to deflect ink drops in accordance with the magnitude of the charges on the drops, are mounted on a carrier which moves relative to an ink drop record receiving media for forming images indicative of the signals on the deflected ink drops. To compensate for the inclination of the image formed by the carrier movement relative to the recording media, a voltage gradient or difference is applied across at least one of the deflection electrodes so as to effect electric field distortion intermediate the electrodes to thereby compensate for the slant due to carrier motion.

Abstract: An ink drop height sensing device for an ink jet recording apparatus, the apparatus including a nozzle for forming and propelling a stream of ink drops towards a recording media in a predetermined deflection plane. A light source on one side of the intended path or trajectory in the plane of deflection of the ink drops impinges upon a mask located on the opposite side of the plane, which mask is aligned with a light sensitive device such as a phototransistor located behind the mask. The mask includes first, second and third line sensors, in the illustrated instance serially arranged slots with at least two of the slots being in parallel relation, the third slot being inclined with respect to the parallel slots and positioned with respect to them so that at a predetermined point along its length, it is a predetermined distance from the next adjacent slot relative to the distance between the two parallel slots.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism for replacing the non-escapement magnet normally utilized to inhibit escapement during certain machine functions on a typewriter. A detent arm is connected to the normal pawl knock-off arm so that upon the print shaft rotating and effecting, by a cam thereon, movement of associated linkage and motion of the knock-off arm to disengage the pawl from the ratchet wheel, the detent arm associated with the knock-off arm detents the ratchet wheel and inhibits escapement thereof until the linkage and knock-off arm returns to its normal position by rotation of the print shaft. Thus, if the escapement magnet coil is not energized, the pawl associated with the magnet will return to its normal position and the ratchet wheel will, because of the detent of the member associated with the knock-off arm, be inhibited from motion.

Abstract: Disclosed is R.F. sputtering apparatus for etching the surface of an object, the apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber with the conventional vacuum creating means associated therewith as well as a pump for supplying an ionizable gas into the vacuum chamber. An R.F. power supply is connected to a plate like cathode electrode in the chamber, the plate including a plurality of object supports extending therethrough and including means for holding an object to be etched. A luminescent discharge area, including a Crooks dark space area has a thickness "e" surrounding the plate and the object being etched, the objects being etched being spaced one from the other by a distance "d".ltoreq.2"e". The objects being etched are also preferably supported a distance "h" from the cathode (plate) wherein "h".gtoreq.2"e" whereby ion bombardment of the cathode electrode during the sputter operation is inhibited. Also disclosed is a method for employing the above described apparatus.