Abstract: A printer comprises a cassette bay (8) having a lid (16), a printing mechanism comprising a thermal print head (26) and a platen (32) and a linkage (38,50) coupled between the lid and the printing mechanism. On opening the lid, the linkage causes the print head to adopt an inoperative position in which a cassette can be loaded into or removed from the cassette receiving portion and, on closing the lid, the linkage causes the print head to take up its operative position reading for printing. The invention also provides a cassette for the printer.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance system is provided having a transmitter for generating two alternating magnetic fields by way of a single transmitter coil fed with a transmitter signal current, and a receiver that detects harmonics and intermodulation products of the alternating magnetic fields by way of a receiver coil that generates a receiver signal current. The receiver comprises a wide-bandwidth phase detector locked on to a frequency p.f.sub.2 .+-.q.f.sub.1, where p and q are positive integers, one of which may be zero, and a digital signal processor adapted to carry out a full time-domain analysis of the waveform of the receiver signal current, and wherein the transmitter signal current corresponds to the linear super position of two alternative currents with a relatively low frequency f.sub.1 and high frequency f.sub.2 respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing labels can have a printing area, a deflector area designed as a shaft or an edge located behind the printing area in the transport direction of the labels, around which deflector the carrier strip can be guided, and where the labels, on account of their stiffness, can be detached from the carrier strip, while the adhesive glue remains on the underside of the label. In addition, the printing apparatus can also have a supporting apparatus with a contact area near the output opening for the labels, against which supporting area the labels, output via the output opening, come into contact with their underside. The contact area of the support apparatus can preferably be formed by the exposed surfaces of balls mounted so that they can rotate in at least one retaining strip, so that during the label output, the labels preferably do not stick to the support apparatus, as such sticking would significantly interfere with the output of the labels.

Abstract: A tag or marker is disclosed which comprises a substrate; an `active` magnetic material which is a soft magnetic material having a high magnetic permeability and a low coercive force; and a deactivating material which is a hard or semi-hard magnetic material having a moderate or high coercive force and a moderate magnetic permeability, whereby the deactivating material, when subjected to a sufficiently high magnetising force, is able to clamp the magnetic properties of the `active` material so as to deactivate the `active` material. The tag or marker is characterised in that the deactivating material is formed by an electrodeposition process, and in that the deactivating layer is nickel.

Abstract: A labeling system and storage and dispensing device for tab labels, for use with side tab folders for shelf filing systems or with top tab folders for drawer filing systems. The labeling system includes a plurality of tab labels having an adhesive backing. Each label has first and second side regions containing a white alpha-numeric character and a black background separated by a central colored region. The color of the central region is determined by the alpha-numeric character(s) formed on the side regions of the label. Patterns, such as lines or dots, may be combined with the solid colors, so that a given color may be used for more than one character. In further embodiments of the invention, the character(s) on the side regions may be oriented at right angles or at 180.degree. relative to each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to a marking strip for identifying airline luggage with a main part and a control section adjacent to it in the longitudinal direction, separated by a parting cut, whereby the control section and an adjacent area of the main part have an adhesive coating on the reverse side which is covered by a silicone-coated backing strip, which is firmly connected to the main part and is interrupted at some distance from the parting cut of the label strip at a parting line. The backing strip is thereby glued in one step directly during joining to the marking strip to a strongly adhesive area formed on the backing strip. There is no need for an additional coating to fasten the backing strip.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance system is provided that comprises a core-wound drive coil which produces an AC magnetic interrogation field, and a detection coil provided on one side with at least one element of a screening material, which detection coil detects an AC magnetic response field generated by a magnetically active tag or marker which is subjected to the interrogation field when the tag or marker comes in proximity with the detection coil. The screening material may take the form of an open-ended electrically conductive box having an insulating gap along its length, or a laminate consisting of a plurality of metal foils interleaved with an electrically insulating material. The invention provides well-defined flux control for the detection coil which preventsinterference from unwanted external magnetic fields.

Abstract: A portable printer is disclosed in which the printer comprises a housing; a printing unit; means for supplying to said printing unit a substrate onto which indicia are to be printed; and means for inputting data to control the nature of the indicia printed at said printing unit, characterized in that said housing includes a main frame which serves to support the functional components of the printer; and a protective housing which fits over said frame.

Abstract: File folders are provided with unique machine-readable indicia representing the contents therein. Scanners sensitive to the machine-readable indicia are mounted to filing cabinets so that, upon opening or closing a drawer, the indicia on the folders within that drawer are automatically scanned. The indicia scanned are then input to a computer system that logs the scanned folders as being located in that drawer.

Abstract: A reinforced shelf filing folder having front and rear panel members connected along a fold line and a tab member connected to a first side edge of the rear panel member. Reinforcement is applied to both sides of the tab member and to the outer surface of the fold line extending onto the adjacent surfaces of the front nd rear panel members. Finally, additional reinforcement means is optionally applied to the outer surfaces of the front and rear panel members, disposed along a side portion of the rear panel member opposite the first side edge and over the fold line to a corresponding portion on the front panel member. Alternatively, the additional reinforcement can be applied to the outer and inner sides of the front panel member along the first side edge. These reinforcements increase the wear resistance and life of the folder.

Abstract: A folder that hangs on a standard frame in office storage equipment which includes a sheet of flexible material folded at a medial line to form a bottom edge with an exterior surface and front and rear portions joined at the bottom edge, each of front and rear portions having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the ends of said front and rear portions removed from said bottom edge are folded over to form top terminal folded portions, a reinforcing layer comprising one or more strips of plastic material laminated onto the folder and applied to substantially all of the exterior surfaces to increase the wear resistance, strength and life of said folder, and means for hanging the folder on the frame.

Abstract: A hanging folder has reinforcing strips along its top and bottom edges, and color contrasted easy-insert label slots. These strips and contrasting slots protect against wear to the folder and thus prolong the usefulness of the folder.

Abstract: A device suitable for printing bar codes is disclosed, this device comprising a housing, means for holding a label supply roll, printing means for applying indicia to a label, means for supplying data to determine the nature of the indicia printed on the label, and means for supplying electrical energy to operate the device, characterised in that said print unit is an ink jet printer.

Abstract: A manual, or hand-held labelling device has a printing apparatus and a pivoting lever on which pivoting lever there is a journal pivot pin on which an inking roller can be loosely mounted. For axially securing the inking roller on the journal pivot pin, within the housing of the manual labelling device, there can be at least one raised, guide track in the form of a circular arc, on the housing of the labelling device, and on the side opposite to the pivoting lever. This guide track essentially corresponds to the path of the inking roller on the pivoting lever as the pivoting lever is moved during a labelling operation, and thus supports the inking roller from moving axially off of the pivot pin during movement of the pivoting lever during the labelling operation.

Abstract: A hanging folder suspension system for use with different sizes of file cabinets and different sizes of hanging folders and which is suitable for compact storage. The system includes a frame which is made of a pair of frame elements which have a column member and at least one horizontal bracket member and is integrally made of reinforced plastic. The frame elements can be locked together in a laterally adjustable manner to accommodate different size folders. A pair of multi-component rails which are adjustable to the length of the file cabinet are provided and engage rail positioning channels in the frame elements to secure the rails into the frame and form an upright rigid structure in a working position. The rails include at least two rail elements which are joined by a connecting bracket. When disassembled, the frame and rail elements fit into a compact storage box suitable for handling by standard processing facilities.