Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for cleaning one or more of the rollers used in printing presses. Typically, the printing press features manual or automated devices for supplying cleaning solvent to the press during a washing operation. A blade assembly is pivotally disposed for engagement with the press roller. The blade assembly features a blade unit for scraping solid and liquid debris from the roller, and a receptacle trough for collecting used solvent as well as solid and liquid debris. In the improvement, a sheathing system is provided to supply protective sheath material to cover the blade assembly to keep the blade assembly clean during the washing operation. The sheath material preferably has a low coefficient of friction to prevent wearing of the components and is relatively thin to maintain the blade geometry for effective cleaning of the roller.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for creating and applying flexible, user defined rules for placement of graphical objects in a computer aided drafting (CAD) application. The rules for precise placement and overplotting of graphical objects may be defined by a user with significant flexibility. The user defined rules are applied by the placement subsystem of the present invention to automate the proper placement of graphical objects according to the specific rules of the particular user. CAD systems are enhanced by their integration with the automated placement subsystem of the present invention.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system for use to clean the cylinders of printing machines. The system includes a pre-soaked fabric roll saturated to equilibrium with low volatility organic compound solvent which is wrapped around a cylindrical core having open ends to form a roll. The saturated, wrapped fabric roll is inserted in a heat-sealable or heat-shrinkable and heat-sealable plastic sleeve, the sleeve being to intimate contact with the fabric roll after being subjected in heat-sealing or heat-shrinking and heat-sealing, thus permitting transporting and storage of the system until use without detrimentally affecting the cleaning ability of the fabric roll.The system may also include a slotted canister in which the saturated wrapped roll is inserted before it is placed into the plastic sleeve and heat-sealed or heat-shrunken and heat-sealed thereon or end caps inserted in the open ends of the core.A method for making the system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is electromagnetic transducer that does not require complex analog to digital, digital to analog converters, microprocessors or large memory circuitry. The transducer has a helical tablet coil with tap nodes spaced between its end extremities. In one configuration, an oscillator drives the tablet coil for simultaneously producing oppositely directed currents on opposite sides of selected taps, creating a moving fringing field that is compatible with modern graphic display tablet technology. A control circuit of the transducer has a closed-loop integrator for detecting the centroid of a received stylus signal from a stylus coil. Analog and digital versions of the integrator are disclosed. In another configuration, the oscillator drives the stylus coil for variably coupling magnetic flux to the tablet coil, a receiver signal that is coupled from the end extremities being responsive to the position of the stylus coil and the taps selected.

Abstract: Disclosed is electromagnetic transducer that does not require complex analog to digital, digital to analog converters, microprocessors or large memory circuitry. The transducer has a helical transmitter coil with tap nodes spaced between its end extremities. An oscillator drives the coil for simultaneously producing oppositely directed current on opposite sides of selected taps, creating a moving fringing field that is compatible with modern graphic display tablet technology. A control circuit of the transducer has a closed-loop integrator for detecting the centroid of a received stylus signal. Analog and digital versions of the integrator are disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure depicts character storage apparatus especially for use in a phototypesetting machine or the like for storing characters for selective presentation at a character display location, including a plurality of discrete character carriers each carrying a plurality of rows of characters or character fonts which move in a close path of motion when the phototypesetting machine is in operation. The apparatus includes apparatus to move the character carrier from one position to another including from one row of characters to another row of characters with extreme accuracy. The character carries are mounted on a rotating drum and the moving apparatus includes a gimbal assembly for tilting the drum.

Abstract: A container for dispensing sheet material from a roll received interior of the container, the container having a removable end wall for insertion of a roll of sheet material such as film. The container has a slot through a wall portion thereof from which the sheet material can be dispensed, the slot being formed by inwardly bent portions of the material which forms the container body. Removable seal members carried by the inwardly bent portions are coated with a fabric-like material which substantially closes the slot to restrict entrance of light to the interior of the container.

Abstract: A processor for photographic plates or like elements comprising a housing through which the plates being processed travel and further including a plurality of work stations at least comprising a developer station, a scrubbing station and a wash-off station. The scrubber station comprises a rotatably mounted brush or like scrub element disposed in engaging relation to plates passing along the path of travel defined in the housing. A flexible backup element preferably in the form of a continuous flexible belt is disposed on the opposite side of the path of travel relative to the rotating brush wherein plates being processed, when passing between the brush and the backup element will undergo a scrubbing action on the surface exposed to the brush while receiving sufficient support from the backup element to allow the scrubbing action to take place.