Abstract: A cutting device having blades with V-shaped cutting edges and shaped to cause the blade centers to deviate from a vertical plane. One blade is reciprocated. The outer ends of each blade have sliding projections engaging marginal portions of outer surfaces of the other blade so that the cutting edges are drawn toward and cross-over one another during cutting, whereby the blades increasingly move from their bent shape toward a planar shape. The blade edges cut a web from both outer edges toward the center, the center portion of the web being cut last. The blades resume their V-shaped configuration when moved to the open position. By limiting the stroke of the moving blade, the center portion of the web being cut remains uncut. The blades have support frames holding one end of the blades fixed while the opposite ends of the blades are permitted to slide to accommodate movement of one end of the blades which are elongated as they flatten.

Abstract: A web feeding and handling system for feeding a two-ply web to a printer and winding one of the webs about a take-up spool and directing the remaining web into a cutter. The printer and web feed system are arranged in a housing having an access opening sealed by a door. The printer and a feed roller holder assembly are mounted upon a plate movable between a position enhancing access to the printer and supply roll holder to facilitate supply roll replacement and feeding the web into the printer, and a position placing the printer web output end closer boa cutter and a take-up assembly mounted upon the door and including a rotatable drive disk and a spindle support which support a removable spindle to wind up one web. A motor drive mounted within the housing engages the drive disk when the door is closed and is disengaged from the disk when the door is open. The supply roll holder receives and automatically aligns the web to prevent skewing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for operating a copier-duplicator which initially produces a master and thereafter produces copies from the master. The copier-duplicator is enabled upon receipt of a valid access code to begin producing the master and copies thereof. Counts of the number of masters and copies are accumulated. The copy count is compared against a minimum amount and each time a new master is made and if the number of copies produced is less than said minimum, a violation count is stored together with its associated access code. If the copier-duplicator is in a lock-out mode, access is denied to the access code having a violation. If in a flag mode, access to the machine is permitted even if a violation code is present. However, there is a capability of displaying all of those access codes having a violation associated therewith. It is further possible to prevent access to the copier-duplicator in the event that the number of copies or masters exceeds a maximum permissible amount.

Abstract: A microprocessor/based telephone/facsimile controller which automatically gives priority to incoming messages. The ring voltage of an incoming message causes the microprocessor to close and latch the line between the telephone and the facsimile. When transmission is completed, the line is dropped and this condition is sensed causing the latch relay to open to prevent the facsimile from transmitting, no data being logged for incoming facsimile transmissions. Only a valid input code permits the coupling of the facsimile to the telephone line also initiating a timer. A broadcast mode latches the telephone line to permit delayed calls and multiple facsimile transmissions, each allocated to the user code which established the broadcast mode. A default time is utilized to accommodate the redial and use of the line for non-facsimile telephone transmission.

Abstract: A miniaturized card unit, resembling a standard credit card, incorporates solid state counter, a multiplexer means, and a small battery. The counter may be incremented or decremented in accordance with a direction control signal. A multiplexer in the card unit is releasably engageable with the demultiplexer provided in a card reader unit. Control signals, simultaneously applied to the multiplexer and demultiplexer transfer the count stored in the card unit to decoder driver circuits which drive a display for visually displaying the decimal count stored in the card. A logical circuit monitors selected segments of the display to enable operation of the device controlled by the card reader unit so long as the card inserted therein contains a non-zero count. The logical circuit prevents operation of the device upon the occurrence of a zero count as well as the absence of a card unit.