Abstract: Novel electrical heater which are self-regulating as a result of appropriate combination of a constant current or constant voltage power source with a resistive heating component and a temperature-sensitive component. Preferred heaters comprise a plurality of heating units, each of which heating units comprises a reactive component, a resistive heating component, and a temperature-responsive component. Self-regulation of the heater may be achieved in a number of different ways, including the use of employing a reactive component and a temperature-responsive component which form a combination exhibiting an impedance which changes with temperature. The temperature-responsive component can for example change in dielectric constant, or in permeability or in shape, or can effect changes in the frequencies inputted to the reactive component.

Abstract: An improvement to graphics pen plotters including a pen gripping mechanism for gripping a cylindrical bodied pen in a generally vertical orientation for sensing the presence and type of a pen in the gripping mechanism with a single sensor. There is a multi-channel sensor adapted for producing and sensing a plurality, "n+1", of parallel light beams disposed one above the other to produce a binary number at an output thereof indicating the ones of the light beams sensed by the sensor. The sensor is disposed to shine the light beams at a position past which the pen is moved by the gripping mechanism. There is also a cylindrical reflective surface disposed about a portion of the body of the pen so as to be struck by the light beams when the pen is being gripped by the gripping mechanism at the position and reflect the light beams back towards the sensor to be sensed thereby.

Abstract: A multipolar circuit breaker having a lower case portion with side frame plates and a central frame plate facing the side frame plates on its two major sides, the central frame plate having a deep central groove which forms two flexible central frame plate arms each facing one of the side frame plates to form a nacelle sized to receive one of the switching mechanisms, each of the side frame plates and the arms of the central frame plate having, proximate to its free end, at-least-one inwardly facing protrusion, each of which is in a position opposed to the corresponding protrusion on the companion plate forming the nacelle and, after the respective switching mechanisms are installed, overlapping the side plates of each of the switching mechanisms, the arms of the central frame plate having been deflected to permit insertion of each switching mechanism, deflection in testing or use being prevented by inserting a high dielectric strength plastic stiffener in the groove separating the arms in the central frame p

Abstract: An ink jet printer having an ink jet printing device for printing characters in a printing region on a surface of a substrate, the device being constructed to effect optimum printing at a predetermined distance from the device, and a device for holding a substrate having a surface which is to be printed upon in printing position relative to the printing device, the holding device including a referencing plate having a reference surface which lies in a plane which extends past the printing device at the predetermined distance therefrom, and the holding device further including a leaf spring mounted to bear against the side of the substrate opposite the surface to be printed upon for pressing the surface to be printed upon against the reference surface of the referencing plate.

Abstract: A heating device for mounting on an air inlet manifold of a compression ignition engine to heat the air flowing to the engine comprises a thin walled tubular element closed at one end and having a fuel inlet at the other end. A ceramic plug is located in the element to direct fuel flow against the interior surface of the element. A heating element is wound about the tubular element to heat and vaporize the fuel which flows out through an opening adjacent the one end. The fuel vapor forms an air/fuel mixture which is ignited by an ignition element.

Abstract: A terminal pin is provided with a widened connecting section defining shoulders on the terminal so that the terminal serves as a standoff to support a device such as a coil remote from a circuit board. The terminal preferably is provided with ridges and grooves. The ridges have sloping surfaces which guide a wire into the grooves during assembly of a wire to the terminal. The surfaces bordering the grooves are adapted for frictional locking engagement with the wire. The wire can be fused to the terminal by a solderless fusing process. The ridges protect the wire from damage by the fusing electrodes, and deformation of the ridges preferably serves to lock the wire into the grooves. Preferably, the wire-receiving grooves are formed in the widened connecting section.

Abstract: A force detecting device includes an insulative strain element, strain sensors, and leads. The insulative strain element is electrically insulative at least at its surface. The strain sensors are formed of a piezoresistive thin film and deposited as a piezoresistive thin film pattern on the surface of the insulative strain element integrally therewith. The leads are formed of a highly conductive thin film and deposited as a highly conductive thin film pattern on the surface of the insulative strain element integrally therewith.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning foreign particles from an ink jet orifice plate assembly having a plurality of orifices and an ink stream input passage includes a liquid reservoir containing a quantity of cleaning liquid in which the ink jet orifice plate/dye cavity assembly is disposed, ultrasonic agitation means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations in the liquid to dislodge foreign particles from the orifice plate assembly, and means for simultaneously propelling a stream of the cleaning fluid inwardly (in a reverse-flow manner) through the plurality of outlet orifices to carry off dislodged foreign particles. The solid particulates are thereby removed from the assembled structure before it is placed in operation in the fluid jet printer. The method for ultrasonic cleaning is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting snaking of rollfilm comprises a driving roller for feeding the rollfilm to the exposure position with the film being maintained flat, pinch rollers provided such that they can approach or be separated from the driving roller, switching means for switching between the abutment and separation of the pinch rollers and the driving roller, and cutting means for cutting the rollfilm.

Abstract: A charge and deflection control type ink jet printer in which at least an ink jet head section, a charging section and a deflecting section are configured in a single replaceable module, or unit. The user of the printer may replace the module without the help of a serviceman. The replaceable unit is further provided with an ink ejection adjusting mechanism, a deflection efficiency adjusting device, an a drive efficiency adjusting device.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor using a plurality of magnetoresistive material strips having conductors positioned over the strips near the ends but isolated therefrom, the strips being interconnected with interconnections located between the conductors. Strip ends may be tapered outside of the conductors. A plurality of such arrangements may be interconnected.

Abstract: A solenoid-operated switch for a starter comprises a movable contact driven by the action of a solenoid and a stationary contact facing the movable contact. An iron plate covers an area where the movable and stationary contacts are mutually brought to contact.

Abstract: A resistor grid for diesel electric locomotives and the like has a rigid frame comprising outer metal side pieces and one or more pairs of inner metal side pieces spaced from each other, and columns of resistor ribbon fan-folded between each outer and outermost inner side piece, and between certain inner side pieces. Supporting means interengaging each fold of the ribbons are insulated from and carried on each side by a metal strip which rides on its adjoining side piece so as to accommodate expansion of the resistor ribbon. The ribbon is indented between folds to stiffen it and increase its span and may by provided with a support rod centered between its side pieces. The resistor grid is preferably positioned in forced air cooled resistor banks face-to-face with conventional narrow span grids, and improves the cooling of such conventional banks.

Abstract: A feed system for large copy sheets to feed such sheets through a copying machine, such as a white print, blue print or other copying machine, a computer printing machine, a pen plotter of other vector plotter, or raster plotter, or a printing machine. A supply roll is provided with copy sheets wound on the supply roll in an interleaved or overlapping array. A pair of support rollers form a cradle for freely supporting the supply roll, with at least one of the support rollers being driven. A printing roller grasps a copy sheet as the sheet is fed from the supply roll. A sensor stops the driven support roller and, in turn, the supply roll at a given time in a predetermined cycle whereby the printing roller can pull the fed sheet away from the supply roll and away from a succeeding overlapped sheet interleaved with the fed sheet.

Abstract: We describe an integrated thermal ink jet printhead and manufacturing process therefor which includes the successive build-up of an orifice plate, a first barrier layer, heater resistors, a second barrier layer, and an ink reservoir-defining layer on top of a reusable or "dummy" substrate. Lead-in conductors are formed integral with the heater resistors by controlling the cross-sectional areas of these components, and openings (passageways) are formed between ink reservoirs and the orifice plate to provide for ink flow under control of the heater resistors. The dummy substrate is stripped away from the adjacent orifice plate, and the ink reservoir defining layer may be secured to an ink supply tank which supplies ink to the individual ink reservoirs. Thus, the orifice plate, heater resistors and ink flow paths of the printhead are self aligned, and the heater resistors are removed from direct cavitational forces from ink ejected from the orifice plate.

Abstract: In a magnetic sensor, a first series-connected magnetic resistance element circuit is connected parallel to a second series-connected magnetic resistance element circuit, which finally forms a bridge circuit. The magnetic resistance elements are subdivided into two or three subdivided pieces. These subdivided pieces are arranged at a predetermined interval and connected with each other by conductors having low resistivity.

Abstract: A pen exchange mechanism is disclosed, by which a plurality of pen chuck mechanisms holding pens on a carriage are disposed, and a slider is engaged with the carriage at a position corresponding to a pen, which should print, among said pens, printing being effected while driving a pen chuck mechanism at a position corresponding to the slider together with the pen by means of a pen driving mechanism.

Abstract: A component assembly, for constituting an electrical part such a volume unit, comprises a pair of appropriate components, such as those approximate to each other in electrical characteristic, joined as a unit by a connecting plate. In use, the pair of components are separated by severing the connecting plate and are then coupled together to provide the electrical part.

Abstract: A novel weld chamber and process for using such weld chamber are disclosed. A flow of shielding gas through the weld chamber is regulated to provide a constant pressure in the weld chamber while the shielding gas flow sweeps away metal vapors.

Abstract: A drop deflection device suitable for use in a drop marking system employs an electret. Electrically conductive marking drops such as inks are given an electrical charge. The drops pass between a pair of deflections plates at least one of which is formed by an electret (a dielectric material which has been subjected to corona discharge to create a relatively permanent electrically charged material body). Depending upon the presence or absence of a charge on a particular drop, it will be deflected by the field between the plates on to a substrate for marking. If uncharged, the drops continue to a collection device which returns them to the ink reservoir.