Abstract: A float operated electrical switch assembly including a body, a float coupled to the body for pivotal movement relative thereto about a first axis, a permanent magnet carried by the float and having its dipole axis parallel to the first axis, and a reed switch within the body is disclosed. The reed switch is positioned with its longitudinal axis at right-angles to the float pivot axis, and, the pivot axis is spaced transversely from the longitudinal axis of the reed switch. The magnet is so positioned relative to the pivot axis that within the intended operating arc of the float relative to the body, the movement of the magnet relative to the reed switch is, in effect, movement of the magnet along the length of the reed switch; the magnet being adjacent one end of the reed switch at one end of the arc, and being adjacent the contact region of the reed switch at the other end of the arc.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer for an ink jet printer is vacuum impregnated with, e.g., epoxy or silicone materials. The impregnated transducer is less subject to chemical attack and to being shorted out by penetration by conductive inks.

Abstract: An electrical contact device for transmitting heavy currents between relatively rotatable parts, for example between a fixed welding transformer and a rotatable unit which supports a spot welding gun. The contact device comprises a spaced-apart pair of annular, axially fixed, contact segments on one unit and, between these, an axially displaceable pair of annular contact disks on another unit. The disks are urged towards each other by springs and are thereby centered by a centering device to provide a well-defined clearance between each contact disk and the confronting contact segment, and the disks are pressed outwardly against the co-acting contact segments, to eliminate said clearances when current is to flow therebetween, by an annular operating device. The contact device has particular utility in robotics and prevents wear at the contacting surfaces on the appearance of relative rotation therebetween.

Abstract: A very compact thermal printing head which may be manufactured at low cost is proposed. The thermal printing head integrally comprises a given multiple of heaters formed in an array, and a plurality of semiconductor devices each having at least a plurality of transistors which are respectively connected to heaters and a shift register which transfers an image signal for selectively switching the plurality of transistors. Straight lead wires are used to connect the semiconductor devices and the heaters, and L-shaped or inverted L-shaped lead wires are used to connect the semiconductor devices and a set of multi-layer wiring conductors having terminal mount portions of the head. These straight and L-shaped (or inverted L-shaped) lead wires are respectively supported on electrically insulating flexible films obtained by the TAB (tape automated bonding) method.

Abstract: An on-demand type ink jet printing apparatus which prints out data in various forms such as characters and numerals by the combination of dots formed by ink droplets on a sheet of paper. An ink ejection head of the printer includes control electrodes disposed in at least one ink passageway. Ink droplets are formed and caused to fly by electric fields developed in the vicinity of the control electrodes when voltages are applied thereacross. Multiport ink ejection is achieved by the provision of a plurality of ink passageways in the head. The voltage supply to the control electrodes is controllable so that ink droplets may be formed and caused into flight in response to print signals.A channel defining each ink passageway can be shaped easily yet with accuracy utilizing an etching characteristic particular to a specific crystal face.A plurality of acceleration electrodes may be employed to promote desirable flight of ink droplets.

Abstract: An electrical switch mechanism which operates in response to deceleration or acceleration for use on board trains for brake assurance purposes. High sensitivity to deceleration or acceleration with low hysteresis is obtained by actuating a switch, when a pendulum swings a predetermined distance, through a force transfer system providing a mechanical advantage enabling a pendulum of reasonable size and mass to actuate commercially available switches which require appreciable actuating force.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand ink jet printing apparatus comprising a print head having an electromechanical transducer mounted in mechanical communication with the fluid in a fluid chamber within the print head. The transducer is selectively energized with a drop ejecting signal so that one drop of ink is ejected for each drop ejecting signal. In addition the transducer is energized with a series of low amplitude excitation signals which serve to maintain substantially constant dynamic ink characteristics so that quality printing is produced especially during start-up of the apparatus. The excitation pulses can be asynchronous with respect to the drop ejecting signals or synchronous but delayed with respect to the drop ejecting signals. Isolation means are provided to prevent concurrent excitation of the transducer with both a drop ejecting signal and an excitation signal.

Abstract: Membrane switch assembly comprises a substrate, a separator, and a flexible membrane which is opposed to the substrate. Pairs of switch electrodes are provided on the substrate and commoning conductors are provided on the membrane so that flexure of the membrane against the substrate electrically commons the switch electrodes and closes the switch. The commoning conductor comprises two separate commoning pads which are connected by a bridging conductor on the membrane that extends circuitously between the commoning pads. There is a passageway between the commoning pads which is opposed to the passageway between the switch electrodes on the substrate. A circuit conductor can be provided on the substrate extending between the switch electrodes and this circuit conductor will not be contacted by the commoning conductor on the membrane when the switch is closed.

Abstract: A high resolution scanning system, employing non-linearly driven galvanometer deflection optics, compensates for both the non-linear rate of travel of the information pixel beam and for pixel position offset introduced by an optical subsystem (a flat field lens) that equalize pixel size and quality across the recording medium. The system employs a single high speed reference clock the output pulses of which are counted and used to address a compensation data-containing PROM (programmable read only memory). The contents of successive addresses of the PROM contain pixel location codes identifying the position on the recording medium where a pixel of interest is to be recorded. These codes are derived in accordance with the periodic non-linear rate of travel of the scanning optics across the recording medium and the measured parameters of a flat field lens disposed in the path of the scanning beam.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer type recording device is provided with a thermal head having heat generating elements and a backing roll operatively positioned relative to the heat generating elements to accommodate the passage of an ink donor sheet and a recording sheet therebetween under pressure. A separation roll is spaced from the backing roll to provide for the passage of said ink donor sheet and said recording sheet therebetween at a pressure substantially less than the pressure exerted on the sheets upon passage between the backing roll and the heat generating elements. The ink donor sheet is directed about the separation roll at a relatively sharp angle to separate the recording sheet from the ink donor sheet with a complete transfer of the ink from the ink donor sheet to the recording sheet as a result of the reduced pressure on the sheets at the separation roll.

Abstract: A switch is disclosed having a plurality of conductors entering a chamber containing a movable contact element. Air pressure applied to the contact element moves it into contact with at least one of the conductors.

Abstract: A low-cost printer is provided for use with data processing equipment. A light-shielding retainer provides a substantially continuous sheet supply of printing medium including a conductive-resistant coating formed in strips which is light sensitive and heat developed. The medium is moved past a processing station. A first portion of the station includes an array of light emitting elements and a second portion includes an element for heating the medium sufficient for developing the medium thus visibly exposing and fixing the characters on the medium.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed wherein one portion of conductor is fastened to a housing and another portion is movable. Fluid pressure applied through a passage forces the movable portion into contact with electrical terminals.

Abstract: A shock and vibration sensitive switch includes two E-shaped electrodes mounted on opposite sides of a cavity. Two inertia weights are supported by the electrodes in an electrical parallel arrangement to provide redundant current paths. The redundant current paths allow proper switch operation in the event of failure of one of the current paths. The switch is hermetically sealed to prevent moisture and the contaminants outgassed by the switch lead wires from entering the interior of the switch.

Abstract: In a transfer type heat sensitive recording device a recording section is provided in which the thermal transfer of data is effected by applying thermal pulses to an ink donor sheet having a recording sheet superimposed thereon. Upon leaving the recording section, the recording sheet is separated from the ink donor sheet and upon completion of the separation, the drive for the ink donor sheet is terminated. A recording sheet discharge device is operatively driven from the ink donor sheet conveying device through a drive force accumulating mechanism so that upon stopping of the ink donor sheet conveying device, the torque accumulated by the drive force accumulating mechanism will be sufficient to continue the operation of the recording sheet discharging device until the recording sheet is fully discharged.