Abstract: A ribbon cassette, such as in inked ribbon for a printing machine, has a supply spool and a take-up spool. An unwinding force is applied to the ribbon and the take-up spool is driven from the supply spool through a slip coupling. The configuration of the driving connection between the spools is such as to lead to a theoretical speed of the take-up spool which is always geater than is actually needed to match the speed of unwinding from the supply spool. Slip however occurs to match the speeds and to maintain tension in the ribbon.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette, such as in inked ribbon for a printing machine, has a supply spool and a take-up spool. An unwinding force is applied to the ribbon and the take-up spool is driven from the supply spool through a slip coupling. The configuration of the driving connection between the spools is such as to lead to a theoretical speed of the take-up spool which is always greater than is actually needed to match the speed of unwinding from the supply spool. Slip however occurs to match the speeds and to maintain tension in the ribbon.

Abstract: Postal franking apparatus in which both semi-permanent and variable information to be printed onto an envelope is stored electrically in a memory and is read out to form printing control signals for controlling a thermal printer containing thermally activable inking means at a printing station into which the envelope is placed. The thermal printer is in the form of an elongate conductive plate having a large plurality of electrical connections along its length to which are fed the printing control signals in synchronized relationship to passage of the envelope, the plate being of sufficiently high resistivity that only localized areas thereof are heated by the currents associated with the control signals, and ink is applied to the envelope only at the heated localities.

Abstract: A movement monitoring device for monitoring the movement of items past or through a work station wherein the items move synchronously with a ribbon through or past the work station. The transport of the items is monitored by a detector which monitors the linear movement of the ribbon. Signals from the detector can be used to activate the work station at intervals corresponding to the passage of the items.

Abstract: In a machine which uses cassettes, a compartment is provided for receiving the cassette. Examples of such machines are printing machines using an inked ribbon cassette. In the compartment there is a V-shaped toggle spring which is pivotally mounted at its vertex with two arms and extending forward so that when a cassette is inserted and pushed in against both arms, the latter are splayed apart and the spring pivots and snaps the cassette into a "home" position in which it is retained by a cooperating means on the cassette and the compartment.

Abstract: A vibratory screening machine as described separating solid particles from liquid in which a fine mesh screen (30) includes an inclined region extending upwardly to a discharge edge (34) over which solid material (36) separated by filtration can pass. Vibration of the screen (30) causes the solid particulate material to move towards the discharge edge (34).The screen (30) forms the base of a reservoir having sides (10) and a weir or dam (46) at the opposite end to the discharge edge (34) and is slidable in and out to provide for cleaning and/or replacement.A suspension of liquid and solid particulate material is supplied to the machine along a pipeline (28) and is discharged onto the rear end of the screen (30) from a discharge head (24).One or more intermediate screens of similar design may be located above the main vibrating screen and above one another and the suspension of liquid and solid material discharged onto each of the screens overflows onto the rear end of the screen immediately therebelow.

Abstract: A vibratory screening machine as described separating solid particles from liquid in which a fine mesh screen (30) includes an inclined region extending upwardly to a discharge edge (34) over which solid material (36) separated by filtration can pass. Vibration of the screen (30) causes the solid particulate material to move towards the discharge edge (34).The screen (30) forms the base of a reservoir having sides (10) and a weir or dam (46) at the opposite end to the discharged edge (34).A suspension of liquid and solid particulate material is supplied to the machine along a pipeline (28) and is discharged onto the rear end of the screen (30) from a discharge head (24).One or more intermediate screens of a similar design are located above the main vibrating screen and above one another and the suspension of liquid and solid material discharged onto the first screen overflows onto the rear end of the screen immediately therebelow. Trays (68) and (70) are provided to catch liquid draining through.