Abstract: A bi-directionally operable terminal device for an upper limb prosthesis is provided having a frame that includes a rigid finger portion which, to simulate the fingers of a natural hand, is partially curled in a manner generally corresponding in configuration and location to the normal relaxed finger condition of the natural hand; this rigid finger portion of said frame effectively constituting a first gripping jaw means. To said frame is attached a thumb-like unit that is adapted to swing towards and away from said rigid finger portion of the frame; this thumb-like unit including its immediately adjacent frame support structure effectively constituting a second jaw means. Operatively disposed between said thumb-like unit and said rigid finger portion of the frame, for bi-directional gripping movement, is the hooked forward end of a finger slide that is movably carried by said frame; this hooked forward end of said finger slide effectively constituting a third or central jaw means.

Abstract: A pneumatic device for intermittently advancing stock into the work station of a punch press and having a dual cylinder arrangement on the feed slide block for moving a lower stock gripping jaw into engagement with the stock to be fed, and a dual cylinder arrangement in the main block for actuation the feed slide in a stock feed direction; the piston rods of the latter dual cylinders affording separate fluid conduits for respectively supplying pressure fluid first to the cylinders on the feed slide block and secondly to a buffer unit on the feed slide that is adapted to cushion the terminal portion of the movement of the feed slide in a non-feed direction. Also an arrangement is provided for removably securing to the main block to the feeder a bridge block which houses a substantial portion of the feeder control valving and also a stock clamper whereby the control valving and the stock clamper controls for the feeder may be readily removed for replacement of repair purposes.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement for a hand prosthesis wherein cooperating finger-like and thumb-like units are adapted to be yieldably biased towards a closed condition and are capable of being opened simply by pressing the prosthesis against an external object for reception of an item to be held. In operation one or both of the finger and/or thumb-like units are adapted to conform to the general profile of the contacted surfaces of the item to be grasped. Further a normally inoperative supplemental gripping force generating means is provided which is capable, when actuated, of applying a large separate additional gripping force over and above that which is normally applied by the said yieldable biasing action. Also one of said units is adapted to be selectively positioned in at least two different fixed positions relative to the other unit in order to make possible the gripping of different ranges of sizes of items to be held.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled postal meter system having a postal meter with a postage printer. An accounting means maintains an accurate record of account of an amount chargeable by the meter and used by the printing means, and a data entry means for entering an amount to be charged to the accounting means, the improvement comprising a data entry medium removable from the postal meter system, the data entry medium having encoded thereon a unique combinational code for data transfer between the card and the accounting means.

Abstract: A pneumatic feeder for punch presses and the like wherein a novel circuit and arrangement is incorporated in the feeder control system for causing the stock gripping means on the reciprocating feed slide to be released in response to the completion of each intermittent stock feeding stroke of the slide. This circuit and control arrangement includes a fluid motor means that is controlled by a pilot operated supplementary valve means which in turn is controlled by an air jet means that is arranged and adapted to sense the arrival of the feed slide at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A duplex feeder having two separate complementary stock feeding units each having its own independent semi-automatic control circuit, these two separate control circuits being alternately operated by a demand feed signal generating means that is adapted to be responsive to the successive operative cycles of the press with which the feeder is to be used whereby a first operative cycle of the press causes just a first one of said feed units to move through a feed-index cycle of movement so as to advance the stock through a first incremental feed step and whereby the next operative cycle of the press causes just the second one of said feed units to move through a feed-index cycle of movement so as to advance the stock through its next incremental feed step.

Abstract: A postage metering system including a scale and having the capacity to check the weight of items to be mailed and including apparatus for printing postage indicia on items falling outside a preselected range is disclosed. The system includes a postage metering subsystem, having the capability to print indicia corresponding to a particular postage value, a scale for determining if the weight is within the preselected range, apparatus to set the particular postage value to be printed and apparatus for determining the preselected range as a predetermined function of the particular postage value. The determining apparatus may also determine the particular postage value from input data using a conventional weight-to-postage routine and may use such a weight-to-postage routine to determine the preselected weight range. In one embodiment, the printing apparatus is enabled only when the weight of the item to be mailed is within the preselected range.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated stock feeder for intermittently advancing stock into the work station of a punch press or the like and having an improved pneumatic control arrangement which incorporates three interconnected valves, namely a main three-way valve, an inlet pressure responsive valve means and a fluid pressure controlled exhaust valve means, for controlling the proper sequencing of the fluid motors that respectively produce the stock gripping, clamping and feeding actions of the feeder. The combination of the two pressure responsive sequence valve means control the operation of the main feed motor and are in turn controlled by the output of the main control valve; this control arrangement affording a high level of feed accuracy yet tolerating a relatively wide range of operator set-up inaccuracies and speed changes without significantly adversely affecting such feed accuracy.

Abstract: An improved high speed pneumatic feeder for a punch press or the like wherein a novel combination of a pair of feed slides and a stock guide means extending longitudinally between said feed slides serves to prevent very thin strip stock from buckling while being rapidly pushed by the feed slides through the feeder.

Abstract: A novel arrangement for the air circuit conduit lines of a pneumatically operated feeder for punch presses and the like. In order to insure that the stock gripping action of the feeder occurs before the initiation of the feed motion of the feed slide of the feeder a physically circuitous or roundabout path is provided for the air flowing between the control valve and the head end of the main feed cylinder. In this arrangement the main cylinder is located in the control circuit so as to be effectively disposed downstream of the stock grip cylinders when pressure air is directed to the main cylinder and so as to be effectively disposed upstream of said grip cylinders when pressure air is exhausted from said main cylinder. This arrangement will facilitate the establishment of the short but necessary time delay needed to enable the completion of the stock grip and release actions before movement of the feed slide commences.

Abstract: A cold pressure fusing apparatus for use in a xerographic copying machine for fixing a developed toner image to a copy sheet has the combination of elements including a first roller rotatably-mounted in the copying machine; a mechanism for driving the first roller; a second rotatably mounted roller in pressure contact with the first roller whereby a nip is formed through which copy sheets being fused pass; and a braking device operatively connected to the second roller for applying a controlled braking torque to the second roller, the torque being of such magnitude sufficient to facilitate the fusing of toner particles into the copy sheet without producing substantially any smudging of these particles, but of a magnitude insufficient to cause skidding of the second roller relative to the first roller.

Abstract: A pressure fusing apparatus for use in a xerographic copying machine for fixing a developed toner image to a copy sheet. The apparatus includes in combination a first roller adapted to be rotatably mounted and driven within the copying machine; an arcuately shaped support member, the inner surface of which is spaced from and lies substantially parallel to a portion of the outer surface of the first roller; and a plurality of second smaller rollers mounted for rolling contact about the arcuately shaped support member, the second rollers and the first roller adapted to form a series of nips through which copy sheets being fused pass.

Abstract: An improved semi-automatic control system for a punch press feeder, having a novel combination of three control components including a new main sequencing valve arrangement, a trigger valve and a reverser valve.

Abstract: A pneumatic control arrangement for a high speed dual slide feeder for punch presses and the like; the feeder comprising two reciprocating feed slides which are respectively reciprocated by two main fluid motors and which respectively carry two gripper fluid motors. These four fluid motors are adapted to be sequentially controlled by only two control lines which arranged in a cross over type circuit and which have opposite pressure-exhaust conditions existing therein. This arrangement permits a substantial simplification in the valving and in the associated control lines over that normally required to produce the rapid successive alternate stock feed strokes of said feed slides; such thereby substantially reducing the cost of the feeder while increasing the reliability and durability thereof.

Abstract: A pneumatic control system for a semi-automatically operating feeder for punch presses and the like. A pair of interconnected main three-way valves control the operation of the fluid motors that respectively actuate the reciprocally mounted feed slide and the stock gripping means carried by the feed slide. These two three-way valves are adapted to be controlled by a trigger means that includes a pair of serially coupled two-way valves that are sequentially mechanically actuated by a control plunger, and by a stroke reverse means that includes a safety valve feature that will operationally accommodate small leaks that may be present in the associated portions of the control circuit so as to prevent the inadvertent initiation of an undesired feed-index cycle of movement of the feed slide.

Abstract: An improved multi-stroke control system for a pneumatically operated feeder for punch presses and the like; such system including means to charge and discharge a pneumatic capacitance. The pneumatic capacitance is adapted to be charged in response to the initiation of a first operative cycle of the feeder and to be discharged in response to the completion of said first cycle; said discharge being adapted to initiate a second operative cycle of said feeder. Once triggered the feeder may execute a number of successive operative cycles, the particular number being dependent on the effective volume of said pneumatic capacitance.

Abstract: A low cost pneumatic stock feeder for punch presses and the like wherein a one-piece U-shaped main frame is provided for supporting and guiding a reciprocating feed slide. One end of a stock gripper bar is pivotally secured to the feed slide while the other end thereof is adapted to be actuated by a fluid motor carried by said feed slide whereby an efficient mechanical advantage is afforded for the stock gripping action. A continuously acting friction braking means is provided for engaging just the longitudinal side corners of the stock material so that the latter may be yieldably held during the time when the gripper bar is released and so that there is a minimum of marring or scratching of that portion of the stock material from which parts are to be stamped.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated feeder for punch presses and the like and having a feed slide that is adapted to be moved automatically through successive feed and index strokes. Instead of using a limit switch type device for sensing for the physical presence of the feed slide when the latter has reached the end of an operative stroke thereof, an improved control means is provided to identify the completion of such an operative stroke and to thereby cause said feed slide automatically to initiate its next operative stroke. When pressure fluid is applied to the main fluid motor of the feeder in order to produce say an index stroke of the feed slide the effective fluid pressure in said motor will not normally reach line pressure until after completion of said index stroke.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus for an electrostatic copier has a flexible web rotatably driven between first and second pressure fixing rollers that are further supported by a rotatable, third pressure roller substantially in contact with the web and the second pressure fixing roller. Only the web is heated in an area just prior to the first pressure fixing roller. The entrapped copy sheet follows a concave path formed by the web and the first pressure fixing roller outer diameter, during which time the toner is gradually melted until it is finally pressed and fixed on the copy sheet by the first and second pressure fixing rollers.

Abstract: A heat-pressure fusing apparatus that exhibits high thermal efficiency is disclosed.