Abstract: A scanning system that accurately positions a moving carriage assembly in two directions relative to a platen. Such a scanning system includes a frame that has a registration member that extends in the Y direction, and a platen whose plane is normal to the Z direction and which is attached to the frame. The platen receives a substrate in a predetermined position relative to the registration member. The scanning system further includes a base that has a first and second tilted surfaces that extend in the Y direction, and a moving carriage assembly that is disposed between the platen and the base. The moving carriage assembly includes a housing, at least one button connected to the housing, and first and second biased pivot arms with first and second rollers that ride on the first and second tilted surfaces. The biased pivot arms push the housing against the tilted surfaces such that the button contacts the platen and the registration member.

Abstract: A copier or printer connecting with a standard commercial electrical power line source and having a limited peak power consumption can still provide an electrically powered sheet stapling system by driving the stapler from an electrical storage battery power supply, the batteries of which are electrically connecting with an integral low voltage electrical power supply of the reproduction apparatus only for low power slow recharging. The stapler is operable for stapling sheets, powered solely by the storage batteries, even when the copier or printer, including its integral low voltage electrical power supply, is completely turned off, i.e., fully disconnected from the power line source. This stapler can also be operated when the reproduction machine is fully operating at its peak power consumption, including the operation of other, internal, stapling, because this stapler's operation does not increase that peak power consumption.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp utilized in a document scanning system is environmentally and thermally stabilized by means of a bifurcated heater control assembly. A heater blanket is wrapped around the entire surface of the lamp including the end areas surrounding the filaments but exclusive of the aperture through which light is emitted. The size and temperature of the lamp cold spot are selected emperically to maximize output power and minimize illumination transients during power on. The heater jacket has thermostat control set points, which, in both the lamp standby and energized states, maintain the blanket and lamp assembly at a constant elevated temperature which is above that achieved by lamp heat alone. Since the temperature distribution is always determined by the blanket and never by the lamp, changes in temperature or temperature distribution (and hence illumination distribution) as the lamp transitions from standby to full on are minimized.