Abstract: A thermal printhead for printing on pre-embossed plastic cards, and a method for making a thermal printhead for printing on pre-embossed plastic cards. The printhead includes a means for connecting to a data source, means for connecting to a power source, a data transfer means, and at least one elongated contact member having at least one notch to allow the thermal printhead to pass over the pre-embossed text during the printing process.

Abstract: A thermal printhead for printing on pre-embossed plastic cards, and a method for making a thermal printhead for printing on pre-embossed plastic cards. The printhead includes a means for connecting to a data source, means for connecting to a power source, a data transfer means, and at least one elongated contact member having at least one notch to allow the thermal printhead to pass over the pre-embossed text during the printing process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting potentially damaging contaminants on the surfaces of a plastic card, such as a credit card, an identification card, and the like, prior to a thermal printing operation being performed on the card. The apparatus includes a roller assembly including a first, driven, rotatable roller and a second, floating, rotatable roller parallel to the first roller. The card is directed between the first and second rollers so that the first roller is engageable with one side surface of the card and the second roller is engageable with the opposite side surface of the card. The second roller is supported in a manner to permit the second roller to pivot about a fixed axis when either one of the first and second rollers encounters a contaminant on one of the side surfaces of the card. An encoder is linked to the second roller for collecting data on the movement of the second roller as the card travels between the first and second rollers.

Abstract: A hydraulic chuck haging a piston means with an axially centered fluid passage and a tube seating means on one end thereof. Collet means are provided and are mounted on the piston means such that axial movement of the piston means operates the collet means. The chuck body is slideably mounted on the piston means and has a nose cone means fixedly mounted on the body means. The nose cone means includes a collet engaging surface to close the collet upon engagement of the surface and the collet means. Seal means for preventing passage of fluid between the tube and the collet means are provided and include a seal cartridge means adjacent to tube seating means on the piston means. Seal seat means are slideably contacting the cartridge means and keyed to the collet means to define a seal cavity between the seal seat and the seal cartridge. The cavity has a first size when the collets are open and a smaller second size when the collets are closed.

Abstract: A hoist pad mounted on a lift arm of a hoist to support a vehicle on the lift arm. The pad has a frame that fits over the top and sides of a part of the lift arm. A base is pivoted to the frame. The base supports a lift assembly in a plurality of positions to change the effective height of the lift assembly to accommodate for variations in vehicle frame and exhaust structure. The lift assembly has two legs articuately connected together and locatable in selected positions to provide variations in the effective height of the lift assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic chuck having a piston means with an axially centered passage, the first end of which has a tube seating means associated therewith for engaging a tube. Collet means are provided and located at the first end of the piston means for engagement of the tube upon closure of the collet means. Biasing means operably connected to the piston means for normally forcing the surface means upon the collet means are also provided. Sealing means adjacent to tube feeding means for sealing the tube to the chuck, including seal seat means adjacent to collets and positioned to compress the seal radially inward under pressure of the biasing means, are provided. Finally, the handle or attachment means is provided to operably connect to the biasing means to remove the surface means from the collet means, thereby releasing the radially inward compression of the sealing means and permitting insertion of the tube.