Abstract: A retaining and locking clamp, mounted onto a first apparatus, for retaining and locking a second apparatus to the first apparatus. The first apparatus has a plate which in turn includes an aperture. The clamp comprises an inner rod that has a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion being adapted to be received within the aperture of the first apparatus plate so as to mount the inner rod to the first apparatus. The clamp also includes an outer sleeve that is rotatably mounted onto the inner rod, the outer sleeve has a retaining and locking flange and a surface. The clamp further comprises a turn knob that is rotatably mounted onto the inner rod, the turn knob has a surface that is adapted to frictionally engage the outer sleeve surface, whereby rotating the turn knob causes the turn knob surface to frictionally engage the outer sleeve surface so as to permit the outer sleeve flange to retain the second apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is the designation of one of the processors in the system as the master processor with the roll of resetting the other processors after a software crash. When a system software crash occurs, the master processor provides a reset signal that is automatically conveyed to each of the other processors to synchronize the return of the other processors back to the normal state of operation.

Abstract: The present invention is a multiprocessor control system that allows full job recovery after a machine power down or after a malfunction or software crash or temporary power outage. In particular, essential variables such as the state and status of the machine and the programmed job at the time of the malfunction are maintained in nonvolatile memory. This information is continually updated in nonvolatile memory. Once the control system has reset and reinitialized all the control elements after a malfunction, the control restores or downloads all the relevant variables in the nonvolatile memory to the various control elements to maintain status. In another embodiment, the essential variables are maintained in RAM locations in a master processor and saved for downloading to the control elements.

Abstract: A display for use in conjunction with a copier. The disclosed display comprises two microprocessors for controllably displaying information on a display panel of a xerographic copier. A first microprocessor is primarily responsible for energizing alphanumeric elements to either send messages to the copier user or to prompt the user to interact with the copier. A second display is a liquid crystal display wherein selectively energizable liquid crystal elements corresponding to copier components can be rendered visible under the control of the second microprocessor. An overlay pattern can be placed above the liquid crystal display to present to the user in outline form the copier architecture with which he is interacting. This overlay can be changed as the copier configuration is changed. The electronics for controlling the display of alphanumeric allows the utilization of different fonts and/or different languages.

Abstract: A position detector comprises a probe having an enlarged head which can be engaged with a workpiece to be machined by a machine tool. The probe is slidably mounted in a holder for rectilinear movement relative thereto along an axis and its translational displacement along this axis is measured by a transducer. The holder is in turn mounted on a body for pivotal movement about another axis, the pivotal displacement of the holder being measured by a further transducer. The two axes are mutually perpendicular and mutually intersecting.

Abstract: An element, such as an electrode, to be clamped by a clamping device passes slidingly through the interior of a rigid tube, a portion of which is disposed in a fluid chamber defined within a body of the clamping device. A flexible tube, for example made of nitrile rubber, surrounds said portion of the rigid tube and the latter has a part thereof cut away to expose the electrode to the flexible tube. Fluid in the chamber can be pressurized to a relatively high level in order to press the flexible tube against the electrode and thereby clamp the latter firmly, or to a relatively low level in order to retain the electrode frictionally while allowing it to move through the rigid tube.

Abstract: A method of machining a workpiece to a predetermined depth using an electrode machining discharge apparatus including electrodes which wear during the machining process. The machining of a workpiece to a first level is effected, after which the electrodes are withdrawn and a refeed member having a surface matching that of the workpiece is positioned for engagement with the electrodes, followed by the electrodes engaging the refeed member to align the ends thereof, after which the machining operation continues. The machining operations are in increments less than the depth to which the machining is to be effective, and several alignments of the electrodes may be required.