Abstract: A reel brake of a magnetic tape single-reel cartridge is released by a contact member positioned in non-rotational contact with the reel brake release button to prevent wear, vibration and noise in the mechanism. One embodiment places a spindle in a centering cone of a hub which operatively engages the tape reel. The centering cone rotates relative to the spindle which is in stationary contact with the release button. A second embodiment involves use of a non-rotating center shaft of a motor which has a rotor that rotates about the shaft. The stationary shaft contacts the release button. A third embodiment extends a stationary post through a hollow rotating motor shaft to contact the release button.

Abstract: A scanning continuously variable reduction electrophotographic copier includes a servo motor for driving the document scanning carriages. Servo motor, and therefore carriage motion parameters of velocity, duration of acceleration and deceleration, length or time duration of travel and time of start of scan are selectable to produce a selected reduction ratio within a continuous range of reduction ratios. In one embodiment, three partially overlapping hybrid servo loops are used, one for acceleration and deceleration, another for constant velocity motion and a third for precise stopping control. In another embodiment, a single loop controls the entire motion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a droplet aspirator suitable for use with a multinozzle ink jet printer. The aspirator includes a housing with a flow channel therein. The flow channel includes an exit section having a substantially planar geometry with a constant cross-sectional area extending from a point where ink droplets are ejected into the channel to a point where the droplets exit said channel, an entry section having a relatively large cross-sectional area and an intermediate section with reduced cross-sectional area interconnecting the entry section with the exit section.

Abstract: A uniform velocity and/or time of flight profile across the jet streams of a multinozzle aspirated ink jet printer is maintained by a closed loop servo system. The servo system includes a drop charge sensor which senses the time of flight of charge droplets in the streams and generates a controlled signal. The signal is utilized by a controller means to generate controlled voltages. The voltages are used to adjust the velocity of a motor/blower apparatus which supplies air to the aspirated ink jet printer.

Abstract: A low inertia rotary drum supports sheets of paper of different sizes for transport and processing. The drum has a plurality of leading edge ports formed in its surface along the length of the drum. A vacuum is selectively applied to one or more of the ports in accordance with the dimension of the paper in the direction of the length of the drum. The drum has a plurality of sets of trailing edge ports formed in its surface with each of the sets being disposed a predetermined arcuate distance from the set of leading edge ports in accordance with the other dimension of the paper. Each set of trailing edge ports has the ports arranged longitudinally along the drum and parallel to the set of leading edge ports. Only one set of trailing edge ports extends for the same length as the set of the leading edge ports. One of the sets of the trailing edge ports has a vacuum applied thereto with the same number of ports of the trailing edge set having the vacuum applied thereto as the number of the leading edge ports.

Abstract: A charge electrode array for a multi-nozzle ink jet array is fabricated from alternate layers of stainless steel and epoxy resin. The charge electrode array may be formed by positioning stainless steel tabs in previously grooved nonconductive substrate such as ceramic. The grooves are spaced sufficiently apart to allow insulating material to be placed between each stainless steel tab. Alternatively, a stainless steel plate may be bonded to a nonconductive substrate. Then the stainless steel can be sliced so that insulating material can be placed between each stainless steel strip. Epoxy fills the gap between tabs or strips forming an insulating layer. An ink drop charging channel through each tab or strip is formed by drilling through the tips of the steel tabs or strips, or by cutting U-shaped channels through the tips of the tabs or strips.

Abstract: A copier/collator installation wherein the copier's output copy sheets are collated into sets in a multi-bin collator. The collator bins are vertically stacked.Vertical stacking of the electrostatically charged and heated copy sheets, which therefore tend to curl, is enhanced by providing collator bins having electrically nonconductive walls. The bottom sheet-receiving walls are formed to have a generally concave cross section, facing upward. Considering the direction of sheet movement, this concave surface extends generally transverse the sheet movement. Pivoted and biased paper stabilizing wires hold down the leading portion of the sheet stack in the bin, and also absorbs the sheet's kinetic energy as the sheet enters the bin. A flexible, electrically nonconductive plastic flap, at the bin's entrance or mouth, holds down the sheet's trailing portion, and also absorbs the sheet's kinetic energy.