Abstract: An advancing system is provided for selectively advancing generally flat material, such as tape, in a first direction (towards a moistening device) or in a second direction (away from a moistening device). The advancing system includes a conveyer that has a moving surface that advances the tape, which is in contact with the surface, to the conveyer's exit. The system also includes a motor with a shaft. The motor rotates the shaft in opposite directions. A mechanism couples the motor shaft to the moving surface so as to drive the surface in a common direction regardless of the direction in which the motor shaft rotates, causing the conveyor to advance the tape in that common direction to the conveyer's exit. The advancing system further includes a diverter at the conveyer's exit. The diverter selectively directs the tape in the first or second direction. The diverter includes two exit rollers which receive the tape between them.

Abstract: A tape cutter for cutting postage imprinted tape is disclosed. The tape cutter includes a cutting wheel which is moved by a motor from one side of the tape across the tape to the other side of the tape to cut it. The motor moves the cutting wheel across the tape in a given direction regardless of the direction of rotation of the motor shaft.

Abstract: A device for moistening tape is disclosed. The tape is moistened by a roller having a resilient, sorbent felt material on its surface. The surface of the roller is wetted by capillary action as well as by the rotation of the roller in the reservoir. The roller is driven by a conveyor that engages the surface of the roller and advances tape between the roller and the conveyer as the roller rotates.

Abstract: A tape advancing system for advancing a tape past a printing device in a mailing machine selective draws one of two tapes, from a supply reeled and presents the selected tape for postage indicia printing. The tape system includes, a first motor for selectively advancing a first one of a plurality of tapes and a second motor for moving the selected tape to a printing position. The tapes are advanced past the printing device in a parallel, facing relationship. The selected tape is exposed for imprinting by the printing device. The tape is moved into a printing position only when it is desired to imprint tape. At other times, the tapes are clear of printing device thereby permitting the printing device to imprint envelopes delivered by an envelope transport.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for electronically recording using a xerographic machine and, more particularly, to an assembly of monoliths containing light emitting diodes (LED's) that yields a relatively long array of LED's with high light density and a contiguous set of light centers. A fiber optic cover is placed over the exposed surfaces of the LED's to counter the effects of the divergent angle of light emitting from the LED's and to protect the LED's from damage. A gel having a relatively high refractive index is applied between the LED's and the fiber optic cover to further counter the effects of the divergent angle of light.

Abstract: Within a copier, a scanning carriage assembly is mounted for reciprocal motion upon a pair of elongate parallel, spaced apart guides. A pair of flexible drive members rotatably mounted in juxtaposition to the guides, and are each separately mounted on opposing lateral ends of the carriage structure. The flexible drive members are driven simultaneously from a common shaft, and there is also a pair of stabilizing cables mounted parallel to the guides and terminally connected to end frames of the copier framework. The cables are guided by pulleys which are mounted on the carriage structure in parallel relationship to the spaced apart guides. The pulleys and spaced apart guides are arranged in parallel relationship to each other and the pulleys, spaced apart guides, belts and cables are positioned and mounted in order to obtain substantially equal and opposite tension within the stabilizing cables on opposing sides of the carriage during reciprocal carriage motion.

Abstract: In an optical scanning system for scanning an original document to be copied, in which the system includes a carriage, an array of fiber optics for illuminating the original document with a line of light, a first mirror, a second mirror opposing the first mirror and forming an acute angle therewith, the mirrors being separated by a predetermined distance, whereby one end of the mirrors is more open than the other end of the mirrors and input light rays enter at the more open end of the mirrors upon the first mirror at a predetermined angle, and wherein the light rays are reflected off each of the mirrors a predetermined multiplicity of times and exit the mirrors at the more open end by reflecting off the second mirror at the same predetermined angle the input rays make with the first mirror, and a lens cell for focusing the line of light upon a light sensitive surface, an improved adjustment mechanism for the lens cell.

Abstract: A high ratio speed reducer comprising a rotatable input shaft operatively coupled to an output shaft which rotates at a reduced speed in response to rotation of the input shaft. An output sprocket is mounted on the output shaft for rotation therewith, the output sprocket having a circumferential perimeter including a number of teeth. A drive sprocket having a circumferential perimeter including a number of teeth differing by at least one tooth from the number of output sprocket teeth is rotatably mounted with respect to an eccentric end portion of the input shaft and orbits as the input shaft is rotated. Successive segments of the drive sprocket perimeter continuously move outside the output sprocket perimeter as the drive sprocket orbits to advance an endless double chain engaging both sprockets.

Abstract: A heated fuser roll for use in a fusing apparatus for fixing toner images to a support surface. The fuser roll includes an electrically conductive core member having a plurality of axially disposed longitudinal channels lying along the outer surface of the core member, and a heating element formed of a semiconducting ceramic material having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity and exhibiting a Curie temperature transition point at which the resistance of the material increases with increasing temperature positioned in each of the channels. A layer of a thermally conductive material covers the outer exposed surfaces of both the core member and heating elements, and a sleeve member is positioned around the thermally conductive material.

Abstract: A heated fuser roll for use in a fusing apparatus for fixing toner images to a support surface. The fuser roll includes one or more heating units each of which include (i) a wafer shaped heating element formed of a semiconducting ceramic material having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity and exhibiting a Curie temperature transition point at which the resistance of the material increases with increasing temperature and (ii) an electrically conductive member for providing electrical current to the heating elements, the conductive member being in contiguous relation to the heating element; a thermally conductive plate; and a sleeve positioned around the heating unit and the plate. An insulating member is positioned between each of the electrically conductive members and the thermally conductive plates.

Abstract: A low silhouette keyboard having a plurality of keylevers arranged in rows and in parallel relationship to one another are suspended, guided and biased to restore by opposing flexible support members. The keylevers are "T" shaped which includes a cross arm constrained between the flexible support members, and a leg portion which projects through slots in a single guide comb. The keylevers are suspended in cantilever fashion being biased upward limited by an upstop. Reciprocation of any keylever in any row is a path substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flexible support members. Keytouch of all keylevers is substantially simultaneous and uniformly adjustable by providing means for varying the upward biasing force applied thereto.