Abstract: A magnetic plate retention system especially suitable for use in retaining a lithographic plate material to a conventional plate cylinder utilizes one or more magnetic retention devices each having a curved surface complementary to the cylinder. When disposed on the plate, the retention devices magnetically adhere the plate to the underlying cylinder.

Abstract: Pumped laser crystals for use in an imaging apparatus are designed and housed so as to minimize variation in dot size across the spectrum of duty cycles ranging generally from 1% to 100%--that is, from print densities ranging from every hundredth pixel to every consecutive pixel.

Abstract: An accelerometer (10) features a housing (12) having an passage (14) of rectangular cross-section formed therein, and one embodiment the width dimension gradually increases with increasing displacement along a central longitudinal axis (16) away from a first end (24) of the passage. A puck-shaped magnetic sensing mass (26) is located within the passage and oriented so that its magnetic axis extends in a direction normal to a basal surface (18) of the passage. A pair of magnetically-permeable pole pieces (22) extend from a coil (21) parallel to the passage (14) to magnetically-interact with the sensing mass so as to bias the sensing mass towards a first position within the passage. A pair of electrically-conductive nonmagnetic plates (32) on the housing magnetically interact with the sensing mass to damp the movement thereof within the passage. The coil (21) provides both test and reconfiguration functions.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus designed for use in conjunction with a lithographic printing member associated with a rotary cylinder comprises an elastomeric (preferably foam) roller for making rotating contact with the printing member; a fixed screen; and a brush in rotating contact with the roller and with the screen. The roller may extend axially at least across the imaging region of the printing member (i.e., that portion of the imaging member that actually receives the image to be printed). The elastomeric roller removes imaging debris from the cylinder, while the brush removes from the roller debris that would otherwise accumulate therein. As the brush rotates past the screen, it sheds debris withdrawn from the roller; debris passing through the screen may be collected, for example, in a container or removed from the system by vacuum. The system may also include one or more doctor blades in contact with the roller for removing debris remaining on the roller following its contact with the brush.

Abstract: A reusable mandrel for use in a plate cylinder of a printing press. The reusable mandrel includes two semi-cylindrical shells spaced slightly apart to form a tube having two opposing longitudinal slots. Disposed inside the tube is a controller that may be activated in order to selectively adjust the diameter of the tube. The tube is preferably set at an initial diameter so that the tube may incrementally accept plate material from a supply mandrel. Thereafter, the controller may be activated in order to decrease the diameter of the tube so that the tube may be removed from a spool of used plate material.

Abstract: A system for accepting and winding lithographic plate material around a cylinder adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis includes supply and uptake spools and an alignment tool for use therewith. The cylinder is hollow, having an interior and an axial opening thereto, and includes means within its interior for selectably engaging supply and uptake spools. The engagement means are in fixed alignment with one another and are disposed within the cylinder so as to define an unobstructed winding path extending around the cylinder from the supply spool to the uptake spool. Plate material stored on the supply spool is extended around this path and affixed to the uptake spool. The tool includes means for releasably gripping supply and uptake spools, and alignment components for aligning the gripping means to at least one engagement means within the cylinder when the tool is introduced therein. The tool is removed from the cylinder following release of the spools to the engagement means.

Abstract: An accelerometer (10) features a housing (12) having an passage (14) of rectangular cross-section formed therein, the width dimension of which gradually increases with increasing displacement along a central longitudinal axis (16) away from a first end (24) of the passage; and a puck-shaped magnetic sensing mass (26) located within the passage whose magnetic axis extends in a direction normal to the basal surface (18) of the passage. A pair of magnetically-permeable elements (22) on the housing magnetically-interact with the sensing mass so as to bias the sensing mass towards a first position within the passage; and a first and second pair of stationary beam contacts (30) project into the passage so as to be bridged by respective electrically-conductive circumferential surfaces (28) on the sensing mass when it moves to a second position within the passage.

Abstract: A winding assembly especially suitable for use in conjunction with a system for automated imaging of lithographic plate material, including on-press imaging systems. A feeder spool installed within a plate-support cylinder contains a rolled supply of plate material, which wraps around the cylinder and is received by an uptake spool, also located within the cylinder. The assembly is driven by the same power source used to rotate the plate-support cylinder, and maintains a strong tension along the wrapped material.

Abstract: An arm rest assembly is usable with a mouse pad or keyboard and provides vertical support for a user's arm to avoid fatigue and injury. The assembly has at least one forearm cradle and a thin profile which allows a mouse or digitizer pad to be placed on an assembly platen or to insert the assembly under a keyboard and support both forearms of the using while striking the keys of the keyboard with both hands. The assembly further includes a detachable slide which is pivotable and, at the same time, allows linear movement of the arm toward and away from the assembly. An interchangeable cradle for the user's forearm has springs to counteract the arm weight and to make the cradle stable in the horizontal position while permitting some tilting.

Abstract: An arm rest assembly is usable with a mouse pad or keyboard and provides vertical support for a user's arm to avoid fatigue and injury. The assembly has at least one forearm cradle and a thin profile which allows a mouse or digitizer pad to be placed on an assembly platen or to insert the assembly under a keyboard and support both forearms of the using while striking the keys of the keyboard with both hands. The assembly further includes a detachable slide which is pivotable and, at the same time, allows linear movement of the arm toward and away from the assembly. An interchangeable cradle for the user's forearm has springs to counteract the arm weight and to make the cradle stable in the horizontal position while permitting some tilting.

Abstract: A forms jam detector for a high-speed line printer having control electronics, a forms guide and a pair of paddlewheel assemblies for fan-folding continuous paper forms fed from the forms guide in a stack within a forms stacker assembly of the printer includes an emitter for projecting a beam of electromagnetic radiation, a receiver coupled to the control electronics and adapted to receive the projected beam, and a member for interposing between the emitter and the receiver. When a jam causes a portion of the paper forms to be forced upwardly from the stack, that portion urges the interposing member upward also to block the projected beam and disable the printer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a free-flight hammer, impact-printing apparatus including a shifting hammer bank having a plurality of interchangeable hammer modules. Each hammer module includes a plurality of individual linear motion, slidable hammers which are mounted in a side by side relationship in a hammer housing. Each hammer housing also includes a hammer-return spring mounted adjacent a hammer for causing the hammer to return to a set position. The hammers are caused to strike a moving record medium by a plurality of interchangeable actuator modules which each include an actuator assembly. Each actuator assembly comprises a stator housed in a stator housing, a solenoid assembly and an armature. The solenoid assembly is mounted between the stator and the armature. The armature actuates pushrods, which are slidably mounted in the stator housing, in order to cause a hammer to strike.

Abstract: A plurality of clamping members are disposed along a recording line against the record media, and a cable, secured at the ends thereof, is trained in a path engaged with the clamping members and with movable bearing members spaced between the clamping members. Actuation of a solenoid causes a rocker arm to pivot and through a cable tension control member carried thereby cause tightening of the cables on the clamping members and on the bearing elements thereby changing the force on the clamping members and against the record media for holding the media in precise position while recording thereon.

Abstract: A ribbon tracking system includes guide means and roller means thereon which automatically tilts in the proper direction to correct for errors in tracking of the ribbon. A crowned pulley is floatingly supported and journaled on a curved guide post or shaft wherein the pulley is caused to be axially moved along the post or shaft by reason of corrective forces, in a direction opposite the tracking error for correcting the attitude of the ribbon.