Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (600) for providing a product with a radiation mitigation feature. The methods comprise: obtaining a composite base layer formed of a fiber-reinforced material; and performing a deposition process to dispose a first coating layer on the composite base layer so as to form the product with a radiation barrier, the first coating layer comprising 35% by mass or less of a metal constituent, at least 65% by mass of a germanium constituent, a zero or substantially zero coating stress, and/or an overall thickness between 2 microns and 8 microns.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (600) for providing a product with a radiation mitigation feature. The methods comprise: obtaining a composite base layer formed of a fiber-reinforced material; and performing a deposition process to dispose a first coating layer on the composite base layer so as to form the product with a radiation barrier, the first coating layer comprising 35% by mass or less of a metal constituent, at least 65% by mass of a germanium constituent, a zero or substantially zero coating stress, and/or an overall thickness between 2 microns and 8 microns.

Abstract: A substrate feeding system, and printers that use such feeding systems, that includes a feed roll and a retard roll that form a nip, a nudger roll for advancing a substrate from a substrate stack toward the nip, and an entrance guide between the nudger roll and the nip. The entrance guide has a contact surface that forms an angle of more than 100.degree. with the direction of motion of the substrate. The entrance guide further including a top section over which the substrate moves as it advances into the nip. The entrance guide is beneficially pivotally mounted such that when a retard roll is removed the entrance guide pivots out of the way, and such that when a retard roll is in place the entrance guide moves into position.

Abstract: A stack height control assembly utilizing the feedhead as the height sensing member. As a result of incorporating the stack height sensor into the feedhead, several advantages are realized. There is no additional drag imparted to the sheets as the result of a sensing arm or other sensing member. This also reduces the possibility of skewing the sheets with an additional sensing member. The feedhead, due to the normal force required to acquire the sheets also provides an accurate measurement of stack height. The normal force of the feedhead also eliminates and inaccuracies that could be caused by curled sheets in a feed tray. The stack height is also measured "on the fly" as the sheets are being acquired and fed, thus providing an efficient stack height sensing scheme. A floating coupler and sensor flag arrangement can be mounted so that it is engaged with a paper supply drawer as the drawer is moved into an operative position.