Abstract: A tool for operatively coupling a drive mechanism to a driven component is provided. The drive mechanism includes a drive shaft. The tool includes at least two members. Each member includes an inner surface forming an inner lip extending along a first axial edge of each member. The inner lip is positioned within a groove defined within the drive shaft. Each member also includes an outer surface and a channel defined within the outer surface. The outer surface is tapered between the channel and the first axial edge. The tool further includes at least one seal removably coupled to the at least two members. The at least one seal is configured to retain the at least two members about the drive shaft.

Abstract: A method of interfacing peripheral digital information gathering devices with a computer includes the positioning of an interface module with each peripheral device and obtaining information therefrom in series of N-bit words. Thereafter each such series of words is stored in the interface modules. Thereafter, words in the interface modules to be disregarded are electronically masked, and the output of non-masked words are stored in a memory. The memory is provided with a not-empty indicator adapted to block further input from the peripheral when the memory has words in storage. Thereupon, communication of the non-disregarded memory words occurs to the computer. The method also includes the usage of parallel-to-serial converters within each interface module to thus enable parallel data generated by the peripheral to be received in memory as serial data.

Abstract: A computer-peripheral interface includes a latch to receive parallel data from a peripheral, such as a cash register, with a hardware mask to reject irrelevant data, a simple FIFO memory and a parallel-serial converter for transmission to a controlling computer. These devices are controlled by a combination of five one-shots for timing, and a D flip-flop and gates. The problem of controlling a variety of peripherals, such as cash registers, by a central computer without also incorporating microprocessors or equivalent complicated devices in each peripheral yet still providing sufficient data handling capacity is solved.