Abstract: A gas tank evacuator (10) comprises: an evacuator housing (12) to be attached to a neck (44) of a gas tank (38); and an elongated valve-removal rod (14) movably mounted on, and passing through the evacuator housing, the valve-removal rod having a valve-engaging element (56) at a lower end thereof and a manipulation knob (54) member at a top end thereof for being manipulated to cause the valve-removal rod to engage and remove the overflow valve assembly. The evacuator housing has female threads (26) to be screwed onto male threads of the gas tank attachment neck with a stop (50, 56, 72) positioning the valve-removal rod aligned with the overflow valve assembly. When the evacuator housing is screwed to the gas tank attachment neck a fixed main valve actuator (46) on the evacuator housing opens a main valve (48) of the gas tank and residue gas in the tank is released to a sealed evacuation cavity (18).

Abstract: User adjustment of an automatically established gap between a print head and a platen allows adjustment of print head gap relative to a set point by a simple key actuation operation which is preferably conducted during printing operation so that the user can directly observe the result of the adjustment. Storage of user defined adjustment values in non-volatile memory are correlated with measured thicknesses or tolerance ranges thereof and can be recalled after power off/power on cycles and/or after change of paper stocks in the printer. Adjustment limits are imposed to prevent printer damage and user adjustment can be carried out at higher resolution than automatic head gap setting. Graphical and fixed legend displays are preferably provided for confirmation of the adjustment and informing the operator of limits and operating limits and conditions of the gap adjustment.

Abstract: An evacuator housing ( 14) of a gas tank evacuator (10) receives a gas tank (12). A valve seal of a movable seal head (34) and a puncture seal (66) of the evacuator housing are clamped onto the gas tank at opposite ends by a hollow threaded shaft (32) to form a sealed test space (58) exteriorly of the gas tank at a valve (22) and a sealed evacuation space (68) exteriorly of the gas tank at a puncture spot (24). A pressure gauge (60) coupled to the test space rides on the seal head and a valve actuator in the form of a rod (40), passes through the hollow threaded shaft into the sealed test space. A puncturing mechanism (18) punctures the gas tank at the puncture spot. The sealed evacuation space is positioned vertically below the puncture spot and communicates with a carbon filter positioned vertically above the evacuation space so as to form a U-shaped trap (90).

Abstract: A system for automatically adjusting the print head gap of an impact printer, particularly for paper stocks of differing thicknesses and multi-layer forms, provides for measurement of an absolute distance between an undeflected platen position and a home position of the print head. Paper stock thickness is measured by measuring the distance to the home position from a position of the print head when a predetermined force is exerted by the print head against the platen. Since a similar measurement is made when paper stock is not present in the printer and using the same force against the platen, platen flexure is removed as a source of error and a standardized force is available for compression of the paper stock during measurement. Improved accuracy is achieved at high speed while avoiding the use of position encoder/decoder arrangements. A wider range of manufacturing variations in printer geometry and rigidity can be accommodated with uniformly improved print quality.

Abstract: A gas tank evacuator (10) comprises an evacuator housing (12) into which a neck (80) of a gas tank (82) can be screwed and an elongated valve-removal rod (14) for slidably passing through the evacuator housing and engaging and unscrewing a stem-actuated valve (88) of the gas tank. An elongated valve actuator pin (18) slidably passes through the valve-removal rod to extend from lower and upper ends of the valve-removal rod for independently actuating the stem-actuated valve. The valve-removal rod is moved longitudinally by a valve-removal-rod lever (16) which is pivotally attached to the evacuator housing and valve-removal rod by pivot links (60). The valve-removal-rod lever is pivoted on the evacuator housing to drive a valve-engaging device at a lower end of the valve-removal rod into engagement with the-stem-actuated valve of the gas tank for its removal from the gas tank.

Abstract: A gas tank evacuator (10) comprises an evacuator housing (12) into which a neck (80) of a gas tank (82) can be screwed and an elongated valve-removal rod (14) for slidably passing through the evacuator housing and engaging and unscrewing a stem-actuated valve (88) of the gas tank. An elongated valve actuator pin (18) slidably passes through the valve-removal rod to extend from lower and upper ends of the valve-removal rod for independently actuating the stem-actuated valve. The valve-removal rod is moved longitudinally by a valve-removal-rod lever (16) which is pivotally attached to the evacuator housing and valve-removal rod by pivot links (60). The valve-removal-rod lever is pivoted on the evacuator housing to drive a valve-engaging device at a lower end of the valve-removal rod into engagement with the stem-actuated valve of the gas tank for its removal from the gas tank.

Abstract: A puncturing device (10) for pressurized containers (12) comprises an elongated housing member (16) defining an elongated cavity (24) with openings (26, 28) at first and second ends (30, 32) thereof for receiving an inverted pressurized container at the first end, the housing member including a selective attachment member (36) for securing the second end of the housing member to a collection receptacle (38). A non-sparking puncturing apparatus (18), with a lever (44) having a built-in stop (48, 50), is movably mounted on the housing member with a pivot-link (54)-driven puncture pin (56) extending through an intermediate aperture (34) into the cavity for piercing a nozzle-end of the pressurized container below an internal shoulder (40) thereof with a seal (42). Thus, gases and residual contents are released into the receptacle through the opening in the second end.