Abstract: A method of determining damping coefficients for a resilient web, involving: stretching a prescribed length of the web between a pair of pulleys mounted on a frame; attaching a prescribed test mass M.sub.0 upon this length at a prescribed distance L.sub.1 from one pulley; shaking the frame at resonance frequency f.sub.R, and the while deriving resonance-amplitude; and using the foregoing to determine web damping coefficients.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting and processing documents and maintaining a preset nominal inter-document gap, g.sub.nom therebetween, this apparatus including transport stage for picking each document from an input stack and advancing it toward a destination at a controlled rate; a sensor unit for sensing the distance g between the so-moved document and the following document; and a control stage for determining the variance .gradient.g, between g.sub.nom and g, while driving each successive document along a feed path from the input stack at adjustable times; with the sensor unit inputting the control means which is adapted to responsively determine the variance-distance .gradient.g, and to thereupon control the transport stage to adjust the acceleration or deceleration of a following document and so tend to reduce this variance-distance .gradient.g.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining motion-control and damping characteristics for a resilient, multi-element elastomeric belt used in a servo system, yet without need to test in a use environment, this method including: stretching a prescribed length L of the belt between a pair of guide pulleys mounted on a frame with prescribed tension; attaching a prescribed test weight on this length at a prescribed test-distance L.sub.1 from one of the guide pulleys; shaking the frame at resonance frequency, sinusoidally; while determining the amplitude of excursion for the weight and the frame; then changing distance L.sub.1 and repeating the foregoing operations one or more times.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting and processing documents and maintaining a preset nominal inter-document gap, g.sub.nom therebetween, this apparatus including atransport stage for picking each document from an input stack and advancing it toward a destination at a controlled rate; a sensor unit for sensing the distance g between the so-moved document and the following document; and a control stage for determining the variance .gradient.g, between g.sub.nom and g, while driving each successive document along a feed path from the input stack at adjustable times; with the sensor unit inputting the control stage which is adapted to responsively determine the variance-distance .gradient.g, and to thereupon control the transport stage to adjust the acceleration or deceleration of a following document and so tend to reduce this variance-distance .gradient.g.

Abstract: A method of determining damping coefficients for a resilient web, involving: stretching a prescribed length of the web between a pair of pulleys mounted on a frame; attaching a prescribed test mass M.sub.o upon this length at a prescribed distance L.sub.1 from one pulley; shaking the frame at resonance frequency f.sub.R, and the while deriving resonance-amplitude; and using the foregoing to determine web damping coefficients.

Abstract: A document feed array comprising a pinch-roll mounted to rotate about its center to engage documents, being mounted on a cantilever-arm pivoted at a point distal from said roll-center and including an elastomeric sleeve which, alone, couples the arm to its pivot point (in operation), the sleeve comprising high-damping, durable elastomeric material adapted to accommodate thickness anomalies in said documents, yet to maximize driving contact therewith.

Abstract: A method of processing documents and maintaining a preset nominal inter-document gap, by moving a document from an input stack to a destination at a controlled rate, and selectively accelerating or decelerating the following document to reduce a sensed variance from this nominal gap.

Abstract: A method of determining damping coefficients for a resilient web, involving: stretching a prescribed length of the web between a pair of pulleys mounted on a frame; attaching a prescribed test mass M.sub.o upon this length at a prescribed distance L.sub.1 from one pulley; shaking the frame at resonance frequency f.sub.R, while deriving the resonance-amplitude; and using the foregoing to determine web damping coefficients.

Abstract: A document transport array, including pinch roll, which accommodates varied inter-document gaps, and varied-thickness documents, pinch roll including a moveable roll mounted on a yoke Which is spring-mounted by a spring flexure to allow this roll to be resiliently thrust away from the document path, this yoke means also including a resilient-pad absorber suspended therefrom and adapted to absorb energy and minimize motion developed normal to this path, thus enabling the moveable pinch roll to better maintain contact with a transported document.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of processing documents by moving them from an input hopper to a destination site at a controlled rate, including driving each document into a feed path from the input hopper at an adjustable time period after a previous document had been fed; thensensing the distance separating that document from a following document, and adjusting the time period between driving of succeeding documents to achieve a desired relationship between the document feed rate and inter-document gap.

Abstract: An improved photographic film supply and threading mechanism which enables a person to prepare a document record camera 44,45 for use without having to feed the film 36 through a complex system of guides and rollers 38, 42 within the body of the camera where the lens and shutter system are exposed to possible displacement and damage. The film 36 is simply fed around a pattern of rollers 38, 42 from a supply reel 22 to a take-up reel 26 mounted on a suitable support assembly 10,14. The assembly is then placed into the body of the camera 44,45 where a combination of film tension arms 59,71 and associated motor control switches act 60,72 together to position the film 36 along a path crossing the image plane 44 of the camera where when the assembly is in position as sensed by a switch 74 it may be exposed as the camera control circuit FIG. 4 advances the film.

Abstract: A synchronized drive and cable handling system is disclosed for a rotational element, such as a rotational gantry of a tomographic scanning machine, upon which element are carried load devices to which a medium, such as oil or electricity, is required to be supplied through the cables. A pair of spaced-apart sets of idler pulleys are disposed to either side of the rotational element with a cable being wound about the respective pulley sets to form an elongated loop, one end of each respective cable being attached to a load device which is disposed on the rotational element. One pulley set of each pair of sets is disposed about a translatable axis, the position of which is controlled by a lead screw drive to vary the distance between the pair of pulley sets and to thus vary the amount of cable which is played-out and taken-in therefrom.

Abstract: A fabric positioning holder is automatically moved by computer directed first and second stepper motors. A force generating means urges the jaws of the fabric positioning holder against the throat plate with total pressures which exceed 10 lbs. The stepper motors are, therefore, mounted such that their mass can be employed to overcome the shock forces associated with rapid movement of the holder.