Abstract: A stepping motor-driven system includes a stepping motor, an output device, and a belt and pulley system operably coupling the stepping motor with the output device to impart rotation therebetween. The belt and pulley system includes an input pinion engaged with the stepping motor, an output pinion engaged with the output device, and a timing belt. The timing belt is disposed about the input and output pinions, inhibits elongation, and defines a plurality of spaced-apart grooves on an inwardly-facing surface thereof that are wider than the teeth of the pinions and are configured to receive the teeth of the pinions in meshed engagement therewith. As a result, a gap is defined within each groove. The gaps permit backlash of the timing belt in response to changes in a rotational speed input to the belt and pulley system from the stepping motor, thereby inhibiting loss of control.

Abstract: A stepping motor-driven system includes a stepping motor, an output device, and a belt and pulley system operably coupling the stepping motor with the output device to impart rotation therebetween. The belt and pulley system includes an input pinion engaged with the stepping motor, an output pinion engaged with the output device, and a timing belt. The timing belt is disposed about the input and output pinions, inhibits elongation, and defines a plurality of spaced-apart grooves on an inwardly-facing surface thereof that are wider than the teeth of the pinions and are configured to receive the teeth of the pinions in meshed engagement therewith. As a result, a gap is defined within each groove. The gaps permit backlash of the timing belt in response to changes in a rotational speed input to the belt and pulley system from the stepping motor, thereby inhibiting loss of control.

Abstract: A stepping motor-driven system includes a stepping motor, an output device, and a belt and pulley system operably coupling the stepping motor with the output device to impart rotation therebetween. The belt and pulley system includes an input pinion engaged with the stepping motor, an output pinion engaged with the output device, and a timing belt. The timing belt is disposed about the input and output pinions, inhibits elongation, and defines a plurality of spaced-apart grooves on an inwardly-facing surface thereof that are wider than the teeth of the pinions and are configured to receive the teeth of the pinions in meshed engagement therewith. As a result, a gap is defined within each groove. The gaps permit backlash of the timing belt in response to changes in a rotational speed input to the belt and pulley system from the stepping motor, thereby inhibiting loss of control.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes an enclosure having a separator disposed therein that divides the heat exchanger into a mixing area and a heat exchange area. The mixing area is configured to receive a hot fume and droplets of a liquid for mixing with each other to form a fume-droplet vapor mixture. The mixture is configured to flow through orifices of the separator into the heat exchange area. A plurality of magazines is disposed within the heat exchange area of the first enclosure. Each magazine defines a cavity. The cavities are disposed in communication with one another. A lower-most magazine is configured to receive a receiver medium that is pumped through the cavity of each successive magazine to an upper-most magazine. The mixture is configured to circulate about the magazines to incrementally heat the receiver medium as the receiver medium is pumped through the cavity of each successive magazine.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes an enclosure having a separator disposed therein that divides the heat exchanger into a mixing area and a heat exchange area. The mixing area is configured to receive a hot fume and droplets of a liquid for mixing with each other to form a fume-droplet vapor mixture. The mixture is configured to flow through orifices of the separator into the heat exchange area. A plurality of magazines is disposed within the heat exchange area of the first enclosure. Each magazine defines a cavity. The cavities are disposed in communication with one another. A lower-most magazine is configured to receive a receiver medium that is pumped through the cavity of each successive magazine to an upper-most magazine. The mixture is configured to circulate about the magazines to incrementally heat the receiver medium as the receiver medium is pumped through the cavity of each successive magazine.

Abstract: A paper feeder comprises a control unit; a pair of side plates; a feed module having two or more separate feed rollers; a transport module having two or more separate transport rollers; a pusher module having a belt assembly and at least one pusher roller disposed under the belt assembly, the belt assembly further having two or more parallel shafts and two or more belts each having a protrusion and fitted on the shafts, the protrusions corresponding to each other; a first driving mechanism having a first motor and a first transmission mechanism, the first motor being connected to the first transmission mechanism which is in turn connected to at least one of the feed rollers; a second driving mechanism having a second motor and a second transmission mechanism, the second motor being connected to the second transmission mechanism which is in turn connected to at least one of the pusher rollers; a third driving mechanism having a third motor and a third transmission mechanism, the third motor being connected to

Abstract: Dot-matrix printer for printing on a paper resting against a platen includes a bendable piezoelectric lamina which is supported along a first edge planar ferromagnetic member which is operatively connected to the bendable piezoelectric lamina at a region remote from the first edge, a dot print element mounted the movement of the bendable piezoelectric lamina along a line parallel to the plane of the planar ferromagnetic member, control means for generating first or second voltage signals for energizing the bendable piezoelectric lamina to cause the planar ferromagnetic member to assume a first or a second position, and electromagnetic means for applying a controllably variable magnetic force on the planar ferromagnetic member such that only when the planar ferromagnetic member is not in the first position is there sufficient force exerted by the dot print element to print on the record medium with the diameter of the dot being a function of the force.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette including a casing provided with an opening for receiving a photoelectric device. In the casing is a ribbon which passes from a supply reel to a take-up reel. A guide leads the ribbon past the photoelectric device. If the ribbon breaks, the ribbon is pulled away from the photoelectric device to cause a change in received light.

Abstract: Dot-matrix printer for printing on a paper resting against a platen includes a bendable piezoelectric lamina, means for fixedly supporting the bendable piezoelectric lamina along a first edge, a planar rerromagnetic member, means for operatively connecting the planar ferromagnetic member to the bendable piezoelectric lamina at a region remote from the first edge, a dot print element, means for mounting the dot element to be responsive to the movement of the bendable piezoelectric lamina in the region of the planar ferromagnetic member to extend along a line parallel to the plane of the planar ferromagnetic member, control means for generating first or second voltage signals for energizing the bendable piezoelectric lamina to cause the planar ferromagnetic member to assume a first or a second position, and electromagnetic means for applying a magnetic force on the planar ferromagnetic member such that only when the planar ferromagnetic member is not in the first position is there sufficient force exerted by th

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer comprising a storage reel for an ink ribbon, a take-up reel for the ink ribbon, drive wheels for longitudinally advancing the ink ribbon from the storage reel to the take-up reel for printing on the ribbon, and a pulley or roller which rides on the cam and which is coupled to a further pulley or roller, these parts cooperating for transversely displacing the ribbon during its longitudinal advance to offset the area of the ribbon utilized in printing.

Abstract: Reader-writer apparatus includes a common drive roller having a primary axis of rotation lying in a plane which divides a reading region from a writing region and a read follower roller positioned operatively opposite the common drive roller, has an axis of rotation parallel to the primary axis of rotation and is disposed on the read side of the region dividing plane; also, there is a similar write follower roller operatively opposite the common drive roller which has an axis parallel to the primary drive axis and is disposed on the write side of the region dividing plane. A master document feeder is positioned on the read side of the plane to guide a master document between the common drive roller and the read follower to a read site while a master document accepter also on the read side of the region dividing plane accepts a master document passing from the read site.

Abstract: A vibrating thermal printer transfers thermoplastic ink from a ribbon to a record medium by selectively heating resistive elements on a substrate of electrically conductive material. While the record medium and ribbon are passing the print head, the print head, by means of piezoelectric phenomenon, induces vibration in the head to facilitate the deposition of thermoplastic ink onto the paper. There is also shown the preheating of the ribbon to improve throughput.

Abstract: Paper bail apparatus for a printer comprising a frame mounted on a non-circular paper bail shaft of a printer and rotatably supporting a pair of rollers for contact with the platen of the printer along two separate lines of contact which are circumferentially spaced on the platen and longitudinally offset from one another. The frame is made from plastic material and the rollers are snap-fit in the frame. The frame has a projection at an inlet guide for guidable entry of the paper between the rollers and the platen.

Abstract: A paper tray having a bottom, front and rear walls extending upwardly from the bottom, and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom to define an open boxlike structure for storage of sheets of paper in readiness for use. A paper receiver is pivotably mounted on the tray for receiving sheets of paper after printing thereof. The paper receiver has a first position in which paper can be fed automatically from the tray to a print roller and a second position in which paper can be manually fed to the print roller. In the automatic mode, the paper is fed by a drive roller to produce a buckle at its leading position to insure alignment at the print roller and subsequent straight, unskewed feed. The paper receiver carries a conveyor belt driven from the print roller at a greater linear speed to insure positive feed of the paper from the print roller to a receiving station.

Abstract: Sheet and envelope feeder apparatus for a printer comprising first and second trays for respective stacks of sheets of paper and first and second drive rollers for feeding sheets of paper from the respective trays to the printer where a printing operation is effected on at least one of the faces of the sheets of paper. A third tray is provided for envelopes and a third drive roller for feeding envelopes from the third tray to the printer. The first and second drive rollers are selectively driven by a first drive motor to feed the sheets of paper.

Abstract: A method of stopping a feedback-controlled stepping motor having a stator and a rotor wherein the drive of the stator field is leading the rotor by more than one step and the rotor is rotating with an angular velocity within a first range of values is performed by decreasing the drive lead of the stator field from its slewing value to another value whereby the angular velocity of the rotor decreases below the first range and sensing for the decrease of the angular velocity of the rotor to within a second range of values so that when the angular velocity of the rotor is within the second range of values the rotation of the stator field is stopped to brake the rotor.

Abstract: A paper tray has a first bottom, first front and rear walls extending upwardly from the first bottom, first and second side walls extending upwardly from this bottom. The walls and bottom define an open boxlike structure for storage of sheets of paper prior to use. A cover is pivotably mounted to the top of the lower side walls in the region of the rear wall extends toward the first front wall. The cover is shorter than the first bottom to provide a feed gap between the free end of the cover and the front wall so that paper can be removed from the boxlike structure. Each of the lower side walls has an extension upwardly extending beyond the level of the cover. Paper receiving means has a second bottom upwardly displaced from and overhanging the feed gap and the front wall. First and second upper side walls are connected to the ends of the extensions remote from the rear wall and extend upwardly from the upper bottom.

Abstract: For a stepping motor having a rotatable stator magnetic field for driving the rotor, there is disclosed a method of damping the oscillations of the rotor which occurs when the rotatable stator magnetic field is stopped upon arriving at a desired rotational position by measuring quantities related to the instantaneous velocity of the rotor due to the oscillations of the rotor about the desired rotational position, rotationally displacing the stator magnetic field from the desired rotational position in a direction opposite to the direction of the oscillation, and thereafter returning the stator magnetic field to the desired stopping position.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording characters on a photographic record medium including spaced feed and takeup reels for carrying a roll of the medium. A support such as a cylinder is disposed between the reels supports the record medium. A carriage is controllably movable opposite the support and in a direction transverse to the direction of record medium movement. A recording head on the carriage has a radiation emitter device for emitting intensity modulated radiation toward the cylindrical support along a scan line which makes an angle with the direction of the transverse movement.

Abstract: A clock generator for establishing working clock pulses occurring for constant increments in a scan path of a laser scanner which cyclically sweeps over a record medium at a non-constant velocity includes: a generator of a fiducial pulse at least once per cycle of sweep; a frequency synthesizer responsive to the fiducial pulses for generating radio-frequency clock pulses having a frequency greater than the fiducial pulses, and in synchronization therewith; a storage for storing a plurality of count values, each of the count values being associated with a given increment along the scan path; a working clock pulse generator, including a counter which counts the radio-frequency clock pulses, for emitting a working clock pulse each time the counter counts a count value received by the working clock pulse generator. For each working clock pulse a new count value stored in the storage is transmitted to the working clock pulse generator.