Abstract: The invention uses two very inexpensive rotary encoders in combination--a close-coupled one (or more) for high accuracy, and a remote-coupled one for high resolution. High-accuracy information is then combined with high resolution information in a digital processing system to yield composite information that is high in both accuracy and resolution. This information can be used to establish image positioning on a print medium. The overall system cost is lower than with an equivalent single encoder. Insidious cyclical errors in the coupling system (gear train or the like) are removable without expensive high tolerances and assembly or test fixtures. Residual cyclical error due to eccentric mounting or other error in the direct-coupled encoder scale also can be substantially removed, if desired, by adding another one or more encoders reading that scale, and suitably combining the information about that scale from the different sensors.

Abstract: In a computer driven printer/plotter, a printing media feed and retaining apparatus which has at least three pinch rollers mounted on a pinch roller support member having a print media guide surface and a support and actuation arm extending from a side of the pinch roller support member opposite the guide surface, and wherein an axis of said support and actuation arm intersects a vertical centerline through the middle of a polygon figure defined by intersection of straight lines between pinch rollers and having one pinch roller at each corner thereof. The pinch rollers are supported such that they are self centering and track without skewing or damaging the printing medium without the use of precision parts or mounting techniques.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for securing a degaussing coil to a cathode ray tube (CRT) are disclosed wherein one or more restraint cables are used together with one or more cable ties to secure and position a degaussing coil onto a CRT. The method and apparatus of the present invention compensate for variations in the length of the degaussing coil without compromising the positioning of the degaussing coil on the CRT.

Abstract: A printing media feed and retaining apparatus particularly useful in a computer driven thermal ink jet printer/plotter which has a plurality of pinch rollers (20) mounted on a single pinch roller support member (25). One or more support members (25) are positioned adjacent a platen roller (10) in proximity to the print path. The pinch rollers (20) are retracted away from the platen roller for removing the print medium and are supported such that they are self centering and track without skewing or damaging the printing medium without the use of precision parts or mounting techniques.

Abstract: A retractable pin sprocket drive for feeding paper employs free floating, radially moving, cam actuated sprocket pins in axially spaced sprocket hubs forming sprocket wheels. The pins are slidably fitted in equally angularly spaced radial slots in each sprocket hub. The sprocket wheels are each journalled in a sprocket wheel housing and the sprocket pins are moved radially only by a stationary cam track in each sprocket housing as the sprocket wheels rotate. Insertion of paper having perforated edges is facilitated by means providing for the precise axial spacing of the sprocket wheels and angular positioning of the sprocket wheels and pins in relation to the perforations or holes along the edges of the paper, together with transparent sprocket wheel housings and openings therethrough permitting viewing of the sprocket pins and the holes in the paper as they come together, to permit precise sprocket pin insertion into the holes in the paper.

Abstract: A flying saucer toy having a pair of LED's mounted diametrically opposed to each other on the rim of its disc-shaped body. The LED's are electrically connected to a printed circuit board and batteries which allow the LED's to strobe imperceptably fast at approximately 100 Hz. A touch-sensitive switch has three terminal posts that extend through the top surface of the disc-shaped body and the bottom ends of the terminal posts are soldered to the circuit board to form a mounting structure for the circuit board. When the flying saucer toy is thrown at night the strobing effect will produce the effect of more than twenty lighted points around the disc perimeter depending upon the rotational speed of the disc.

Abstract: A part, providing its own plastic deformation method and an exemplary embodiment, a polycarbonate spur gear, is disclosed. In a part having at least one region adapted to be deformed due to press-fit forces acting upon said region deformation is decoupled from proximate critical surfaces by providing at least one aperture in said part in a second region which is spaced from said first region in the general direction of the resultant vector of said forces such that said deformation is relieved by said aperture.In its basic aspects, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a plastic spur gear which remains rotationally concentric by embodying the inventive concept is described.