Abstract: An exterior or interior structural member in the form of a panel for an image forming or similar device is disclosed which has an integral plenum passage for fluid/air. The panel may be thermoformed and/or have mechanically connected parts, and may include other elements, such as toner bottle covers.

Abstract: An interlock/latch system for a machine cover, particularly for an electrophotographic printing machine. A cover latch is provided with a latching mechanism and a set of electrical contacts which are mechanically closed when the cover is closed and the latch engaged. A sensor such as a Hall-Effect sensor is mounted in close proximity to the latch. A magnet in the cover actuates the Hall-Effect sensor when the cover is closed and latched sending a signal to the machine controller. The machine controller prohibits operation of the machine until the signal is received.

Abstract: A regenerative blower having an impeller casing and an integral silencer casing separated from the impeller casing by a dividing wall. The impeller casing cooperates with a rotary impeller to define a generally annular fluid chamber having opposite end portions terminating at fluid inlet and outlet openings in the dividing wall opening into the silencer casing. Resilient compressible acoustic material contained within the silencer casing defines inlets and outlets fluid passageways respectively communicating with the inlet and outlet openings. A reversible flange plate forms a closure for the silencer casing. A first set of conduit fittings project from one side of the plate and a second of conduit fittings project from the opposite side of the plate and communicating with the first set through the plate. The first set of fittings is adapted for connection to threaded pipe. The fittings of the second set provide tubing or hose connections.

Abstract: A system for retracting the drive spindle of a power tool includes a drive shaft which has a spline portion and a threaded portion. During normal operation, the drive spindle is rotated by interconnection of a drive gear with the splined portion of the drive spindle. When it is desired to retract the drive spindle, a drive spindle feed gear is locked into position and the threaded engagement of the drive spindle feed gear and the drive spindle causes the drive spindle to retract.

Abstract: A printer capable of producing simplex and duplex copies includes a tri-roller inverter that employs a passive deflector gate downstream from input and output nips of the tri-roller inverter. A sheet driven by the input nip into a reversing chute of the inverter deflects the passive deflector gate to an open position that allows the sheet to enter the inversion chute and after the sheet is past the gate it returns to close deposition, thus allowing the sheet to be driven past it in reverse by a reversing roller. Once the lead edge of the reversed sheet passes the passive deflector gate, a second sheet enters the input nip resulting in two sheets being in the inverter at the same time.

Abstract: The trust exerted on a drill bit is sensed and employed to determine the speed at which the bit is driven. A controller for the drill compares the thrust to a predetermined threshold value and in response to the comparison emits a control signal which shifts a transmission in the drill into high or low speed. After each shift, a number of thrust samples are taken in order to compute an average thrust for different strata of the material being drilled. At the completion of drilling each hole, the average thrusts for the hole are used to recalibrate the shift threshold value. In this manner, the shift threshold is adjusted to compensate for drill bit wear. The sensed thrust is also compared to a bit reject threshold value to determine when the bit is too dull for proper drilling.

Abstract: A thrust and torque sensor is provided for an automatic drill so as to result in an efficient drilling operation for laminated materials. Sensors are placed in one instance in conjunctioln with a spindle and in another instance to a shaft in the drive train so as to sense the thrust and torque placed on the spindle. In a preferred manner, a yoke with strain gauges is connected to a bearing race on the spindle to sense thrust and strain gauges are placed on a beam connected to a shaft to sense torque. Signals from the strain gauges are then employed by a computer to control the drill.

Abstract: An automatic shift drill for rotationally driving a bit into a laminated workpiece at one of two speeds according to the depth of the bit in the workpiece is disclosed. A cam block element has flag sections and gap sections corresponding to the various layers of the workpiece. The cam block element is mounted on a spindle of the drill to move in translation with the bit. A vent element has an orifice which is adapted to be closed when it is adjacent to one of the flag sections and open when it is adjacent to one of the gap sections. Shifting means responsive to pneumatic pressurization changes the rotational speed of the bit from one speed to the other speed. The orifice vents the shifting means when it is adjacent to a gap section to drive the bit at the appropriate speed through the corresponding layer and seals the shifting means when it is adjacent to a flag section to drive the bit at the other speed appropriate for the layer corresponding to the flag section.

Abstract: A power-operated tool including a motor, an output member to which a fastener engaging component is adapted to be secured, and a drive train between the motor and output member which includes an arrangement for absorbing kinetic energy from the motor to keep such energy from being applied to and overtightening a fastener engaged by the fastener engaging component.

Abstract: Fastener tools having a rotatable output member to which a fastener engageable component can be attached, a motor for rotating the output member, and a transducer for measuring the torques to which fasteners are tightened by the tool.

Abstract: A tool handle construction incorporating a unitary inlet-exhaust assembly, allowing economies of construction.

Abstract: Fastener tools having a rotatable output member to which a fastener engageable component can be attached, a motor for rotating the output member, and a transducer for measuring the torques to which fasteners are tightened by the tool.

Abstract: A power tool for setting fasteners to a predetermined torque, having a novel shut-off means that automatically shuts off the power supply at a predetermined torque, but will not "hang up" in the off position.

Abstract: A tool including a fastener rotating output member and mechanism for indicating if a fastener rotated by said output member has been tightened to a prescribed torque and/or for providing an indication of the length of time for which the fastener was tightened.