Abstract: A cooktop has a metal support plate upon which heating equipment can be mounted and a control casing for housing or attaching a control unit or electronics. Fasteners allow for detachable connection of the metal support plate and the control casing to each other, and comprise fastenings formed on the metal support plate and corresponding slots on the control casing, whereby the fastenings are designed for attachment into the slots in an attachment orientation whereby movement of the two parts relative to each other results in the final assembled state. There is a moveable protrusion on the control casing and a recess or catch on the metal support plate that mates with the protrusion. During movement of the support plate and control casing into the final assembled position, the protrusion interacts with the catch or recess to lock the metal support plate relative to the control casing.

Abstract: An operating device for an electric hob has an operating element for performing operating functions, which is rotatable and rests in a removable manner on a support. The operating element is configured to be shape-variable, such as being compressible, such that it can be pressed onto the support. Upon approaching the support, a control indication is detected for initiating a further operating function of the electric hob as a consequence of the detection of said approach. In one embodiment, the underside of the operating element is made from elastic foam material.

Abstract: In a hob (11), an operating toggle placed on a front panel (17) has on a connected power control device an actuator (23) for producing a haptic acknowledgement or response in the case of operation. The operating toggle (19) also has a proximity sensor (27). If a hand (29) approaches the operating toggle (19) for operation, this is detected by the proximity sensor and it brings the actuator (23) from a current-economizing standby mode into a normal mode, where it operates normally. If the hand (29) is removed again, it is again brought into the standby mode.

Abstract: A cooktop has a metal support plate upon which heating equipment can be mounted and a control casing for housing or attaching a control unit or electronics. Fasteners allow for detachable connection of the metal support plate and the control casing to each other, and comprise fastenings formed on the metal support plate and corresponding slots on the control casing, whereby the fastenings are designed for attachment into the slots in an attachment orientation whereby movement of the two parts relative to each other results in the final assembled state. There is a moveable protrusion on the control casing and a recess or catch on the metal support plate that mates with the protrusion. During movement of the support plate and control casing into the final assembled position, the protrusion interacts with the catch or recess to lock the metal support plate relative to the control casing.

Abstract: An operating device for an electric hob has an operating element for performing operating functions, which is rotatable and rests in a removable manner on a support. The operating element is configured to be shape-variable, such as being compressible, such that it can be pressed onto the support. Upon approaching the support, a control indication is detected for initiating a further operating function of the electric hob as a consequence of the detection of said approach. In one embodiment, the underside of the operating element is made from elastic foam material.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a media path configured to receive a sheet of media moving along the media path. A creasing tool is located proximate to the media path and is configured to form a crease in the sheet of media. The apparatus also includes a sheet folding device configured to fold the sheet of media along the crease. The creasing tool is preferably configured to operably move from a first position wherein the creasing tool is retracted away from the media path, to a second position wherein the creasing tool can contact a sheet of media moving along the media path and thereby form a crease in the sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for binding documents by individually binding each media sheet to previously bound media sheets using imaging material as the binding material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for binding documents by individually binding each media sheet to previously bound media sheets using imaging material as the binding material.

Abstract: A fuser assembly with a roller having a heat absorptive outer layer on an inner core of a thermally isolating material and a radiant heating element positioned adjacent and external to the outer layer of a roller.

Abstract: A binding system in an imaging system includes an accumulator in which sheet material is accumulated in respective jobs to be bound. The binding system includes a binding assembly adapted and constructed to bind the sheet material together. A scoring member is connected to the binding assembly. The scoring member is adapted and constructed to form respective score patterns in sheet material received in the accumulator. The binding assembly can include a thermally low-mass heating element and a thermally high-mass cooling element.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed which utilize robotic analysis of acoustic data captured during operation of a device to evaluate the operation of such device. An acoustic capture sensor is implemented within a device, such as a paper handling device, automobile, or any other device that generates detectable sound as a by-product of its operation. The acoustic capture sensor captures sound produced by the operation of the device and converts the captured sound from analog to digital. The captured sound is communicated to a processor-based device that is operable to process the sound to evaluate the operation of the device. The processor-based device may be communicatively coupled to a data storage device that has empirical sound data stored therein. In this manner, the processor-based device may compare sound captured by acoustic capture sensor(s) within a device with the stored empirical sound data to analyze the device's operation.

Abstract: A post print finishing device that incorporates an imaging material binder into the post print handling and finishing functions. In one exemplary embodiment, the finishing device includes a flipper module, an accumulator module and a binder module. The binder module binds sheets together by reactivating imaging material applied to binding regions on the sheets by a printing device. The flipper module receives a sheet leading edge first and discharges the sheet trailing edge first. That is to say, the flipper module flips the sheet before discharging the sheet for further processing. The accumulator module stacks the sheets, presents the sheets to the binder for binding and then discharges the bound stack to the output bin.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a media path configured to receive a sheet of media moving along the media path. A creasing tool is located proximate to the media path and is configured to form a crease in the sheet of media. The apparatus also includes a sheet folding device configured to fold the sheet of media along the crease. The creasing tool is preferably configured to operably move from a first position wherein the creasing tool is retracted away from the media path, to a second position wherein the creasing tool can contact a sheet of media moving along the media path and thereby form a crease in the sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is an applicator for bonding a coating portion of a film to a substrate, the film including one or more heat activated layers, the applicator comprising a pair of opposing rollers configured to form a nip region therebetween for engaging the film and the substrate, and a source of extended radio frequency electromagnetic radiation directed at the film in a vicinity of the nip region of the pair of rollers engaging the firm and configured to heat the one or ore heat activated layers thereat to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A binding system in an imaging system includes an accumulator in which sheet material is accumulated in respective jobs to be bound. The binding system includes a binding assembly adapted and constructed to bind the sheet material together. A scoring member is connected to the binding assembly. The scoring member is adapted and constructed to form respective score patterns in sheet material received in the accumulator. The binding assembly can include a thermally low-mass heating element and a thermally high-mass cooling element. The scoring member can be connected for motion with respect to the binding assembly, for example, by forming at least one bore in the binding assembly, and at least one guide post extending from the scoring member and received for reciprocation in the at least one bore in the binding assembly. At least one resilient biasing member, for example, a coil spring surrounding the guide post, can be disposed between the scoring member and the binding assembly.

Abstract: A post print finishing device that incorporates an imaging material binder into the post print handling and finishing functions. In one exemplary embodiment, the finishing device includes a flipper module, an accumulator module and a binder module. The binder module binds sheets together by reactivating imaging material applied to binding regions on the sheets by a printing device. The flipper module receives a sheet leading edge first and discharges the sheet trailing edge first. That is to say, the flipper module flips the sheet before discharging the sheet for further processing. The accumulator module stacks the sheets, presents the sheets to the binder for binding and then discharges the bound stack to the output bin.

Abstract: A binding system in an imaging system includes an accumulator in which sheet material is accumulated in respective jobs to be bound. The binding system includes a binding assembly adapted and constructed to bind the sheet material together. A scoring member is connected to the binding assembly. The scoring member is adapted and constructed to form respective score patterns in sheet material received in the accumulator. The binding assembly can include a thermally low-mass heating element and a thermally high-mass cooling element. The scoring member can be connected for motion with respect to the binding assembly, for example, by forming at least one bore in the binding assembly, and at least one guide post extending from the scoring member and received for reciprocation in the at least one bore in the binding assembly. At least one resilient biasing member, for example, a coil spring surrounding the guide post, can be disposed between the scoring member and the binding assembly.

Abstract: The invention combines the binding techniques described in application Ser. No. 09/320,060 titled Binding Sheet Media Using Imaging Material with a buckle chute type folding device to form self mailers and other folded and bound or sealed document. The device for folding and binding sheet media using imaging material as the binder includes a buckle chute, a binder downstream in the paper path from the buckle chute, an input driver proximate to and upstream in the paper path from the buckle chute, and an exit driver proximate to and between the buckle chute and the binder in the paper path. The input driver directs the media sheet into the buckle chute and, in cooperation with the buckle chute, buckles the media sheet along a fold line. The exit driver receives the media sheet from the buckle chute, folds the media sheet along the fold line and directs the media sheet towards the binder.

Abstract: A post print finishing device that incorporates an imaging material binder into the post print handling and finishing functions. In one exemplary embodiment, the finishing device includes a flipper module, an accumulator module and a binder module. The binder module binds sheets together by reactivating imaging material applied to binding regions on the sheets by a printing device. The flipper module receives a sheet leading edge first and discharges the sheet trailing edge first. That is to say, the flipper module flips the sheet before discharging the sheet for further processing. The accumulator module stacks the sheets, presents the sheets to the binder for binding and then discharges the bound stack to the output bin.