Abstract: In a finishing apparatus, such as would be used with a copier or high-speed printer, an applicator places stickers on a folded sheet or booklet, to prevent the sheet or booklet from unfolding or opening. At one point in the operation, the folded sheet or booklet is “backed up” in its basic process direction to receive a sticker on its trailing edge, and backed up further so that the sticker is folded over the trailing edge by a pair of crease rolls.

Abstract: A device for removing aquatic vegetation including a substantially planar member defining a plurality of elongated constricted slots communicating with a marginal edge of the planar member to form a plurality of closely spaced elements for receiving and grasping aquatic vegetation. An elongated handle is connected to the planar member for dragging the planar member in proximity to aquatic vegetation for removal thereof.

Abstract: A motion control system controls the linear motion of a safety gate or other object, to prevent its skewing or binding, by two inter-connecting (meshed) gears, which also connect with (are respectively meshed with) two spaced apart, parallel, linear gear racks. The two gears extend between and interconnect the two gear racks, so that all four components are geared together, and have the same gear pitch. This forces the two spaced apart gear racks to track and move in lock-step with one another in a direction of motion aligned with and parallel to the gear racks, thus insuring linear movement of the member being moved (the safety gate here) irrespective of where on the member the moving member is pushed, pulled or otherwise acted on, i.e., even off-center, and without requiring critical edge guide channels, tracks, or the like. In this example a simple solenoid moves the safety gate with consistently low force.

Abstract: A compact sheet feeding and cutting apparatus is disclosed which is particularly suitable for retrofitting to an existing document reproduction machine. The sheet feeding and cutting components are located within a common housing which can be mechanically attached to an existing machine. In one embodiment, no electrical connections are required between the reproduction machine and the feeding and cutting apparatus. A sheet cutting length is entered into local memory and controls the operation of a dc stepper motor in a sheet cutting mode and a sheet feeding mode. The motor is reversed and operates in a sheet feeding mode to drive feed rollers causing the sheet to unroll from a supply roll. The motor is operatively connected to the drive feed rollers and to the sheet cutter through separate, one-way clutches. The sheet is fed from the roll at a faster speed than the speed of sheet travel within the reproduction machine as it advances to a transfer station.

Abstract: In an on-line printed sheets output handling system for the sequential output by a reproduction system, in which the printed sheets are registered in neatly superposed sets which are optionally fastened together by a finishing system, which is laterally repositionable to provide variable set finishing; a lateral registration system for said printed sheets output is repositionable with said finishing system, and has a sheet registration member engaging and laterally registering the printed sheets to selectable variable lateral sheet registration positions by the finisher lateral movement repositioning system rather than a separate lateral repositioning system, with a registration disengagement system for moving the sheet registration member out of registration engagement with the sheets after a set of sheets has been laterally compiled and before the finishing system is laterally repositioned.

Abstract: A sheet inverting and stacking system in which a rotatable sheet stacking unit receives the lead edge area of an incoming sheet and then rotates and releases that lead edge for stacking the sheet inverted; with a bail system, actuated by the rotation of the rotatable sheet stacking unit, to vertically press down the lead edge area of the sheet being released at the registration position; the rotatable sheet stacking unit releasing the lead edge of the sheet being released for the stacking at a position under the bail system and slightly above the top of the stacked sheets. The stacking tray is vertically movable for being maintained at a level with the top sheet of the stack thereon closely spaced below the sheet lead edge release position. The bail system also holds the sheets for set stapling in a set stapling position.

Abstract: A sheet inverting and stacking system in which a rotatable sheet stacking unit receives the lead edge area of an incoming sheet and then rotates and releases that lead edge area of the sheet at a lead edge registration position for stacking the sheet inverted in a set of stacked sheets at least partially on a stacking tray in a stacking area; with a movable sheet registration system providing plural sheet lead edge registration positions; a sheet set fastening system (stapler) for fastening the stacked sets; a first registration position for set fastening in which the sheet stacking area extends into the sheet set fastening system and a second registration position in which the sheet stacking is in front of the sheet fastening system, to provide two different initial sheet leading edge stacking positions and one final stacking position.

Abstract: A heat and pressure fuser for fusing toner images on copy media which includes a thin web which is wrapped around a portion of a heated fuser roll to form an extended fusing area. An enclosed cavity is formed beneath the fusing area, the cavity incorporating a moisture collection and removal system. As the copy media passes through the fusing area, its moisture content is vaporized and is condensed within the cavity, collecting in a trough at the bottom of the cavity. The water periodically drains through an outlet drain and is collected in a storage container.

Abstract: In a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser exposed to a cooling medium for causing condensation of the refrigerant within the refrigeration system and an apparatus for controlling the flow of the cooling medium, a control method and apparatus for operating the flow control apparatus in response to suction pressure or suction temperature as sensed at the compressor. In an exemplary system utilizing air as the cooling medium and a fan for causing airflow, the fan is started after compressor start-up when sensed suction pressure rises above a predetermined amount. An additional feature includes an adaptive time limited compressor cut-out protection for low ambient temperature operation.

Abstract: In a sorter for sorting sheets fed from a sequential source of sheets, with a closely vertically spaced array of sorter bins, and apparatus to vertically move the array of sorter bins relative to the source of sheets for sequentially loading individual sheets into individual sorter bins, the improvement including partially horizontally displacing one individual sorter bin at a time from the superposed array, in coordination with the vertical movement, towards the source of sheets to provide an enlarged bin entry opening without requiring any change in the vertical spacing between the bins, and subsequently horizontally moving a bin so displaced back into vertically superposed alignment with the other bins of the array. Also disclosed is stapling sheets sorted into the bins, wherein the same system for partially horizontally displacing the sorter bins also functions to move one displaced bin at a time into the stapler for stapling the sheets sorted in that bin without removal therefrom.

Abstract: A roll-up apparatus is provided for automatically rolling up a plurality of media sheets, such as original documents being copied or output copy sheets. In one embodiment, a plurality of flexible, circular guide members are aligned perpendicular to the media sheet feed motion. The first and succeeding sheets are scrolled up within the circular interior space formed by the guide member. The guides are designed to expand radially outward along their width to accomodate the increasing area of successively rolled up media sheets.

Abstract: In a stapling system with a power driven stapler unit for stapling sheets together by clamping the sheets together with a clamper and driving a staple into the sheets with a staple driver while the sheets are clamped, and clinching the legs of the staple with a clincher, sequentially in that order; a single flexible cable with internal bights thereof operatively connecting with the clamper, the staple driver and the clincher, and with a free portion of the cable extending from the stapler unit and pulled with increasing movement and tension to provide the sole actuating power for the stapler unit wherein sequentially coupling pulleys engaged by the internal bights of the single flexible cable, and movement stops and/or resistance springs of different resistance forces, respectively operatively associated with the clamper, the staple driver and the clincher actuate them in that order, and wherein paired pulleys are arranged to multiply the forces available for the stapling from the cable tension.

Abstract: A document imaging system incorporates a mechanism for adjusting the speed ratio between the document scanning system and the photoreceptor. A timing belt is connected between an adjustable tapered portion of a drive pulley mounted on the photoreceptor drive shaft and the document scanning system. The portion of the tapered surface on which the belt is frictionally is axially adjustable resulting in a change in the effective diameter of the belt and a change in the scanning speed.

Abstract: Sheet alignment and feeding apparatus including a sheet feed table for supporting a sheet to be fed, a side registration edge along one edge of the feed table, a sheet feed roll rotatably mounted in the feed table so that its top surface is in feeding engagement with a sheet to be fed, a cooperating pinch device in contact with the top of the feed roll, the feed roll being canted at an angle to the side registration edge to simultaneously drive a sheet against the registration edge and in a forward direction, and the feed roll having a relatively low coefficient of friction. The effects of contamination on the feed roll are minimized and a more effective and reliable feeding operation is achieved.

Abstract: An optical window is provided, particularly for multispectral or broadband wavelength (visible and infrared) transmission, which is resistant to damage or erosion by high velocity raindrops or other adverse environmental conditions. The window consists of a substrate of material having the necessary optical properties for the desired spectral range, with a cladding or protective layer of material of high resistance to erosion or other damage bonded to the substrate by a glass bonding material. While any suitable materials meeting the optical and physical requirements may be used, the substrate may be a material such as zinc selenide with a protective layer of zinc sulfide bonded to the substrate by a thin layer of a chalcogenide glass.

Abstract: A sheet of support material in which a non-fibrous image receiving portion has a fibrous portion secured thereto. The fibrous portion cooperates with a sheet feeding apparatus to facilitate the seriatim feeding of successive sheets of support material from a stack thereof.

Abstract: A sheet of support material in which a non-fibrous image receiving portion has a fibrous portion secured thereto. The fibrous portion cooperates with a sheet feeding apparatus to facilitate the seriatim feeding of successive sheets of support material from a stack thereof.The foregoing abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Adjustable guides for a sheet stack are frictionally secured to the stack support by bristle pads provided on each adjustable guide and on the stack support. Each pad has bristles inclined at an acute angle relative to the surface of the pad. Interleafing of the bristles on the guides and the stack support provides adjustable, frictional securement of the guides to the stack support.