Abstract: An apparatus for adaptive localized sheet decurling in an electrophotographic printing machine. A segmented decurling device forms a drive nip with an elastically deformable surfaced roll. A plurality of sensors are provided to determine the basis weight of the copy sheet, the density of the image being transferred to the copy sheet and fused thereon, the relative humidity of the machine environment, the process speed of the print engine, and any other relevant parameters. Signals indicative of these parameters are generated and sent to the machine controller which processes these signals to determine the degree of curl expected in a sheet. Based on the degree of of curl for each sheet section corresponding to a decurler segment, the decurler segment is actuated to a setting which should provide the proper amount of mechanical decurling force. Each segment is activated only for the duration deemed necessary to decurl the imaged sheet portion corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A decurler apparatus in a machine changes sheet bending direction away from image (AI) to toward image (TI) direction by use of tandem gates and bending baffles to direct copy papers to different decurling paths to reduce copy curl. A controller automatically determines the optimum decurling path for an individual copy paper according to sensor inputs derived from the paper basis weight, color layers, image area coverage and relative humidity. An operator control feature is included that allows operators to reduce output curl of out-of-specification papers through push-buttons on a machine control panel.

Abstract: Separating the physical sheets outputted from a shared users printer, especially, a facsimile receiver, into separate job sets for separate designed recipients, with an independent "mailboxing" job sorting accessory unit, not requiring any electronic connection to the printer, controlled solely by physical job cover sheets outputted by the printer at the same output in advance of the other sheets of the job, which cover sheets variably encoded with simply and uncritically marked areas indicative of an assigned bin number and the job sheet count.

Abstract: An apparatus for adaptive sheet decurling in an electrophotographic printing machine. A plurality of sensors are provided to determine the basis weight of the copy sheet, the density of the image being transferred to the copy sheet and fused thereon, the relative humidity of the machine environment, the process speed of the print engine, and any other relevant parameters. Signals indicative of these parameters are generated and sent to the machine controller which processes these signals and predicts the degree and direction of curl expected in a sheet. Based on the degree of and direction of curl, a bidirectional variable penetration decurler is actuated to a setting which should provide the proper amount of mechanical decurling force.

Abstract: A dentifrice dispensing toothbrush is described which utilizes a compressible elastic button to pump a controlled quantity of dentifrice material from a replaceable cartridge to the brush head. The toothbrush locks itself to prevent further pumping of dentifrice material when its replaceable cartridge is nearly empty. The self locking mechanism eliminates the formation of voids in the dentifrice material and consequent pump failure when the spent cartridge is replaced. In one embodiment, a cover is provided which protects the brush head, bristles, pumping mechanism and other parts of the toothbrush. The cover also seals the conduit which supplies dentifrice material to the brush head to prevent it from becoming clogged with dried dentifrice material during periods of non use and to prevent accidental compression of the button.

Abstract: Separating the physical sheets outputted from a shared users printer, especially, a facsimile receiver, into separate job sets for separate designed recipients, and notifying the recipients, with an independent "mailboxing" job sorting accessory unit, not requiring any electronic connection to the printer, controlled solely by physical job cover sheets outputted by the printer at the same output in advance of the other sheets of the job, which cover sheets variably encoded with simply and uncritically marked areas indicative of an assigned bin number and the job sheet count.

Abstract: A composite friction feed roll includes one material which feeds fresh paper well and another material which reliably feeds paper which has passed through fusing and has oil on its imaged surface. Such a roll will feed deplex and fresh paper or inserts equally reliably. Suitable material combinations would be silicone rubber which handles fused copies with ease, but has limited life feeding fresh or virgin paper because it collects fibers from fresh paper, and isoprene which is long lived handling fresh paper, but is rapidly contaminated by fuser oil. In the steady state condition, silicone regions will be primarily active in feeding duplexed paper while the isoprene oil contaminated, while in the plain paper feeding case, isoprene regions will be primarily responsible for feeding while the silicone becomes paper debris contaminated.

Abstract: An apparatus feeds and separates sheets individually from a stack of sheets. A nudger is disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the stack, and a mechanism, including a rotatable friction feed belt thereon, is disposed adjacent a sheet on the stack to be fed. A variable normal force is provided between the nudger and the friction feed belt of the mechanism. A sensor detects a lead edge of a sheet at a preselected location relative to the mechanism, and the increase in the normal force between the mechanism and the nudger is stopped when the lead edge of a sheet is detected by the sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus feeds and separates sheets individually from a stack of sheets. A nudger is disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the stack, and a mechanism, including a rotatable friction feed belt thereon, is disposed adjacent a sheet on the stack to be fed. A variable normal force is provided between the nudger and the friction feed belt of the mechanism. A sensor detects a lead edge of a sheet at a preselected location relative to the mechanism, and the increase in the normal force between the mechanism and the nudger is stopped when the lead edge of a sheet is detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A dentifrice dispensing toothbrush is described which locks itself to prevent further pumping of dentifrice material when its replaceable supply cartridge is empty. The self locking mechanism eliminates the formation of voids in the material and consequent pump failure when the spent cartridge is replaced with a new one and material pumped therefrom. The toothbrush also includes a detachable brush head which is slidable to various positions to enhance cleaning after it is used.

Abstract: A dispenser for paste-like materials is described which has a cover that automatically seals the dispenser's spout when no material is pumped therefrom thereby protecting the spout and its immediate surroundings from ambient air. The cover automatically unseals the spout while material is being dispensed. The dispenser includes (1) a housing, (2) a reservoir or replaceable cartridge for storing paste-like material, (3) a pump for causing the flow of a controlled quantity of material from the reservoir or cartridge, through a channel and its discharge from the spout and (4) an integrated, rotatable cover containing a sealing cap for the spout and a plunger for activating the pump. The sealing cap and plunger move in concert with each other so that material is pumped from the spout after the sealing cap moves away from the spout.

Abstract: A dentifrice dispensing toothbrush is described which stores dentifrice material in its handle and deposits a controlled quantity of the stored material directly onto the top of the brush surface. The toothbrush comprises (1) a housing which includes a handle, (2) a reservoir situated within the housing for storing dentifrice material, (3) a brush having bristles which are attached to and supported by a brush head member, and (4) a pump which causes a controlled quantity of dentifrice material to be pumped from the reservoir through a channel and a movable applicator and thereafter, to be deposited onto the brush surface. The applicator can be positioned in either a depositing or non-depositing relationship with the brush surface. No dentifrice can be pumped from the reservoir when the applicator is in a non-depositing relationship with the brush surface thus preventing the accidental discharge of dentifrice.

Abstract: In a copier with a moving platen document imaging system, wherein the platen is a part of a moving platen unit reciprocally driven relative to the stationary body of the copier, with a document on, and moving with, the platen being imaged by the copier in an imaging movement of the moving platen unit, the improvement including an automatic document feeder for automatically feeding documents on to and off of the platen solely utilizing the reciprocal movement of the moving platen unit, including a document feeding system mounted to the moving platen unit for reciprocal movement therewith but rotatable relative to the platen for movement of documents relative to the platen, and a motion converting system for mechanically converting the reciprocal motion of the moving plate unit in at least one direction of movement thereof into appropriate intermittent rotation of the document feeding system for intermittently rotatably driving the document feeding system at a document feeding velocity substantially different f

Abstract: A dentifrice dispensing toothbrush is described which stores dentifrice material in its handle and deposits a controlled portion of the stored material directly onto the top of the brush surface. The toothbrush comprises (1) a housing which includes a handle, (2) a reservoir situated within the housing for storing dentifrice material, (3) a brush having bristles which are attached to and supported by a head member, (4) an applicator which is attached to the housing and which is used to deposit portions of the material directly onto the top of the brush surface, (5) a valve which controls the flow of dentifrice material from the reservoir to the applicator and (6) a pumping means for applying pressure to the stored dentifrice material so as to cause it to flow from the reservoir to the applicator. The dentrifrice material is stored either directly in the reservoir or in a removable cartridge which is inserted in the reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus in which sheet material is decurled. The apparatus includes a baffle type decurler in which a sheet moving therethrough chooses one of three paths and baffles, depending on the direction and amount of curl. Spring loaded baffles in conjunction with idler rolls reverse bends the sheets in two of the three paths.