Abstract:
There is disclosed herein a portion of a document transport system including a document feeding unit and a document separator unit. The document feeding unit dispenses a plurality of overlapping documents into a guideway upstream from the separator unit. The separator unit functions to restrict the travel of all overlapping documents allowing only the single front document to continue along the document guideway and to space the documents entering the document guideway. A control system for the document separator unit functions to maintain the forces between the documents and the separator unit to restrict the travel of the overlapping documents. In the preferred embodiment, the separator unit is an endless belt which is moving in a direction opposite to the normal direction of document travel. The control system functions according to the basic frictional equation, F fN, to vary the normal force, N, thereby maintaining the frictional force, F, substantially constant.
Abstract:
The disclosure embodies an electrical system for a bidirectional step servomotor to control the dissipation of counter torque developed by the deenergization of each rotor coil. The amplitude of the induced voltage generated when each rotor coil is deenergized is electrically controlled by a selected one of a plurality of voltage regulators. Each voltage regulator has a different regulating voltage. The larger the amplitude of the induced voltage, the faster the dissipation time of the counter torque, therefore, the higher the angular velocity of the rotor.
Abstract:
A POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM UTILIZING A BATTERY HAVING ONE OR MORE VOLTAGE SECTIONS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF RECHARGEABLE CELLS WHICH ARE USED TO REGULATE THE VOLTAGE OUTPUT OF THE SUPPLY. A BATTERY CHARGER IS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED BY A CHARGE CONTROL MEMBER BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND A SOURCE OF A.C. POWER TO PROVIDE BOTH CHARGING CURRENT TO THE BATTERY AND OUTPUT CURRENT TO THE LOAD. THE CHARGE CONTROL MEMBER IS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY TO SENSE THE DEGREE OF CHARGE WITHIN THE BATTERY. EACH VOLTAGE SECTION OF THE BATTERY IS CONNECTED BY A SEPARATE CHARGE CONTROL MEMBER TO SEPARATE CHARGERS THEREBY CONTROLLING THE RECHARGING OF EACH SECTION OF THE BATTERY ACCORDING TO ITS OWN CHARGE REQUIREMENT.
Abstract:
In a printer utilizing piezoelectric crystals, electrostrictive members, as the prime movers for the print hammers, significant power reduction may be achieved by applying a high voltage to contract the piezoelectric crystal and then discharging that voltage thereby causing the crystal to expand at a rapid rate thus driving the print hammer. The crystal is initially charged across its width, which is transverse to the direction of travel of the crystal, causing a reduction in its length. A transistorized switching circuit is utilized to discharge the high voltage applied to the crystal thus causing the crystal to expand at a rapid rate. By providing a charging time constant substantially longer than the time required to discharge the potential across the crystal, the current requirements, and thus the power requirements, for the system are substantially reduced.
Abstract:
A device for controllably engaging the helical thread of a screw wherein a spring member is disposed concentrically about a portion of the outer diameter of the screw in substantial alignment with the helical thread thereof, one end of the spring member being rotatably restrained by a support and the other end of the spring member being bidirectionally rotatable about the screw for diametrically contracting and dilating the spring member into and out of engagement with the helical thread of the screw.
Abstract:
Disclosed is circuit means for controlling the torque of the servo motor with respect to the speed of the servo motor. This system finds particular application in document feed apparatus where it is useful to maintain constant torque over a range of speeds. The control circuit includes a speed sensing element, switching elements and a servo amplifier for applying power to the servo motor. This system may also be adapted to compensate for the damping constant of the servo motor.
Abstract:
A control system utilizing a magnetic reed switch responsive to the output of a battery regulated power supply for controlling an impedance means to maintain the voltage output of the supply within a predetermined range. In the preferred embodiment, the power supply transformer has a separate secondary winding for controlling the energization of a relay coil to initially activate the reed switch. When the a.c. power is removed, particularly under adverse conditions, the battery maintains the output supply voltage within a predetermined voltage range until the relay coil senses a predetermined minimum voltage and in response thereto opens the reed switch effectively changing the impedance value of the impedance means from a finite value to an infinite value.
Abstract:
In a document printing machine comprising a plurality of interconnected modular sections, there is disclosed herein a printer module having a self container control system. Documents, to be printed upon, are sequentially passed through the printer module under the control and drive of either one of two different speed drive units. The second drive unit initially functions as a control gate to control the feeding of documents into the printer module. When the printing operation is to begin, the second drive unit moves the documents through the printer module at a positively controlled printing speed. After the printing operation, the first drive unit moves the documents out of the printer module at a high speed. In order to maintain the correct character pitch between adjacent serially printed characters, a timing unit is operatively connected to the first drive unit. This timing unit is responsive to drive variations and accurately divides each character pitch into a plurality of intervals. Each interval controls one or more printer operation functions including the actual print operation. In order to maintain the synchronism between the movement of the documents and the character pitch, the second drive unit is clutched from the first drive unit.