Harold S Foster

Title: Harold S. Foster and His Printer-Related Inventions.

Introduction

Harold S. Foster is an inventor associated with Fremont, California, and Xerox Corporation. His patent work addresses ribbon handling and end-of-ribbon sensing in serial impact printers. He is credited with 2 patents.

Latest Patents

Foster’s listed patents include “Ribbon Cartridge with Pivotable Ribbon Guide Arms.” The invention describes a ribbon cartridge with two movable arms that guide the ribbon between its supply and storage. The arms pivot about oblique axes to help ensure that both edges of the active ribbon travel equal distances.

His other listed patent, “Universal End of Ribbon Sensing System,” describes a sensing system designed to work with different arrangements of light emitters and detectors used in serial impact printers. It uses a compound reflector with separate reflective portions and a transparent tape segment near the ribbon’s end, allowing light to reach the reflector and return to a photodetector.

Career Highlights

Foster’s listed inventions focus on practical printer mechanisms: maintaining consistent ribbon movement and detecting when a ribbon is nearing its end. Both patents are associated with Xerox Corporation.

Collaborations

Foster’s listed coworkers include James G. Hume and John Sidvers.

Conclusion

Harold S. Foster’s patent work reflects a focus on improving ribbon guidance and end-of-ribbon detection for serial impact printers.