International Business Machines Corporation

Ultimate Security, Inc.

James H Hubbard

Paul R Spivey

Anthony J Botte

Thomas Travis Underhill

Wallace L Hubert

Ralph Joseph Leclere

Donald F Colglazier

George W Van Cleave

Wayne E Robbins

Robert T Ritchie

Michael L Morris

Walter C McCrumb

Guy J Howard

A security device intervenes in the primary power input connection to an existing appliance. The user must set numbered thumbwheels to a correct numerical sequence preset through those same thumbwheels by the appliance owner before the device will connect the primary power to the attached appliance. Once the correct code is dialed in via the thumbwheels, a relay latches so that power is continuously available to the appliance until the primary power is lost as by disconnection of the appliance power cord for more than a short period of time. Reentry of the unique code is then necessary to operate the appliance. Labels are permanently affixed to the appliance to forewarn that it is not operational unless the correct code is entered. The attachment module is encased in potting compound to prevent bypassing of the power controlling circuits. The appliance is thus useless and of little value to a thief since it requires obvious disfiguring of the appliance to remove the combination lock assembly and/or the labels.

Theft deterring security system for attachment to powered appliances

An electrophotographic copying apparatus includes a multi-function document feeder for feeding original document sheets to a platen viewing station for copying. The document feeder selectively provides (1) semiautomatic document feeding (SADF), (2) automatic document feeding (ADF), (3) recirculating automatic document feeding (RADF), and (4) manual placement of a document on the platen. A multi-function output copy module is provided for holding copies produced by the copying apparatus. The output module proivdes (1) a collator section comprising a vertical stack of collator bins, the unobstructed top bin of which also comprises (2) an exit tray, and (3) a large capacity exit bin that is located under the bottom one of the collator bins. The mode of operation of the output module is automatically determined in accordance with (1) the manner in which the operator elects to use the document feeder, and (2) the copier features, such as the number of copies or copy sets requested, use of a stapler, and/or job queuing, that are selected by the operator. In an embodiment of the invention, when a number of copy sets are to be made from an original set, the original set is first fed to the platen using the ADF. During this procss, the first copy set is produced. As the sheets thereafter leave the platen, the sheets are fed to the RADF. The original set is then recirculated to the platen, one recirculation for each of the remaining copy sets to be produced.

Copying method and apparatus

A copy production machine, or other semiautomatic operator-involved machine, logs operations data and error data during normal operations into a nonvolatile store. Logging is categorized for facilitating diagnostics and maintenance of the machine. During a maintenance mode, log scanning methods enable efficient retrieval of the logged data via a keyboard entry system plus manual actuation of other switches used for other purposes during the normal copy production.

Data log retrieval system

Sheet collator apparatus having means for recovery from collating errors. Moving between two adjacent bins without feeding a sheet, feeding two sheets into one bin, or feeding a sheet while the feeder is moving are errors that are detected and corrected. An error is corrected by homing the deflector and repositioning it at the correct bin before restart. The described embodiment includes two collators, i.e., tandem units.

Collator error recovery

Copy production machine under program control selectively interleaving copy separation sheets between successive copy jobs. The copy separation sheets can be supplied from the same copy sheet supply source as the copies being produced or from an alternate supply source. The number of separation sheets supplied is a predetermined relationship between the number of copy receiving bins in an output receiving the copy separation sheets and the number of copies to be produced from a source. The effective capacity of a collator is extended by such interleaving using a programmable control that talies copies made versus copies selected greater than the capacity of a collator such that the collator job is automatically segmented.

Computer-controlled copy production machine having job separation

Copy production machine selectively interleaves copy separation sheets between successive copy jobs, subjobs, or job portions. The copy separation sheets can be from the same copy sheet supply source or from an alternate source. The supplied copy separation sheets need not be operated upon by the copy production machines, i.e., receive an image. Such sheets may be preimaged if so desired. When copy sheet supply means has different size copy sheets, the separation mode may be inhibited. The number of separation sheets supplied depends on the number of copy receiving bins in an output means and the number of copies produced from a single image. The effective capacity of a collator is extended by the use of separation sheets.

Copy production machines having job separation capabilities

Copy production machine capable of having copies from plural independent copy runs in a copy sheet transport path at a given instant. Copy jam recovery is enhanced by maintaining separate counts of all individual images having copies simultaneously present in the copy sheet path. Apparatus and procedures are described for utilizing the counts for precisely recovering loss of copy sheets due to a jam or other stoppage condition. Control of a billing meter is also disclosed.

Automatic copy recovery

A copy production machine, such as a transfer electrographic copier, picks copy sheets for receiving images during a transfer operation. On rare occasions a sheet may not be successfully picked. Instead of turning the machine off and requiring manual intervention for a restart, the machine automatically retrys to repick the sheet of paper a predetermined number of times. If during such retry the pick is successful, then the copy production resumes automatically; if not, the machine is turned off after the predetermined number of cycles. During each machine cycle having an unsuccessful pick, protective actions are taken to insure that toner does not contaminate the machine and certain other actions do not provide a fire hazard. All retries are logged for maintenance assistance.

Copy production machines having supply sheet pick retry

A multi-mode document reproduction machine (copier) includes automatic reselection, activated when a time-out timer times out, which reselects machine parameters to a dominant copy mode. A dominant mode is that machine mode used in the most number of copy jobs, irrespective of the number of copies made in any of the modes. An intermediate machine state inhibits the time-out timer. Copies in an interim storage unit and a copy jam are two examples that generate an intermediate machine state. Removal of copies or the jam allows the timer to time out.

Automatic copier mode controls

A document reproduction machine operates either in a simplex mode (each copy has an image only on one side) or in a duplex mode (copies have images on both sides). In the duplex mode, an interim storage unit stores partially completed copies (only one side of the duplex copies have an image). A second copy run completes the duplexed copy production. For an odd number of originals, at the end of a duplex copy run, the last-produced copy set resides in the interim storage unit. In one aspect of the disclosure, in response to an indication of the end of a duplex run, the machine automatically transfers the last-produced copy set from the interim storage unit to a copy output unit. In another aspect of the disclosure, any change between simplex and duplex modes actuates the machine to empty the interim storage unit.

Method and apparatus for controlling the duplex copy mode in an

A multidigit position control register is set by a new control signal either after being reset to a reference state, after completion of a controlled machine function and receipt of a new control signal or when all digit positions contain significant control signals and a new control signal is received. A document reproduction machine controlled by the control register has enhanced operator convenience and copy throughput by disclosed interactions of such register and machine. It is preferred that a manually actuated keyboard supply the control signals.

Electronic copy selection controls for a document reproduction machine

A xerographic copying apparatus having a developer operable to present a two component developer mix, i.e. carrier and toner, to the photoconductor's latent electrostatic image, and apparatus for automatically adding virgin toner to the developer as the toner concentration is depleted as a result of toning the photoconductor's image over a period of making a number of copies. Once the need to add toner is indicated, a known, unit quantity of toner is added to the developer. Immediately thereafter, the ability to sense toner concentration is inhibited until the next two photoconductor images have been toned. In the event that low concentration is sensed immediately thereafter, another unit quantity of toner is added, and sensing is again inhibited for the two-copy interval. In the additional event that low concentration is sensed seven consecutive times, each time being separated by a two-copy inhibit interval, a failure latch is set and further operation of the copying apparatus is inhibited. That latter event may be caused by toner exhaustion, failure to feed toner properly, or failure of the concentration sensing means.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

James H Hubbard