Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A tramp material separator for use in a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material slurry feed system, comprising:
a first conduit having a top portion including an inlet and a bottom portion below said top portion, and an outlet;
means for providing centrifugal force on a slurry flowing in said first conduit to cause less dense solids in the slurry to move in a first flow path, and more dense, tramp material, solids in the slurry to separate from said first flow path move in a second flow path under the influence of centrifugal force; said means for providing centrifugal force consisting essentially of a radiused section of said first conduit adjacent said bottom portion thereof, so that no moving or powered elements are provided for effecting separation; and
a cavity defined adjacent and below said radiused section of said first conduit for receipt of more dense solids flowing in said second flow path.
2. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 1 further comprising a baffle adjacent a portion of said cavity most downstream of said cavity in said first flow path, said baffle extending into said first flow path to aid in directing more dense, tramp material, solids into said cavity and retaining the tramp material in said cavity.
3. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 1 further comprising a nozzle for introducing liquid into said top portion of said first conduit at high speed so as to maximize the flow rate of slurry in said first flow path, and thereby enhance the centrifugal force moving more dense, tramp material, solids in said second path.
4. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 1 wherein said first conduit is substantially circular in cross section and has a first diameter at said top portion thereof, and a transition to a second diameter larger than said first diameter at said bottom portion thereof before said outlet.
5. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 1 wherein said first conduit, including said radiused section thereof, makes substantially a 90 angle from said inlet to said outlet, said outlet being substantially horizontal and said inlet substantially vertical.
6. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for intermittently removing tramp material from said cavity.
7. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for intermittently removing tramp material from said cavity comprises a first valve closest to said cavity, a second valve remote from said cavity, and a chamber between said first and second valves, said first and second valves operable to allow tramp material to collect in said chamber when said first valve is open and said second valve is closed, and to allow discharge of tramp material from said chamber when said second valve is opened and said first valve is closed.
8. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for establishing a purge flow of fluid into said cavity for effecting movement of less dense solids that flow into said cavity back into said first flow path.
9. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 8 further comprising a nozzle for introducing liquid into said top portion of said first conduit at high speed so as to maximize the flow rate of slurry in said first flow path, and thereby enhance the centrifugal force moving more dense, tramp material, solids in said second path.
10. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 9 further comprising a baffle adjacent a portion of said cavity most downstream of said cavity in said first flow path, said baffle extending into said first flow path to aid in directing more dense, tramp material, solids into said cavity and retaining the tramp material in said cavity.
11. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 1 wherein the feed system feeds a pulp cooking system.
12. A tramp material separator as recited in claim 1, wherein said conduit is connected to a chemical pulp digesting system.
13. A chemical cellulose pulp digester feed system comprising:
a chip bin, a metering device, a conduit for entraining comminuted cellulosic material from the metering device in cooking liquor to provide a slurry, a tramp material separator, and a transfer device for pressurizing the slurry for feeding it to a digester; and
wherein said tramp material separator is provided in said conduit, said conduit having a top portion including an inlet and a bottom portion below said top portion, and an outlet, and said tramp material separator comprising: means for providing centrifugal force on a slurry flowing in said first conduit to cause less dense solids in the slurry to move in a first flow path, and more dense, tramp material, solids in the slurry to separate from said first flow path move in a second flow path under the influence of centrifugal force; said means for providing centrifugal force consisting essentially of a radiused section of said first conduit adjacent said bottom portion thereof, so that no moving or powered elements are provided for effecting separation; and a cavity defined adjacent and below said radiused section of said first conduit for receipt of more dense solids flowing in said second flow path.
14. A feed system as recited in claim 13 further comprising means for establishing a purge flow of fluid into said cavity for effecting movement of less dense solids that flow into said cavity back into said first flow path.
15. A feed system as recited in claim 14 further comprising a nozzle for introducing liquid into said top portion of said first conduit at high speed so as to maximize the flow rate of slurry in said first flow path, and thereby enhance the centrifugal force moving more dense, tramp material, solids in said second path.
16. A method of separating tramp material from a slurry of comminuted cellulosic fibrous material in liquid having a solids consistency of at least 5%, comprising the steps of:
(a) causing the slurry to flow in a generally downward flow in a first flow path;
(b) without impacting the slurry with a rotating or reciprocating mechanical member, causing the first flow path to bend smoothly and sharply toward the horizontal, so as to provide a centrifugal force on the slurry to cause less dense solids in the slurry to continue to move in a first flow path, and more dense, tramp material, solids in the slurry to separate from the first flow path and move in a substantially downward second flow path under the influence of centrifugal force into a cavity below the first flow path; and
(c) removing the separated tramp material from the cavity.
17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein step (b) is further practiced by introducing liquid under high speed into the slurry so as to maximize the flow rate of slurry in the first flow path, and thereby enhance the centrifugal force moving more dense, tramp material, solids in the second path.
18. A method as recited in claim 16 comprising the further step of introducing a purge flow of fluid into the cavity for effecting movement of less dense solids that flow into the cavity back into the first flow path.
19. A method as recited in claim 16 comprising the further step of placing a baffle adjacent a portion of the cavity most downstream of the cavity in the first flow path so that the baffle extends into the first flow path to aid in directing more dense, tramp material, solids into the cavity and retaining the tramp material in the cavity.
20. A method, system, and apparatus substantially as shown and described.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A motor drive circuit comprising:
a current passage control circuit configured to perform ONOFF control of a drive transistor connected to a motor coil to pass current through the motor coil;
an overcurrent state detection circuit configured to detect whether or not current passing through the drive transistor is in an overcurrent state where the current exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
a charging and discharging circuit configured to start charging a capacitor in response to detecting the overcurrent state by the overcurrent state detection circuit and subsequently discharge the capacitor in response to not detecting the overcurrent state; and
an overcurrent protection control circuit configured to
stop the ONOFF control of the drive transistor performed by the current passage control circuit to turn off the drive transistor, for an elapsed charging period for a charging voltage of the capacitor at a predetermined voltage to exceed a threshold voltage, and

determine whether or not to perform such an overcurrent protection control as to turn off the drive transistor by detection of the overcurrent state, after the charging period has elapsed.
2. The motor drive circuit according to claim 1, comprising:
a first monitor circuit configured to monitor whether or not the overcurrent state detected by the overcurrent state detection circuit has continued for a first period, wherein
the overcurrent protection control circuit stops the ONOFF control of the drive transistor performed by the current passage control circuit to turn off the drive transistor for the elapsed charging period, in response to monitoring the overcurrent state to observe that the overcurrent state has continued for the first period in the first monitor circuit.
3. The motor drive circuit according to claim 2, wherein
the overcurrent protection control circuit
stores an ONOFF state of the drive transistor at a time when the overcurrent state is monitored and observed to have continued for the first period in the first monitor circuit, and
restores the drive transistor to the stored ONOFF state from a state where the drive transistor is turned off, and then determines whether or not to perform the overcurrent protection control, when the charging period has elapsed.
4. The motor drive circuit according to claim 3, comprising:
a second monitor circuit configured to monitor whether or not the overcurrent state detected by the overcurrent state detection circuit has continued for a second period after the drive transistor has been restored to the stored ONOFF state, wherein
the overcurrent protection control circuit determines to perform the overcurrent protection control when the overcurrent state is monitored and observed to have continued for the second period in the second monitor circuit.
5. The motor drive circuit according to claim 4, comprising:
a third monitor circuit configured to monitor whether or not the overcurrent state detected by the overcurrent state detection circuit has continued for a third period after the second period has elapsed, wherein
the overcurrent protection control circuit determines not to perform the overcurrent protection control, and restarts the ONOFF control of the drive transistor performed by the current passage control circuit from a restored ONOFF state, when the overcurrent state is monitored and observed not to have continued for the third period.

1. A mounting assembly, comprising:
a cantilevered support having an inner end portion and an outer end portion, the support being capable of slidably receiving and mounting a core for web material,
a first stop at the inner end portion,
a second stop at the outer end portion, wherein the second stop is deflectable and includes a first engageable surface, the roll being positionable between and in contact with the first stop and the first engageable surface of the second stop, and wherein the core cooperates with the first engageable surface and deflects the second stop upon sliding the core off the support.
2. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the second stop includes a second engageable surface, wherein the core cooperates with the second engageable surface and deflects the second stop upon sliding the core onto the support.
3. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second stops are coupled to move in unison to center-justify cores of different widths.
4. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 1, in a printer having a print head.
5. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the second stop includes a spring finger.
6. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the second stop includes a detent.
7. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 1, the support having an axis,
an axially extending shaft within the support and having oppositely threaded portions, wherein the first stop is threadably mounted on one of the threaded portions, and wherein the second stop is threadably mounted on the other threaded portion.
8. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 7, in a printer having a print head, wherein rotation of the shaft can center-justify cores of different widths with respect to the print head.
9. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the support is rotatably mounted.
10. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first engageable surface is a cam surface.
11. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the second engageable surface is a cam surface.
12. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the second engageable surface is a cam surface.
13. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the core has a cam surface engageable with the first engageable surface to cam the yieldable stop out of the way as the core is slid off the support.
14. A mounting assembly, comprising:
a cantilevered support,
a pair of stops disposed along the support, one of the stops being yieldable and having a first engageable cam surface, the stops being spaced apart and capable of straddling a core for web material, the core having opposite ends capable of engaging the stops, and wherein one end of the core is cooperable with the first cam surface to cam the yieldable stop out of the way as the core is slid off the support.
15. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein the yieldable stop includes
a second cam surface, and wherein the other end of the core is cooperable with the second cam surface to cam the yieldable stop out of the way as the core is slid onto the support to a position between the stops.
16. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein the yieldable stop includes a leaf spring.
17. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein the yieldable stop includes a spring-biased plunger having the first cam surface.
18. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the yieldable stop includes a spring-biased plunger having the first and second cam surfaces.
19. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 14, including
a shaft having a pair of oppositely threaded portions within the support, wherein the first stop is threadably mounted on one of the threaded portions, and wherein the second stop is threadably mounted on the other threaded portion to provide movement of the stops in unison to center-justify the core.
20. A mounting assembly, comprising:
a cantilevered support,
a pair of stops disposed along the support, a core having opposite ends capable of engaging the stops, one of the stops being yieldable, a cam surface on at least one of the yieldable stop and the core, the stops being spaced apart and capable of straddling a core for web material, and wherein one end of the core is cooperable with the yieldable stop so that core can cam the yieldable stop out of the way as the core is slid off the support.
21. Method, comprising:
providing a rotatable, cantilevered support to slidably receive and mount a core for web material, a pair of stops at spaced locations along the support and cooperable with opposite ends of the core, the stops being relatively movable in unison to enable center-justification of the core on the support, wherein one of the stops is yieldable,
positioning a core between the stops, and
unloading the core from the support by sliding the core against and over the yieldable stop.
22. Method as defined in claim 21, wherein the support is disposed in a printer having a print head, including
moving the stops against the ends of the core after the core has been positioned between the stops.
23. Method as defined in claim 21, wherein the support is disposed in a printer.
24. Method as defined in claim 21, including
center-justifying the core between the stops.
25. Method as defined in claim 21, wherein the support is disposed in a printer having a print head, including
center-justifying the core with respect to the print head.
26. Method, comprising:
providing a cantilevered support to enable a core for web material to be slidably loaded onto and unloaded from the support, a pair of stops between which the core can be positioned, one of the stops being yieldable,
sliding the core onto the support against and over the yieldable stop to cause the yieldable stop to yield to enable the core to be slid to a position between the stops, and
thereafter sliding the core against and over the yieldable stop to cause the yieldable stop to yield as the core is unloaded from the support.
27. Method as defined in claim 26, wherein the core cams the yieldable stop out of the way as the core is being loaded onto the support, and wherein the core cams the yieldable stop out of the way as the core is being unloaded from the support.
28. Method as defined in claim 21, wherein the support is disposed in a printer having a print head, including
center-justifying the core with respect to the print head.
29. A mounting assembly, comprising:
a longitudinally extending support having an axis, an inner end portion and an outer end portion, and a longitudinally extending slot,
a shaft extending along the axis within the support and having oppositely threaded portions, the support being capable of slidably receiving and mounting a hollow core for web material, wherein the core has an internal projection capable of being received in the slot,
a first stop disposed at the inner end portion of the support and received on one threaded portion and extending into the slot,
a second stop disposed at the outer end portion of the support and threadably received on the other threaded portion and extending into the slot, the second stop being shiftable between a first position out of alignment with the projection so that the core can be slid onto or off the support and a second position wherein the second stop is aligned with the projection to hold the core captive between the first and second stops.
30. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 29, including a brake to prevent relative rotation between the second stop and the other threaded portion when the second stop is being moved between the first and second positions.
31. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 29, including a brake mounted on the second stop that makes frictional contact with the other threaded portion.
32. A mounting assembly, as defined in claim 29, wherein the slot is wider at the outer end portion than at the inner end portion.
33. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 29, wherein the oppositely threaded portions have the same pitch.
34. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 29, in a printer having a print head, wherein the shaft is rotatable to bring the core into center-justified relationship with respect to the print head.
35. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 32, in a printer having a print head, wherein the shaft is rotatable to bring the core into center-justified relationship with respect to the print head.
36. A mounting assembly, comprising:
a longitudinally extending support having an axis and an axially extending slot,
a shaft extending along the axis within the support and having a threaded portion, the support being capable of slidably receiving and mounting a hollow core for web material, wherein the core has an internal projection capable of being received in the slot,
a first stop and a second stop, the second stop being threadably received on the threaded portion and extending into the slot, the second stop being shiftable between a first position out of alignment with the projection so that the core can be slid onto or off the support and a second position wherein the stop is aligned with the projection to hold the core captive between the first and second stops.
37. Method, comprising:
providing a cantilevered support to enable a core for web material to be slidably loaded onto and unloaded from the support, a pair of stops between which the core can be positioned, one of the stops being yieldable, and
unloading the core by sliding the core against the yieldable stop to move the stop out of the way.
38. Method as defined in claim 37, wherein the core cams the yieldable stop out of the way as the core is being slid off the support.
39. Method as defined in claim 37, wherein the support is disposed in a printer having a print head, including
center-justifying the core with respect to the print head.
40. Method, comprising:
providing a support to receive and mount a core for web material the core having an internal projection, a shaft having oppositely threaded portions, a first stop threadably received on one threaded portion and a second stop threadably received on the other threaded portion, the support having a slot capable of receiving the internal projection,
the second stop being rotatable between a first position out of alignment with the projection and a second position in alignment with the projection,
positioning the second stop in the first position;
loading the core onto the support, and
rotating the second stop to second position to capture the core between the stops.
41. Method as defined in claim 40, wherein the stop is rotated by rotating the shaft, and
continuing to rotate the shaft to center-justify and hold the core between the first and second stops.
42. Method, comprising:
providing a support to receive and mount a core for web material, the support having a slot, the core having an internal projection, a shaft received within the support and having a threaded portion,
a first stop and a second stop between which the core can be received, the second stop being disposed in the slot and threadably received on the threaded portion, the second stop being rotatable between a first position out of alignment with the projection and a second position in alignment with the projection,
positioning the second stop in the first position,
loading the core onto the support and
rotating the second stop on the threaded portion to the second position to capture the core between the stops.
43. Method as defined in claim 42, wherein the stop is rotated by rotating the shaft, and continuing to rotate the shaft to move the core axially along the support toward the first stop.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An integrated printing system comprising:
at least two substantially horizontally aligned printing modules including a first printing module and a second printing module, the first printing module including an entrance media path and an exit media path, and the second printing module including an entrance media path and an exit media path; and
at least one interface media transport including at least one substantially horizontal media transport path which transports media to said printing modules in a direction that passes the first printing module exit media path before passing the first printing module entrance media path, and passes the second printing module exit media path before passing the second printing module entrance media path.
2. The integrated printing system of claim 1, wherein the substantially horizontal media transport paths includes two or more substantially horizontal media transport paths positioned as an upper and lower horizontal media transport paths.
3. The integrated printing system of claim 2, wherein the lower horizontal media transport path is linked with the entrance media path and the exit media path of each of the printing modules, and the upper horizontal media transport path is linked with the lower horizontal media transport path to transport media from the upper horizontal media transport path to the lower horizontal media transport path and transport media from the lower horizontal media transport path to the upper horizontal media transport path.
4. The integrated printing system of claim 3, further comprising:
at least one media feed source; and
at least one media finishing portion, wherein the interface media transport extends from the media feed source to the media finishing portion.
5. The integrated printing system of claim 4, further comprising:
decision gates controlling the interface media transport to transport media from the upper horizontal media transport path to the lower horizontal media transport path and transport media from the lower horizontal media transport path to the upper horizontal media transport path.
6. The integrated printing system of claim 5, further comprising:
decision gates controlling the transport of media from the lower horizontal media transport path to the printing modules.
7. The integrated printing system of claim 6, further comprising:
a decision gate controlling the entrance media path.
8. The integrated printing system of claim 1, wherein the printing modules include at least one inverter to invert media for duplex printing, the inverter connected to the substantially horizontal media transport path.
9. The integrated printing system of claim 8, wherein the inverter is positioned between the entrance media path and the exit media path associated with the first printing module.
10. The integrated printing system of claim 1, wherein the interface media transport includes at least one inverter to invert media for duplex printing, the inverter connected to the substantially horizontal media transport path.
11. The integrated printing system of claim 10, wherein the inverter is positioned between the entrance media path and the exit media path associated with the first printing module.
12. The integrated printing system of claim 2, wherein the lower horizontal media transport path is linked with the entrance media path and the exit media path of at least one of the printing modules, and the lower horizontal media transport path transports media in a direction that passes the exit media path before passing the entrance media path associated with the first printing module, and the upper horizontal media transport path is linked with the lower horizontal media transport path to transport media from the upper horizontal media transport path to the lower horizontal media transport path and transport media from the lower horizontal media transport path to the upper horizontal media transport path.
13. The integrated printing system of claim 12, further comprising:
at least one media feed source; and
at least one media finishing portion, wherein the interface media transport extends from the media feed source to the media finishing portion.